Delivering global cancer care: An international study of medical oncology workload.

• DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.e18080
• Publication Date: 2018-09-06T15:47:44Z
• Authors: Adam Michael Fund...; Richard Sullivan; Verna D. Vanderpuye; Bostjan Seruga; Gilberto Lopes; Nazik Hammad; Manju Sengar; Wilma M Hopman; Michael Donald Br...; Christopher M. Booth
• Keywords: Snowball sampling; Global Health

e18080 Background: With a disproportionate global burden of cancer, access to care in low-middle income countries (LMICs) is pressing issue. To our knowledge there no literature that has described medical oncology (MO) workload the context. Here, we report first results an international study MO training, infrastructure and workload. Methods: A multinational panel oncologists from diverse practice settings designed 51 item online survey. The survey was distributed through snowball method via national societies chemotherapy-prescribing physicians 50 countries. Countries were classified into low or (LMIC), upper-middle (UMIC) high-income (HIC) based on World Bank criteria. Due small numbers, African nations reported as region. primary objective this describe annual number new cancer patient consults seen per oncologist. Results: 708 completed survey; 14% (96/708) LMICs, 21% (152/708) UMICs, 65% (460/708) HICs. 85% (604/708) respondents MOs, 9% (65/708) clinical oncologists, 6% (39/708) other. Respondents worked median 5 days/week had 4 weeks paid vacation. oncologist 175 (IQR 125-375); 16% (114/708) saw 500+ patients year. Annual case volume LMICs (median 425, 46% seeing > 500 consults) substantially higher than UMICs (175, 15% 500) HICs 10% (p < 0.001). Among HICs, days week 6, 5, respectively 0.001); vacation 3, countries/regions with 10+ responses, highest volumes Pakistan 950, 73% consults), India (475, 47% 500), Turkey 25% Africa (400, 42% China (325, 31% 500). Conclusions: There substantial variation workload; most striking among LMICs. Further work needed quantify activity-based inform training needs design pathways models care.