Abstract
Introduction
The objective of this study was to estimate the theoretical needs-based on evidence-of radiotherapy treatments (RDT) in Andalusia, compare these needs with actual use of RDT in 2006 and analyse their evolution from 2003.
Materials and methods
Correlation between quantitative variables was analysed with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. This dealt with differences between administered/estimated treatments and treatments carried out in years with the Student’s tdistribution, and the χ2 test among qualitative variables.
Results
In Andalusia, the evidence-based rate of cancer irradiation is 55%. Eighty-five percent of theoretical treatments were administered in 2006. From this group, 107% were in gynaecological tumours, 100% in breast cancer cases, 71% in head and neck cancer and 48% in lung cancers; differences in the last two conditions were significant (p<0.01). As for regional distribution, differences were reported with reference to irradiation rates (p<0.0002) and resource distribution. In the last three years, an increment of 17% was observed in treatments conducted in public hospitals. The rate increased from 61% (with regard to optimal values) to 85% in 2006; in a parallel way, an increment was seen in therapy units (from 22 to 26) and radiation oncologists (from 57 to 69).
Conclusions
Despite the increment of irradiation rates seen in the last years, there is still a serious underutilisation of RDT for some cancer types (lung, head and neck cancer), as well as a great variability in the use of RDT between hospitals.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
López-Abente G, Pollán M, Aragonés N et al (2004) Plan integral del cáncer. Situación del cáncer en España. Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Centro de Publicaciones, Madrid
SBU (1996) The Swedish council on technology assessment in health care: radiotherapy for cancer, Vol. 1. Acta Oncol 35
SBU (1996) The Swedish council on technology assessment in health care: radiotherapy for cancer, Vol. 2: a critical review of the literature. Acta Oncol 35
Palacios A, Escó R, López C, Petschen I (2002) Situación de la asistencia oncológica. In: Muñoz A (ed.) Oncología Radioterápica. Tercer Libro Blanco de la Oncología en España. Ergón Creación, S.A., Majadahonda
Board of the Faculty of Clinical Oncology (2003) Equipment, workload and staffing for radiotherapy in the UK 1997–2002. The Royal College of Radiologists, London
Ballas LK, Elkin EB, Schrag D et al (2006) Radiation therapy facilities in the United States. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 66: 1204–1211
Payne S, Jarrett N, Jeffs D (2000) The impact of travel on cancer patients’ experiences of treatment: a literature review. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 9:197–203. Review
Pagano E, Di Cuonzo D, Bona C et al (2007) Accessibility as a major determinant of radiotherapy underutilization: a population based study. Health Policy 80:483–449
Voti L, Richardson LC, Reis IM et al (2006) Treatment of local breast carcinoma in Florida: the role of the distance to radiation therapy facilities. Cancer 106:201–207
Escó R, Palacios A, Pardo J et al (2003) Infrastructure of radiotherapy in Spain: a minimal standard of radiotherapy resources. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 56:319–327
Bayo E, Márquez M (2006) Situación de la asistencia oncológica. In: Oncología Radioterápica. Libro Blanco de la Oncología en Andalucía. Informe para la Planificación d la Oncología. Sociedad Andaluza de Cancerología, Content’ed ned communications, S.L. e Impresión Amoretti, S.L., Madrid
Bentzen SM, Heeren G, Cottier B et al (2005) Towards evidence-based guidelines for radiotherapy infrastructure and staffing needs in Europe: the ESTRO QUARTS project. Radiother Oncol 75:355–365
Expósito J, Cabrera P, Prieto D et al. Study on variability in the use and accessibility of radiotherapy in public hospitals in Andalusia. VARA Proyect Report. Supported by the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía
Delaney G, Jacob S, Featherstone C, Barton M (2005) The role of radiotherapy in cancer treatment: estimating optimal utilization from a review of evidence-based clinical guidelines. Cancer 104:1129–1137
Moller TR, Brorsson B, Ceberg J et al (2003) A prospective survey of radiotherapy practice 2001 in Sweden. Acta Oncol 42:387–410
Tyldesley S, Boyd C, Schulze K et al (2001) Estimating the need for radiotherapy for lung cancer: an evidence-based, epidemiologic approach. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 49:973–985
Gálvez P, Aranda E, Escalera C et al (2002) Plan Integral de Oncología de Andalucía (2002–2006). Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jaén Olasolo, J., Alonso Redondo, E., Expósito Hernández, J. et al. Evidence-based estimation and radiotherapy utilisation rate in Andalusia. Clin Transl Oncol 9, 789–796 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-007-0141-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-007-0141-1