Head and Neck Cancer Care Audit in the UK
Author Information
Author(s): Birchall M A, Bailey D, Lennon A
Primary Institution: University Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK
Hypothesis
There is wide variation in cancer care between different hospitals in the UK.
Conclusion
The study found major discrepancies between actual performance and established standards in head and neck cancer care.
Supporting Evidence
- 59% of patients received a pretreatment chest X-ray, which is below the standard of 95%.
- 45% of patients were seen in a multidisciplinary clinic pretreatment, also below the standard of 95%.
- The median number of cases treated per surgeon was 4, indicating variability in treatment volume.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well hospitals in the UK are treating head and neck cancer and found that many are not meeting the expected standards.
Methodology
A prospective, 1 year regional study comparing key performance measures with established standards for 28 hospital Trusts.
Limitations
The study only included data from 1996-1997 and may not reflect current practices.
Participant Demographics
Patients with newly-diagnosed head and neck cancer.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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