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Tertiary cancer services in Britain: benchmarking study of activity and facilities at 12 specialist centres.

OBJECTIVE: To collate information on current activity and facilities in British hospitals to assist the planning of future cancer services. DESIGN: 12 hospitals delivering specialist cancer services provided information on the size of population served, activity levels related to non-surgical oncology for 1994-5, and facilities available. Inconsistencies in the recording of data were resolved through meetings of all participants. SETTING: Five single specialty NHS trusts and seven specialist cancer facilities within multispecialty trusts, serving a combined population of 24.3 million. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activity levels and facilities per million population served. RESULTS: The facilities available per million population served varied widely between centres. In contrast, the range in the number of new referrals per million population (seen either at the centre or in peripheral clinics) was relatively small. Considerable variations were observed in the number of attendances per patient and amount of radiotherapy and chemotherapy delivered. Overall it was estimated that 40-45% of all new cases of cancer are currently being referred to non-surgical oncologists. For the seven hospitals which could provide data on trends in activity, the average increase in chemotherapy day case episodes between 1992-3 and 1994-5 was 83%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide a benchmark both for purchasers and providers of cancer care. The increase in the use of chemotherapy points to an urgent need for a unified system for monitoring both activity and outcomes of treatment.

Cancer Care Facilities↗

A screening clinic for relatives of patients with colorectal cancer in a district general hospital.

A family cancer screening clinic was set up to screen and counsel subjects at above average risk of developing colorectal cancer. Criteria for referral were one first degree relative under 50 years or two of any age with colorectal cancer. Pedigree information was used to estimate lifetime risks of developing colorectal cancer and offer appropriate screening: colonoscopy for high risks (greater than 1 in 10), faecal occult blood testing for lower risks. One hundred and eleven subjects from 76 families were seen over four years. Forty two families gave a pedigree consistent with dominantly inherited non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome (HNPCC). Three subjects from one family were found to have familial adenomatous polyposis. Ninety two colonoscopies yielded 21 patients with polyps (12 had tubular adenomas, including one with early malignant invasion). Thirty three per cent (four of 12) of the tubular adenomas were beyond the reach of a flexible sigmoidoscope. Three hundred and forty two further high risk relatives were identified from the family history.

Adult↗

Investigating lymphadenopathy--report on the first 12 months of the lymph node diagnostic clinic at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

The lymph node diagnostic clinic was set up at the Royal Marsden Hospital to provide a direct access service for general practitioners. In the first year 82 patients were seen. The malignancy pick-up rate was 19.5% which compares very favourably to rates in breast and colorectal clinics. Patient and general practitioner satisfaction with the service was high.

Adolescent↗

Psychopharmacology training in psychiatric residency programs: the Canadian scene.

A survey among psychiatric residents about their satisfaction with and concerns about their training in psychopharmacology was conducted. One hundred and seventy responders (61%) from ten post-graduate psychiatric programs in Canada completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed the residents' satisfaction with the training they had received over the previous six months as well as over their entire residency period. The questionnaire inquired specifically about the quantity and quality of supervision in the use of different medications for different therapeutic purposes. It also looked at the quality of supervision of drug therapies within hospital services, inpatient, outpatient, consultation and emergency services. Residents also were asked about coverage of specific topics and ranked different methods of learning. The survey uncovered a number of deficiencies mostly related to the teaching of basic psychopharmacology, integration of psychopharmacological and psychosocial issues and the lack of teaching of clinical appraisal of recent advances. Factors that may have contributed to the development of such deficiencies as well as specific recommendations are discussed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke as predisposition factors to acute respiratory infections.

This study compared susceptibility to respiratory morbidity in a cohort of 9-year-old children exposed congenitally and postnatally to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) to susceptibility in a cohort of unexposed children. The epidemiologic study included 1129 children: 594 boys and 535 girls attending the second grade of grammar schools in Kraków, Poland. We found strong evidence that children exposed to ETS in their homes were more susceptible to acute respiratory tract illnesses than unexposed children. A dose-response relationship between degree of exposure [for lower ETS exposure, odds ratio (OR) = 1.32; for higher ETS exposure, OR = 1.74] supports a causal explanation for the association observed. The significant trend of increased risk of respiratory infections due to ETS level in nonatopic children whose mothers did not smoke cigarettes during pregnancy suggests a direct effect of ETS exposure on the child's respiratory health. ETS combined with allergy nearly tripled the risk of acute respiratory tract illness (OR = 3.39; 95% CI, 1.93-5.93), and maternal smoking during pregnancy had a modifying effect on the risk of respiratory illnesses due to ETS after accounting for atopy. The stronger effect of ETS in atopic children and in those whose mothers smoked during pregnancy may be result of biologic interaction of endogenous and environmental factors. The results of this study are of relevance to public health policy, as children with higher risk of respiratory infections may be more susceptible to environmental hazards later in adolescence or in adulthood. Respiratory infections also increase demands for medical interventions in terms of outpatient services and hospital administrations. In addition, respiratory illnesses cause missed school days, and caring for a sick child may lead to absenteeism from work.

Acute Disease↗