McCloskey Susan A, Tao May Lin, Rose Christopher M, Fink Arlene, Amadeo Alessandra M
Valley Radiotherapy Associates Division of Clinical Research, El Segundo, CA, USA.
Cancer J. 2007 Mar-Apr;13(2):130-7. doi: 10.1097/PPO.0b013e31804675d4.
Despite growth of palliative care programs and evidence on the effectiveness of radiotherapy in palliating cancer symptoms, radiotherapy is probably underused in this setting. Radiation and medical oncologists and palliative medicine specialists were surveyed regarding the perceived role of palliative radiotherapy and barriers to its use.
The survey was sent electronically to all physician members of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and a random sample of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) members, with known e-mail addresses.
Response rates were 27%, 14% and 26% for ASTRO, ASCO, and AAHPM respondents, respectively. Although most felt radiotherapy is an effective and important option for palliation of some common cancer symptoms, referrals for such therapy may be declining. Most agreed that radiation oncologists should be more involved in palliative care; however, multiple barriers were identified, such as poor reimbursement, emotional burden of care, insufficient training/knowledge, and the sense of unwillingness of others to share delivery of such services.
Although multiple barriers limit optimal integration, most agree that there should be greater national and professional society efforts to promote the advancement of radiation oncology in the area of palliative care.
尽管姑息治疗项目有所发展，且有证据表明放射治疗在缓解癌症症状方面有效，但在这种情况下放射治疗可能未得到充分利用。我们针对姑息性放射治疗的认知作用及其使用障碍，对放射肿瘤学家、医学肿瘤学家和姑息医学专家进行了调查。
该调查问卷通过电子邮件发送给美国放射肿瘤学会（ASTRO）、美国临终关怀与姑息医学学会（AAHPM）的所有医师会员，以及随机抽取的已知电子邮件地址的美国临床肿瘤学会（ASCO）会员。
ASTRO、ASCO和AAHPM受访者的回复率分别为27%、14%和26%。尽管大多数人认为放射治疗是缓解某些常见癌症症状的有效且重要的选择，但此类治疗的转诊可能在减少。大多数人同意放射肿瘤学家应更多地参与姑息治疗；然而，也发现了多个障碍，如报销不佳、护理的情感负担、培训/知识不足，以及其他人不愿分担此类服务的提供。
尽管多种障碍限制了最佳整合，但大多数人同意国家和专业协会应加大努力，以促进放射肿瘤学在姑息治疗领域的发展。
