Current attitudes and practice of American Society of Clinical Oncology-member clinical oncologists regarding cancer prevention and control

Abstract

Purpose and methods: A nationwide needs assessment survey including a validated Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Attitude Inventory of 1,500 randomly selected American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)-member clinical oncologists was conducted via a 67-item, mailed questionnaire to assess practice and attitudes regarding cancer prevention and control.

Results: Responses of 729 physicians from 48 states representing medical (57%), radiation (17%), surgical (16%), and pediatric oncology (6%), and hematology/other (4%) fields were obtained. Except for ambivalence regarding an important role for diet in cancer causation, cancer prevention and control recommendations were widely endorsed despite skepticism about their impact on reducing deaths from cancer. Surprisingly, a significantly (P less than .001) more favorable attitude for cancer prevention and control issues was found in physicians with greater than 20 years practice compared with younger oncology colleagues, as measured by a 22-item Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Attitude Inventory. Among all physicians, participation in cancer therapy trials exceeded that in cancer prevention and control trials (91% v 27%, P less than .01). Formal instruction during postgraduate training in cancer screening (34%) or prevention (23%) was received by few oncologists; nonetheless, 69% considered themselves a resource for cancer prevention and control issues in their practice communities. Of potential barriers to cancer prevention and control activity, only lack of patients without cancer (53%) and difficulty in including such activity economically into clinical practice (65%) were majority selections. Importantly, 64% agreed they could "motivate their patients to change lifestyle to reduce cancer risk."

Conclusion: Clinical oncologists may represent a potential resource for implementation of cancer prevention and control objectives if economically feasible models for their use in practice settings can be identified.