Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Mar 5:34:7-14.
doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2022.03.001. eCollection 2022 May.

Optimal and actual rates of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) utilisation for primary lung cancer in Australia

Wsam Ghandourh  1   2   3 , Lois Holloway  1   2   3   4   5   6 , Vikneswary Batumalai  1   3   7   8 , Phillip Chlap  1   2   3 , Matthew Field  1   3 , Susannah Jacob  1   3   7
Affiliations

Optimal and actual rates of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) utilisation for primary lung cancer in Australia

Wsam Ghandourh et al. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. .

Abstract

Background and purpose: Radiotherapy utilisation rates considerably vary across different countries and service providers, highlighting the need to establish reliable benchmarks against which utilisation rates can be assessed. Here, optimal utilisation rates of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) for lung cancer are estimated and compared against actual utilisation rates to identify potential shortfalls in service provision.

Materials and methods: An evidence-based optimal utilisation model was constructed after reviewing practice guidelines and identifying indications for lung SABR based on the best available evidence. The proportions of patients likely to develop each indication were obtained, whenever possible, from Australian population-based studies. Sensitivity analysis was performed to account for variations in epidemiological data. Practice pattern studies were reviewed to obtain actual utilisation rates.

Results: A total of 6% of all lung cancer patients were estimated to optimally require SABR at least once during the course of their illness (95% CI: 4-6%). Optimal utilisation rates were estimated to be 32% for stage I and 10% for stage II NSCLC. Actual utilisation rates for stage I NSCLC varied between 6 and 20%. For patients with inoperable stage I, 27-74% received SABR compared to the estimated optimal rate of 82%.

Conclusion: The estimated optimal SABR utilisation rates for lung cancer can serve as useful benchmarks to highlight gaps in service delivery and help plan for more adequate and efficient provision of care. The model can be easily modified to determine optimal utilisation rates in other populations or updated to reflect any changes in practice guidelines or epidemiological data.

Keywords: Lung SABR; Optimal utilisation; Practice patterns; Utilisation gaps.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Model depicting optimal SABR utilisation in lung cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Ettinger D.S., et al. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 5.2017, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2017;15:504–535. - PubMed
    1. Schneider B.J., et al. Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Endorsement of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Evidence-Based Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2017;36:710–719. - PubMed
    1. Delaney G., Barton M., Jacob S., Jalaludin B. A model for decision making for the use of radiotherapy in lung cancer. Lancet Oncol. 2003;4:120–128. - PubMed
    1. Vinod S.K., et al. Underutilization of radiotherapy for lung cancer in New South Wales. Australia Cancer. 2010;116:686–694. - PubMed
    1. Li W.W.L., et al. The influence of provider characteristics on resection rates and survival in patients with localized non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer. 2008;60:441–451. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources