Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

The aim of our study was to determine the perspective of non-oncologist physicians regarding their attitudes and beliefs associated with palliative care for patients with metastatic cancer. The study was planned as a cross-sectional survey, and non-oncologist physicians were reached via e-mail and social networking sites. The first part of the questionnaire involved demographic properties, the second part inquired as to the perspectives of participants regarding metastatic disease, and the third part was used to determine beliefs and attitudes about palliative care. All of the questions were five-point Likert-type questions. A total of 1734 physicians completed the questionnaire. The majority of participants were general surgeons or internal medicine specialists (21 and 18 %, respectively), were male (61 %), were younger than 50 years of age (54 %), worked in the town center (67 %), had more than 11 years of professional experience (57 %), and worked in a hospital without an active oncology service (86 %). A total of 71 % of participants identified all patients with metastatic cancer as being terminal stage, 62 % were unaware of palliative care techniques, 64 % did not know about common supportive care options, 59 % were against hospice, and 63 % had no opinion on resuscitation. We determined that non-oncologist physicians believed that all patients with metastatic cancer are at the terminal stage and that palliative/supportive care is the oncologist's task. These data suggest that non-oncologist physicians would benefit from additional graduate and postgraduate courses on these topics

Perspective of Turkish Medicine Students on Cancer, Cancer Treatments, Palliative Care, and Oncologists (ARES Study): a Study of the Palliative Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death all over the World (Rahib et al. in Cancer Res 74(11):2913-2921, 2014; Silbermann et al. in Ann Oncol 23(Suppl 3):iii15-iii28, 2012). It is crucial to diagnose this disease early by effective screening methods and also it is very important to acknowledge the community on various aspects of this disease such as the treatment methods and palliative care. Not only the oncologists but every medical doctor should be educated well in dealing with cancer patients. Previous studies suggested various opinions on the level of oncology education in medical schools (Pavlidis et al. in Ann Oncol 16(5):840-841, 2005). In this study, the perspectives of medical students on cancer, its treatment, palliative care, and the oncologists were analyzed in relation to their educational status. A multicenter survey analysis was performed on a total of 4224 medical school students that accepted to enter this study in Turkey. After the questions about the demographical characteristics of the students, their perspectives on the definition, diagnosis, screening, and treatment methods of cancer and their way of understanding metastatic disease as well as palliative care were analyzed. The questionnaire includes questions with answers and a scoring system of Likert type 5 (absolutely disagree = 1, completely agree = 5). In the last part of the questionnaire, there were some words to detect what the words "cancer" and "oncologist" meant for the students. The participant students were analyzed in two study groups; "group 1" (n = 1.255) were phases I and II students that had never attended an oncology lesson, and "group 2" (n = 2.969) were phases III to VI students that had attended oncology lessons in the medical school. SPSS v17 was used for the database and statistical analyses. A value of p < 0.05 was noted as statistically significant. Group 1 defined cancer as a contagious disease (p = 0.00025), they believed that early diagnosis was never possible (p = 0.042), all people with a diagnosis of cancer would certainly die (p = 0.044), and chemotherapy was not successful in a metastatic disease (p = 0.003) as compared to group 2. The rate of the students that believed gastric cancer screening was a part of the national screening policy was significantly more in group 1 than in group 2 (p = 0.00014). Group 2 had a higher anxiety level for themselves or their family members to become a cancer patient. Most of the students in both groups defined medical oncologists as warriors (57% in group 1 and 40% in group 2; p = 0.097), and cancer was reminding them of "death" (54% in group 1 and 48% in group 2; p = 0.102). This study suggested that oncology education was useful for the students' understanding of cancer and related issues; however, the level of oncology education should be improved in medical schools in Turkey. This would be helpful for medical doctors to cope with many aspects of cancer as a major health care problem in this country

Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death all over the World (Rahib et al. in Cancer Res 74(11):2913-2921, 2014; Silbermann et al. in Ann Oncol 23(Suppl 3):iii15-iii28, 2012). It is crucial to diagnose this disease early by effective screening methods and also it is very important to acknowledge the community on various aspects of this disease such as the treatment methods and palliative care. Not only the oncologists but every medical doctor should be educated well in dealing with cancer patients. Previous studies suggested various opinions on the level of oncology education in medical schools (Pavlidis et al. in Ann Oncol 16(5):840-841, 2005). In this study, the perspectives of medical students on cancer, its treatment, palliative care, and the oncologists were analyzed in relation to their educational status. A multicenter survey analysis was performed on a total of 4224 medical school students that accepted to enter this study in Turkey. After the questions about the demographical characteristics of the students, their perspectives on the definition, diagnosis, screening, and treatment methods of cancer and their way of understanding metastatic disease as well as palliative care were analyzed. The questionnaire includes questions with answers and a scoring system of Likert type 5 (absolutely disagree = 1, completely agree = 5). In the last part of the questionnaire, there were some words to detect what the words "cancer" and "oncologist" meant for the students. The participant students were analyzed in two study groups; "group 1" (n = 1.255) were phases I and II students that had never attended an oncology lesson, and "group 2" (n = 2.969) were phases III to VI students that had attended oncology lessons in the medical school. SPSS v17 was used for the database and statistical analyses. A value of p < 0.05 was noted as statistically significant. Group 1 defined cancer as a contagious disease (p = 0.00025), they believed that early diagnosis was never possible (p = 0.042), all people with a diagnosis of cancer would certainly die (p = 0.044), and chemotherapy was not successful in a metastatic disease (p = 0.003) as compared to group 2. The rate of the students that believed gastric cancer screening was a part of the national screening policy was significantly more in group 1 than in group 2 (p = 0.00014). Group 2 had a higher anxiety level for themselves or their family members to become a cancer patient. Most of the students in both groups defined medical oncologists as warriors (57% in group 1 and 40% in group 2; p = 0.097), and cancer was reminding them of "death" (54% in group 1 and 48% in group 2; p = 0.102). This study suggested that oncology education was useful for the students' understanding of cancer and related issues; however, the level of oncology education should be improved in medical schools in Turkey. This would be helpful for medical doctors to cope with many aspects of cancer as a major health care problem in this country.C1 [Oktay, Esin; Turan, Merve; Barutca, Sabri] Adnan Menderes Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Aydin, Turkey.[Levent, Mustafa] Sitki Kocman Univ, Dept Internal Med, Fac Med, Mugla, Turkey.[Gelincik, Hakan; Aktas, Gizem; Paydas, Semra] Cukurova Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Adana, Turkey.[Yumuk, Fulden] Marmara Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Koral, Lokman] Onsekiz Mart Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Canakkale, Turkey.[Arpaci, Erkan] Sakarya Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Sakarya, Turkey.[Keser, Murat; Yavuzsen, Tugba] Dokuz Eylul Univ, Dept Med Oncolog, Fac Med, Izmir, Turkey.[Alkan, Ali; Senler, Filiz Cay] Ankara Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Karci, Ebru; Karadurmus, Nuri] Gulhane Mil Med Acad, Dept Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Degirmencioglu, Serkan; Yaren, Arzu] Pamukkale Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Denizli, Turkey.[Uyeturk, Ummugul] Abant Izzet Baysal Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Bolu, Turkey.[Cabuk, Devrim] Kocaeli Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Izmit, Turkey.[Avci, Nilufer] Balikesir Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Balikesir, Turkey.[Toprak, Omer] Balikesir Univ, Dept Internal Med, Fac Med, Balikesir, Turkey.[Ergen, Arzu; Sahinler, Ismet] Istanbul Univ, Cerrahpasa Fac Med, Dept Radiat Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Urvay, Semiha] Cumhuriyet Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Sivas, Turkey.[Bayman, Evrim] Osmangazi Univ, Dept Radiat Oncol, Fac Med, Eskisehir, Turkey.[Petekkaya, Emine] Beykent Univ, Dept Anat, Fac Med, Istanbul, Turkey.[Nayir, Erdinc] Mersin Medicalpark Hosp, Dept Med Oncol, Mersin, Turkey.[Ozyilkan, Ozgur] Baskent Univ, Dept Med Oncol, Fac Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Tanriverdi, Ozgur] Mugla Sitki Kocman Univ, Fac Med, Dept Med Oncol, Mugla, Turkey

Perspective of Turkish Medicine Students on Cancer, Cancer Treatments, Palliative Care, and Oncologists (ARES Study): a Study of the Palliative Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

PMID = 3044698

Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG)

Objective Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is an important psychological trauma associated with reduction in the quality of life, disruptions in the level of adjustment, emotional distress and anxiety. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of patient-physician relationship on FCR. Methods The study was designed as a multicentre survey study. The cancer survivors, who were under remission, were evaluated with structured questionnaires. Patient-physician relationship (PPR) scale in which higher scores indicate better relationship and FCR inventory was used. Results Between January and April 2019, 1,580 patients were evaluated. The median age was 57.0 (19-88), and 66% were female. There was high level of FCR scores in 51% of participants. There was a negative correlation between PPR and FCR scores (r = -.134,p < .001). In multivariate analysis, young age, female gender, history of metastasectomy and worse PPR were associated with high levels of FCR. Conclusion It is the first data showing the adverse impact of worse PPR on FCR. The strategies to improve the PPR should be practised. In addition, the cancer survivors, who are under the risk of FCR, should be evaluated and managed.C1 [Alkan, Ali; Tanriverdi, Ozgur] Mugla Sitki Kocman Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Mugla, Turkey.[Yasar, Arzu; Gurbuz, Mustafa; Senler, Filiz Cay] Ankara Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Guc, Zeynep Gulsum; Yavuzsen, Tugba] Dokuz Eylul Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Izmir, Turkey.[Basoglu, Tugba; Yumuk, Perran Fulden] Marmara Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Goksu, Sema Sezgin; Coskun, Hasan Senol] Akdeniz Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Antalya, Turkey.[Basal, Fatma Bugdayci; Ates, Ozturk] Abdurrahman Yurtarslan Res & Training Hosp, Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Turk, Haci Mehmet] Bezmialem Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Ozdemir, Ozlem] Izmir Bozyak Res & Training Hosp, Med Oncol, Izmir, Turkey.[Cinkir, Havva Yesil] Gaziantep Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Guven, Deniz Can] Hacettepe Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Ankara, Turkey.[Kus, Tulay] Dr Ersin Arslan Training & Res Hosp, Med Oncol, Gaziantep, Turkey.[Turker, Sema] Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Res & Training Hosp, Med Oncol, Ankara, Turkey.[Koral, Lokman] Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Canakkale, Turkey.[Karakas, Yusuf] Bodrum Acibadem Hosp, Med Oncol, Mugla, Turkey.[Ak, Naziye] Istanbul Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Paydas, Semra] Cukurova Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Adana, Turkey.[Karci, Ebru] Bagcilar Res & Training Hosp, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Demiray, Atike Gokcen] Pamukkale Univ, Med Oncol, Sch Med, Denizli, Turkey.[Demir, Atakan] Acibadem Maslak Hosp, Med Oncol, Istanbul, Turkey.[Alan, Ozkan] Tekirdag Publ Hosp, Med Oncol, Tekirdag, Turkey.[Keskin, Ozge] Selcuk Univ, Sch Med, Med Oncol, Konya, Turkey.[Nayir, Erdinc] VM Med Pk Mersin Hosp, Med Oncol, Mersin, Turkey.[Turhal, Serdar] Anadolu Med Ctr, Med Oncol, Kocaeli, Turkey