Han, Leona C.

4657 Background: While active surveillance (AS) is well recognized as an acceptable treatment strategy for low-risk prostate cancer (PC), the extent to which radiation oncologists and urologists perceive AS as effective and routinely recommend it to patients is unknown. Therefore, we sought to assess the attitudes and treatment recommendations for low-risk PC from a national survey of PC specialists. Methods: A mail survey was sent to a population-based sample of 1,439 physicians in the U.S. from late 2011 and early 2012. Physicians were queried about their attitudes regarding AS and treatment recommendations for patients diagnosed with low-risk PC (PSA<10 ng/dl; T1c; Gleason 6 in one of twelve cores). Pearson Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to test for differences in attitudes and treatment recommendations by physician demographics, compensation structure, primary place of employment, and specialty. Results: Overall, 321 radiation oncologists and 322 urologists completed the survey for a 45% response rate. Most physicians reported that AS is effective for low-risk PC (71%) and stated that they were comfortable routinely recommending AS (67%). Urologists were more likely to agree that AS is effective (77% vs. 67%; p=0.005) and were comfortable recommending AS (74% vs. 61%; p=0.001) compared with radiation oncologists. Most physicians recommended radical prostatectomy (47%) or radiation therapy (32%), but fewer endorsed AS (21%) for low-risk disease. After adjusting for physician covariates, radiation oncologists were more likely to recommend radiation therapy (OR: 10.97; p<0.001), while urologists were more likely to recommend surgery (OR: 4.69; p<0.001) and AS (OR: 2.18; p=0.001) for low-risk PC. Conclusions: Although AS is widely viewed as effective by both radiation oncologists and urologists, most urologists continue to recommend surgery, while most radiation oncologists recommend radiation therapy. Our results may explain in part the relatively low contemporary use of AS in the U.S.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between partial nephrectomy ( PN ) and hospital availability of robot‐assisted surgery from a population‐based cohort in the USA . Methods After merging the Nationwide Inpatient Sample ( NIS ) and the A merican Hospital Association survey from 2006 to 2008, we identified 21 179 patients who underwent either PN or radical nephrectomy ( RN ) for renal cell carcinoma ( RCC ). The primary outcome assessed was the type of nephrectomy performed. Multivariable logistic regression identified the patient and hospital characteristics associated with receipt of PN . Results We identified 4832 (22.8%) and 16 347 (77.2%) patients who were treated for RCC with PN and RN , respectively. On multivariable analysis, patients were more likely to receive PN at academic centres (odds ratio [ OR ] 2.77; P < 0.001), urban centres ( OR 3.66; P < 0.001) and A merican College of Surgeons ( ACOS )‐designated cancer centres ( OR : 1.10; P < 0.05) compared with non‐academic, rural and non‐ ACOS ‐designated cancer centre hospitals, respectively. Robot‐assisted surgery availability at a hospital was also associated with a higher adjusted odds of PN compared with centres without that availability ( OR 1.28; P < 0.001). Conclusions Although academic and urban locations are establi s hed factors that affect the receipt of PN for RCC , the availability of robot‐assisted surgery at a hospital was also independently associated with higher use of PN . Our results are informative in identifying other key hospital characteristics which may facilitate greater adoption of PN .

Objective To assess recommendations for prostate‐specific antigen ( PSA ) screening in a national survey of radiation oncologists and urologists following the recent USA P reventive S ervices T ask F orce ( USPSTF ) grade D recommendation. Methods A random sample of 1366 radiation oncologists and urologists were identified from the A merican M edical A ssociation P hysician M asterfile. From N ovember 2011 to A pril 2012, a mail survey was sent to query PSA screening recommendations for men at average risk of prostate cancer for the following age groups: 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–74, 75–79 and ≥80 years. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test for differences in PSA ‐based screening recommendations by physician characteristics. Results Response rates were similar at 52% for radiation oncologists and urologists ( P = 0.92). Overall, 51.5% of respondents recommended PSA ‐based screening for men aged 40–49 years, while nearly all endorsed it for those aged 50–74 years (96.1% for 50–59, 97.3% for 60–69, and 87.7% for 70–74 years). However, screening recommendations decreased to 43.9% and 12.8% for men aged 75–79 and ≥80 years, respectively. On multivariable analysis, urologists were more likely to recommend screening for men aged 40–49 (odds ratio [ OR ] 3.09; P < 0.001) and 50–59 years ( OR 3.81; P = 0.01), but less likely for men aged 75–79 ( OR 0.66; P = 0.01) and ≥80 years ( OR 0.45; P = 0.002) compared with radiation oncologists. Conclusion While radiation oncologists and urologists recommended PSA screening for men aged 50–69 years, there was less agreement about screening for younger (40–49 years old) and older (≥70 years) men at average risk for prostate cancer.

Objective To describe the extent of use and in‐hospital outcomes of open and laparoscopic pyeloplasty for paediatric pelvi‐ureteric junction ( PUJ ) obstruction in the USA . Patients and Methods Using the 2004–2008 N ationwide I npatient S ample, we identified 4590 paediatric patients (≤18 years old) who underwent open or laparoscopic pyeloplasty for PUJ obstruction at 195 hospitals. Multivariable regression models were used to test the associations between hospital and patient covariates (age, gender, race, primary health insurance), type of admission (emergent vs elective), and hospital characteristics (teaching vs non‐teaching status; rural vs urban location) with complications, length of stay ( LOS ), and total hospitalization costs. Results During the 5‐year study interval, 4426 (96.4%) and 164 (3.6%) paediatric patients diagnosed with PUJ obstruction underwent open and laparoscopic pyeloplasty, respectively. The proportion of patients undergoing laparoscopic pyeloplasty gradually increased from 2.4% in 2004 to 4.4% in 2008, but this increase was not significant ( P = 0.22 for trend). On multivariable analysis, laparoscopic pyeloplasty was observed to have rates of postoperative complications (2.51 vs 5.00; P = 0.67), LOS (2.42 vs 2.75; P = 0.33) and total hospitalization cost ($9755 vs $8537; P = 0.24) similar to those of open pyeloplasty. Conclusions While laparoscopic pyeloplasty was generally an infrequent operation performed for paediatric PUJ obstruction during the period studied, this minimally invasive surgery provided similar outcomes in terms of in‐hospital complications, LOS and total hospitalization costs. The results of this study inform policymakers about the comparative effectiveness of laparoscopic and open pyeloplasty.

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Variations in the type of urinary diversion exist for patients undergoing radical cystectomy. Although its use has been increasing from 2001 to 2008, patients who are older, female, and primary insured by Medicaid are less likely to receive continent diversions. Furthermore, patients treated surgically at high‐volume and teaching hospitals are more likely to receive continent diversions. Objective To describe the contemporary trends in urinary diversion among patients undergoing radical cystectomy ( RC ) for bladder cancer; and elucidate whether socioeconomic disparities persist in the type of diversion performed in the USA from a population‐based cohort. Patients and Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we identified patients who underwent RC for bladder cancer between 2001 and 2008. Multivariable regression models were used to identify patient and hospital covariates associated with continent urinary diversion and enumerate predicted probabilities for statistically significant variables over time. Results Overall, 55 635 (92%) patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer received incontinent urinary diversion, while 4552 (8%) patients received continent diversion from 2001 to 2008. Receipt of continent urinary diversion increased from 6.6% in 2001–2002 to 9.4% in 2007–2008 ( P < 0.001 for trend). Patients who were older (odds ratio [ OR ] 0.93; P < 0.001), female ( OR 0.52; P < 0.001) and insured by Medicaid ( OR 0.54; P = 0.002) were less likely to receive continent urinary diversion. However, patients treated at teaching ( OR 2.14; P < 0.001) and high‐volume hospitals ( OR 2.39; P = 0.04) had higher odds of continent urinary diversion. Predicted probabilities of continent diversion remained lower for female patients, Medicaid insurance status, and non‐teaching and medium/low‐volume hospitals over time. Conclusions In this nationally representative sample of hospitals from 2001 to 2008, the use of continent diversion in RC gradually increased. Although variations in urinary diversion exist by hospital teaching status, case volume, patient gender and primary health insurance, increased attention in expanding the use of continent diversions may help reduce these disparities for patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer.