Cancer Res Treat.  2017 Jul;49(3):588-594. 10.4143/crt.2016.313.

Survey of Medical Oncology Status in Korea (SOMOS-K): A National Survey of Medical Oncologists in the Korean Association for Clinical Oncology (KACO)

• Kim DY
• Lee YG
• Kim BS

• KMID: 2388304
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2016.313

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to investigate the current role of medical oncologists in cancer care with a focus on increasing the recognition of medical oncology as an independent specialty.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Questionnaires modified from the Medical Oncology Status in Europe Survey dealing with oncology structure, resources, research, and patterns of care given by medical oncologists were selected. Several modifications were made to the questionnaire after feedback from the insurance and policy committee of the Korean Association for Clinical Oncology (KACO). The online survey was then sent to KACO members.
RESULTS
A total of 214 medical oncologists (45.8% of the total inquiries), including 71 directors of medical oncology institutions, took the survey. Most institutions had various resources, including a medical oncology department (94.1%) and a department of radiation oncology (82.4%). There was an average of four medical oncologists at each institution. Medical oncologists were involved in various treatments from diagnosis to end-of-life care. They were also chemotherapy providers from a wide range of institutions that treated many types of solid cancers. In addition, 86.2% of the institutions conducted research.
CONCLUSION
This is the first national survey in Korea to show that medical oncologists are involved in a wide range of cancer treatments and care. This survey emphasizes the contributions and proper roles of medical oncologists in the evolving health care environment in Korea.

Keyword

Medical oncology; Surveys and questionnaires; Korea

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Diagnosis
Drug Therapy
Europe
Insurance
Korea*
Medical Oncology*
Radiation Oncology
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Distribution of medical oncology facilities at institutions (n=68). Depart of medical oncol, Department of Medical Oncology; Depart of radiation oncol, Department of Radiation Oncology.

• 

  Fig. 2. The average percentage of multidisciplinary cancer care at institutions that provided care for the four major cancer types of cancer: lung cancer (A), breast cancer (B), stomach cancer (C), and colorectal cancer (D). Adj CTx, adjuvant chemotherapy; Palliat CTx, palliative chemotherapy; Neoadj CTx, neoadjuvant chemotherapy; MDT, multidisciplinary team; MO, medical oncologist; TS, thoracic surgeon; PUL, pulmonologist; PS, palliative care specialist; FM, family medicine doctor; BS, breast surgeon; SS, stomach surgeon; GE, gastroenterologist; CS, colorectal surgeon.

• 

  Fig. 3. Average percentage of medical oncologists involved in the care of cancer patients with the four major types of solid cancers.

• 

  Fig. 4. The number of clinical trials in Korea conducted within the past year at institutions.

Reference

References

1. Popescu RA, Schafer R, Califano R, Eckert R, Coleman R, Douillard JY, et al. The current and future role of the medical oncologist in the professional care for cancer patients: a position paper by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). Ann Oncol. 2014; 25:9–15.

2. The ASCO POST January 15, 2014. ESMO releases position paper on med-oncs’ role in cancer care [Internet]. Huntington, NY: HSP News Service;2016. [cited 2016 Jul 7]. Available from: http://www.ascopost.com/issues/january-15-2014/esmoreleases-position-paper-on-med-oncs-role-in-cancer-care.aspx.

3. The ESCO MOSES Task Force. Medical Oncology Status in European Survey (MOSES) Phase III [Internet]. Viganello-Lugano: European Society for Medical Oncology;2016. [cited 2016 Jul 7]. Available from: https://www.esmo.org/content/download/8359/170041/file/2006-MOSES.pdf.

4. The ESCO MOSES Task Force. Medical Oncology Status in European Survey (MOSES) Phase III [Internet]. Viganello-Lugano: European Society for Medical Oncology;2016. [cited 2016 Jul 7]. Available from: https://www.esmo.org/content/download/8358/170037/file/2008-ESMO-MOSES-PhaseIII.pdf.

5. The Korean Association of Internal Medicine. Sixth education for resident training staff. Seoul: The Korean Association of Internal Medicine;2015. p. 47–8.

6. Shim BY, Park SH, Lee S, Kim JS, Lee KE, Kang YK, et al. Current status and challenges of cancer clinical trials in Korea. Cancer Res Treat. 2016; 48:20–7.

7. Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CFWI). Medical Oncology [Internet]. Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CFWI);2016. [cited 2016 Jul 7]. Available from: http://www.cfwi.org.uk/publications/medical-oncology-cfwi-medical-fact-sheet-and-summary-sheet-august-2010/attachment.pdf.

8. Erikson C, Salsberg E, Forte G, Bruinooge S, Goldstein M. Future supply and demand for oncologists: challenges to assuring access to oncology services. J Oncol Pract. 2007; 3:79–86.

9. Yang W, Williams JH, Hogan PF, Bruinooge SS, Rodriguez GI, Kosty MP, et al. Projected supply of and demand for oncologists and radiation oncologists through 2025: an aging, better-insured population will result in shortage. J Oncol Pract. 2014; 10:39–45.

10. European Society for Medical Oncology. Experience sharing by other societies who have performed national workforce surveys. ESMO global cancer task force project of the ESMO emerging countries committee. Viganello-Lugano: European Society for Medical Oncology;2015.

11. European Society for Medical Oncology. WHO of a proposal for a workforce survey to answer the question: is the projected workforce able to meet the need to deliver cancer services? ESMO global cancer task force project of the ESMO emerging countries committee. Viganello-Lugano: European Society for Medical Oncology;2015.