Does Practice Make Perfect?

Authors: Hogan, A.¹; Winter, D.²

Source: Annals of Surgical Oncology, Volume 15, Number 5, May 2008 , pp. 1267-1270(4)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Extensive literature supports the correlation between surgical volume and improved clinical outcome in the management of various cancers. It is this evidence that has catalysed the creation of centres of excellence. However, on closer inspection, many of these studies are poor quality, low weight and use vastly heterogenous end points in assessment of both volume and outcome. We critically appraise the English language literature published over the last ten years pertaining to the volume outcome relationship in the context of cancer care. Future balanced unbiased studies may enable equipoise in planning international cancer management strategies.

Keywords: Cancer; Volume; Outcome

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1245/s10434-007-9804-y

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Clinical Outcomes in Research and Education (ICORE), St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland 2: Institute of Clinical Outcomes in Research and Education (ICORE), St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland, Email: WinterD@indigo.ie

Publication date: 2008-05-01