Author/Authors :
Najafi, Massoome Department of Surgery - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Neishaboury, Mohamadreza Department of Surgery - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Ghafari, Nazanin Department of Surgery - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Haghighat, Shahpar Department - Breast Cancer Research Center - ACECR, Tehran , Memari, Fereydoon Department of Surgery - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Kaviani, Ahmad Department of Surgery - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Abstract :
Background: The purpose of this study was to assess Iranian surgeons'
perceptions toward mastectomy and breast conserving therapy (BCT) and
determine the contributing factors.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a structured questionnaire was devised
and hosted on survey.tums.ac.ir and a link to the questionnaire was emailed to
surgeons registered in Iranian Medical Council, branch of Tehran. The results of
the current study were compared to a similar study which was performed in 2004
on a comparable sample of surgeons inTehran, Iran.
Results: A total 166 surgeons filled out the study questionnaire. Only 24
surgeons declared that they have not performed BCT before. Variables that
showed a significant association with performing BCT were attending a breast
surgery or surgical oncology fellowship (P = 0.010) and breast surgery workshop
(P = 0.042). No associations were observed between performance of BCT and age
category (P = 0.951), gender (P = 0.416), duration of practice (P = 0.821), number
of breast cancer patients per year (P= 0.083), and setting of practice categorized as
teaching – nonteaching hospitals (P = 0.417). Comparing the results of the current
study with the study performed in 2004 revealed a significant increase in the
frequency of surgeons who performed BCT (85.5% vs 19.3%, respectively) (P <
0.001). Participants of the current study were more likely to mention "lack of
experience" as the reason for not performing BCT compared to the previous study
(P= 0.004).
Conclusions: Our results delineated that there was a significant increase in the
percentage of surgeons performing BCT compared to the previous study. Factors
significantly associated with performing BCT were participating in a surgical
oncology or breast surgery fellowship or short courses in breast surgery.
Keywords :
Breast conserving therapy , surgeon practice , mastectomy , Iran