Physician attitudes and treatment patterns for XXXX .

@entity1 @entity788
BACKGROUND: Surgery appears to be an underutilized treatment option for @entity788 . Nihilistic physician attitudes may be partly responsible. The study objectives were to analyze physician attitudes towards this disease and determine treatment patterns and outcomes including rates of surgical referral. METHODS: A survey was administered to 420 physicians in Manitoba to document general knowledge and attitudes. Population based administrative data was accessed for all @entity1 diagnosed with @entity788 between 2004 and 2006 to examine treatment patterns and outcomes. RESULTS: 181 physicians responded to the survey. Most (73%) believed that surgical resection was worthwhile. Of the 413 Manitobans diagnosed with @entity788 , only 11% underwent an attempt at surgical resection. There were 124 @entity1 with stage I or II disease (i.e. potentially resectable), 85 of these @entity1 received no treatment and 39% were not referred to a surgeon. These @entity1 were older than those referred, but did not have more comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Most physicians were insightfully aware of both the survival benefit and potential risks of surgical resection. However, some did overestimate the surgical mortality and underestimate the associated survival benefit. Although advanced age may justly account for some of the @entity1 not receiving a referral, it is reasonable to assume that nihilistic physician attitudes is contributing to the apparent underutilization of surgery for @entity788 . Efforts should be made to ensure that eligible @entity1 are at least offered surgery as a potential treatment option.
