Surgeons' Perspectives on Surgery of Breast Cancer in Iran: The Pattern and Determinants

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess Iranian surgeons'perceptions toward mastectomy and breast conserving therapy (BCT) anddetermine the contributing factors.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a structured questionnaire was devisedand hosted on survey.tums.ac.ir and a link to the questionnaire was emailed tosurgeons registered in Iranian Medical Council, branch of Tehran. The results ofthe current study were compared to a similar study which was performed in ۲۰۰۴on a comparable sample of surgeons inTehran, Iran.Results: A total ۱۶۶ surgeons filled out the study questionnaire. Only ۲۴surgeons declared that they have not performed BCT before. Variables thatshowed a significant association with performing BCT were attending a breastsurgery or surgical oncology fellowship (P = ۰.۰۱۰) and breast surgery workshop(P = ۰.۰۴۲). No associations were observed between performance of BCT and agecategory (P = ۰.۹۵۱), gender (P = ۰.۴۱۶), duration of practice (P = ۰.۸۲۱), numberof breast cancer patients per year (P= ۰.۰۸۳), and setting of practice categorized asteaching – nonteaching hospitals (P = ۰.۴۱۷). Comparing the results of the currentstudy with the study performed in ۲۰۰۴ revealed a significant increase in thefrequency of surgeons who performed BCT (۸۵.۵% vs ۱۹.۳%, respectively) (P <۰.۰۰۱). Participants of the current study were more likely to mention "lack ofexperience" as the reason for not performing BCT compared to the previous study(P= ۰.۰۰۴).Conclusions: Our results delineated that there was a significant increase in thepercentage of surgeons performing BCT compared to the previous study. Factorssignificantly associated with performing BCT were participating in a surgicaloncology or breast surgery fellowship or short courses in breast surgery.

Keywords:

Breast conserving therapy , surgeon practice , mastectomy , Iran