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Annals of Oncology 15:1001-1006, 2004
© 2004 European Society for Medical Oncology

Review

Quality of cancer care

Quality of cancer care is difficult to define and to evaluate. Here we consider three components represented by the questions: (i) Is the right question treatment being given? (ii) Is it being done well? and (iii) Is the patient being treated as well as the disease? Determining the right treatment requires a hierarchy of evidence from clinical trials, and high quality clinical trials to determine and supplement that evidence. Evidence-based guidelines are then useful in increasing compliance with evidence-based treatment. Quality of delivery of treatment is dependent on volume of practice: patients with rare or complex diseases should be referred to cancer centres. Treatment of the whole patient requires attention to communication, and to the management of symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Cancer care must be of high quality and delivered with compassion.

J. Vardy and I. F. Tannock{dagger},*

Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

*Correspondence to: Dr I. F. Tannock, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2M9. Tel: +1-416-946-2245; Fax: +1-416-946-2082;Email: ian.tannock{at}uhn.on.ca

Key words: cancer care, evidence-based medicine, quality of treatment


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