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Hépato-Gastro & Oncologie Digestive

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Implication of hepato-gastroenterologists (HGE) in digestive oncology? Survey from the French Federation of Digestive Diseases’ Specialities (FSMAD) and the Francophone Federation in Digestive Oncology (FFCD) Volume 19, issue 6, Juin 2012

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Authors
Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, service HGE oncologie digestive, 20 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris ; FSMAD, FFCD, Centre hospitalier régional d’Orléans, FFCD, FFCD Dijon, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Rouen, SNFGE, Clinique Saint Jean, service d’hépato-gastroentérologie, Lyon FSMAD, Centre Hospitalier La Roche sur Yon, ANGH, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Reims, SNFGE, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Dijon, FFCD

<p>Between November 2007 and March 2008, a survey was conducted on the implication of hepato-gastroenterologists (HGE) in digestive oncology. There were 3 387 HGE in activity in France in 2007 and 1 663 answered at the questionnaire. These HGE were working in all categories and kind of hospitals.</p><p>The involvement in GI oncology was evaluate through a visual analogical scale and quoted for 46,8% of HGE at 7/10 or over. Among the HGE, 665 HGE (40%) were qualified in digestive oncology by the French National Order of Medicine and 186 owned a degree in digestive oncology. Thus, according to the French National Cancer Institute criteria, 754 HGE were “authorized” to prescribe chemotherapy.</p><p>In term of activities in oncology, 89% HGE attempted pluridisciplinary staffs (RCP). Chemotherapy prescription and administration, which is not restricted to medical oncologist in France, was prescribed by 709 HGE (43%); 257 HGE prescribed chemotherapies without authorization, however, half of them, aged between 40-50 of years, had in the past no possibility to be graduated for organisational reasons.</p><p>This survey illustrates the complementary role between HGE and medical oncologists. There was a great variation in density across French regions with an inverse relationship between the density of medical oncologists and the number of HGE administrating chemotherapy, per colorectal cancer case. In regions with low density in medical oncologist the role of HGE was predominant and contributed to offer competent and specialized cares for patients suffering from digestive cancer and living far away from large centres.</p><p>Digestive oncology is integrated in the training of HGE in France. The role of HGE in the management of digestive cancers with other specialists should be better known and taken into account by anti cancer plans and the Regional Health Agencies to be better integrated in the regional organisation of oncology in collaboration with medical oncologists and other specialists to offer an optimal treatment for patients with digestive cancer.</p>