HOW TO ORGANIZE GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY IN THE FUTURE - RESULTS OF AN INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE

A questionnaire was sent to 93 gynecologic oncologists from 54 countri es about the way in which gynecologic oncology was organized in their country, or if the (sub)speciality was not yet recognized, how they th ought it should be organized. The questionnaire was answered by 64 per sons from 42 different countries. The subspecialty was recognised in 1 7 (41%) of the countries. Fifty-five respondents (86%) thought that gy necologic oncology should be a subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecolo gy. The median duration of the gynecologic oncologic fellowship progra m was 30 months. Diagnosis and surgery accounted for about 58% of the duration of the program. In 52% of the answers from countries with boa rd certification, the fellows had to pass a theoretical and practical examination, and in addition 22% of the candidates had to defend a the sis to qualify for certification. Training centers in countries that r ecognized gynecologic oncology had a median number of 142 new cases pe r year (for 1 fellow). The median number of gynecologic oncologogists and fellows per 10((7)) inhabitants in countries with beard certificat ion in gynecologic oncology was 42 and 6, respectively. Finally, the i mportant role of international societies (like the International Gynec ologic Cancer Society and the European Society of Gynaecological Oncol ogy) in supporting the countries without recognized Gynecologic Oncolo gy was stressed by the respondents. The setting up of international st andards for training programs, training centers, board certification, and the organization of international exchange programs for fellows se emed to be equally important, according to the questionnaire responses .