EDUCATION OF RURAL PHYSICIANS ABOUT BREAST-CANCER THROUGH AN ONCOLOGYOUTREACH PROGRAM

In 1990, the Rural Illinois Cancer Consortium initiated an interventio n in the management of breast cancer for all rural hospitals. Regional data from a 12-county area were used to identify issues and develop a n intervention emphasis. The data suggested two management issues: eli minate unilateral diagnostic mammography and increase the number of pa tients that have their tumor staged. The intervention involved seminar s to provide feedback to physicians on management of breast cancer pat ients in the region. A series of personalized mailings emphasizing the intervention message were also deployed. Although data are not yet av ailable to measure the intervention impact, immediate feedback on the interventions was sought through a physician survey and several proces s measures. The immediate feedback measures were assessed. These measu res were the penetration of the rural hospital seminars, physician beh avior self-reported by mail survey, and number of inquiries to the Phy sician Data Query. Each of the nine hospitals held a seminar, and 39 p ercent of the rural physicians treating breast cancer patients attende d. Survey data showed physician behavior change in the desired directi on, compared with data from the baseline medical record audit conducte d in 1986-87. Intervention feedback was useful in defining the impleme ntation success of the interventions. The outcome evaluation, based on medical record audits, is in progress.