QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND ASSURANCE PROGRAMS IN THE GYNECOLOGIC-ONCOLOGY-GROUP

The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), a program of ACOG, is one of 12 cooperative groups conducting clinical trials supported by the Nationa l Cancer Institute. Recently, an occurrence of research fraud was foun d in one of the other cooperative groups. The GOG maintains a quality assessment and assurance program that includes three primary functions : Original source documentation is examined to verify accuracy of trea tment modalities, all protocols are regularly scrutinized for consiste ncy and validity, and regular on-site audits are conducted at all inst itutions. The group endeavors to reassure physicians and their patient s that research fraud is not rampant in the cooperative group system a nd that data published by the cooperative groups are reliable.