Head and neck cancer care at a community-based teaching hospital.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this analysis was to demonstrate that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) will result in accruals to national research protocols for patients with malignancies in a community-based teaching hospital.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the records of oncology patients eligible for clinical trials referred to the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center (HFGCC).


RESULTS
The average number of patients who actually enroll in clinical trials nationally is 2.5%. The number of patients who enrolled in clinical trials at the HFGCC CCOP in 2003 was 24%.


CONCLUSIONS
The integration of a CCOP in a community-based teaching hospital will enhance adoption of state-of-the-art care and increase accruals to national research protocols.
Witt
Robert L
RL
Christiana Care Health Systems, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilmington, DE 19806, USA. RobertLWitt@aol.com
Frelick
Robert W
RW
D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D018579:Patient Selection; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States