Informed consent in advanced laryngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the informed consent process and the treatment received by patients with advanced laryngeal cancer.


METHODS
The study group was composed of 101 consecutive patients who were eligible for the Department of Veterans Affairs Laryngeal Cancer Study Group and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/Head and Neck Intergroup (RTOG 91-11) larynx preservation clinical trials and who underwent treatment at the Mayo Clinic during the years 1985 to 2000. Records were reviewed to evaluate the effect that referral to an oncologist, discussion and documentation of treatment alternatives by the surgeon, offering a chance at a larynx conservation surgical procedure, and treatment recommendation made by the surgeon have on the treatment chosen and received by the patient.


RESULTS
Discussion of treatment alternatives by the surgeon (p = .0054), referral to an oncologist (p < .0001), offering a chance for a larynx conservation surgical procedure (p = .047), and treatment recommended by the surgeon (p < .0001) were significantly related to the treatment received by the patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment received by a patient with advanced laryngeal cancer is determined by the treatment recommended by the surgeon, referral to an oncologist, discussion of treatment alternatives by the surgeon, and offering a chance for a larynx conservation surgical procedure.
Foote
Robert L
RL
Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. foote.robert@mayo.edu
Brown
Paul D
PD
Garces
Yolanda I
YI
Okuno
Scott H
SH
Miller
Robert C
RC
Strome
Scott E
SE
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies