title: Oncologists' confidence in knowledge of fertility issues for young women with cancer.
abstract: We sought to identify factors associated with greater cancer-related fertility knowledge in a national survey of oncologists. We surveyed 344 oncologists from a sampling pool drawn randomly from the AMA Masterfile. We conducted multiple linear regression to determine the relationship between confidence in knowledge and oncologists' characteristics. Respondents' average age was 48.5, and 75.3% were male. The average confidence in knowledge summary score was 23.8 (SD 6.4, range 8-40). In multivariable regression, confidence was higher among oncologists with more information resources, a sense of responsibility to discuss fertility issues and among gynecologic oncologists vs. other oncology specialties. Physician age, gender, and practice setting were not associated with fertility-related knowledge. Oncologists lack confidence in their knowledge of fertility issues in young women with breast cancer. Increasing professional responsibility to discuss fertility and greater information access could improve the depth and breadth of education regarding fertility issues among oncologists and their young patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Medicine, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital/DGIM, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Christine_Duffy@Brown.edu
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dube
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dickersin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult