The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists Outcomes Task Force. Study of endometrical cancer: initial experiences

The aim of this study was to develop an outcomes measure, which incorporates patient reported information, for The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) to establish benchmarks in the treatment of endometrial cancer and demonstrate quality to third parties.

The Outcomes Task Force (OTF) developed an outcomes tool that included preoperative, intraoperative, and 120-day-postoperative assessments. Measures included demographics, patient-reported health status (SF36), comorbid conditions, living status, satisfaction surveys, operative events and disease characteristics. Patients (n = 297) were surveyed at 11 pilot sites from 10/1/97 to 9/1/99.

The mean age of patients was 64.4 years and their mean Quetelet index was 33.2 kg/m(2). Forty-eight percent were Medicare beneficiaries and 25% were HMO patients. Mean comorbidity score was 19.1 (maximum possible 100). This represents approximately three comorbidities per average patient. Seventy-four percent were FIGO stage I, 9% stage II, 11% stage III, and 5% stage IV. Forty percent were FIGO grade 1, 35% grade 2, and 24% grade 3. Ninety-two percent of patients were able to live independently preoperatively and 91% were independent postoperatively. Seventy-seven percent of patients underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, 8% radical abdominal hysterectomy, 9% laparoscopic hysterectomy, and 1% vaginal hysterectomy. Mean length of stay was 3. 3 days and mean operative time was 119 min. Ninety-nine percent were staged and 80% underwent lymph node sampling. Two patients required unplanned returns to surgery and 8 required blood transfusion (27 units total). Postoperatively, 20% received radiation therapy and 13% received cytotoxic chemotherapy. Mean satisfaction score (scale 0 to 100) preoperatively was 86 and postoperative was 83. SF36 component summaries were preoperatively and 120 days postoperatively: physical component 43.6 vs 43.1; mental component 49.1 vs 50.6.

The SGO has developed a tool for assessing outcomes for the treatment of endometrial cancer that can be made available to the membership to assess and objectively demonstrate quality of care to third parties.