[Critical pathways in chemotherapy for lung cancer]

Differences of critical pathway in cancer chemotherapy from its protocol are the unification of the treatment, setting of the treatment goal and its provision for the patient. By the uniform treatment at least in the same hospital and the variance analysis of side effects with chemotherapy, the scientific and objective evaluation of treatment outcome and toxicities is possible. It is also useful for the consideration in the aspect of the ethics with the exhibition of the treatment by the provision of critical pathway for the patient. Therefore, critical pathway in chemotherapy for lung cancer is the useful tool to establish the clinical practice guidelines based on both scientific and ethical evidences in addition to the improvement of the patient satisfaction and the promotion of the team medical treatment.