Endometrial Cancer Knowledge and Guideline-Concordant Practice Patterns Among First-Line Providers

Abstract

Background:

Provider uncertainty about the appropriate guideline-concordant evaluation of endometrial cancer (EC) symptoms may be a factor in racial inequities in EC. To evaluate the relationship between EC knowledge and reported practice patterns in a nationally representative survey of first-line providers for initial EC symptoms.

Materials and Methods:

This was a mailed cross-sectional survey of physicians and nurse practitioners from professional organization roster of providers from Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN), Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Emergency Medicine. It queried demographics, practice characteristics, EC knowledge, and guideline-concordant practice patterns via three case vignettes. Regions of low response were retargeted to ensure strong representation among providers caring for Black women patients. EC knowledge was analyzed via a composite score (range: −3 to 10, with higher scores representing more EC knowledge), and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) used to test the association between knowledge and reported practice patterns.

Results:

Among 531 returned surveys (response rate = 38%), OBGYN had highest (53%) frequency of >6 (median) EC knowledge score, and Emergency Medicine had the lowest (15%) (p < 0.001). Nonguideline-concordant practice patterns were reported in 14%, 41%, and 35% of the three EC cases presented. Providers with knowledge >6, (n = 205) were significantly more likely to report guideline-concordant care on case vignettes (PR 1.28–1.36).

Conclusions:

In a national survey of multi-specialty backgrounds, there were basic knowledge gaps about EC and EC risk factors among providers, and a sizeable proportion reported nonguideline concordant practices. These findings indicate the importance of targeted education and training for first-line providers, as EC incidence rises.