Page 135 - Strategies for non-invasive managementof high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia - prognostic biomarkers and immunotherapy Margot Maria Koeneman

- Gynecologic oncologist or fellow gynecologic oncologist
- Gynecologist with semi-specialization in gynecologic oncology
- Gynecologist with other (semi-) specialization
2. In what hospital type are you currently employed?
- University hospital or specialized oncological center
- Semi-specialized teaching hospitals
- Non-teaching hospital
3. How many colposcopies do you conduct or supervise yearly?
- Less than 30
- 30–100
- More than 100
Current colposcopy practice
13 (17%)
41 (53%)
23 (30%) 7
12 (16%) 42 (55%) 23 (30%)
6 (8%) 40 (52%) 31 (40%)
Imiquimod: physicians’ awareness, attitudes and experiences
Results
Gynecologists from 52 hospitals (60%) responded to the questionnaire. The questionnaire was started by 79 participants and was completed by 77 participants (44%). The two incomplete questionnaires were completely blank and were therefore excluded from the analysis. The professional function, type of hospital, and number of colposcopies that each gynecologist conducted or supervised yearly are displayed in Table 1. All respondents were aware that imiquimod could be used to treat genital warts and thus were familiar with the drug.
Table 1. Professional function, type of hospital, and number of colposcopies performed by the respondents
n
%
1. What is your professional function?
A large subset of respondents tailor their colposcopy practice to the individual patient: 32 respondents (42%) perform diagnostic biopsies in patients who wish to become pregnant and apply a see-and-treat policy in patients without a future pregnancy wish. Thirty respondents (39%) never apply a see-and treat policy, while ten respondents (13%) always apply a see-and- treat policy. The majority of respondents (n = 52, 68%) considered the risk of premature birth after LLETZ to be unchanged or only marginally increased. The other respondents estimated the relative risk at approximately 2.7 (range, 2–6). Of all the respondents, 53 (69%) always discuss this risk with patients and 15 (19%) never discuss this risk.
Awareness of imiquimod as immunotherapy for VIN, VAIN and CIN
The vast majority of respondents (n = 70, 91%) were aware that imiquimod could be used to treat VIN. Sixty-one (79%) respondents were aware of the application of imiquimod for VAIN, in literature or clinical practice. Forty-five (58%) respondents were aware of the application of imiquimod for CIN, in literature or clinical practice. Respondents who performed more than 100 colposcopies yearly and (fellow) gynecologic oncologists or semi-specialized gynecologic oncologists associated with a higher level of awareness in all cases.
Results are displayed in table 2.
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