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Mailhot Vega R, Talcott W, Ishaq O, et al. A national survey of HDR source knowledge among practicing radiation oncologists and residents: Establishing a willingness-to-pay threshold for cobalt-60 usage. Brachytherapy. 2017;16(4):910-915doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2017.04.235.
Mailhot Vega, R., Talcott, W., Ishaq, O., Cohen, P., Small, C. J., Duckworth, T., Sarria Bardales, G., Perez, C. A., Schiff, P. B., Small, W., & Harkenrider, M. M. (2017). A national survey of HDR source knowledge among practicing radiation oncologists and residents: Establishing a willingness-to-pay threshold for cobalt-60 usage. Brachytherapy, 16(4), 910-915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brachy.2017.04.235
Mailhot Vega, Raymond, et al. "A national survey of HDR source knowledge among practicing radiation oncologists and residents: Establishing a willingness-to-pay threshold for cobalt-60 usage." Brachytherapy vol. 16,4 (2017): 910-915. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brachy.2017.04.235
Mailhot Vega R, Talcott W, Ishaq O, Cohen P, Small CJ, Duckworth T, Sarria Bardales G, Perez CA, Schiff PB, Small W, Harkenrider MM. A national survey of HDR source knowledge among practicing radiation oncologists and residents: Establishing a willingness-to-pay threshold for cobalt-60 usage. Brachytherapy. 2017 Jul - Aug;16(4):910-915. doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2017.04.235. Epub 2017 May 15. PMID: 28522118.
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Brachytherapy. 2017 Jul - Aug;16(4):910-915. doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2017.04.235. Epub 2017 May 15.

A national survey of HDR source knowledge among practicing radiation oncologists and residents: Establishing a willingness-to-pay threshold for cobalt-60 usage.

Brachytherapy

Raymond Mailhot Vega, Wesley Talcott, Omar Ishaq, Patrice Cohen, Christina J Small, Tamara Duckworth, Gustavo Sarria Bardales, Carmen A Perez, Peter B Schiff, William Small, Matthew M Harkenrider

Affiliations

  1. New York University Perlmutter Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, New York, NY. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. New York University Perlmutter Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, New York, NY.
  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL.
  4. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Department of Radiation Oncology, Surquillo, Peru.

PMID: 28522118 DOI: 10.1016/j.brachy.2017.04.235

Abstract

PURPOSE: Ir-192 is the predominant source for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy in United States markets. Co-60, with longer half-life and fewer source exchanges, has piloted abroad with comparable clinical dosimetry but increased shielding requirements. We sought to identify practitioner knowledge of Co-60 and establish acceptable willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds for additional shielding requirements for use in future cost-benefit analysis.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: A nationwide survey of U.S. radiation oncologists was conducted from June to July 2015, assessing knowledge of HDR sources, brachytherapy unit shielding, and factors that may influence source-selection decision-making. Self-identified decision makers in radiotherapy equipment purchase and acquisition were asked their WTP on shielding should a more cost-effective source become available.

RESULTS: Four hundred forty surveys were completed and included. Forty-four percent were ABS members. Twenty percent of respondents identified Co-60 as an HDR source. Respondents who identified Co-60 were significantly more likely to be ABS members, have attended a national brachytherapy conference, and be involved in brachytherapy selection. Sixty-six percent of self-identified decision makers stated that their facility would switch to a more cost-effective source than Ir-192, if available. Cost and experience were the most common reasons provided for not switching. The most common WTP value selected by respondents was <$25,000.

CONCLUSIONS: A majority of respondents were unaware of Co-60 as a commercially available HDR source. This investigation was novel in directly assessing decision makers to establish WTP for shielding costs that source change to Co-60 may require. These results will be used to establish WTP threshold for future cost-benefit analysis.

Copyright © 2017 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Cobalt; Cost-benefit analysis; Decision-making; Gynecologic tumor; HDR; Survey

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