The Effect Of Facility Volume On Treatment Guideline Compliance And Overall Survival In Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

17Background: National treatment guidelines guide cancer care using the best available evidence and understanding the drivers of guideline compliance is essential to identifying modifiable factors to improve quality of care. This study aims to explore the impact of facility volume on the rate of guideline compliance in patients with oral tongue cancer and its effect on overall survival. Methods: Using National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2013, this retrospective cohort study investigated patients undergoing curative surgical treatment for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Patients were divided into three tertiles according to mean annual case volume at their treatment facility. Guideline compliance was based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network oral cavity cancer guidelines. Predictors of guideline compliance and overall survival were determined using multiple logistic regression and Cox Proportional Hazards models. Results: Guideline compliant care was delivered in 54.5% of the 35,810 eligibl...