Portrayal of Women as Physicians in Movies, 1990-2020.

This cross-sectional study quantifies the portrayal of women as physicians in US movies over the past 3 decades.

Racial and Gender Differences in Patient Satisfaction Scores Among Oncologists.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction scores (PSS) have been adopted in health care reimbursement and faculty promotion metrics. Oncology patients face a challenging prognosis, where PSS may be perceived differently. We hypothesized that PSS differed based on gender and racial demographics of oncologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an institutional review board exempt cross-sectional study utilizing PSS data for outpatient oncologists within a large comprehensive cancer center. Patient demographics included age, gender, race/ethnicity, geographical residence, and disease site. Characteristics of oncologists included gender and race/ethnicity. We used PSS ≥95 to make comparisons. The association between patient and physician characteristics were evaluated using the t test and χ2 test. RESULTS: A total of 15,849 oncology patients were identified between 2011 and 2020. Survey respondents were predominantly female (53.2%), white (93.4%), between 50 and 70 years of age (55.3%), and living in an urban setting (63.6%). There were 303 oncologists with the majority being male (64.4%) and white (58.1%). Compared with white oncologists, Asian and Hispanic oncologists received lower PSS (P=0.001 and 0.0085, respectively). On subset analysis, these differences were significant among patients older than 50 years, living in rural counties, and reporting white or non-Hispanic race/ethnicity, or among patients of either gender (all P<0.05). Patients with genitourinary malignancies provided lower PSS for female oncologists (P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Asian and Hispanic oncologists were more likely to receive lower PSS. In addition, female oncologists treating genitourinary malignancies received lower PSS. Appropriate statistical adjustments are needed for PSS among oncologists to account for race, gender, and physician subspecialization to allow for equitable professional opportunities across demographics.

Diversity in modern heart failure trials: Where are we, and where are we going.

Over the last three decades, increased attention has been given to the representation of historically underrepresented groups within the landscape of pivotal clinical trials. However, recent events (i.e., coronavirus pandemic) have laid bare the potential continuation of historic inequities in available clinical trials and studies aimed at the care of broad patient populations. Anecdotally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not been immune to these disparities. Within this review, we examine and discuss recent landmark CVD trials, with a specific focus on the representation of Blacks within several critically foundational heart failure clinical trials tied to contemporary treatment strategies and drug approvals. We also discuss solutions for inequities within the landscape of cardiovascular trials. Building a more diverse clinical trial workforce coupled with intentional efforts to increase clinical trial diversity will advance equity in cardiovascular care.

A 20-Year Analysis of Clinical Trials Involving Proton Beam Therapy.

PURPOSE: Clinical trials (CTs) in proton beam therapy (PBT) are important for determining its benefits relative to other treatments. An analysis of PBT trials is, thus, warranted to understand the current state of PBT CTs and the factors affecting current and future trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We queried the clinicaltrials.gov Website using the search terms: proton beam therapy, proton radiation, and protons. A total of 152 PBT CTs were identified. We used χ2 analysis and logistic regression to evaluate trial characteristics. RESULTS: Most CTs were recruiting (n = 79; 52.0%), phase II (n = 95; 62.5%), open label (n = 134; 88.2%), single-group assignment (n = 84; 55.3%), and with primary treatment endpoints of safety and efficacy (n = 94; 61.8%). The primary treatment sites included gastrointestinal (n = 32; 21.1%), central nervous system (n = 31; 20.4%), lung (n = 21; 13.8%), prostate (n = 19; 12.5%), sarcoma (n = 15; 9.9%), and others (n = 24; 15.8%). Comparison studies between radiation modalities involved PBT and intensity-modulated photon therapy (n = 11; 7.2%), PBT and general photon therapy (n = 8; 5.3%), and PBT and carbon-ion therapy (n = 7; 4.6%). The PBT CTs underwent substantial growth after 2008 but now appear to be in decline. Nongovernmental institutions, comprising university centers, hospital systems, and research groups, have funded the greatest number of CTs (n= 106; 69.7%). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) were more likely to fund CTs involving the central nervous system (P = 0.02). Trials involving NIH funding were more likely to result in successful trial completion (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Among PBT CTs, most were phase II trials, with a very few being phase III CTs. Funding of PBT CTs originating from industry or the NIH is limited. Recently, there has been a declining trajectory of newly initiated PBT trials. It is not yet clear whether this represents a true trend or just a pause in CT implementation. Despite multiple impediments to PBT CTs, the particle therapy community continues to work toward evidence generation.

A comprehensive analysis of brachytherapy clinical trials over the past 15 years.

PURPOSE: Clinical trials (CTs) involving brachytherapy (BT) are crucial in establishing the role of BT in the evolving landscape of cancer treatment. An analysis of BT trials is warranted to understand the factors driving their success and the future direction of the field. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We queried the clinicaltrials.gov website using the search terms: Radiation Therapy, Brachytherapy, and associated terms. This yielded 10,417 CTs between 2000 and 2015. Trials not using BT were excluded; yielding 319 CTs. Characteristics of individual CTs were obtained. Least squared linear regression, χ2 analysis, and logistic regression were used to evaluate trial characteristics. RESULTS: The majority of the CTs were phase II (37%), involving interstitial BT (45%), and treating the prostate (36%). Nongovernmental institutions (NGIs) have funded the greatest number of CTs. New CTs involving radiotherapy of all types showed increase over time (p < 0.05), whereas no corresponding increase was seen in BT trials. New BT trials independently funded by industry have declined (p = 0.01). Collaboration between industry and NGIs was associated with greater likelihood of trial completion. Industry funding was associated with Phase IV trials, usage of surface BT, among others. NIH/government funding was associated with Phase I trials, intracavitary BT, trials focused on systemic therapy, among others. CONCLUSIONS: Trials examining radiotherapy have increased, whereas trials incorporating BT have remained unchanged. Collaboration between industry and NGIs was associated with a greater likelihood for successful trial completion. The role of BT can be better realized with greater incorporation into CTs.