Changes in the inpatient and outpatient cancer patient population at a teaching institution over a three-year period.

Abstract

Admission and outpatient clinic records of cancer patients seen by members of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Section of Oncology/Hematology in that section's clinic and on that section's hospital service were studied over a three-year period to determine if the tumor types of patients differed importantly from year to year. Cancer patients seen in other clinics or on other clinical services in the medical center were not included in this study. Some striking variations were found. The percentage of cancer patients with lymphoma admitted to the hospital increased significantly, from 23% to 41% (p less than .00001), and the percentage of those patients seen in the outpatient area increased correspondingly. In contrast, the percentage of colorectal cancer patients fell from 11% in 1984 to 4% in 1985 and to 3% in 1986 (p less than .00001). A similar decrease was found in the outpatient clinics as well. In addition, the percentage of breast cancer patients admitted to the hospital fell from 17% in 1984 to 12% in 1985 and to 11% in 1986 (p = .003); there was also a similar decline in the outpatient clinic (p = .00001). Other tumor types were equally represented in all three years in the inpatient and outpatient setting. The patient mix can vary markedly from year to year and should be monitored, so that changes in the teaching program can be made to assure the desired emphasis of all tumor types.