Dr Soumitra Shankar Datta discusses his latest paper, which explores the variability of ECOG (Eastern Clinical Oncology Group) score.

Medical decisions made by oncology clinicians have serious implications, even when made collaboratively with the patient.  Clinicians often use ECOG (Eastern Clinical Oncology Group) performance status scores to help them make treatment related decisions.

The study explores the variability of ECOG score when applied to 12 predetermined specially designed clinical case are vignettes presented to a group of oncology clinicians. The quantitative analysis included evaluation of variability of ECOG performance status scores and exploration of rater and patient related factors that may influence the final ECOG rating.

In-depth interviews were conducted with oncology clinicians to ascertain factors that they felt were important while making treatment related decisions. Basic and global themes were generated following qualitative data analysis.

It is part of a special issue which you can read here.