Essential Knowledge and Skills for the Practice of Pediatric Surgical Oncology A Modified Delphi Consensus Study by the APSA Cancer Committee
Topic overview
APSA Cancer Committee achieved consensus on 177 essential knowledge and skill statements for surgeons caring for children with cancer through a modified Delphi study with 35 experts. Key findings emphasize multidisciplinary team approaches and tumor-specific management principles to guide appropriate surgeon-patient matching without creating access barriers.
Key takeaways
- 177 consensus statements defined essential knowledge/skills for pediatric surgical oncologists across 8 domains including solid tumors and resources
- Multidisciplinary care is critical—complex resections require multidisciplinary surgical teams and tumor-specific management knowledge
- Exclusive pediatric surgical oncology practice is not feasible for most surgeons, necessitating consensus on minimum competencies
- Expert panel of 35 panelists from 24 institutions achieved excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.98) across 3 Delphi rounds
- Consensus aims to match children with appropriately skilled surgeons while minimizing barriers to care access for families
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