biostudies-literatureUnknown20(1)Zhang BBACKGROUND:The purpose of the present study was to obtain information on the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors by oncologists in China through a national questionnaire survey. METHODS:Between the 7th and 25th of July in 2019, a questionnaire designed by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Immuno-Oncology (CSCO IO) Committee on the current status of the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors was distributed online and offline to cancer-related medical departments in thirty different provinces and autonomous regions of China. The national questionnaire consisted of three sections as follows: general information, current status of the application of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in the clinic, and oncologists' concerns regarding utilization. RESULTS:The valid response rate of the current status survey was 76.3%. The proportion of senior doctors (physician-in-charge or a more superior position for more than 3 years) among the respondents was relatively high (67.0% in 588). Of the respondents, 59.2% had prescribed PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors during clinical treatment, and the most frequent reason for not prescribing these inhibitors was the choice "do not understand the mechanism and the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors". In addition, 77.9% of the prescribers used the medications in an off-label situation, and the most important motivation for this use was the fact that "there were indications abroad but not domestically". In addition, 77.9% of the prescribers believed that "immunotherapy-related adverse effects could be controlled or intervened through follow-up management". The prescribers were mostly concerned about "how to identify pseudoprogression and hyperprogression" and "immunity-related adverse effects management". CONCLUSION:The present study highlights the current status of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in China. Increasing numbers of medical oncologists are interested in PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, and they are in need of immunotherapy education.BMC cancer86https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6995236biostudies-literatureCurrent status of the clinical use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors: a questionnaire survey of oncologists in China.PMC6995236Wang BFu YZhu BZhang BWang JSong YfalseCurrent status of the clinical use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors: a questionnaire survey of oncologists in China.BACKGROUND:The purpose of the present study was to obtain information on the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors by oncologists in China through a national questionnaire survey. METHODS:Between the 7th and 25th of July in 2019, a questionnaire designed by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Immuno-Oncology (CSCO IO) Committee on the current status of the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors was distributed online and offline to cancer-related medical departments in thirty different provinces and autonomous regions of China. The national questionnaire consisted of three sections as follows: general information, current status of the application of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in the clinic, and oncologists' concerns regarding utilization. RESULTS:The valid response rate of the current status survey was 76.3%. The proportion of senior doctors (physician-in-charge or a more superior position for more than 3 years) among the respondents was relatively high (67.0% in 588). Of the respondents, 59.2% had prescribed PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors during clinical treatment, and the most frequent reason for not prescribing these inhibitors was the choice "do not understand the mechanism and the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors". In addition, 77.9% of the prescribers used the medications in an off-label situation, and the most important motivation for this use was the fact that "there were indications abroad but not domestically". In addition, 77.9% of the prescribers believed that "immunotherapy-related adverse effects could be controlled or intervened through follow-up management". The prescribers were mostly concerned about "how to identify pseudoprogression and hyperprogression" and "immunity-related adverse effects management". CONCLUSION:The present study highlights the current status of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in China. Increasing numbers of medical oncologists are interested in PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, and they are in need of immunotherapy education.2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Jan2020-10-02T07:27:23Z2020-10-02T07:27:23ZS-EPMC69952363200514010.1186/s12885-020-6583-3