Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42316949›Full record

ArticleJournal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale

Early Adoption of Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation in Canada: Physician Experiences, Barriers, and Facilitators to Implementation.

Harrison Gao, David Liu, Ben B Levy, Justin Shapiro, Kevin M Higgins, Diana E Khalil, Elizabeth E Cottrill, Courtney Poon, Pabiththa Kamalraj, Justine Philteos and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Harrison GaoTemerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-0406-2041
David LiuInstitute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Ben B LevyDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Justin ShapiroDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-6559-9515
Kevin M HigginsTemerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Diana E KhalilDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Waterloo Regional Health Network, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Elizabeth E CottrillDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Courtney PoonSunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Pabiththa KamalrajSunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Justine PhilteosDepartment of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Antoine EskanderTemerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

importanceThyroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for thyroid nodules. Despite strong international evidence, thyroid RFA was only approved by Health Canada in April 2023. Understanding the experiences of early adopters can inform the broader adoption of RFA in Canada and other healthcare systems.

objectiveTo describe the implementation experiences of early adopters of thyroid RFA in Canada and identify barriers and facilitators to adoption.

designMultiple methods.

settingAll 8 listed RFA facilities in Canada.

participantsPhysicians performing thyroid RFA (n = 9).

main outcome measuresSurvey and semi-structured interviews.

resultsMost participants reported low RFA volumes (median [IQR] = 2.0 [0.6-3.0] cases/month) and short wait times (1.5 [1.0-2.0] months). For thyroid surgery on similar nodules, participants performed higher volumes (7.5 [6.0-10.2] cases/month,

conclusionsThyroid RFA adoption in Canada is in its infancy, characterized by low procedural volumes, few providers, and geographical disparities. Early adopters reported positive experiences with RFA. However, inconsistent funding models, billing codes, and policy frameworks have resulted in inequitable access for patients. RELEVANCE: Many healthcare systems are in the early stages of RFA adoption, similar to Canada. This study identifies key experiences, barriers, and facilitators applicable to physicians, leaders, and policymakers globally who are interested in adopting RFA.

Indexed as

Practice Patterns, Physicians'Radiofrequency AblationThyroid NoduleAttitude of Health PersonnelCanadaHumansbarriers and facilitatorshealth policyphysician experiencesthyroid nodulethyroid radiofrequency ablation

Identifiers

PMID42316949
PMCPMC13305619

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.