Study Evaluates Compliance with CoC Operative Standards

The Assessing the Effectiveness and Significance of the Operative Standards Program (AESOP) study is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded, 5-year, multi-institutional initiative to evaluate how ACS Commission on Cancer (CoC) Operative Standards are being implemented and their impact on cancer care. 

The study has three aims:

• Assessing the implementation of the CoC Operative Standards across cancer and hospital types using data collected during CoC site visits
• Identifying barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the CoC Operative Standards
• Evaluating how the CoC Operative Standards impact short-term cancer outcomes through a CoC Special Study conducted in collaboration with the ACS National Cancer Database.

This year, the AESOP study team will survey Cancer Liaison Physicians (CLPs) across the country to identify factors contributing to potential variation in compliance with the CoC Operative Standards. Given their role in helping hospitals implement the CoC Operative Standards, the CLPs are uniquely positioned to offer key insights on the factors moderating hospital compliance with the Operative Standards. 

All CLPs at CoC sites undergoing a site visit in 2026 will be asked to complete a brief survey sent from REDCap@facs.org after their site review. To expand on survey data, 30 CLPs representing different levels of hospital compliance with the Operative Standards will be subsequently recruited as volunteers to participate in a follow-up interview. 

With these aims and with the support of the ACS, the AESOP study seeks to generate valuable insights into how implementation of the CoC Operative Standards influences cancer surgery practices and oncologic outcomes.

For more information, contact AESOP@facs.org.