AIM: To investigate the effect of urban versus rural residence on stage at diagnosis and survival for women with breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. METHODS: Women with breast cancer registered in the New Zealand Cancer Registry between 1998 and 2002 were identified, and data extracted on age, ethnicity, domicile code, date of diagnosis, stage, and date of death where death occurred. Domicile codes were used as the linking variable to allocate urban/rural status, and a deprivation score to each case. Regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between urban/rural residence and breast cancer stage at diagnosis and survival, whilst controlling for the confounding variables of age, ethnicity, deprivation, and cancer stage (in survival analysis). RESULTS: Urban/rural residence did not have any statistically significant effect on breast cancer stage at diagnosis or survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not show an urban/rural disparity in breast cancer outcomes, suggesting that geographic location does not affect access to diagnosis, or the effectiveness of breast cancer treatment.
AIM: To investigate the effect of urban versus rural residence on stage at diagnosis and survival for women with breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. METHODS:Women with breast cancer registered in the New Zealand Cancer Registry between 1998 and 2002 were identified, and data extracted on age, ethnicity, domicile code, date of diagnosis, stage, and date of death where death occurred. Domicile codes were used as the linking variable to allocate urban/rural status, and a deprivation score to each case. Regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between urban/rural residence and breast cancer stage at diagnosis and survival, whilst controlling for the confounding variables of age, ethnicity, deprivation, and cancer stage (in survival analysis). RESULTS: Urban/rural residence did not have any statistically significant effect on breast cancer stage at diagnosis or survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not show an urban/rural disparity in breast cancer outcomes, suggesting that geographic location does not affect access to diagnosis, or the effectiveness of breast cancer treatment.
Authors: Kevin A Henry; Francis P Boscoe; Christopher J Johnson; Daniel W Goldberg; Recinda Sherman; Myles Cockburn Journal: J Community Health Date: 2011-12
Authors: Ross Lawrenson; Chunhuan Lao; Mark Elwood; Charis Brown; Diana Sarfati; Ian Campbell Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2016-10-11 Impact factor: 3.390