Shwn-Huey Shieh1, Vivian Chia-Rong Hsieh2, Shu-Hui Liu3, Chun-Ru Chien4, Cheng-Chieh Lin5, Trong-Neng Wu6. 1. Department of Health Services Administration, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 2. Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan. 3. Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Cancer Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 4. Division of Radiooncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 5. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. 6. Graduate Institute of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan. Electronic address: tnwu@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Delay in diagnosis may affect the survival of breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate delayed diagnosis for breast cancer patients in Taiwan. METHODS: This study was conducted via one-to-one interviews with structured questionnaires in hospital outpatient visit. Included were 600 breast cancer patients seeking medical care in two medical centers in central Taiwan. RESULTS: Average delay in breast cancer diagnosis was 27.8 days. Service level of the patients' first visit and number of hospitals patients visited before obtaining a correct diagnosis were significantly associated with delay in diagnosis. Logistic regression analysis found that patients who had visited two, and three or more hospitals before getting a correct diagnosis had longer delays in diagnosis than patients who had visited one hospital (odds ratio = 2.23 and 9.26, 95% confidence interval 1.37-3.63 and 95% CI:3.87-22.15, respectively). CONCLUSION: Results of this study are anticipated to serve as a reference for the government and medical institutions to develop policies to reduce the number of hospitals visited before diagnosis for breast cancer patients, and ultimately to achieve the goal of early detection and treatment.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Delay in diagnosis may affect the survival of breast cancerpatients. The purpose of this study was to investigate delayed diagnosis for breast cancerpatients in Taiwan. METHODS: This study was conducted via one-to-one interviews with structured questionnaires in hospital outpatient visit. Included were 600 breast cancerpatients seeking medical care in two medical centers in central Taiwan. RESULTS: Average delay in breast cancer diagnosis was 27.8 days. Service level of the patients' first visit and number of hospitals patients visited before obtaining a correct diagnosis were significantly associated with delay in diagnosis. Logistic regression analysis found that patients who had visited two, and three or more hospitals before getting a correct diagnosis had longer delays in diagnosis than patients who had visited one hospital (odds ratio = 2.23 and 9.26, 95% confidence interval 1.37-3.63 and 95% CI:3.87-22.15, respectively). CONCLUSION: Results of this study are anticipated to serve as a reference for the government and medical institutions to develop policies to reduce the number of hospitals visited before diagnosis for breast cancerpatients, and ultimately to achieve the goal of early detection and treatment.
Authors: Noor Mastura Mohd Mujar; Maznah Dahlui; Nor Aina Emran; Imisairi Abdul Hadi; Yang Wai Yan; Sarojah Arulanantham; Chan Hooi Chea; Nur Aishah Mohd Taib Journal: JCO Glob Oncol Date: 2022-03