Yngvar Nilssen1, Odd Terje Brustugun2, Morten Tandberg Eriksen3, Johanne Gulbrandsen4, Erik Skaaheim Haug5, Bjørn Naume6, Bjørn Møller4. 1. Department of Registration, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: yngvar.nilssen@kreftregisteret.no. 2. Section of Oncology, Drammen Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, Norway. 3. Division of Surgery, Inflammatory Diseases and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 4. Department of Registration, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway. 5. Section of Urology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway; Institute of Cancer Genomics and Informatics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 6. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In 2015, Norway implemented cancer patient pathways to reduce waiting times for treatment. The aims of this paper were to describe patterns in waiting time and their association with patient characteristics for colorectal, lung, breast and prostate cancers. METHODS: National, population-based data from 2007 to 2016 were used. A multivariable quantile regression examined the association between treatment period, age, stage, sex, place of residence, and median waiting times. RESULTS: Reduction in median waiting times for radiotherapy among colorectal, lung and prostate cancer patients ranged from 14 to 50 days. Median waiting time for surgery remained approximately 21 days for both colorectal and breast cancers, while it decreased by 7 and 36 days for lung and prostate cancers, respectively. The proportion of lung and prostate cancer patients with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis decreased, while the proportion of colorectal patients with localised disease and patients with stage I breast cancer increased (p < 0.001). After adjusting for case-mix, a patient's place of residence was significantly associated with waiting time for treatment (p < 0.001), however, differences in waiting time to treatment decreased over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2007 and 2016, Norway experienced improved stage distributions and consistently decreasing waiting times for treatment. While these improvements occurred gradually, no significant change was observed from the time of cancer patient pathway implementation.
BACKGROUND: In 2015, Norway implemented cancerpatient pathways to reduce waiting times for treatment. The aims of this paper were to describe patterns in waiting time and their association with patient characteristics for colorectal, lung, breast and prostate cancers. METHODS: National, population-based data from 2007 to 2016 were used. A multivariable quantile regression examined the association between treatment period, age, stage, sex, place of residence, and median waiting times. RESULTS: Reduction in median waiting times for radiotherapy among colorectal, lung and prostate cancerpatients ranged from 14 to 50 days. Median waiting time for surgery remained approximately 21 days for both colorectal and breast cancers, while it decreased by 7 and 36 days for lung and prostate cancers, respectively. The proportion of lung and prostate cancerpatients with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis decreased, while the proportion of colorectalpatients with localised disease and patients with stage I breast cancer increased (p < 0.001). After adjusting for case-mix, a patient's place of residence was significantly associated with waiting time for treatment (p < 0.001), however, differences in waiting time to treatment decreased over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2007 and 2016, Norway experienced improved stage distributions and consistently decreasing waiting times for treatment. While these improvements occurred gradually, no significant change was observed from the time of cancerpatient pathway implementation.
Authors: Charlotte J L Molenaar; Loes Janssen; Donald L van der Peet; Desmond C Winter; Rudi M H Roumen; Gerrit D Slooter Journal: World J Surg Date: 2021-04-03 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Olufunmilade A Omisanjo; Olawale O Ogunremi; Olufemi O Akinola; Olaolu O Adebayo; Olufemi Ojewuyi; Mofeyisayo O Omorinde; Abimbola A Abolarinwa; Stephen O Ikuerowo; Fatai A Balogun Journal: J Cancer Epidemiol Date: 2021-08-16