Waiting Times for Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Jack Ruth H, Davies Elizabeth A, Robinson David, Sainsbury Richard, Møller Henrik
Primary Institution: King's College London
Hypothesis
What factors are associated with waiting times for radiotherapy for breast cancer patients?
Conclusion
The study found increasing waiting times for radiotherapy among breast cancer patients in South East England and significant variation between cancer networks.
Supporting Evidence
- The proportion of patients receiving radiotherapy within 60 days decreased from 68% in 1992 to 33% in 2001.
- Waiting times for radiotherapy varied significantly between different cancer networks, ranging from 43% to 81%.
- Patients with invasive cancer were more likely to receive radiotherapy within 60 days compared to those with carcinoma in situ.
Takeaway
This study looked at how long women with breast cancer had to wait for radiotherapy and found that the wait got longer over time and varied a lot depending on where they lived.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from 35,354 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1992 and 2001 who received radiotherapy within six months of diagnosis, using logistic regression models to assess waiting times.
Potential Biases
The study may not represent all breast cancer patients as it only included those receiving radiotherapy as part of their initial treatment.
Limitations
The study could not account for all factors influencing waiting times, such as comorbidities and treatment complexity, and only included patients who received radiotherapy within six months of diagnosis.
Participant Demographics
Women diagnosed with breast cancer in South East England between 1992 and 2001.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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