Impact of geography on Scottish cancer diagnoses in primary care: Results from a national cancer diagnosis audit

Murchie, Peter; Adam, Rosalind; Khor, Wei Lynn; Smith, Sarah; McNair, Emma; Swann, Ruth; Witt, Jana; Weller, David

doi:10.1016/j.canep.2020.101720

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Flytkjær Virgilsen et al report that longer distance to hospital increase the DI for some cancers, especially for those cancers that are more difficult to diagnose (2019). Research from Scotland suggest that rural living does not lead to an increased DI for cancer in general (Murchie, Adam, et al, 2020 ), and rural primary care practitioner initiated diagnostic action within the system just as likely when comparing with their urban counterparts in a European setting (Murchie, Khor, et al, 2020 ). However, Bergin et al ( 2018 ) report that rural living is associated with longer time to diagnosis and treatment for CRC in Australia (Bergin et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between sociodemographic factors and time to diagnosis for colorectal cancer in northern Sweden

Hultstrand

Hörnsten

Lilja

et al. 2022

European J Cancer Care

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Objectives: This study examined whether sociodemographic factors, including distance to hospital, were associated with differences in the diagnostic interval and the treatment interval for colorectal cancer in northern Sweden.Methods: Data were retrieved from the Swedish cancer register on patients (n = 446) diagnosed in three northern regions during 2017-2018, then linked to data from Statistics Sweden and medical records. Also, Google maps was used to map the distance between patients' place of residence and nearest hospital. The different time intervals were analysed using Mann-Whitney U-test and Cox regression.Results: Differences in time to diagnosis were found between groups for income and distance to hospital, favouring those with higher income and shorter distance. The unadjusted regression analysis showed higher income to be associated with more rapid diagnosis (HR 1.004, CI 1.001-1.007). This association remained in the fully adjusted model for income (HR 1.004, CI 1.000-1.008), but not for distance. No differences between sociodemographic groups were found in the treatment interval. Conclusion:Higher income and shorter distance to hospital were in the unadjusted models associated with shorter time to diagnosis for patients with CRC in northern Sweden. The association remained for income when adjusting for other variables even though the difference was small.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between sociodemographic factors and time to diagnosis for colorectal cancer in northern Sweden

Hultstrand

Hörnsten

Lilja

et al. 2022

European J Cancer Care

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“…Long travel distance and travel time for patients to diagnostic facilities in secondary care might influence the possibility for and willingness of patients to attend these procedures. A Scottish study has reported that rural patients diagnosed with cancer were more likely to have had blood tests ordered by their GPs [ 15 ]. Possibly, primary care physicians working at the most remote primary care centres could be more inclined to request FITs as a part of their clinical investigation before decision on referral.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of faecal immunochemical tests common in patients with suspected colorectal cancer but unrelated to travel distance to secondary care: a population-based study from Swedish primary care

Högberg

Cronberg

Thulesius

et al. 2022

Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care

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Background Evidence is increasing for the use of faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for occult blood as diagnostic tools when colorectal cancer can be suspected. FITs have been used for this purpose in Swedish primary care since around 2005 despite absence of supporting guidelines. To our knowledge, the extent of this use has not been studied. Objective To investigate the use of FITs as diagnostic tools, and if the use was related to patient age, sex and travel time from primary care to diagnostic facilities in secondary care. Design Population-based retrospective study using data from electronic health records. Setting and subjects Patients ≥18 years that provided FITs in primary care in five Swedish health care regions during 2015. Driving times from their primary care centres to secondary care were calculated. Main outcome measures The proportion of patients that provided FITs was calculated for each region, different age intervals and grouped driving times. Results 18,913 patients provided FITs. The proportion of listed patients in the five regions that provided FITs increased with age: 0.86–1.2% for ages <65 years, 3.6–4.1% for ages 65–79 years and 3.8–6.1% for ages ≥80 years. Differences between the regions were small. There was no overall correlation between the proportion of patients that provided FITs and driving time to secondary care. Conclusion FITs were used extensively in Swedish primary care with a higher use in older age groups. There was no tendency towards a higher use of FITs at primary care centres with longer driving times to secondary care. Key Points Evidence is increasing for the use of faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) as diagnostic tools when colorectal cancer can be suspected. We investigated the use of FITs in Sweden. FITs were used extensively in primary care especially in older age groups. There were small differences in the use of FITs between five studied health care regions. There was no tendency towards a higher use of FITs at primary care centres with longer driving times to diagnostic facilities in secondary care.

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The impact of rurality on patient experience and diagnostic pathway intervals in Scotland’s cancer patients: Further results from a national cancer diagnosis audit

Maxwell¹,

Pearce²,

Anderson³

et al. 2023

Cancer Epidemiology

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Impact of geography on Scottish cancer diagnoses in primary care: Results from a national cancer diagnosis audit

Abstract: Main text word count = 3519

Cited by 4 publications

References 25 publications

The association between sociodemographic factors and time to diagnosis for colorectal cancer in northern Sweden

The association between sociodemographic factors and time to diagnosis for colorectal cancer in northern Sweden

Use of faecal immunochemical tests common in patients with suspected colorectal cancer but unrelated to travel distance to secondary care: a population-based study from Swedish primary care

The impact of rurality on patient experience and diagnostic pathway intervals in Scotland’s cancer patients: Further results from a national cancer diagnosis audit

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