Shorter delay to treatment by integrated diagnostic services and NGO- provided support among breast cancer patients in two Brazilian referral centres

Abstract

Background: The diagnosis of breast cancer, from first medical visit until treatment initiation, requires a complicated series of diagnostic exams. The present study addressed the delay of patients who used publicly and privately financed diagnostic services. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) donated diagnostic mammograms and biopsies. Methods: Data from 304 patients were obtained from two Brazilian referral centres. In one referral centre (FAP), diagnostic mammography, clinic-histopathological exam and immunohistochemistry were outsourced, whereas in the other centre (HNL), these services were integrated. Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis and non-parametric tests were used to compare variables and time intervals among patient groups. Results: If diagnostic mammography was financed privately and covered by private health insurance, the likelihood of a delay of >90 days between the first medical visit and the initiation of treatment decreased 2.15-fold (95%CI: 1.06- 4.36; p= 0.033) and 4.44-fold (95%CI: 1.58-12.46; p= 0.004), respectively. The median time between the first medical visit and the diagnostic result and between the first medical visit and the initiation of treatment was, respectively, 56.0 and 116.5 days. For these time intervals, 54 (34.8%) and 114 (64.8%) patients had a delay of >90 days for diagnostic results and the initiation of treatment, respectively. For patients in the FAP and HNL who had a delay of >90 days, the median time between the first medical visit and the diagnostic results was 180 and 158 days, respectively (p= 0.032). If the clinic-histopathological exam was outsourced (FAP) and publicly or privately financed, the median delay between diagnostic mammography and the diagnostic result was 65.0 or 29.0 days, respectively, compared to 53.0 days in the integrated (HNL) publicly financed system (p < 0.050). The median time between the first medical visit and the diagnostic results of all patients who were supported by NGOs, who financed their diagnostic services privately, and who used exclusively public diagnostic services was, respectively, 28.0, 48.5 and 77.5 days (p < 0.050).Conclusions: Patients who used privately financed health services had shorter delays. Compared to outsourcing, the integration of the publicly financed clinic-histopathological exam diminished the delay. The support of patients by NGOs accelerated patient flow.