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Routes to diagnosis for cancer - determining the patient journey using multiple routine data sets.
L Elliss-Brookes1, S McPhail, A Ives
1Avon, Somerset, and Wiltshire Cancer Services, Bristol, UK.
British Journal of Cancer
|September 22, 2012
Summary
Understanding cancer diagnosis routes in England is crucial. Patients diagnosed via emergency routes face significantly lower survival rates, highlighting the need to investigate diagnostic delays.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Cancer survival in England lags behind the European average, often due to late-stage diagnosis.
- Significant regional and demographic disparities exist in cancer survival rates across England.
- Most cancer diagnoses occur after symptomatic or incidental presentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a methodology for categorizing patient diagnostic pathways.
- To investigate demographic, organizational, service, and personal factors contributing to delayed cancer diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Linking administrative Hospital Episode Statistics with Cancer Waiting Times, screening, and cancer registration data.
- Categorizing all registered cancer cases in England diagnosed between 2006-2008 into eight 'Routes to Diagnosis'.
Main Results:
- Distinct cancer types exhibit varied proportions of presentation via each diagnostic route.
- Patients presenting through emergency routes demonstrate substantially poorer 1-year relative survival rates.
Conclusions:
- Linked cancer registration and administrative data provide a robust method for categorizing diagnostic routes.
- These categories can improve the understanding of delayed diagnosis and its underlying reasons.
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