Waiting time at a fast-track diagnostic clinic

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Patient Experience Research
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Current waiting time guidelines for cancer patients do not consider patient expectations.
• Understanding patient perspectives on waiting times is crucial for improving care.
• Fast-track clinics aim to expedite cancer diagnosis and treatment initiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate cancer patients' expectations and experiences with waiting times at a fast-track clinic.
• To explore how these perceptions evolve throughout the patient journey.
• To inform better management of patient expectations in oncology care.

Main Methods:

• Purposeful sampling of cancer patients (n=9).
• Four semi-structured interviews conducted at different time points: pre-visit, post-visit, pre-treatment, and post-treatment initiation.
• Interviews were audio-recorded and independently coded by two researchers.

Main Results:

• All patients desired a short waiting time for their initial visit, citing fears of disease progression and belief in cancer's priority status.
• While most patients perceived waiting times as acceptable, some experienced longer waits than anticipated, with perceptions shifting over time.
• Patient preferences for waiting times before treatment initiation varied, with some needing time for personal affairs or diagnosis adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Cancer patients value prompt initial consultations but exhibit diverse needs regarding pre-treatment waiting periods.
• Effective management of patient expectations by healthcare providers is essential to align experiences with reality.
• This study offers a novel framework for assessing patient satisfaction with waiting times in cancer care and emphasizes expectation management.