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Cancer diagnosed in the Emergency Department of a Regional Health Service
Author(s) -
Rogers Margaret J.,
Matheson Leigh M.,
Garrard Brooke,
Mukaro Violet,
Riches Sue,
Sheridan Michael,
Ashley David,
Pitson Graham
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1111/ajr.12280
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , disadvantaged , presentation (obstetrics) , cancer , abdominal pain , disease , weakness , pediatrics , stage (stratigraphy) , family medicine , surgery , nursing , paleontology , political science , law , biology
Objective Patients diagnosed with cancer in the E mergency D epartment ( ED ) have more advanced disease at diagnosis and poorer outcomes. High rates of initial presentation to ED suggest potential problems with access to care. The aim of this project was to interpret findings in regional/rural Victoria and explore implications for practice. Design Cross‐sectional study linking two independent data sets. Setting Regional city of G eelong and surrounding rural areas in south‐west V ictoria. Participants All newly diagnosed cancer patients in 2009. Main outcome measures Number of cancer patients diagnosed in the ED . Results One in five newly diagnosed cancer patients present to ED 6 months prior to cancer diagnosis. One in 10 is diagnosed as a result of their ED visit. Patients presenting to ED were older, more often men and from disadvantaged areas. Symptoms on presentation included chest complaints, bowel obstruction, abdominal pain, anaemia and generalised weakness. Cancer diagnosed in the ED is associated with advanced stage and shorter survival. Conclusion Reasons for presentation to ED would be multifactorial and include complex cases with coexisting symptoms making diagnosis difficult. The general public appear to have a low level of awareness of alternative primary care services or difficulty accessing such information. Some of the changes towards reducing the number of patients presenting to ED will include patient education.