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The initial cancer pathway for children – one‐fourth wait more than 3 months
Author(s) -
Ahrensberg Jette Møller,
Schrøder Henrik,
Hansen Rikke Pilegaard,
Olesen Frede,
Vedsted Peter
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02625.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , pediatrics
Aim: To determine the time intervals from symptom to treatment for childhood cancer patients. Methods: Danish national population‐based study. Children (<15 years) with an incident cancer diagnosed from January 2007 to December 2010 were sampled. A total of 376 (68%) parents and 315 (87%) general practitioners (GPs) completed questionnaires on the diagnostic pathway. The time interval was categorized into, patient‐ , GP ‐, system‐ , diagnostic‐ and total interval s, and as short or long intervals. Factors associated with long time intervals were assessed in a logistic regression model using prevalence ratios (PRs). Results: Girls were almost twice as likely as boys to experience long patient intervals (adjusted PR: 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–2.8). The oldest children were more likely than the youngest to experience long total intervals (adjusted PR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1–3.3). Cancer type was associated with all time intervals, except GP intervals. Children with bone‐ and CNS tumours had the longest total intervals (median: 88 days, interquartile interval (IQI): 57–132) vs. (median: 76, IQI: 28–191). Parental education showed a possible association with patient‐ and GP intervals. Conclusion: Time intervals varied by gender, age and cancer type. Parental education may possibly affect the patient‐ and GP intervals.