Open AccessTime, Distance and Economics Influencing Cancer Care: Experience From a Regional Cancer Center in India
Author(s) -
Nagarjun Ballari,
Raviteja Miriyala,
T. Jindia,
Srinubabu Gedela,
L. Annam,
Sushmita Ghoshal
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of global oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.002
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2378-9506
DOI - 10.1200/jgo.18.76900
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , reimbursement , residence , health care , test (biology) , family medicine , government (linguistics) , logistic regression , demography , economic growth , sociology , economics , biology , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy
Background: There is a geographical, socioeconomical and logistic diversity among the cancer patients who reach a regional cancer center. In a developing economy like that of India's, only a minority of patients have medical insurance. So in our setup a cancer patient is met with time, distance and financial challenges. These intangible factors theoretically are expected to influence the ultimate outcome of cancer treatment. Aim: To evaluate the prevailing demographic and economic variables of cancer patients visiting our RCC and to look for any correlation among each other. Methods: The demographic details of cancer patients registered at our RCC between August 2017- September 2017 were retrieved retrospectively. Distance traveled to get to the RCC and get a diagnosis of cancer, time taken for diagnosis and initiation of treatment, and the source of finances for treatment were collected. A correlation among these factors was attempted to be identified. Statistical correlation was identified using Student t-test. Results: Among 591 patients who were analyzed, the median age of patient was 55 years old. The median time taken for the patient to reach the RCC from permanent residence after the beginning of cancer related complaints was 3.19 months. The median distance traveled for the same was 131 km. The source of income was private employment for 223 patients and government employment for 164 patients and self-employment for 200 patients. Only 164 patients had some kind of structured health scheme to manage their health care expenses. Among these, 96 patients had private insurance/reimbursement and 64 patients had government reimbursement. 384 (64%) of patients presented with advanced and locally advanced stage disease while 114 (19%) patients presented to us with early stage disease. However a correlation between delay in presentation to the RCC, distance traveled to reach the RCC, source of income and advanced stage of disease couldn't not be established. Conclusion: Majority of patients visiting our RCC is from far off places and most of these patients pay for the cancer treatment themselves without any support from government or private insurances. All these factors may be responsible for late or advanced stage presentation of cancer patients.