Authors :
Julia Ismael; Andrey Mendez; Pablo Gandino; Ignacio Zerviño; María Gabriela Berta; Emilia Arrighi; María Alejandra Iglesias; Haydee Gonzalez; Mariana Auad
Volume/Issue :
Volume 6 - 2021, Issue 7 - July
Google Scholar :
http://bitly.ws/9nMw
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3kZfmWx
Abstract :
Cancer is the second cause of death in
Argentina. Countries with fewer resources have poorer
cancer control outcomes, with high relative cancer
mortality rates. If no comprehensive and efficient cancer
control policies are implemented, a growing burden of
chronic non-communicable diseases, most notably
cancer, is expected in the coming years. OBJECTIVE:
To understand and describe cancer patients’ experience
with a focus on process improvement opportunities
relevant to patients. METHODS: After a quantitative
phase, a qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted.
The quantitative phase included 400 men and women
from the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA)
with a diagnosis of cancer, recruited using semistructured interviews. This phase was followed by a
qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 15
patients and 5 physicians from the same geographic
area. RESULTS: delays from symptom onset to
diagnosis and from diagnosis to treatment were
identified. Delays were greater in patients with public
health insurance only. Low access to early cancer
diagnosis was identified. Interviewees described
personal, interpersonal, and health system barriers. In
addition to the existing difficulties, the complexity of the
COVID-19 pandemic added the digital barrier and
prolonged such delays. CONCLUSIONS: This research,
not restricted to the public health sector, provided
evidence to understand the barriers faced by cancer
patients in the studied region, and helped identify
opportunities for improvement to reduce delays in
continuous cancer care, especially for the most
vulnerable patients.
Keywords :
Barriers, Control Cancer, Patient Journey, Public Health, Continuum Care.
Cancer is the second cause of death in
Argentina. Countries with fewer resources have poorer
cancer control outcomes, with high relative cancer
mortality rates. If no comprehensive and efficient cancer
control policies are implemented, a growing burden of
chronic non-communicable diseases, most notably
cancer, is expected in the coming years. OBJECTIVE:
To understand and describe cancer patients’ experience
with a focus on process improvement opportunities
relevant to patients. METHODS: After a quantitative
phase, a qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted.
The quantitative phase included 400 men and women
from the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA)
with a diagnosis of cancer, recruited using semistructured interviews. This phase was followed by a
qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 15
patients and 5 physicians from the same geographic
area. RESULTS: delays from symptom onset to
diagnosis and from diagnosis to treatment were
identified. Delays were greater in patients with public
health insurance only. Low access to early cancer
diagnosis was identified. Interviewees described
personal, interpersonal, and health system barriers. In
addition to the existing difficulties, the complexity of the
COVID-19 pandemic added the digital barrier and
prolonged such delays. CONCLUSIONS: This research,
not restricted to the public health sector, provided
evidence to understand the barriers faced by cancer
patients in the studied region, and helped identify
opportunities for improvement to reduce delays in
continuous cancer care, especially for the most
vulnerable patients.
Keywords :
Barriers, Control Cancer, Patient Journey, Public Health, Continuum Care.