Identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13003/12907
Factors related with symptom duration until diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic colorectal cancer
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eISSN: 1471-2407
WOS ID: 000315922400001
Scopus EID: 2-s2.0-84874038208
PMID: 23432789
Embase PUI: L52461858
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Esteva, Magdalena



Publication date
2013-02-23Document type
research articleCitation
Esteva M, Leiva A, Ramos M, Pita-Fernandez S, Gonzalez-Lujan L, Casamitjana M, et al. Factors related with symptom duration until diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic colorectal cancer. BMC Cancer. 2013 Feb 23;13:87.Abstract
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) survival depends mostly on stage at the time of diagnosis. However, symptom duration at diagnosis or treatment have also been considered as predictors of stage and survival. This study was designed to: 1) establish the distinct time-symptom duration intervals; 2) identify factors associated with symptom duration until diagnosis and treatment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of all incident cases of symptomatic CRC during 2006-2009 (795 incident cases) in 5 Spanish regions. Data were obtained from patients' interviews and reviews of primary care and hospital clinical records. Measurements: CRC symptoms, symptom perception, trust in the general practitioner (GP), primary care and hospital examinations/visits before diagnosis, type of referral and tumor characteristics at diagnosis. Symptom Diagnosis Interval (SDI) was calculated as time from first CRC symptoms to date of diagnosis. Symptom Treatment Interval (STI) was defined as time from first CRC symptoms until start of treatment. Nonparametric tests were used to compare SDI and STI according to different variables. Results: Symptom to diagnosis interval for CRC was 128 days and symptom treatment interval was 155. No statistically significant differences were observed between colon and rectum cancers. Women experienced longer intervals than men. Symptom presentation such as vomiting or abdominal pain and the presence of obstruction led to shorter diagnostic or treatment intervals. Time elapsed was also shorter in those patients that perceived their first symptom/s as serious, disclosed it to their acquaintances, contacted emergencies services or had trust in their GPs. Primary care and hospital doctor examinations and investigations appeared to be related to time elapsed to diagnosis or treatment. Conclusions: Results show that gender, symptom perception and help-seeking behaviour are the main patient factors related to interval duration. Health service performance also has a very important role in symptom to diagnosis and treatment interval. If time to diagnosis is to be reduced, interventions and guidelines must be developed to ensure appropriate examination and diagnosis during both primary and hospital care.
Publisher version
https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-13-87MeSH
Aged, 80 and overAged
Spain
Adult
Humans
Middle Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Delivery of Health Care
Early Detection of Cancer
Health Behavior
Male
Time Factors
Sex Factors
Female
Risk Factors
Colorectal Neoplasms
Trust
DeCS
Neoplasias ColorrectalesFactores de Tiempo
Femenino
Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud
Masculino
Atención a la Salud
Factores Sexuales
Estudios Transversales
Factores de Riesgo
Humanos
Persona de Mediana Edad
Confianza
Anciano
Anciano de 80 o más Años
Detección Precoz del Cáncer
Adulto
España
This item appears in following Docusalut collections
Área de Salud de Ibiza y Formentera - ASEF > Comunicación científicaHospital Universitario Son Espases - HUSE > Comunicación científica
Atención Primaria de Mallorca - APMALL > Comunicación científica
Consejería de Salud y Consumo de las Islas Baleares - CSC > Comunicación científica