Abstract
Patient delay can contribute to a poor outcome in the management of head and neck cancers (HNC). The main objective of the present study was to investigate the factors associated with patient delay in our population. Patients with cancers of the head and neck attending a regional cancer center of North East India were consecutively interviewed during the period from June 2014 to November 2014. The participation of patients was voluntary. The questionnaire included information on age, gender, residential status, educational qualification, monthly family income, any family history of cancer, and history of prior awareness on cancer from television (TV) program and awareness program. Of 311 (n) patients, with an age range of 14-88 years (mean 55.4 years), 81.7% were males and 18.3% females (M:F=4.4). The overall median delay was 90 days (range=7 days-365 days), in illiterate patients the median delay was 90 days and 60 days in literate patients (P=0.002), the median delay in patients who had watched cancer awareness program on TV was 60 days and in patients who were unaware about cancer information from TV program had a median delay of 90 days (p=0.00021) and delay of <10 weeks was seen in 139 (44.6%) patients, a delay of 10-20 weeks in 98 (31.5%) patients, and a delay of 20-30 weeks in 63 (20.2%) patients. Education and awareness had a significant impact in reduction of median patient delay in our HNC cases.
Highlights
Patient delay can contribute to a poor outcome in the management of head and neck cancers (HNC)
The overall median delay was 90 days, in illiterate patients the median delay was 90 days and 60 days in literate patients (P=0.002), the median delay in patients who had watched cancer awareness program on TV was 60 days and in patients who were unaware about cancer information from TV program had a median delay of 90 days (p=0.00021) and delay of
Education and awareness had a significant impact in reduction of median patient delay in our HNC cases
Summary
Head and neck cancers (HNC) are the cancer that arises from the mucosal lining of the head and neck region. It has been shown that 58% of patients with oral cancer are responsible for the delay in the diagnosis of their cancers (Morelatto et al, 2007). There are secondary and tertiary delays which are termed as professional delay (Yu et al, 2008; Dwivedi et al, 2012) In this pilot study authors have tried to investigate possible factors associated with the patient delay of HNC in our population. Patient delay can contribute to a poor outcome in the management of head and neck cancers (HNC). The main objective of the present study was to investigate the factors associated with patient delay in our population. Materials and Methods: Patients with cancers of the head and neck attending a regional cancer center of North East India were consecutively interviewed during the period from June 2014 to November 2014. Conclusions: Education and awareness had a significant impact in reduction of median patient delay in our HNC cases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
