Factors affecting management delay in breast cancer among the patients referred to omid and alzahra hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, during 2016-2017

Abstract

Background: Most patients with breast cancer refer to their doctor when their disease is in the advanced stage. Considering the lack of study on the causes associated with delay in management of patients in Isfahan, Iran, this study aimed to examine factors related to the delay in the care of patients with breast cancer. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 70 patients with breast cancer who referred to Omid and Alzahra hospitals in Isfahan were interviewed. Then, based on the researcher-made questionnaire which included demographic information, patient delay factors, delay factors of health and treatment system, referring and treatment times, and information on the condition of cancer, the factors associated with the delay in patient care were assessed. Findings: The mean time was 4.67 ± 1.57 months from symptoms appearance to the referral to physician, and 7.21 ± 2.89 months from the presence of symptoms to the diagnosis. The mean score of the patient delay was also relatively high. Conclusion: Due to the fact that the most prevalent reason for management delay in patients with breast cancer is patient delay in going to a physician to perform diagnostic procedures, appropriate control and symptom training for patients, and the subsequent improvement of the health system should be done to reduce the delay in diagnosis. © 2018, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.