TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with late stage at diagnosis among Puerto Rico's government health plan colorectal cancer patients
T2 - A cross-sectional study
AU - Ortiz-Ortiz, Karen J.
AU - Ríos-Motta, Ruth
AU - Marín-Centeno, Heriberto
AU - Cruz-Correa, Marcia
AU - Ortiz, Ana Patricia
PY - 2016/8/3
Y1 - 2016/8/3
N2 - Background: Late stage at diagnosis of cancer is considered a key predictor factor for a lower survival rate. Knowing and understanding the barriers to an early diagnosis of colorectal cancer is critical in the fight to reduce the social and economic burden caused by cancer in Puerto Rico. This study evaluates factors associated to colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis among Puerto Rico's Government Health Plan (GHP) patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a secondary data analysis using information from the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry (PRCCR) and the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration (PRHIA). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the unadjusted odds ratio (ORs) and adjusted odds ratio (AORs), and their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Colorectal cancer cases diagnosed between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012, among persons 50 to 64 years of age, participants of the GHP and with a cancer diagnosis reported to the PRCCR were included in the study. Results: There were 68 (35.79 %) colorectal cancer patients diagnosed at early stage while 122 (64.21 %) where diagnosed at late stage. In the multivariate analysis having a diagnostic delay of more than 59 days (AOR 2.94, 95 % CI: 1.32 to 6.52) and having the first visit through the emergency room (AOR 3.48, 95 % CI: 1.60 to 7.60) were strong predictors of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a late stage. Conclusions: These results are relevant to understand the factors that influence the outcomes of colorectal cancer patients in the GHP. Therefore, it is important to continue developing studies to understand the Government Health Plan patient's pathways to a cancer diagnosis, in order to promote assertive decisions to improve patient outcomes.
AB - Background: Late stage at diagnosis of cancer is considered a key predictor factor for a lower survival rate. Knowing and understanding the barriers to an early diagnosis of colorectal cancer is critical in the fight to reduce the social and economic burden caused by cancer in Puerto Rico. This study evaluates factors associated to colorectal cancer stage at diagnosis among Puerto Rico's Government Health Plan (GHP) patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a secondary data analysis using information from the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry (PRCCR) and the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration (PRHIA). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the unadjusted odds ratio (ORs) and adjusted odds ratio (AORs), and their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Colorectal cancer cases diagnosed between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012, among persons 50 to 64 years of age, participants of the GHP and with a cancer diagnosis reported to the PRCCR were included in the study. Results: There were 68 (35.79 %) colorectal cancer patients diagnosed at early stage while 122 (64.21 %) where diagnosed at late stage. In the multivariate analysis having a diagnostic delay of more than 59 days (AOR 2.94, 95 % CI: 1.32 to 6.52) and having the first visit through the emergency room (AOR 3.48, 95 % CI: 1.60 to 7.60) were strong predictors of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a late stage. Conclusions: These results are relevant to understand the factors that influence the outcomes of colorectal cancer patients in the GHP. Therefore, it is important to continue developing studies to understand the Government Health Plan patient's pathways to a cancer diagnosis, in order to promote assertive decisions to improve patient outcomes.
KW - Colorectal cancer
KW - Delayed diagnosis
KW - Health services accessibility
KW - Primary health care
KW - Stage at diagnosis
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U2 - 10.1186/s12913-016-1590-4
DO - 10.1186/s12913-016-1590-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 27488381
AN - SCOPUS:84988432767
SN - 1472-6963
VL - 16
JO - BMC Health Services Research
JF - BMC Health Services Research
IS - 1
M1 - 344
ER -