ArticlePloS one2019
How many roads must a Malaysian walk down? Mapping the accessibility of radiotherapy facilities in Malaysia.
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Neurocognitive impairment following proton therapy for paediatric brain tumour: a systematic review of post-therapy assessments.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021Pooled it
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- Breast Cancer Myths, Mysterious Miracles and Mistrust among Rural Womenfolk in Sarawak.Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP · 2025Article
- Travel Burden of Radiation Therapy in the Philippines.Advances in radiation oncology · 2025Article
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- Quality of Life and Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Proton Therapy for Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: A Systematic Review.Cancers · 2023Review
- Geographic Accessibility and Availability of Radiotherapy in Ghana.JAMA network open · 2022Article
- The Health-Seeking Behavior among Malaysian Adults in Urban and Rural Areas Who Reported Sickness: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Association Between Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines for Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer and Survival in a Resource-Limited Setting.JCO global oncology · 2022Article
- Geographic accessibility to cancer treatment in Brazil: A network analysis.Lancet regional health. Americas · 2022Article
- Insights on emotional distress following cancer, sources of support and the unmet needs in a setting with limited supportive care services for people living with cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021Article
- Geospatial analysis of distribution of community pharmacies and other health care facilities providing minor ailments services in Malaysia.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe accessibility to radiotherapy facilities may affect the willingness to undergo treatment. We sought to quantify the distance and travel time of Malaysian population to the closest radiotherapy centre and to estimate the megavoltage unit (MV)/million population based on the regions. MATERIALS &
methodsData for subdistricts in Malaysia and radiotherapy services were extracted from Department of Statistics Malaysia and Directory of Radiotherapy Centres (DIRAC). Data from DIRAC were validated by direct communication with centres. Locations of radiotherapy centres, distance and travel time to the nearest radiotherapy were estimated using web mapping service, Google Map.
resultsThe average distance and travel time from Malaysian population to the closest radiotherapy centre were 82.5km and 83.4mins, respectively. The average distance and travel were not homogenous; East Malaysia (228.1km, 236.1mins), Central (14.4km, 20.1mins), East Coast (124.2km, 108.8mins), Northern (42.9km, 42.8mins) and Southern (36.0km, 39.8mins). The MV/million population for the country is 2.47, East Malaysia (1.76), Central (4.19), East Coast (0.54), Northern (2.40), Southern (2.36). About 25% of the population needs to travel >100 km to get to the closest radiotherapy facility.
conclusionOn average, Malaysians need to travel far and long to reach radiotherapy facilities. The accessibility to radiotherapy facilities is not equitable. The disparity may be reduced by adding centres in East Malaysia and the East Coast.
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