Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33889516›Full record

ArticleTranslational lung cancer research2021

Examining the diagnostic pathway for lung cancer patients in Wales using discrete event simulation.

Tracey J England, Paul R Harper, Tom Crosby, Daniel Gartner, Edilson F Arruda, Kieran G Foley, Ian J Williamson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational lung cancer research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Discrete-Event Simulation Modeling in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
    Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Tracey J EnglandSchool of Mathematics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Paul R HarperSchool of Mathematics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Tom CrosbyVelindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, UK.
Daniel GartnerSchool of Mathematics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Edilson F ArrudaSchool of Mathematics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Kieran G FoleyVelindre Cancer Centre, Cardiff, UK.
Ian J WilliamsonAneurin Bevan University Health Board, Newport, UK.

Funding

Cancer Research UK 27882
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUK's National Health Service (NHS) has one of the poorest lung cancer survival rates in Europe. To improve patient outcomes, a single cancer pathway was introduced in the NHS. In this study, a Discrete Event Simulation was developed to understand bottlenecks during lung cancer treatment.

methodsThis study focused on the lung cancer diagnostic pathways at two Welsh hospitals. Discrete Event Simulation is a computer-based method that has been effectively used in demand and capacity planning. In this study, simulation models were developed for the current and proposed single cancer pathways. The validated models were used to provide Key Performance Indicators. Several "what-if" scenarios were considered for the current and proposed pathways.

resultsUnder the current diagnostic pathway, the mean time to treatment for a surgery patient was 68 days at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and 79 days at Prince Charles Hospital. For chemotherapy patients, the mean time to treatment was 52 days at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and 57 days at Prince Charles Hospital. For radiotherapy patients, the mean time to treatment was 44 days at Royal Glamorgan Hospital and 54 days at Prince Charles Hospital. Ensuring that the patient attends their first outpatient appointment within 7 days and streamlining the diagnostic tests would have the potential to remove approximately 20 days from the current lung cancer pathway resulting in a 20-25% increase of patients receiving treatment within 62 days. Ensuring that patients begin their treatment within 21 days of diagnosis sees almost all patients comply with the 62-day target.

conclusionsDiscrete Event Simulation coupled with a detailed statistical analysis provides a useful decision support tool which can be used to examine the current and proposed lung cancer pathways in terms of time spent on the pathway.

Indexed as

diagnosticsLung canceroptimal pathwaysimulation models

Identifiers

PMID33889516
PMCPMC8044476

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