ArticlePublic health2023
The journey of cancer patients and the quest to equity: findings from Morocco.
Article in Public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- Impact of and recovery after Covid-19 on breast cancer diagnosis and care in Johannesburg, South Africa.BMC cancer · 2026Article
- Quality of life trajectories in breast cancer survivors up to one year after treatment: a prospective study in a lower-middle-income country.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- The oncogeriatric transition in Morocco: health-system challenges and strategic priorities in an aging society.Frontiers in public health · 2026Review
- Application of patient journey mapping in patients with breast cancer: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Determinants of Diagnosis Delay in a Sample of Breast Cancer Patients from the Mohammed VI Centre for Cancer Treatment.Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP · 2025Article
- Determinants of Delayed Breast Cancer Diagnosis: A Sample From the Mohammed VI Center for Cancer Treatment, Morocco.Cureus · 2025Article
- Quality of Care and Survival Outcomes Among Patients With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer in Nigeria.JCO global oncology · 2025Article
- Locally advanced and metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Morocco: from diagnosis to treatment.Ecancermedicalscience · 2025Article
- Epidemiological profile of breast cancer patients: descriptive study at the Laâyoune Sakia El Hamra Region Oncology Center.The Pan African medical journal · 2025Article
- Effective and ineffective psychological adjustment in breast cancer patients before receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy: insights from a cohort study.BMC psychology · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesRapid diagnostic and assessment pathways for cancer patients provide timely and effective care. This study took place in Morocco, where the majority of patients treated in the public sector are diagnosed at an advanced stage. The aim of this study was to determine the duration of different time intervals along the cancer patient pathway and to highlight problem areas so that strategies can be implemented to make the process more equitable and effective. STUDY
designCross-sectional study.
methodsRecently diagnosed cancer patients were recruited from four major oncology centres in Morocco; namely, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, and Fez. A questionnaire survey was administered, including sociodemographic and medical information and questions on access to the oncology centre, beliefs, and opinions on the medical staff. The dates of symptom recognition, assessment, diagnosis referral, biopsy, and treatment initiation were collected. Different time intervals (patient, diagnosis, biopsy, and treatment) were estimated and their determinants were investigated.
resultsA total of 812 patients were interviewed. The majority of participants were breast cancer patients. In total, 60% of participants were at stage III-IV. The main facilitators of cancer diagnosis confirmation and treatment initiation were easy access to diagnosis and treatment facilities, financial resources, personal history of cancer, time availability, late stage at diagnosis, advanced age, and private health insurance. The patient interval (i.e., time from symptom recognition to initial healthcare assessment) had a median duration of 30 days. The biopsy and treatment intervals were within the current international recommendations (7 and 28 days, respectively). However, the diagnosis interval (52 days) was twice as long as the recommended timeframes from the UK, Australia, and the World Health Organization (<28 days).
conclusionsInterval targets should be defined to encourage health systems to be more equitable and effective and to ensure that cancer patients are treated within a defined timeframe.
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