Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37930491›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2024

Individual and area level factors associated with the breast cancer diagnostic-treatment interval in Queensland, Australia.

James D Retell, Jessica K Cameron, Joanne F Aitken, Philippa Youl, Chris Pyke, Jeff Dunn, Suzanne Chambers, Peter D Baade

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Time from diagnosis to treatment: Are cancer patients who travel for treatment receiving optimal care in Australia?Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 7 institutions in 1 country.

James D RetellViertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Jessica K CameronViertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Joanne F AitkenViertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Philippa YoulCancer Alliance Queensland, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
Chris PykeMater Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Jeff DunnProstate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Suzanne ChambersFaculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Peter D BaadeViertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. peterbaade@cancerqld.org.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8576-8868
Queensland University of Technology · AUAustralian Catholic University · AUCancer Council Queensland · AUGriffith University · AUMater Adult Hospital · AUMetro South Health · AUProstate Cancer Foundation of Australia · AU

Funding

Cancer Council Australia 100639
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDelays to breast cancer treatment can lead to more aggressive and extensive treatments, increased expenses, increased psychological distress, and poorer survival. We explored the individual and area level factors associated with the interval between diagnosis and first treatment in a population-based cohort in Queensland, Australia.

methodsData from 3216 Queensland women aged 20 to 79, diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (ICD-O-3 C50) between March 2010 and June 2013 were analysed. Diagnostic dates were sourced from the Queensland Cancer Registry and treatment dates were collected via self-report. Diagnostics-treatment intervals were modelled using flexible parametric survival methods.

resultsThe median interval between breast cancer diagnosis and first treatment was 15 days, with an interquartile range of 9-26 days. Longer diagnostic-treatment intervals were associated with a lack of private health coverage, lower pre-diagnostic income, first treatments other than breast conserving surgery, and residence outside a major city. The model explained a modest 13.7% of the variance in the diagnostic-treatment interval [Formula: see text]. Sauerbrei's D was 0.82, demonstrating low to moderate discrimination performance.

conclusionWhilst this study identified several individual- and area-level factors associated with the time between breast cancer diagnosis and first treatment, much of the variation remained unexplained. Increased socioeconomic disadvantage appears to predict longer diagnostic-treatment intervals. Though some of the differences are small, many of the same factors have also been linked to screening and diagnostic delay. Given the potential for accumulation of delay at multiple stages along the diagnostic and treatment pathway, identifying and applying effective strategies address barriers to timely health care faced by socioeconomically disadvantaged women remains a priority.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsAustraliaDelayed DiagnosisFemaleHumansQueenslandSocioeconomic FactorsAustraliaBreast cancerDelayDiagnosisHealth careInequalitiesTreatment

Identifiers

PMID37930491
PMCPMC10805972
OpenAlexW4388412294

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.