Evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patients

The growing increase in oral cavity cancer (OSCC) incidence constitutes a severe diagnostic-therapeutic problem – and early diagnosis, as well as medical treatment remain important priorities of maxillofacial oncology. The aim of this paper was to determine the reasons for delays in the diagnostics...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brodowski Robert, Czenczek-Lewandowska Ewelina, Migut Małgorzata, Leszczak Justyna, Lewandowski Bogumił
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2022-08-01
Series:Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2022-0010
_version_ 1818027331945496576
author Brodowski Robert
Czenczek-Lewandowska Ewelina
Migut Małgorzata
Leszczak Justyna
Lewandowski Bogumił
author_facet Brodowski Robert
Czenczek-Lewandowska Ewelina
Migut Małgorzata
Leszczak Justyna
Lewandowski Bogumił
author_sort Brodowski Robert
collection DOAJ
description The growing increase in oral cavity cancer (OSCC) incidence constitutes a severe diagnostic-therapeutic problem – and early diagnosis, as well as medical treatment remain important priorities of maxillofacial oncology. The aim of this paper was to determine the reasons for delays in the diagnostics and treatment of oral cavity cancer patients. The study focused on 248 patients (=56.1 years) post-surgery, in which delays in diagnostics and treatment were reported. As for the causes, most frequently, in 171 cases (69.0%), patient delays were reported, in 56 cases, physician delays were observed, and in 21 cases (8.5%), organizational reasons were to blame. The median time period between the onset of the symptoms and seeking medical attention was 143 days. Time interval between the first contact with a doctor and commencement of oncological treatment was 33.2 days approximately. The majority of the patients were not aware of the oral cavity cancer risk. Misdiagnosis of symptoms as inflammation, as well as prolonged antibiotic therapy and diagnostics constitute main reasons for physician and organization-al/health care system delays. Raising patients’ awareness of cancer risk, as well as educational and promotional programs for physicians are the principal goals of a strategy aiming to enhance oral cancer diagnosis.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T04:46:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0b7058823e424936bd8470baacfd76fd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2300-6676
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T04:46:12Z
publishDate 2022-08-01
publisher Sciendo
record_format Article
series Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences
spelling doaj.art-0b7058823e424936bd8470baacfd76fd2022-12-22T02:01:44ZengSciendoCurrent Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences2300-66762022-08-01352535710.2478/cipms-2022-0010Evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patientsBrodowski Robert0Czenczek-Lewandowska Ewelina1Migut Małgorzata2Leszczak Justyna3Lewandowski Bogumił4Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Frederic Chopin Clinical Hospital No. 1, Rzeszow, PolandInstitute of Health Sciences, Medical College, University of Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Maxillofacial Surgery, Frederic Chopin Clinical Hospital No. 1, Rzeszow, PolandInstitute of Health Sciences, Medical College, University of Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Maxillofacial Surgery, Frederic Chopin Clinical Hospital No. 1, Rzeszow, PolandThe growing increase in oral cavity cancer (OSCC) incidence constitutes a severe diagnostic-therapeutic problem – and early diagnosis, as well as medical treatment remain important priorities of maxillofacial oncology. The aim of this paper was to determine the reasons for delays in the diagnostics and treatment of oral cavity cancer patients. The study focused on 248 patients (=56.1 years) post-surgery, in which delays in diagnostics and treatment were reported. As for the causes, most frequently, in 171 cases (69.0%), patient delays were reported, in 56 cases, physician delays were observed, and in 21 cases (8.5%), organizational reasons were to blame. The median time period between the onset of the symptoms and seeking medical attention was 143 days. Time interval between the first contact with a doctor and commencement of oncological treatment was 33.2 days approximately. The majority of the patients were not aware of the oral cavity cancer risk. Misdiagnosis of symptoms as inflammation, as well as prolonged antibiotic therapy and diagnostics constitute main reasons for physician and organization-al/health care system delays. Raising patients’ awareness of cancer risk, as well as educational and promotional programs for physicians are the principal goals of a strategy aiming to enhance oral cancer diagnosis.https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2022-0010cancer cavi orisoral cavity cancerdelays in treatment
spellingShingle Brodowski Robert
Czenczek-Lewandowska Ewelina
Migut Małgorzata
Leszczak Justyna
Lewandowski Bogumił
Evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patients
Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences
cancer cavi oris
oral cavity cancer
delays in treatment
title Evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patients
title_full Evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patients
title_fullStr Evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patients
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patients
title_short Evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patients
title_sort evaluating the reasons for delays in treatment of oral cavity cancer patients
topic cancer cavi oris
oral cavity cancer
delays in treatment
url https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2022-0010
work_keys_str_mv AT brodowskirobert evaluatingthereasonsfordelaysintreatmentoforalcavitycancerpatients
AT czenczeklewandowskaewelina evaluatingthereasonsfordelaysintreatmentoforalcavitycancerpatients
AT migutmałgorzata evaluatingthereasonsfordelaysintreatmentoforalcavitycancerpatients
AT leszczakjustyna evaluatingthereasonsfordelaysintreatmentoforalcavitycancerpatients
AT lewandowskibogumił evaluatingthereasonsfordelaysintreatmentoforalcavitycancerpatients