Background: Timeliness in the management of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) can be affected by both patient and non-patient related factors. This study aims to investigate the factors associated with the timeliness of managing HNC.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on Western Health medical records including all new patients presenting to the Western Health HNC surgical outpatient clinic in the five-year period from first January 2017 to 31st December 2021 with the diagnosis of a HNC. Both patient and non-patient related factors were compared with the duration between a patient's referral to a HNC service and the commencement of their treatment.
Results: Two hundred and twenty-eight patients were included in this study. The median duration from referral to the commencement of treatment was 48 days. Lack of radiological or pathological investigations prior to referral to a HNC service as well as early staging were found to significantly impact timeliness in management. Socioeconomic factors such as non-English speaking backgrounds, distance from the hospital and lack of social supports were not found to negatively impact timeliness of management.
Conclusion: The management of patients with HNC require careful consideration of all patient and non-patient related factors which may affect timeliness in management, particularly investigations performed prior to their referral to a HNC service.
Keywords: delayed diagnosis; head and neck neoplasms; squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck; surgery; time-to-treatment.
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