Pathways and Referral of Patients with Cancer in Rural Ethiopia: A Multi-center Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Well-organized patient pathways are essential to achieve early diagnosis and timely treatment of patients with cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. This retrospective cohort study describes pathways and referral patterns of cancer patients in rural Ethiopia.

Patients and methods

The retrospective study took place from October to December 2020 at 2 primary- and 6 secondary-level hospitals in southwestern Ethiopia. Of 681 eligible patients diagnosed with cancer between July 2017 and June 2020, 365 patients were included. Structured interviews on the patients' pathways were conducted by telephone. The primary outcome was successful referral, which was defined as occurring when the intended procedure was initiated at the receiving institution. Logistic regression was used

SUBMITTER: Trabitzsch J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10243765 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature