Treatment Navigation Pathway and Barriers to Treatment for Cancer Patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. | [Journal of Medical Science • 2017]

Author(s):

1. Muhammad Attaullah Khan: Department of Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan

2. Mushtaq Ahmed: Department of Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan

3. Nisar Ahmed: Department of Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan

4. Mahmud Aurangzeb: Department of Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan

5. Mohammad Zarin: Department of Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan

6. Muhammad Muslim: Department of Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan

7. Saqib Saleem Afridi: Department of Surgery, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract:

Objective: To identify the treatment navigation pathway and barriers causing delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. Material and Methods: We conducted a hospital based cross-sectional study in a single surgical unit of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar. This study comprising of randomly selected 82 cancer patients, from Jan, 2013 to Jan, 2014. Patients were interviewed regarding their pathway of seeking treatment and various barriers were identified that are causing delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. Results: This study included 82 patients, 40% males and 60% females. Average age ranged from 15 to 78 years. Majority of patients were females from rural areas with low socioeconomic and education level. The most common cancer was breast cancer. Major barriers to early diagnosis and treatment were lack of functional health facilities in rural areas, low socioeconomic and education level of the patients and malpractice by unregistered medical practitioners. Conclusion: Due lack of proper treatment navigation pathway most patients presented with advanced stage of the tumour.

Page(s): 209-212

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Journal of Medical Science, Volume: 25, Issue: 2, Year: 2017

Keywords:

Keywords are not available for this article.

References:

References are not available for this document.

Citations

Citations are not available for this document.

Citations

Downloads

Views