Prostate cancer: wait times to see a urologist

• Main Author: Ferrier, Taylor
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2013
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/8267/; https://research.library.mun.ca/8267/1/Ferrier_Taylor.pdf

Background: Improving wait times has become a national priority and prostate cancer wait times have not been studied in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Methods: Using a retrospective chart review, we measured and compared wait times for prostate cancer care to benchmarks set by local, national, and international experts. Residents who had a prostate biopsy between April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010 at the Health Science Centre in St. John' s, NL were eligible. Results: The 34I eligible patients experienced the longest median wait of 68 days (0-310) between general practitioner date of referral to first visit with urologist. Few men met the established benchmarks for suspected prostate cancer care. Delays were not uncommon, and most often existed between date of biopsy and notification of results. Conclusion: Few men met local and national wait time benchmarks for prostate cancer care. Findings can be used to identify strategies to improve the timeliness of specialist care in NL and to enhance the reliability of wait times research.