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Rasmussen LA, Vedsted P, Jensen H, Frederiksen H, El-Galaly TC, Kristensen IB, Virgilsen LF. Multiple myeloma: unplanned diagnostic pathways and association with risk factors and survival - a nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:998. [PMID: 39134966 PMCID: PMC11320956 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12706-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple myeloma often presents with vague and non-specific symptoms. Many patients are diagnosed in unplanned rather than elective (planned) diagnostic pathways. This study investigates the diagnosis of multiple myeloma in unplanned pathways and the association with patient characteristics, disease profile, and survival. METHODS We conducted a nationwide register-based study, including all patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma in Denmark in 2014-2018. Patients were categorised as diagnosed in an unplanned pathway if registered with an acute admission within 30 days prior to the multiple myeloma diagnosis and no other previously registered pathway to this diagnosis. Unplanned pathways were compared to all other pathways combined. RESULTS We included 2,213 patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma, hereof 32% diagnosed in an unplanned pathway. Comorbidity, no prior cancer diagnosis, a history of few visits to the general practitioner (GP), multiple myeloma complications at diagnosis, high-risk cytogenetics, and advanced cancer stage were associated with a higher probability of being diagnosed in an unplanned pathway. For example, 24.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 21.8-27.0) of patients with low comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score 0) were diagnosed in an unplanned pathway as were 50.9% (95% CI: 45.6-56.1) of patients with high comorbidity (CCI score 3+). For patients with dialysis need at the time of diagnosis the probability was 66.0% (95% CI 54.2-77.8) and 30.9% (95% CI: 28.9-32.9) for patients with no dialysis need. Patients diagnosed in an unplanned pathway had inferior survival (hazard ratio 1.44 (95% CI: 1.26-1.64)). However, this association was not seen in analyses restricted to patients surviving for more than three years. CONCLUSIONS High comorbidity level, few usual GP visits, advanced disease status at diagnosis, and complications were associated with diagnosis in an unplanned pathway. Further, patients diagnosed in an unplanned pathway had inferior survival. Promoting earlier diagnosis and preventing unplanned pathways may help improve survival in multiple myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henry Jensen
- Danish Clinical Quality Program - National Clinical Registries (RKKP), Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henrik Frederiksen
- Department of Haematology, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Tarec Christoffer El-Galaly
- Department of Haematology, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Haematology, Clinical Cancer Research Centre, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Medicine, Solna, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ida Bruun Kristensen
- Department of Haematology, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Virgilsen LF, Jensen H, Falborg AZ, Prior A, Pedersen AF, Vedsted P. Psychiatric disorders and the cancer diagnostic process in general practice: a combined questionnaire and register study exploring the patients' experiences in Denmark. Scand J Prim Health Care 2024; 42:156-169. [PMID: 38149909 PMCID: PMC10851816 DOI: 10.1080/02813432.2023.2296944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with psychiatric disorders are at risk of experiencing suboptimal cancer diagnostics and treatment. This study investigates how this patient group perceives the cancer diagnostic process in general practice. DESIGN Cross-sectional study using questionnaire and register data. SETTING General practice in Denmark. SUBJECTS Patients diagnosed with cancer in late 2016 completed a questionnaire about their experiences with their general practitioner (GP) in the cancer diagnostic process (n = 3411). Information on pre-existing psychiatric disorders was obtained from register data on psychiatric hospital contacts and primary care treated psychiatric disorders through psychotropic medications. Logistic regression was used to analyse the association between psychiatric disorders and the patients' experiences. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patients' experiences, including cancer worry, feeling being taken seriously, and the perceived time between booking an appointment and the first GP consultation.[Box: see text]. RESULTS A total of 13% of patients had an indication of a psychiatric disorder. This group more often perceived the time interval as too short between the first booking of a consultation and the first GP consultation. Patients with primary care treated psychiatric disorders were more likely to worry about cancer at the first presentation and to share this concern with their GP compared with patients without psychiatric disorders. We observed no statistically significant association between patients with psychiatric disorders and perceiving the waiting time to referral from general practice, being taken seriously, trust in the GP's abilities, and the patients' knowledge of the process following the GP referral. CONCLUSION The patients' experiences with the cancer diagnostic process in general practice did not vary largely between patients with and without psychiatric disorders. Worrying about cancer may be a particular concern for patients with primary care treated psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry Jensen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Anders Prior
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Anette Fischer Pedersen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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Druel V, Gimenez L, Paricaud K, Delord JP, Grosclaude P, Boussier N, Bugat MER. Improving communication between the general practitioner and the oncologist: a key role in coordinating care for patients suffering from cancer. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:495. [PMID: 32487036 PMCID: PMC7268533 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-06993-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients suffering from cancers are increasingly numerous in general practice consultations. The General Practitioner (GP) should be at the heart of the management of patients. Several studies have examined the perceptions of GPs confronted with the patient suffering from cancer and the relationships of GPs with oncologists, but few studies have focused on the patients’ perspective. We studied the three-way relationship between the oncologist, the GP, and the patient, from the patient’s point of view. Methods A questionnaire validated by a group consisting of GPs, oncologists, nurses, an epidemiologist and quality analyst, was administered over a three-week period to patients suffering from cancer receiving chemotherapy in a day hospital. Results The analysis was based on 403 questionnaires. Patients had confidence in the GP’s knowledge of oncology in 88% of cases; 49% consulted their GP for pain, 15% for cancer-related advice, and 44% in emergencies. Perceived good GP/oncologist communication led patients to turn increasingly to their GP for cancer-related consultations (RR = 1.14; p = 0.01) and gave patients confidence in the GP’s ability to manage cancer-related problems (RR = 1.30; p < 0.01). Mention by the oncologist of the GP’s role increased the consultations for complications (RR = 1.82; p < 0.01) as well as recourse to the GP in an emergency (RR = 1.35; p < 0.01). Conclusion Patients suffering from cancer considered that the GP was competent, but did not often consult their GP for cancer-related problems. There is a discrepancy between patients’ beliefs and their behaviour. When the oncologist spoke to patients of the GP’s role, patients had recourse to their GP more often. Systematically integrating a GP consultation to conclude cancer diagnosis disclosure, could improve management and care coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Druel
- Department of Primary Care, University of Toulouse, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France. .,Oncology Unit, Auch Hospital, Auch, France. .,Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse III, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.
| | - Laetitia Gimenez
- Department of Primary Care, University of Toulouse, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.,Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse III, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.,Inserm U1027, Faculty of Medicine, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France
| | - Kim Paricaud
- Department of Internal Medicine, Toulouse University Hospital, 29 Rue Emile Lecrivain, 31077, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Delord
- Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse III, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.,Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, 1 Av. Irène Joliot-Curie, 31100, Toulouse, France
| | - Pascale Grosclaude
- Inserm U1027, Faculty of Medicine, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France.,Onco-occitanie, 1 Av. Irène Joliot-Curie, 31059, Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Boussier
- Department of Primary Care, University of Toulouse, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Marie-Eve Rougé Bugat
- Department of Primary Care, University of Toulouse, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.,Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse III, 133 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France.,Inserm U1027, Faculty of Medicine, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France.,Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, 1 Av. Irène Joliot-Curie, 31100, Toulouse, France
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Jensen H, Møller H, Vedsted P. Characteristics of customary non-attenders in general practice who are diagnosed with cancer: A cross-sectional study in Denmark. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2019; 28:e13143. [PMID: 31433525 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore individual and structural factors in patients with cancer and their potential association with customary non-attendance in general practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of all patients aged 50-89 years who were diagnosed with an incident cancer in 2009-2013 in Denmark. We investigated associations between being a customary non-attender (defined as having no consultations in general practice in the 19-36 months before diagnosis) and selected patient-related factors (demography, socioeconomic status), health-related factors (multimorbidity) and structural factors (urbanisation degree, list size of general practice and use of out-of-hours services) using logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 123,943 cancer patients were included; 11,567 (9.3%) of these were non-attenders. Non-attendance was associated with being more than 70 years of age, being single, having short or long education and being financially affluent. Non-attendance was rarely seen in cancer patients with (multi)morbidity, in individuals living in an area with 2,000-99,999 inhabitants and in individuals having contact with the out-of-hours services. CONCLUSION Specific groups of cancer patients were more often customary non-attenders in general practice. General practice may need to reach out more directly to these patients to ensure more timely cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Jensen
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henrik Møller
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,The Danish Clinical Registries (RKKP), Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Vedsted
- Research Centre for Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
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Association between GPs' suspicion of cancer and patients' usual consultation pattern in primary care: a cross-sectional study. Br J Gen Pract 2019; 69:e80-e87. [PMID: 30642908 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp19x700769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients who rarely consult a GP in the 19-36 months before a cancer diagnosis have more advanced cancer at diagnosis and a worse prognosis. To ensure more timely diagnosis of cancer, the GP should suspect cancer as early as possible. AIM To investigate the GP's suspicion of cancer according to the patient with cancer's usual consultation pattern in general practice. DESIGN AND SETTING A cross-sectional study based on survey data from general practice of 3985 Danish patients diagnosed with cancer from May 2010 to August 2010, and linked to national register data. METHOD Using logistic regression analysis with restricted cubic splines, the odds ratio (OR) of the GP to suspect cancer as a function of the patient's number of face-to-face consultations with the GP in the 19-36 months before a cancer diagnosis was estimated. RESULTS GPs' cancer suspicion decreased with higher usual consultation frequency in general practice. A significant decreasing trend in ORs for cancer suspicion was seen across usual consultation categories overall (P<0.001) and for each sex (males: P<0.05; females: P<0.05). GPs' cancer suspicion was lower in patients aged <55 years in both rare and frequent attenders compared with average attenders. CONCLUSION GPs suspect cancer more often in rare attenders ≥55 years. GPs' cancer suspicion was lower in younger patients (<55 years), in both rare and frequent attenders. GPs should be aware of possible missed opportunities for cancer diagnosis in young attenders and use safety netting to reduce the risk of missing a cancer diagnosis.
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