title: Ethnic inequalities in cancer survival in New Zealand: linkage study.
abstract: We explored the contribution of stage at diagnosis to ethnic disparities in cancer survival in New Zealand. We linked 115811 adult patients with invasive cancer registered on the cancer registry (1994 to 2002) to mortality data. Age-standardized, 5-year relative survival rates were lowest for Maori, intermediate for Pacific people (otherwise known as Pacific Islanders), and highest for non-Maori/non-Pacific people for many cancers. Stage at diagnosis accounted for only part of these differences. Possible factors responsible for ethnic inequalities might include access to specialized cancer services and the quality of care received.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Private Bag 756, Wellington, New Zealand. m.jeffreys@massey.ac.nz
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeffreys
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stevanovic
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ellison-Loschmann
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blakely
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality*; D009520:New Zealand; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012042:Registries; D015996:Survival Rate