title: Comparing survival outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer treated in public and private hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether treatment in a private versus public hospital was an independent predictor of survival outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Western Australia between 1993 and 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  Management in private versus public hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall survival and cancer-specific survival rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5809 patients were treated for colorectal cancer. Of these, 1523 (26%) were managed in private hospitals. The 5-year overall survival rates for private and public hospital patients were 59.4% (95% CI, 56.9%-61.9%) and 48.6% (95% CI, 47.0%-50.2%), respectively. Significant independent predictors of overall survival were: treatment in a private hospital (P = 0.0001; relative risk [RR], 0.764; 95% CI, 0.696-0.839); younger age (P = 0.0001; RR, 1.032; 95% CI, 1.029-1.036); male sex (P = 0.001; RR, 1.148; 95% CI, 1.068-1.234); and cancer stage (eg, Stage II: P = 0.0001; RR, 1.508; 95% CI, 1.316-1.729).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment in a private hospital was a significant independent predictor of survival outcomes. Further validation of these results would have a significant bearing on how we approach health care delivery for patients with colorectal cancer.
authors: School of Surgery and Pathology, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.
authors: Melinda
authors: M
authors: Morris
authors: Barry
authors: B
authors: Iacopetta
authors: Cameron
authors: C
authors: Platell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology