Do diagnostic delays in cancer matter?
BACKGROUND
The United Kingdom has poorer cancer outcomes than many other countries due partly to delays in diagnosing symptomatic cancer, leading to more advanced stage at diagnosis. Delays can occur at the level of patients, primary care, systems and secondary care. There is considerable potential for interventions to minimise delays and lead to earlier-stage diagnosis.


METHODS
Scoping review of the published studies, with a focus on methodological issues.


RESULTS
Trial data in this area are lacking and observational studies often show no association or negative ones. This review offers methodological explanations for these counter-intuitive findings.


CONCLUSIONS
While diagnostic delays do matter, their importance is uncertain and must be determined through more sophisticated methods.
Neal
R D
RD
Department of Primary Care and Public Health, North Wales Clinical School, Cardiff University, Gwenfro 5, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham, UK. nealrd@cf.ac.uk
D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011320:Primary Health Care