title: Utilization of oncology services and receipt of treatment: a comparison between patients with breast, colon, rectal, or lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Higher awareness could translate into better care for patients with breast cancer than for those with other cancers. This study examines utilization of two key oncology services across cancer sites: consultation with an oncologist and receipt of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  All residents of Alberta, Canada, who were diagnosed in 2005 with breast, colon, rectal, or lung cancer and had a disease stage that should be treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormonal therapy were included. Data were obtained from the Alberta Cancer Registry and electronic cancer medical records. Percentages of patients who had a consultation and who received treatment were compared. Multivariable log-binomial regression models were used to identify patient characteristics associated with not having the outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A much higher percentage of patients with breast cancer had consultations and received treatment (92% and 83%, respectively) than those with colon (83% and 59%), rectal (86% and 73%), or lung (77% and 66%) cancer. Age, disease stage, region of residence, and surgery status are related to having a consultation and/or receiving treatment but the relationship varies by cancer site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts are needed to eliminate disparities in utilization of key cancer services across cancer sites.
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Oncology, Cancer Care, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Butts
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarfe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winget
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012306:Risk