title: [Access to cancer care: mapping hospital admissions and high-complexity outpatient care flows. The case of breast cancer].
abstract: This study analyzes the flow of patients with breast cancer treated in Brazil's Unified National Health System (SUS) by type of treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy). Hospital and outpatient services networks were identified based on data from the National Information System for Inpatient Care (SIH), and the National Information System for Outpatient Cancer Care, for 2005-2006, using TabWin and TerraView. Health services networks reach most of the country, and few municipalities are not connected to a network. However, treatment is highly concentrated in the largest cities, and even the latter show evidence of service shortages. Furthermore, a large proportion of patients live more than 150 km from the respective service. Network identification is important for planning and improving services distribution, since geographic access is a relevant issue for treatment outcome. Reduction of morbidity and mortality requires early identification, and appropriate and prompt treatment can reduce the impacts of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evangelina Xavier Gouveia de
authors.initials: EX
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Enirtes Caetano Prates
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Rejane Sobrino
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Cláudio Pompeiano
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.forename: Marilia Sá
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards