title: Factors associated with diagnostic and treatment intervals for prostate cancer in Queensland, Australia: a large cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relation between socio-demographic and clinical factors, and time from consultation to diagnosis and treatment for men with prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men diagnosed with prostate cancer (n = 1,064, response rate = 82%) were recruited through participating urologists and hospital outpatient clinics in Queensland, Australia, and completed telephone interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Outcome measures were the diagnostic interval (initial consultation to definitive diagnosis) and treatment interval (definitive diagnosis to start of treatment).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median time to diagnosis was 73 days (IQR = 41-144) and median treatment interval was 65 days (IQR = 36-107). After adjustment, men were more likely to wait more than 70 days for their definitive diagnosis when they initially presented with symptoms (compared with a general checkup) or did not have private health insurance. For treatment interval, men without private health insurance or who were treated with radiotherapy alone were more likely to wait more than 70 days. Treatment intervals were shorter when men received androgen deprivation therapy combined with radiotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in waiting times for diagnosis and treatment related to access to private hospital care suggest that there are inequities in health-care service provision that are system based.
authors.affiliation: Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, Cancer Council Queensland, PO Box 201, Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006, Australia. peterbaade@cancerqld.org.au
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Baade
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Danny R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Youlden
authors.forename: Joanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yaxley
authors.forename: Suzanne K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011793:Queensland; D011878:Radiotherapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents