title: Time to follow up after an abnormal finding in organized gastric cancer screening in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prognosis for an abnormal medical finding is affected by both early detection and adherence to the presecribed schedule for follow-up examinations. In this study, we examined the time to follow up after an abnormal finding and determined the risk factors related to delays in follow up in a population-based screening program.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of patients who were newly diagnosed with gastric cancer through a gastric cancer screening program sponsored by the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in 2005. Due to the skewed nature of the distribution of time to follow up, medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) are presented, and we analyzed the number of days preceding the follow-up time as a binary variable (≤ 90 days or >90 days). We used logistic regression analyses to evaluate the risk factors for a long delay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median number of days to follow-up initiation after an abnormal finding was 11 (IQR 7-27); 13.9% of the patients with gastric cancer obtained their follow-up evaluation more than 90 days. Age, type of health insurance, screening method, and screening results were risk factors for delays in follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study examined delays from the time of the discovery of an abnormal finding to time of the follow-up evaluation. Because inadequate follow up of abnormal exam results undermines the potential benefits of cancer screening, it is important to organize services that minimize delays between cancer screening and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine & Institute of Health Services Research, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Hoo-Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kui Son
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Myung-Il
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hahm
authors.forename: Eun-Cheol
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009313:National Health Programs; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment