Short view of leukemia diagnosis and treatment in iran.
BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis and treatment of leukemia patients remains a fundamental aim in clinical oncology, especially in developing country. Present study highlights the basic requirements of these patients in Iran. Better understanding of these issues may lead to improve the healthcare standards toward leukemia diagnosis and treatment.


METHODS
This descriptive study included 101 specialists in hematology-oncology and pathology serving in oncology centers. The participants were then asked to fill out a standard questionnaire on the issues around diagnosis and treatment of blood malignancies.


RESULTS
According to specialists, unfair distribution of facilities across the country, delayed diagnosis of disease, absence of psychological support for patients, and insufficient financial support were the main reasons of inappropriate diagnosis and treatment in leukemia patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that making an amendment to health policies by preparing well-equipped medical centers in all provinces, improving the morale of patients through consultation during the process of treatment, and above all, subsiding leukemia patients' financial problems will promote the health standard regarding the leukemia diagnosis and treatment in Iran.
Department of Medical laboratory sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Mehdi
M
Azad
Department of Medical laboratory sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Ramin
R
Bakhshi Biniaz
Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Mehdi
M
Goudarzi
Department of Biochemistry, Metabolic Disorders Research Center, School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Naser
N
Mobarra
Department of Hematology, Allied Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Shaban
S
Alizadeh
Hematology-Oncology and Stem cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran university of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Hajar
H
Nasiri
Sarem Cell Research Center, Sarem Women's Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
Ali
A
Dehghani Fard
Department of Hematology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Saeid
S
Kaviani
Department of Hematology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Mohamad Hossein
MH
Moghadasi
Department of Medical laboratory sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Sarookhani
Department of Hematology, Allied Medical School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mousa
M
Vatanmakan
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Mehdi
M
Sahmani
Diagnosis; Leukemia; Treatment