title: A Pilot Study on Factors Associated with Presentation Delay in Patients Affected with Head and Neck Cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient delay can contribute to a poor outcome in the management of head and neck cancers (HNC). The main objective of the present study was to investigate the factors associated with patient delay in our population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with cancers of the head and neck attending a regional cancer center of North East India were consecutively interviewed during the period from June 2014 to November 2014. The participation of patients was voluntary. The questionnaire included information on age, gender, residential status, educational qualification, monthly family income, any family history of cancer, and history of prior awareness on cancer from television (TV) program and awareness program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 311 (n) patients, with an age range of 14-88 years (mean 55.4 years), 81.7% were males and 18.3% females (M:F=4.4). The overall median delay was 90 days (range=7 days-365 days), in illiterate patients the median delay was 90 days and 60 days in literate patients (P=0.002), the median delay in patients who had watched cancer awareness program on TV was 60 days and in patients who were unaware about cancer information from TV program had a median delay of 90 days (p=0.00021) and delay of <10 weeks was seen in 139 (44.6%) patients, a delay of 10-20 weeks in 98 (31.5%) patients, and a delay of 20-30 weeks in 63 (20.2%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Education and awareness had a significant impact in reduction of median patient delay in our HNC cases.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Oncology, Dr.B Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, India E-mail : mani_greeva@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Nizara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baishya
authors.forename: Ashok Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Manigreeva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishnatreya
authors.forename: Anupam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Kishore
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Amal Chandra
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kataki
authors.forename: Pintu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nandy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult