title: Patient Satisfaction with Wait-Times for Breast Cancer Surgery in Newfoundland and Labrador.
abstract: Do shorter waits for breast cancer surgery lead to greater wait-related patient satisfaction? Using survey and cancer clinic chart data of 99 patients with breast cancer from Newfoundland and Labrador, we found that median wait-time from first visit to a surgeon to surgery was 22.0 days and 87% were satisfied with their wait-time. Wait-related satisfaction was not associated with the length of wait but rather with the stage, severity of treatment, wait-time for a diagnosis and satisfaction with diagnosis-related wait. These findings highlight the importance of an early and timely diagnosis in patients' perceptions of breast cancer care wait-times.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Health Policy/Health Care Delivery, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.affiliation: Research Coordinator, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Professor of Biostatistics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Vereesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gadag
authors.affiliation: Professor Emeritus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014850:Waiting Lists