The Time Interval in Patients Care Process of Colorectal Cancer A Hospital based Study in Khon Kaen, Thailand

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fifth common cancer in Thailand. Waiting time is a problem

within the cancer management and may lead to poor results of cancer. This study aimed to explore the time

interval during the process of CRC management.

Objective: To determine the time interval throughout the patients care process of CRC in a hospital in Khon

Kaen, Thailand.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 191 CRC participants who undergoing treatment and CRC

confirmed with pathology examination in the tertiary hospital in Khon Kean Province. Data were collected

by structured interview and medical record. The time interval in each process of CRC reported by median

and interquartile interval (IQI).

Results: Median (IQI) of the time interval for diagnosis was 246 days (114-426 days). The longest time

interval which accounted among the waiting time process was health system delay 89 days (27-221 days).

Some factors differ in the time interval; the tertiary hospital at the first time, female, young patients, and

lower-income had longer waiting time.

Conclusions: In conclusion, this study showed that health system delay accounted for most of the time

interval for the process of CRC management. For this issue, a shortening time interval for initial investigation

was necessary. If the patient delay was to reduce, we needed promotion about knowledge of the first symptom

that was related to CRC and rising patients’ awareness of cancer.