Causes of Diagnostic and Treatment Delays in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: a Nationwide Multicenter Survey and Electronic Health Records Analysis in Turkiye

dc.contributor.author Karadeniz Cakmak, Guldeniz
dc.contributor.author Tali, Ufuk
dc.contributor.author Balbaloglu, Hakan
dc.contributor.author Tasdoven, Ilhan
dc.contributor.author Ozkurt, Enver
dc.contributor.author Karanlik, Hasan
dc.contributor.author Ozmen, Vahit
dc.date.accessioned 2025-08-15T19:10:54Z
dc.date.available 2025-08-15T19:10:54Z
dc.date.issued 2025
dc.description.abstract Delays in breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment negatively impact survival outcomes. Understanding patient- and provider-related factors behind these delays is crucial. This study aimed to identify nationwide reasons for delayed diagnosis and treatment of locally advanced BC in Turkiye. A prospective, multicenter hospital-based survey was conducted across 35 institutions between 2023 and 2024. Patient- and provider-related delays were assessed via a structured 61-item face-to-face survey, supplemented by clinical data from electronic health records. Delays exceeding 3 months were clinically categorized as significant. A total of 1322 women participated from seven regions across Turkiye. Factors contributing to diagnostic delays on a national level included economic reasons (5.5%), lack of family support (3.3%), lack of knowledge (12.4%), lack of time due to household work (3.8%), difficulty in finding an appointment (6.7%), pregnancy-related reasons (1.1%), fear of losing the breast (8.9%), fear of death (9.8%), and transportation difficulties (5.1%). Provider-related delays were infrequent. About 89.3% of the patients had the initial doctor appointment and 89.6% had the first specialist consultation within one month. Treatment planning was predominantly based on a multidisciplinary team decision in 88.3% of patients. Regarding treatment initiation, 93.2% started required treatment within 1 month of decision. Patient-related factors are the major causes of diagnostic delay in Turkiye. On the other hand, from the provider's perspective, the presence of multidisciplinary teams, including dedicated breast surgeons, represents a key factor in ensuring the timely implementation of diagnostic procedures and treatment strategies. en_US
dc.description.sponsorship United Nations Institute for Training and Research; Global Surgery Foundation and Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University [GSFA.2023.NF.009.ZBEU] en_US
dc.description.sponsorship The project was funded by United Nations Institute for Training and Research and The Global Surgery Foundation and Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University (GSFA.2023.NF.009.ZBEU_Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University). en_US
dc.identifier.doi 10.1093/eurpub/ckaf108
dc.identifier.issn 1101-1262
dc.identifier.issn 1464-360X
dc.identifier.uri https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf108
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12514/9162
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Oxford Univ Press en_US
dc.relation.ispartof European Journal of Public Health en_US
dc.rights info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess en_US
dc.title Causes of Diagnostic and Treatment Delays in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: a Nationwide Multicenter Survey and Electronic Health Records Analysis in Turkiye en_US
dc.type Article en_US
dspace.entity.type Publication
gdc.author.wosid Bahadır, Burak/Aer-2273-2022
gdc.author.wosid Pergel, Ahmet/Mck-4075-2025
gdc.author.wosid Vural, Veli/I-9539-2017
gdc.author.wosid Karanlik, Hasan/Aau-3529-2020
gdc.author.wosid Cakmak, Guldeniz/L-4890-2019
gdc.author.wosid Dağ, Ahmet/Aag-8409-2021
gdc.author.wosid Gumusay, Ozge/Aat-3435-2021
gdc.description.department Artuklu University en_US
gdc.description.departmenttemp [Karadeniz Cakmak, Guldeniz; Tali, Ufuk; Balbaloglu, Hakan; Tasdoven, Ilhan; Deniz, Oguzhan; Ozaydin, Yigit; Kaya, Hamide; Comert, Mustafa] Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit Univ, Sch Med, Dept Gen Surg, Zonguldak, Turkiye; [Ozkurt, Enver] Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hosp, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Karanlik, Hasan] Istanbul Univ, Oncol Inst, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Zihni, Ismail; Batu, H. Figen; Vural, Veli] Akdeniz Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Antalya, Turkiye; [Dogan, Lutfi] Univ Hlth Sci, Ankara Oncol Training & Res Hosp, Dept Gen Surg, Ankara, Turkiye; [Akcay, Mufide] Ataturk Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Erzurum, Turkiye; [Gunay, Semra; Kivilcim, Taner] Okan Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Basim, Pelin] Istanbul Medipol Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Kucuk, G. Ozan] Univ Hlth Sci, Samsun Training & Res Hosp, Dept Gen Surg, Samsun, Turkiye; [Pergel, Ahmet] Recep Tayyip Erdogan Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Rize, Turkiye; [Maralcan, Gokturk] Gaziantep SANKO Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Gaziantep, Turkiye; [Ugurlu, M. Umit] Marmara Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Gurleyik, Gunay] Univ Hlth Sci, Istanbul Haydarpasa Numune Hlth Practice & Res Hos, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Akan, Arzu] Univ Hlth Sci, Cemil Tascioglu Training & Res Hosp, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Uzunkoy, Ali] Harran Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Sanli Urfa, Turkiye; [Yildirim, Emine] Atlas Univ, Fac Med, Gen Surg Dept, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Koksal, Hande] Selcuk Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Konya, Turkiye; [Gulcelik, M. Ali; Morkavuk, Baris] Univ Hlth Sci, Gulhane Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Ankara, Turkiye; [Ucar, B. Imge; Yildirim, A. Cihat] Kutahya Hlth Sci Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Kutahya, Turkiye; [Kocer, H. Belma] Sakarya Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Sakarya, Turkiye; [Gumusay, Ozge] Acibadem Univ, Fac Med, Dept Clin Oncol, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Uras, Cihan] Acibadem Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Varli, Metin] Mardin Artuklu Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Mardin, Turkiye; [Ersoy, Yeliz] Bezmialem Vakif Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Ozcinar, Beyza; Cabioglu, Neslihan] Istanbul Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Kafadar, Tolga] Dicle Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Diyarbakir, Turkiye; [Badak, Bartu] Eskisehir Osman Gazi Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Eskisehir, Turkiye; [Dag, Ahmet] Mersin Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Mersin, Turkiye; [Sezer, Atakan] Trakya Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Edirne, Turkiye; [Ozkan Gurdal, Sibel] Tekirdag Namik Kemal Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Tekirdag, Turkiye; [Agcaoglu, Orhan; Dilege, Ece] Koc Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Canturk, N. Zafer] Kocaeli Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Kocaeli, Turkiye; [Yildiz, O. Eren] Hatay Samandag Hosp, Dept Gen Surg, Hatay, Turkiye; [Dalci, Kubilay] Cukurova Univ, Fac Med, Dept Gen Surg, Adana, Turkiye; [Altinok, Ayse] Altinbas Univ, Medikapk Bahcelievler Hosp, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Bolukbasi, Yasemin] Koc Univ, Fac Med, Dept Radiat Oncol, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Filiz, A. Ilker] Baskent Univ, Istanbul Hosp, Dept Gen Surg, Istanbul, Turkiye; [Bayir, Duygu] Eskisehir Osman Gazi Univ, Fac Med, Dept Clin Oncol, Eskisehir, Turkiye; [Olmez, Ozgur] Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit Univ, Fac Med, Dept Clin Oncol, Zonguldak, Turkiye; [Bakkal, Bekir H.] Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit Univ, Fac Med, Dept Radiat Oncol, Zonguldak, Turkiye; [Bahadir, Burak] Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit Univ, Fac Med, Dept Clin Pathol, Zonguldak, Turkiye; [Alicioglu, Banu] Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit Univ, Fac Med, Dept Radiol, Zonguldak, Turkiye; [Buyukuysal, M. Cagatay] Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit Univ, Fac Med, Dept Biostat, Zonguldak, Turkiye en_US
gdc.description.publicationcategory Makale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı en_US
gdc.description.scopusquality Q1
gdc.description.woscitationindex Science Citation Index Expanded - Social Science Citation Index
gdc.description.wosquality Q2
gdc.identifier.pmid 40628383
gdc.identifier.wos WOS:001524065400001
gdc.wos.citedcount 0

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