A review of treatment delay for first-episode schizophrenia,first-episode major depressive disorder and first-episode bipolar disorder / 中国心理卫生杂志

This paper aims to review treatment delay in first-episode schizophrenia,depression,and bipolar disorder,and to compare related factors of treatment delay in the three first-episode mental disorders.It is found that increased patient responsibility,stigma,lack of disease-related knowledge,lack of access to resources,and insuffi-cient medical support lead to delay treatment,and making patients to have longer course,heavier symptoms,and lower social functions.

Delays in health seeking, diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis patients in Mongolia: an analysis of surveillance data, 2018–2021

@#Early diagnosis and treatment of infectious tuberculosis (TB) is essential to the attainment of global targets specified in the End TB Strategy. Using case-based TB surveillance data, we analysed delays in health seeking, diagnosis and treatment among TB patients in Mongolia from 2018 to 2021. We calculated the median and interquartile range (IQR) for “diagnostic delay”, defined as the time from symptom onset to diagnosis, subdivided into “health-seeking delay” (time from symptom onset to first visit to a health facility) and “health facility diagnostic delay” (time from first health facility visit to diagnosis), and for “treatment delay”, defined as the time from diagnosis to start of treatment. We also calculated “total delay”, defined as the time from symptom onset to treatment start. Based on data for 13 968 registered TB patients, the median total delay was estimated to be 37 days (IQR, 19–76). This was mostly due to health-seeking delay (median, 23 days; IQR, 8–53); in contrast, health facility diagnostic delay and treatment delay were relatively short (median, 1 day; IQR, 0–7; median, 1 day; IQR, 0–7, respectively). In 2021, health-seeking delay did not differ significantly between men and women but was shorter in children than in adults and shorter in clinically diagnosed than in bacteriologically confirmed TB cases. Health-seeking delay was longest in the East region (median, 44.5 days; IQR, 20–87) and shortest in Ulaanbaatar (median, 9; IQR, 14–64). TB treatment delay was similar across sexes, age groups and types of TB diagnosis but slightly longer among retreated cases and people living in Ulaanbaatar. Efforts to reduce TB transmission in Mongolia should prioritize decreasing delays in health seeking.

Diagnostic and Treatment Delay among New Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Southern India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Delay in diagnosis and treatment enhances tuberculosis (TB) transmission and mortality. Understanding causes for delay can help in TB elimination by 2025, the stated goal of India. Objectives: Estimate diagnostic and treatment delay in Ernakulam district of Kerala, identify associated factors, and determine health-seeking behavior and knowledge regarding TB among new pulmonary TB patients. Materials and Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study among the new pulmonary TB patients registered under Revised National TB Control Program. Patients interviewed in-person and data collected using pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics expressed as frequency, percent, interquartile range, median, and mean. The Chi?square test was used to assess statistical significance (P < 0.05) of association. Backward conditional method logistic regression done using variables with P < 0.2 in univariate analysis and adjusting for possible confounders. Results: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients interviewed and the median patient, health-care system, and treatment delay were 25 days, 22 days, and 1 day, respectively. While the patient delay (>30 days) and treatment delay (>2 days) were seen in 47.6% and 41% of patients, respectively, health?care system delay was seen in 79.9% of the patients. Choosing pharmacy for initial treatment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 5.217), unskilled occupation (aOR = 3.717), female gender (aOR = 3.467), previously not heard about TB (aOR = 3.410), and lower education level (aOR = 2.774) were the independent predictors of the patient delay. Visiting two or more doctors (aOR = 5.855) and initially visiting a doctor of undergraduate qualification (aOR = 3.650) were the independent predictors of health?care system delay. The diagnosis in private sector (aOR = 8.989), not being admitted (aOR = 3.441), and age above 60 years (aOR = 0.394) was the independent predictors of treatment delay. Conclusion: Initial treatment from pharmacy, consulting multiple physicians, and diagnosis by private sector cause significant delay in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary TB.

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYS IN SEEKING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF DEHRADUN– A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease, in which Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent. When a person progresses from infection to disease, they may not experience obvious symptoms for a long time, (e.g cough, fever, hemoptysis, weight loss etc). This might lead to delay in diagnosis and treatment seeking. One of the components of timely diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis is estimating the delay in diagnosis of TB and assessing the factors contributing to the delay. To Aim and Objectives: describe the delays in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary Tuberculosis and to study the socio demographic determinants responsible for the same. A time bound institution based study was conducted in a tertiary care Methodology: hospital in department of pulmonary medicine. A total of 50 patients were included in the study by means of total enumeration. diagnosti Result: c and consultation delays were the most common cause of delays in seeking diagnosis and treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Patient and treatment delays among Mexican women with breast cancer before and after the Seguro Popular / Retrasos del paciente y del tratamiento en mujeres mexicanas con cáncer de mama antes y después del Seguro Popular

Abstract: Objective: To assess whether the Catastrophic Health Expenditures Fund (FPGC, Spanish acronym) was associated with delays in seeking medical care and in starting treatment. Materials and methods: We conducted a before and after cross-sectional study. We included 266 women with breast cancer (BC) diagnosis treated during the last three years before the hospitals received the FPGC and 309 women treated in the following three years after the fund was received by the accredited hospitals. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, we found no association between the FPGC and delay in seeking medical care or between the FPGC and the treatment delay. Conclusions: The FPGC initiative reduced neither the delay in seeking breast cancer medical care for breast cancer nor the treatment delay.

Resumen: Objetivo: Evaluar si el Fondo de Protección contra Gastos Catastróficos en Salud (FPGC) se asoció con retrasos en la búsqueda de atención médica e inicio del tratamiento. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal antes y después, que incluyó 266 mujeres con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama (CM) tratadas durante los últimos tres años previos a que los hospitales recibieran el FPGC y 309 mujeres tratadas en los siguientes tres años posteriores a que los hospitales recibieran el fondo. Resultados: El FPGC no se asoció con el retraso en la búsqueda de atención médica ni con el retraso del inicio del tratamiento. Conclusiones: El FPGC no redujo el retraso en la búsqueda de atención médica por CM ni el retraso del inicio del tratamiento.

Delays in the health care system for children, adolescents, and young adults with bone tumors in Brazil / Atrasos no sistema de saúde para crianças, adolescentes e adultos jovens com tumores ósseos no Brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify delays in the health care system experienced by children and adolescents and young adults (AYA; aged 0-29 years) with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma using information from the Brazilian hospital-based cancer registries. Methods: Patient data were extracted from 161 Brazilian hospital-based cancer registries between 2007 and 2011. Hospital, diagnosis, and treatment delays were analyzed in patients without a previous histopathological diagnosis. Referral, hospital, and health care delays were calculated for patients with a previous histopathological diagnosis. The time interval was measured in days. Results: There was no difference between genders in overall delays. All delays increased at older ages. Patients without a previous histopathological diagnosis had the longest hospital delay when compared to patients with a previous histopathological diagnosis before first contact with the cancer center. Patients with Ewing sarcoma had longer referral and health care delays than those with osteosarcoma who had a previous histopathological diagnosis before first contact with the cancer center. The North and Northeast regions had the longest diagnosis delay, while the Northeast and Southeast regions had the longest treatment delay. Conclusion: Health care delay among patients with a previous diagnosis was longer, and was probably associated with the time taken for to referral to cancer centers. Patients without a previous histopathological diagnosis had longer hospital delays, which could be associated with possible difficulties regarding demand and high-cost procedures. Despite limitations, this study helps provide initial knowledge about the healthcare pathway delays for patients with bone cancer inside several Brazilian hospitals.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar atrasos no sistema de saúde em crianças e adolescentes e adultos jovens (AAJ; até 29 anos) com osteossarcoma e sarcoma de Ewing com informações dos registros de câncer de base hospitalar do Brasil. Métodos: Os dados dos pacientes foram extraídos de 161 registros de câncer de base hospitalar brasileiros entre 2007 e 2011. Os atrasos no hospital, no diagnóstico e no tratamento foram analisados em pacientes sem um diagnóstico histopatológico anterior. Os atrasos no encaminhamento, no hospital e no sistema de saúde foram calculados para pacientes com diagnóstico histopatológico anterior. O intervalo de tempo foi medido em dias. Resultados: Não houve diferença entre os sexos nos atrasos em geral. Todos os atrasos aumentaram na faixa etária mais velha. Os pacientes sem um diagnóstico histopatológico anterior apresentaram o atraso hospitalar mais longo em comparação com os pacientes com diagnóstico histopatológico anterior antes do primeiro contato com o centro de câncer. Os pacientes com sarcoma de Ewing apresentaram atrasos no encaminhamento e no sistema de saúde mais longos do que os com osteossarcoma, que apresentaram diagnóstico histopatológico anterior antes do primeiro contato com o centro oncológico. As regiões Norte e Nordeste apresentaram o atraso mais longo no diagnóstico, ao passo que as regiões Nordeste e Sul apresentaram o atraso mais longo no tratamento. Conclusão: O atraso no sistema de saúde entre os pacientes com diagnóstico anterior foi maior e provavelmente associado ao tempo de encaminhamento para os centros oncológicos. Os pacientes sem um diagnóstico histopatológico anterior apresentaram atrasos mais longos no hospital, o que pode ser associado a possíveis dificuldades com relação à demanda e aos procedimentos de alto custo. Apesar das limitações, nosso estudo ajuda a fornecer um conhecimento inicial sobre os atrasos no sistema de saúde para tratamento de pacientes com câncer em vários hospitais brasileiros.

Diagnostic-to-treatment interval and disease progression among head and neck cancer patients undergoing surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the interval from pathological diagnosis to treatment is significantly delayed, and the presence or absence of disease progression occurring in those with, and without treatment delay, among head and neck cancer patients in our institution.METHODS:Design: Retrospective Chart ReviewSetting: Tertiary Government HospitalParticipants: Medical records of 70 patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer who underwent primary surgery from January 2011 to December 2015 were retrieved and available data were extracted.RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were included in this study. Majority of the cancers were in the larynx (42.9%) and oral cavity (42.9%). The mean diagnostic-to-treatment interval (DTI) was 54 days but 5 (17.8%) out of the 28 had a DTI of more than 60 days. Four (80%) with a DTI more than 60 days had an upstage during surgery while 4 (17.4%) patients with DTI less than or equal to 60 days also had an upstage. 2 (60%) patients with treatment delay had tumor progression compared to 5 (21.7%) of those without treatment delay. Only 1 (20%) out of the 5 patients with treatment delay had increased nodal metastasis in contrast to 8 (34.8%) of those who did not have treatment delay.CONCLUSION: A number of patients undergoing surgery in our institution experienced delay to initiate treatment of more than 60 days and majority of these patients were noted to have disease progression. However, even patients with treatment prior to 60 days had increases in tumor stage, which may suggest that the interval aimed for should be shorter than 60 days.

Diagnostic-to-treatment interval and disease progression among head and neck cancer patients undergoing surgery

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To determine whether the interval from pathological diagnosis to treatment is significantly delayed, and the presence or absence of disease progression occurring in those with, and without treatment delay, among head and neck cancer patients in our institution.<br /><strong>METHODS:</strong><br /><strong>Design:</strong> Retrospective Chart Review<br /><strong>Setting:</strong> Tertiary Government Hospital<br /><strong>Participants:</strong> Medical records of 70 patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer who underwent primary surgery from January 2011 to December 2015 were retrieved and available data were extracted.<br /><strong>RESULTS:</strong> A total of 28 patients were included in this study. Majority of the cancers were in the larynx (42.9%) and oral cavity (42.9%). The mean diagnostic-to-treatment interval (DTI) was 54 days but 5 (17.8%) out of the 28 had a DTI of more than 60 days. Four (80%) with a DTI more than 60 days had an upstage during surgery while 4 (17.4%) patients with DTI less than or equal to 60 days also had an upstage. 2 (60%) patients with treatment delay had tumor progression compared to 5 (21.7%) of those without treatment delay. Only 1 (20%) out of the 5 patients with treatment delay had increased nodal metastasis in contrast to 8 (34.8%) of those who did not have treatment delay.<br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> A number of patients undergoing surgery in our institution experienced delay to initiate treatment of more than 60 days and majority of these patients were noted to have disease progression. However, even patients with treatment prior to 60 days had increases in tumor stage, which may suggest that the interval aimed for should be shorter than 60 days.</p>

Analysis of health-seeking delay and relevant factors of tuberculosis diagnosis among ethnic minority areas / 重庆医学

Objective To analyze the treatment-delay situation of tuberculosis(TB) patients and its influencing factors in ethnic minority areas to provide reference basis for formulating the effective prevention and control measures.Methods The medical records data in 1166 cases of pulmonary TB in Jinping county during 2010-2014 were collected from national TB information management system,their treatment-delay related situation was analyzed and its influencing factors were also analyzed by adopting the Logistic regression model.Results Among 1 166 cases of pulmonary TB reported by Jinping County during 2010-2014,568 cases were treatment-delay,the treatment-delay rate was 48.71％ (568/1 066),the treatment-delay time ≥30 d accounted for 67.25 (382/568),which ≥183 d(half a year) accounted for 6.51％ (37/568),which ≥365 d accounted for 2.64％ (15/568),and the maximal treatment-delay time reached 7 years(2 549 d);the multivariate Logistic regression analysis results showed that compared with non-peasants,sputum smear negative,non-critical patients,peasants(OR=1.867,95％ CI:1.300-2.700),sputum positive(OR=1.631,95 ％ CI:1.200-2.100),critical patients(OR =0.684,95 ％ CI:0.500-0.900) were the risk factors for the treatment-delay in the pulmonary TB patients in ethnic minority areas.Conclusion The treatment-delay of pulmonary TB patients in ethnic minority areas has no relation with the nationality difference,patient's peasant occupation,sputum smear positive and whether severe case are the influencing factors of treatment-delay in pulmonary TB patients.

Atrasos no tratamento do câncer de mama: fatores associados em uma coorte de mulheres admitidas em um centro de referência do Rio de Janeiro

O câncer de mama representa um grande problema de saúde pública no mundo pois atinge tanto países desenvolvidos quanto em desenvolvimento, embora haja diferenças importantes nos perfis de incidência, mortalidade e sobrevida nesses países.Nos países desenvolvidos, observam-se taxas de incidência e mortalidade maiores que nos países em desenvolvimento, porém com sobrevida também maior, o que pode ser efeito da qualidade do diagnóstico precoce e acesso ao tratamento oportuno. O presente estudo visou avaliar os atrasos no tratamento e seus fatores associados na coorte hospitalar de mulheres com câncer de mama no INCA, no Rio de Janeiro, de 2011 a 2013. Dentre as pacientes que chegaram com laudo histopatológico positivo, 39,8% já tinham seus diagnósticos entre 31 e 60 dias de confirmação e 32,1% com mais de 60 dias. Entre as pacientes cuja data do diagnóstico foi após a data da triagem, 83,5% os receberam em até60 dias após a matrícula. A mediana de tempo para início do tratamento a partir do primeiro diagnóstico foi de 98 dias, com 55% das mulheres iniciando o tratamento após91 dias de diagnóstico. Na análise uni variada, o maior risco de atrasar mais que 60 dias para iniciar o tratamento esteve associado à idade maior que 70 anos em comparação às pacientes até 49 anos (OR: 1,32; IC95%1,01-1,71), as pacientes que vieram de outros municípios fora da cidade do Rio de Janeiro em comparação às que moravam na cidade(OR 1,47; IC 95% 1,22-1,77)...

Breast cancer represents a public health problem in the world since it affects bothhigh-income and middle/low-income countries, although there are important differencesin the profiles of incidence, mortality and survival between these countries. This studyaimed to assess delays in treatment and its associated factors in hospital cohort of womenwith breast cancer in INCA, Rio de Janeiro, from 2011 to 2013. Among the patients whoarrived with positive histopathological report, 39.8% already had their diagnoses between31 and 60 days of confirmation and 32.1% over 60 days. Among the patients whose dateof diagnosis was after the date of first medical evaluation, 83.5% received them within60 days after registration. The median time to onset of treatment from first diagnosis was98 days and 55% of women started at 91 days after their first diagnosis. In univariateanalysis, the highest risk of delay more than 60 days to start treatment was associatedwith age older than 70 years compared to patients up to 49 years (OR: 1.32; 95% CI 1.01to 1.71), patients who came from other cities outside of Rio de Janeiro city compared toliving in (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.77)...

An analysis on the delay factors of the treatment and diagnosis among pulmonary tuberculosis patients / 预防医学

Objective To understand the delay factors of the treatment and diagnosis among pulmonary tuberculosis patients, and to provide scientific evidence for tuberculosis control.Methods A total of 128 pulmonary tuberculosis patients who was newly diagnosed and treated in Xiaoshan were enrolled in this study.The data of demography,medical history and tuberculosis knowledge were collected through questionnaires.Statistical method was used to analyze the current situation and delay factors of the treatment and diagnosis.Results The rate of treatment delay was 25.00%.Female patients without hemoptysis symptom,maintenance elderly,little knowledge of tuberculosis and low degree of education were relative to treatment delay among pulmonary tuberculosis patients (P <0.05 ).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female(OR =6.39,95%CI:1.66 -24.61),was the delay factors of treatment.The rate of diagnosis delay was 50.78%.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preliminary treatment in village or private clinics (OR =2.10,95%CI:1.00 -4.39),preliminary treatment without X ray (OR =3.91,95%CI:1.16 -13.19)and maintenance elderly (OR =57.43,95%CI:4.43 -744.30)were risk factors for delayed diagnosis.Conclusion The influencing factor for treatment and diagnosis delay are female,preliminary treatment in village or private clinics,preliminary treatment without X ray and maintenance elderly.

Determinants of delays in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in a new urban township in India: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The period of infectiousness of a new sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis case is important in determining the risk of exposure faced by the community. Early detection and effective treatment of TB case reduces the period of transmission and the risk of exposure of the community. It is for this reason that the delay in TB diagnosis and treatment should be minimal to control disease transmission and patient suffering. Aims & Objective: To measure delays in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, and to identify and assess the risk factors associated with these delays. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of all new smear-positive pulmonary TB patients diagnosed between January 2012 and June 2013 at RNTCP clinic. The time from the onset of symptoms to first health care consultation (patient delay) and the time from first health care consultation to the date of TB diagnosis (health system delay) were analysed. Bivariate and logistics regression were applied to analyse the risk factors of delays. Results: A total of 122 patients with a mean age of 29.9 years were included in the study. Mean total delay between the onset of symptoms and treatment initiation was 53.42 days (median 50, range 14-128), with a mean patient delay of 29.24 days (median 25, range 5-94) and mean health system delay of 21.7 days (median 17, range 3–93). The mean treatment delay was 2.48 days (median 2, range 1-6). Factors independently associated with total delay were cough symptom (OR 3.36, P = 0.038), completed secondary school (OR 0.41, P = 0.018), good knowledge of TB symptoms (OR 0.39, P = 0.011), first visit to a public health facility (OR 0.45, P = 0.044), sputum testing at first health care consultation (OR 0.46, P = 0.048) and stigma attached to TB disease (OR 2.89, P = 0.021). Those associated with patient delay were male sex (OR 0.42, P = 0.020), large family size (OR 2.30, P = 0.027), completed secondary school (OR 0.43, P = 0.025) and good knowledge of TB symptoms (OR 0.45, P = 0.029); while those associated with health system delay were first visit to a public health facility (OR 0.31, P = 0.006), sputum testing at first health care consultation (OR 0.22, P = 0.001), number of health care consultations (OR 4.41, P < 0.001) and pre-diagnosis health care cost (OR 3.35, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Health system delay was an important problem in the area studied, with patient delay being of most concern.

Investigation on related factors of delayed treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction / 重庆医学

Objective To investigation and analysis the related factors of delayed treatmen (pre-hospital and in-hospital) in pa-tients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) .Methods 218 patients with AMI from inpatient department of cardiology and emer-gency ,and to analyze the factors that may affect patients medical timely through investigated and analyzed more than 20 specific fac-tors ,including general information ,human and social factors ,etc .Results In 218 case of AMI ,47 cases of timely treatment (21 .6% ) ,171 cases of delaying treatment (78 .4% ) in 218 patients with AMI .The results showed that education level ,disease awareness level ,economic income ,previous history of heart disease ,chest pain level ,treatment distance ,transport choices and whether call a first-aid or not had significant differences between timely treatment group and delaying treatment group (P<0 .05) . Hospital diagnosis and treatment delay may link with waiting time ,waiting for examination ,the doctor′s advice-delivery time .Con-clusion Patients with AMI treatment delay is serious ,the awareness of patients timely treatment and hospital management system should be further improved .

Traditional healers are causing treatment delay among patients with psychosis in Hospital Kuala Lumpur: Fact or Fallacy?

Objective: Mental health services in Malaysia often face competition from traditional healers especially among patients with psychosis. The objective of the study is to determine whether patients who sought help earlier from traditional healers had longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), and more adverse experiences in pathways to psychiatric care. Methods: This is a hospital-based cross-sectional study of 50 inpatients with first-episode psychosis in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (Diagnostic and statistical manual, 4th edition) Clinical Version for Axis I Disorders (SCID-CV) was used for establishing diagnosis. Onset of psychosis was defined as any one positive symptom with a score of >3 on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Socio-demographic data, information on pathways and treatment delaying factors were determined through face-to-face interview and semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Fifty-four percent of the patients had at least one contact with traditional healers prior to consulting psychiatric service, and it was the most popular first point of non-psychiatric help-seeking contact (48%). Contact with traditional healers was not associated with age, gender, ethnic, education level, longer DUP or treatment delay, and admissions with violent behaviour or police assistance. Of those who had sought help from traditional healers, one third were recommended by at least one of their traditional healers to seek medical help. Conclusion: Consultation involving traditional healers was a popular choice, and not associated with treatment delay. Traditional healers in an urban setting may be potential collaborators in managing patients with first-episode psychosis. Future research should explore the frontiers of such collaborative work.