Standardized care pathways for patients with suspected urinary bladder cancer: the Swedish experienceShow others and affiliations
2022 (English)In: Scandinavian journal of urology, ISSN 2168-1805, E-ISSN 2168-1813, Vol. 56, no 3, p. 227-232Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
OBJECTIVES: To compare time intervals to diagnosis and treatment, tumor characteristics, and management in patients with primary urinary bladder cancer, diagnosed before and after the implementation of a standardized care pathway (SCP) in Sweden.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the Swedish National Register of Urinary Bladder Cancer was studied before (2011-2015) and after (2016-2019) SCP. Data about time from referral to transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), patients and tumor characteristics, and management were analyzed. Subgroup analyses were performed for cT1 and cT2-4 tumors.
RESULTS: Out of 26,795 patients, median time to TURBT decreased from 37 to 27 days after the implementation of SCP. While the proportion of cT2-T4 tumors decreased slightly (22-21%, p < 0.001), this change was not stable over time and the proportions cN + and cM1 remained unchanged. In the subgroups with cT1 and cT2-4 tumors, the median time to TURBT decreased and the proportions of patients discussed at a multidisciplinary team conference (MDTC) increased after SCP. In neither of these subgroups was a change in the proportions of cN + and cM1 observed, while treatment according to guidelines increased after SCP in the cT1 group.
CONCLUSION: After the implementation of SCP, time from referral to TURBT decreased and the proportion of patients discussed at MDTC increased, although not at the levels recommended by guidelines. Thus, our findings point to the need for measures to increase adherence to SCP recommendations and to guidelines.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2022. Vol. 56, no 3, p. 227-232
Keywords [en]
Bladder cancer, health services organization, hematuria, management guidelines, multidisciplinary team conferences, population-based, standardized care pathways, time intervals
National Category
Cancer and Oncology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-98522DOI: 10.1080/21681805.2022.2058605ISI: 000779277800001PubMedID: 35389306Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85129124889OAI: oai:DiVA.org:oru-98522DiVA, id: diva2:1651142
Note
Funding agencies:
Swedish government ALFGBG-873181
Swedish county councils, the ALF-agreement ALFGBG-873181
NU Hospital Group
2022-04-112022-04-112022-08-04Bibliographically approved