Delays in access to treatment and patterns in primary care presentations and hospital visits for patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas

Project Details

This project seeks to understand how delays to diagnosis and access to treatment can impact on outcomes for patients diagnosed with bone and soft tissue sarcomas.

Patron ID: PAT031

Project Lead:

Prof Jon Emery

Overview:

This project is enabled by two previous Patron applications which permit linkage of and access to Patron data by the VCCC Data-Driven Research Program for specific projects.
This project seeks to understand how delays to diagnosis and access to treatment can impact on outcomes for patients diagnosed with bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Access to treatment for Victorians diagnosed with cancer generally occurs after symptomatic presentation at a General Practice, however there is little evidence of early symptoms for patients diagnosed with sarcoma so accurate diagnosis and rapid access to treatment, most likely at a specialist centre, is critical to ensure the best possible outcome.

It will investigate the health care pathways of patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas with the intent of identifying access barriers and the potential for accurate early diagnosis, particularly relating to primary care and emergency department attendances prior to treatment. It will analyse presentations in general practice and hospital attendances as an indicator of outcomes, quality of life and survivorship.

Research Outcomes

As of 20/11/2023

  • PhD thesis submission (Dr Meena Rafiq)
  • Journal paper (submitted to BJGP - awaiting review)
  • Oral presentation (ANZSA annual meeting 2023)

Research Publications

Meena Rafiq, Jasper de Boer, Jasmine Mar, Jayesh Desai, Susie Bae, David E Gyorki, Claudia Di Bella, Georgios Lyratzopoulos, Jeremy H Lewin and Jon Emery (2024).  Clinical activity in general practice before sarcoma diagnosis: an Australian cohort study. British Journal of General Practice 2024; 74 (745): e508-e516. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2023.0610

Research Group

Data for Decisions

Faculty Research Themes

Cancer

Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.

Department / Centre

General Practice and Primary Care Research

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