Relationship between waiting period for treatment and healthcare delivery system using large discharge database

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18898
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58010:Medical management and medical sociology-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Sakata Nobuo 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 准教授 (60756188)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 治療待ち期間 / がん / 医療ビックデータ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The "waiting period for cancer treatment" is one of the items that should be shortened because it can worsen QOL and prognosis. In this study, we calculated the waiting time for treatment using DPC data, showed the average waiting time for cancer treatment in Japan, and examined the factors related to it. The analysis revealed that the average and median waiting time from precise examination to surgery was 53.7 days and 39 days, respectively, for cervical cancer, and 60.8 days and 43 days, respectively, for breast cancer. The study also showed that advanced stage shortens the waiting time for treatment, while large cities may have longer waiting times for treatment. However, there was no statistically significant difference in waiting time for treatment between cancer center hospitals and university hospitals and general hospitals.

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Free Research Field

医療政策学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究課題において、日本のがん診療の治療待ち期間を全国規模のデータで示し、がん診療拠点病院の設置や地域の影響を検討したことで、今後のがん医療提供体制の検討に資する知見を出すことができたと考えられる。