Timeliness of diagnosis of breast and cervical cancers and associated factors in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review.
Publication Date
2022-02-04Journal Title
BMJ Open
ISSN
2044-6055
Publisher
BMJ
Volume
12
Issue
2
Language
en
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Nnaji, C. A., Ezenwankwo, E. F., Kuodi, P., Walter, F. M., & Moodley, J. (2022). Timeliness of diagnosis of breast and cervical cancers and associated factors in low-income and middle-income countries: a scoping review.. BMJ Open, 12 (2) https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057685
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Addressing the barriers to early breast and cervical cancer diagnosis in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires a sound understanding and accurate assessment of diagnostic timeliness. This review aimed to map the current evidence on the time to breast and cervical cancer diagnosis and associated factors in LMICs. DESIGN: Scoping review. SOURCES: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, Scopus and CINAHL. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies describing the time to diagnosis and associated factors in the context of breast and cervical cancer in LMICs published from 1 January 2010 to 20 May 2021. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers independently screened all abstracts and full texts using predefined inclusion criteria. The review was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Evidence was narratively synthesised using predefined themes. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies conducted across 24 LMICs were included in the review, most (24/26) of which focused on breast cancer. Studies varied considerably in their conceptualisation and assessment of diagnostic time, events, intervals and delays, with a minority of the studies reporting the use of validated methods and tools. Patient-related intervals and delays were more frequently evaluated and reported than provider-related and health system-related intervals and delays. Across studies, there were variations in the estimated lengths of the appraisal, help-seeking, patient and diagnostic intervals for both cancers and the factors associated with them. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the significant burden of breast and cervical cancer in LMICs, there is limited information on the timeliness of diagnosis of these cancers. Major limitations included variations in conceptualisation and assessment of diagnostic events and intervals. These underscore the need for the use of validated and standardised tools, to improve accuracy and translation of findings to better inform interventions for addressing diagnostic delays in LMICs.
Keywords
Oncology, 1506, 1717, breast tumours, public health, quality in health care, diagnostic radiology
Sponsorship
GlaxoSmithKline Africa Non-Communicable Disease Open Lab (023)
Cancer Research UK (C8640/A23385)
Identifiers
bmjopen-2021-057685
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057685
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/334002
Rights
Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
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