Isnedys E. Ballesteros-Goes, Quality Specialization, Corporación Universitaria Iberoamericana, Bogotá, Colombia
Edgar F. Manrique-Hernández, Public Health Department, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Maricel Licht-Ardila, Department of Epidemiology, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Piedecuesta, Santander, Colombia
Leidy M. Rincón-Ramírez, Quality Specialization, Corporación Universitaria Iberoamericana, Bogotá; IPS M and S SOLUTIONS S.A.S, San Gil, Santander; Colombia
Alejandra Mendoza-Monsalve, Public Health Department, Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina, Bogotá, Colombia
Alexandra Hurtado-Ortiz, Postgraduate Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Santander, Colombia
Carmen J. Suarez Monsalve, Value-Based Medicine Department, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Piedecuesta, Colombia
Anderson Bermon, Epidemiology, Escuela de Graduados, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia
Background: Cancer care is a complex process involving timely diagnosis, initiation of treatment, and coordination across health system components. Delays in this continuum may arise due to limitations in healthcare infrastructure, socioeconomic disparities, and unequal access to specialized care. Objective: To assess delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation, and their association with the clinical characteristics of cancer patients affiliated with a health benefit management entity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and July 2023, including cancer patients affiliated with a vertically integrated health insurer. Delays were categorized into four groups, and descriptive statistics were performed using STATA. Results: A total of 102 participants were included. Among them, 37.3% experienced delays in receiving diagnostic results, with the highest frequency observed in patients with hematologic cancers (63.6%). Delays in treatment initiation were also more prevalent in this subgroup (18.2%). While authorization delays were infrequent (observed in only 0.9% of patients), procedural delays were reported in 81.4% of the cases. Conclusion: This study identifies delays in diagnosis and treatment, highlighting that the quality of care is the primary barrier.
Keywords: Cancer diagnosis. Treatment delays. Healthcare quality. Early detection. Neoplasms.
