Experiences of patients with bladder cancer: A comparison of urban and rural areas.

Authors

null

Lydia Makaroff

World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, Bruxelles, Belgium

Lydia Makaroff , Alex Filicevas , Patrick J. Hensley , Ashish M. Kamat

Organizations

World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, Bruxelles, Belgium, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, Brussels, Belgium, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Research Funding

Astellas
AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, EMD Serono, Pfizer, Seagen

Background: Bladder cancer patients encounter unique challenges and advantages in urban and rural environments, significantly influencing their path from diagnosis to treatment. While numerous studies explore bladder cancer from clinical and therapeutic perspectives, there is a noticeable gap in research addressing patients' experiences based on geographical locale. This study aims to bridge this gap by offering a comparative analysis of urban versus rural experiences. Methods: The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition and IQVIA formulated an online survey, designed to capture the multifaceted experiences of bladder cancer patients. Available in various languages, the survey was accessible from October 2021 to February 2022. Responses underwent systematic analysis, with parameters including gender, time since diagnosis, age, region, and disease stage, forming the sub-analytical categories. Results: We received a total of 1,198 responses from 45 countries. Key findings are summarized in the table, highlighting the comparative experiences of urban and rural patients. Conclusions: Significant disparities emerge between urban and rural bladder cancer patients. Rural patients particularly face prolonged diagnosis times, less clear communication from healthcare providers, and experience greater challenges in accessing treatment. These findings underscore the need for a re-evaluation of communication strategies and healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas. This research serves as a stepping stone for further investigations aimed at fostering a more patient-centric approach to bladder cancer care. Limitations to consider involve the inherent biases of online survey distribution and the possibility of certain regions being underrepresented.

Comparative experiences of urban and rural patients.

Question #MetricUrban (%)Rural (%)
8I saw a family doctor 5 or more times before diagnosis9%15%
10My wait time for diagnosis was more than 3 months23%27%
11“Very clear” communication from doctor about testing56%50%
11"Not at all" clear communication from doctor about testing12%22%
30I had had a radical cystectomy, and the doctor did not talk to me about treatments that would allow me to keep my bladder12%20%
25“Very easy” for me to travel for treatment55%39%
25“Quite difficult” or “very difficult” for me to travel for treatment6%12%

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Urothelial Carcinoma

Track

Urothelial Carcinoma

Sub Track

Quality of Care/Quality Improvement and Real-World Evidence

Citation

J Clin Oncol 42, 2024 (suppl 4; abstr 568)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2024.42.4_suppl.568

Abstract #

568

Poster Bd #

E17

Abstract Disclosures

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