Geographical Variations in the Clinical Management of Colorectal Cancer in Australia: A Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Front Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2018 Jun 6

PMID 29868464

Citations 6

Authors

Fiona Crawford-Williams

Sonja March

Michael J Ireland

Arlen Rowe

Belinda Goodwin

Melissa K Hyde

Suzanne K Chambers

Joanne F Aitken

Jeff Dunn

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: In Australia, cancer survival is significantly lower in non-metropolitan compared to metropolitan areas. Our objective was to evaluate the evidence on geographical variations in the clinical management and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: A systematic review of published and gray literature was conducted. Five databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, and Informit) were searched for articles published in English from 1990 to 2018. Studies were included if they assessed differences in clinical management according to geographical location; focused on CRC patients; and were conducted in Australia. Included studies were critically appraised using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. PRISMA systematic review reporting methods were applied.

Results: 17 articles met inclusion criteria. All were of high (53%) or moderate (47%) quality. The evidence available may suggest that patients in non-metropolitan areas are more likely to experience delays in surgery and are less likely to receive chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer and adjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Conclusion: The present review found limited information on clinical management across geographic regions in Australia and the synthesis highlights significant issues both for data collection and reporting at the population level, and for future research in the area of geographic variation. Where geographical disparities exist, these may be due to a combination of patient and system factors reflective of location. It is recommended that population-level data regarding clinical management of CRC be routinely collected to better understand geographical variations and inform future guidelines and policy.

Citing Articles

Temporal and geographical variations in diagnostic imaging in Norway.

Hofmann B, Brandsaeter I, Andersen E, Porthun J, Kjelle E BMC Health Serv Res. 2024; 24(1):463.

PMID: 38610021 PMC: 11015609. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10869-5.

Ethical issues with geographical variations in the provision of health care services.

Hofmann B BMC Med Ethics. 2022; 23(1):127.

PMID: 36474244 PMC: 9724375. DOI: 10.1186/s12910-022-00869-7.

Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review.

Hande V, Chan J, Polo A JCO Glob Oncol. 2022; 8:e2200106.

PMID: 36122318 PMC: 9812498. DOI: 10.1200/GO.22.00106.

Barriers to Accessing, Commencing and Completing Cancer Treatment Among Geriatric Patients in Rural Australia: A Qualitative Perspective.

George M, Smith A, Ranmuthugula G, Sabesan S Int J Gen Med. 2022; 15:1583-1594.

PMID: 35210830 PMC: 8859537. DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S338128.

Effect of Gender and Age on the Correlation between Helicobacter pylori and Colorectal Adenomatous Polyps in a Chinese Urban Population: A Single Center Study.

Zhao X, Liu M, Wang R, Tian T Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2020; 2020:8596038.

PMID: 32104172 PMC: 7035519. DOI: 10.1155/2020/8596038.

References

Hines R, Markossian T . Differences in late-stage diagnosis, treatment, and colorectal cancer-related death between rural and urban African Americans and whites in Georgia. J Rural Health. 2012; 28(3):296-305. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2011.00390.x. View

Fleming M, Kirby B, Penny K . Record linkage in Scotland and its applications to health research. J Clin Nurs. 2012; 21(19-20):2711-21. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.04021.x. View

Eldin N, Yasui Y, Scarfe A, Winget M . Adherence to treatment guidelines in stage II/III rectal cancer in Alberta, Canada. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2011; 24(1):e9-17. DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2011.07.005. View

Hall S, Holman C, Platell C, Sheiner H, Threlfall T, Semmens J . Colorectal cancer surgical care and survival: do private health insurance, socioeconomic and locational status make a difference?. ANZ J Surg. 2005; 75(11):929-35. DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2005.03583.x. View

Wilson A, Marlow N, Maddern G, Barraclough B, Collier N, Dickinson I . Radical prostatectomy: a systematic review of the impact of hospital and surgeon volume on patient outcome. ANZ J Surg. 2010; 80(1-2):24-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.05172.x. View

Hocking C, Broadbridge V, Karapetis C, Beeke C, Padbury R, Maddern G . Equivalence of outcomes for rural and metropolitan patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in South Australia. Med J Aust. 2014; 201(8):462-6. DOI: 10.5694/mja14.00046. View

Singla A, Broadbridge V, Mittinty M, Beeke C, Maddern G . Rural populations have equal surgical and survival outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer. Aust J Rural Health. 2014; 22(5):249-56. DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12133. View

Valery P, Coory M, Stirling J, Green A . Cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians: a matched cohort study. Lancet. 2006; 367(9525):1842-8. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68806-5. View

Young J, Leong D, Armstrong K, OConnell D, Armstrong B, Spigelman A . Concordance with national guidelines for colorectal cancer care in New South Wales: a population-based patterns of care study. Med J Aust. 2007; 186(6):292-5. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb00903.x. View

10.

Beckmann K, Bennett A, Young G, Roder D . Treatment patterns among colorectal cancer patients in South Australia: a demonstration of the utility of population-based data linkage. J Eval Clin Pract. 2014; 20(4):467-77. DOI: 10.1111/jep.12183. View

11.

Hoff P, Ansari R, Batist G, Cox J, Kocha W, Kuperminc M . Comparison of oral capecitabine versus intravenous fluorouracil plus leucovorin as first-line treatment in 605 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: results of a randomized phase III study. J Clin Oncol. 2001; 19(8):2282-92. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2001.19.8.2282. View

12.

Liberati A, Altman D, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gotzsche P, Ioannidis J . The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BMJ. 2009; 339:b2700. PMC: 2714672. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b2700. View

13.

Malet-Martino M, Martino R . Clinical studies of three oral prodrugs of 5-fluorouracil (capecitabine, UFT, S-1): a review. Oncologist. 2002; 7(4):288-323. DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.7-4-288. View

14.

Campbell N, Elliott A, Sharp L, Ritchie L, Cassidy J, Little J . Impact of deprivation and rural residence on treatment of colorectal and lung cancer. Br J Cancer. 2002; 87(6):585-90. PMC: 2364239. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600515. View

15.

Youl P, Dasgupta P, Youlden D, Aitken J, Garvey G, Zorbas H . A systematic review of inequalities in psychosocial outcomes for women with breast cancer according to residential location and Indigenous status in Australia. Psychooncology. 2016; 25(10):1157-1167. DOI: 10.1002/pon.4124. View

16.

Bhattacharyya G . Oral systemic therapy: Not all "win-win". Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol. 2010; 31(1):1-3. PMC: 2941596. DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.68844. View

17.

Beckmann K, Bennett A, Young G, Cole S, Joshi R, Adams J . Sociodemographic disparities in survival from colorectal cancer in South Australia: a population-wide data linkage study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2016; 16:24. PMC: 4721049. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-016-1263-3. View

18.

Cunningham J, Rumbold A, Zhang X, Condon J . Incidence, aetiology, and outcomes of cancer in Indigenous peoples in Australia. Lancet Oncol. 2008; 9(6):585-95. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70150-5. View

19.

Aarts M, Lemmens V, Louwman M, Kunst A, Coebergh J . Socioeconomic status and changing inequalities in colorectal cancer? A review of the associations with risk, treatment and outcome. Eur J Cancer. 2010; 46(15):2681-95. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2010.04.026. View

20.

Labianca R, Nordlinger B, Beretta G, Mosconi S, Mandala M, Cervantes A . Early colon cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2013; 24 Suppl 6:vi64-72. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdt354. View