Table 5 Factors contributing to diagnostic delay
From: Patient- and system-related barriers for the earlier diagnosis of colorectal cancer
Factors that may have contributed to the development of delay (N = 69 cases) | Number of factors identified |
|---|---|
Patient factors (N = 32 cases) | 56 |
   Frequent appointment no-shows | 9 |
   Patient declined evaluation | 16 |
   Comorbidity | 18 |
   Frequent appointment cancellations | 4 |
   Poor information from patient history | 0 |
   Noncompliance | 0 |
   Major psychiatric diagnosis | 8 |
   Homelessness | 1 |
System factors (N = 61 cases) | 212 |
   Delay in CS scheduling due to backlog in VA | 4 |
   CS or FS missed the lesion(s) | 10 |
   Barium enema missed the lesion(s) | 1 |
   Incorrect interpretation of findings | 1 |
   Error in clinical judgment | 1 |
   Communication breakdown | 1 |
   Inexperience of clinician | 0 |
Abnormal findings likely lost to follow up (N = 57 cases) | 101 |
   Review/obtain outside records | 8 |
   Wt loss | 7 |
   Anemia | 41 |
   Positive family history | 2 |
   FOBT request | 4 |
   Positive FOBT | 22 |
   Abnormal colon polyp biopsy | 3 |
   Abnormal imaging | 2 |
   Hematochezia | 3 |
Abnormal findings lost to follow up with no patient factors identified | 33 |