Cancer treatment closer to the patient, reduces travel burden, time toxicity and improve patients satisfaction. Results on 546 consecutive patients in a North Italy district

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The distance to cancer facilities may cause disparities by creating barriers to oncologic diagnosis and treatment, and travel burden may cause time and financial toxicity. Methods To relieve travel burden, a program to deliver oncologic treatment closer to the patient was initiated in our district some years ago. The oncologic activities are performed by oncologists and by nurses who travel from the oncologic ward of the city hospital, to territorial centers for delivering cancer patients management. This model is called Territorial Oncology Care (TOC): patients are managed near their home, in three territorial hospitals and in a health center, named “Casa della Salute” (CDS). We performed a retrospective study and we analyzed electronic records of patients with cancer managed in the TOC program. The primary endpoints are the kms and time saved, the secondary endpoints: reduction of caregiver need for transport and patient’s satisfaction. Results 546 cancer patients managed in the TOC program from January 2, 2021 to June 30, 2022 were included in this study. Primary endpoints: median kms to reach the city hospital: 26(range 11-79 kms) median time: 44 minutes ( range 32-116); median kms in the TOC program: 7(range 1-35 kms), median time: 16 minutes (range 6-54), p<0,001. Secondary endpoints: 64.8% of patients who needed a caregiver for the city hospital could travel alone in the TOC program and 99,63% of patients were satisfied. Conclusions The results of our retrospective study highlight the possibility of treating cancer patients near their residence, reducing travel burden and time saving.