Table 3.
Comparison of the waiting time with staging, source of referral, and year of referral to a reference centre for breast cancer treatment in Cariri, Brazil, between 2009 and 2011
| Variables | Waiting time (days)* | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis and first medical visit | First medical visit and treatment initiation | Diagnosis and treatment initiation | |
| Groups included | I | I, II, III | I, III |
| Waiting time | 41 (18; 83) | 24 (8; 61) | 69 (36.8; 119.8) |
| Staging | |||
| I | 58 (25.5; 96) | 40.0 (24.5; 66.5) | 63 (37; 142) |
| II | 53.5 (25; 88.3) | 23 (6; 59) | 72 (41; 117) |
| III | 38 (18.5; 76) | 18.5 (7.3; 51.5) | 62 (34; 106) |
| IV | 22 (9; 102) | 17 (4.5; 54.3) | 63 (22; 127) |
| P** | 0.440 | 0.497 | 0.802 |
| Source of referral | |||
| Public | 94 (40; 124) | 22 (7; 59.3) | 71.5 (38; 122.5) |
| Private or health plan | 53 (15; 88) | 27 (7; 50) | 39 (23; 89.8) |
| P*** | 0.037 | 0.843 | 0.031 |
| Years | |||
| 2009 | 29 (14; 68) | 26.5 (11; 74.8) | 65 (40.3; 114) |
| 2010 | 56 (25; 96) | 22 (8; 56) | 78 (47; 133) |
| 2011 | 36 (15; 67) | 25.5 (6.3; 60.5) | 60.5 (33; 99.8) |
| P** | <0.001 | 0.297 | 0.003 |
*Median (p.25; p.75); **Kruskal–Wallis’ test; ***Mann-Whitney’s test