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. 2022 Nov 4;22:430. doi: 10.1186/s12905-022-02016-1

Table 2.

Ovarian cancer patient characteristics, key features of patient paths to diagnosis, and duration of MPT intervals

ID Agea Stagea Histology Routine healthcareb Referral pathwayc Symptoms Providers consulted Appraisal and help-seeking duration (months) Diagnostic interval duration (months) Pre-treatment interval duration (months) Total MPT interval duration (months) Time from diagnosis to interview (years)
5 55 IV SC NOS Yes Secondary FS: urinary frequency RFH: urinary frequency, incontinence, bloating, back pain, palpable mass 1st gastroenterologist, naturopath, 2nd gastroenterologist (×2) 12.17 45 0.13 57.30 2.66
4 64 IV SC NOS No Secondary FS: abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence, RFH: lump in armpit PCP, general surgeon, radiologist 12.17 0.63 0.33 13.13 2.82
1 66 IV HGSC Yes Direct RFH: rapid weight gain PCP 0.23 NE 0.40 0.63 1.42
12 78 IV SC NOS No Secondary

FS: weight gain

RFH: abdominal pain

ED physician, outpatient physician NOS 12 0.33 0.20 12.53 1.33
11 68 IV HGSC Yes Secondary RFH: difficulty breathing PCP, ED physician 3 0.23 1.00 4.23 0.71
9 70 IV C NOS Yes Secondary FS/RFH: neck mass PCP, ENT 1.37 0.6 0.03 2.00 0.84
10 69 IV HGSC Yes Secondary RFH: difficulty breathing Urgent care provider, ED physician, PCP NA 0.25 0.40 0.65 0.62
13 29 III Dys Yes Direct

FS: tongue sores (“immune reaction”)

RFH: abnormal periods, weight gain

PCP 29.43 12 0.20 41.63 0.80
14 72 III HGSC Yes Secondary RFH: bladder discomfort Gynecologist, PCP, initial gynecologist 2 0.97 0.13 3.10 1.12
8 48 III Dys Yes Secondary FS/RFH: cough Urgent care provider, PCP, pulmonologist 0.5 1.9 0.03 2.43 1.30
15 59 III HGSC Yes Direct RFH: abdominal pain PCP NA 0.75 0.40 1.15 1.13
2 53 II SC NOS Yes Direct

FS: urinary incontinence, back pain

RFH: vaginal bleeding

Midwife 0.33 0.17 0.43 0.93 2.21
7 46 I SC NOS Yes ED Direct

FS: urinary incontinence, back pain

RFH: back pain, nausea

Massage therapist, ED physician 54 0 0.57 54.57 0.79
6 57 I EA NOS No ED Direct

FS: abdominal pain

RFH: worsening of abdominal pain, and dry heaving

ED physician 1.1 0.1 0.03 1.23 3.36

Abbreviations: Unk Unknown, HGSC high grade serous carcinoma, SC serous carcinoma, EA endometrioid adenocarcinoma, Dys dysgerminoma, C carcinoma, NOS not otherwise specified, RFH reason for help-seeking, FS first symptom, PCP primary care provider, ED emergency department, ENT ear nose and throat, NE could not estimate based on transcripts, NA not applicable, Dx diagnosis. aAge and stage defined at diagnosis. bRoutine healthcare defined by seeing a health care provider for routine care within 12 months of diagnosis. cReferral pathways were defined as follows: “direct” patients were seen by an outpatient provider and directly referred by the same provider to gynecologic oncology; “secondary” patients consulted with ≥2 providers prior to receiving a referral to gynecologic oncology; “ED direct” patients first sought help in the emergency department and were directly referred from the ED to gynecologic oncology. Durations of the MPT intervals (Columns 9–13) were estimated from patient narratives. The aggregate appraisal and help-seeking interval was estimated from a patient’s first detection of a symptom to consult with a healthcare provider. The diagnostic interval was defined from first consult with a healthcare provider to receipt of ovarian cancer diagnosis. The pre-treatment interval was defined from the time of ovarian cancer diagnosis to the start of treatment