Impact of primary care physicians on early cancer symptom investigation and specialty referral in Saudi Arabia compared to the international cancer benchmarking partnership
Author(s): Daniya Abdouh, Paul Krueger, Rahim Moineddin, Amer Radwi, Dr.Eva Grunfeld
Introduction: Cancer survival rates vary significantly between countries with similar health systems, and the factors contributing to these differences are complex and not well understood. The International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) was established to examine international variations in cancer outcomes and identify potential causes. Module 3 of the ICBP hypothesized an association between the readiness of Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) to investigate cancer symptoms and cancer survival rates, identifying potential differences in primary care systems, structure, or clinical practice that could contribute to variations in cancer outcomes. Correlations were found between the readiness of PCPs to investigate cancer symptoms and survival rates, offering a possible explanation for the variation in cancer survival observed among ICBP countries.
Quantitative studies from Saudi Arabia have reported a higher number of cancer cases presenting at cancer centers with advanced stages compared to Western countries. However, the reasons behind this phenomenon have not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, country-specific research is required to investigate why Saudi Arabian patients present with late-stage diseases.
Objectives: This study aims to determine the awareness of Saudi Arabian Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) regarding early investigation and referral to specialty services for early cancer diagnosis.
Methods: This cross-sectional study will include family medicine consultants working in National Guard Hospitals in Jeddah and Riyadh. Data will be collected via an online survey administered using Qualtrics. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze demographic factors and primary care structure. The cumulative proportion of PCPs opting to investigate or refer at each phase for each vignette will be calculated using relevant cancer's percentage 1-year survival rates using SPSS.
Conclusion: This study aims to utilize a validated survey that was administered to primary care physicians in ICBP countries and adapt it for online administration to primary care physicians in Saudi Arabia. By examining their behavior and system factors, this study seeks to identify potential contributors to delays in investigating cancer. Understanding these factors may help explain international survival differences among ICBP countries. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to strategies aimed at improving the timeliness of cancer investigation, ultimately leading to better cancer outcomes in Saudi Arabia.