Patient satisfaction with wait-times for breast cancer surgery in Newfoundland and Labrador

Abstract

Do shorter waits for breast cancer surgery lead to greater wait-related patient satisfaction? Using survey and cancer clinic chart data of 99 patients with breast cancer from Newfoundland and Labrador, we found that median wait-time from first visit to a surgeon to surgery was 22.0 days and 87% were satisfied with their wait-time. Wait-related satisfaction was not associated with the length of wait but rather with the stage, severity of treatment, wait-time for a diagnosis and satisfaction with diagnosis-related wait. These findings highlight the importance of an early and timely diagnosis in patients' perceptions of breast cancer care wait-times.