Differences in travel burden between patients with self-reported curable and incurable cancer: results from a Dutch flash mob study

Supportive Care in Cancer, vol. 33, pp. 610

Abstract

PURPOSE: To explore travel burden in patients with self-reported curable and incurable cancer. METHOD: A 2-day flash mob study was conducted in March 2023 among patients visiting medical oncology departments in 65 Dutch hospitals. Disease status was self-reported. Patients completed a questionnaire on travel time (one-way), travel problems, and willingness to travel. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression analyses were used to assess travel burden and its associated factors. RESULTS: In total, 991 patients with curable and 1959 with incurable cancer were included. Patients with curable cancer more often reported daily or weekly hospital visits (63% vs. 22%, p < 0.001) and a travel time of less than 30 min (78% vs. 73%, p = 0.005). Almost one-third of patients with curable (28%) and incurable cancer (29%) experienced some travel problems. Patients with worse physical functioning and longer travel times were more likely to experience travel problems. Disease status was not associated with experiencing travel problems or the willingness to travel for oncological care. Instead, willingness to travel was associated with patients' level of education, physical functioning, and tumour type. CONCLUSION: Being diagnosed with self-reported curable or incurable cancer was not associated with experiencing travel problems or the willingness to travel for oncological care. Experiencing travel problems was associated with physical functioning and travel time, and the willingness to travel was associated with level of education, physical functioning, and tumour type. To ensure accessible and patient-centred care, physicians should be aware of these potential barriers and aim to provide well-coordinated, personalised care close to home.

Authors 11

1. Moyke A. J. Versluis corresponding

   Tilburg University · Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation

   Affiliation as printed

   Graduate School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands. m.a.j.versluis@tilburguniversity.edu

   Research and Development, The Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.a.j.versluis@tilburguniversity.edu

2. Elianne C.S. de Boer

   Isala

   Affiliation as printed

   Isala Oncology Center, Isala Hospital, Zwolle, The Netherlands

3. Lonneke Veronique van de Poll-Franse

   Tilburg University · The Netherlands Cancer Institute · Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center for Research On Psychological and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

   Department of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

   Research and Development, The Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands

4. Natasja J. H. Raijmakers

   Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation

   Affiliation as printed

   Research and Development, The Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands

5. Pauline A. J. Vissers

   Radboud University Medical Center · Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   Research and Development, The Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands

6. Irene Dingemans
   Affiliation as printed

   Dutch Federation of Cancer Patient Organisations (NFK), Utrecht, The Netherlands

7. Michiel B. de Ruiter
   Affiliation as printed

   Dutch Federation of Cancer Patient Organisations (NFK), Utrecht, The Netherlands

8. Marije Slingerland Aachen Department of Medical Oncology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Dutch Federation for Medical Oncology (NVMO), Utrecht, The Netherlands

9. Anna K.L. Reyners

   University Medical Center Groningen · University of Groningen

   Affiliation as printed

   Dutch Federation for Medical Oncology (NVMO), Utrecht, The Netherlands

   University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

10. Margot E. T. Tesselaar

    The Netherlands Cancer Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Gastro-Intestinal Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Dutch Federation for Medical Oncology (NVMO), Utrecht, The Netherlands

11. A.N.M. Wymenga

    Medisch Spectrum Twente

    Affiliation as printed

    Dutch Federation for Medical Oncology (NVMO), Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Medical Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands