{
  "abstract": "Introduction: People from rural and remote communities experience poorer cancer outcomes compared with their urban counterparts. In Australia, the Optimal Care Pathways provide guidance for best practice cancer care and outline optimal processes and time frames for diagnosis and treatment. Evidence indicates that survival is improved when care is aligned to these time frames. Understanding the predictors of delays in meeting these benchmarks is therefore critical to improving equity in cancer outcomes. However, the predictors of such delays, particularly in rural and remote areas, remain poorly understood.\n\nThis paper describes the protocol of a study that aims to identify predictors of diagnostic and treatment time frame alignment and unwarranted delays according to the Optimal Care Pathways for people with cancer in rural compared with urban areas.\n\nMethods and analysis: This cross-sectional study uses a statewide survey supported by linked Victorian Cancer Registry data. Participants are identified via the Victoria Cancer Registry and are eligible if ≥18 years and diagnosed with head or neck, colorectal, lung, melanoma, prostate or oesophageal cancer in the past 12 months. The survey is disseminated via mail and collects self-report data on cancer diagnostics, treatments and experiences. Respondents’ data are linked with Victorian Cancer Registry data elements, including hospital, pathology and demographic information. One thousand completed surveys are anticipated (500 rural; 500 urban). The primary outcomes are time to diagnosis and time to treatment commencement. Regression models will be used to assess the effect of rurality status and selected predictors. Interaction terms between rurality status and key predictors will also be included. For each outcome, models will initially incorporate all six cancer types. This project will move beyond describing inequities to identifying the key factors associated with time to diagnosis and treatment, informing the generation of targeted solutions to optimise cancer outcomes, regardless of where people live.\n\nEthics and dissemination: This study was reviewed and approved by the Cancer Council Victoria Human Research Ethics Committee (ref: HREC #2416). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific conference presentations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institute for Health Transformation, Quality and Patient Safety, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia",
    "Victorian Cancer Registry, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia",
    "Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Victoria, Australia",
    "Equitable Cancer Outcomes across Rural and Remote Australia (ECORRA) Consumer Advisory Committee, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia",
    "Research Unit, Colac Area Health, Colac, Victoria, Australia",
    "Deakin Rural Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia",
    "Grampians Health, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia",
    "Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia",
    "School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia",
    "Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
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  "authors": [
    {
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        0
      ],
      "name": "Hannah Jongebloed",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6215-1849"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sharina Riva"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Maria Bechelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Sue Evans"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Rebecca J Bergin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anna Chapman",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7965-4098"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Tanita Botha"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Helena Rodi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Sophie Boffa"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Charlene Wright"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Michele Conlin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Emily Lavcanski"
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    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Luc te Marvelde"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Laura Alston",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4551-8845"
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    {
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        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Anna Wong Shee"
    },
    {
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        0,
        7
      ],
      "name": "Patricia M Livingston",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6616-3839"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Victoria M White",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6619-8484"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Lan Gao",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9734-1140"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Skye Marshall"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anna Ugalde",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2473-8435"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1aq3qmb2kx9qb.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1136/bmjopen-2026-123201",
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  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
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  "pmcid": "PMC13723840",
  "pmid": "42951295",
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "BMJ",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1aq3qmb2kx9qb.ris",
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  "subjects": [
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      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "heading:Oncology",
      "subfield": "oncology"
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  ],
  "title": "Identifying the predictors of time to diagnosis and treatment for people with cancer: a protocol for a cross-sectional survey supported by linked cancer registry data",
  "title_text": "Identifying the predictors of time to diagnosis and treatment for people with cancer: a protocol for a cross-sectional survey supported by linked cancer registry data",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T12:20:35Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1aq3qmb2kx9qb",
  "venue": "BMJ Open",
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