Travel Burden of Radiation Therapy in the Philippines

IF 2.2 Q3 ONCOLOGY

Advances in Radiation Oncology Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.adro.2024.101699

Michelle Ann B. Eala MD , Ethan Angelo S. Maslog MD , Nicole Rose I. Alberto MD , Isabelle Rose I. Alberto MD , Frances Dominique V. Ho MD , Edward Christopher Dee MD , Ann Raldow MD, MPH , Reno Eufemon Cereno MD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

Travel burden negatively impacts the stage at diagnosis, treatment, outcome, and quality of life among patients with cancer. Travel burden—quantified as distance, time, and cost of travel—is magnified in low- and middle-income countries like the Philippines, where radiation therapy (RT) resources are lacking and are inequitably distributed.

Methods and Materials

We compared Philippine Radiation Oncology Society data and the population census to determine the distribution and density of RT facilities across the country's 17 regions. For distance and travel time, we used the Google Maps route planner to determine the best routes from each province to the nearest private and government RT facility. Travel cost was calculated by multiplying distance by the local price of diesel per liter and the mean fuel economy of passenger vehicles in the Philippines.

Results

There are only 54 RT facilities in the Philippines (0.5 per 1 million population). More than a third are in the National Capital Region (NCR). Four regions do not have an RT facility. Nationally, the average distance to any RT facility is 101.02 km with a travel time of 2.66 hours and a travel cost of PHP 4811.11 ($85.91). Travel burden to any RT facility is the least in NCR and greatest in Visayas. Travel burden to a government RT facility is greater, with an average distance of 136.94 km, travel time of 3.05 hours, and travel cost of PHP 6353.43 ($113.45). Travel burden to a government RT facility is least in NCR and greatest in Mindanao.

Conclusions

The travel burden of RT in the Philippines is significant and varies regionally and by RT facility type (private or government). Data-driven installation of government RT facilities in underserved regions, alternative reimbursement systems to encourage hypofractionation when appropriate, patient subsidies for housing/transportation while on treatment, better public transportation, and patient navigation are needed.

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来源期刊

Advances in Radiation Oncology Medicine-Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

4.30%

发文量

208

审稿时长

98 days

期刊介绍： The purpose of Advances is to provide information for clinicians who use radiation therapy by publishing: Clinical trial reports and reanalyses. Basic science original reports. Manuscripts examining health services research, comparative and cost effectiveness research, and systematic reviews. Case reports documenting unusual problems and solutions. High quality multi and single institutional series, as well as other novel retrospective hypothesis generating series. Timely critical reviews on important topics in radiation oncology, such as side effects. Articles reporting the natural history of disease and patterns of failure, particularly as they relate to treatment volume delineation. Articles on safety and quality in radiation therapy. Essays on clinical experience. Articles on practice transformation in radiation oncology, in particular: Aspects of health policy that may impact the future practice of radiation oncology. How information technology, such as data analytics and systems innovations, will change radiation oncology practice. Articles on imaging as they relate to radiation therapy treatment.