Impact of Inequalities in Treatment for Prostate Cancer Affecting Demand for Secondary and Tertiary Services: Secondary Analysis of Linked National Datasets.

Abstract

Objectives: This study calculates the actual and weighted changes in population, incidence, and treatment use to better understand the inequities in use affecting the delivery of prostate cancer services.

Methods: Health data held by Scotland's electronic Data Research and Innovation Service were linked with National Records of Scotland census data and Information Services Division health data to identify men aged ≥45 living in Scotland who had prostate cancer. Data were analyzed descriptively and weighted using National Records of Scotland census data.

Results: Demand for secondary and tertiary services nationally coincided with the implementation of new technologies and treatments in Scotland. Furthermore, differences in demand for treatment services were evident between regions that could not be explained by urban and rural factors.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the level of national variability that governments and health care administrations need to consider when distributing resources to services.

Implications for nursing practice: This report highlights the challenges for cancer nurses in maintaining skills and competencies in light of rapidly emerging technologies, and the unique demands on local and regional services, which will affect mentorship across regions.