Prevalence and factors associated with treatment delay among colorectal cancer patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital and the Uganda Cancer Institute: A cross-sectional study

Brian Kasagga, Paul Ssempebwa, Godfrey Kikuba, Flavius E. Egbe, Peace Caroline Nsodi, Joanne Kayaga, Emmanuel Alex Elobu and Paul Okeny

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Timely treatment initiation is critical for outcomes, yet delays are common. This study assessed treatment delays and associated factors among CRC patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH) and the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI). Objective: To determine the diagnosis to treatment interval (DTI), prevalence of treatment delay, and the associated patient and clinicopathologic factors among CRC patients. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 67 patients with histologically confirmed CRC between December 2024 and May 2025. Treatment delay was defined as >31 days between histological diagnosis and first oncologic treatment. Data were collected through interviews and record review. Descriptive statistics summarized demographics and clinical characteristics. Bivariate Poisson regression with robust variance estimation identified factors associated with delay; variables with p

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0353668

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0353668

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