Skip to main content

Table 1 Studies included in the analysis

From: The enablers, barriers and preferences of accessing radiation therapy facilities in the rural developed world – a systematic review

Research question:

Location

Author

Sample size

Cancer type

Study years

Review type

Endpoint/Question

1

2

3

       

Y

N

N

Australia

Baade

6848

CRCc

1996–2006

Population based

Disease free survival

Y

N

N

Scotland

Campbell

1314

CRC/Lung

1995–1996

Historical cohort

Time between referral and treatment

Y

N

N

USA

Dragun

11,914

Breast

1998–2007

Retrospective chart

Radiotherapy utilisation after breast surgery

Y

N

N

Canada

French

Unclear

Any

1986–1999

Cancer registry

Utilization of radiotherapy by geography

Y

N

N

Canada

Lengoc

1001a

Any

 

Population based

Factors influencing referral patterns from family doctors

Y

N

N

USA

Martinez

7509

Breast

2000–2006

Database

Radiotherapy utilisation in rural versus metro regions

Y

N

N

USA

Schroen

11,597

Breast

1996–2000

Cancer registry

Utilisation by distance to radiotherapy facility

Y

N

Y

Canada

Billar

180,219

Breast

2000–2009

Database

Radiotherapy utilisation for early stage breast cancer

Y

N

Y

Australia

Clavarino

47

Any

1999–2000

Cross sectional

Impact of traveling on cancer patients and their carers

Y

N

Y

USA

Freeman

5541

Breast

1998–2007

Retrospective chart

Surgical and radiotherapy choices for breast cancer patients

Y

N

Y

Australia

Hegney

17

Any

2001

Population based

Burden of travel/accomodation/finances/psychology on ones care

Y

N

Y

Australia

Roder

30,299

Breast

1998–2010

Database

Factors influencing treatment decisions for breast cancer in remote Australia

Y

N

Y

USA

Schootman

6988

Breast

1991–1996

Database

Breast radiotherapy utilisation for rural women

Y

N

Y

Australia

Sharma

1423

Breast/prostate

2010–2013

Database

Influenc of change in distance by opening a radiotherapy facility

Y

N

Y

Australia

Zucca

1453

8 commonest

 

Population based

Travel burden and financial difficulties on treatment decisions

Y

Y

N

USA

Baldwin

27,143

CRC

1992–1996

Database

How distance to facility influences outcome

Y

Y

N

Australia

Barton

26,081

Any

1996–1998

Population based

Radiotherapy utilisation in NSW

Y

Y

Y

USA

Cetnar

1169

Prostate

2004–2009

Patterns of Care

How geography influences patterns of prostate radiotherapy utilisation

Y

Y

N

Canada

Roberts

8000

Any

2002

Cross sectional

Economic influences for the delivery of radiotherapy

Y

Y

N

Canada

Tyldesley

90,358

Breast/lung/prostate

1997–2007

Cancer registry

Cancer incidence versus radiotherapy utilisation in rural areas

Y

Y

N

Australia

Underhill

161b

Any

2005

Cross sectional

Influence of distance to radiotherapy service in regional Australia

N

Y

N

USA

Stafford

266

Breast

1990–1992

Population based

Influence of education of specialists and patients on treatment options

N

N

Y

Australia

Henry

1778

Any

2009

Retrospective chart

Radiotherapy utilisation variation by distance from radiotherapy centre

N

N

Y

USA

Wheeler

1938

Breast

2003–2005

Database

Influence of distance on treatment decisions

N

N

Y

USA

Celaya

2861

Breast

1998–2001

Database

Influence of distance to facility and season on treatment decisions

  1. Research Question 1: What is the known impact of rural radiation services in the developed world?
  2. Research Question 2: What is known about the barriers and enablers of establishing a rural radiation center?
  3. Research Question 3: What is known about the patient’s preferences, perspective, enablers and barriers around uptake of rural radiotherapy?
  4. a1001 surveys sent
  5. b161 regional hospitals
  6. cColo-rectal cancer