Studies from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Describe New Findings in Breast Cancer Screening (Availability and accessibility of subsidized mammogram…

Studies from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Describe New Findings in Breast Cancer Screening (Availability and accessibility of subsidized mammogram screening program in peninsular Malaysia: A preliminary study using travel impedance approach)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Research findings on Diagnostics and Screening - Breast Cancer Screening are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "Access to healthcare is essential in the pursuit of universal health coverage. Components of access are availability, accessibility (spatial and non-spatial), affordability and acceptability."

Financial support for this research came from UKMMC.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, "Measuring spatial accessibility is common approach to evaluating access to health care. This study aimed to determine the availability and spatial accessibility of subsidised mammogram screening in Peninsular Malaysia. Availability was determined from the number and distribution of facilities. Spatial accessibility was determined using the travel impedance approach to represent the revealed access as opposed to potential access measured by other spatial measurement methods. The driving distance of return trips from the respondent's residence to the facilities was determined using a mapping application. The travel expenditure was estimated by multiplying the total travel distance by a standardised travel allowance rate, plus parking fees. Respondents in this study were 344 breast cancer patients who received treatment at 4 referral hospitals between 2015 and 2016. In terms of availability, there were at least 6 major entities which provided subsidised mammogram programs. Facilities with mammogram involved with these programs were located more densely in the central and west coast region of the Peninsula. The ratio of mammogram facility to the target population of women aged 40-74 years ranged between 1:10,000 and 1:80,000. In terms of accessibility, of the 3.6% of the respondents had undergone mammogram screening, their mean travel distance was 53.4 km (SD=34.5, range 8-112 km) and the mean travel expenditure was RM 38.97 (SD=24.00, range RM7.60-78.40). Among those who did not go for mammogram screening, the estimated travel distance and expenditure had a skewed distribution with median travel distance of 22.0 km (IQR 12.0, 42.0, range 2.0-340.0) and the median travel cost of RM 17.40 (IQR 10.40, 30.00, range 3.40-240.00). Higher travel impedance was noted among those who lived in sub-urban and rural areas. In summary, availability of mammogram facilities was good in the central and west coast of the peninsula. The overall provider-to-population ratio was lower than recommended. Based on the travel impedance approach used, accessibility to subsidised mammogram screening among the respondents was good in urban areas but deprived in other areas. This study was a preliminary study with limitations."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Nonetheless, the evidence suggests that actions have to be taken to improve the accessibility to opportunistic mammogram screening in Malaysia in pursuit of universal health coverage."

For more information on this research see: Availability and accessibility of subsidized mammogram screening program in peninsular Malaysia: A preliminary study using travel impedance approach. Plos One, 2018;13(2):e0191764. (Public Library of Science - www.plos.org; Plos One - www.plosone.org)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting A. Mahmud, International Centre for Casemix and Clinical Coding, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191764. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Keywords for this news article include: Asia, Malaysia, Oncology, Mammography, Kuala Lumpur, Women's Health, Health Insurance, Health and Medicine, Risk and Prevention, Breast Cancer Screening, Diagnostics and Screening.

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