Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: The aim of study was to determine the frequency of delay referring and related factors in patients with advanced breast cancer, in Imam Khomeini Hospital in the 2000.

Materials and Methods: Successively 200 patients were entered the study if they were consentient. A questionnaire was constructed and information was obtained through interviewing.

Results: From the cases, 64 patients (32 percent) referred without delay and 136 patients (68 percent) referred tardily. The patients who were late in comparison with patients who didn’t late, had significantly higher mean age (P=0.004), lower education level (P=0.002), and lower economic status (P=0.001). The frequency rate of single were lower among them (P=0.001), fewer percent were residual of big cities (P=0.01) and they had less rate of available physician (P=0.004). 24.3 percent of delay referring patients and 53.1 percent of patients without delay has a positive family history of breast cancer (P=0.001). 62.5 percent of delay referring patients and 85 percent of patients without delay were aware about importance of Self Breast Examination (S.B.E) (P=0.002) and respectively 84.4 percent and 98.4 percent were award about symptoms of breast cancer (P=0.01). 23.5 percent and 33 percent of patients with and without delay Knew the method of B.S.E respectively. It wasn’t a significant difference.

Conclusion: Lack of awareness about necessity of medical consultation, fear, carelessly, unavailable physician and poverty were the major causes of delay in patients who referred late.