Barriers and Timely Postoperative Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer

How do barriers to care affect the initiation of timely postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) among patients with head and neck cancer?In this prospective cohort study of 78 patients with head and neck cancer, an increasing number of barriers and a perioperative adverse effects–related barrier were each associated with a decreased likelihood of initiating timely, guideline-adherent PORT. Among patients who did not start PORT within 6 weeks of surgery, the most common primary reason for PORT delay was a barrier related to poor care coordination.Efforts to improve timely PORT should focus on decreasing the number of barriers, improving surgical quality, and enhancing care coordination.

Corresponding Author: Evan Michael Graboyes, MD, MPH, Department of Otolaryngology–Head graboyes@musc.edu).

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