Fride Nea, Nachbor Kristine M, Nelson Alexander T, Snook Kirsten, Shaker Rami M, Mavrommatis Sophia, Seaver Christopher D, Semanko Lachelle, Bedi Manpreet, Keeler Elsa, Dusenbery Kathryn E, Retzlaff Amber A
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
J Cancer Educ. 2025 Apr;40(2):156-163. doi: 10.1007/s13187-024-02485-y. Epub 2024 Aug 19.
Sarcomas are commonly misdiagnosed, and treatment delays negatively impact patient outcomes. The purpose of this study is to explore patient threshold for and timeline to medical evaluation, to identify providers most likely to be contacted first, and to assess general sarcoma knowledge in Minnesota's general population. Voluntary participants were recruited at the 2015 and 2022 Minnesota State Fair to complete a three-part survey. Part 1 assessed evaluation timeline and provider choice, part 2 evaluated sarcoma knowledge via a ten-question survey, and part 3 documented demographics. Responses were electronically recorded, and results were tabulated. Overall, 2124 participants completed some or all of the survey. Part 1: Participants indicated they would seek more urgent treatment for a painful mass compared to a non-painful mass (p < 0.001). The majority (77%) of participants indicated a family medicine physician would be their first contact for painful and non-painful masses. Part 2: There was no difference in overall score (percent correct) when comparing results from 2015 (mean = 40%) to 2022 (mean = 42%) (p = 0.183). Overall, 16% (349/2117) of participants had no correct responses. Individuals who self-identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and a non-White race performed worse (p < 0.001). In general, scores improved with increased education and those with a graduate or professional degree had an estimated 2.515-point increase in score compared to participants with some high school education or high school diploma/general education diploma (p < 0.001). Participants with a healthcare background scored better (p < 0.001). Pain is a driving factor for patient-initiated evaluation, and primary care providers are the most likely first contact for patients. General sarcoma awareness remains low, even among those with advanced degrees and healthcare experience. Ongoing educational efforts are warranted for both the general public and healthcare communities in Minnesota.
肉瘤常被误诊，治疗延误对患者预后产生负面影响。本研究的目的是探讨患者进行医学评估的阈值和时间线，确定最有可能首先联系的医疗服务提供者，并评估明尼苏达州普通人群对肉瘤的一般知识。2015年和2022年明尼苏达州博览会上招募了自愿参与者来完成一份三部分的调查问卷。第1部分评估评估时间线和医疗服务提供者的选择，第2部分通过一份有10个问题的调查问卷评估肉瘤知识，第3部分记录人口统计学信息。回答通过电子方式记录，并对结果进行列表统计。总体而言，2124名参与者完成了部分或全部调查。第1部分：参与者表示，与无痛肿块相比，他们会为疼痛肿块寻求更紧急的治疗（p<0.001）。大多数（77%）参与者表示，家庭医生将是他们就疼痛和无痛肿块首先联系的对象。第2部分：将2015年（平均=40%）和2022年（平均=42%）的结果进行比较时，总体得分（正确百分比）没有差异（p=0.183）。总体而言，16%（349/2117）的参与者没有正确回答。自我认定为西班牙裔或拉丁裔以及非白人种族的个体表现更差（p<0.001）。一般来说，随着教育程度的提高得分有所改善，与接受过一些高中教育或高中文凭/普通教育文凭的参与者相比，拥有研究生或专业学位的参与者估计得分提高2.515分（p<0.001）。有医疗保健背景的参与者得分更高（p<0.001）。疼痛是患者主动寻求评估的驱动因素，初级保健提供者是患者最有可能首先联系的对象。即使在拥有高学历和医疗保健经验的人群中，对肉瘤的总体认识仍然较低。明尼苏达州的普通公众和医疗保健社区都需要持续开展教育工作。
