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19-Jan-2023
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Arch Hellen Med, 40(1), January-February 2023, 61-68 ORIGINAL PAPER Access to positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in Cyprus D. Kefallonitou,1 I. Polycarpou,1 K. Souliotis,2,3 K. Giannakou1 |
OBJECTIVE To examine patient access to physician consultations and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans in Cyprus.
METHOD A cross-sectional study was carried out between May 2020 and April 2021. The study population comprised Cypriot citizens aged 18 years or over who had undergone PET/CT scans. A customized questionnaire was used to record their socio-demographic characteristics, access to physicians, and access to PET/CT scans.
RESULTS A total of 144 (96 male and 48 female) patients who had undergone a PET/CT scan were included in the study. Most participants (96.9%) reported that they did not experience barriers in accessing their physicians. A statistically significant association was demonstrated between the attending physician setting and the patient's self-assessment of economic status (p<0.000). Specifically, 85.7% and 91.7%, respectively, of the patients who consulted a physician in a private hospital or private practice, self-assessed their economic status as good/fair. Of patients who consulted a physician in a private hospital or private practice, 62.9% and 66.7%, respectively, reported an annual taxable income of above 19,500 € (p=0.001). Statistically significant association was identified between the reimbursement of examination costs and the self-assessment of economic status (p=0.043), and annual taxable income (p=0.046).
CONCLUSIONS This study confirms that patients living in Cyprus face no barriers in accessing physicians and PET/CT scans without delay. Future research should assess approvals and rejections, to ascertain whether the PET/CT scans that are reimbursed are indeed covering pati ent needs.
Key words: Cancer, Cyprus, Healthcare access, Positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT).
