Queen's University Belfast

Academic Institute

Breast Cancer Now

Yes

E089

Background Health inequalities are unfair and avoidable differences in health between different groups within society. Women in Northern Ireland may be at particular risk of inequalities because of the high levels of deprivation, high levels of mental illness and long waiting lists. Aims In our study we will investigate breast cancer presentation, treatment and outcomes in groups of women who may be at risk of experiencing inequalities. In particular, in this analysis within the Honest Broker Service we will focus upon women with mental health disorders, and women from low socio-economic status backgrounds. Methods Our study will use routinely collected data to compare breast cancer presentation, treatment and outcomes by a range of potential inequalities. This analysis will be based upon 15,000 breast cancer patients from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry diagnosed from 2011 to 2021. We will determine outcomes including stage at diagnosis, pathway to diagnosis, treatments received and mortality up to 12 years after diagnosis. We will identify mental health disorders from prescribing data and socioeconomic status from house value. Potential Should we provide evidence that breast cancer patients from specific groups have worse outcomes, this would allow further research into the cause of this inequality and interventions to be developed to improve these outcomes in future.

This work has the potential to identify disadvantaged groups of breast cancer patients within NI who have worse outcomes, make recommendations to improve patient care in these disadvantaged groups, inform interventions to improve outcomes in these disadvantaged groups and inform future data collection in breast cancer to monitor outcomes in these disadvantaged groups.

06/11/2023

TRE