OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to examine the extent of diagnostic delay and the influencing factors among patients with prostate cancer.

METHODS The quantitative, cross-sectional study was carried out in the Health Centre of Kaposvár University in 2017. A targeted, non-random sampling method was applied for patients with prostate cancer (n=79). We performed questionnaire (socio-demographic data, information, patient delay, symptom ratings, practice of medical visits) and retrospective data collection between 01.01.2012 and 30.1.2017 by overviewing the documentation of patients (n=200) treated by prostate cancer (n=200) (age, date of tumour diagnosis and first visit, symptoms, histology, stages). In addition to the descriptive statistical analysis χ²-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney test were applied (p<0.05) with SPSS software.

RESULTS 59.5% of the patients consulted a doctor, 20.3% of the tumours were found on screening. The most common symptom was frequent urination (58.3%). The average patient delay was 5.9±11.5 months, 60.8% of the patients consulted a doctor within a month, 13.1% of them consulted a doctor over a month. Based on medical record analysis: 58% of the patients were between 66-75 years, the tumour was diagnosed in 51% in the 2nd stage. The patient delay was 8.8±18.9 months, 22.5% of them consulted a doctor in 4-12 months. There was no correlation between delay and age (p=0.867) or the stage (p=0.871). The most common symptom was frequent urination (40.5%), among these patients delay was significantly higher (p=0.009­; 4-12 month). Based on the number of symptoms no significant difference was found in delay (p=0.426)

CONCLUSIONS The complaints were not considered as severe because they were without pain. The protracted delay was associated with a more advanced stage (3rd, 4th) in 6% of the sample, but this correlation was not significant. GPs ‘oncological alertness’ plays an important role in early diagnosis by the early examination of the non-specific symptoms.