Differences in travel burden between patients with self-reported curable and incurable cancer: results from a Dutch flash mob study

TL;DR

This study compares travel challenges faced by cancer patients in the Netherlands, finding that disease status does not affect travel problems or willingness to travel.

Contribution

The study reveals that travel burden is influenced more by physical functioning and travel time than by cancer being curable or incurable.

Findings

Patients with curable cancer had more frequent hospital visits and shorter travel times compared to those with incurable cancer.

Travel problems were reported by nearly one-third of patients regardless of cancer type.

Willingness to travel was linked to education, physical functioning, and tumor type, not cancer curability.

Abstract

To explore travel burden in patients with self-reported curable and incurable cancer.

A 2-day flash mob study was conducted in March 2023 among patients visiting medical oncology departments in 65 Dutch hospitals. Disease status was self-reported. Patients completed a questionnaire on travel time (one-way), travel problems, and willingness to travel. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression analyses were used to assess travel burden and its associated factors.

In total, 991 patients with curable and 1959 with incurable cancer were included. Patients with curable cancer more often reported daily or weekly hospital visits (63% vs. 22%, p < 0.001) and a travel time of less than 30 min (78% vs. 73%, p = 0.005). Almost one-third of patients with curable (28%) and incurable cancer (29%) experienced some travel problems. Patients with worse physical functioning and longer travel times were more likely to experience travel problems. Disease status was not associated with experiencing travel problems or the willingness to travel for oncological care. Instead, willingness to travel was associated with patients’ level of education, physical functioning, and tumour type.

Being diagnosed with self-reported curable or incurable cancer was not associated with experiencing travel problems or the willingness to travel for oncological care. Experiencing travel problems was associated with physical functioning and travel time, and the willingness to travel was associated with level of education, physical functioning, and tumour type. To ensure accessible and patient-centred care, physicians should be aware of these potential barriers and aim to provide well-coordinated, personalised care close to home.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-025-09675-4.

Figures