Dr. Robin Urquhart and her team are investigating variations in access to, and quality of, ovarian cancer treatment and diagnostic care in Nova Scotia. This study aims to identify gaps in care, such as delays in treatment or lack of adherence to clinical guidelines, that may contribute to poor patient outcomes.

By using linked population-based clinical and administrative health data from Nova Scotia, this study will analyze time intervals from symptom presentation to gynecologic oncology consultation, treatment timelines, and adherence to guideline-recommended therapies. Areas of focus include:

1) examining access to care from first symptom presentation to the first gynecologic oncology consultation, identifying factors contributing to delays or missed consultations;

2) quality of care from initial consultation to receipt of recommended treatments, focusing on adherence to clinical guidelines for surgery, chemotherapy, and adjuvant therapies;

3) outcomes related to treatment-free intervals and survival, analyzing variations by demographic and health system factors.

The study’s findings will help identify systemic inequities, propose necessary interventions (e.g., increased surgical capacity), and improve care pathways to enhance survival rates for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Nova Scotia.