article · Nigerian Journal of Oncology
A cross-sectional survey of 1,300 non-oncology doctors in Nigeria assessed their ease of access to radiation oncologists and identified influencing factors. Findings indicate that 37 percent of respondents experienced difficulty reaching radiation oncologists, while 20 percent had never attempted to contact one. Access was significantly easier for doctors who managed more than 10 cancer patients in the previous month. Furthermore, prior oncology training was strongly linked to better access, with untrained physicians being more than twice as likely to have never contacted a specialist. Years of clinical experience showed no significant association with ease of contact. To address these barriers and foster multidisciplinary cancer care, recommendations include incorporating oncology education into undergraduate curricula and continuous medical education programmes, alongside establishing structured clinical referral pathways across healthcare facilities.
Timely cancer care requires general and non-oncology doctors to connect efficiently with radiotherapy specialists. Identifying communication barriers helps health systems improve patient outcomes. Because access is lower among doctors who lack oncology training or treat fewer cancer patients, addressing these educational and procedural gaps through structured referral routes can prevent delays in critical radiotherapy treatments.
The study highlights operational bottlenecks rather than presenting a commercial product, though the findings could inform health administration software, professional training programmes, and digital referral platforms designed to link general practitioners with specialists. Because this is survey-based observational research, any digital or educational tools derived from it remain at a conceptual or early-stage development phase.
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Background: Radiotherapy plays a pivotal role in the multidisciplinary management of cancer, yet access to Radiation Oncologists (ROs) in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, remains a challenge. While much attention has been paid to infrastructure and equipment deficits, the ease with which non-oncology physicians can access ROs is underexplored. Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ease of access to Radiation Oncologists by non-oncology physicians in Nigeria and to identify the key factors - such as prior oncology training, frequency of cancer patient encounters, and years of clinical practice - that influence this access. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and July 2024 among 1,300 non-oncology doctors across Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire disseminated both physically and online. The survey assessed ease of access to ROs, frequency of cancer patient encounters, oncology training, and years of clinical experience. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26, with chi-square tests employed to determine associations. Results: Over one-third (37%) of respondents reported difficulty accessing ROs, while 20% had never attempted to reach one. Doctors who had seen more than 10 cancer patients in the previous month were more likely to access ROs easily (p < 0.001). Prior oncology training was significantly associated with improved access; respondents without such training were more than twice as likely to have never contacted an RO. No significant association was found between years of clinical practice and ease of access. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of non-oncology physicians in Nigeria experience difficulty accessing ROs, particularly those without oncology training or limited exposure to cancer patients. To bridge this gap, oncology education should be integrated into medical curricula and continuous medical education (CME) programs, alongside the development of structured referral pathways to foster multidisciplinary cancer care.
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DOI: 10.67579/njo.2025.6gkns10p
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