Visit more than two hospitals before 80% of cancer patients are treated...Medical staff trust tops hospital selection criteria
Jul 22, 2025
The first patient-specialized research service channel in Korea that conveys the voice of patients to society, 'Listen to Paintings', conducted a survey on the number of hospitals visited from May 22 to July 15 and the reason for visiting multiple hospitals from the start of treatment, and announced the results on the 22nd. This is the fourth survey of Listen to Pays®, and it was conducted to find out the main reasons if patients diagnosed with cancer actually visited several hospitals before starting treatment, and if they visited multiple hospitals.
A total of 140 cancer patients and caregivers participated in the survey, and the age groups of participants ranged from 20s to 70s.
◇Most patients visit multiple hospitals after cancer diagnosis...'Reconfirm diagnostic accuracy' and 'Better treatments'Find
According to the results of the survey, 20% of the patients answered one place when asked how many hospitals did they visit before starting treatment after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and 50% of △2, 23% of △3, and 7% of △4 or more, indicating that 80% of the total respondents had visited two or more hospitals.
When patients who visited more than two hospitals were asked why they visited multiple hospitals', the most patients answered'because they wanted to hear the opinion of a famous specialist in a large hospital to see if the first diagnosis was accurate'. Following this, △I wanted to find a hospital that provided better or the latest treatment, △The first hospital diagnosed recommended additional tests to advanced hospitals, △For faster treatment because the treatment start schedule was too late, △The first medical staff's explanation was insufficient. Other free responses included 'I wanted to be treated in the Big 5 hospitals from the beginning of treatment', 'I had no choice due to a medical crisis', and 'For linking the neighborhood hospital to a large hospital'.
◇Final treatment hospital selection criteria, 'Detailed explanation and trust of medical staff' #1
As for the criteria for choosing the hospital that finally decided to receive treatment after going through multiple hospitals, 'detailed explanation and trust of medical staff' had the greatest impact, followed by △ hospital or medical staff's reputation for anticancer treatment, △ waiting time for treatment and treatment start, and △ access to treatment (distance, traffic, etc.).
When asked about the difficulties experienced in visiting a number of hospitals, there were many responses in the order of △ discomfort caused by repetition of diagnosis and tests, △ time burden, and △ psychological stress.
Lee Eun-young, co-chairman of the Korean Leukemia Patients Association, said "Even after cancer diagnosis, patients are at a crossroads of many choices. The results of the survey that 8 out of 10 patients visited multiple hospitals show a journey of contemplation for survival, not just hospital travel. Confirmation of the accuracy of the diagnosis, expectations for better treatments, and trust in the medical staff were among the highest priority criteria for patientsThe fact that providing patient-centered medical information, linking cooperation between hospitals, and improving communication in the treatment decision process are more important in the future suggests a great deal.
Myung Sung-ok, CEO of Listen to Pacations, said, `This fourth survey sheds light on how many hospitals patients actually visited since they were diagnosed with cancer and why they visited multiple hospitals before they began treatment. As treatment decisions after cancer diagnosis are directly linked to survival for patients, it has been shown once again that sufficient explanation and trust building by medical staff is an important treatment process in itself"Listen to Pates will continue to listen to the various voices of patients' disease-fighting and treatment journeys and deliver them to society." he said.
A total of 140 cancer patients and caregivers participated in the survey, and the age groups of participants ranged from 20s to 70s.
◇Most patients visit multiple hospitals after cancer diagnosis...'Reconfirm diagnostic accuracy' and 'Better treatments'Find
According to the results of the survey, 20% of the patients answered one place when asked how many hospitals did they visit before starting treatment after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and 50% of △2, 23% of △3, and 7% of △4 or more, indicating that 80% of the total respondents had visited two or more hospitals.
When patients who visited more than two hospitals were asked why they visited multiple hospitals', the most patients answered'because they wanted to hear the opinion of a famous specialist in a large hospital to see if the first diagnosis was accurate'. Following this, △I wanted to find a hospital that provided better or the latest treatment, △The first hospital diagnosed recommended additional tests to advanced hospitals, △For faster treatment because the treatment start schedule was too late, △The first medical staff's explanation was insufficient. Other free responses included 'I wanted to be treated in the Big 5 hospitals from the beginning of treatment', 'I had no choice due to a medical crisis', and 'For linking the neighborhood hospital to a large hospital'.
◇Final treatment hospital selection criteria, 'Detailed explanation and trust of medical staff' #1
As for the criteria for choosing the hospital that finally decided to receive treatment after going through multiple hospitals, 'detailed explanation and trust of medical staff' had the greatest impact, followed by △ hospital or medical staff's reputation for anticancer treatment, △ waiting time for treatment and treatment start, and △ access to treatment (distance, traffic, etc.).
When asked about the difficulties experienced in visiting a number of hospitals, there were many responses in the order of △ discomfort caused by repetition of diagnosis and tests, △ time burden, and △ psychological stress.
Lee Eun-young, co-chairman of the Korean Leukemia Patients Association, said "Even after cancer diagnosis, patients are at a crossroads of many choices. The results of the survey that 8 out of 10 patients visited multiple hospitals show a journey of contemplation for survival, not just hospital travel. Confirmation of the accuracy of the diagnosis, expectations for better treatments, and trust in the medical staff were among the highest priority criteria for patientsThe fact that providing patient-centered medical information, linking cooperation between hospitals, and improving communication in the treatment decision process are more important in the future suggests a great deal.
Myung Sung-ok, CEO of Listen to Pacations, said, `This fourth survey sheds light on how many hospitals patients actually visited since they were diagnosed with cancer and why they visited multiple hospitals before they began treatment. As treatment decisions after cancer diagnosis are directly linked to survival for patients, it has been shown once again that sufficient explanation and trust building by medical staff is an important treatment process in itself"Listen to Pates will continue to listen to the various voices of patients' disease-fighting and treatment journeys and deliver them to society." he said.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
