Predictors of treatment initiation and mapping the cancer diagnostic pathway: A retrospective observational cohort study of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Health-care providers in the US revealed that a substantial proportion of mNSCLC patients do not receive any first-line therapy and the biggest gaps in care are time inefficiencies in the diagnostic process. The goal of this study was to determine whether such gaps are found in Israel where healthcare is universal and participation in a medical insurance plan is free and compulsory.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study using the computerized data of Maccabi Healthcare Services, a 2.