Evaluating Social Determinants of Health Related to Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Care.
Darryl Somayaji, Heba Mohedat, Chin-Shang Li
PMID 38416076WHAT IT FOUND
Among 1135 cancer survivors, White participants were more likely than Black participants to report better quality of care for testing, diagnosis, and treatment.
Those with higher education also reported better treatment quality. Geographic residence did not significantly affect these perceptions.
Key findings
01White participants were 1.434 times more likely than Black participants to report higher quality of care for testing or diagnosis.
02White participants were 1.607 times more likely than Black participants to report better quality of care for treatment.
03Participants with high school or some college education were more likely than those with less than high school to report better quality of care for treatment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study relies on self-reported perceptions of care quality rather than objective clinical measures. The data are cross-sectional, so changes in care experience over time could not be examined. The sample was drawn from community health centers in the southeastern United States and is not a random national sample, limiting generalizability. Important factors such as comorbidities, mental health status, and financial toxicity were not captured in the survey data. The survey questions were short and predefined, which may have led to misinterpretation or failed to capture the complexity of care experiences.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that rural residence is a barrier to quality cancer care based on this study. While previous literature suggests rural patients face access issues, this specific analysis found no significant difference in perceived quality of care between urban and rural participants.