Material deprivation and access to cancer care in a universal health care system. Issue 20 (3rd August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davis, Laura E.; Coburn, Natalie G.; Hallet, Julie; Earle, Craig C.; Liu, Ying; Myrehaug, Sten; Mahar, Alyson L.
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 126:Issue 20(2020)
• Page Start: 4545
• Page End: 4552
• Publication Date: 2020-08-03
• Subjects: delivery of health care -- gastrointestinal neoplasms -- health care disparities -- health services accessibility -- palliative care -- socioeconomic factors; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33107
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The role of socioeconomic factors as determinants of oncology consultations for advanced cancers in public payer health care systems is unknown. This study examined the association between material deprivation and receipt of cancer care among patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Methods: This was a population‐based, retrospective cohort study of noncuratively treated patients with GI cancer diagnosed from 2007 to 2017. Material deprivation, representing income, quality of housing, education, and family structure, was defined as quintiles on the basis of 2016 census data. The first consultation with a radiation oncologist or medical oncologist and the receipt of 1 or more instances of radiation and/or chemotherapy were measured in the year after diagnosis. Adjusted, cause‐specific Cox proportional hazards competing risk analyses were used (competing event = death). Results: This study included 34, 022 noncuratively treated patients with GI cancer. Consultation rates ranged from 67.8% for those in the most materially deprived communities to 73.5% for those in the least materially deprived communities. Among those with a consult, rates of cancer‐directed therapy ranged from 58.5% for patients in the most materially deprived communities to 62.3% for patients in the least materially deprived communities. Patients living in the most materially deprived communities were significantly less likely to see a radiation and/or medical oncologist after a diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85‐0.92) and significantly less likely to receive radiation and/or chemotherapy (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.76‐0.85) than those living in the least materially deprived communities. Conclusions: This study identified socioeconomic disparities in accessing cancer care. Continued efforts at examining and developing evidence‐based policies for interventions that begin before or at the time of oncologist consultation are required to address root causes of inequities. Abstract : In a universal health care system, advanced gastrointestinal patients experiencing material deprivation are less likely to receive an oncology consultation and cancer‐directed therapy. This population‐based cohort study is the first to examine the effect of material deprivation on the receipt of oncology consultation in a health system where cancer services are provided freely at the point of care.