Journal article
Geographic disparities in residential proximity to colorectal and cervical cancer care providers
Cancer, Vol.126(5), pp.1068-1076
03/2020
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32594
PMID: 31702829
Abstract
Background: Persistent rural-urban disparities for colorectal and cervical cancers raise concerns regarding access to treatment providers. To the authors knowledge, little is known regarding rural-urban differences in residential proximity to cancer specialists. Methods: Using the 2018 Physician Compare data concerning physician practice locations and the 2012 to 2016 American Community Survey, the current study estimated the driving distance from each residential zip code tabulation area (ZCTA) centroid to the nearest cancer provider of the following medical specialties involved in treating patients with colorectal and cervical cancer: medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, general surgery, gynecological oncology, and colorectal surgery. Using population-weighted multivariable logistic regression, the authors analyzed the associations between ZCTA-level characteristics and driving distances >60 miles to each type of specialist. ZCTA-level residential rurality was defined using rural-urban commuting area codes. Results: Nearly 1 in 5 rural Americans lives >60 miles from a medical oncologist. Rural-urban differences in travel distances to the nearest cancer care provider(s) increased substantially for cancer surgeons; greater than one-half of rural residents were required to travel 60 miles to reach a gynecological oncologist, compared with 8 miles for their urban counterparts. Individuals residing within ZCTAs with a higher poverty rate, those of American Indian/Alaska Native ethnicity, and/or were located in the South and West regions were more likely than their counterparts to be >60 miles away from any of the aforementioned providers. Conclusions: The substantial travel distances required for rural, low-income residents to reach a cancer specialist should prompt a policy action to increase access to specialized cancer care for millions of rural residents.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Geographic disparities in residential proximity to colorectal and cervical cancer care providers
- Creators
- Peiyin Hung - Rural and Minority Health Research Center University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina Columbia South CarolinaSongyuan Deng - Rural and Minority Health Research Center University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina Columbia South CarolinaWhitney E Zahnd - Rural and Minority Health Research Center University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina Columbia South CarolinaSwann A Adams - Rural and Minority Health Research Center University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina, College of Nursing University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina Columbia South CarolinaBankole Olatosi - Rural and Minority Health Research Center University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina Columbia South CarolinaElizabeth L Crouch - Rural and Minority Health Research Center University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina, Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina Columbia South CarolinaJan M Eberth - Rural and Minority Health Research Center University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina Columbia South Carolina
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cancer, Vol.126(5), pp.1068-1076
- DOI
- 10.1002/cncr.32594
- PMID
- 31702829
- NLM abbreviation
- Cancer
- ISSN
- 0008-543X
- eISSN
- 1097-0142
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100010001, name: Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, award: U1CRH30539
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2020
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Record Identifier
- 9984214679102771
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