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Jooya A, Qureshi D, Phillips WJ, Leigh J, Webber C, Aggarwal A, Tanuseputro P, Morgan S, Macrae R, Ong M, Bourque JM. Variation in Access to Palliative Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Study in Canada. Cureus 2024; 16:e54582. [PMID: 38523960 PMCID: PMC10957792 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a result of improvements in cancer therapies, patients with metastatic malignancies are living longer, and the role of palliative radiotherapy has become increasingly recognized. However, access to adequate palliative radiotherapy may continue to be a challenge, as is evident from the high proportion of patients dying of prostate cancer who never receive palliative radiotherapy. The main objective of this investigation is to identify and describe the factors associated with the receipt of palliative radiation treatment in a decedent cohort of prostate cancer patients in Ontario. METHODOLOGY Population-based administrative databases from Ontario, Canada, were used to identify prostate cancer decedents, 65 years or older who received androgen deprivation therapy between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018. Baseline and treatment characteristics were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models for association with receipt of radiotherapy in a two-year observation period before death. RESULTS We identified 3,788 prostate cancer decedents between 2013 and 2018; among these, 49.9% received radiotherapy in the two years preceding death. There were statistically significant positive associations between receipt of radiotherapy and younger age at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2.3); higher stage at diagnosis (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.7); receipt of care at a regional cancer center (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.4); and involvement of radiation oncologists (OR 155.1, 95% CI 83.3-288.7) or medical oncologists (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8). However, there were no associations between receipt of radiotherapy and income, distance to the nearest cancer center, involvement of urologists in cancer care, healthcare administrative region, home-care involvement, or number of hospitalizations in the observation period. CONCLUSIONS We found the utilization of palliative radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients in Ontario varies depending on age, stage at diagnosis, number of comorbidities, registration at regional cancer centers, and involvement of oncologists. There were no differences detected based on income or distance from a cancer center. The findings of this study represent an important opportunity to facilitate better access to palliative radiotherapy and referrals to multidisciplinary regional cancer centers, to improve the quality of life of this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alborz Jooya
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, CAN
| | - Daniel Qureshi
- Department of Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, GBR
| | | | - Jennifer Leigh
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, CAN
| | - Colleen Webber
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, CAN
| | - Ajay Aggarwal
- Department of Oncology, Guy's Cancer Centre, London, GBR
| | - Peter Tanuseputro
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, CAN
| | - Scott Morgan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CAN
| | - Robert Macrae
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CAN
| | - Michael Ong
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CAN
| | - Jean-Marc Bourque
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Montreal University Health Center, Montreal, CAN
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Kyaw JYA, Rendall A, Gillespie EF, Roques T, Court L, Lievens Y, Tree AC, Frampton C, Aggarwal A. Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Association Between Radiation Therapy Treatment Volume and Patient Outcomes. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 117:1063-1086. [PMID: 37227363 PMCID: PMC10680429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Evidence of a volume-outcome association in cancer surgery has shaped the centralization of cancer services; however, it is unknown whether a similar association exists for radiation therapy. The objective of this study was to determine the association between radiation therapy treatment volume and patient outcomes. METHODS AND MATERIALS This systematic review and meta-analysis included studies that compared outcomes of patients who underwent definitive radiation therapy at high-volume radiation therapy facilities (HVRFs) versus low-volume facilities (LVRFs). The systematic review used Ovid MEDLINE and Embase. For the meta-analysis, a random effects model was used. Absolute effects and hazard ratios (HRs) were used to compare patient outcomes. RESULTS The search identified 20 studies assessing the association between radiation therapy volume and patient outcomes. Seven of the studies looked at head and neck cancers (HNCs). The remaining studies covered cervical (4), prostate (4), bladder (3), lung (2), anal (2), esophageal (1), brain (2), liver (1), and pancreatic cancer (1). The meta-analysis demonstrated that HVRFs were associated with a lower chance of death compared with LVRFs (pooled HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.87- 0.94). HNCs had the strongest evidence of a volume-outcome association for both nasopharyngeal cancer (pooled HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.89) and nonnasopharyngeal HNC subsites (pooled HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.75-0.84), followed by prostate cancer (pooled HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.98). The remaining cancer types showed weak evidence of an association. The results also demonstrate that some centers defined as HVRFs are undertaking very few procedures per annum (<5 radiation therapy cases per year). CONCLUSIONS An association between radiation therapy treatment volume and patient outcomes exists for most cancer types. Centralization of radiation therapy services should be considered for cancer types with the strongest volume-outcome association, but the effect on equitable access to services needs to be explicitly considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice Rendall
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Tom Roques
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Laurence Court
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yolande Lievens
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alison C Tree
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ajay Aggarwal
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
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Guo B, Gao Q, Pei L, Guo T, Wang Y, Wu H, Zhang W, Chen M. Exploring the association of PM 2.5 with lung cancer incidence under different climate zones and socioeconomic conditions from 2006 to 2016 in China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:126165-126177. [PMID: 38008841 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-31138-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution generated by urbanization and industrialization poses a significant negative impact on public health. Particularly, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has become one of the leading causes of lung cancer mortality worldwide. The relationship between air pollutants and lung cancer has aroused global widespread concerns. Currently, the spatial agglomeration dynamic of lung cancer incidence (LCI) has been seldom discussed, and the spatial heterogeneity of lung cancer's influential factors has been ignored. Moreover, it is still unclear whether different socioeconomic levels and climate zones exhibit modification effects on the relationship between PM2.5 and LCI. In the present work, spatial autocorrelation was adopted to reveal the spatial aggregation dynamic of LCI, the emerging hot spot analysis was introduced to indicate the hot spot changes of LCI, and the geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model was used to determine the affecting factors of LCI and their spatial heterogeneity. Then, the modification effects of PM2.5 on the LCI under different socioeconomic levels and climatic zones were explored. Some findings were obtained. The LCI demonstrated a significant spatial autocorrelation, and the hot spots of LCI were mainly concentrated in eastern China. The affecting factors of LCI revealed an obvious spatial heterogeneity. PM2.5 concentration, nighttime light data, 2 m temperature, and 10 m u-component of wind represented significant positive effects on LCI, while education-related POI exhibited significant negative effects on LCI. The LCI in areas with low urbanization rates, low education levels, and extreme climate conditions was more easily affected by PM2.5 than in other areas. The results can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of lung cancer and related epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Guo
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Qian Gao
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lin Pei
- School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Xi'an Physical Education University, Xi'an, 710068, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tengyue Guo
- Department of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China
| | - Yan Wang
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, Shaanxi, China
| | - Haojie Wu
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wencai Zhang
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Miaoyi Chen
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
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Puthanmadhom Narayanan S, Ren D, Oesterreich S, Lee AV, Rosenzweig MQ, Brufsky AM. Effects of socioeconomic status and race on survival and treatment in metastatic breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 2023; 9:90. [PMID: 37914742 PMCID: PMC10620133 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-023-00595-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Race and socioeconomic factors affect outcomes in breast cancer. We aimed to assess the effect of race and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) on overall survival and treatment patterns in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This is a retrospective cohort study involving patients (N = 1246) with distant breast cancer metastases diagnosed at UPMC Magee Women's Breast Cancer Clinic from 2000-2017. Overall survival and treatment patterns were compared between races (Blacks and whites) and SES groups (defined using Area Deprivation Index). Low SES, but not tumor characteristics, was associated with Black race (P < 0.001) in the study population. Low SES (Median [Interquartile Range, IQR] survival 2.3[2.2-2.5] years vs high SES 2.7[2.5-3.1] years, P = 0.01) and Black race (Median [IQR] survival 1.8[1.3-2.3] years, vs white 2.5[2.3-2.7] years P = 0.008) separately were associated with worse overall survival in patients with MBC. In the Cox Proportional Hazard model with SES, race, age, subtype, number of metastases, visceral metastasis, and year of diagnosis as covariates, low SES (Hazard ratio 1.19[1.04-1.35], P = 0.01), but not Black race (Hazard ratio 1.19[0.96-1.49], P = 0.12), independently predicted overall survival in MBC. Moreover, patients from low SES neighborhoods and Black race received fewer lines of chemotherapy than high SES and whites. In conclusion, low neighborhood SES is associated with worse outcomes in patients with MBC. Poor outcomes in Black patients with MBC, at least in part is driven by socioeconomic factors. Future studies should delineate the interplay between neighborhood SES, race, and their effects on tumor biology in MBC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dianxu Ren
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steffi Oesterreich
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Women's Cancer Research Center (WCRC), UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adrian V Lee
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Women's Cancer Research Center (WCRC), UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Margaret Q Rosenzweig
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Beckett M, Goethals L, Kraus RD, Denysenko K, Barone Mussalem Gentiles MF, Pynda Y, Abdel-Wahab M. Proximity to Radiotherapy Center, Population, Average Income, and Health Insurance Status as Predictors of Cancer Mortality at the County Level in the United States. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2300130. [PMID: 37769217 PMCID: PMC10581634 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Sufficient radiotherapy (RT) capacity is essential to delivery of high-quality cancer care. However, despite sufficient capacity, universal access is not always possible in high-income countries because of factors beyond the commonly used parameter of machines per million people. This study assesses the barriers to RT in a high-income country and how these affect cancer mortality. METHODS This cross-sectional study used US county-level data obtained from Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Atomic Energy Agency Directory of Radiotherapy Centres. RT facilities in the United States were mapped using Geographic Information Systems software. Univariate analysis was used to identify whether distance to a RT center or various socioeconomic factors were predictive of all-cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR). Significant variables (P ≤ .05) on univariate analysis were included in a step-wise backward elimination method of multiple regression analysis. RESULTS Thirty-one percent of US counties have at least one RT facility and 8.3% have five or more. The median linear distance from a county's centroid to the nearest RT center was 36 km, and the median county all-cancer MIR was 0.37. The amount of RT centers, linear accelerators, and brachytherapy units per 1 million people were associated with all-cancer MIR (P < .05). Greater distance to RT facilities, lower county population, lower average income per county, and higher proportion of patients without health insurance were associated with increased all-cancer MIR (R-squared, 0.2113; F, 94.22; P < .001). CONCLUSION This analysis used unique high-quality data sets to identify significant barriers to RT access that correspond to higher cancer mortality at the county level. Geographic access, personal income, and insurance status all contribute to these concerning disparities. Efforts to address these barriers are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luc Goethals
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
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Bourgeois A, Horrill TC, Mollison A, Lambert LK, Stajduhar KI. Barriers to cancer treatment and care for people experiencing structural vulnerability: a secondary analysis of ethnographic data. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:58. [PMID: 36998035 PMCID: PMC10064679 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01860-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A key pillar of Canada's healthcare system is universal access, yet significant barriers to cancer services remain for people impacted by structural vulnerability (e.g., poverty, homelessness, racism). For this reason, cancer is diagnosed at a later stage, resulting in worse patient outcomes, a reduced quality of life, and at a higher cost to the healthcare system. Those who face significant barriers to access are under-represented in cancer control services Consequently, these inequities result in people dying from cancers that are highly treatable and preventable, however; little is known about their treatment and care course. The aim of this study was to explore barriers to accessing cancer treatment among people experiencing structural vulnerability within a Canadian context. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of ethnographic data informed by critical theoretical perspectives of equity and social justice. The original research draws from 30 months of repeated interviews (n = 147) and 300 h of observational fieldwork with people experiencing health and social inequities at the end-of-life, their support persons, and service providers. RESULTS Our analysis identified four themes presenting as 'modifiable' barriers to inequitable access to cancer treatment: (1) housing as a key determinant for cancer treatment (2) impact of lower health literacy (3) addressing social care needs is a pre-requisite for treatment (4) intersecting and compounding barriers reinforce exclusion from cancer care. These inter-related themes point to how people impacted by health and social inequities are at times 'dropped' out of the cancer system and therefore unable to access cancer treatment. CONCLUSION Findings make visible the contextual and structural factors contributing to inequitable access to cancer treatment within a publically funded healthcare system. Identifying people who experience structural vulnerability, and approaches to delivering cancer services that are explicitly equity-oriented are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Bourgeois
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health, Stn. CSC Victoria, PO Box 1700, V8W 2Y2, Victoria, BC, Canada.
| | - Tara C Horrill
- College of Nursing, University of Manitoba, 89 Curry Place Winnipeg, R3T 2N2, Victoria, MB, Canada
| | - Ashley Mollison
- Social Dimensions of Health, University of Victoria Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, Stn. CSC Victoria, PO Box 1700, V8W 2Y2, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Leah K Lambert
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, BC Cancer Suite 500, 686 West Broadway, V5Z 1G1, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kelli I Stajduhar
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health, Stn. CSC Victoria, PO Box 1700, V8W 2Y2, Victoria, BC, Canada
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Kesici Z, Yilmaz V. Insurance-based disparities in breast cancer treatment pathways in a universal healthcare system: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:112. [PMID: 36732811 PMCID: PMC9894738 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09108-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The influence of healthcare system factors on treatment pathways for breast cancer has been studied extensively in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), but in upper-middle-income countries (UMICs), this area is understudied. This article focuses on the experiences of breast cancer patients in Türkiye, a UMIC with a universal healthcare system. It explores variations in treatment pathways based on the type of health insurance provider (private or state). METHODS The study uses an exploratory qualitative method based on in-depth interviews with 12 breast cancer patients. The inclusion criteria were Turkish nationality, female gender, and having received treatment from a private hospital within one year of the interview. A purposeful sampling strategy was employed to recruit patients who had either social health insurance only or who had private health insurance in addition to their social health insurance. A two-stage thematic analysis of the interview data was conducted. First, we examined whether the type of insurance provider makes a difference in treatment pathways; we then identified healthcare system factors that explain these differences. RESULTS The study revealed two distinct pathways to treatment. These differ in terms of financial protection, service coverage, and patients' sense of equity. Patients with private insurance reported easy access to timely and comprehensive treatment. Those without, however, had to navigate complicated routes to treatment; they generally had to resort to seeking treatment from more than one hospital. We found two healthcare system factors that explained the differences: a failure to fully enforce the mandates of the state's social health insurance in the private hospital sector and growing reliance on private insurance to gain access to essential services. CONCLUSIONS Based on data from the Turkish case, we conclude that healthcare system factors are indeed influential in shaping treatment pathways for breast cancer in UMICs with universal healthcare. These factors include a failure to fully enforce the mandates of the state's social health insurance programme in the private hospital sector and a growing reliance on private insurance to gain access to essential services. We note that this contrasts dramatically with the situation in LMICs, where the main factors are low-quality care and shortages of medical staff, medicines, and technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Kesici
- Social Policy Forum Research Centre, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Volkan Yilmaz
- School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
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Sarria GR, Martinez DA, Li B, Castillo RD, Salgado A, Pinillos L, Felix A, Bobadilla I, Ferraris G, Castilho M, Carmona J, Leon B, Aviles L, Ricagni L, Isa N, Flores C, Giordano FA, Zubizarreta EH, Polo A, Sarria GJ. Leveling Up the Access to Radiation Therapy in Latin America: Economic Analysis of Investment, Equity, and Inclusion Opportunities Up to 2030. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022; 116:448-458. [PMID: 36549348 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Latin America faces a shortage in radiation therapy (RT) units and qualified personnel for timely and high-quality treatment of patients with cancer. Investing in equitable and inclusive access to RT over the next decade would prevent thousands of deaths. Measuring the investment gap and payoff is necessary for stakeholder discussions and capacity planning efforts. METHODS AND MATERIALS Data were collected from the International Atomic Energy Agency's Directory of Radiotherapy Centers, industry stakeholders, and individual surveys sent to national scientific societies. Nationwide data on available devices and personnel were compiled. The 10 most common cancers in 2020 with RT indication and their respective incidence rates were considered for gap calculations. The gross 2-year financial return on investment was calculated based on an average monthly salary across Latin America. A 10-year cost projection was calculated according to the estimated population dynamics for the period until 2030. RESULTS Eleven countries were included in the study, accounting for 557,213,447 people in 2020 and 561 RT facilities. Approximately 1,065,684 new cancer cases were diagnosed, and a mean density of 768,469 (standard deviation ±392,778) people per available unit was found. By projecting the currently available treatment fractions to determine those required in 2030, it was found that 62.3% and 130.8% increases in external beam RT and brachytherapy units are needed from the baseline, respectively. An overall regional investment of approximately United States (US) $349,650,480 in 2020 would have covered the existing demand. An investment of US $872,889,949 will be necessary by 2030, with the expectation of a 2-year posttreatment gross return on investment of more than US $2.1 billion from patients treated in 2030 only. CONCLUSIONS Investment in RT services is lagging in Latin America in terms of the population's needs. An accelerated outlay could save additional lives during the next decade, create a self-sustaining system, and reduce region-wide inequities in cancer care access. Cash flow analyses are warranted to tailor precise national-level intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo R Sarria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Rayos Contra Cancer, Inc, Nashville, Tennessee.
| | - David A Martinez
- Rayos Contra Cancer, Inc, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Radiation Oncology, Oncosalud-Auna, Lima, Peru
| | - Benjamin Li
- Rayos Contra Cancer, Inc, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Apolo Salgado
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Instituto Nacional del Cancer, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Luis Pinillos
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Oncosalud-Auna, Lima, Peru
| | - Armando Felix
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital de Oncologia Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI - IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ivan Bobadilla
- Radiotherapy Unit, Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Cancer Treatment and Research Center - CTIC, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Gustavo Ferraris
- Radiotherapy Unit, Centro de Radioterapia Dean Funes, Cordoba, Argentina
| | - Marcus Castilho
- Radiotherapy Center, Hospital Felicio Rocho, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jorge Carmona
- Radiotherapy Unit, Oncoserv, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
| | - Barbara Leon
- Radiotherapy Technical Unit, Hospital Carlos Andrade Marín, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Leandro Ricagni
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital de Clinicas, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Nicolas Isa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinica IRAM, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Claudio Flores
- Department of Epidemiology and Applied Research, Auna Ideas, Lima, Peru
| | - Frank A Giordano
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Alfredo Polo
- Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gustavo J Sarria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Oncosalud-Auna, Lima, Peru; Department of Radiotherapy, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas, Lima, Peru
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Santi SA, Caswell JM, Beruar AS, Conlon M, Carlson RG, Pearce AG. A Comparison Between the Rates of Radiation Oncologist and Urologist Consultations in Men Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer in Northern Ontario, Canada. Adv Radiat Oncol 2022; 8:101131. [PMID: 36845619 PMCID: PMC9943768 DOI: 10.1016/j.adro.2022.101131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Recommendations from Cancer Care Ontario stress the importance of multidisciplinary care from radiologists and urologists for prostate cancer treatment. The present study sought to examine what percentage of patients had a consultation with a radiation oncologist before undergoing a radical prostatectomy in Ontario, Canada, between 2010 and 2019. Methods and Materials Administrative health care databases were used to analyze the number of consultations billed to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan from radiologists and urologists who treated men with a first prostate cancer diagnosis (n = 22,169). Results In Ontario, 94.70% of Ontario Health Insurance Plan billings for patients with prostate cancer who had a prostatectomy within 1 year of a prostate cancer diagnosis were from urology, and 37.66% and 1.77% of billings were received from radiation oncology and medical oncology specialties, respectively. When sociodemographic variables were examined, having a lower neighborhood income (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.69; confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.76) and a rural residence (aOR, 0.72; CI, 0.65-0.79) were associated with lower odds of receiving a consultation from a radiation oncologist. When billings for consultations were examined geographically by region, Northeast Ontario (Local Health Integrated Network 13) had the lowest odds of receiving a radiation consultation compared with the rest of Ontario (aOR, 0.50; CI, 0.42-0.59). Conclusions The results of this study show that differences in equitable access to multidisciplinary health care exist for men with a first prostate cancer diagnosis who reside in more northern and rural regions within Ontario, relative to the rest of the province. The reasons for these findings are likely multifactorial and may include factors such as patient treatment preference and distance/travel to receive treatment. However, as diagnosis year increased, so did the chances of receiving a radiation oncologist consultation, and this upward trend may reflect the implementation of Cancer Care Ontario guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey A. Santi
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph M. Caswell
- ICES North Satellite Site, Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ananya S. Beruar
- Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - M.S.C. Conlon
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- ICES North Satellite Site, Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- School of Rural and Northern Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan G. Carlson
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Radiation Oncology, Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew G. Pearce
- Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Radiation Oncology, Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
- Corresponding author: Andrew G. Pearce, MD
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Hande V, Chan J, Polo A. Value of Geographical Information Systems in Analyzing Geographic Accessibility to Inform Radiotherapy Planning: A Systematic Review. JCO Glob Oncol 2022; 8:e2200106. [PMID: 36122318 PMCID: PMC9812498 DOI: 10.1200/go.22.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Vulnerable populations face geographical barriers in accessing radiotherapy (RT) facilities, resulting in heterogeneity of care received and cancer burden faced. We aimed to explore the current use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in access to RT and use these findings to create sustainable solutions against barriers for access in low- and middle-income countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic review using the PRISMA search strategy was done for studies using GIS to explore outcomes among patients with cancer. Included studies were reviewed and classified into three umbrella categories of how GIS has been used in studying access to RT. RESULTS Forty articles were included in the final review. Thirty-eight articles were set in high-income countries and two in upper-middle-income countries. Included studies were published from 2000 to 2020, and were comprised of patients with all-cancers combined, breast, colon, skin, lung, prostate, ovarian, and rectal carcinoma patients. Studies were categorized under three groups on the basis of how they used GIS in their analyses: to describe geographic access to RT, to associate geographic access to RT with outcomes, and for RT planning. Most studies fell under multiple categories. CONCLUSION Although this field is relative nascent, there is a wide array of functions possible through GIS for RT planning, including identifying high-risk populations, improving access in high-need areas, and providing valuable information for future resource allocation. GIS should be incorporated in future studies, especially set in low- and middle-income countries, which evaluate access to RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Hande
- Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jessica Chan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alfredo Polo
- Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria,Alfredo Polo, MD, PhD, Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria; e-mail:
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Scott AA, Polo A, Zubizarreta E, Akoto-Aidoo C, Edusa C, Osei-Bonsu E, Yarney J, Dwobeng B, Milosevic M, Rodin D. Geographic Accessibility and Availability of Radiotherapy in Ghana. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2226319. [PMID: 35951324 PMCID: PMC9372791 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.26319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Radiotherapy is critical for comprehensive cancer care, but there are large gaps in access. Within Ghana, data on radiotherapy availability and on the relationship between distance and access are unknown. OBJECTIVES To estimate the gaps in radiotherapy machine availability in Ghana and to describe the association between distance and access to care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This is a cross-sectional, population-based study of radiotherapy delivery in Ghana in 2020 and model-based analysis of radiotherapy demand and the radiotherapy utilization rate (RUR) using the Global Task Force on Radiotherapy for Cancer Control investment framework. EXPOSURES Receipt of radiotherapy and the number of radiotherapy courses delivered. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Geocoded location of patients receiving external beam radiotherapy (EBRT); median Euclidean distance from the district centroids to the nearest radiotherapy centers; proportion of population living within geographic buffer zones of 100, 150, and 200 km; additional capacity required for optimal utilization; and geographic accessibility after strategic location of a radiotherapy facility in an underserviced region. RESULTS A total of 2883 patients underwent EBRT courses in 2020, with an actual RUR of 11%. Based on an optimal RUR of 48%, 11 524 patients had an indication for radiotherapy, indicating that only 23% of patients received treatment. An investment of 23 additional EBRT machines would be required to meet demand. The median Euclidean distance from the district centroids to the nearest radiotherapy facility was 110.6 km (range, 0.62-513.2 km). The proportion of the total population living within a radius of 100, 150 and 200 km of a radiotherapy facility was 47%, 61% and 70%, respectively. A new radiotherapy facility in the northern regional capital would reduce the median of Euclidean distance by 10% to 99.4 km (range, 0.62-267.7 km) and increase proportion of the total population living within a radius of 100, 150 and 200 km to 53%, 69% and 84%, respectively. The greatest benefit was seen in regions in the northern half of Ghana. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cross-sectional study of geographic accessibility and availability of radiotherapy, Ghana had major national deficits of radiotherapy capacity, with significant geographic disparities among regions. Well-planned infrastructure scale-up that accounts for the population distribution could improve radiotherapy accessibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aba Anoa Scott
- National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Global Cancer Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alfredo Polo
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Charles Akoto-Aidoo
- National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Clement Edusa
- Oncology Department, Sweden Ghana Medical Centre, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ernest Osei-Bonsu
- National Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Joel Yarney
- National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bismark Dwobeng
- National Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael Milosevic
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Global Cancer Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danielle Rodin
- Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Global Cancer Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Seguin M, Morris M, McKee M, Nolte E. "There's Not Enough Bodies to Do the Demand": An Exploration of Key Stakeholder Views on the Role of Health Service Capacity in Shaping Cancer Outcomes in 7 International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership Countries. Int J Health Policy Manag 2022; 11:1024-1034. [PMID: 33589567 PMCID: PMC9808162 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2020.254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differences in cancer survival are shaped by differences in health system capacity in workforce and infrastructure. Part of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP), this study explored stakeholders' perceptions of the role of health system capacity necessary for cancer care in influencing cancer survival in 7 high-income countries. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with 79 key informants from national, regional, and local tiers of health systems, professional bodies, patient associations, and academic experts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Data collection was guided by a conceptual model linking characteristics of health systems and cancer survival along the cancer patient journey, from recognition of symptoms at pre-diagnostic stages through to survivorship or death. Data were analysed using a thematic approach. RESULTS We identified 3 themes as important in shaping cancer outcomes: primary care and access to diagnostic evaluation, specialist care and access to treatment, and workforce pertaining to diagnostic and treatment phases. Improved infrastructure for diagnosis and treatment had improved cancer outcomes in all jurisdictions. However, this was seen as insufficient if staffing was inadequate. Consolidation of services and greater surgical specialisation was important in some jurisdictions if accompanied by a reconfiguration of services, in particular the creation of specialist multidisciplinary teams, along with supporting capacity in the wider health system. Staff shortages were commonly cited as reasons why some jurisdictions lagged behind others. CONCLUSION Continued improvement in cancer outcomes will require sustained investment in plans to deliver and maintain the workforce engaged in cancer care and in the infrastructure on which they depend. However, strategic plans must recognise that systems for cancer care do not work in isolation from the rest of the health system and a whole systems approach is essential if we are to improve outcomes for an ageing, increasingly multimorbid population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ellen Nolte
- Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Topical Medicine, London, UK
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13
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Higuita-Gutiérrez LF, Estrada-Mesa DA, Cardona-Arias JA. Healthcare Inequities Experienced by Patients with Cancer: A Qualitative Study in Medellín, Colombia. Patient Prefer Adherence 2022; 16:1983-1997. [PMID: 35958886 PMCID: PMC9362511 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s369628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of patients with cancer that facing inequities in oncological care in the city of Medellín. PATIENTS AND METHODS A qualitative study was conducted based on the theoretical and methodological elements of the grounded theory, specifically the description and conceptual ordering of Corbin and Strauss. Sixteen patients with cancer, who belonged to low (n=5), middle (n=4) and high (n=7) social classes, were included by theoretical sampling with category saturation. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed in a category system based on the three social classes. RESULTS The patients were aged between 23 and 71 years old, and they were diagnosed with different types of cancer such as breast, cervical, prostate, stomach, leukemia and lymphoma. Patients' experiences showed that diagnosis, specialized care, treatment and hospital discharge were different based on their social class. CONCLUSION Patients' lived experiences associated with cancer reflect complex social situations, in which social determinants affect the level of citizens' empowerment and self-management against the risks of get disease and die. Being part of low and middle social classes meant being subjected to a dehumanized, cold, impersonal and discontinuous treatment, in which healthcare was focused on the disease instead of individuals' preferences and values. In contrast, patients belonging to the high class had the resources necessary to face risks, which ensured access to more humanized and individualized healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia
- School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Correspondence: Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez, Tel +57 312 774 52 56, Email
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14
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Gao F, Jaffrelot M, Deguen S. Measuring hospital spatial accessibility using the enhanced two-step floating catchment area method to assess the impact of spatial accessibility to hospital and non-hospital care on the length of hospital stay. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:1078. [PMID: 34635117 PMCID: PMC8507246 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-07046-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Optimal healthcare access improves the health status and decreases health inequalities. Many studies demonstrated the importance of spatial access to healthcare facilities in health outcomes, particularly using the enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method. The study objectives were to build a hospital facility access indicator at a fine geographic scale, and then to assess the impact of spatial accessibility to inpatient hospital and non-hospital care services on the length of hospital stay (LOS). Methods Data concerning older adults (≥75 years) living in the Nord administrative region of France were used. Hospital spatial accessibility was computed with the E2SFCA method, and the LOS score was calculated from the French national hospital activity and patient discharge database. The relationship between LOS and spatial accessibility to inpatient hospital care and to three non-hospital care types (general practitioners, physiotherapists, and home-visiting nurses) was analyzed with linear regression models. Results The mean number (standard deviation) of beds per 10,000 inhabitants was 19.0 (10.69) in Medical, Surgical and Obstetrics (MCO) facilities and 5.58 (2.19) in Postoperative and Rehabilitation Care (SSR) facilities, highlighting important variations within the region. Accessibility to hospital services was higher in large urban areas, despite the dense population and higher demand. In 2014, the mean LOS scores were 0.26 for MCO and 0.85 for SSR, but their geographical repartition was non-homogeneous. The linear regression analysis revealed a strong negative and significant association between LOS and non-hospital care accessibility. Conclusions This is the first study to measure spatial accessibility to inpatient hospital care in France using the E2SFCA method, and to investigate the relationship between healthcare utilization (LOS score) and spatial accessibility to inpatient hospital care facilities and three types of non-hospital care services. Our findings might help to make decisions about deploying additional beds and to identify the best locations for non-hospital care services. They might also contribute to improve access, and to ensure the best coordination and sustainability of inpatient and outpatient services, in order to better cover the population’s healthcare needs. International studies using multiple consensual indicators of healthcare outcomes and accessibility and sophisticated modeling methods are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Gao
- Department of Quantitative Methods for Public Health, EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes, Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043, Rennes, France. .,L'équipe REPERES, Recherche en Pharmaco-épidémiologie et recours aux soins, UPRES EA-7449, Rennes, France.
| | - Matthieu Jaffrelot
- Department of Quantitative Methods for Public Health, EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes, Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043, Rennes, France.,Univ Rennes, Ensai, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Séverine Deguen
- Department of Quantitative Methods for Public Health, EHESP School of Public Health, Rennes, Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043, Rennes, France.,IPLESP, Department of Social Epidemiology, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, F75012, Paris, France
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15
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Lara-Carrillo E, Herrera-Serna BY, Conzuelo-Rodríguez G, do Amaral RC, Aguilera-Eguía RA, Toral-Rizo VH. Effect of Human Development Index and other socioeconomic factors on mortality-to-incidence ratio of lips and oral cavity cancer in Mexican states: an ecological study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e042376. [PMID: 34145006 PMCID: PMC8215233 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the association between the Human Development Index (HDI) and covariates on the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) of lips and oral cavity cancer (LOCC) in Mexico. DESIGN Ecological study. SETTING Data from 32 Mexican states for year 2019. PARTICIPANTS Data set of male and female populations from Mexico. EXPOSURES Socioeconomic conditions based on HDI and covariates related to healthcare system capacity (total health spending per capita, school dropout and ratio of medical personnel in direct contact with patients). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES MIR of LOCC by state and sex was calculated from the Global Burden of Disease Study website for year 2019. Data for calculating HDI 2019 by state and covariates were obtained from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. A multiple regression model was constructed to measure the effects of HDI and covariates on LOCC-MIR. RESULTS Among the states with the highest HDI (>0.780), Colima had the highest aged-standardised rates per 100.000 in men for incidence (5.026) and mortality (3.118). The greatest burden of the disease was found on men, with the highest Men:Women MIR in Colima (3.10) and Baja California Sur (2.73). The highest MIR (>0.65) was found among the states with the lowest HDI (Oaxaca and Chiapas). For each unit of increase of the HDI there was a decrease in the LOCC- MIR of -0.778, controlling for the covariates. The most suitable regression model explained the 57% (F (p): 0.000) of the variance. CONCLUSIONS Men were most affected by LOCC in Mexican states. The highest MIRs of LOCC were found in the states with the highest HDI. But a worse prognosis of the disease, expressed as a higher MIR, is expected in contexts with lower HDI in the country, even with lower MIRs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Raúl Alberto Aguilera-Eguía
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Carrera de Kinesiología, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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Abdel-Wahab M, Rosenblatt E, Prajogi B, Zubizarretta E, Mikhail M. Opportunities in Telemedicine, Lessons Learned After COVID-19 and the Way Into the Future. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020; 108:438-443. [PMID: 32890528 PMCID: PMC7462967 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- May Abdel-Wahab
- Telemedicine, Radiation Oncology, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Eduardo Rosenblatt
- Telemedicine, Radiation Oncology, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ben Prajogi
- Telemedicine, Radiation Oncology, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eduardo Zubizarretta
- Telemedicine, Radiation Oncology, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miriam Mikhail
- Telemedicine, Radiation Oncology, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
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Chan J, Friborg J, Zubizarreta E, van Eck JW, Hanna TP, Bourque JM, Gaudet M, Dennis K, Olson R, Coleman CN, Petersen AJ, Grau C, Abdel-Wahab M, Brundage M, Slotman B, Polo A. Examining geographic accessibility to radiotherapy in Canada and Greenland for indigenous populations: Measuring inequities to inform solutions. Radiother Oncol 2020; 146:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2020.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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