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Cancer survivors forgoing services due to financial concerns
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Eighteen percent of cancer survivors in the United States did not get one or more needed medical service because of financial concerns, according to findings from a disparities study.
Researchers examined data from 6,602 survivors of cancer and 104,364 individuals with no history of cancer using the National Health Interview Survey from 2003 to 2006.
Among cancer survivors, the prevalence of forgoing or delaying care due to cost concerns was 7.8% (95% CI, 7.1%-8.6%) for forgoing medical care, 10.7% (95% CI, 9.8%-11.6%) for delaying medical care, 9.9% (95% CI, 9.1%-10.8%) for forgoing prescription medication, 11.3% (95% CI, 10.4%-12.2%) for forgoing dental care and 2.7% (95% CI, 2.3%-3.2%) for forgoing mental health care. The rate for forgoing at least one medical service was 17.6% (95% CI, 16.6%-18.8%).
By weighted population estimation, about 2 million cancer survivors did not get one or more medical service because of financial concerns, according to the researchers.
Overall, Hispanics and black cancer survivors were more likely to forgo prescription medications and dental care. Hispanics had an OR of 2.14 (95% CI, 1.52-3.0) for forgoing prescription medications and an OR of 2.31 (95% CI, 1.68-3.17) for forgoing dental care. The OR for blacks was 1.87 (95% CI, 1.38-2.54) for forgoing prescriptions and 1.57 (95% CI, 1.18-2.10) for forgoing dental care.
Compared with those without cancer history, survivors aged younger than 65 years were 1.49 to 1.95 times more likely to forgo or delay medical services (P<.05).
Disparities among those who survived cancer were reflective of those in the general adult U.S. population, according to the researchers.
Weaver KE. Cancer. 2010;doi:10.1002/cncr.25209.
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