Barriers to accessing cancer care from patients’ perspective: A single cancer center experience.

Abstract

e13520 Background: Jefferson Einstein Hospital is a safety-net hospital that serves a diverse and primarily disadvantaged community in North Philadelphia. The population in this city has 21.5% of individuals living in poverty, which is almost double the rate in Pennsylvania. According to the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (NCI-CRCHD), people from low socioeconomic backgrounds and specific demographics often bear a more significant disease burden than the general U.S. population. Certain population groups experience cancer disparities due to their likelihood of encountering obstacles or barriers in accessing healthcare. This study aims to identify critical barriers hindering the receipt of quality cancer care for the population served by this hospital. Methods: We identified 51 adult patients who received a new cancer diagnosis between 2022 and 2023. Barriers to accessing cancer care were defined through a literature review and expert consensus. These barriers were assessed via a survey containing fixed-choice items aimed at eliciting obstacles to accessing cancer care among newly diagnosed cancer patients undergoing treatment at the hospital. Information on these barriers was collected prospectively during survey administration and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The frequency of specific barriers within the five categories was calculated, and subjects were classified based on the presence or number of barriers. Results: A total of 51 patient surveys were evaluated. Among these surveys, 24 (47%) reported transportation issues, and 3 (6%) reported caregiving responsibilities. Ten (20%) patients encountered economic barriers, while 11 (22%) faced challenges related to their support system. Nineteen (37%) patients experienced barriers related to health literacy, and 15 (29%) specifically struggled with cancer-related health literacy. Additionally, cultural barriers were identified in 12 (24%) patients. Conclusions: Our study highlights the prevalent barriers faced by newly diagnosed cancer patients in accessing cancer care, including transportation, health literacy, financial constraints, and cultural factors. These findings underscore the importance of integrating patient perspectives into future initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges. By prioritizing patient input and enhancing patient navigation programs, we can effectively mitigate these barriers and improve access to cancer care for individuals in need. [Table: see text]