Sociodemographic Trends Research Articles

A clean energy assessment of early adopters in electric vehicle and solar photovoltaic technology: Geospatial, political and socio-demographic trends in New York

We studied electric vehicles and solar photovoltaic technology diffusion in the State of New York to shed light on the attributes of early adopters of clean energy. Using geospatial, regression, and cluster analyses of zip code level and county indicators, we analyzed trends with locational, political and socio-demographic profiles to identify areas of convergence and divergence in adoption patterns. In line with elements of the literature, we confirmed the importance of income and median home value for a relatively under-studied region in early-staged, electric vehicle and solar photovoltaic technology adoption. We also found that political orientation and age tendencies are more nuanced and less predictive. However, we noted key, adoptive tendencies among those aged 30-44 and above 59 for solar photovoltaics. Moreover, southeastern counties near New York City, particularly on Long Island, are identified as critical niches in the early-staged diffusion of clean energy. This study highlights observed tendencies from diverse methodological approaches in clean technology diffusion, providing a basis for a fuller set of technology and policy studies for New York or similarly-focused regions.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AS THE MECHANISM OF THE RURAL TERRITORIES’ DEVELOPMENT

Public-private partnership is the instrument of cooperation between state and business. It has many forms and functions but the only purpose to improve welfare of the territories. In relations between state and business the partnership can play dominant, subsidiary or supervisory role, regulate the institutional mechanism of financial cooperation, develop strategies, solve conflicts and provide social, communal and infrastructure services. Currently implementation of the public-private partnership mechanism in Ukraine is complicated because of shortcomings and gaps in legislation, deficit of different levels budgets, institutional inability of local governments to plan and implement partnership projects and low efficiency of economic activity of business entities. Concerning implementation of the mechanism on rural areas it should be substantially enhanced at the national level for many reasons. Firstly economic situation in most rural areas in Ukraine is depressed and community budgets lack funds. It proves the necessity to intensify economic cooperation and introduce other forms of cooperation. On the other hand, many negative socio-demographic trends (migration, depopulation, social exclusion and marginalization) are inherent in rural areas. It makes difficult for local governments to cooperate with communities members. Capability of the state to support partnerships is also complicated major because of underdeveloped organizational and economic support mechanism. Lack of annual plans to finance partnership projects, funds, technical support to implement projects, and no ways to get state guarantees are the evidence. Taking into account rural territories have no much capacity for development, the mechanism of public-private partnership should include the following key steps: identifying priority areas for PPP application, considering socio-economic potential of different types of the territories and social relevance of a project for a community; improving the qualification level of project management personnel; involvement of the private sector into infrastructural projects; state support for pilot projects; ensuring more transparency in decision making and use of budget resources and simplifying project selection requirements. Implementation of the PPP mechanism on rural areas will improve their infrastructure and satisfy social needs of residents. In order to improve the mechanism of state support for the implementation of PPP projects at the local level it is needed to establish a national specialized agency, define clearly powers of the state authorities, local self-government authorities and members of communities involved into PPP implementation. The other task is to create an informational framework. The purpose of the article is to substantiate how the public-private partnership’s mechanism can work on rural areas.

A METHOD TO DEFINE THE SPATIAL STATIONS LOCATION IN A CARSHARING SYSTEM IN SÃO PAULO – BRAZIL

Abstract. Sharing mobility systems have become part of a sociodemographic trend that has pushed shared modes from the fringe to the mainstream of the transportation systems. Carsharing is a mode of shared transport, where a service is offered in which several people share the access and use of a set of vehicles. This is a relatively new mode of urban transport, which gives users access for short periods of rental, thus providing the benefits of using private vehicles, while avoiding the inherent property charges of a vehicle. The objective of the article searches for the identification and selection of preferred areas in the São Paulo City (Brazil) to implement a prototype of a carsharing system. The adopted methodology of demand analysis identifies the spatial patterns of the intervening variables of socioeconomic information, transportation and land use, in order to understand the current panorama of the demand for transport in São Paulo. The analysis made it possible to identify and select preferred areas in São Paulo for the implementation of a prototype. The study indicated the most favorable places to receive the service stations to operate a carsharing system.

Alternative prenatal care interventions to alleviate Black–White maternal/infant health disparities

AbstractThis paper attempts to forward the maternal health literature that critiques standard prenatal care in the United States by drawing on intersectionality, medicalization, and fundamental causation theories. We argue that these theories deepen our understanding of the maternal health experiences of Black women and can help explain why alternative prenatal care interventions have value for Black pregnant women. Alternative models of prenatal care, which include the use of midwives, doulas, and group prenatal care, are associated with equal or better health outcomes for infants and mothers compared to the standard prenatal model in the United States. We begin by drawing on these sociological perspectives to identify gaps in the maternal health literature that is critical of standard biomedical maternal health approaches. We then go on to describe select alternative methods of prenatal care and then provide a summary of the epidemiological literature as it relates to sociodemographic trends in usage and the relative effectiveness of alternative models compared to standard care. We conclude by arguing that a joint, critical application of these three theories can help scholars explain the utility of alternative interventions for African American maternal/infant health and can inform policies that aim to alleviate Black–White maternal/infant health disparities.

Perception of Cross-Generational Differences in Child Behavior and Parent Socialization: A Mixed-Method Interview Study With Grandmothers in China

China, having gone through rapid economic reform, supported by urbanization, educational expansion, and family size reduction over past decades, is an important part of a worldwide sociodemographic trend that can be summarized as a shift from community/ Gemeinschaft to society/ Gesellschaft. Correlated with this sociodemographic trend, our qualitative and quantitative analyses document intergenerational change in grandmothers’ perception of socializing environments and developmental pathways of Chinese children. Grandmothers from Beijing ranked (a) three generations of children at ages 4 to 6 in their families (themselves, their children, and their grandchildren) on autonomy, curiosity, self-expression, obedience, and shyness and (b) three generations of parents in their families (their parents, themselves, and their children) on child-rearing behaviors: support, praise, criticism, and control. As predicted, we found an intergenerational increase in perceived child autonomy, curiosity, and self-expression—individualistic traits adapted to Gesellschaft environments. Also as predicted, perceived child obedience and shyness, adapted to Gemeinschaft environments, declined across the generations. Related changes in reported child-rearing behaviors were also expected and found: Grandmothers judged that parental support and praise (promotion socialization), which foster individuated self-development, increased significantly, although the pattern of parental criticism and control (prevention socialization) was less clear. Promotion-based socialization strategies were found to serve as a partial mediator of intergenerational differences in individualistic child behaviors. Results suggest that the younger generations exhibit more promotion-based socialization, leading to more individualistic child traits, as they adapt to China’s more Gesellschaft ecology, comprising urbanization, formal education, and smaller family size.

Grandparenting in the United States.

Grandparenting varies enormously in the United States and here we discuss that growing diversity. Relying on exchange and reciprocity, feminist, and political economic theoretical perspectives, we begin by exploring the increasing need for grandchild care and assistance in the United States and the dearth of federal and employer supports for working families. Assessing the impact of sociodemographic trends, notably the rise in single parenting and the increase in employment among grandparents, we assess the intensification of grandparenting. Then we turn to issues related to proximity, examining the pleasures and challenges of coresidential, custodial, long distance, and transnational grandparenting. Finally, we turn to the impact of grandparenting on the emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing of grandparents.

Hitting the sweet spot: Variability in commute lengths and vehicle emissions across a diverse state

In this paper we consider travel across Virginia and identify sustainability “sweet spots” where commute lengths and vehicle emissions per mile combine to maximize green travel in terms of total CO2 emissions associated with commuting. The analysis is conducted across local voter precincts (N=2373 in the state) because they are a useful proxy for neighborhoods and well-sized for implementing policy designed to encourage sustainable travel behavior. Virginia is especially appropriate for an examination of variability in sustainable travel behavior and technologies because the state’s transportation, demographic, and political patterns are particularly diverse and have been changing rapidly. We identify four Virginia precinct-based sustainability clusters: Sweet Spots, Emerging Sweet Spots, Neutral and Non-sustaining. A model of demographic differences among the clusters shows that sustainability outcomes, understood in terms of both local commute behavior and vehicle emissions, are significantly associated with the diverse demography and politics of the state. We also look at changes in transportation sustainability and socio-demographic trends within the clusters over the past half-decade, showing that differences in sustainability and demographic metrics are actually accelerating within the state over time. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the differences among the clusters for developing and implementing effective transportation sustainability policies across the state.

Considerations of response bias and value in linking an existing longitudinal cohort study with national health record data

ABSTRACTObjectiveLongitudinal cohort studies remain important sources of information in health and epidemiological research and represent a significant investment of resources. The maintenance of these cohorts over time and the representativeness of retained participants are important considerations for researchers. For those weighting the benefits of augmenting a longitudinal cohort study with data linkage to national health records, the potential for bias in consent and match rates and the utility of the newly obtained data are also key considerations. This study presents an analysis of bias associated with consent to participate and record matching in an established longitudinal cohort of older persons. We present the unique outcomes generated from this national health record data linkage project and the opportunities such variables present for longitudinal cohort studies.ApproachThe New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement study is a biennial survey of persons aged 55-85 which commenced in 2006. Over the past decade, additional cohorts have been recruited to the study, with n = 9003 older New Zealand residents participating to the year 2015. In 2013 the study began an approach to active survey participants for consent to link their longitudinal survey data to national health record data held by the New Zealand Health Information Service, including data related to hospital events, the New Zealand Cancer Registry, pharmaceutical data and mental health data. We compare self-reported longitudinal health trends associated with consent/declination to participate as well as for record match success and failure. Key outcomes derived from these national datasets for the purposes of the Health, Work and Retirement Study are described.ResultsConsent (62.5%) and declination (8.9%) to participate in the data linkage project are described in terms of the corresponding longitudinal self-reported health and socio-demographic trends for these groups. Successful and unsuccessful matches of participants to national health record data are also described. The calculation of outcomes from each of the linked datasets obtained and their potential utility in building upon existing longitudinal cohort data are also presented.ConclusionsNational health record data linkage presents a potentially valuable source of data to supplement and replicate findings related to health outcomes and expenditure derived from longitudinal cohort surveys. The challenges and successes of the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement survey data linkage project touch upon considerations pertinent to evaluating the value of augmenting existing and ongoing longitudinal survey cohort for other researchers.

Typology and Dynamics of Heavier Drinking Styles in Great Britain: 1978-2010.

AimsTo identify a typology of heavier drinking styles in Great Britain and to identify socio-demographic trends in the typology over the period 1978–2010.MethodsWe applied multiple correspondence analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering to beverage-specific quantity–frequency measures of alcohol consumption in the repeated cross-sectional General Lifestyle Survey of Great Britain, 1978–2010. The cluster analysis focuses on the 60,043 adult respondents over this period reporting average drinking levels above the UK Government guidelines. We projected sex, age, income, education, socio-economic status and tobacco consumption variables onto the clusters to inspect socio-demographic trends in heavier drinking.ResultsWe identified four stable clusters of heavier drinking: (a) high volume beer; (b) beer and spirit combination; (c) all beverage and (d) wine and spirit only. The socio-demographic characteristics of the clusters were distinct from both each other and the general population. However, all clusters had higher median incomes and higher smoking rates than the population. Increases in the prevalence of heavier drinking were driven by a 5-fold increase in the contribution of the female-dominated, wine and spirit only cluster.ConclusionsRecent changes in per capita alcohol consumption in Great Britain occurred within the context of a stable typology of heavier drinking styles and shifting socio-demographics. Identifying these trends is essential to better understand how drinking cultures develop over time and where potentially problematic drinking styles may emerge. Our findings suggest that careful attention to patterns and cultures of consumption is more important than relying on headline consumption data, for both understanding drinking behaviours and targeting interventions.Short SummaryThis analysis of alcohol consumption survey data identifies four styles of heavier drinking in Great Britain, which remain unchanged over the period 1978–2010. The socio-demographic characteristics of the drinking styles are distinct from both each other and the general population, with increased participation of female and older drinkers over time.

Changing Trends in the Baby Boomer Travel Market: Importance of Memorable Experiences

Globally, the number of baby boomers who are age 60 years and over are expected to more than double, from 841 million people in 2013 to more than 2 billion in 2050. In recent years, boomers have demonstrated that they are willing participants in new and memorable experiences where they can learn and broaden their minds through travel to new locations and to learn more about different cultures through a variety of first-hand experiences. As a result, the numbers of baby boomer travelers over 60 years of age have grown substantially from 593 million international travelers in 1999, which has been forecast to exceed 2 billion trips per annum by 2050. The hotel and resort industry needs to respond to their changing needs, and allow guests to achieve memorable experiences in exotic and different destinations as well as through the provision of hotel design that is inextricably linked to the place they are visiting. This article outlines the changing sociodemographic trends of baby boomers, examines their need for different hotel and resort experiences in an expanding market place, and concludes with a discussion of key marketing considerations.

Socio-demographic trends in overweight and obesity among parous and nulliparous women in Ghana.

BackgroundOverweight and obesity are among the leading threats to global health because of their association with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Much of the research on overweight and obesity among women largely generalize without due cognisance to differences in their reproductive history. This study explored differences in trends in overweight/obesity, and associated factors between parous and nulliparous women in Ghana.MethodsAnthropometric measurements from three nationally representative Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (2003, 2008 and 2014) were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression.ResultsOver all, overweight/obesity increased between 2003 and 2014, with disproportionately higher rates among parous women (from about 30 % in 2003 to about 48 % in 2014) than nulliparous women (from about 15 % in 2003 to about 24 % in 2014). Age, wealth quintile and marital status were associated with overweight/obesity similarly in both women groups. However, there were variations in the association between parous and nulliparious women by educational level, type of locality, occupation and ethnicity.ConclusionThe trend of overweight/obesity in Ghana warrants urgent national level public health attention to help curb the situation. Such interventions should be tailored bearing in mind the peculiar differences in associated factors between parous and nulliparous women.

Gender and socio-economic inequalities in health and living conditions among co-resident informal caregivers: a nationwide survey in Spain.

To explore the associations between social determinants, caregiver's network support, burden of care and their consequences in health and living conditions of informal caregivers. The socio-demographic trends regarding population ageing and changes in family models trigger an increased demand for care. Cross-sectional study based on the 2008 edition of the National Disability, Independence and Dependency Situations Survey (DIDSS-2008) conducted by the National Statistics Institute in Spain. Analyses focused on persons identified as primary caregivers who co-reside with the dependent person. The associations between social determinants of caregivers, burden of care, support network and problems attributed to informal care (impaired health, depression, professional, economic and personal issues) were estimated by fitting robust Poisson regression models. Analyses were conducted separately for women and men. The study sample included 6923 caregivers, 73% of women and 27% of men. Gender and socio-economic inequalities were found in assumption of responsibilities and burden of caring for dependents, which tend to fall more on women and persons of lower socio-economic level, who in turn have less access to formal support. These aspects translate into a higher prevalence of health, professional, economic and personal problems. The study highlights gender and socio-economic inequalities in informal caregiving and its negative consequences. These findings may be useful in the design of policies and support programmes targeting the most affected groups of informal caregivers.

Emergency Department Use and Postvisit Care for Anxiety and Stress Disorders Among Children: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Alberta, Canada.

ObjectiveWe examined sociodemographic trends in emergency department ED visits and postvisit health care for anxiety and stress disorders.MethodsEmergency department visits (N = 11,289) by children younger than 18 years were extracted from population-based administrative databases from Alberta, Canada (2002–2011). We examined health services use by demographics and socioeconomic proxy (First Nations status, family subsidy type: government, human services program, none). We calculated visit rates and described physician visits after discharge (n = 8075 children). Multivariable survival analyses (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) estimate time to first physician visit and ED return.ResultsDuring 2002–2011, visit rates increased by age, First Nations, and subsidy status. The largest increase was for children (all ages) from families receiving government subsidy (491.43/100,000, P < 0.001). Thirty days after an index visit, most physician follow-up visits were made by children aged 15 to 17 years (61.0%) and from families receiving no subsidy (66.5%). The median time to physician follow-up for First Nations children was 32 days (95% CI, 27–37) compared with 19 days for children from families receiving government subsidy whose median time was shortest (95% CI, 18–23). Children (all ages) in the government and human services program subsidy groups and those who had First Nations status returned earlier to the ED compared with children in the no subsidy group.ConclusionsAdolescents had high ED use and physician follow-up, whereas First Nations children and those from families receiving subsidy (all ages) had high ED use and low physician follow-up. Efforts to improve disorder identification and treatment among high ED user groups and low physician follow-up user groups are needed.

FAMILY CAREGIVING IN THE NEW NORMAL

Family Caregiving in the New Normal discusses how the drastic economic changes that have occurred over the past few years have precipitated a new conversation on how family care for older adults will evolve in the future. This text summarizes the challenges and potential solutions scientists, policy makers, and clinical providers must address as they grapple with these changes, with a primary focus given to the elements that may impact how family caregiving is organized and addressed in subsequent decades, including sociodemographic trends like divorce, increased participation of women in the workforce, geographic mobility, fewer children in post-baby boom families, chronic illness trends, economic stressors, and the current policy environment. A section on the support of caregivers includes technology-based solutions that examine existing models, personal health records, and mobile applications, big data issues, decision-making support, person-centered approaches, crowd-sourced caregiving such as blogs and personal websites that have galvanized caregivers, and new methods to combine paid and unpaid forms of care. * Provides a concise roadmap of the demographic, economic, health trends, and policy challenges facing family caregivers* Presents potential solutions to caregiving so that scientists, policymakers, and clinical providers can best meet the needs of families and communities in the upcoming decades* Includes in-depth, diverse stories of caregivers of persons with different diseases who share perspectives * Covers person-centered care approaches to family caregiving that summarize effective community-based services of psychosocial intervention models * Examines how existing efficacious models can more effectively reach and serve individual families

Appalachian Cities at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century

Abstract This paper investigates the socio-demographic trends of Appalachia’s twenty-five most populous cities over the decade 2000 to 2010. Using indicators such as population and household changes, educational attainment, poverty, income, and economic sector employment, this paper examines whether Appalachian cities are participating in recent trends in America’s cities and urban life. Results show that Appalachian cities do not form a coherent subset of urban America with shared socio-demographic narratives and experiences. Instead, they display strong intra-regional divergence in several measures. This analysis contextualizes these demographic trends in Appalachia’s cities within current urban economic development strategies and discourse.

Nursing care dependence in the experiences of advanced cancer inpatients

PurposeIncreasing burden of cancer in Europe and socio-demographic trends imply that more cancer patients will face high levels of dependency. Care dependency is often perceived as a distressing experience by cancer patients who are concerned about becoming a burden to others. The experience of care dependence has been scarcely investigated in advanced cancer patients, especially in the hospital setting. This study aimed at describing advanced cancer patients' experiences of care dependence in hospital and of the factors perceived by them as contributing to decrease or increase this dependence. MethodsThe study used a descriptive phenomenological approach based on Husserl's (1913) life world perspective. Data collection and analysis followed Giorgi's (1997) five basic methodological steps. Data were gathered by semi-structured interviews with thirteen advanced cancer adult inpatients of a teaching hospital. The interviews were audio-recorded and the recordings transcribed word for word. ResultsThree themes emerged: ‘dependency discovers new meanings of life’, ‘active coping with dependency’ and ‘the care cures the dependent person’. The essential meaning of care dependency was the possibility to become aware of being a person as both an object and subject of care. ConclusionDependence appears as an experience with strong relational connotations, which enable patients to see differently their life, themselves, the world and others. Dependency is revealed as a natural experience, only partly in accordance with previous studies. Deeper insight into the meaning patients attach to care dependency can enable nurses to better meet the patient's needs, e.g. by improving caring relationships with patients.

Education and communication to increase public understanding of nuclear technology peaceful uses

Nuclear technology helps to improve the quality of our everyday life. Nevertheless, there is still great misinformation and the issue divides public opinion. Several surveys were conducted over the past years to study public acceptance of Nuclear Technology in Brazil and worldwide. GlobeScan (2005), for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Eurobarometers (2010), published by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and development (OECD), report similar socio-demographic trends: the higher the education level, the more favorable is public opinion towards nuclear power. Taking into account education and communication are crucial to increase public knowledge and understanding of the benefits of Nuclear Technology and that Internet access has increased strongly all over the country, this educational project aims to take advantage of the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to disseminate the peaceful use of nuclear technology and its benefits, informing children and teenagers, as well as parents and teachers, who are most often unaware of the matter. Whereas Internet access has increased strongly for both public and private schools all over the country, this web-based educational project, entitled Radioatividades (Radioactivities), provides short courses, curiosities and interactive activities covering topics related to Nuclear Technology and its beneficial applications in several areas, such as medicine, agriculture, industry, art and electric power generation. The project uses the combination of multiple technologies and last generation internet resources. Our target is the dissemination of information, promoting the benefits of Nuclear Technology for new generations, contributing to public acceptance of Nuclear Technology, combating misinformation in our society, omission of the media and knowledge fragmentation. Education transforms old prejudices and inspires new thoughts, stimulating development and encouraging scientific and technological research.

Residential energy expenditures and the relevance of changes in household circumstances

This paper analyses the impact that dwelling characteristics and characteristics and behaviours of household members have on per capita energy expenditures. It also analyses whether changes in household socio-economic circumstances translate in changes in energy expenditures. Socio-economic characteristics have a moderate impact, while dwelling characteristics and especially household size have much larger impacts. The largest changes in energy expenditures are due to changes in household size.The recent socio-demographic trends will make it harder to design policies to effectively reduce the carbon footprint of a country, while policies influencing cohabitation and family size may have positive indirect effects.

The Concept of Understanding a Late Age in Forensic Psychiatry

International studies of aging processes recognized by the UN and the WHO as global agenda issues, which is associated with demographic, political, socio-economic, cultural, medical and criminological problems, caused by the increasing number of late age persons all over the world. These are issues of age discrimination trend, socio-economic stratification, cruel and dismissive attitude towards the elderly, their legal and social protection insufficiensy,'epidemic of dementia',which cause their vulnerability and victimization. The phenomenon of ageism, considering age as a synonym for “dementia”, may appear in general and forensic psychiatric practice, influence the accurate diagnosis and expert assessment, and through him, the rights of the elderly persons. A reflection of the marked socio-demographic trends is the increase in psychiatry of the number of 'gerontological' psychiatric examinations of patients with late age-related definitions of sanity, capacity to contract, legal capacity to act. Clinical and expert analysis of 235 later age patients (>60 years),who underwent forensic psychiatric examination in criminal and civil cases, helped to formulate the original concept of the understanding of aging processes (involution). It postulates normalization of gradual favorable aging and age-related mental norm of life, presumption of mental health, sanity, capacity to contract and legal capacity to act of elderly persons. It describes positive and negative forms of aging. It provides characteristics of adaptive regulatory mechanisms aimed at maintaining an optimal level of homeostasis, increased life expectancy, and evolutionary development of the elderly person. It describes the possibility of their deficiency if exposed to biopsychosocial factors in involution (involutive determinants) that are classified as biological, socio-psychological, legal and victimological.

1:27 PM, Abstract No. 269 - Safety and efficacy of renal cryoablation for small renal masses: midterm follow-up

database, all patients with stage T1aN0M0 RCC (r4cm) diagnosed in 2004 to 2011 were identified. Sociodemographic trends in use of surgery vs. TA were evaluated by chi-square and logistic regression. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier from the time of diagnosis. Difference in utilization rate of TA in 2004-2007 vs. 2008-2011 was observed. Results: Of 28351 patients with T1a lesion, 2133 (7.5%) did not receive curative therapy. Of 26218 patients who received curative therapy, the majority underwent surgical resection: 24992 (95.3%) surgical resection, 671(2.6%) CRA, 553(2.1%) (po0.001). While mean overall survival was similar between the surgery (81.1 months) and TA (81.0 months) group (p1⁄40.612). Those who did not receive curative therapy had a significantly shorter mean OS (70.4 mo; po0.001) when compared to curative group as a whole. Furthermore, mean OS for TA group was also significantly prolonged compared to no curative therapy group (po0.001). Being unmarried, Z65 years of age, being insured, living in metropolitan areas, in Pacific Coast region, and residing in areas with higher median family income demonstrated higher likelihoods of receiving TA when compared to surgery (po0.001). There was a significant increase in the rate of use of TA compared to surgery in more recent years (3.2% in 2004-2007 vs. 5.3% in 2008-2011 (po0.001)). Older age, being unmarried, living in rural areas with lower median family income and lower educational status were found to be predictor of not receiving therapy. Conclusion: There was significant disparity in the management of T1a RCC lesions, in part affected by patient’s sociodemographic determinants. In addition, there was significant underutilization of less invasive thermal ablation which demonstrated similar survivorship compared to surgery and significantly prolonged survival compared to no therapy.