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Introduction: Robotic surgery has become an increasingly utilized approach for resectable lung cancer. However, availability may be limited for certain patient populations, underscoring inequity in access to innovative surgical techniques. We hypothesize that there is an association between social determinants of health and robotic surgery utilization for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database (2010-2019) for patients with clinical stage I-III NSCLC who underwent resection, stratifying the cohort based on surgical technique. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associations between sociodemographic and clinicopathologic factors and the robotic approach., Results: Among the 226,455 clinical stage I-III NSCLC patients identified, 34,059 (15%) received robotic resections, 78,039 (34.5%) underwent thoracoscopic resections, and 114,357 (50.5%) had open resections. Robotic surgery utilization increased from 3.1% in 2010 to 34% in 2019 (P < 0.001). Despite this, after adjusting by clinical stage, extent of resection, site of tumor, and receipt of neoadjuvant therapy, multivariable analysis revealed various sociodemographic and treatment facility factors that were associated with underutilization of this approach: lack of insurance (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-0.93), lower income brackets (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91-0.96), provincial settings (urban aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.76-0.82; rural aOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.51-0.64), and treatment at community centers (comprehensive community cancer programs aOR 0.73, 95% CI 0.70-0.75; community cancer programs aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.47-0.55)., Conclusions: This study suggests that disparities in determinants of health influence accessibility to robotic surgery for resectable NSCLC. Identification of these gaps is crucial to target vulnerable sectors of the population in promoting equality and uniformity in surgical treatment., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Central America and the Caribbean is a highly heterogeneous region comprising more than 30 countries and territories with more than 200 million inhabitants. Although recent advances in the region have improved access to cancer care, there are still many disparities and barriers for obtaining high-quality cancer treatments, particularly for those from disadvantaged populations, immigrants, and rural areas. In this article, we provide an overview of cancer care in Central America and the Caribbean, with selected examples of issues related to disparities in access to care and suggest solutions and strategies to move forward., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Identification of barriers to adequate health care for sexual minority populations remains elusive given that they are complex and variable across sexual orientation subgroups (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual). To address these complexities, we used data from a US nationally representative sample of health-care consumers to assess sexual identity differences in health-care access and satisfaction. We conducted a secondary data analysis of 12 waves (2012-2018) of the biannual Consumer Survey of Health Care Access (n = 30,548) to assess sexual identity differences in 6 health-care access and 3 health-care satisfaction indicators. Despite parity in health insurance coverage, sexual minorities-with some variation across sexual minority subgroups and sex-reported more chronic health conditions alongside restricted health-care access and unmet health-care needs. Gay/lesbian women had the lowest prevalence of health-care utilization and higher prevalence rates of delaying needed health care and medical tests relative to heterosexual women. Gay/lesbian women and bisexual men were less likely than their heterosexual counterparts to be able to pay for needed health-care services. Sexual minorities also reported less satisfactory experiences with medical providers. Examining barriers to health care among sexual minorities is critical to eliminating health disparities that disproportionately burden this population., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: The primary curative treatment for thymic malignancies is surgery. For lung and esophageal cancer, substantive disparities in outcomes by race exist. Many of these disparities are attributed to the decreased use of surgery in non-White patients. Although thymic malignancies are treated by the same specialists as lung and esophageal cancer, it is unknown if there are racial disparities in the treatment of thymic malignancies., Research Question: Do racial disparities exist in the surgical treatment of thymic malignancies?, Study Design and Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using the National Cancer Data Base of patients diagnosed with thymoma and thymic carcinoma between 2004 and 2016. Univariate comparisons of demographics were compared using χ 2 and rank-sum tests. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine if race was an independent variable associated with receiving surgical resection. Preoperative and postoperative care was compared between races., Results: Seven thousand four hundred eighty-nine patients met inclusion criteria. Four thousand nine hundred sixty-two (66%) were White, 1,311 (18%) were Black, 487 (7%) were Hispanic, 580 (8%) were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 143 (2%) were other races. Black patients with thymic malignancies were more likely to have a median income < $38,000 and not received surgery. Black and Hispanic patients had the lowest median age (54.3 and 53.6 years, respectively) and were most likely to be uninsured (8.2% and 12.5%, respectively). White patients received surgical therapy 1 week sooner and had a postoperative length of stay 1.5 days shorter than Black patients. Multivariable analysis controlling for age, sex, tumor size, insurance status, comorbidity score, histology, and facility type showed that race remained independently associated with the receipt of surgical resection. White patients had the greatest likelihood of receiving surgery with Black patients being least likely to receive surgery (OR, 0.60)., Interpretation: A racial disparity exists in surgical therapy for thymic malignancies., (Copyright © 2020 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors associated with disparities in overall survival (OS) by race in pediatric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients., Methods: We evaluated clinical features and survival among patients ≤21 years of age diagnosed with stage I-IV DLBCL from 2004 to 2014 from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model., Results: Among 1386 pediatric patients with DLBCL, 1023 patients met eligibility criteria. In unadjusted analysis, Black patients had a significantly higher overall death rate than White patients (HR Black vs. White 1.51; 95% CI: 1.02-2.23, p = 0.041). The survival disparity did not remain significant in adjusted analysis, though controlling for covariates had little effect on the magnitude of the disparity (HR 1.46; 95% CI 0.93-2.31, p = 0.103). In adjusted models, presence of B symptoms, receipt of chemotherapy, stage of disease, and Other insurance were significantly associated with OS. Specifically, patients with B symptoms and those with Other insurance were more likely to die than those without B symptoms or private insurance, respectively (HR 1.75; 95% CI 1.22-2.50, p = 0.002) and (HR 2.56; 95% CI, 1.39-4.73, p = 0.0027), patients who did not receive chemotherapy were three times more likely to die than those who received chemotherapy (HR 3.10; CI 1.80-5.35, p < 0.001), and patients who presented with earlier stage disease were less likely to die from their disease than those with stage IV disease (stages I-III HR 0.34, CI 0.18-0.64, p < 0.001; HR 0.50, CI 0.30-0.82, p = 0.006, HR 0.72, CI 0.43-1.13, p = 0.152, respectively)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that racial disparities in survival may be mediated by clinical and treatment parameters., (© 2021 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Low-dose CT scan reduces lung cancer mortality in high-risk patients fit to undergo surgical resection. Racial disparities in resection of lung cancer in nonscreening populations are well described. We describe surgical resection patterns of patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) and examine whether racial disparities exist among blacks., Methods: We identified all NLST participants with clinical stage I NSCLC. Covariates included demographics, smoking history, comorbidities, tumor characteristics, and timing of cancer detection. Using logistic regression, we assessed resection rates of blacks vs whites., Results: Among 752 patients with clinical stage I disease, 692 patients (92%) underwent resection. Unadjusted surgical resection rates for white men, white women, black men, and black women were 92%, 91%, 61%, and 90%, respectively. In adjusted analyses, compared with white men, black men had a 28% lower risk (relative risk, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.50-0.99) of undergoing surgery; however, white women and black women underwent surgery at comparable rates as white men. The odds of undergoing limited resection instead of full resection were 70% greater in white women than white men (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.08-2.65)., Conclusions: Our study shows that disparities in the surgical treatment of lung cancer persist, even among NLST participants who were considered fit to undergo thoracic surgery. As lung cancer screening disseminates into clinical practice, efforts targeting black men should be prioritized., (Copyright © 2018 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Relatively little is known about experiences of barriers in access to overall care for people with mental health conditions (MHCs), or disparities between people with and without MHCs, or how patterns vary across countries., Data and Method: The 2016 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of adults was used to compare access barriers for people with MHCs across 11 countries, and disparities within countries between people with and without an MHC, using normalized scores. Disparities were also assessed by using multivariable models adjusting for age, sex, immigrant status, income, and self-rated health., Result: On average, people with MHCs had a higher prevalence of barriers, with a gap of 7 percentage points between people with and without MHCs. The gap ranged from 5 to 9% across countries. For people with an MHC, the most common access barriers were skipping care due to cost (26%) and receiving conflicting information from providers (26%). For all countries, having an MHC was associated with higher odds of experiencing barriers of access to care on several measures, with at least 1 case where the adjusted odds were greater than 2., Conclusion: There is an imperative to improve monitoring of access to overall health care for people with MHCs and an opportunity learn from countries with fewer barriers and disparities in access to care., (Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Introduction: End-of-life and palliative care are important aspects of trauma care and are not well defined. This analysis evaluates the racial and socioeconomic disparities in terms of utilization of hospice services for critically ill trauma patients., Methods: Trauma patients ≥15 years old from 2012 to 2015 were queried from the National Trauma Databank. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analyses for disposition to hospice were performed after controlling for age, gender, comorbidities, injury severity, insurance, race, and ethnicity. Negative binomial regression analysis with margins for length of stay (LOS) was calculated for all patients discharged to hospice., Results: Chi-square analysis of 2 966 444 patient's transition to hospice found patients with cardiac disease, bleeding and psychiatric disorders, chemotherapy, cancer, diabetes, cirrhosis, respiratory disease, renal failure, cirrhosis, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) affected transfer ( P < .0001). Logistic regression analysis after controlling for covariates showed uninsured patients were discharged to hospice significantly less than insured patients (odds ratio [OR]: 0.71; P < .0001). Asian, African American, and Hispanic patients all received less hospice care than Caucasian patients (OR: 0.65, 0.60, 0.73; P < .0001). Negative binomial regression analysis with margins for LOS showed Medicare patients were transferred to hospice 1.2 days sooner than insured patients while uninsured patients remained in the hospital 1.6 days longer ( P < .001). When compare to Caucasians, African Americans patients stayed 3.7 days longer in the hospital and Hispanics 2.4 days longer prior to transfer to hospice ( P < .0001). In all patients with polytrauma, African Americans stayed 4.9 days longer and Hispanics 2.3 days longer as compared to Caucasians ( P < .0001)., Conclusions: Race and ethnicity are independent predictors of a trauma patient's transition to hospice care and significantly affect LOS. Our data demonstrate prominent racial and socioeconomic disparities exist, with uninsured and minority patients being less likely to receive hospice services and having a delay in transition to hospice care when compared to their insured Caucasian counterparts.

Context: Racial and ethnic differences in end-of-life care may be attributable to both patient preferences and health-care disparities. Identifying factors that differentiate preferences from disparities may enhance end-of-life care for critically ill patients and their families., Objectives: To understand the association of minority race/ethnicity and education with family ratings of the quality of dying and death, taking into consideration possible markers of patient and family preferences for end-of-life care as mediators of this association., Methods: Data were obtained from 15 intensive care units participating in a cluster-randomized trial of a palliative care intervention. Family members of decedents completed self-report surveys evaluating quality of dying. We used regression analyses to identify associations between race/ethnicity, education, and quality of dying ratings. We then used path analyses to investigate whether advance directives and life-sustaining treatment acted as mediators between patient characteristics and ratings of quality of dying., Results: Family members returned 1290 surveys for 2850 decedents. Patient and family minority race/ethnicity were both associated with lower ratings of quality of dying. Presence of a living will and dying in the setting of full support mediated the relationship between patient race and family ratings; patient race exerted an indirect, rather than direct, effect on quality of dying. Family minority race had a direct effect on lower ratings of quality of dying. Neither patient nor family education was associated with quality of dying., Conclusion: Minority race/ethnicity was associated with lower family ratings of quality of dying. This association was mediated by factors that may be markers of patient and family preferences (living will, death in the setting of full support); family member minority race/ethnicity was directly associated with lower ratings of quality of dying. Our findings generate hypothesized pathways that require future evaluation., (Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The elderly population in the United States (age 65 and older) is growing rapidly, estimated by the U.S. Census Department to reach 83.7 million by 2050.(1) Visual impairment increases with age among all racial and ethnic groups.(2) In the elderly, the most common culprits for vision loss are cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).(2) In the developed world, vision loss from cataract has been dramatically reduced by increased access to cataract surgery. However, AMD and glaucoma lead to irreversible vision loss without early diagnosis and intervention. In the U.S., cases of AMD are expected to double by 2050, reaching 17.8 million among patients age 50 or older.(3) Similarly, cases of glaucoma are expected to reach 5.5 million by 2050, an increase of over 90% from 2014.(3) The visually impaired elderly face disparities in access to eye care, and subsequent general medical and psychosocial complications., Competing Interests: none

Objective: To examine whether there are individual level factors such as socio-economic status that may predict disparities in the public's experiences with and expectations of their health-care providers., Data Sources/study Setting: Primary data were collected in 2010. The sample comprised of 1211 Israeli citizens above the age of 18., Study Design: Participants were randomly approached at one points in time and presented with statements regarding practices they experience and practices that are important to them related to primary care, preventive care and health promotion. We calculated a difference scores for each health-care area. We measured socio-economic status (SES) with three separate variables relating to income, education and living location., Data Collection/extraction Methods: Employees of a professional telephone survey firm conducted the survey. Multiple regression was used with the responsiveness gap in each of three health-care areas as the dependent variables., Principal Findings: We found that level of education is negatively related to the extent of the responsiveness gap in both primary and preventive health care and that income is negatively related to the responsiveness gap in health promotion., Conclusions: Personal characteristics such as SES are related to people's perceptions about the extent of the responsiveness gap. Policy makers can now expend efforts and resources in minimizing such responsiveness gaps among specific populations., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Ethnic/racial and socioeconomic status disparities in the health-care and clinical outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are pervasive. The vast majority of care to decrease incidence of CKD risk and progression occurs in primary care settings. High-quality primary care, therefore, represents a key strategy through which disparities in the incidence and progression of CKD may be eliminated. The Chronic Care Model provides a framework for the delivery of high-quality primary care for chronic diseases, and it is frequently used to guide health-care quality improvement initiatives. Evidence suggests that Chronic Care Model constructs, including provider and organizational quality improvement initiatives focused on team approaches to chronic care (eg, case management, community health workers), are effective in modifying patients' CKD risks among ethnic minority and low-income patients. Other Chronic Care Model constructs, including clinical information systems (eg, disease registries), decision support interventions, and the provision of patient-centered care have been shown to improve processes related to CKD care but with limited and/or mixed effects on patient outcomes. Few studies have examined the effect of these approaches on reducing disparities. Research is needed to examine the effectiveness of these strategies to eliminate CKD disparities among vulnerable populations., (Copyright © 2015 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare the quality of hospital care for New Zealand (NZ) Māori and NZ European adult patients, using the rate of unplanned readmission or death within 30 days of discharge as an indicator of quality., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting: NZ public hospitals., Participants: Data from 89 658 patients who were admitted for one of a defined set of surgical procedures at NZ public hospitals 2002-8 were obtained from the NZ Ministry of Health. Outcome The odds of readmission for NZ Māori when compared with NZ European patients were calculated using logistic regression, incorporating variables for age, sex, comorbidity, index procedure, hospital volume and socioeconomic position., Results: NZ Māori had 16% higher odds of readmission or death when compared with NZ European patients (OR = 1.16; 95% CI 1.08-1.24) after adjusting for all covariates. Readmission or death was also associated with being female (OR = 1.09; 1.03-1.15), older age (OR = 1.33; 1.19-1.48, for >79 years compared with 18-39 years), higher comorbidity (OR = 2.08; 1.89-2.31, for Charlson score 3+ compared with 0) and higher hospital volume (OR = 0.81; 0.76-0.86, for lowest volume compared with highest)., Conclusions: This study suggests ethnic disparities in the quality of hospital care in NZ using unplanned readmission rate as an indicator of quality. There are well-documented differences in health outcomes between Māori and NZ Europeans, and it is possible that differential treatment within the health system contributes to these health status inequalities.