Search

ImportanceAlthough access to pediatric cancer care has implications for use of such care and patient outcomes, little is known about the geographic accessibility of pediatric cancer care and how it may vary by population characteristics across the continental US.ObjectiveTo estimate the travel time to pediatric cancer care settings in the continental US, identify potential disparities among subgroups of children and adolescents and young adults (AYAs), and identify areas needing improved access to pediatric cancer care.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study collected data from August 1 to December 1, 2021. Pediatric oncologists’ service locations in 2021 served as the pediatric cancer care settings, data for which were scraped from 2 websites containing information about health professionals. Demographic characteristics for younger children and AYAs aged 0 to 21 years were obtained from the 2015 to 2019 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Data were analyzed from January 1 to April 31, 2022.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was the travel time from geographic centroids of zip code tabulation areas to the nearest pediatric oncologist. The median (IQR) travel times for each demographic subgroup were estimated. Per capita pediatric oncologist supply was calculated by dividing the total number of pediatric oncologists for each state or US Census division by its population.ResultsOf the 90 498 890 children and AYAs included in the study, 63.6% were estimated to travel less than 30 minutes and 19.7% to travel between 30 and 60 minutes (for a total of 83.3%) to the nearest pediatric oncologist. Median (IQR) travel times were longest for the American Indian or Alaska Native pediatric population (46 [16-104] minutes) and residents of rural areas (95 [68-135] minutes), areas with high deprivation levels (36 [13-72] minutes), and the South (24 [13-47] minutes) and Midwest (22 [11-51] minutes) compared with the general population of children and AYAs. The pediatric oncologist supply was lowest in Wyoming (0 oncologists per 100 000 pediatric population) and highest in Washington, DC (53.3 oncologists per 100 000 pediatric population). Pediatric oncologist supply across Census divisions was lowest in the Mountain division (3.3 oncologists per 100 000 pediatric population) and highest in the New England division (8.1 oncologists per 100 000 pediatric population).Conclusions and RelevanceResults of this study showed that most children and AYAs in the continental US had adequate access to pediatric cancer care, although disparities existed among racial and ethnic groups and residents in rural areas, areas with high deprivation levels, and some Southern and Midwestern states. Reducing these disparities may require innovative approaches, such as expanding the capabilities of local facilities and creating partnerships with adult oncology centers and primary care physicians.

Children and adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer often experience severe respiratory morbidity and mortality from the therapies used to treat their cancers. Few studies have examined respiratory outcomes among this population using emergency department (ED) visits as an objective measure of respiratory health.ED visits for respiratory conditions were identified for children and AYAs diagnosed with cancer, 0-25 years of age, from 1997 through 2012 (2535 cases) and compared with a birthdate-matched and sex-matched cohort without cancer drawn from the general population (7605 controls). Negative binomial regression with robust standard errors was used to estimate incidence rates, rate ratios (RRs), and 95% confidence intervals for primary respiratory ED visits, combined and by diagnosis (asthma, respiratory disease, and respiratory infection) from 1997 through 2015. Analyses were performed for new cases (0 to5 years from diagnosis) and survivors (5-18 years from diagnosis).Subjects were followed for an average of 8 years (range, 0-18 years). Relative to the comparison cohort, cancer cases had higher incidence rates for all types of respiratory ED visits over both follow-up times. New cases had significantly higher RRs for any respiratory condition (RR, 4.14), respiratory disease (RR, 4.62), and respiratory infection (RR, 4.74). Among survivors, the RRs for any respiratory condition (RR, 2.00) and respiratory infection (RR, 2.10) were significantly elevated, although the magnitude tended to decline in survivorship. Demographic and clinical risk factors found to be associated with respiratory ED visits included Hispanic/other race/ethnicity, male sex, exposure to chemotherapy, diagnosis at a younger age, and a diagnosis of leukemia.The results of the current study demonstrated that children and AYAs with cancer face an increased burden of respiratory complications compared with a comparison cohort without cancer from diagnosis through survivorship.

QUESTION ASKED: We sought to determine the likelihood that pediatric and adolescent acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients experience a gap in health insurance coverage in the first 2 years of therapy. SUMMARY ANSWER: We found that 12% of patients with ALL in our sample who had insurance at diagnosis experienced a gap in insurance coverage during the first 2 years of therapy; that is, they had one or more clinic encounter at which they did not have insurance. Patients with public insurance at diagnosis were more likely to experience an insurance gap than those with private insurance at diagnosis, and those diagnosed in more recent years were less likely to experience a gap. METHODS/APPROACH: We determined insurance status at all clinic encounters at a tertiary children’s hospital within 2 years of diagnosis for patients diagnosed with ALL between 1998 and 2010, and calculated the odds of a gap occurring on the basis of demographic and diagnostic variables. BIAS, CONFOUNDING FACTOR(S), DRAWBACKS: Our assessment is from years before the roll-out of key Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provisions, which should improve insurance coverage for pediatric and adolescent patients with ALL. In addition, we lacked information on patient or caregiver socioeconomic status, which may be important for explaining insurance gaps. Finally, our assessment is based on a single institution. REAL-LIFE IMPLICATIONS: Gaps in health insurance may exacerbate the financial and emotional burden associated with pediatric and adolescent cancer. Understanding the likelihood that these gaps will occur, as well as predictors of insurance gaps, will allow social workers and other providers to help families manage anticipated changes in insurance, with the goal of reducing unnecessary burden. [Figure: see text]

Childhood cancers typically require rigorous treatment at specialized centers in urban areas, which can create substantial challenges for families residing in remote communities. We evaluated the impact of residence and travel time on the burden of care for families of childhood cancer patients.We conducted a cross-sectional, self-administered survey of 354 caregivers of pediatric cancer patients at a children's hospital serving a seven state area. Measures included the impact of cancer treatment on relocation, employment, schooling, and finances. We evaluated these domains by rural/urban residence and travel time (1 hour and2 hours) to the hospital in multivariable regression models.Of the 29% of caregivers who reported moving residences as their child was diagnosed, 33% reported that the move was due to their child's cancer. Rural and remote (e.g.,1 hour travel time) caregivers missed more days of work during the first month after diagnosis than did urban and local caregivers, however, these differences did not persist over the first 6 months of therapy. One-third of caregivers reported quitting or changing jobs as a direct result of their child being diagnosed with cancer. Rural respondents had greater out-of-pocket travel expenses and reported a significantly greater perceived financial burden. Rural patients missed more school days and were at an increased risk of having to repeat a grade.Childhood cancer has an appreciable impact on the lives of patients and caregivers. The burden is greater for those living far from a treatment center.