Access to Health Care and Quality of Life for Underserved Men with Prostate Cancer

Maliski, Sally L.; Connor, Sarah E.; Oduro, Charlotte; Litwin, Mark S.

doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2011.07.005

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…In addition to age and symptoms, financial difficulties seemed to be the most important determinant related to the poor HRQOL of patients with prostate cancer (Torvinen et al, ). However, the connection between patients' socio‐economic background and quality of life is not necessarily this unambiguous (Maliski, Connor, Oduro, & Litwin, ). According to a cross‐sectional study (Green et al, ), high education is associated with better role functioning and reduced fatigue.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The health‐related quality of life of patients with prostate cancer and their spouses before treatment compared with the general population

Harju

Rantanen

Kaunonen

et al. 2017

Int J of Nursing Practice

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The health‐related quality of life of patients with prostate cancer and their spouses before treatment compared with the general population

Harju

Rantanen

Kaunonen

et al. 2017

Int J of Nursing Practice

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“…Our primary aims were to describe the heterogeneity in joint trajectories of physical, social, emotional and functional HrQoL during last year of life, and to identify patient socio-demographic characteristics that predict membership of the delineated trajectories. Studies have shown that females [ 16 ] and patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) [ 17 ] report greater impairments in their HrQoL [ 18 ]. Older patients report better overall HrQoL compared to younger patients despite suffering from comorbidities [ 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionall Reference Citations Should Be Inside a Bracketmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trajectories of Health-related quality of life in patients with Advanced Cancer during the Last Year of Life: findings from the COMPASS study

et al. 2022

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Background Patients with advanced cancer prioritise health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in end-of-life care, however an understanding of pre-death HrQoL trajectories is lacking. We aimed to delineate and describe the trajectories of physical, social, emotional and functional HrQoL during last year of life among advanced cancer patients. We assessed associations between these trajectories and patient socio-demographic characteristics, healthcare use and place of death. Methods We used data from 345 decedents from a prospective cohort study of 600 patients with a solid advanced cancer receiving secondary care at public hospitals in Singapore. Patients were surveyed every three months until death and HrQoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General (FACT-G) questionnaire. Interviews were conducted between July 2016 and December 2019. Group-based multi-trajectory modelling was used to assess potential heterogeneity in the four HrQoL dimensions during patients’ last year of life. Results We identified four distinct trajectories of HrQoL − (1) overall high HrQoL (47% of sample), (2) progressively decreasing HrQoL (32%), (3) asymmetric decline in HrQoL (13%), (4) overall low HrQoL (8%). Compared to patients with secondary or above education, those with primary education or less (β = 1.39, SE = 0.55, p-value = 0.012) were more likely to have “progressively decreasing HrQoL” or “overall low HrQoL” in contrast to “overall high HrQoL”. Compared to patients with ‘overall high HrQoL’, those with ‘overall low HrQoL’ had longer length of hospital stay during the last year of life (β = 0.47, SE = 0.21, p-value = 0.026) and were more likely to die in a hospice/care home (β = 1.86, SE = 0.66, p-value = 0.005). Conclusion Our results showed heterogeneity in deterioration of HrQoL among patients with advanced cancer in the last year of life. Systematic monitoring of HrQoL, early identification and referral of high-risk patients to palliative care may provide timely relief and mitigate the steep decline in their HrQoL. Trial Registration : NCT02850640.

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“…22,23 This pattern reduces further among men who are less educated, unemployed, or from underprivileged backgrounds, whereby lack of health facilities, poor services, distance to facilities, and lack of insurance are some of the well-established barriers. [23][24][25][26][27] Therefore, structural barriers comprise the biggest accessibility challenges especially in low-and middle-income countries or for people from underprivileged backgrounds. However, most high-income countries provide free or subsidized healthcare, routine screening offers, and accessible facilities, practically removing the barriers related to structural inefficiencies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Men consult physicians or use healthcare services considerably less often than women 22,23 . This pattern reduces further among men who are less educated, unemployed, or from underprivileged backgrounds, whereby lack of health facilities, poor services, distance to facilities, and lack of insurance are some of the well‐established barriers 23–27 . Therefore, structural barriers comprise the biggest accessibility challenges especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries or for people from underprivileged backgrounds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to access cancer‐related services for men in high‐income countries: A narrative review looking beyond socioeconomic disadvantages

et al. 2022

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Introduction Cancer screening programs are routinely available in high‐income countries, but participation rates are low, especially among men. This narrative review aims to identify male‐specific access barriers to cancer‐related healthcare in high‐income countries that offer statutory insurance/subsidized health care. Methods We searched PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science for peer‐reviewed journal articles published within the past 10 years on cancer healthcare access, help‐seeking behavior, and men. Step‐wise screening of title, abstract, and full text resulted in 23 studies that fit the selection criteria for findings in high‐income countries. The results were analyzed descriptively using qualitative thematic synthesis. Results In the reviewed studies, barriers for men in accessing cancer‐related healthcare offers could be broadly categorized under sociocultural norms, personal behaviors, and structural problems. The most common barriers were related to sociocultural influences and included notions of masculinity, distrust in the medical system, and personnel/social commitments. Major personal barriers included fear of getting cancer or screening methods, lack of awareness about cancer, and problems in communication with healthcare professionals. Accessibility and lack of insurance were reported as common structural barriers. Conclusions The reluctance of men in approaching medical help was rooted in sociocultural norms of traditional masculinity with direct and indirect consequences such as fear, lack of awareness, distrust of medical personnel, and problems in communicating with healthcare professionals. Gender‐specific, male‐oriented information via digital, anonymous interventions may be helpful for increasing participation of men in cancer care.

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Access to Health Care and Quality of Life for Underserved Men with Prostate Cancer

Cited by 7 publications

References 46 publications

The health‐related quality of life of patients with prostate cancer and their spouses before treatment compared with the general population

The health‐related quality of life of patients with prostate cancer and their spouses before treatment compared with the general population

Trajectories of Health-related quality of life in patients with Advanced Cancer during the Last Year of Life: findings from the COMPASS study

Barriers to access cancer‐related services for men in high‐income countries: A narrative review looking beyond socioeconomic disadvantages

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