Sociodemographic Factors and Use of Pediatric Oncology Satellite Clinics
Author Information
Author(s): Maria Chiu, Ali Abbas, Felicia Leung, Chaoran Dong, Petros Pechlivanoglou, David Hodgson, Paul Gibson
Primary Institution: Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario
Hypothesis
Does satellite clinic utilization for pediatric cancer care differ by sociodemographic factors?
Conclusion
Satellite clinics were found to be underutilized by patients living in rural and lower-income areas, despite being designed to reduce transportation and financial burdens.
Supporting Evidence
- Rural patients had lower odds of visiting a satellite clinic compared to urban patients.
- Patients living in lower-income areas disproportionately underutilized satellite clinics.
- Driving time saved was the factor most associated with satellite use.
Takeaway
The study found that kids with cancer who live far away or in low-income areas are less likely to visit nearby clinics for treatment, even though those clinics are meant to help them.
Methodology
This is a retrospective population-based cohort study using linked cancer registry, geographic, and satellite clinic databases.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the exclusion of certain patient groups and lack of data on reasons for non-attendance.
Limitations
The study lacked data on other relevant sociodemographic characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, and family-level income.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 0 to 17 years with cancer living in a satellite catchment area in Ontario, Canada.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 0.31-0.74
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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