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PERSPECTIVE article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Life-Course Epidemiology and Social Inequalities in Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1381075
This article is part of the Research Topic Reviews in Social Determinants in Epidemiology and Disease Prevention View all 4 articles

Equity in Oncology Care: Addressing Disparities in Cancer Treatment Access in Georgia

Provisionally accepted
Amany R. Keruakous Amany R. Keruakous 1,2*Inemesit Akpan Inemesit Akpan 3Michael Chahin Michael Chahin 1,2Aghapy Kirolos Aghapy Kirolos 4Mai Keruakous Mai Keruakous 5
  • 1 Augusta University, Augusta, United States
  • 2 Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States
  • 3 Piedmont Athens Regional, Athens, Georgia, United States
  • 4 Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
  • 5 Mercer County Community College, Trenton, New Jersey, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This research delves into the disparities in access to oncology care among cancer patients in Georgia, with a specific focus on the distinct challenges faced by African American (AA) individuals compared to non-African American (Non-AA) counterparts. Leveraging data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey and supplementary online resources, the study meticulously examines socioeconomic factors, including income, education, and insurance coverage, which significantly influence the quality of cancer care received. The analysis reveals substantial income gaps between AA and Non-AA patients, underscoring the critical implications for healthcare access. Moreover, AA patients exhibit lower rates of full insurance coverage for cancer-related treatments, posing additional barriers to comprehensive care. By investigating the intersections of race, income, and education, the research aims to pinpoint the root causes of these disparities and proposes evidence-based solutions to address the identified challenges. The ultimate objective is to contribute valuable insights that inform targeted policy recommendations and community-based interventions, fostering a more equitable landscape for oncology care in Georgia. This study seeks to amplify awareness and advocate for tangible measures, striving towards healthcare equity for all cancer patients, irrespective of their racial or socioeconomic backgrounds.

    Keywords: Racial & ethnic differences, cancer care access, Equity, Policy recommendation, community intervention

    Received: 02 Feb 2024; Accepted: 04 Apr 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Keruakous, Akpan, Chahin, Kirolos and Keruakous. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Amany R. Keruakous, Augusta University, Augusta, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.