Journal article
Measuring and addressing health equity: an assessment of cancer center designation requirements
Cancer causes & control, v 34(Suppl 1), pp 23-33
01 Dec 2023
PMID: 36939948
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
By requiring specific measures, cancer endorsements (e.g., accreditations, designations, certifications) promote high-quality cancer care. While 'quality' is the defining feature, less is known about how these endorsements consider equity. Given the inequities in access to high-quality cancer care, we assessed the extent to which equity structures, processes, and outcomes were required for cancer center endorsements.
We performed a content analysis of medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, and research hospital endorsements from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), respectively. We analyzed requirements for equity-focused content and compared how each endorsing body included equity as a requirement along three axes: structures, processes, and outcomes.
ASCO guidelines centered on processes assessing financial, health literacy, and psychosocial barriers to care. ASTRO guidelines related to language needs and processes to address financial barriers. CoC equity-related guidelines focused on processes addressing financial and psychosocial concerns of survivors, and hospital-identified barriers to care. NCI guidelines considered equity related to cancer disparities research, inclusion of diverse groups in outreach and clinical trials, and diversification of investigators. None of the guidelines explicitly required measures of equitable care delivery or outcomes beyond clinical trial enrollment.
Overall, equity requirements were limited. Leveraging the influence and infrastructure of cancer quality endorsements could enhance progress toward achieving cancer care equity. We recommend that endorsing organizations 1) require cancer centers to implement processes for measuring and tracking health equity outcomes and 2) engage diverse community stakeholders to develop strategies for addressing discrimination.
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Details
- Title
- Measuring and addressing health equity: an assessment of cancer center designation requirements
- Creators
- Jason T Semprini - University of IowaCaitlin B Biddell - University of North Carolina at Chapel HillJan M Eberth - Drexel UniversityMary E Charlton - University of IowaSarah H Nash - University of IowaKatherine A Yeager - Emory UniversityDonoria Evans - National Partnerships and Innovations, American Cancer Society, Decatur, GA, USAPurnima Madhivanan - University of ArizonaHeather M Brandt - St. Jude Children's Research HospitalNatoshia M Askelson - University of IowaAaron T Seaman - University of IowaWhitney E Zahnd - University of Iowa
- Publication Details
- Cancer causes & control, v 34(Suppl 1), pp 23-33
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Grant note
- U48 DP006399 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS U48 DP006389 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS U48 DP006401 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS U48 DP006399; U48 DP006377; U48 DP006396; U48 DP006413; U48 DP006389; U48 DP006400; U48 DP006401; U48 DP006398 / CDC HHS U48 DP006398 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS U48 DP006400 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS 1F31DE032250-01 / NIDCR NIH HHS HHSN261201800012C / NCI NIH HHS R01CA254628 / NCI NIH HHS R01 CA254628 / NCI NIH HHS P30 CA086862 / NCI NIH HHS T32 CA116339 / NCI NIH HHS U48 DP006377 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS F31 DE032250 / NIDCR NIH HHS HHSN261201800012I / NCI NIH HHS U48 DP006413 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS T32-CA-116339 / NCI NIH HHS U48 DP006396 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000953716600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85150388451
- Other Identifier
- 991021855277604721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Oncology
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health