Avoidance of medical care among American Indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemic
ObjectivesAssess the percentage of cancer-related appointment delays, cancelations, and the unavailability of medications experienced by American Indian participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey study was completed between October 2020 and July 2021 by 360 individu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1265071/full |
| _version_ | 1797632817939611648 |
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| author | Sixia Chen Shirley A. James Spencer Hall Julie H. Dang Janis E. Campbell Moon S. Chen Mark P. Doescher |
| author_facet | Sixia Chen Shirley A. James Spencer Hall Julie H. Dang Janis E. Campbell Moon S. Chen Mark P. Doescher |
| author_sort | Sixia Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesAssess the percentage of cancer-related appointment delays, cancelations, and the unavailability of medications experienced by American Indian participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey study was completed between October 2020 and July 2021 by 360 individuals with cancer who lived in California and Oklahoma. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis was completed in SAS 9.4.ResultsDuring the initial Covid-19 pandemic, almost one-third (30%) of respondents delayed cancer-related appointments, 42% canceled cancer-related appointments, and one-quarter (24%) were unable to access prescription medications or over-the-counter medications (27%) due to COVID-19. People who underwent testing for COVID-19 were five times more likely to delay a medical appointment [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.3, 95% CI:2.4, 11.7] and people who followed three or more social distancing measures were more than six times more likely to cancel medical appointments (aOR:6.3, 95% CI:2.9, 13.9).ConclusionThis study identifies delays, cancelations, and medication inaccessibility people identifying as American Indian faced during the coronavirus pandemic. Disparities in healthcare delivery could contribute to increased morbidity and mortality rates of cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:43:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17c58871f26a49fa9827b91cb266f4dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:43:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-17c58871f26a49fa9827b91cb266f4dd2023-11-09T18:08:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-11-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.12650711265071Avoidance of medical care among American Indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemicSixia Chen0Shirley A. James1Spencer Hall2Julie H. Dang3Janis E. Campbell4Moon S. Chen5Mark P. Doescher6Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United StatesDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United StatesDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United StatesUC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United StatesDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United StatesUC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United StatesStephenson Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, United StatesObjectivesAssess the percentage of cancer-related appointment delays, cancelations, and the unavailability of medications experienced by American Indian participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey study was completed between October 2020 and July 2021 by 360 individuals with cancer who lived in California and Oklahoma. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis was completed in SAS 9.4.ResultsDuring the initial Covid-19 pandemic, almost one-third (30%) of respondents delayed cancer-related appointments, 42% canceled cancer-related appointments, and one-quarter (24%) were unable to access prescription medications or over-the-counter medications (27%) due to COVID-19. People who underwent testing for COVID-19 were five times more likely to delay a medical appointment [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.3, 95% CI:2.4, 11.7] and people who followed three or more social distancing measures were more than six times more likely to cancel medical appointments (aOR:6.3, 95% CI:2.9, 13.9).ConclusionThis study identifies delays, cancelations, and medication inaccessibility people identifying as American Indian faced during the coronavirus pandemic. Disparities in healthcare delivery could contribute to increased morbidity and mortality rates of cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1265071/fullCOVID-19coronavirusAmerican Indianmedical delaysappointment cancelationscancer |
| spellingShingle | Sixia Chen Shirley A. James Spencer Hall Julie H. Dang Janis E. Campbell Moon S. Chen Mark P. Doescher Avoidance of medical care among American Indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemic Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 coronavirus American Indian medical delays appointment cancelations cancer |
| title | Avoidance of medical care among American Indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemic |
| title_full | Avoidance of medical care among American Indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Avoidance of medical care among American Indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Avoidance of medical care among American Indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemic |
| title_short | Avoidance of medical care among American Indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemic |
| title_sort | avoidance of medical care among american indians with a history of cancer during the coronavirus pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 coronavirus American Indian medical delays appointment cancelations cancer |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1265071/full |
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