Effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare system
Abstract Objectives As one of the world's only fully publicly administered, universal healthcare systems, Canada intends to provide equitable access to services for all patients. Socioeconomic status (SES) can affect treatment wait times with implications on health outcomes; however, this has n...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.930 |
| _version_ | 1811290366744199168 |
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| author | Katie deChamplain Saud Sunba Shari Beveridge Meri Andreassen Doug Bosch Derrick R. Randall |
| author_facet | Katie deChamplain Saud Sunba Shari Beveridge Meri Andreassen Doug Bosch Derrick R. Randall |
| author_sort | Katie deChamplain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives As one of the world's only fully publicly administered, universal healthcare systems, Canada intends to provide equitable access to services for all patients. Socioeconomic status (SES) can affect treatment wait times with implications on health outcomes; however, this has not been evaluated in the setting of laryngeal disease, which incorporates urgent and elective conditions, in a universal healthcare system. This study aims to identify whether SES‐affected treatment wait times for laryngeal therapies in this system. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on a cohort of patients with laryngeal disease at an academic, tertiary center who underwent laryngeal surgery over a three‐year period. Data retrieved through medical records; surgical and voice therapy wait times were normalized to each practitioner's average wait time for respective diagnostic categories. Income was used to assess SES and was derived from Statistics Canada census information based on patient postal codes. Results Data analysis identified 578 patients (59% male). Mean wait time to surgery for all conditions was 123.5 (95% confidence interval 113.1–133.9) days. Analysis of variance analysis found no difference in wait times between different SES groups (p = .28), regardless of laryngeal disease category. Patients with cancer or airway obstruction had shorter wait times compared with benign conditions (p < .0001). Conclusions SES did not affect treatment wait times for laryngeal therapies in a universal healthcare system. Wait times were shorter for oncologic and obstructive conditions compared with benign conditions, reflecting an ability to accommodate clinical needs without impacting care access at the detriment of different SES statuses. Level of Evidence 4 |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:11:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4e62782acef4df4a478826c0b21e4b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2378-8038 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T04:11:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4e62782acef4df4a478826c0b21e4b82022-12-22T03:03:06ZengWileyLaryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology2378-80382022-12-01761930193510.1002/lio2.930Effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare systemKatie deChamplain0Saud Sunba1Shari Beveridge2Meri Andreassen3Doug Bosch4Derrick R. Randall5Section of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaCumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaCalgary Voice Program Alberta Health Services Calgary Alberta CanadaCalgary Voice Program Alberta Health Services Calgary Alberta CanadaSection of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaSection of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaAbstract Objectives As one of the world's only fully publicly administered, universal healthcare systems, Canada intends to provide equitable access to services for all patients. Socioeconomic status (SES) can affect treatment wait times with implications on health outcomes; however, this has not been evaluated in the setting of laryngeal disease, which incorporates urgent and elective conditions, in a universal healthcare system. This study aims to identify whether SES‐affected treatment wait times for laryngeal therapies in this system. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on a cohort of patients with laryngeal disease at an academic, tertiary center who underwent laryngeal surgery over a three‐year period. Data retrieved through medical records; surgical and voice therapy wait times were normalized to each practitioner's average wait time for respective diagnostic categories. Income was used to assess SES and was derived from Statistics Canada census information based on patient postal codes. Results Data analysis identified 578 patients (59% male). Mean wait time to surgery for all conditions was 123.5 (95% confidence interval 113.1–133.9) days. Analysis of variance analysis found no difference in wait times between different SES groups (p = .28), regardless of laryngeal disease category. Patients with cancer or airway obstruction had shorter wait times compared with benign conditions (p < .0001). Conclusions SES did not affect treatment wait times for laryngeal therapies in a universal healthcare system. Wait times were shorter for oncologic and obstructive conditions compared with benign conditions, reflecting an ability to accommodate clinical needs without impacting care access at the detriment of different SES statuses. Level of Evidence 4https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.930laryngologysocioeconomic statuswait times |
| spellingShingle | Katie deChamplain Saud Sunba Shari Beveridge Meri Andreassen Doug Bosch Derrick R. Randall Effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare system Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology laryngology socioeconomic status wait times |
| title | Effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare system |
| title_full | Effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare system |
| title_fullStr | Effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare system |
| title_short | Effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare system |
| title_sort | effect of socioeconomic status on wait times for patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal conditions in a universal healthcare system |
| topic | laryngology socioeconomic status wait times |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.930 |
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