Social and geographic disparities in access to reference care site for patients with colorectal cancer in France.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social and geographic characteristics and the type of care centre for initial colorectal surgery in France. Patients living far from a reference cancer site were less frequently treated in a reference cancer site than those who were living near a reference cancer site OR(a)=(0.50 (0.33-0.76)). As for topography and emergency presentation, place of residence (urban/rural), occupation and marital status were not associated with the type of the care centre. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment and of clinical practice guidelines are therefore crucial to ensure equality in health care in France.