AI Article Synopsis
- Social and economic challenges, such as lack of affordable housing and limited access to education, are significant barriers to health, particularly for vulnerable cancer patients.
- A survey conducted at an urban safety-net hospital revealed that 77% of 104 participants experienced socio-legal concerns—issues related to basic needs influenced by public policy—in the past month.
- The most prevalent concerns were about income support, housing, and education/employment, highlighting the necessity for improved cancer care that addresses these issues.
Article Abstract
Background: Social and economic conditions that affect one's ability to satisfy life's most basic needs such as lack of affordable housing, restricted access to education and employment, or inadequate income are increasingly well-documented barriers to optimal health. The burden of these challenges among vulnerable patients accessing cancer care services is unknown.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients presenting for ambulatory cancer care services (screening and treatment) at an urban safety-net hospital to assess socio-legal concerns (social problems related to meeting life's basic needs supported by public policy or programming and potentially remedied through legal advocacy/action).
Results: Among 104 respondents, 80 (77 %) reported concerns with one or more socio-legal needs in the past month, with a mean of 5.75 concerns per participant. The most common socio-legal concerns related to income supports, housing, and employment/education.
Conclusion: Our findings support the need for innovations in cancer care delivery to address socio-legal concerns of a vulnerable patient population.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4906581 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1443-1 | DOI Listing |
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