Demographics, insurance coverage, and utilization of medical services in newly diagnosed prostate cancer: data from caPSURE.
This study was conducted to identify factors that might influence access to medical services by patients with prostate cancer. The sample comprised 1882 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy and received at least six months of posttreatment follow-up. The investigators found that the type of insurance coverage significantly influenced the number of visits to general practitioners, mental health professionals, and oncologists. However, visits to urologists, nurse practitioners, or alternative-therapy providers were not influenced by type of insurance coverage. Moreover, race, risk profile, and education were significantly correlated with utilization of health services by these patients. The influence of demographic features and insurance coverage on health care utilization by patients with prostate cancer should be further explored.
Sadetsky
Natalia
N
Department of Urology, Program in Urologic Oncology, Urologic Outcomes Research Group, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, USA. natalia@uorg.ucsf.edu
Lubeck
Deborah P
DP
Latini
David M
DM
Pasta
David J
DJ
Kawakami
Jun
J
DuChane
Janeen
J
Carroll
Peter R
PR
D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000145:classification*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*