Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Observational Study
Social Vulnerability and Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Care among Patients with Colorectal Cancer.
Cancer outcome disparities have been reported in highly vulnerable communities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of social vulnerability with receipt of guideline-concordant care (GCC) and mortality risk for patients with colorectal cancer. ⋯ For highly vulnerable patients, treatment at CoC-accredited hospitals was associated with increased receipt of GCC and decreased mortality risk, which may reflect CoC accreditation requirements for treatment guideline adherence, community engagement, and addressing barriers to care.
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Immigrants in the US face unique challenges in accessing healthcare. There have been several studies highlighting some of the barriers that this population faces; however, there is still a lack of robust research on this patient population in the context of surgical access and outcomes. ⋯ This makes it incredibly difficult to identify this population in the first place, resulting in a decreased ability to study this group retrospectively and, therefore, restricting the quantity and quality of research into these vulnerable patients. This article aims to provide a call to action for medical professionals to develop ways to accurately document immigration status in medical records while assuaging the concerns related to this documentation and its implications on patient care and confidentiality.