Evaluation of Patient-Reported Delays and Affordability-Related Barriers to Care in Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prevalence and predictors of patient-reported barriers to care among survivors of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and the association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Outpatient oncology clinic at an academic tertiary care center. Methods: Data were obtained from the UNC Health Registry/Cancer Survivorship Cohort. Barriers to care included self-reported delays in care and inability to obtain needed care due to cost. HRQOL was measured with validated questionnaires: general (PROMIS) and cancer specific (FACT-GP). Results: The sample included 202 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with a mean age of 59.6 years (SD, 10.0). Eighty-two percent were male and 87% were White. Sixty-two patients (31%) reported at least 1 barrier to care. Significant predictors of a barrier to care in unadjusted analysis included age ≤60 years (P =.007), female sex (P =.020), being unmarried (P =.016), being uninsured (P =.047), and Medicaid insurance (P =.022). Patients reporting barriers to care had significantly worse physical and mental HRQOL on the PROMIS questionnaires (P