Insurance, Race, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Receipt of Surgical Treatment for Melanoma in the United States: A Systematic Review.
Rabecca-Kimberly Hernandez, Shoshana Zhang, Jordan Cheek et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review analyzed 43 studies involving 2,957,954 melanoma patients in the U.S. to assess how insurance status, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status affect access to surgical treatment. The review found that disparities in receipt or timing of surgical procedures were reported in 88% of nodal and 95% of excision studies, highlighting significant inequities in care.
Key findings
- Disparities in surgical procedure receipt were reported in 88% of nodal studies and 95% of excision studies.
- Only 39% of studies included all three sociodemographic variables: insurance, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
- The National Cancer Database was used in 63% of studies, while the SEER Program was used in 30%.
Why it matters
Understanding the impact of insurance, race, and socioeconomic factors on surgical treatment for melanoma is crucial for addressing healthcare disparities. This knowledge can inform policy and clinical practices aimed at improving access to care for underserved populations.
What to keep in mind
The review noted inconsistent measurement and incomplete sociodemographic data across studies, which limit comparability and confidence in effect estimates.