Examining the most relevant conceptualization of the socioeconomic status construct for cancer research.
Examining the most relevant conceptualization of the socioeconomic status construct for cancer research.
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DOI：
10.1097/ncc.0b013e3181c29583
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发表时间：
2010-05
期刊：
影响因子：
2.6
通讯作者：
Gage E
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gage E
虽然以前的研究已经建立了社会经济地位（SES）和癌症结果之间的联系，但对导致这些结果差异的过程仍然知之甚少。本研究旨在描述一个家庭的社会经济地位（SES）的方式影响他们的医疗保健行为后，儿童被诊断患有癌症。样本包括五个案例研究家庭和21名家长的深入访谈。个案研究的家庭每月进行一次访谈和观察，为期六个月。父母的经济状况影响他们维持家庭开支、支付保健费用和家务助理的能力。来自朋友和家人的财富和帮助是家庭财务状况的重要方面。父母的教育程度影响他们理解诊断和治疗方案的能力，他们的信心和与卫生保健专业人员的沟通，以及他们的社交网络的效用。父母的职业影响他们的工作时间表的灵活性，附加福利，以及他们获得雇主赞助的医疗保险和质量。研究结果表明，三个首要领域的SES（如金融，教育和职业）有重要的影响，父母的医疗保健导航。这项研究强调了在未来的研究中需要使用一套细致入微的SES措施（除了收入和教育），以提高我们对SES如何影响医疗导航的理解，并完善旨在帮助减少健康差距的干预措施。癌症教育计划应侧重于加强患者与提供者的互动，健康沟通，获取健康信息，并解决癌症护理的工作和财务障碍。
While previous research has established a link between socioeconomic status (SES) and cancer outcomes, there is still little understanding of the processes that contribute to these outcome disparities. This study aims to describe the ways a family's socioeconomic status (SES) influences their health care behavior after a child is diagnosed with cancer. The sample included five case study families and in-depth interviews with 21 parents. Case study families were interviewed and observed once a month for six months. Parents' finances influenced their ability to maintain household expenses, and to pay for health care expenses and household help. Wealth and help from friends and family are important aspects of families' financial statuses. Parents' educational attainment affected their ability to understand diagnosis and treatment options, their confidence and communication with health care professionals, and the utility of their social networks. Parents' occupation influenced their work schedule flexibility, fringe benefits, and their access to and quality of employer-sponsored health insurance. Findings suggest that three overarching domains of SES (e.g. financial, education and occupation) have important implications for parents' health care navigation. This study underscores the need to use a nuanced set of SES measures (beyond income and education) in future research to enhance our understanding of how SES affects health care navigation, and refine intervention initiatives designed to help reduce health disparities. Cancer education initiatives should focus on enhancing patient-provider interactions, health communication, accessing health information, and resolving work and financial barriers to cancer care.