Radiation therapy resources and guideline-concordant radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer patients in an underserved region.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the relationship between radiation therapy resources and guideline-concordant radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) in Kentucky.

Data sources

The SEER registry and Area Resource File provided county-level data describing cancer care resources and socioeconomic conditions of Kentucky residents.

Study design

The outcome variable was rate of BCS without radiotherapy in each county for 2000-2007. Eight-year weighted average rates of radiation therapy providers and hospitals per 100,000 residents were explanatory variables of interest. Exploratory spatial data analyses and spatial econometric models were estimated.

Principal findings

Appalachian counties in Kentucky had significantly fewer radiation oncologists, hospitals with radia

SUBMITTER: Yao N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3703497 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature