Using a Mystery-Caller Approach to Examine Access to Prostate Cancer Care in Philadelphia.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Prior work suggests that access to health care may influence the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Mystery-caller methods have been used previously to measure access to care for health services such as primary care, where patients' self-initiate requests for care. We used a mystery-caller survey for specialized prostate cancer care to assess dimensions of access to prostate cancer care.

Materials and methods

We created an inventory of urology and radiation oncology practices in southeastern Pennsylvania. Using a 'mystery caller' approach, a research assistant posing as a medical office scheduler in a primary care office, attempted to make a new patient appointment on behalf of a referred patient. Linear regression was used to determine the association betwe

SUBMITTER: Pollack CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5056677 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature