biostudies-literatureSpees LPNCATS NIH HHSAHRQ HHSNCI NIH HHSHealth Services Research882-889https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6500480biostudies-literatureUnknown28(5)BACKGROUND:Although rural cancer patients encounter substantial barriers to care, they more often report receiving timely care than urban patients. We examined whether geographic distance, a contributor to urban-rural health disparities, differentially influences treatment initiation and completion among insured urban and rural cervical cancer patients. METHODS:We identified women diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2004 to 2013 from a statewide cancer registry linked to multipayer, insurance claims. Primary outcomes were initiation of guideline-concordant care within 6 weeks of diagnosis and, among stage IB2-IVA cancer patients, completion of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in 56 days. We estimated risk ratios using modified Poisson regressions, stratified by urban/rural status, to exCancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive OncologyExamining Urban and Rural Differences in How Distance to Care Influences the Initiation and Completion of Treatment among Insured Cervical Cancer Patients.PMC6500480T32-HS000032T32 CA116339UL1 TR002489T32 HS000032Brewster WRSpees LPBaggett CWeinberger MWheeler SBVaria MAZhou XPetermann VMfalseExamining Urban and Rural Differences in How Distance to Care Influences the Initiation and Completion of Treatment among Insured Cervical Cancer Patients.BACKGROUND:Although rural cancer patients encounter substantial barriers to care, they more often report receiving timely care than urban patients. We examined whether geographic distance, a contributor to urban-rural health disparities, differentially influences treatment initiation and completion among insured urban and rural cervical cancer patients. METHODS:We identified women diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2004 to 2013 from a statewide cancer registry linked to multipayer, insurance claims. Primary outcomes were initiation of guideline-concordant care within 6 weeks of diagnosis and, among stage IB2-IVA cancer patients, completion of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in 56 days. We estimated risk ratios using modified Poisson regressions, stratified by urban/rural status, to ex2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 May2025-04-21T16:07:03.812Z2020-05-22T18:49:01ZS-EPMC65004803073330710.1158/1055-9965.epi-18-094510.1158/1055-9965.EPI-18-0945