Kara McCurdy ’22
Exploring the Relationship Between Healthcare Access and Cancer Diagnosis
Kara McCurdy ’22, Health Policy and Management, Minor in Mathematics and French
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Candidus Nwakasi, Health Policy and Management
Cancer affects millions of Americans each year and is one of the leading causes of death; social determinants of health play an important role in not only the prevention of cancer, but the prevalence of cancer among certain groups in our population. As one of the most prominent public health concerns, examining why cancer affects some more than others is an important part of prevention. Many people in the US lack access to healthcare due to costs and other social issues, if this puts them at an increased risk of having cancer in their lifetime, there must be ways to combat this in order to reduce the risk. The costs associated with cancer treatment and diagnosis pose a challenge for lower-income Americans who may not have healthcare access, which leads to more diagnoses and worse outcomes when they cannot afford lifesaving care and treatment. Using the 2019 National Health Interview Survey data (NHIS data), the association between ability to pay for healthcare services and cancer diagnosis, and between healthcare utilization and cancer diagnosis was analyzed, along with additional factors that may put an individual at risk in their lifetime.
