Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Laryngeal Cancer Care

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare have a long history and continue to affect minority populations.
• These disparities can negatively impact morbidity and mortality rates in racial and ethnic minorities diagnosed with laryngeal cancer.
• Despite advancements in laryngeal cancer diagnosis and treatment, minority groups face reduced access to quality care and treatment delays, resulting in lower survival rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current literature on disparities in laryngeal cancer diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation among Black and Hispanic patients.
• To examine trends in laryngeal cancer and patient, provider, and health systems factors perpetuating these disparities using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data.
• To offer interventions for addressing racism and biases in laryngeal cancer care and suggest necessary research and legislative actions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review summarizing current research on racial and ethnic disparities in laryngeal cancer.
• Analysis of recent data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.
• Examination of patient, provider, and health systems factors contributing to disparities.

Main Results:

• Racial and ethnic minorities diagnosed with laryngeal cancer face significant disparities in care.
• These disparities include reduced access to quality care and delays in treatment, leading to poorer survival rates.
• Patient, provider, and health systems factors contribute to the perpetuation of these inequities.

Conclusions:

• Increased health provider awareness of racial and ethnic disparities in laryngeal cancer is crucial.
• Changes in patient and provider education, clinical practice, and health policies are necessary to address these disparities.
• Interventions targeting racism and biases, alongside research and legislative action, are needed to reduce laryngeal cancer care inequities.