Characteristics of the Patient-Provider Relationship and Impact on Colorectal Cancer Screening
Patients of physicians with a racially and ethnically diverse patient base are more likely to be up to date with appropriate screenings for colorectal cancer. Physicians' experience working with and understanding of patients who do not necessarily resemble themselves is important for addressing inequities in health care.
Racial/ethnic disparities are a concerning trend in rising colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence among people younger than age 50. An estimated 68 percent of CRC could be avoided with routine screening, yet disparities in screening mean that Black individuals are diagnosed later in illness and are more likely to die from the disease.
Many factors influence the likelihood that a patient and physician will share the same race or ethnicity (i.e., be race concordant). This analysis examined the relationship between race concordance and CRC screening by race/ethnicity group and showed how its impact varied by race/ethnicity group.
Related Public Policy Research
Cancer Screening Rates Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Previous studies have documented drops in cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examines in-person breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates in a commercially insured and Medicare Advantage population over a four-year period, from March 2019 to February 2023.
Data on health plan enrollees’ races and ethnicities (R/E) remain inconsistent and incomplete, making it difficult to track and evaluate efforts to reduce health inequities. The Urban Institute, the American Benefits Council, and the Deloitte Health Equity Institute, with support from Elevance Health, led a multi-pronged research engagement to understand the challenges to collecting R/E data and identify possible solutions for improving its collection and use.
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