Underlying Factors Influencing Kidney Cancer Surgical Treatment Disparities: Patients', Non-Patient Community Members', and Urologists' Perspectives

Kidney cancer (KCa) patients from racial and ethnic minority groups often delay or forgo surgical treatment and have invasive treatment. The goal of this pilot study was to understand the factors underlying KCa treatment disparities. We interviewed KCa patients (n=13) and community members without KCa (n=61) in Arizona and conducted online surveys with urologists (n=54). Many interview participants were from minority groups (82%) and had health care access difficulties. Four out of 10 patients waited over a year to see their doctor when they had potential symptoms before diagnosis. Almost 30% reported that cultural values or religious beliefs influenced their treatment choice. Many community participants had not heard about KCa (62.3%). Urologists reported that patients from minority groups more often had health care access challenges than non-Hispanic White patients. Barriers to health care access, lack of knowledge, and cultural values may be underlying forces influencing treatment decisions and delay.