Socioeconomic inequities in care experienced by women with breast cancer in England: An intersectional cross-sectional study

Purpose

Guided by the Intersectionality Framework, we examined the differential in breast cancer care experience across population subgroups in England.

Methods

Secondary data analysis using the 2017/2018 National Cancer Patient Experience Surveys. We used disaggregated descriptive statistics (mean, standard errors, 95% confidence interval) to analyse 26,030 responses from female breast cancer patients to a question relating to overall care experience categorised by age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation in their intersection with social position. We then used logistic regression to investigate the odds (Odds Ratio (OR), 95% confidence intervals) of reporting positive care experience adjusting for patient, clinical, and Trust level factors.

Results

Poorer care experience was predominantly reported by the most deprived younger and minoritised ethnic groups. Statistically significant findings were observed in adjusted multivariable analyses. Compared to patients aged 65–74 years, younger respondents were less likely to rate their care favourably (16–34 years old OR_adj. = 0.55 (0.36–0.84). Compared to White British, Asian (OR_adj. = 0.51 (0.39–0.66)) and Black African women (OR_adj. = 0.53 (0.33–0.88)) were less likely to rate their care favourably. The least affluent respondents were less likely to rate their care favourably (OR_adj. = 0.79 (0.64–0.97)).

Conclusion

There is evidence of inequity in overall cancer care experience among female breast cancer patients in England, particularly among women living at the specific intersection of age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic position. Future research is necessary to understand the mechanisms underlying breast cancer inequities. Policymakers, commissioners, and providers should consider the existence of multiple forms of marginalisation to inform improvement initiatives targeting patients at higher risk of vulnerability.