A recent study highlights significant disparities in access to lung cancer screening (LCS) facilities among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The research, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, reveals that rurality partly explains these differences. The study found that American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)-majority census tracts face the longest distances to LCS facilities, with a mean distance 3.16 times greater than that of non-Hispanic White-majority tracts. This disparity persists even after adjusting for rurality.
Conversely, Asian-, Black-, and Hispanic-majority census tracts generally have shorter distances to LCS facilities compared to non-Hispanic White-majority tracts. However, the advantage seen in these groups diminishes when rurality is considered, indicating that location plays a crucial role in access to healthcare services. The researchers emphasize the need for future studies to explore how equitable access to LCS facilities impacts lung cancer outcomes and overall healthcare equity.
These findings underscore the importance of addressing geographic and racial disparities in healthcare access. Ensuring that minority communities, particularly those in rural areas, have better access to essential health services like lung cancer screening is vital for reducing health inequities and improving outcomes for all populations.
See: “Rurality Partly Explains Racial Difference in Distance to Lung Cancer Screening” (January 13, 2025)
