Exploring Barriers to Effective Colon Prep: The Impact of Race, Financial Status, and Insurance on Quality

Aims Race significantly affects colon preparation quality for colonoscopies, a vital procedure for detecting and preventing colorectal cancer. Various racial groups experience disparities in the effectiveness of this procedure. This overview examines how cultural differences, healthcare access, and personal health behaviors contribute to variations in colonoscopy outcomes. Understanding these factors is crucial for healthcare providers and policymakers to mitigate disparities in colorectal cancer prevention and to promote equitable access to essential screenings.

Methods Colonoscopy records from 2010-2023 were retrospectively collected. Data included colonoscopy report, Gender, Race, Poor Colon Prep quality, Socio-Economic Status, and Insurance status., Chi-squared tests were conducted to identify statistically significant associations between poor colon prep outcomes and categorical variables: race, socioeconomic status, and insurance status. A Logistic Regression analysis was carried out to assess the combined impact of multiple factors on poor colon prep. The results were interpreted based on p-values, coefficients, and confidence intervals obtained from statistical tests. The significance level was set at 0.05 for all tests.

Results Our study analyzed 3330 individuals who underwent colonoscopies from 2010-2023, with a composition of 64% females. Racial demographics included 24.2% Hispanic, 48% White, 15% Black, 6% Asian, and 3% Other. The results indicate significant racial impact on poor colon prep (Chi-square=40.78, p<0.01). Among races, Hispanics have poor outcomes (p=0.023). Similarly, lower socioeconomic status was strongly correlated with inadequate preparation (Chi-square≈20.86, p≈0.00011), and lack of insurance was linked to poor outcomes (Chi-square≈15.48, p≈0.000083).

Conclusions Our study on race and colonoscopy preparation reveals significant disparities in colon prep quality among racial groups influenced by socio-economic status and insurance coverage. The study finds race, low socio-economic status, and lack of insurance significantly affect colon prep outcomes. While acknowledging its limitations, this study emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals and policymakers to consider these demographic factors, aiming for equitable colorectal cancer screening and prevention.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
27. März 2025