Jeanne M Regnante

June 2021

In the corporate world, major companies are thinking extensively about DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion), training, hiring and developing quality leaders in their company. They are attempting to be increasingly progressive in terms of how they think and what they budget for, and more and more, industry leaders are looking to increase the transparency of their metrics around diversity and inclusion, whether that relates to their hiring practices, medical supply procurement or inclusive research practices. A genuine understanding with (not just of) diverse populations is essential to making sure that all communities are receiving equitable care. We must transform our approach to patient care together.

How Inequality Affects Vulnerable Communities

Systemic disadvantages and inequality in access to healthcare for susceptible communities have become amplified and made more urgent during the coronavirus pandemic. It is well documented that Black patients, Indigenous People, patients of Pacific Island descent, and Hispanic patients are 3.7 times, 3.5 times, 3.1 times, and 2.8 times, respectively, more likely to succumb to COVID-19, than White patients. These disparities cannot be explained by differences in income alone.

While lung cancer affects people of all races and ethnicities in the US, the burden is greater for certain populations. Lung cancer has been shown to have substantially higher prevalence and higher mortality among certain ethnic demographics. For instance, African American communities have higher occurrences of lung cancer than any other racial or ethnic group in the US, and African American men are 37% more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than their White counterparts.

Despite the recent acceleration of scientific advancements and innovation in lung cancer, there are still clear disparities in screening, diagnosis and treatment. Stage at diagnosis, treatment options, even survival rates vary greatly based on geography, socioeconomic status, education and language barriers, among other factors.

Bridging the Gap in Disparities Starts with Access

Disparities exist throughout the continuum of cancer care, starting with access to prevention programs, screening and biomarker testing, to treatment and clinical trials, through survivorship. For example, African Americans are far less likely to be given an opportunity for comprehensive biomarker testing that could put them on a path to be treated with newer innovative targeted therapies, which have been shown to extend life. Medicaid patients are 30% less likely to receive targeted therapy for lung cancer, as compared to patients with private health insurance. Differences like these have been observed among racial and ethnic minority groups and medically underserved populations (aged, rural, low-income), resulting in greater obstacles to optimal care.

These disparities are preventable. With a focus on health equity and inclusiveness strategies like health-literate and linguistically appropriate educational materials delivered by trusted community leaders, healthcare for underserved communities can be improved and patients are more likely to advocate for themselves. Patients are able to make informed healthcare decisions and receive optimal care, from screening to end-of-life support. This ultimately helps improve quality of life and outcomes for all.

Fostering Change Through Education and Empowerment

LUNGevity’s health equity programs work to ensure all communities diagnosed or at risk for lung cancer have the same opportunities for best-case outcomes and access to trusted resources, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, age, socioeconomic status or geographic location.

A key component of LUNGevity’s approach to health equity is building communities of hope and action through trusted partnerships with cancer center outreach leaders and community-based organizations, especially in geographic locations where there is a high prevalence of lung cancer. We identify areas of need and best practices to inform program development. Community leader engagement drives trust and improved access to care for racial and ethnic minority groups and their care partners. Building trust among cancer patients, their families and their providers is essential for optimal outcomes, especially in view of the complexity of treatment and the often-chronic nature of the disease.

Our health equity strategy includes developing education plans and awareness programs, including designing patient education materials and delivering to cancer center outreach leaders and community-based organizations to better reach vulnerable populations. To communicate complex information, we apply national standards for health literacy, cultural competency numeracy, and linguistically appropriate materials.

It takes a Village (and some data)

We believe that action with impact equals change and hope. Our strategy relies on the actions and support of likeminded stakeholders and community leaders, as well as data on disparities across the cancer continuum of care for different populations.

These programs bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to collaboratively address disparities in the lung cancer space by developing successful models of community and patient engagement that will have impact and sustainability for all lung cancer populations.

No one should be disadvantaged in their fight against cancer. LUNGevity is committed to working with all stakeholders to drive equitable and sustainable care to empower all people diagnosed with lung cancer. It’s the way forward.