The Intersection of Social Determinants of Health and Healthcare Needs Among Breast Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Content Analysis
4 affiliations
- 1School of Social Work College of Allied Health Sciences University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA
- 2School of Data and Information Sciences University of North Carolina Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
- 3Department of Biostatistics, Health Informatics and Data Sciences College of Medicine University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA
- 4College of Nursing University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Ohio USA
Abstract
Objective: To examine the intersection of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and healthcare needs documented in electronic health records (EHR) of women with breast cancer.
Methods: Using the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) framework to categorize SDoH, we conducted a qualitative content analysis, combining deductive and inductive approaches of EHR notes for female breast cancer patients treated at a mid‐sized Midwestern academic cancer center from 2017 to 2022. Records were eligible if patients were ≥ 18 years, received anticancer treatment (medications/therapies, radiation, or surgery), were alive, and had ≥ 1 social work note. Exclusions included male sex, death, or end‐of‐life/hospice care. We randomly selected 200 patients, oversampling racial/ethnic minorities to ensure balanced representation. The final sample (N = 200) was 65.5% White, 97.8% non‐Hispanic, 41.5% older adults, and 38% married.
Results: Analysis demonstrated the interconnectedness of SDoH and their cumulative effects on outcomes. Economic strain, transportation barriers, and limited social support were critical themes shaping patient experiences and care navigation. Mental health needs were prominent and intersected with multiple SDoH, highlighting the value of holistic approaches that address medical and non‐medical factors in breast cancer management.
Conclusion: Routine assessment of SDoH and mental health can help clinicians identify at‐risk patients and link them to resources. Integrating standardized SDoH evaluations into clinical workflows may strengthen treatment adherence, improve outcomes, and reduce disparities in breast cancer care at academic and community levels.
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BibTeX
@article{wells2026intersection,
title = {{The Intersection of Social Determinants of Health and Healthcare Needs Among Breast Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Content Analysis}},
author = {A. Wells and D. T. Y. Wu and W.‐W. Hsu and B. Lartey and V. Schwegmann and C. F. Morrison},
journal = {Psycho-Oncology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1002/pon.70628},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.70628},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Intersection of Social Determinants of Health and Healthcare Needs Among Breast Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Content Analysis
AU - A. Wells
AU - D. T. Y. Wu
AU - W.‐W. Hsu
AU - B. Lartey
AU - V. Schwegmann
AU - C. F. Morrison
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
JO - Psycho-Oncology
DO - 10.1002/pon.70628
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.70628
AB - Objective: To examine the intersection of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and healthcare needs documented in electronic health records (EHR) of women with breast cancer. Methods: Using the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) framework to categorize SDoH, we conducted a qualitative content analysis, combining deductive and inductive approaches of EHR notes for female breast cancer patients treated at a mid‐sized Midwestern academic cancer center from 2017 to 2022. Records were eligible if patients were ≥ 18 years, received anticancer treatment (medications/therapies, radiation, or surgery), were alive, and had ≥ 1 social work note. Exclusions included male sex, death, or end‐of‐life/hospice care. We randomly selected 200 patients, oversampling racial/ethnic minorities to ensure balanced representation. The final sample (N = 200) was 65.5% White, 97.8% non‐Hispanic, 41.5% older adults, and 38% married. Results: Analysis demonstrated the interconnectedness of SDoH and their cumulative effects on outcomes. Economic strain, transportation barriers, and limited social support were critical themes shaping patient experiences and care navigation. Mental health needs were prominent and intersected with multiple SDoH, highlighting the value of holistic approaches that address medical and non‐medical factors in breast cancer management. Conclusion: Routine assessment of SDoH and mental health can help clinicians identify at‐risk patients and link them to resources. Integrating standardized SDoH evaluations into clinical workflows may strengthen treatment adherence, improve outcomes, and reduce disparities in breast cancer care at academic and community levels.
SN - 1057-9249
SN - 1099-1611
ER -