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A new study finds that patients facing financial strain, food insecurity, social isolation, and other unmet social needs are significantly less likely to be up to date on colorectal cancer screening. The analysis drew on responses from 3,443 insured patients who completed a national social needs survey. Despite an overall high screening rate of 81.5 percent, patients experiencing severe financial strain were more than twice as likely to be overdue for screening, with similar trends seen for other social challenges.
The study, titled “Colorectal Cancer Screening and Social Needs,” was published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. It was led by Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM) alum Isabelle R. Franklin and co-authored by multiple KPSOM faculty members. The findings underscore the importance of addressing social determinants of health through primary care and system-level strategies, even within well-insured populations.
