Housing insecurity among cancer survivors: Results from the 2017 behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey

Abstract

Background: Cancer patients and cancer survivors may struggle to pay for housing or fall behind on their monthly bills to pay for out-of-pocket medical costs. Housing insecurity increases the likelihood of poorer health and decreased access to health care. The financial burden of medical care as a cause of poorer health outcomes is worsened by the inability to afford housing.

Methods: We examined housing insecurity among cancer survivors, using data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). We compared intensity of housing insecurity across various socioeconomic status indicators and estimated the adjusted odds for housing insecurity for these characteristics.

Results: We found that about 16.6 % of the cancer survivors had moderate to increased level of housing insecurity. The intensity of housing insecurity among cancer survivors was significantly associated with being Black, and having lower household income and lower educational attainment.

Conclusion: In order to ensure the quality and appropriateness of cancer survivorship care, effective interventions are needed to address housing insecurity in these populations. Policy Summary. A sizeable percentage of cancer survivors have housing insecurity which is likely to complicate their ability to self-manage their disease and navigate the health care system for optimal care.

Keywords: Cancer; Cancer survivors; Housing insecurity; Social determinants of health.