Spatial and Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Colonoscopy Cancellations in a Long Island Cohort: A Zip Code-Level Analysis

Aims This study investigates the impact of distance to the Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU), using ZIP code data, alongside insurance status, on colonoscopy cancellation rates. By analyzing geographic and insurance variables, we aim to identify how logistical and financial barriers contribute to the likelihood of cancellations. This insight will help in understanding the broader implications of accessibility and socioeconomic factors on the efficiency of healthcare services

Methods From 2017-2023, we collected data on 5500 patients scheduled for screening colonoscopies, ultimately including 1066 after removing those without financial or address information. We utilized Chi-square tests to analyze the impact of insurance and zip codes on cancellation rates, generating statistically significant p-values. Cancellation distributions were illustrated via contingency tables based on insurance and location, identifying cities with the highest cancellation rates. Geospatial analysis was performed to visualize these disparities, emphasizing geographic and socioeconomic factors in healthcare access.

Results Our analysis reveals a significant correlation between insurance status and colonoscopy cancellation rates, with uninsured patients more likely to have cancellations (p-value<0.01). Geographic factors also play a critical role, as evidenced by a p-value of p-value<0.01 linking zip codes to cancellation rates. Particularly, cities such as Yaphank and Speonk showed a high cancellation rate, pointing to systemic barriers. The study further maps out these cancellations across Long Island, highlighting patterns that differ based on insurance status, indicating both socioeconomic and location-based disparities

Conclusions This study investigates the impact of distance to the Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU), using ZIP code data, alongside insurance status, on colonoscopy cancellation rates. By analyzing geographic and insurance variables, we aim to identify how logistical and financial barriers contribute to the likelihood of cancellations. This insight will help us understand the broader implications of accessibility and socioeconomic factors on the efficiency of healthcare services.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
27. März 2025