ArticlePlastic and reconstructive surgery2016
The Impact of Travel Distance on Breast Reconstruction in the United States.
Article in Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Predictors of adherence to exercise interventions during and after cancer treatment: A systematic review.Psycho-oncology · 2018Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program during and after treatment of head and neck cancer: a mixed-methods study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Trial
- Radiation and Reconstructive Failure: Long-Term Outcomes in Two-Stage Flap Versus Implant Breast Reconstruction.Annals of surgical oncology · 2026Article
- Cumulative Medical Costs of Prepectoral Versus Subpectoral Implant-based Breast Reconstruction: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Impact of Travel Burden on Timeliness of Care and Overall Survival for Breast Cancer: A National Cancer Database Analysis.Cancer medicine · 2025Article
- The Impact of Travel Distance on Patient Outcomes after Breast Reconstruction.Annals of surgical oncology · 2025Article
- Reconstructing Failure: Assessing Surgical and Patient-Reported Outcomes after Loss of Initial Breast Reconstruction.Plastic and reconstructive surgery · 2025Article
- Increasing Rates but Persistent Variability of Immediate Breast Reconstruction: Real-Time Data from a Population-Based Study (2012-2022).Annals of surgical oncology · 2025Article
- An Investigation of Travel Distance and Timeliness of Breast Cancer Treatment Among a Diverse Cohort in the United States.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Tackling Cardiovascular Care Deserts in Romania: Expanding Population Access in Underserved Areas.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Enhancing Post-Mastectomy Care: Telehealth's Impact on Breast Reconstruction Accessibility for Breast Cancer Patients.Cancers · 2024Article
- The Financial Impact of S Code Termination for Autologous Breast Reconstruction: Considerations for Patient Access.Plastic and reconstructive surgery · 2024Article
- Effect of rurality and travel distance on contralateral prophylactic mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer.Cancer causes & control : CCC · 2023Article
- Factors affecting access to dialysis for patients with end-stage kidney disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.Nursing open · 2023Article
- The Impact of Travel Distance and Income on Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy in a Rural Population.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2023Article
- Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction without Acellular Dermal Matrix: Have We Come Full Circle?Journal of personalized medicine · 2022Article
- "Plastic surgery trainees practicing in your backyard? An analysis of career patterns for fellowship and residency graduates".Surgery in practice and science · 2022Article
- Factors Associated With State-Specific Medicaid Expansion and Receipt of Autologous Breast Reconstruction Among Patients Undergoing Mastectomy.JAMA network open · 2021Article
- Spatial Behavior of Cancer Care Utilization in Distance Decay in the Northeast Region of the U.S.Travel behaviour & society · 2021Article
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10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundInadequate access to breast reconstruction was a motivating factor underlying passage of the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act. It remains unclear whether all patients interested in breast reconstruction undergo this procedure. The aim of this study was to determine whether geographic disparities are present that limit the rate and method of postmastectomy reconstruction.
methodsTravel distance in miles between the patient's residence and the hospital reporting the case was used as a quantitative measure of geographic disparities. The American College of Surgeons National Cancer Database was queried for mastectomy with or without reconstruction performed from 1998 to 2011. Reconstructive procedures were categorized as implant or autologous techniques. Standard statistical tests including linear regression were performed.
resultsPatients who underwent breast reconstruction had to travel farther than those who had mastectomy alone (p < 0.01). A linear correlation was demonstrated between travel distance and reconstruction rates (p < 0.01). The mean distances traveled by patients who underwent reconstruction at community, comprehensive community, or academic programs were 10.3, 19.9, and 26.2 miles, respectively (p < 0.01). Reconstruction rates were significantly greater at academic programs. Patients traveled farther to undergo autologous compared with prosthetic reconstruction.
conclusionsAlthough greater patient awareness and insurance coverage have contributed to increased breast reconstruction rates in the United States, the presence of geographic barriers suggests an unmet need. Academic programs have the greatest reconstruction rates, but are located farther from patients' residences. Increasing the number of plastics surgeons, especially in community centers, would be one method of addressing this inequality.
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