"You have to keep a roof over your head": A qualitative study of housing needs among patients with cancer in New York City Journal Article


Authors: Phillips, S.; Raskin, S. E.; Harrington, C. B.; Brazinskaite, R.; Gany, F. M.
Article Title: "You have to keep a roof over your head": A qualitative study of housing needs among patients with cancer in New York City
Abstract: PURPOSE Housing status can become compromised in the wake of financial hardship for some patients with cancer and become a source of disparity. This qualitative study describes the types of housing issues experienced by patients with cancer and survivors of cancer in New York City. METHODS Semistructured interviews were conducted with a volunteer sample of 21 patients with cancer or survivors of cancer treated in New York City who reported housing needs in the period after diagnosis through survivorship. Nine supplemental interviews were conducted with cancer and housing key informants. Conventional content analysis was conducted on transcripts to create a codebook describing types of housing needs. RESULTS Patients and survivors most commonly had breast (n = 9) and blood (n = 4) cancers and ranged from recently diagnosed to many years posttreatment. Twenty-nine distinct housing-related issues were identified, which were grouped into the following six major categories: housing costs (eg, rent, mortgage), home loss, doubled up or unstable housing, housing conditions, accessibility (eg, stairs, proximity to amenities), and safety. Issues were often interrelated. Housing needs sometimes predated cancer diagnosis. Other issues newly emerged in the wake of cancer-related physical limitations and disruption to finances. Needs ranged in severity and caused patients and survivors considerable burden during a difficult period of poor health and financial strain. CONCLUSION This study contributes depth to current understandings of housing needs among patients with cancer and survivors by providing detailed disaggregated descriptions. We recommend increasing availability of services responsive to these needs and exploring promising options such as patient navigation and legal services. Findings also highlight the importance of creative solutions addressing ecologic-level factors such as housing affordability. © 2019 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Keywords: adult; cancer survival; clinical article; controlled study; human tissue; cancer diagnosis; breast; genetic transcription; survivor; survivorship; new york; qualitative research; volunteer; semi structured interview; head; content analysis; housing; finance; human; male; female; article; tumor-related gene; legal service
Journal Title: Journal of Oncology Practice
Volume: 15
Issue: 8
ISSN: 1554-7477
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology  
Date Published: 2019-08-01
Start Page: e677
End Page: e689
Language: English
DOI: 10.1200/jop.19.00077
PUBMED: 31310572
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7846042
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 October 2019 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Francesca Mara Gany
    216 Gany