Social Determinants of Health and Cancer Care
ASCO Podcast Series
 
In fall 2020, the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released an educational podcast series on Social Determinants of Health. Dr. Lori Pearce (the President of ASCO at the time of the podcast’s release) made it her mission to advance the delivery of equitable cancer care. The theme of Dr. Pearce’s presidency was Equity: Every Patient. Every Day. Everywhere. (ASCO, 2021). Equity continues to be a focus of the organization today (ASCO, 2022).
 
The 10-episode series highlights how the various factors, including social, economic and cultural, impact an individual’s access to cancer care as well as their outcomes (ASCO, 2021). Each episode focuses on a specific theme and invites experts in the field to share their knowledge. In episode three, we learn more about the evolution of obtaining a social history, current frameworks, and recommendations for clinical practice, all with a focus on cultural humility and addressing implicit bias. In episode 10, we learn more about how social determinants of health impact access to care in addition to interventions and resources that can help patients.
 
The hope in sharing this podcast with you is that you will find information about Social Determinants of Health that you can apply to your daily work. The list of episodes is as follows:

1. Beginning the Conversation – Social Determinants of Health and Cancer Care
2. Living Our Values
3. Taking a Social History
4. Social Determinants of Health – Understanding the Cost of Care
5. Medical Racism and Patient-Clinician Trust
6. Patient-Provider Relationships, Culture and Communication
7. Highlights from the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting
8. Modifiable Risk Factors – Tobacco Cessation
9. Modifiable Risk Factors – Obesity and Energy Balance
10. Access to Care

 
Or you can watch the series available on YouTube: Series: Social Determinants of Health and Cancer Care – YouTube.
 
Please note that some information discussed in the podcast series may be outdated due to more recent legislation.
 
References:
American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2021). ASCO's Social Determinants of Health Series Brings Awareness to Care Barriers Among Patients With Cancer. Retrieved from ASCO's Social Determinants of Health Series Brings Awareness to Care Barriers Among Patients With Cancer (ascopubs.org).
 
American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2022). Health Equity. Retrieved from Health Equity | ASCO.