Social Determinants of Health in Metastatic Breast Cancer Care: A Podcast Exploring Challenges and Opportunities in the United States and Canada.

The influence of social determinants of health (SDOH) on clinical outcomes for patients with cancer has become increasingly clear in recent years. This podcast, featuring a breast surgeon from the USA and a breast medical oncologist from Canada, provides updated definitions of SDOH, discusses the importance of assessing for SDOH-related barriers to optimal, equitable care for patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), and offers practical solutions that individual practices can implement. While this discussion is focused on the USA and Canada, SDOH factors are salient for healthcare providers around the world, irrespective of the healthcare systems deployed in their individual countries. Key SDOH that can impact care or outcomes for patients living with mBC are discussed by the hosts, including patient socioeconomic status, transportation logistics, health literacy, and social support. The importance of establishing trust between care provider and patient is also examined, especially for racial and ethnic minorities who have earned concerns and mistrust of healthcare systems. To aid practices in addressing SDOH-related barriers, various resources are identified, including free screening tools and support offered by patient advocacy and nonprofit organizations. Despite the scope of SDOH-related challenges, practices can collaborate to achieve progress toward equitable care for patients with mBC. Podcast Video (MP4 122704 kb).