Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Zin M. Htway

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and it accounts for 25% of cancer deaths. About 70% of cancer cases are diagnosed during late stages, leading to poor outcomes. An estimated 60% of cancer cases involve underserved and disadvantaged communities. However, there are limited studies had addressed effects of treatment, stage of lung cancer, and socioeconomic status on life expectancy within marginalized communities. Research questions examined effect of treatment, stage of lung cancer, and socioeconomic status on life expectancy of lung cancer patients between 2009 and 2019. This study was grounded in the deductive approach theory that facilitates interpretation of causal relationships between variables and concepts. The study was also grounded in the socioecological model, which acknowledges that different contributing factors and determinants exist at different levels of the society and addressing them at all levels will facilitate more effective prevention and control. A quantitative method with a cross-sectional design was used to analyze data from a random sample of 86,998 lung cancer patients. The dataset was obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from the National Cancer Institute. Multiple linear regression was used for descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Results showed treatment, stage of lung cancer, and socioeconomic status had statistically significant effects on life expectancy of lung cancer patients. Positive social change implications include alleviation of burden of lung cancer by raising awareness, encouraging screening, and advocating to enact new government policies.

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