Barriers to Prostate Cancer Care: Affordable Care is Not Enough

Low-income, uninsured Latino men face a myriad of barriers when accessing health care to detect, diagnose, treat, and manage their prostate cancer. In this study, we utilized grounded theory techniques to analyze transcripts of semistructured interviews with 60 Latino men enrolled in a state-funded public assistance program. We developed a descriptive framework to understand barriers to health care access among these men. Findings demonstrate that societal, systemic, and individual barriers function independently and together to bar access to prostate cancer care for Latino men. Participant perceptions illustrate the individual, interpersonal, and macro-level structures that impede access, stressing the need for expanded medical coverage coupled with measures to improve quality care. The health care system needs a multifaceted approach, including alleviation of financial burdens for underserved prostate cancer patients, empowerment of patients with navigational skills, access to culturally competent providers, and consistent monitoring of access to quality health care.