Socioeconomic position is often described through indicators such as educational attainment, income or level of occupation.[60][61] Based on the latest available data, approximately 10% of the population lived in low-income households in 2017–18; 68% of people aged 25–64 held a non-school qualification at Certificate III level or above in 2021.[60] People in lower socioeconomic groups are at greater risk of poor health, have higher rates of illness, disability and death, and live shorter lives than people from higher socioeconomic groups.[62]
People identifying as belonging to diverse populations may identify across multiple priority population groups. This intersectionality can result in compounding impacts of social, cultural, commercial and environmental determinants of health on cancer experiences and outcomes.
People in the lowest socioeconomic groups are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, more likely to die from cancer, and have a lower 5-year relative survival rate compared to those living in the highest socioeconomic group.[1] When compared with adults in the highest socioeconomic group, adults in the lowest socioeconomic group have higher rates of some cancer risk factors, including being 3.6 times as likely to smoke daily, 1.6 times as likely to be obese, 1.3 times as likely to be insufficiently active.[62]
People in the lowest socioeconomic group also are more likely to delay cancer symptom presentation and have lower overall engagement with healthcare services for reasons including costs, limited access to services, lower health literacy, and poorer cancer symptom knowledge.[60][61][63]
The Australian Cancer Plan aims to improve health equity for people in lower socioeconomic groups. This includes facilitating better access to integrated and holistic care, with tailored information and nutritional, physical, and practical support, and a strengthened policy and regulatory environment to address the social determinants of health. The Plan will also bring attention to the affordability of health services, including costs associated with treatment, diagnostic scans, and palliative care, as well as non-medical expenses such as travel, through innovative approaches such as increasing access to telehealth services.
Year: 2018
Author: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government
Australia’s Report on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals outlines the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which form a roadmap for global development efforts to 2030. Targets within the Sustainable Development Goals include measures relating to addressing inequalities associated with those in lower socioeconomic groups.
Year: 2018
Author: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government
Australia’s Report on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals outlines the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which form a roadmap for global development efforts to 2030. Targets within the Sustainable Development Goals include measures relating to addressing inequalities associated with those in lower socioeconomic groups.
People in lower socioeconomic groups were considered to have poorer health outcomes because they may have limited access to physical activity programs or balanced nutrition options.
Additionally, out-of-pocket costs relating to accessing care or travel for cancer prevention and early detection services present additional challenges.
People in lower socioeconomic groups were considered to have poorer health outcomes because they may have limited access to physical activity programs or balanced nutrition options.
Additionally, out-of-pocket costs relating to accessing care or travel for cancer prevention and early detection services present additional challenges.
Stakeholders viewed the costs of receiving cancer care to be a burden, including out-of-pocket payments for clinical services and costs associated with accessing treatment, including travel, accommodation, parking, and time away from work. These costs are not experienced equally by consumers. People in lower socioeconomic groups were seen to experience greater financial burden, reduced access to health care, and less practical support, creating increased hardship.
The cost of ongoing cancer treatments can create unnecessary and unmanageable financial burden for those in lower socioeconomic groups. This can be further compounded by the impact of survivorship or caregiving on the ability to fully return to work.
Digital technologies such as telehealth and other digital interventions were identified as cost-effective ways to support consumers with limited ability to afford ongoing costs associated with their care.
Stakeholders emphasised the need to provide infrastructure and support so that people in lower socioeconomic groups have consistent access to digital technologies such as telehealth, virtual care, and digital therapeutics.
Stakeholders stated that health literacy can be poorer for those in lower socioeconomic groups. As a result of poorer health literacy, people in lower socioeconomic groups may face challenges in communicating with healthcare providers and understanding their healthcare needs.
Opportunities exist to upskill the current cancer care workforce in complex communication skills, such as communicating with people who have poorer health literacy. In doing so, people in lower socioeconomic groups will face fewer challenges navigating their healthcare.
The Australian Cancer Plan considers an intersectional and health equity approach for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This is more than recognising the multiple backgrounds, experiences, and ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people identify. This approach addresses the way membership of multiple groups may impact people's health and wellbeing needs and ability to access care.
Implementation of each action should consider the compounding impacts of intersectionality across other priority population groups.