Project Summary: This study, guided by the Health Equity Implementation Framework, will use a qualitative interview approach integrating perspectives from immunotherapy treated and untreated patients and providers to explore and describe barriers and facilitators of immunotherapy utilization for advanced melanoma patients in receiving care from US Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Analyses will explore multi-level factors among treated and untreated patients and barriers faced by providers in treating patients with advanced-stage melanoma, seeking common themes addressed by patients and providers. We anticipate that obtaining a deeper understanding of barriers and facilitators will pave the way for novel educational interventions at the level of the patient, the provider, the patient-provider relationship, and the health care system.
Project Lead: Alan Geller