Danielle Peterson
Research Mentor: Irene Carter
Mentor Department: Pediatric Surgery Section, Medicine
Author(s): Danielle Peterson, Keyonna Williams, Irene Carter, Erika Newman
Session: Session 7 (4:00 PM – 4:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 94
Abstract
Neuroblastoma, the most common extra cranial childhood cancer, is a clinically heterogeneous disease process that can range from spontaneous regression to refractory metastatic disease (National Cancer Institute, n.d.). Investigating potential links between socioeconomic status, access to treatment, and post-surgical outcomes in pediatric patients is important for advancing equitable healthcare and improving recovery rates after surgery. This research investigates whether surgical outcomes such as overall survival, length of stay, post operative complications, and blood transfusion requirements are impacted by poverty indicators based on zip code and insurance status. We aim to understand how social factors affect surgical outcomes to create impactful interventions regarding pediatric surgical care. Often, post-operative results are due to medical or biological factors, but this project highlights the potential influence of environmental and socioeconomic factors. If correlations are found, this could prompt healthcare providers to consider these factors more closely when creating treatment plans and providing support after surgery. Additionally, results could help with resource distribution, ensuring that children from diverse backgrounds receive equitable care. Preliminary analysis of the data is ongoing to evaluate potential relationships between socioeconomic indicators and surgical outcomes in pediatric patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who underwent tumor resection. Patterns will be analyzed to determine whether differences in postoperative recovery or resource utilization are associated with markers of poverty. Identifying such patterns may provide insight into how structural and environmental factors influence surgical recovery in pediatric oncology patients and may highlight opportunities for targeted support, improved care coordination, and more equitable allocation of healthcare resources.
