Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42187882›Full record

ArticleDiseases (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Cancer Patterns and Barriers to Care Among Socioeconomically Vulnerable Populations in Tripoli: A Descriptive Study from a Local NGO.

Mouhamad J Darwich, Dalal Ksair, Zein Adra, Rafaela-Yomn Naji, Bushra Sayed, Rihab Nasr, Zeina Dassouki

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diseases (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mouhamad J DarwichSanabel Nour, Research and Development Unit, Medical Department, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon.
Dalal KsairSanabel Nour, Research and Development Unit, Medical Department, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon.
Zein AdraSanabel Nour, Research and Development Unit, Medical Department, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon.
Rafaela-Yomn NajiSanabel Nour, Research and Development Unit, Medical Department, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon.
Bushra SayedSanabel Nour, Research and Development Unit, Medical Department, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon.
Rihab NasrDepartment of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon.ORCID 0000-0003-1166-4999
Zeina DassoukiDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Balamand, Beirut 55251, Lebanon.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesCancer patterns in low-resource and crisis-affected settings are poorly characterized, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable populations. This study aimed to describe cancer distribution, age at diagnosis, and barriers to care among patients presenting to a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Tripoli, Lebanon.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with histopathologically confirmed cancers presenting to a single NGO. Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral data were extracted from medical records. Socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed using a validated composite scale. Age-standardized proportions (ASPs) were calculated using GLOBOCAN and WHO standard weights. Barriers to care were categorized into financial, geographic, system-level, and sociocultural domains. Associations were assessed using chi-square tests and regression models.

resultsBreast cancer was the most common malignancy (32.0%), followed by colorectal (CRC: 9.8%). A total of 440 patients were included. Colorectal cancer (CRC) was the second-most common malignancy, with 37% of cases occurring before age 50. Breast cancer accounted for nearly half of female cancers. Smoking-related malignancies, particularly bladder and lung cancers, were prominent. Sex differences were cancer-specific, with male sex associated with bladder cancer but not overall cancer distribution. Barriers to care were highly prevalent: 97.3% reported at least one financial barrier, 95.4% system-level barriers, and 72.4% geographic barriers. Low SES was significantly associated with geographic barriers (

conclusionsCancer patterns in this vulnerable population are characterized by early-onset disease, a high burden of smoking-related cancers, and pervasive barriers to care. These findings highlight the importance of integrating SES and access-related variables into cancer surveillance systems and support the development of targeted, equity-focused interventions.

Indexed as

access to carebreast cancercancer epidemiologycolorectal cancerhealth equityLebanonscreeningsocioeconomic disparities

Identifiers

PMID42187882
PMCPMC13206300

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.