Provider perspectives on non-medical barriers to GI cancer care at a regional cancer center.

807 Background: Disparities in care for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are well-documented, but solutions remain elusive. Understanding the barriers faced by healthcare providers is essential to improving care equity. This study explored the perceptions of healthcare providers at a regional academic health system regarding barriers to care for GI cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare providers, including physicians, advanced care providers (APPs), nurses, dietitians, social workers, care coordinators, and physical/occupational therapists who directly care for patients with GI malignancies. Survey items assessed specific barriers encountered in clinical practice and suggestions for improving care. Descriptive statistical analysis evaluated the quantitative data from the closed-ended questions across professional roles. A thematic analysis was performed on open-response items and assessed to further identify key barriers to care based on respondents' clinical roles and experiences. Results: Seventy-nine healthcare providers responded to the survey. Initial treatment planning was consistently identified as the phase with the most significant barriers across all disciplines. Health literacy was cited as the most critical barrier to diagnosis, while insurance coverage, financial constraints, geographic location, lack of transportation, and social support were the primary obstacles to treatment. The importance of these barriers varied by profession: physicians noted geographic and transportation limitations, while nurses and social workers emphasized gaps in health literacy, insurance, and social support. Systemic issues such as limited access to specialized care and healthcare personnel shortages were also noted. Notably, 55% of physicians spent 10-30% of their time addressing non-medical barriers to treatment, while 38% of nurses spent 30-50%. Care coordination across disciplines was commonly cited as a challenge, with many calling for improved communication and establishing multidisciplinary clinics. Food insecurity, housing stability, and language/cultural barriers were less prominent concerns at this institution. Conclusions: Oncology providers at a large regional cancer center spend significant time addressing non-medical barriers to treatment for GI cancer patients, particularly during initial treatment planning. The most common challenges reported were insurance, transportation, health literacy, and social support. We will use these findings to guide in-depth provider and patient interviews and develop a team-based, equity-focused intervention. These efforts aim to improve care delivery at our institution and serve as a model enhancing GI cancer care in broader healthcare settings.