To the Editor: I refer to Liu et al's1 thought‐provoking analysis of out‐of‐pocket costs for radiation oncology services according to geography. Notably the dichotomous demarcation of location by Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC; 1 = major city, 2 = other) significantly limits the impact of their intended message.
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- 1. Liu D, Yu S, Webster SBG, et al. Geographic variation in out‐of‐pocket costs for radiation oncology services. Med J Aust 2023: 218: 315‐319. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2023/218/7/geographic‐variation‐out‐pocket‐costs‐radiation‐oncology‐services
- 2. Batumalai V, Shafiq J, Gabriel G, et al. Impact of radiotherapy underutilisation measured by survival shortfall, years of potential life lost and disability‐adjusted life years lost in New South Wales, Australia. Radiother Oncol 2018; 129: 191‐195.
- 3. Merie R, Gabriel G, Shafiq J, et al. Radiotherapy underutilisation and its impact on local control and survival in New South Wales, Australia. Radiother Oncol 2019; 141: 41‐47.
- 4. Tervonan H, Aranda S, Roder D, et al. Cancer survival disparities worsening by socio‐economic disadvantage over the last 3 decades in New South Wales, Australia. BMC Public Health 2017; 17: 691.
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