Table 2 GEE logistic regression analysis of correlations between patient and hospital characteristics and treatment refusal in colorectal cancer patients

Sex

  Female (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Male

1.06

0.98

1.14

0.172

Age at diagnosis, years

  ≤44 (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  45–54

1.13

0.97

1.31

0.112

  55–64

1.14

1.01

1.29

0.028*

  65–74

1.24

1.06

1.45

0.009*

  ≥75

1.87

1.55

2.26

<0.001*

Urbanization level of residence location

  Level 1 (highest; reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Level 2

0.97

0.86

1.08

0.555

  Level 3

0.90

0.78

1.04

0.144

  Level 4

0.89

0.76

1.05

0.172

  Level 5

1.01

0.82

1.24

0.961

  Level 6

1.01

0.82

1.23

0.961

  Level 7 (lowest)

0.96

0.76

1.22

0.761

Aboriginal status

  No (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Yes

0.80

0.51

1.24

0.317

Insured monthly salary, NTD

  ≤17,280 (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Insured dependent

0.78

0.65

0.94

0.007*

  17,281–22,800

0.90

0.80

1.00

0.048*

  ≥22,801

0.79

0.69

0.89

<0.001*

Low-income household status

  No (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Yes

1.33

0.98

1.80

0.064

Other catastrophic illnesses or injuries

  No (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Yes

1.66

1.37

2.02

<0.001*

Cancer stage

  Stage 0 (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Stage I

0.38

0.29

0.48

<0.001*

  Stage II

0.29

0.22

0.39

<0.001*

  Stage III

0.35

0.27

0.47

<0.001*

  Stage IV

1.32

1.03

1.69

0.029*

Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)

  ≤3 (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  4–6

1.29

1.07

1.56

0.009*

  ≥7

1.28

1.05

1.56

0.013*

Level of diagnosing hospital

  Medical center (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Regional hospital

1.54

1.09

2.17

0.013*

  District hospital

1.82

1.27

2.61

0.001*

Ownership type of diagnosing hospital

  Public (reference group)

-

-

-

-

  Private

0.86

0.63

1.17

0.330