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Algu K, Wales J, Anderson M, Omilabu M, Briggs T, Kurahashi AM. Naming racism as a root cause of inequities in palliative care research: a scoping review. BMC Palliat Care 2024; 23:143. [PMID: 38858646 PMCID: PMC11163751 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01465-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial and ethnic inequities in palliative care are well-established. The way researchers design and interpret studies investigating race- and ethnicity-based disparities has future implications on the interventions aimed to reduce these inequities. If racism is not discussed when contextualizing findings, it is less likely to be addressed and inequities will persist. OBJECTIVE To summarize the characteristics of 12 years of academic literature that investigates race- or ethnicity-based disparities in palliative care access, outcomes and experiences, and determine the extent to which racism is discussed when interpreting findings. METHODS Following Arksey & O'Malley's methodology for scoping reviews, we searched bibliographic databases for primary, peer reviewed studies globally, in all languages, that collected race or ethnicity variables in a palliative care context (January 1, 2011 to October 17, 2023). We recorded study characteristics and categorized citations based on their research focus-whether race or ethnicity were examined as a major focus (analyzed as a primary independent variable or population of interest) or minor focus (analyzed as a secondary variable) of the research purpose, and the interpretation of findings-whether authors directly or indirectly discussed racism when contextualizing the study results. RESULTS We identified 3000 citations and included 181 in our review. Of these, most were from the United States (88.95%) and examined race or ethnicity as a major focus (71.27%). When interpreting findings, authors directly named racism in 7.18% of publications. They were more likely to use words closely associated with racism (20.44%) or describe systemic or individual factors (41.44%). Racism was directly named in 33.33% of articles published since 2021 versus 3.92% in the 10 years prior, suggesting it is becoming more common. CONCLUSION While the focus on race and ethnicity in palliative care research is increasing, there is room for improvement when acknowledging systemic factors - including racism - during data analysis. Researchers must be purposeful when investigating race and ethnicity, and identify how racism shapes palliative care access, outcomes and experiences of racially and ethnically minoritized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Algu
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, 60 Murray Street, 4th Floor, Box 13, Toronto, ON, M5T3L9, Canada.
| | - Joshua Wales
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, 60 Murray Street, 4th Floor, Box 13, Toronto, ON, M5T3L9, Canada
| | - Michael Anderson
- Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, 6th floor, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada
| | - Mariam Omilabu
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, 60 Murray Street, 4th Floor, Box 13, Toronto, ON, M5T3L9, Canada
| | - Thandi Briggs
- Home and Community Care Support Services Toronto Central, 250 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON, M5T 2Z5, Canada
| | - Allison M Kurahashi
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, 60 Murray Street, 4th Floor, Box 13, Toronto, ON, M5T3L9, Canada
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Rashid Z, Munir MM, Woldesenbet S, Khan MMM, Khalil M, Endo Y, Tsilimigras DI, Dillhoff M, Ejaz A, Pawlik TM. Association between social determinants of health and delayed postoperative adjuvant therapy among patients undergoing resection of pancreatic cancer. J Surg Oncol 2024; 129:850-859. [PMID: 38151795 DOI: 10.1002/jso.27571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Pancreatic cancer (PDAC) requires a multimodality approach. We sought to define the association between social determinants of health (SDOH) and delayed or nonreceipt of adjuvant chemotherapy (aCT) among patients undergoing PDAC resection. METHODS Data on patients who underwent PDAC resection between 2014 and 2020 were identified from Medicare Standard Analytic Files and merged with the county-level social vulnerability index (SVI). Mediation analysis defined the association between SVI subthemes and aCT receipt. RESULTS Among 24 078 patients, 47.7% received timely aCT, 17.7% received delayed aCT, and 34.6% did not receive any aCT. High SVI was associated with delay (odds ratio [OR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.34) and nonreceipt of aCT (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.20-1.41) (both p < 0.05). 73.1% of the variation in timely aCT receipt was directly attributable to SVI, whereas 26.9% of the effect was due to indirect mediators including hospital volume (6.4%), length-of-stay (7.9%) and postoperative complications (12.6%). Socioeconomic status (delayed aCT: OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13-1.38; nonreceipt aCT: OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.15-1.36) and household composition and disability (delayed aCT: OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.17-1.43; nonreceipt aCT: OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09-1.29) were associated with receipt of aCT (both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Most of the disparities in receipt of aCT after PDAC surgery are driven by underlying SDOH such as SVI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zayed Rashid
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Muhammad M Munir
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Selamawit Woldesenbet
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Muhammad M M Khan
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Mujtaba Khalil
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yutaka Endo
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Diamantis I Tsilimigras
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Mary Dillhoff
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Aslam Ejaz
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Allen JM, Awunti M, Guo Y, Bian J, Rogers SC, Scarton L, DeRemer DL, Wilkie DJ. Unraveling Racial Disparities in Supportive Care Medication Use among End-of-Life Pancreatic Cancer Patients: Focus on Pain Management and Psychiatric Therapies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023; 32:1675-1682. [PMID: 37788369 PMCID: PMC10690138 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-23-0251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Supportive care medication use differences may contribute to racial disparities observed in health-related quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS In this observation study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database, we sought to examine supportive care medication use disparities in patients with pancreatic cancer from 2005 to 2017 by race and ethnicity. RESULTS Among 74,309 patients included in the final analysis, racial and ethnic disparities in the use of supportive care medications were identified. After adjustment for confounding factors and compared with non-Hispanic Whites, minorities had significantly less use of opioids [Black: adjusted OR (aOR), 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.79-0.88; Asian: aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.90), and skeletomuscular relaxants (Black: aOR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.99; Hispanic: aOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74-0.91; Asian: aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.51-0.68), and increased use of non-opioid analgesics (Hispanic: aOR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14; Asian: aOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.26-1.49). Racial and ethnic minorities had less use of antidepressants (Black: aOR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.53-0.59; Hispanic: aOR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.73-0.82; Asian: aOR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.44-0.51), anxiolytics (Black: aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.74-0.82; Hispanic: aOR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.62-0.71; Asian: aOR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.48-0.57), and antipsychotics (Hispanic: aOR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.99; Asian: aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.95). CONCLUSIONS Racial and ethnic disparities in the use of supportive care medications among patients with pancreatic cancer were observed, with the differences unexplained by sociodemographic factors. IMPACT Future studies should identify strategies to promote equitable use of supportive care medications among racial minorities and explore factors that may influence their use in these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M. Allen
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Orlando, Florida
| | - MegCholack Awunti
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Orlando, Florida
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Jiang Bian
- Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Sherise C. Rogers
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Lisa Scarton
- Department of Family, Community, and Health Systems Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida
| | - David L. DeRemer
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Diana J. Wilkie
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida
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Khayal IS, O'Malley AJ, Barnato AE. Clinically informed machine learning elucidates the shape of hospice racial disparities within hospitals. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:190. [PMID: 37828119 PMCID: PMC10570342 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00925-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Racial disparities in hospice care are well documented for patients with cancer, but the existence, direction, and extent of disparity findings are contradictory across the literature. Current methods to identify racial disparities aggregate data to produce single-value quality measures that exclude important patient quality elements and, consequently, lack information to identify actionable equity improvement insights. Our goal was to develop an explainable machine learning approach that elucidates healthcare disparities and provides more actionable quality improvement information. We infused clinical information with engineering systems modeling and data science to develop a time-by-utilization profile per patient group at each hospital using US Medicare hospice utilization data for a cohort of patients with advanced (poor-prognosis) cancer that died April-December 2016. We calculated the difference between group profiles for people of color and white people to identify racial disparity signatures. Using machine learning, we clustered racial disparity signatures across hospitals and compared these clusters to classic quality measures and hospital characteristics. With 45,125 patients across 362 hospitals, we identified 7 clusters; 4 clusters (n = 190 hospitals) showed more hospice utilization by people of color than white people, 2 clusters (n = 106) showed more hospice utilization by white people than people of color, and 1 cluster (n = 66) showed no difference. Within-hospital racial disparity behaviors cannot be predicted from quality measures, showing how the true shape of disparities can be distorted through the lens of quality measures. This approach elucidates the shape of hospice racial disparities algorithmically from the same data used to calculate quality measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inas S Khayal
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA.
- Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA.
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA.
- Cancer Population Sciences Program, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA.
| | - A James O'Malley
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA
- Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
- Department of Mathematics, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Amber E Barnato
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA
- Cancer Population Sciences Program, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA
- Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA
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Ramkumar N, Wang Q, Brooks GA, Tosteson AN, Wong SL, Loehrer AP. Association of rurality with utilization of palliative care and hospice among Medicare beneficiaries who died from pancreatic cancer: A cohort study. J Rural Health 2023; 39:557-564. [PMID: 36631820 PMCID: PMC10293103 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer has a 5-year survival of just 10%. Services such as palliative care and hospice are thus crucial in this population, yet their geographic accessibility and utilization remains unknown. AIM We studied the association between rurality of patient residence and the use of palliative care and hospice. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cohort study of continuously enrolled fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 diagnosed with incident pancreatic cancer between 04/01/2016-08/31/2018 and who died by 12/31/2018. RESULTS In this decedent cohort of 31,460 patients, 77% lived in metropolitan areas, 11% in micropolitan areas, 7% in small towns, and 5% in rural areas. Patient demographics were largely similar across rurality; however, the proportion of White, non-Hispanic patients and social deprivation was highest in rural areas and lowest in metropolitan areas. Overall, 33% of patients used any palliative care and 77% received hospice services. After risk adjustment, there were no statistically significant differences in the use of palliative care for patients residing in metropolitan versus micropolitan, small town, or rural areas. Patients in small town (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.69-0.86) and rural areas (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66-0.85) had lower adjusted odds of receiving hospice care compared to patients in metropolitan areas. CONCLUSIONS The use of palliative care services captured in Medicare was low, representing either underutilization or failure to accurately measure the extent of services used. While the overall level of hospice enrollment was high, patients in rural communities had relatively lower use of hospice services compared to those in metropolitan areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niveditta Ramkumar
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Qianfei Wang
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Gabriel A. Brooks
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
- Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Anna N.A. Tosteson
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Sandra L. Wong
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon NH 03756
| | - Andrew P. Loehrer
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03766
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH 03756
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon NH 03756
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Rodin RA, Smith CB. Examining Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Opioid Prescribing and Risk Screening Among Patients With Advanced Cancer. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:2474-2477. [PMID: 36827632 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.02879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Rodin
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Cardinale B Smith
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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Chawla M, Villarreal ME, Waterman BL, Di Tosto G, Gonzalez R, Sarna A, Patel R, Cloyd J, Pawlik TM, Rush LJ, McAlearney A, Ejaz A. Utilization of Palliative and Hospice Care Among Pancreatic Cancer Patients at an Academic Center. J Surg Res 2023; 289:22-26. [PMID: 37075607 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has the lowest 5-y relative survival of all solid tumor malignancies. Palliative care can improve the quality of life of both patients and their caregivers. However, the utilization patterns of palliative care in patients with pancreatic cancer are unclear. METHODS Pancreatic cancer patients who were diagnosed between October 2014 and December 2020 at the Ohio State University were identified. Palliative care and hospice utilization and referral patterns were assessed. RESULTS Of the 1458 pancreatic cancer patients, 55% (n = 799) were male, median age at diagnosis was 65 y (interquartile range [IQR]: 58, 73), and most were Caucasian (n = 1302, 89%). Palliative care was utilized by 29% (n = 424) of the cohort, with the initial consultation obtained after an average of 6 ± 9 mo from diagnosis. Patients who received palliative care were younger (62 y, IQR: 55, 70 versus 67 y, IQR: 59, 73; P < 0.001) and more frequently members of racial and ethnic minorities (15% versus 9%; P < 0.001) versus those who did not receive palliative care. Among the 344 (24%) patients who received hospice care, 153 (44%) had no prior palliative care consultation. Patients referred to hospice care survived a median of 14 d (95% CI, 12-16) after hospice referral. CONCLUSIONS Only 3 out of 10 patients with pancreatic cancer received palliative care at an average of 6 mo from initial diagnosis. More than two out of every five patients referred to hospice had no previous palliative care consultation. Efforts to understand the impact of improved integration of palliative care into pancreatic cancer programs are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehak Chawla
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Michael E Villarreal
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Brittany L Waterman
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Gennaro Di Tosto
- The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Roberto Gonzalez
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Angela Sarna
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Romal Patel
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jordan Cloyd
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Laura J Rush
- The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Ann McAlearney
- The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Aslam Ejaz
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
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Khan H, Cherla D, Mehari K, Tripathi M, Butler TW, Crook ED, Heslin MJ, Johnston FM, Fonseca AL. Palliative Therapies in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Does Medicaid Expansion Make a Difference? Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:179-188. [PMID: 36169753 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12563-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of medicaid expansion (ME) on receipt of palliative therapies in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS A difference-in-differences (DID) approach was used to analyze patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer identified from the National Cancer Database diagnosed during two time periods: pre-expansion (2010-2012) and post-expansion (2014-2016). Patients diagnosed while residing in ME states were compared with those in non-ME states. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of receipt of palliative therapies. RESULTS Of 87,738 patients overall, 7483(18.1%) received palliative therapies in the pre-expansion, while 10,211(21.5%) received palliative therapies in the post-expansion period. In the pre-expansion period, treatment at a high-volume facility (HVF) (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.18) and non-west geographic location were predictive of increased palliative therapies. In the post-expansion period, treatment at an HVF (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.16), geographic location, and living in an ME state at the time of diagnosis (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.22) were predictive of increased palliative therapies. Older age, highest quartile median income (zip-code based), and treatment at a nonacademic facility were independently associated with decreased palliative therapies in both periods. DID analysis demonstrated that patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer living in ME states had increased receipt of palliative therapies relative to those in non-ME states (DID = 2.68, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The overall utilization of palliative therapies in metastatic pancreatic cancer is low. Multiple sociodemographic disparities exist in the receipt of palliative therapies. ME is associated with increased receipt of palliative therapies in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Khan
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Deepa Cherla
- Department of Surgery, The University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Krista Mehari
- Department of Psychology, The University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Manish Tripathi
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas W Butler
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Errol D Crook
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Martin J Heslin
- Department of Surgery, The University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Fabian M Johnston
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Greenberg AL, Lin JA, Colley A, Finlayson E, Bongiovanni T, Wick EC. Characteristics and Procedures Among Adults Discharged to Hospice After Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery in California. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2220379. [PMID: 35793086 PMCID: PMC9260472 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.20379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Hospice care is associated with improved quality of life and goal-concordant care. Limited data suggest that provision of hospice services after surgery is suboptimal; however, literature in this domain is in its nascency, leaving gaps in our understanding of patients who enroll in hospice after surgery. OBJECTIVE To characterize the transition to hospice after gastrointestinal tract surgery and identify areas that warrant further attention and intervention. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study included patients discharged to hospice after a surgical hospitalization for a digestive disorder in California-licensed hospitals between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. Data were analyzed from August 1 to November 30, 2021. EXPOSURES Patient age, race and ethnicity, principal language, payer, and Distressed Community Index (DCI). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Admission type and most common diagnoses and procedures for surgical hospitalizations that resulted in discharge to hospice, annual hospitalization trend for 3 years preceding hospice enrollment, and most common diagnoses for patients who were readmitted after hospice enrollment were summarized. Age, race and ethnicity, principal language, payer, and DCI were compared between patients who were readmitted after hospice enrollment and those who were not. RESULTS Of 2688 patients with surgical hospitalizations resulting in discharge to hospice (mean [SD] age, 73.2 [14.7] years; 1459 women [54.3%]), 2389 (88.9%) had urgent or emergent discharges. The most common diagnoses were cancer (primary and metastatic; 1541 [57.3%]) and bowel obstruction (563 [20.9%]). The most common procedures were bowel resection, fecal diversion, inferior vena cava filter, gastric bypass, and paracentesis. In the 3 years preceding hospice enrollment, this cohort had a mean (SD) of 2.21 (2.77) hospitalizations per patient (1537 of 5953 surgical [25.8%]). Of these, 3594 of 5953 total (60.4%) and 840 of 1537 surgical (54.7%) hospitalizations were within 1 year of hospice enrollment. Three hundred and sixty-eight patients (13.7%) were readmitted after hospice enrollment, with infection being the most common readmission diagnosis. Readmitted patients were more likely to be younger (mean [SD] age, 69.7 [16.4] vs 73.8 [14.3] years; P < .001), to speak a principal language other than English (62 of 368 [16.8%] vs 292 of 2320 [12.6%]; P = .02), to be insured through Medicaid (70 of 368 [19.0%] vs 223 of 2320 [9.6%]; P < .001), and to be from a community with higher DCI (198 of 360 [55.0%] vs 1117 of 2269 [49.2%]; P = .04) and were less likely to be White (195 of 368 [53.0%] vs 1479 of 2320 [63.8%]; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest multiple opportunities for advance care planning in this surgical cohort, with a particular focus on emergent care. Further study is needed to understand the reasons for rehospitalization after hospice discharge and identify ways to improve communication and decision-making support for patients who choose to enroll in hospice care. Given the frequent antecedent interactions with the health care system among this population, longitudinal and tailored approaches may be beneficial to promote equitable end-of-life care; however, further research is needed to clarify barriers and understand differing patient needs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph A. Lin
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Alexis Colley
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Emily Finlayson
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco
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Temkin-Greener H, Guo W, Hua Y, Li Y, Caprio T, Schwartz L, Cai S. End-Of-Life Care In Assisted Living Communities: Race And Ethnicity, Dual Enrollment Status, And State Regulations. Health Aff (Millwood) 2022; 41:654-662. [PMID: 35500176 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Assisted living communities are the final home for many of their residents, most of whom are older, frail, and cognitively or functionally impaired. Yet little is known about end-of-life care in this setting. We examined associations of both death at home and home hospice care with individual characteristics, such as race or ethnicity and dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollment; community characteristics; and the stringency of state-level assisted living regulations. Of the 100,783 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries residing in 16,560 assisted living communities who died in 2018-19, almost 60 percent died at home, 84 percent of them with home hospice. In predicting the likelihood of death at home, dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollment was more important than race or ethnicity; in contrast, race was a stronger predictor than dual enrollment for hospice care at death. Residents were less likely to die at home or with home hospice in states with lower regulatory stringency regarding assisted living communities. These findings may help inform efforts to ensure equitable access to desired end-of-life care in this setting and suggest an important role for state-level regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yue Li
- Yue Li, University of Rochester
| | | | - Lindsay Schwartz
- Lindsay Schwartz, American Health Care Association, Washington, D.C
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11
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Fonseca AL, Khan H, Mehari KR, Cherla D, Heslin MJ, Johnston FM. Disparities in Access to Oncologic Care in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:3232-3250. [PMID: 35067789 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-11258-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer care is complex, and multiple disparities in receipt of therapies have been documented. The authors aimed to conduct a systematic review of the literature to critically assess and summarize disparities in access to oncologic therapies for pancreatic cancer. METHODS A search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were performed for studies reporting disparities in access to oncologic care for pancreatic cancer. Primary research articles published in the United States from 2000 to 2020 were included. Data were independently extracted, and risk of bias was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS The inclusion criteria were met by 47 studies. All the studies used retrospective data, with 70 % involving national database studies, 41 assessing the impact of race/ethnicity, 22 assessing the impact of socioeconomic status, 18 assessing the impact of insurance status, 23 assessing the impact of gender, 26 assessing the impact of age, and 3 assessing the impact of location on the delivery of cancer-directed therapies. Race, socioeconomic status, insurance status, gender, and age- based disparities in receipt of surgical resection, treatment at high-volume facilities and multimodal therapy for resectable pancreatic cancer, receipt of systemic chemotherapy for metastatic cancer, and receipt of expected standard-of-care treatment are reported. CONCLUSION Significant sociodemographic disparities in access to equitable oncologic care exist along the continuum of pancreatic cancer care. Multiple patient, provider, and systemic factors contribute to these disparities. The ongoing study of these disparities is important to elucidate processes that may be targeted to improve access to equitable oncologic care for patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hamza Khan
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Krista R Mehari
- Department of Psychology, The University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Deepa Cherla
- Department of Surgery, The University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Martin J Heslin
- Department of Surgery, The University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Fabian M Johnston
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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12
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Penny CL, Tanino SM, Mosca PJ. Racial Disparities in Surgery for Malignant Bowel Obstruction. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:3122-3133. [PMID: 35041096 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-11161-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Operative management of patients with malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) may provide effective palliation, but is associated with substantial risks. This study aimed to analyze racial and ethnic differences in surgical outcomes for patients with MBO. METHODS This retrospective study, using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) registry data from 2010 to 2019, compared differences in outcomes by race and ethnicity for 2762 patients undergoing surgery for MBO. Multivariable logistic regression controlled for relevant covariates. RESULTS Black patients (n = 407) had higher rates of preoperative comorbidity and were more likely than White patients (n = 2081) to have major complications (28.5% vs 21.8%; p = 0.0031), overall complications (47.4% vs 40.4%; p = 0.0087), a longer median hospital stay (12 days; interquartile range [IQR, 8-19 days] vs 10 days [IQR, 7-17 days]; p = 0.0007), and unplanned readmission (17.1% vs 12.9%; p = 0.0266). Black patients had a similar mortality rate to that of White patients and were less frequently discharged to home (67.6% vs 73.0%; p = 0.0315). Differences in morbidity between Black patients and White patients persisted after controlling for potentially confounding variables. Hispanic patients had lower mortality than White patients (6.3% vs 13.1%; p = 0.0130) and a longer hospital stay (12 days [IQR, 8-18 days] vs 10 days [IQR, 7-17 days]; p = 0.0313). Outcomes did not differ between Asian patients and White patients. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated significant disparities for Black patients undergoing surgery for MBO. Understanding and addressing what drives these differences, including systemic inequalities such as access to care and racial biases, is essential to the achievement of more equitable, higher-quality patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin L Penny
- Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sean M Tanino
- Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Paul J Mosca
- Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA. .,Department of Surgery, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA. .,Duke Network Services, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA.
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13
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Noh H, Lee HY, Lee LH, Luo Y. Awareness of Hospice Care Among Rural African-Americans: Findings From Social Determinants of Health Framework. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2021; 39:822-830. [PMID: 34856830 DOI: 10.1177/10499091211057847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite the need for hospice care as our society ages, adults in the U.S.'s southern rural region have limited awareness of hospice care. Objective: This study aims to assess the rate of awareness of hospice care among rural residents living in Alabama's Black Belt region and examine social determinants of health (SDH) associated with the awareness. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample living in Alabama's Black Belt region (N = 179, age = 18-91). Participants' awareness of hospice care, demographic characteristics (ie, age and gender), and SDH (ie, financial resources strain, food insecurity, education and health literacy, social isolation, and interpersonal safety) were assessed. Lastly, a binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between SDH and hospice awareness among participants while controlling for demographic characteristics. Results: The majority of participants had heard of hospice care (n = 150, 82.1%), and older participants (50 years old or older) were more likely to report having heard of hospice care (OR = 7.35, P < 0.05). Participants reporting worries about stable housing (OR = 0.05, P < 0.05) and higher social isolation were less likely to have heard of hospice care (OR = 0.53, P < 0.05), while participants with higher health literacy had a higher likelihood to have heard of it (OR = 2.60, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our study is the first study assessing the status of hospice awareness among residents of Alabama's Black Belt region. This study highlighted that factors including age and certain SDH (ie, housing status, health literacy, and social isolation) might be considered in the intervention to improve hospice awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjin Noh
- The University of Alabama School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Hee Y Lee
- The University of Alabama School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Lewis H Lee
- The University of Alabama School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Yan Luo
- The University of Alabama School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
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14
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Papageorge MV, Evans DB, Tseng JF. Health Care Disparities and the Future of Pancreatic Cancer Care. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2021; 30:759-771. [PMID: 34511195 DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
There have been tremendous advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer in the past decade, yet we are failing to achieve equitable outcomes for all patient populations. Disparities exist in the incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of patients with pancreatic cancer. Inequities are based on racial and ethnic group, sex, socioeconomic status, and geography. To address disparities, future steps must focus on research methods, including collection and methodology, and policy measures, including access, patient tools, hospital incentives, and workforce diversity. Through these comprehensive efforts, we can begin to rectify inequitable care for treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna V Papageorge
- Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 88 East Newton Street, Collamore - C500, Boston, MA 02118, USA. https://twitter.com/MPapageorge_MD
| | - Douglas B Evans
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Wilwaukee, WI 53226, USA. https://twitter.com/@DougEvans2273
| | - Jennifer F Tseng
- Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 88 East Newton Street, Collamore - C500, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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15
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Bazargan M, Cobb S, Assari S, Bazargan-Hejazi S. Preparedness for Serious Illnesses: Impact of Ethnicity, Mistrust, Perceived Discrimination, and Health Communication. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2021; 39:461-471. [PMID: 34476995 PMCID: PMC10173884 DOI: 10.1177/10499091211036885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing severity of serious illness requires individuals to prepare and make decisions to mitigate adverse consequences of their illness. In a racial and ethnically diverse sample, the current study examined preparedness for serious illness among adults in California. METHODS This cross-sectional study used data from the Survey of California Adults on Serious Illness and End-of-Life 2019. Participants included 542 non-Hispanic White (52%), non-Hispanic Black (28%), and Hispanic (20%) adults who reported at least one chronic medical condition that they perceived to be a serious illness. Race/ethnicity, socio-demographic factors, health status, discrimination, mistrust, and communication with provider were measured. To perform data analysis, we used logistic regression models. RESULTS Our findings revealed that 19%, 24%, and 34% of non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Hispanic believed they were not prepared if their medical condition gets worse, respectively. Over 60% indicated that their healthcare providers never engaged them in discussions of their feelings of fear, stress, or sadness related to their illnesses. Results of bivariate analyses showed that race/ethnicity was associated with serious illness preparedness. However, multivariate analysis uncovered that serious illness preparedness was only lower in the presence of medical mistrust in healthcare providers, perceived discrimination, less communication with providers, and poorer quality of self-rated health. CONCLUSION This study draws attention to the need for healthcare systems and primary care providers to engage in effective discussions and education regarding serious illness preparedness with their patients, which can be beneficial for both individuals and family members and increase quality of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Bazargan
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science & University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Public Health, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Physician Assistant Program, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Family Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sharon Cobb
- School of Nursing, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shervin Assari
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science & University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Public Health, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi
- Department of Psychiatry, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science & University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
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16
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Patient Social Vulnerability and Hospital Community Racial/Ethnic Integration: Do All Patients Undergoing Pancreatectomy Receive the Same Care Across Hospitals? Ann Surg 2021; 274:508-515. [PMID: 34397453 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of the current study was to characterize the role of patient social vulnerability relative to hospital racial/ethnic integration on postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing pancreatectomy. BACKGROUND The interplay between patient- and community-level factors on outcomes after complex surgery has not been well-examined. METHODS Medicare beneficiaries who underwent a pancreatectomy between 2013 and 2017 were identified utilizing 100% Medicare inpatient files. P-SVI was determined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, whereas H-REI was estimated using Shannon Diversity Index. Impact of P-SVI and H-REI on "TO" [ie, no surgical complication/extended length-of-stay (LOS)/90-day mortality/90-day readmission] was assessed. RESULTS Among 24,500 beneficiaries who underwent pancreatectomy, 12,890 (52.6%) were male and median age was 72 years (Interquartile range: 68-77); 10,619 (43.3%) patients achieved a TO. The most common adverse postoperative outcome was 90-day readmission (n = 8,066, 32.9%), whereas the least common was 90-day mortality (n = 2282, 9.3%). Complications and extended LOS occurred in 30.4% (n = 7450) and 23.3% (n = 5699) of the cohort, respectively. Patients from an above average SVI county who underwent surgery at a below average REI hospital had 18% lower odds [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-0.95] of achieving a TO compared with patients from a below average SVI county who underwent surgery at a hospital with above average REI. Of note, patients from the highest SVI areas who underwent pancreatectomy at hospitals with the lowest REI had 30% lower odds (95% CI: 0.54-0.91) of achieving a TO compared with patients from very low SVI areas who underwent surgery at a hospital with high REI. Further comparisons of these 2 patient groups indicated 76% increased odds of 90-day mortality (95% CI: 1.10-2.82) and 50% increased odds of an extended LOS (95% CI: 1.07-2.11). CONCLUSION Patients with high social vulnerability who underwent pancreatectomy in hospitals located in communities with low racial/ethnic integration had the lowest chance to achieve an "optimal" TO. A focus on both patient- and community-level factors is needed to ensure optimal and equitable patient outcomes.
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17
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Bazargan M, Bazargan-Hejazi S. Disparities in Palliative and Hospice Care and Completion of Advance Care Planning and Directives Among Non-Hispanic Blacks: A Scoping Review of Recent Literature. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2021; 38:688-718. [PMID: 33287561 PMCID: PMC8083078 DOI: 10.1177/1049909120966585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Published research in disparities in advance care planning, palliative, and end-of-life care is limited. However, available data points to significant barriers to palliative and end-of-life care among minority adults. The main objective of this scoping review was to summarize the current published research and literature on disparities in palliative and hospice care and completion of advance care planning and directives among non-Hispanc Blacks. METHODS The scoping review method was used because currently published research in disparities in palliative and hospice cares as well as advance care planning are limited. Nine electronic databases and websites were searched to identify English-language peer-reviewed publications published within last 20 years. A total of 147 studies that addressed palliative care, hospice care, and advance care planning and included non-Hispanic Blacks were incorporated in this study. The literature review include manuscripts that discuss the intersection of social determinants of health and end-of-life care for non-Hispanic Blacks. We examined the potential role and impact of several factors, including knowledge regarding palliative and hospice care; healthcare literacy; communication with providers and family; perceived or experienced discrimination with healthcare systems; mistrust in healthcare providers; health care coverage, religious-related activities and beliefs on palliative and hospice care utilization and completion of advance directives among non-Hispanic Blacks. DISCUSSION Cross-sectional and longitudinal national surveys, as well as local community- and clinic-based data, unequivocally point to major disparities in palliative and hospice care in the United States. Results suggest that national and community-based, multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary, theoretical-based, resourceful, culturally-sensitive interventions are urgently needed. A number of practical investigational interventions are offered. Additionally, we identify several research questions which need to be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Bazargan
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi
- Department of Psychiatry, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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18
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Kadakia KC, Trufan SJ, Jagosky MH, Worrilow WM, Harrison BW, Broyhill KL, Hwang JJ, Musselwhite LW, Aktas A, Walsh D, Salem ME. Early-onset pancreatic cancer: an institutional series evaluating end-of-life care. Support Care Cancer 2020; 29:3613-3622. [PMID: 33170401 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05876-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Little is known about the use of palliative and hospice care and their impact on healthcare utilization near the end of life (EOL) in early-onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC). METHODS Patients with EOPC (≤ 50 years) were identified using the institutional tumor registry for years 2011-2018, and demographic, clinical, and rates of referral to palliative and hospice services were obtained retrospectively. Predictors of healthcare utilization, defined as use of ≥ 1 emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization within 30 days of death, place of death (non-hospital vs. hospital), and time from last chemotherapy administration prior to death, were assessed using descriptive, univariable, and multivariable analyses including chi-square and logistic regression models. RESULTS A total of 112 patients with EOPC with a median age of 46 years (range, 29-50) were studied. Forty-four percent were female, 28% were Black, and 45% had metastatic disease. Fifty-seven percent received palliative care at a median of 7.8 weeks (range 0-265) following diagnosis. The median time between last chemotherapy and death was 7.9 weeks (range 0-102). Seventy-four percent used hospice services prior to death for a median of 15 days (range 0-241). Rate of healthcare utilization at the EOL was 74% in the overall population. Black race and late use of chemotherapy were independently associated with increase in ED visits/hospitalization and hospital place of death. CONCLUSIONS Although we observed early referrals to palliative care among patients with newly diagnosed EOPC, short duration of hospice enrollment and rates of healthcare utilization prior to death were substantial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunal C Kadakia
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, NC, 28204, Charlotte, USA. .,Department of Supportive Oncology, Levine Cancer Institue, Atrium Health, NC, Charlotte, USA.
| | - Sally J Trufan
- Department of Cancer Biostatistics, Levine Cancer Institue, Atrium Health, NC, Charlotte, USA
| | - Megan H Jagosky
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, NC, 28204, Charlotte, USA
| | - William M Worrilow
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, NC, 28204, Charlotte, USA
| | - Bradley W Harrison
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, NC, 28204, Charlotte, USA
| | - Katherine L Broyhill
- Department of Genetics, Levine Cancer Institue, Atrium Health, NC, Charlotte, USA
| | - Jimmy J Hwang
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, NC, 28204, Charlotte, USA
| | - Laura W Musselwhite
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, NC, 28204, Charlotte, USA
| | - Aynur Aktas
- Department of Supportive Oncology, Levine Cancer Institue, Atrium Health, NC, Charlotte, USA
| | - Declan Walsh
- Department of Supportive Oncology, Levine Cancer Institue, Atrium Health, NC, Charlotte, USA
| | - Mohamed E Salem
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, NC, 28204, Charlotte, USA
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19
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Abbas A, Madison Hyer J, Pawlik TM. Race/Ethnicity and County-Level Social Vulnerability Impact Hospice Utilization Among Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery. Ann Surg Oncol 2020; 28:1918-1926. [PMID: 33057860 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-020-09227-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Integration of palliative care services into the surgical treatment plan is important for holistic patient care. We sought to examine the association between patient race/ethnicity and county-level vulnerability relative to patterns of hospice utilization. PATIENTS AND METHODS Medicare Standard Analytic Files were used to identify patients undergoing lung, esophageal, pancreatic, colon, or rectal cancer surgery between 2013 and 2017. Data were merged with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's social vulnerability index (SVI). Logistic regression was utilized to identify factors associated with overall hospice utilization among deceased individuals. RESULTS A total of 54,256 Medicare beneficiaries underwent lung (n = 16,645, 30.7%), esophageal (n = 1427, 2.6%), pancreatic (n = 6183, 11.4%), colon (n = 26,827, 49.4%), or rectal (n = 3174, 5.9%) cancer resection. Median patient age was 76 years (IQR 71-82 years), and 28,887 patients (53.2%) were male; the majority of individuals were White (91.1%, n = 49,443), while a smaller subset was Black or Latino (racial/ethnic minority: n = 4813, 8.9%). Overall, 35,416 (65.3%) patients utilized hospice services prior to death. Median SVI was 52.8 [interquartile range (IQR) 30.3-71.2]. White patients were more likely to utilize hospice care compared with minority patients (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17-1.31, p < 0.001). Unlike White patients, there was reduced odds of hospice utilization (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.99) and early hospice initiation (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91-0.97) as SVI increased among minority patients. CONCLUSIONS Patients residing in counties with high social vulnerability were less likely to be enrolled in hospice care at the time of death, as well as be less likely to initiate hospice care early. The effects of increasing social vulnerability on hospice utilization were more profound among minority patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alizeh Abbas
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - J Madison Hyer
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
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20
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Abbas A, Pawlik TM. ASO Author Reflections: How Does Social Vulnerability Impact Hospice Utilization Among Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery? Ann Surg Oncol 2020; 28:1927-1928. [PMID: 33037536 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-020-09234-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alizeh Abbas
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Urban Meyer III and Shelley Meyer Chair for Cancer Research, Wexner Medical Center, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Urban Meyer III and Shelley Meyer Chair for Cancer Research, Wexner Medical Center, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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