The role of unconscious bias in surgical safety and outcomes

Race-Conscious Learning and Sociocultural Competence in an Academic Surgery Program: Diversity, Equity, and All-Inclusion Program

INTRODUCTION

Race-based associations in medicine are often taught and learned early in medical education. Students and residents enter training with implicit and explicit biases from their educational environments, further propagating biases in their practice of medicine. Health disparities described out of context can lead trainees to develop harmful stereotypes. Surgery leadership created a model to implement educational opportunities, resources, and outcomes in an academic Department of Surgery.

METHODS

An ad hoc committee of surgical faculty, residents, and medical students was assembled. Educational goals and objectives were established via Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) committee: 1) incorporate race-conscious awareness and learning into the academic surgery curriculum for residents and medical students, 2) cooperatively learn about race in clinical and surgical decision-making, 3) incorporate learning about social determinants of health that lead to racial and ethnic inequities, and 4) develop tailored learning in order to recognize and lessen health inequities.

PHASE I

DEI Committee formed of surgery faculty, residents, medical students, and support staff. Activities of the committee, goal development, a DEI mission statement, training, and education overview were formulated by committee members.

PHASE II

A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis was created for assessment of diversity and inclusion, and race-conscious learning in the surgery clerkship and residency curriculum. Phase III: Baseline assessment to: 1) understand opinions on DEI in the Department of Surgery, 2) assess current representation within the department workforce, and 3) correlate workforce to the make-up of patient population served. Development and restructuring of the surgery education curriculum for medical students and residency created jointly with the Racism and Bias Task Force.

RESULTS

Educational programs have been implemented and delivered for: 1) appropriate inclusion of race-conscious learning such as image diversity, as well as race-based association, 2) social determinants of health in the care of patients, 3) racial disparities in surgical outcomes, 4) introduction of concepts on implicit bias, 5) opportunities for health equity rounds, and 6) inclusion in committees and leadership positions.

CONCLUSIONS

Awareness of clinical faculty and learners to race-conscious and antibias care is paramount to recognizing and addressing biases. Knowledge of sociocultural context may allow learners to develop a socioculturally sensitive approach for patient education, and to more broadly measure surgical outcomes. Race-conscious education should be implemented into teaching curriculum as well as professional development in attempts to close the gap in health-care equity.

Persistent Racial Disparities in Morbidity Following Major Elective Operations

Introduction: Despite considerable national attention, racial disparities in surgical outcomes persist. We sought to consider whether race-based inequities in outcomes following major elective surgery have improved in the contemporary era. Methods: All adult hospitalization records for elective coronary artery bypass grafting, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, colectomy, and hip replacement were tabulated from the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample. Patients were stratified by Black or White race. To consider the evolution in outcomes, we included an interaction term between race and year. We designated centers in the top quartile of annual procedural volume as high-volume hospitals (HVH). Results: Of ∼2,838,485 patients, 245,405 (8.6%) were of Black race. Following risk-adjustment, Black race was linked with similar odds of in-hospital mortality, but increased likelihood of major complications (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.41, 95%Confidence Interval [CI] 1.36-1.47). From 2016-2020, overall risk-adjusted rates of major complications declined (patients of White race: 9.2% to 8.4%; patients of Black race 11.8% to 10.8%, both P < .001). Yet, the delta in risk of adverse outcomes between patients of White and Black race did not significantly change. Of the cohort, 158,060 (8.4%) were treated at HVH. Following adjustment, Black race remained associated with greater odds of morbidity (AOR 1.37, CI 1.23-1.52; Ref:White). The race-based difference in risk of complications at HVH did not significantly change from 2016 to 2020. Conclusion: While overall rates of complications following major elective procedures declined from 2016 to 2020, patients of Black race faced persistently greater risk of adverse outcomes. Novel interventions are needed to address persistent racial disparities and ensure acceptable outcomes for all patients.

Disparities in prevalence and treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases - Recommendations from the taskforce of the guideline workshop

There is a mounting clinical, psychosocial, and socioeconomic burden worldwide as the prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to rise. Despite the introduction of therapeutic interventions with demonstrated efficacy to prevent the development or progression of these common chronic diseases, many individuals have limited access to these innovations due to their race/ethnicity, and/or socioeconomic status (SES). However, practical guidance to providers and healthcare systems for addressing these disparities is often lacking. In this article, we review the prevalence and impact of healthcare disparities derived from the above-mentioned chronic conditions and present broad-based recommendations for improving access to quality care and health outcomes within the most vulnerable populations.

An Inclusive Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Orthopedic Surgery Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Despite increasing attention, disparities in outcomes for Black and Hispanic patients undergoing orthopedic surgery are widening. In other racial-ethnic minority groups, outcomes often go unreported. We sought to quantify disparities in surgical outcomes among Asian, American Indian or Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander patients across multiple orthopedic subspecialties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was queried to identify all surgical procedures performed by an orthopedic surgeon from 2014 to 2020. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the impact of race and ethnicity on 30-day medical complications, readmission, reoperation, and mortality, while adjusting for orthopedic subspecialty and patient characteristics.

RESULTS

Across 1,512,480 orthopedic procedures, all patients who were not White were less likely to have arthroplasty-related procedures (P<.001), and Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian or Alaskan Native patients were more likely to have trauma-related procedures (P<.001). American Indian or Alaskan Native (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.005; 95% CI, 1.001-1.009; P=.011) and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (AOR, 1.009; 95% CI, 1.005-1.014; P<.001) patients had higher odds of major medical complications compared with White patients. American Indian or Alaskan Native patients had higher risk of reoperation (AOR, 1.005; 95% CI, 1.002-1.008; P=.002) and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander patients had higher odds of mortality (AOR, 1.003; 95% CI, 1.000-1.005; P=.019) compared with White patients.

CONCLUSION

Disparities regarding surgical outcome and utilization rates persist across orthopedic surgery. American Indian or Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander patients, who are under-represented in research, have lower rates of arthroplasty but higher odds of medical complication, reoperation, and mortality. This study highlights the importance of including these patients in orthopedic research to affect policy-related discussions. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(3):e131-e138.].

Current Status and Principles for the Treatment and Prevention of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in the Cardiovascular Patient Population: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Despite the known higher risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes, the pathophysiology and optimal management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), a leading complication associated with diabetes, is complex and continues to evolve. Complications of type 2 diabetes, such as DFUs, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality and the leading cause of major lower extremity amputation in the United States. There has recently been a strong focus on the prevention and early treatment of DFUs, leading to the development of multidisciplinary diabetic wound and amputation prevention clinics across the country. Mounting evidence has shown that, despite these efforts, amputations associated with DFUs continue to increase. Furthermore, due to increasing patient complexity of management secondary to comorbid conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, the management of peripheral artery disease associated with DFUs has become increasingly difficult, and care delivery is often episodic and fragmented. Although structured, process-specific approaches exist at individual institutions for the management of DFUs in the cardiovascular patient population, there is insufficient awareness of these principles in the general medicine communities. Furthermore, there is growing interest in better understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of DFUs to better define personalized medicine to improve outcomes. The goals of this scientific statement are to provide salient background information on the complex pathogenesis and current management of DFUs in cardiovascular patients, to guide therapeutic and preventive strategies and future research directions, and to inform public policy makers on health disparities and other barriers to improving and advancing care in this expanding patient population.

Standardized Cesarean Risk Counseling with Induction: Impact on Racial Disparities in Birth Satisfaction

OBJECTIVE

Our prior work demonstrated decreased birth satisfaction for Black women undergoing labor induction. We aimed to determine if implementation of standardized counseling around calculated cesarean risk during labor induction could reduce racial disparities in birth satisfaction.

STUDY DESIGN

We implemented use of a validated calculator that provides an individual cesarean risk score for women undergoing induction into routine care. This prospective cohort study compared satisfaction surveys for 6 months prior to implementation (preperiod: January 2018-June 2018) to 1 year after (postperiod: July 2018-June 2019). Women with full-term (≥37 weeks) singleton gestations with intact membranes and an unfavorable cervix undergoing induction were included. In the postperiod, providers counseled patients on individual cesarean risk at the beginning of induction using standardized scripts. This information was incorporated into care at patient-provider discretion. The validated 10-question Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) subdivided into three domains was administered throughout the study. Patients were determined to be "satisfied" or "unsatisfied" if total BSS-R score was above or below the median, respectively. In multivariable analysis, interaction terms evaluated the differential impact of the calculator on birth satisfaction by race (Black vs. non-Black women).

RESULTS

A total of 1,008 of 1,236 (81.6%) eligible women completed the BSS-R (preperiod: 330 [79.7%] versus postperiod: 678 [82.5%], p = 0.23), 63.8% of whom self-identified as Black. In the preperiod, Black women were 50% less likely to be satisfied than non-Black women, even when controlling for differences in parity (Black: 39.0% satisfied vs. non-Black: 53.9%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30-0.79). In the postperiod, there was no difference in satisfaction by race (Black: 43.7% satisfied vs. non-Black: 44.0%, aOR = 0.97. 95% CI: 0.71-1.33). Therefore, disparities in birth satisfaction were no longer present at postimplementation (interaction p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Implementation of standardized counseling with a validated calculator to predict cesarean risk after labor induction is associated with a decrease in racial disparities in birth satisfaction.

KEY POINTS

· Preintervention, Black women were less likely to have above-median birth satisfaction.. · We implemented standardized counseling around cesarean risk with labor induction.. · Implementation was associated with reduced racial disparities in birth satisfaction scores..

Identification of Clinical and Demographic Predictors for Treatment Modality in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy. There are multiple treatment modalities for CTS. This study examines both clinical and demographic predictors for initial treatment modality of CTS.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with CTS between February 2015 and October 2020 with a hand clinic visit within 6 weeks before treatment were included in our study. Patients completed Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pain Interference, Physical Function, and Depression and had complete data on relevant predictor variables. Primary outcomes were treatment group: (1) injection only; (2) release only; and (3) injection followed by release. Bivariate analyses and multinomial logistic regression was used to identify statistically significant variables and independent predictors associated with the treatment groups, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 1409 patients fit our inclusion criteria. Sex, age, body mass index (BMI), race, ethnicity, Pain Interference, and Depression were statistically significant predictors for treatment group in bivariate analysis (P < .05). In multivariable analysis, adults older than 65 years were less likely to receive either injection only or injection followed by release (odds ratio [OR]: 0.56 and OR: 0.52, respectively; P < .01). Overweight (BMI: ≥25) individuals were less likely to receive injection only (OR: 0.45; P < .01). Women were more likely to have either injection only or injection followed by released (OR: 1.50 and 1.55; P < .01). Similarly, black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color had an increased odds of injection only and injection followed by release (OR: 1.61 and OR: 1.69, respectively; P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Sex, age, BMI, race, and ethnicity were found to be independent predictors of treatment modality for CTS.

Changes in Controllable Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Practice for White and Black Americans

BACKGROUND

Racial disparities in outcomes after cardiac surgery are well reported. We sought to determine whether variation by race exists in controllable practices during coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We hypothesized that racial disparities exist in CABG quality metrics, but have improved over time.

METHODS

All patients undergoing isolated CABG (2000 to 2019) in a multiple state database were stratified into three eras by race. Analysis included propensity matched White Americans and Black Americans. Primary outcomes included left internal mammary artery use, multiple arterial grafting, revascularization completeness, and guideline-directed medication prescription.

RESULTS

Of 72 248 patients undergoing CABG, Black American patients (n = 10 270, 15%) had higher rates of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prior stroke, and myocardial infarction. After matching, 19 806 patients (n = 9903 per group) were well balanced. Left internal mammary artery use was significantly different early (era 1, Black Americans 84.7% vs White Americans 86.6%; P = .03), but equalized over time. Importantly, multiarterial grafting differed between Black Americans and White Americans over the entire study (9.1% vs 11.5%, P < .001) and within each era. Black Americans had more incomplete revascularization during the study period (14% vs 12.8%, P = .02) driven by a large disparity in era 1 (9.5% vs 7.2%, P < .001). Despite similar rates of preoperative use, Black Americans were more often discharged on a regimen of β-blockers (91.8% vs 89.6%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery metrics of left internal mammary artery use and optimal medical therapy have improved over time and are similar despite patient race. Black Americans undergo less frequent multiarterial grafting and greater discharge β-blocker prescription. Identifying changes in controllable CABG quality practices across races supports a continued focus on standardizing such efforts.

Perioperative Outcomes and Risk Profile of 4730 Cosmetic Breast Surgery Cases in Academic Institutions: An ACS-NSQIP Analysis

BACKGROUND

Cosmetic breast surgery (CBS) can be subdivided into augmentation, mastopexy, reduction, and reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze a multi-institutional national database to investigate the outcomes of CBS and identify clinical patterns to optimize care.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2008-2020) was reviewed to identify female patients who underwent CBS. Postoperative outcomes (30-day surgical and medical complications, reoperation, readmission, and mortality) and risk factors for complications were assessed.

RESULTS

In total, 4733 patients were identified (mean age, 40 [13] years; mean BMI, 24 [4.5] kg/m2) with augmentation accounting for 54% of cases. There were complications in 2.0% of cases. Age >65 years (P = .002), obesity (P < .0001), setting (P < .0001), and diabetes (P = .04) were risk factors for any complication. Age >65 years (P = .02), obesity (P = .03), diabetes (P = .01), history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (P = .002) and congestive heart failure (P < .0001), smoking in the past year (P = .003), setting (P = .007), and increased American Society of Anesthesiology score (P < .0001) were predictors of surgical complications such as dehiscence and infection. Multivariable analysis confirmed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity Class 1 and 3, and inpatient status were independent risk factors for occurrence of any complication (P = .0005, .0003, < .0001 and <.0001, respectively). Additionally, multiple procedures (P = .02) and smoking (P = .005) were found to be risk factors for surgical complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the positive safety profile of CBS. Healthy BMI is a protective factor, while complications were more likely among inpatient procedures. A correlation between multiple procedures and increased surgical complications was identified. Awareness of these risk factors can assist surgeons to further refine their perioperative protocols.

Health Inequities in Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery in the United States: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Health inequities have been shown to have negative effects on patient care and the healthcare system. It is important for orthopaedic trauma surgeons and researchers to understand the extent to which patients are affected by these inequities.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review as outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. We searched PubMed and Ovid Embase for articles relating to orthopaedic trauma surgery and health inequities.

RESULTS

After exclusion criteria were applied, our final sample consisted of 52 studies. The most frequently evaluated inequities were sex (43 of 52 [82.7]), race/ethnicity (23 of 52 [44.2]), and income status (17 of 52 [32.7]). The least frequently evaluated inequities were lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer identity (0 of 52 [0.0]) and occupational status (8 of 52 [15.4]). Other inequities evaluated included rural/underresourced (11 of 52 [21.1]) and educational level (10 of 52 [19.2]). No trend was observed when examining inequities reported by year.

CONCLUSION

Health inequities exist in orthopaedic trauma literature. Our study highlights multiple inequities in the field that need further investigation. Understanding current inequities and how to best mitigate them could improve patient care and outcomes in orthopaedic trauma surgery.

Racial and ethnic disparities in major adverse limb events persist for chronic limb threatening ischemia despite presenting limb threat severity after peripheral vascular intervention

OBJECTIVE

Racial and ethnic disparities have been well-documented in the outcomes for chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). One purported explanation has been the disease severity at presentation. We hypothesized that the disparities in major adverse limb events (MALE) after peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) for CLTI would persist despite controlling for disease severity at presentation using the WIfI (Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection) stage.

METHODS

The Vascular Quality Initiative PVI dataset (2016-2021) was queried for CLTI. Patients were excluded if they were missing the WIfI stage. The primary end point was the incidence of 1-year MALE, defined as major amputation (through the tibia or fibula or more proximally) or reintervention (endovascular or surgical) of the initial treatment limb. A multivariate hierarchical Fine-Gray analysis was performed, controlling for hospital variation, competing risk of death, and presenting WIfI stage, to assess the independent association of Black/African American race and Latinx/Hispanic ethnicity with MALE. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for the 1-year survival analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 47,830 patients (60%) had had WIfI scores reported (73% White, 20% Black, and 7% Latinx). The 1-year unadjusted cumulative incidence of MALE was 13.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.6%-13.5%) for White, 14.3% (95% CI, 13.5%-15.3%) for Black, and 17.0% (95% CI, 15.3%-18.9%) for Latinx patients. On bivariate analysis, the occurrence of MALE was significantly associated with younger age, Black race, Latinx ethnicity, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, dialysis, intervention level, any prior minor or major amputation, and WIfI stage (P < .001). The cumulative incidence of 1-year MALE increased by increasing WIfI stage: stage 1, 11.7% (95% CI, 10.9%-12.4%); stage 2, 12.4% (95% CI, 11.8%-13.0%); stage 3, 14.8% (95% CI, 13.8%-15.8%); and stage 4, 15.4% (95% CI, 14.3%-16.6%). The cumulative incidence also increased by intervention level: inflow, 10.7% (95% CI, 9.8%-11.7%), femoropopliteal, 12.3% (95% CI, 11.7%-12.9%); and infrapopliteal, 14.1% (95% CI, 13.5%-14.8%). After adjustment for WIfI stage only, Black race (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.17-1.44; P < .001) and Latinx ethnicity (SHR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.37-1.81; P < .001) were associated with an increased 1-year hazard of MALE compared with White race. On adjusted multivariable analysis, MALE disparities persisted for Black/African American race (SHR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.25; P = .028) and Latinx/Hispanic ethnicity (SHR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.16-1.54; P < .001) compared with White race.

CONCLUSIONS

Black/African American and Latinx/Hispanic patients had a higher associated hazard of MALE after PVI for CLTI compared with White patients despite an adjustment for WIfI stage at presentation. These results suggest that disease severity at presentation does not account for disparities in outcomes. Further work should focus on better understanding the underlying mechanisms for disparities in historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups presenting with CLTI.

The Influence of the Socioeconomic Status and the Density of the Population on the Outcome After Peripheral Artery Disease

BACKGROUND

Low socioeconomic status (SES) and living in a rural environment are associated with poorer health and a higher number of amputations among the population at large. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of low SES and of the degree of urbanization on the short-term and long-term results of patients after revascularization for peripheral artery disease.

METHODS

An observational retrospective follow-up study of 770 patients operated on for peripheral artery disease at three university centers in north-western Spain from January 2015 to December 2016. The events studied were Rutherford classification of severity upon admission, direct amputation, amputations in the follow-up period, new revascularization procedures, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and overall mortality. Mean personal income and income of the household associated with the street in which each patient lived and the degree of urbanization in three areas as per Eurostat criteria: densely populated areas, intermediate density areas, and thinly populated areas. Comorbidity, surgical, and follow-up variables were also collected. Descriptive analysis and Cox regression were used. Approval was obtained from the regional ethics committee.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 47.5 months. MACE occurred in 21.5% of the series and overall mortality was 47.0%. Living in a thinly populated area is associated with a lower risk of MACE (adjusted subhazard ratio = 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-0.91). Overall survival is lower in intermediate density area patients (adjusted Hazard Ratio = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.07-2.00). The third quartile of mean personal and household income is associated with a higher risk of major amputation at follow-up (adjusted Odds Ratio 1.92, 95% CI: 1.05-3.52 and adjusted Odds Ratio 1.93, 95% CI: 1.0.3-3.61, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who live in a densely populated area run a higher risk of MACE. SES is neither associated with worse outcomes after surgery nor with MACE in long-term follow-up.

Analysis of Outpatient Adherence in 45,237 Patients Referred by an Emergency Department to Surgical Clinics

INTRODUCTION

This study examines referral patterns to surgical clinics from the emergency department and the impact of sociodemographic factors on adherence.

METHODS

Patients from 2017 to 2021 were identified who had a referral placed to surgical specialties from the ED. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who had a referral to surgery placed during an ED visit but who showed up to surgery clinic visit within 60 days of referral placement. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Referrals were made for 45,237 patients overall and 4130 for general surgery specifically. 44% showed up to general surgery clinic visit. In univariate and multivariate analysis, those who showed up to clinic were older, tended to be female, had a lower social economic status, had Medicaid or Medicare insurance and had more comorbidities compared to those who did not show up. Asians and Hispanics were more likely to show up to clinic compared to Whites.

CONCLUSIONS

Assigning navigators in the ED to follow-up with patients who are younger and healthier, with private insurances who have existing PCPs to ensure they follow up as advised is a potential targeted intervention to improve clinic adherence.

Racial disparities in recommendations for surgical resection of primary brain tumours: a registry-based cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Disparities in treatment and outcomes disproportionately affect minority ethnic and racial populations in many surgical fields. Although substantial research in racial disparities has focused on outcomes, little is known about how surgeon recommendations can be influenced by patient race. The aim of this study was to investigate racial and socioeconomic disparities in the surgical management of primary brain tumors.

METHODS

In this registry-based cohort study, we used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1975-2016) and the American College of Surgeons National Cancer Database (NCDB) in the USA for independent analysis. Adults (aged ≥20 years) with a new diagnosis of meningioma, glioblastoma, pituitary adenoma, vestibular schwannoma, astrocytoma, and oligodendroglioma, with information on tumour size and surgical recommendation were included in the analysis. The primary outcome of this study was the odds of a surgeon recommending against surgical resection at diagnosis of primary brain neoplasms. This outcome was determined using multivariable logistic regression with clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic factors.

FINDINGS

This study included US national data from the SEER (1975-2016) and NCDB (2004-17) databases of adults with a new diagnosis of meningioma (SEER n=63 674; NCDB n=222 673), glioblastoma (n=35 258; n=104 047), pituitary adenoma (n=27 506; n=87 772), vestibular schwannoma (n=11 525; n=30 745), astrocytoma (n=5402; n=10 631), and oligodendroglioma (n=3977; n=9187). Independent of clinical and demographic factors, including insurance status and rural-urban continuum code, Black patients had significantly higher odds of recommendation against surgical resection of meningioma (adjusted odds ratio 1·13, 95% CI 1·06-1·21, p<0·0001), glioblastoma (1·14, 1·01-1·28, p=0·038), pituitary adenoma (1·13, 1·05-1·22, p<0·0001), and vestibular schwannoma (1·48, 1·19-1·84, p<0·0001) when compared with White patients in the SEER dataset. Additionally, patients of unknown race had significantly higher odds of recommendation against surgical resection for pituitary adenoma (1·80, 1·41-2·30, p<0·0001) and vestibular schwannoma (1·49, 1·10-2·04, p=0·011). Performing a validation analysis using the NCDB dataset confirmed these significant results for Black patients with meningioma (1·18, 1·14-1·22, p<0·0001), glioblastoma (1·19, 1·12-1·28, p<0·0001), pituitary adenoma (1·21, 1·16-1·25, p<0·0001), and vestibular schwannoma (1·19, 1·04-1·35, p=0·0085), and indicated and indicated that the findings are independent of patient comorbidities. When further restricted to the most recent decade in SEER, these inequities held true for Black patients, except those with glioblastoma (meningioma [1·18, 1·08-1·28, p<0·0001], pituitary adenoma [1·20, 1·09-1·31, p<0·0001], and vestibular schwannoma [1·54, 1·16-2·04, p=0·0031]).

INTERPRETATION

Racial disparities in surgery recommendations in the USA exist for patients with primary brain tumours, independent of potential confounders including clinical, demographic, and select socioeconomic factors. Further studies are needed to understand drivers of this bias and enhance equality in surgical care.

FUNDING

None.

Characterizing Equity of Intensive Care Unit Admissions for Sepsis and Acute Respiratory Failure

Rationale: Patients who identify as from racial or ethnic minority groups who have sepsis or acute respiratory failure (ARF) experience worse outcomes relative to nonminority patients, but processes of care accounting for disparities are not well-characterized. Objectives: Determine whether reductions in intensive care unit (ICU) admission during hospital-wide capacity strain occur preferentially among patients who identify with racial or ethnic minority groups. Methods: This retrospective cohort among 27 hospitals across the Philadelphia metropolitan area and Northern California between 2013 and 2018 included adult patients with sepsis and/or ARF who did not require life support at the time of hospital admission. An updated model of hospital-wide capacity strain was developed that permitted determination of relationships between patient race, ethnicity, ICU admission, and strain. Results: After adjustment for demographics, disease severity, and study hospital, patients who identified as Asian or Pacific Islander had the highest adjusted ICU admission odds relative to patients who identified as White in both the sepsis and ARF populations (odds ratio, 1.09; P = 0.006 and 1.26; P < 0.001). ICU admission was also elevated for patients with ARF who identified as Hispanic (odds ratio, 1.11; P = 0.020). Capacity strain did not modify differences in ICU admission for patients who identified with a minority group in either disease population (all interactions, P > 0.05). Conclusions: Systematic differences in ICU admission patterns were observed for patients that identified as Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic. However, ICU admission was not restricted from these groups, and capacity strain did not preferentially reduce ICU admission from patients identifying with minority groups. Further characterization of provider decision-making can help contextualize these findings as the result of disparate decision-making or a mechanism of equitable care.

Rates of Complications and Reoperation after Myomectomy-the Impact of Surgical Approach: A Statewide Population-based Cohort Study from 2005-2018

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess rates of and factors associated with complications and reoperation after myomectomy.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study.

SETTING

All non-Veterans Affairs facilities in the state of California from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2018.

PARTICIPANTS

Women undergoing abdominal or laparoscopic myomectomy for myoma disease were identified from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development datasets using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision and Current Procedural Terminology codes.

INTERVENTIONS

Demographics, surgery facility type, facility surgical volume, and surgical approach were identified. Primary outcomes included complications occurring within 60 days of surgery and reoperations for myomas. Patients were followed up for over an average of 7.3 years. Univariate and multivariable associations were explored between the above factors and rates of complications and reoperation. All odds ratios (ORs) are adjusted ORs.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of the 66 012 patients undergoing myomectomy, 5265 had at least one complication (8.0%). Advanced age, black, Asian race, MediCal and Medicare payor status, academic facility, and medical comorbidities were associated with increased odds of a complication. Minimally invasive myomectomy (MIM) was associated with decreased complications compared with abdominal myomectomy (AM) (OR, 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.33; p <.001). Overall, 17 377 patients (26.3%) underwent reoperation. Medicare and MediCal payor status and medical comorbidities were associated with increased odds of a repeat surgery. Reoperation rates were higher in the MIM group over the entire study period (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.95-2.79; p <.001). However, the odds of reoperation after MIM decreased each year (OR, 0.93; 95% CI 0.92-0.95; p <.001), with the odds of reoperation after AM surpassing MIM in 2015.

CONCLUSION

This study identifies outcome disparities in the surgical management of myomas and describes important differences in the rates of complications and reoperations, which can be used to counsel patients on surgical approach. These findings suggest that MIM can be considered a lasting and safe approach in properly selected patients.

Demographic Predictors of Treatment and Complications for Adult Spinal Deformity: An Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample

PURPOSE

To examine the role of demographics on surgical management and inpatient complications in patients with spinal deformity between 2010 and 2014 via retrospective analysis.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). International Classification of Diseases 9th revision codes were used to identify patients with a primary diagnosis of adult spinal deformity (ASD). Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were used to determine whether any individual demographic variables were predictive of surgical management, surgical complexity, postoperative complications and revision operations.

RESULTS

17,433 patients were identified for analysis. Surgical intervention was performed for 94.5% of patients with a primary diagnosis of ASD. Patients at urban teaching hospitals were the most likely to receive surgery (OR= 2.13; 95% CI 1.51-2.95; p < 0.001) relative to rural patients. Female patients were the majority undergoing surgery and were more likely to receive a complication or require a revision when controlling for surgical complexity. Medicare patients were the least likely to undergo surgery and the most likely to receive complex fusion when undergoing an operation. Medicare patients were the least likely to experience complications (OR=0.89; 95% CI 0.80-0.98; p = 0.022) after adjusting for surgical complexity. With regards to race and ethnicity, Hispanics had a decreased likelihood of receiving a revision surgery.

CONCLUSION

There were substantial differences in rates of surgical management, postoperative complications, and revisions among individuals of different demographics including sex, insurance status, ethnicity and hospital teaching status. Further research evaluating the effect of demographics in spine surgery is warranted to fully understand their influence on patient outcomes.

Demographic predictors of treatments and surgical complications of lumbar degenerative diseases: An analysis of over 250,000 patients from the National Inpatient Sample

ABSTRACT

This was a national database study.To examine the role of comorbidities and demographics on inpatient complications in patients with lumbar degenerative conditions.Degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine account for the most common indication for spine surgery in the elderly population in the United States. Significant studies investigating demographic as predictors of surgical rates and health outcomes for degenerative lumbar conditions are lacking.Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample from 2010 to 2014 and International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify patients with a primary diagnosis of degenerative lumbar condition. Patients were stratified based on demographic variables and comorbidity status. Multivariate regression analyses were used to determine whether any individual demographic variables, such as race, sex, insurance, and hospital status predicted postoperative complications.A total of 256,859 patients were identified for analysis. The rate of overall complications was found to be 16.1% with a mortality rate of 0.10%. Female, Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients had lower odds of receiving surgical treatment compared to White patients (P<.001). Medicare and Medicaid patients were less likely to be surgically managed than patients with private insurance (OR = 0.75, 0.37; P<.001, respectively). Urban hospitals were more likely to provide surgery when compared to rural hospitals (P < .001). Patients undergoing fusion had more complications than decompression alone (P < .001). Females, Medicare insurance status, Medicaid insurance status, urban hospital locations, and certain geographical locations were found to predict postoperative complications (P < .001).There were substantial differences in surgical management and postoperative complications among individuals of different sex, races, and insurance status. Further investigation evaluating the effect of demographics in spine surgery is warranted to fully understand their influence on patient complications.

Racial disparity in recommendation for surgical resection of skull base chondrosarcomas: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) analysis

INTRODUCTION

There is increased appreciation of racial disparities in the delivery of neurosurgical care. Here, we explore whether race influences surgical recommendations in the management of skull base chondrosarcomas.

METHODS

We identified 493 patients with skull base chondrosarcoma using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry (November 2017 submission). Regression analyses were performed to identify demographic variables associated with recommendation against surgery. Univariate and multivariate cox proportional hazards models were used for survival analysis.

RESULTS

In a univariate analysis, we found that the African-American race was associated with an increased likelihood of surgeon recommendation against surgery (OR = 4.416, 95% CI = 1.893-10.302, p = 0.001). This association remained robust in the multivariate model that controlled for other covariates, including age of diagnosis (OR = 5.091, 95% CI = 2.127-12.187, p < 0.001). For patients who received a recommendation against surgery, the likelihood of dying from non-chondrosarcoma causes was comparable between Caucasian and African-American patients, suggesting that the prevalence and severity of medical conditions that increase the risk of death were comparable between these cohorts (HR = 0.466, 95% CI = 0.057-3.802, p = 0.475). The likelihood of dying from chondrosarcoma was comparable between Caucasian and African-American patients who underwent surgery (HR = 0.982, 95% CI = 0.353-2.732, p = 0.973), suggesting absence of race-specific surgical benefits.

CONCLUSION

We identified a racial disparity against African-Americans in recommendations for surgical resection of skull base chondrosarcomas.

Teaching what matters: Integrating health equity education into the core surgery clerkship

BACKGROUND

Significant disparities in surgical outcomes exist. It is imperative to prepare future doctors to eliminate disparities. Our team of senior medical students developed a surgical clerkship module examining equity in prostate cancer. Student attitudes before and after a facilitated teaching session were assessed.

METHODS

A surgical equity pilot module was integrated into the core surgical clerkship starting in July 2020. This module was composed of (1) asynchronous preparatory material and (2) a synchronous interactive case discussion regarding disparities in prostate cancer. Discussion sessions were facilitated by upper-level medical students. Participants answered optional anonymous Likert-style and open-ended survey questions before and after the session. Pre- and post-responses were compared.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixteen students completed the module between July 2020 and January 2021. Pre- and post-survey response rates were 66% and 29%, respectively. At baseline, almost all students (95%) agreed knowledge of disparities would make them a better physician. However, the majority (95%) described their general knowledge of surgical disparities as "nonexistent," "poor," or "average." Most students did not have a framework for assessing causes of surgical disparities (86%) and were not aware of interventions for reducing disparities (90%). After intervention, the majority rated their knowledge of surgical disparities as "good" or "excellent" (71%; P < .001). Most students indicated they had a framework 79%; P < .001) and were aware of effective interventions (62%; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated a successful pilot of an equity-focused clerkship module. Student attitudes after a single session reflected significant improvement in knowledge of causes and interventions related to surgical disparities. Equity-focused teaching can be incorporated into the surgical clerkship.

Unmasking bias and perception of lead surgeons in the operating room: A simulation based study

BACKGROUND

Perception of a surgeon based on physical attributes in the operating room (OR) environment has not been assessed, which was our primary goal.

METHODS

A common OR scenario was simulated using 8 different actors as a lead surgeon with combinations of age (<40 vs. >55), race (white vs. black), and gender (male vs. female). One video scenario with a survey was electronically distributed to surgeons, residents, and OR nurses/staff. The overall rating, assessment, and perception of the lead surgeon were assessed.

RESULTS

Of 974 respondents, 64.5% were females. There were significant differences in the rating and assessment based upon surgeon's age (p = .01) favoring older surgeons. There were significant differences in the assessments of surgeons by the study group (p = .03). The positive assessments as well as perceptions trended highest towards male, older, and white surgeons, especially in the stressful situation.

CONCLUSION

While perception of gender bias may be widespread, age and race biases may also play a role in the OR. Inter-professional education training for OR teams could be developed to help alleviate such biases.

Gender disparities in clozapine prescription in a cohort of treatment-resistant schizophrenia in the South London and Maudsley case register

BACKGROUND

Gender disparities in treatment are apparent across many areas of healthcare. There has been little research into whether clozapine prescription, the first-line treatment for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), is affected by patient gender.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study identified 2244 patients with TRS within the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, by using a bespoke method validated against a gold-standard, manually coded, dataset of TRS cases. The outcome and exposures were identified from the free-text using natural language processing applications (including machine learning and rules-based approaches) and from information entered in structured fields. Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to calculate the odds ratios for clozapine prescription according to patients' gender, and adjusting for numerous potential confounders including sociodemographic, clinical (e.g., psychiatric comorbidities and substance use), neutropenia, functional factors (e.g., problems with occupation), and clinical monitoring.

RESULTS

Clozapine was prescribed to 77% of the women and 85% of the men with TRS. Women had reduced odds of being prescribed clozapine as compared to men after adjusting for all factors included in the present study (adjusted OR: 0.66; 95% CI 0.44-0.97; p = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

Women with TRS are less likely to be prescribed clozapine than men with TRS, even when considering the effects of multiple clinical and functional factors. This finding suggests there could be gender bias in clozapine prescription, which carries ramifications for the relatively poorer care of women with TRS regarding many outcomes such as increased hospitalisation, mortality, and poorer quality of life.

Testimonial Injustice: Linguistic Bias in the Medical Records of Black Patients and Women

BACKGROUND

Black Americans and women report feeling doubted or dismissed by health professionals.

OBJECTIVE

To identify linguistic mechanisms by which physicians communicate disbelief of patients in medical records and then to explore racial and gender differences in the use of such language.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

All notes for patients seen in an academic ambulatory internal medicine practice in 2017.

MAIN MEASURES

A content analysis of 600 clinic notes revealed three linguistic features suggesting disbelief: (1) quotes (e.g., had a "reaction" to the medication); (2) specific "judgment words" that suggest doubt (e.g., "claims" or "insists"); and (3) evidentials, a sentence construction in which patients' symptoms or experience is reported as hearsay. We used natural language processing to evaluate the prevalence of these features in the remaining notes and tested differences by race and gender, using mixed-effects regression to account for clustering of notes within patients and providers.

KEY RESULTS

Our sample included 9251 notes written by 165 physicians about 3374 unique patients. Most patients were identified as Black (74%) and female (58%). Notes written about Black patients had higher odds of containing at least one quote (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.20-1.83) and at least one judgment word (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.02-1.53), and used more evidentials (β 0.32, 95% CI 0.17-0.47), compared to notes of White patients. Notes about female vs. male patients did not differ in terms of judgment words or evidentials but had a higher odds of containing at least one quote (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.05-1.44).

CONCLUSIONS

Black patients may be subject to systematic bias in physicians' perceptions of their credibility, a form of testimonial injustice. This is another potential mechanism for racial disparities in healthcare quality that should be further investigated and addressed.

Implicit bias in healthcare: clinical practice, research and decision making

Bias is the evaluation of something or someone that can be positive or negative, and implicit or unconscious bias is when the person is unaware of their evaluation. This is particularly relevant to policymaking during the coronavirus pandemic and racial inequality highlighted during the support for the Black Lives Matter movement. A literature review was performed to define bias, identify the impact of bias on clinical practice and research as well as clinical decision making (cognitive bias). Bias training could bridge the gap from the lack of awareness of bias to the ability to recognise bias in others and within ourselves. However, there are no effective debiasing strategies. Awareness of implicit bias must not deflect from wider socio-economic, political and structural barriers as well ignore explicit bias such as prejudice.

Evaluating Single-Surgeon Bias Toward Recommending Corrective Procedures for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Based on Demographic Factors and Comorbidities in a 484-Patient Cohort

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVES

An increasing focus has been placed on removing implicit (unconscious) bias from the surgical selection process. In spine surgery, there is the potential for implicit bias to affect the decision to either operate on a patient or not, given lack of definitive surgical indications for many elective procedures. The objective of this study was to analyze the surgical decision making of a single spine surgeon in an effort to understand surgical decision-making trends based on certain demographic factors.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 484 patients who had undergone a corrective procedure for cervical myelopathy by an orthopedic spine surgeon at our institution. The preoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score served as the metric of severity of disease for cervical myelopathy. The factors that have been associated with implicit bias that were evaluated were smoking status, narcotic use status, gender, body mass index, and age.

RESULTS

Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that even after controlling for comorbidities and confounders, the only variable which predicted likelihood to operate on a patient of a milder symptomology was age (odds ratio [OR] = -0.138; (confidence interval [CI] = -0.034 to -0.006). The other factors (smoking status, narcotic use status, gender, and body mass index) were not associated with surgical decision making.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates absence of association between commonly studied areas of implicit bias and the decision to operate on a patient with milder symptomology at initial presentation of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Disparities in amputation in patients with peripheral arterial disease

BACKGROUND

To describe peripheral arterial disease-related amputation as a marker for health disparities.

Racial Disparities in Surgery: A Cross-Specialty Matched Comparison Between Black and White Patients

Objective

To determine if Black race is associated with worse short-term postoperative morbidity and mortality when compared to White race in a contemporary, cross-specialty-matched cohort.

Background

Growing evidence suggests poorer outcomes for Black patients undergoing surgery.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted comprising of all patients undergoing surgery in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset between 2012 and 2018. One-to-one coarsened exact matching was conducted between Black and White patients. Primary outcome was rate of 30-day morbidity and mortality.

Results

After 1:1 matching, 615,118 patients were identified. Black race was associated with increased rate of all-cause morbidity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.13, P < 0.001) and mortality (OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.31, P = 0.039). Black race was associated with increased risk of re-intubation (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.21-1.48, P < 0.001), pulmonary embolism (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.40-1.71, P < 0.001), failure to wean from ventilator for >48 hours (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.29, P < 0.001), progressive renal insufficiency (OR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.43-1.86, P < 0.001), acute renal failure (OR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.16-1.66, P < 0.001), cardiac arrest (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.24-1.76 P < 0.001), bleeding requiring transfusion (OR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.34-1.43, P < 0.001), DVT/thrombophlebitis (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.14-1.35, P < 0.001), and sepsis/septic shock (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15, P < 0.001). Black patients were also more likely to have a readmission (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.10-1.16, P < 0.001), discharge to a rehabilitation center (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.66-1.80, P < 0.001) or facility other than home (OR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.16-1.23, P < 0.001).

Conclusion and Relevance

This contemporary matched analysis demonstrates an association with increased morbidity, mortality, and readmissions for Black patients across surgical procedures and specialties.

Applying international organization for standards 9001 to create an effective surgical quality committee

BACKGROUND

Efforts to improve surgical safety are limited by several factors and no consensus exists regarding the most effective way to improve surgical quality. The use of ISO 9001 quality standards within healthcare is recognized but has not been widely applied for improving surgical outcomes.

METHODS

A surgical quality committee was created using ISO 9001:2015 standards. Quality objectives were assessed to understand how any suggested changes will be impacted due to risks and opportunities inherent in the system.

RESULTS

The initial quality focus was on surgical site infections in 5 services. Change in surgical infection ratio from 2018 to 2019 showed significant improvement: coronary bypass 1.288 vs. 0.901; Colon 1.359 vs. 0.589; Hysterectomy 2.119 vs. 1.022; Knee 1.391 vs. 0.306; Hip 0 vs. 0.302.

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of the first studies using ISO 9001 to improve surgical quality. The results indicate both acceptance and success of applying continual improvement strategies.

Disparities Research in Thyroid Cancer: Challenges and Strategies for Improvement

Until recently, thyroid cancer was one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in the United States. Disparities exist in many aspects of thyroid cancer care as a result of the multifactorial interplay of systemic, patient, and physician factors. To better understand the management of thyroid cancer in populations at risk for health disparities and subsequently implement changes that will lead to health equity for all patients with thyroid cancer, health services research with innovative approaches is necessary.

A standardized labor induction protocol: impact on racial disparities in obstetrical outcomes

BACKGROUND

There are marked disparities between black and nonblack women in the United States in birth outcomes. Yet, there are little data on methods to reduce these disparities. Although the cause of racial disparities in health is multifactorial, implicit bias is thought to play a contributing role. To target differential management, studies in nonobstetrical populations have demonstrated disparity reduction through care standardization. With wide variation by site and provider, labor management practices are the ideal target for standardization.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of a standardized induction of labor protocol on racial disparities in cesarean delivery rate and maternal and neonatal morbidity.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a prospective cohort study of women undergoing an induction from 2013 to 2015. Full-term (≥37 weeks' gestation) women carrying a singleton pregnancy with intact membranes and an unfavorable cervix (dilation ≤2 cm, Bishop score of ≤6) were included. We compared the cesarean delivery rate and maternal and neonatal morbidity between 2 groups stratified by race (black vs nonblack) as follows: (1) women induced in a randomized trial (n=491) that utilized an induction protocol with standardized recommendations for interventions such as oxytocin and amniotomy at particular time points and (2) women in an observational arm (n=364) enrolled at the same time whose induction and labor management occurred at provider discretion. Regression modeling was used to test an interaction between the induction protocol and race.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in cesarean delivery rate in black women managed with the induction protocol was noted when compared with those in the observational group (25.7% vs 34.2%; P=.02), whereas there was no difference in cesarean delivery rate in nonblack women (34.6% vs 29.9%; P=.41). The induction protocol reduced the racial disparity in cesarean delivery rate (interaction term, P=.04), even when controlling for parity, body mass index, indication for labor induction, and Bishop score at induction start. In addition, a significant reduction in neonatal morbidity was found in black women managed with the induction protocol (2.9% vs 8.9%; P=.001), with no difference in nonblack women (3.6% vs 5.5%; P=.55). The induction protocol did not significantly affect maternal morbidity for either race.

CONCLUSION

A standardized induction protocol is associated with reduced cesarean delivery rate and neonatal morbidity in black women undergoing induction. Further studies should determine whether implementation of induction protocols in diverse settings could reduce national racial disparities in obstetrical outcomes.

Barriers to Health Care Among Adults With Minoritized Identities in the United States, 2013-2017

Objectives. To examine the relationship between minoritized identity and barriers to health care in the United States.Methods. Nationally representative data collected from the 2013 to 2017 waves of the National Health Interview Survey were used to conduct descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Men and women were placed in 1 of 4 categories: no minoritized identities, minoritized identities of race/ethnicity (MIoRE), minoritized identities of sexuality (MIoS), or minoritized identities of both race/ethnicity and sexuality (MIoRES). Five barriers to health care were considered.Results. Relative to heterosexual White adults and after controlling for socioeconomic status, adults with MIoRE were less likely to report barriers, adults with MIoS were more likely to report barriers, and adults with MIoRES were more likely to report barriers across 2 of the study measures.Conclusions. Barriers to care varied according to gender, minoritized identity, and the measure of access to health care itself.Public Health Implications. Approaching health disparities research using an intersectional lens moves the discussion from examining individual differences to examining the role of social structures such as the health care system in maintaining and reproducing inequality.

Long-term survival of femoral neck fracture patients aged over ninety years: Arthroplasty compared with nonoperative treatment

Background

The aging of the Chinese population is expected to lead to an increase in nonagenarians and centenarians. The mortality rate in nonagenarian hip fracture patients is equivalent to the mortality rate in the average population at 5 years after injury. It is imperative to evaluate 5-year mortality in this small but very challenging subgroup of patients to optimize patient management. The primary purpose of the current retrospective study was to compare five-year survival in patients aged over 90 years who received arthroplasty or nonoperative treatment for femoral neck fracture during a 16-year period.

Methods

From January 1998 to December 2014, all consecutive nonagenarian and centenarian patients with femoral neck fracture admitted to our hospital were included in the evaluation. The primary outcome was defined as thirty-day, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year mortality after injury. Survival analysis was performed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Using the log-rank test, stratified analyses were performed to compare differences in the overall cumulative mortality and mortality at three time points (1 year, 3 years, and 5 years) after injury and differences in survival distributions.

Results

Over the 16-year study period, the arthroplasty group and the nonoperative treatment group included 33 and 53 patients, respectively. The long-term survival probability of the arthroplasty group was significantly higher than that of the nonoperative treatment group (p = 0.002). The survival time of the arthroplasty group was significantly higher than that of the nonoperative treatment group (median (P₇₅-P₂₅) = 53 (59) versus median (P₇₅-P₂₅) = 22 (52), p = 0.001). The mortality differences, except for 30-day mortality, at five time points (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years) between the nonoperative group and arthroplasty group were significant. The stratified analyses of overall cumulative mortality and mortality at three time points (1, 3, and 5 years) after injury demonstrated that the nonoperative treatment group had significantly higher cumulative mortality than the arthroplasty group.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that arthroplasty is more likely to improve long-term survival in femoral neck fracture patients aged over 90 years than nonoperative treatment. It can be expected that nearly half of patients will survive more than 5 years after surgery.

The effect of rurality on the risk of primary amputation is amplified by race

OBJECTIVE

Primary amputation (ie, without attempted revascularization) is a devastating complication of peripheral artery disease. Racial disparities in primary amputation have been described; however, rural disparities have not been well investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of rurality on risk of primary amputation and to explore the effect of race on this relationship.

METHODS

The national Vascular Quality Initiative amputation data set was used for analyses (N = 6795). The outcome of interest was primary amputation. Independent variables were race/ethnicity (non-Latinx whites vs nonwhites) and rural residence. Multivariable logistic regression examined impact of rurality and race/ethnicity on primary amputation after adjustment for relevant covariates and included an interaction for race/ethnicity by rural status.

RESULTS

Primary amputation occurred in 49% of patients overall (n = 3332), in 47% of rural vs 49% of urban patients (P = .322), and in 46% of whites vs 53% of nonwhites (P < .001). On multivariable analysis, nonwhites had a 21% higher odds of undergoing primary amputation overall (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.39). On subgroup analysis, rural nonwhites had two times higher odds of undergoing primary amputation than rural whites (AOR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.53-2.78) and a 52% higher odds of undergoing primary amputation than urban nonwhites (AOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.19-1.94). In the urban setting, nonwhites had a 21% higher odds of undergoing primary amputation than urban whites (AOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.39).

CONCLUSIONS

In these analyses, rurality was associated with greater odds for primary amputation in nonwhite patients but not in white patients. The effect of race on primary amputation was significant in both urban and rural settings; however, the effect was significantly stronger in rural settings. These findings suggest that race/ethnicity has a compounding effect on rural health disparities and that strategies to improve health of rural communities need to consider the particular needs of nonwhite residents to reduce disparities.

Identifying Modifiable Health Care Barriers to Improve Health Equity for Hospitalized Children

BACKGROUND

Children from socially disadvantaged families experience worse hospital outcomes compared with other children. We sought to identify modifiable barriers to care to target for intervention.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study of hospitalized children over 15 months. Caregivers completed a survey within 3 days of admission and 2 to 8 weeks after discharge to assess 10 reported barriers to care related to their interactions within the health care system (eg, not feeling like they have sufficient skills to navigate the system and experiencing marginalization). Associations between barriers and outcomes (30-day readmissions and length of stay) were assessed by using multivariable regression. Barriers associated with worse outcomes were then tested for associations with a cumulative social disadvantage score based on 5 family sociodemographic characteristics (eg, low income).

RESULTS

Of eligible families, 61% (n = 3651) completed the admission survey; of those, 48% (n = 1734) completed follow-up. Nine of 10 barriers were associated with at least 1 worse hospital outcome. Of those, 4 were also positively associated with cumulative social disadvantage: perceiving the system as a barrier (adjusted β = 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 2.30), skill barriers (β = 3.82; 95% CI 3.22 to 4.43), cultural distance (β = 1.75; 95% CI 1.36 to 2.15), and marginalization (β = .71; 95% CI 0.30 to 1.11). Low income had the most consistently strong association with reported barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

System barriers, skill barriers, cultural distance, and marginalization were significantly associated with both worse hospital outcomes and social disadvantage, suggesting these are promising targets for intervention to decrease disparities for hospitalized children.

Is there any gender or age-related discrepancy in the waiting time for each step in the surgical management of acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury?

Context/Objective: Prior studies indicate that patient's gender and age can influence treatment choices during spine disease management. This study examines whether individual's gender and age at injury onset influence the waiting time for each step in the surgical management of patients with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (atcSCI). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Quaternary spine trauma center. Participants: This study included consecutive individuals with atcSCI admitted from August/2002 to October/2008 who were enrolled in the Surgical Trial in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (STASCIS). Interventions: Spinal cord decompression. Outcome Measures: Data on the periods of time for each step in the surgical management were analyzed to explore the potential effects of gender and age at injury onset. Results: There were 64 individuals with atcSCI (17 women, 47 men; age range: 18-78 years; mean age: 50.5 ± 2.1 years). Older age was associated with longer stay in the acute spine center, but this association was cofounded by major pre-existing medical co-morbidities. Age did not significantly affect the waiting time for each step in the surgical management of these individuals with atcSCI. Women underwent surgical assessment earlier than men. Gender did not influence other key steps in the surgical management. Conclusion: The study results suggest that older age at injury onset was associated with longer stay in the acute spine care center, and women had a shorter waiting time for surgical assessment than men. Nevertheless, no other age or gender bias was identified in the waiting times for the steps in the management of atcSCI.

Estimating Implicit and Explicit Gender Bias Among Health Care Professionals and Surgeons

IMPORTANCE

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a validated tool used to measure implicit biases, which are mental associations shaped by one's environment that influence interactions with others. Direct evidence of implicit gender biases about women in medicine has yet not been reported, but existing evidence is suggestive of subtle or hidden biases that affect women in medicine.

OBJECTIVES

To use data from IATs to assess (1) how health care professionals associate men and women with career and family and (2) how surgeons associate men and women with surgery and family medicine.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This data review and cross-sectional study collected data from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2017, from self-identified health care professionals taking the Gender-Career IAT hosted by Project Implicit to explore bias among self-identified health care professionals. A novel Gender-Specialty IAT was also tested at a national surgical meeting in October 2017. All health care professionals who completed the Gender-Career IAT were eligible for the first analysis. Surgeons of any age, gender, title, and country of origin at the meeting were eligible to participate in the second analysis. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2018, through March 31, 2019.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Measure of implicit bias derived from reaction times on the IATs and a measure of explicit bias asked directly to participants.

RESULTS

Almost 1 million IAT records from Project Implicit were reviewed, and 131 surgeons (64.9% men; mean [SD] age, 42.3 [11.5] years) were recruited to complete the Gender-Specialty IAT. Healthcare professionals (n = 42 991; 82.0% women; mean [SD] age, 32.7 [11.8] years) held implicit (mean [SD] D score, 0.41 [0.36]; Cohen d = 1.14) and explicit (mean [SD], 1.43 [1.85]; Cohen d = 0.77) biases associating men with career and women with family. Similarly, surgeons implicitly (mean [SD] D score, 0.28 [0.37]; Cohen d = 0.76) and explicitly (men: mean [SD], 1.27 [0.39]; Cohen d = 0.93; women: mean [SD], 0.73 [0.35]; Cohen d = 0.53) associated men with surgery and women with family medicine. There was broad evidence of consensus across social groups in implicit and explicit biases with one exception. Women in healthcare (mean [SD], 1.43 [1.86]; Cohen d = 0.77) and surgery (mean [SD], 0.73 [0.35]; Cohen d = 0.53) were less likely than men to explicitly associate men with career (B coefficient, -0.10; 95% CI, -0.15 to -0.04; P < .001) and surgery (B coefficient, -0.67; 95% CI, -1.21 to -0.13; P = .001) and women with family and family medicine.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The main contribution of this work is an estimate of the extent of implicit gender bias within surgery. On both the Gender-Career IAT and the novel Gender-Specialty IAT, respondents had a tendency to associate men with career and surgery and women with family and family medicine. Awareness of the existence of implicit biases is an important first step toward minimizing their potential effect.

The Alternative Surgical Curriculum

Surgical training has focused on the development of technical competency. Interpersonal and cognitive skills are essential to working as an interdisciplinary team, which translates into safety for the patient and well-being for the surgeon and colleagues. This article offers an "alternative" surgical curriculum topic list to augment the technical skill sets traditionally taught to trainees.

A National Study Evaluating Hospital Volume and Inpatient Mortality after Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Vulnerable Populations

BACKGROUND

There is a large body of evidence documenting better outcomes for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs performed in high-volume centers. However, it remains unknown if the strength of this volume-outcome relationship is moderated by race or socioeconomic status (SES).

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional retrospective cohort study evaluating 60,618 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries undergoing open AAA repair across 1,649 hospitals between 2005 and 2009. We selected, a priori, black race and low SES as vulnerable populations based on previous reports showing each is independently associated with higher mortality. Next, we divided hospitals into quintiles of procedural volume and used logistic regression to compare risk-adjusted rates of inpatient mortality across volume quintiles for the overall study population and separately by race (black versus nonblack) and SES (low, middle, and high).

RESULTS

Overall, patients treated in the lowest-volume hospitals (LVHs) had higher risk-adjusted inpatient mortality rates than patients treated in the highest-volume hospitals (HVHs) (15.3% vs. 10.6%, P < 0.001). Higher mortality was associated with black versus nonblack race (12.9% vs. 11.7%, P < 0.001) and low SES versus high SES (12.2% vs. 11.6% P < 0.001). While nonblack patients treated in LVHs had higher odds of mortality (versus HVHs, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.83 [1.59-2.11]), this volume-outcome effect was greater for black patients (aOR 2.60 [1.63-4.16]). In contrast, high and low SES patients experienced similar differences in mortality when treated in LVHs (aOR 1.79 [1.49-2.12]; aOR 1.72 [1.28-2.30], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

While a volume-outcome effect was observed in all patients, black patients appeared to derive a disproportionate benefit from undergoing open AAA repair in HVHs. The mechanism underlying these disparate outcomes remains unclear but warrants further evaluation of contributing hospital and patient factors.

Disparities in access to emergency general surgery care in the United States

BACKGROUND

As fewer surgeons take emergency general surgery call and hospitals decrease emergency services, a crisis in access looms in the United States. We examined national emergency general surgery capacity and county-level determinants of access to emergency general surgery care with special attention to disparities.

METHODS

To identify potential emergency general surgery hospitals, we queried the database of the American Hospital Association for "acute care general hospital," with "surgical services," and "emergency department," and ≥1 "operating room." Internet search and direct contact confirmed emergency general surgery services that covered the emergency room 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Geographic and population-level emergency general surgery access was derived from Geographic Information Systems and US Census.

RESULTS

Of the 6,356 hospitals in the 2013 American Hospital Association database, only 2,811 were emergency general surgery hospitals. Counties with greater percentages of black, Hispanic, uninsured, and low-education individuals and rural counties disproportionately lacked access to emergency general surgery care. For example, counties above the 75th percentile of African American population (10.2%) had >80% odds of not having an emergency general surgery hospital compared with counties below the 25th percentile of African American population (0.6%).

CONCLUSION

Gaps in access to emergency general surgery services exist across the United States, disproportionately affecting underserved, rural communities. Policy initiatives need to increase emergency general surgery capacity nationwide.

Impact of Race on the Surgical Management of Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction

BACKGROUND

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) represents roughly 15% of admissions by general surgeons. Management of SBO relies heavily on provider judgment, including decisions on how long to try nonsurgical management and whether to use a laparoscopic or open approach when surgery is needed. Given the subjective nature of these decisions, it is unknown if patient race influences management of SBO.

STUDY DESIGN

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was used to identify patients who underwent adhesiolysis or small bowel resection for adhesive SBO between 2010 and 2015 (n = 13,896). Adjusted logistic regression models incorporating patient comorbidity, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and emergency status were used to analyze odds of receiving surgery after 5 days from hospital admission (Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma guidelines) and of undergoing an open operation.

RESULTS

Patients who waited more than 5 days for a procedure had greater adjusted odds of postoperative complication (odds ratio [OR] 1.56 95% CI 1.37 to 1.79) compared with those waiting 5 days or less. Similarly, open procedures had higher odds of complication compared with laparoscopic (OR 2.31 95% CI 2.00 to 2.68). Regression analysis demonstrated that black patients were significantly more likely than white patients to wait more than 5 days for surgery (OR 1.31 95% CI [1.13-1.53]) and undergo open surgery (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.36 to 1.79). There was no statistical difference for Hispanics patients waiting more than 5 days (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.31) or receiving open surgery (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.01) compared with white patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical decisions regarding SBO management differ based on patient race. Future studies focusing on the surgical decision-making process and the influence of bias are needed.

Gone, But Not Forgotten? Survey of Resident Attitudes Toward a Cultural Standardized Patient Examination for a General Surgery Residency Program

Purpose: Various tools have been utilized for cultural competency training in residency programs, including cultural standardized patient examinations. However, it is unknown whether residents feel the training they received has a long-term impact on how they care for patients. The purpose of this study was to assess whether surgical residents who participated in a cultural standardized patient examination view the experience as beneficial. Methods: Surgical residents who completed a standardized patient examination from Fall 2009 to Spring 2015 were asked to complete a 13-question survey assessing the following: (1) did participants feel prepared when dealing with patients from different cultural backgrounds, (2) did they feel the standardized patient experience was beneficial or improved their ability to care for patients, and (3) did they perceive that cultural competence was important when dealing with patients. Results: Sixty current/former residents were asked to participate and 24 (40%) completed the survey. All agreed cross-cultural skills were important and almost all reported daily interaction with patients from different cultural backgrounds. Sixteen participants (67%) reported the cultural standardized patient examination aided their ability to care for culturally dissimilar patients, and 13 (54%) said the training helped improve their communication skills with patients. Thirteen (54%) reported they would participate in another cultural standardized patient examination. Conclusion: Development of effective cultural competency training remains challenging. This study provides some preliminary results that demonstrate the potential lasting impact of cultural competency training. Participants found the skills gained from cultural standardized patient examinations helpful.

Shared Decision Making Among Clinicians and Asian American and Pacific Islander Sexual and Gender Minorities: An Intersectional Approach to Address a Critical Care Gap

Shared decision making (SDM) is a model of patient-provider communication. Little is known about the role of SDM in health disparities among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) sexual and gender minorities (SGM). We illustrate how issues at the intersection of AAPI and SGM identities affect SDM processes and health outcomes. We discuss experiences of AAPI SGM that are affected by AAPI heterogeneity, SGM stigma, multiple minority group identities, and sources of discrimination. Recommendations for clinical practice, research, policy, community development, and education are offered.

Who Gets Early Tracheostomy?: Evidence of Unequal Treatment at 185 Academic Medical Centers

BACKGROUND

Although the benefits of early tracheostomy in patients dependent on ventilators are well established, the reasons for variation in time from intubation to tracheostomy remain unclear. We identified clinical and demographic disparities in time to tracheostomy.

METHODS

We performed a level 3 retrospective prognostic study by querying the University HealthSystem Consortium (2007-2010) for adult patients receiving a tracheostomy after initial intubation. Time to tracheostomy was designated early (< 7 days) or late (> 10 days). Cohorts were stratified by time to tracheostomy and compared using univariate tests of association and multivariable adjusted models.

RESULTS

A total of 49,191 patients underwent tracheostomy after initial intubation: 42% early (n = 21,029) and 58% late (n = 28,162). On both univariate and multivariable analyses, women, blacks, Hispanics, and patients receiving Medicaid were less likely to receive an early tracheostomy. Patients in the early group also experienced lower rates of mortality (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Early tracheostomy was associated with increased survival. Yet, there were still significant disparities in time to tracheostomy according to sex, race, and type of insurance. Application of evidence-based algorithms for tracheostomy may reduce unequal treatment and improve overall mortality rates. Additional research into this apparent bias in referral/rendering of tracheostomy is needed.

Do patient race and sex change surgeon recommendations for TKA?

BACKGROUND

Prior investigations have suggested that physician-related factors may contribute to differential use of TKA among women and ethnic minorities. We sought to evaluate the effect of surgeon bias on recommendations for TKA.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSE

Using an experimental approach with standardized patient scenarios, we sought to evaluate surgeon recommendations regarding TKA, specifically to determine whether recommendations for TKA are influenced by (1) patient race, and (2) patient sex.

METHODS

We developed four computerized scenarios for all combinations of race (white or black) and sex (male or female) for otherwise similar patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis. Patients gave an orthopaedic history of 2 years worsening pain with decreased functional status and failure of oral antiinflammatory medications and corticosteroid intraarticular injections. Orthopaedic surgeons attending the 2012 annual meetings of the New York State Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons were recruited for the study. Surgeons passing an open recruitment table at each meeting were asked to participate. Of the 1111 surgeons in attendance at either meeting, 113 (10.2%) participated in the study. All participants viewed the "control" patient's story (white male) and were randomized to view one of the three "experimental" scenarios (white female, black male, black female). After viewing each scenario, the participants were anonymously asked whether they would recommend TKA. An a priori power analysis showed that 112 participants were needed to detect a 15% difference in the likelihood of recommending surgery for white versus nonwhite patients in the test scenarios evaluated with 90% power at a level of significance of 0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 39 surgeons who viewed the white male plus black female scenario, there were 33 (85%) concordant responses (TKA offered to both patients) and six discordant responses (TKA offered to only one of the patients), with no effect of patient race and sex (p = 0.99). Of the 37 surgeons who viewed the white male plus black male scenario, there were 33 (89%) concordant responses and four discordant responses, with no effect of patient race (p = 0.32). Of the 37 surgeons who viewed the white male plus white female scenario, there were 30 (77%) concordant responses and seven discordant responses, with no effect of patient sex (p = 0.71).

CONCLUSION

After orthopaedic surgeons viewed video scenarios of patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis, patient race and sex were not associated with a different likelihood of a surgical recommendation. Our findings support the notion that patient race and sex may be less influential on decision making when there are strong clinical data to support a decision. Physician bias may have a greater effect on decision making in situations where the indications for surgery are less clear.

Discrimination and Health Inequities

In 1999, only 20 studies in the public health literature employed instruments to measure self-reported experiences of discrimination. Fifteen years later, the number of empirical investigations on discrimination and health easily exceeds 500, with these studies increasingly global in scope and focused on major types of discrimination variously involving race/ethnicity, indigenous status, immigrant status, gender, sexuality, disability, and age, separately and in combination. And yet, as I also document, even as the number of investigations has dramatically expanded, the scope remains narrow: studies remain focused primarily on interpersonal discrimination, and scant research investigates the health impacts of structural discrimination, a gap consonant with the limited epidemiologic research on political systems and population health. Accordingly, to help advance the state of the field, this updated review article: ( a) briefly reviews definitions of discrimination, illustrated with examples from the United States; ( b) discusses theoretical insights useful for conceptualizing how discrimination can become embodied and produce health inequities, including via distortion of scientific knowledge; ( c) concisely summarizes extant evidence—both robust and inconsistent—linking discrimination and health; and ( d) addresses several key methodological controversies and challenges, including the need for careful attention to domains, pathways, level, and spatiotemporal scale, in historical context.