Routine preventive services for older women: a composite measure highlights gaps in delivery

Pneumococcal Vaccination Utilization Among Hispanic Long-Term Colorectal Cancer Survivors: Cross-Sectional Assessment of Claims

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cancer-related cause of death in the United States. However, survivorship has been increasing. Both cancer survivors and underserved populations experience unique health-related challenges and disparities that may exist among long-term CRC survivors as it relates to routine preventive care, specifically pneumococcal (PNM) vaccination.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between long-term CRC survival and the receipt of PNM vaccine among Hispanic Medicare recipients compared with non-Hispanic populations.

Methods

This study is a cross-sectional analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare claims data examining ethnic differences in the receipt of PNM vaccination among long-term CRC survivors. Multivariable logistic regression models considered Hispanic ethnicity while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidity score, age, tumor stage, and SEER registry.

Results

Our sample revealed 32,501 long-term CRC survivors, and 1509 identified as Hispanic (4.64%) based on an established SEER algorithm. In total, 16,252 CRC survivors, or 50.00% of our sample, received a PNM vaccination. We found that Hispanic CRC survivors had 10% decreased odds of having received a PNM vaccine compared with non-Hispanic survivors (P=.03).

Conclusions

Disparities likely exist in the utilization of PNM vaccination among long-term CRC survivors. Among Medicare beneficiaries, the use of claims data regarding PNM vaccination highlights the relatively poor utilization of guideline-directed preventive care.

HPV awareness, knowledge and attitudes among older African-American women

OBJECTIVE

To assess correlates of human papillomavirus (HPV) awareness, knowledge, and attitudes among older, church-going African-American women.

METHODS

Participants (N = 759), aged 40-80, answered survey questions about HPV awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward vaccination of adolescent daughters. Associations between participant characteristics and HPV items were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Younger age, higher education, a family history of cancer, and less spirituality were each associated with HPV awareness individually, and when considered jointly in a single model (p values <.038). Higher education was related to HPV knowledge (p = .006).

CONCLUSIONS

African-American women of older age, less education, no family history of cancer, and/or higher spirituality might benefit from targeted church-based HPV educational campaigns.

MyPreventiveCare: implementation and dissemination of an interactive preventive health record in three practice-based research networks serving disadvantaged patients--a randomized cluster trial

BACKGROUND

Evidence-based preventive services for early detection of cancer and other health conditions offer profound health benefits, yet Americans receive only half of indicated services. Policy initiatives promote the adoption of information technologies to engage patients in care. We developed a theory-driven interactive preventive health record (IPHR) to engage patients in health promotion. The model defines five levels of functionality: (1) collecting patient information, (2) integrating with electronic health records (EHRs), (3) translating information into lay language, (4) providing individualized, guideline-based clinical recommendations, and (5) facilitating patient action. It is hypothesized that personal health records (PHRs) with these higher levels of functionality will inform and activate patients in ways that simpler PHRs cannot. However, realizing this vision requires both technological advances and effective implementation based upon clinician and practice engagement.

METHODS/DESIGN

We are starting a two-phase, mixed-method trial to evaluate whether the IPHR is scalable across a large number of practices and how its uptake differs for minority and disadvantaged patients. In phase 1, 40 practices from three practice-based research networks will be randomized to add IPHR functionality to their PHR versus continue to use their existing PHR. Throughout the study, we will engage intervention practices to locally tailor IPHR content and learn how to integrate new functions into their practice workflow. In phase 2, the IPHR to all nonintervention practices to observe whether the IPHR can be implemented more broadly (Scalability). Phase 1 will feature an implementation assessment in intervention practices, based on the RE-AIM model, to measure Reach (creation of IPHR accounts by patients), Adoption (practice decision to use the IPHR), Implementation (consistency, fidelity, barriers, and facilitators of use), and Maintenance (sustained use). The incremental effect of the IPHR on receipt of cancer screening tests and shared decision-making compared to traditional PHRs will assess Effectiveness. In phase 2, we will assess similar outcomes as phase 1 except for effectiveness.

DISCUSSION

This study will yield information about the effectiveness of new health information technologies designed to actively engage patients in their care as well as information about how to effectively implement and disseminate PHRs by engaging clinicians.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02138448.

Applying a gender lens on human papillomavirus infection: cervical cancer screening, HPV DNA testing, and HPV vaccination

BACKGROUND

Our aim is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of knowledge on sex (biological) and gender (sociocultural) aspects of Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer for educational purposes. Considerable disparities exist in cervical cancer incidences between different subgroups of women. We provide an outline on the crucial issues and debates based on the recent literature published in leading gender medicine journals. Intersectionality was applied in order to help categorise the knowledge.

METHODS

Key terms (HPV, cervical cancer) were screened in Gender Medicine, Journal of Women's Health and Women & Health from January 2005-June 2012. Additional searches were conducted for topics insufficiently mentioned, such as HPV vaccination of boys. In total, 71 publications were included (56 original papers, four reviews, six reports, three commentaries, one editorial and one policy statement).

RESULTS

Research reveals complexity in the way various subgroups of women adhere to cervical screening. Less educated women, older women, uninsured women, homeless women, migrant women facing language barriers, women who have sex with women and obese women participate in Pap smears less frequently. A series of barriers can act to impede decisions to vaccinate against HPV.

CONCLUSIONS

Both male and female controlled preventive methods and treatment measures should be developed in order to tackle HPV infection and different strategies are needed for different subgroups. A substantial discussion and research on alternative methods of prevention was and is lacking. In future research, sex and gender aspects of HPV-related diseases of boys and men as well as subgroup differences in HPV risk need to be addressed.

Applying a gender lens on human papillomavirus infection: cervical cancer screening, HPV DNA testing, and HPV vaccination

Background

Our aim is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of knowledge on sex (biological) and gender (sociocultural) aspects of Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer for educational purposes. Considerable disparities exist in cervical cancer incidences between different subgroups of women. We provide an outline on the crucial issues and debates based on the recent literature published in leading gender medicine journals. Intersectionality was applied in order to help categorise the knowledge.

Methods

Key terms (HPV, cervical cancer) were screened in Gender Medicine, Journal of Women’s Health and Women & Health from January 2005-June 2012. Additional searches were conducted for topics insufficiently mentioned, such as HPV vaccination of boys. In total, 71 publications were included (56 original papers, four reviews, six reports, three commentaries, one editorial and one policy statement).

Results

Research reveals complexity in the way various subgroups of women adhere to cervical screening. Less educated women, older women, uninsured women, homeless women, migrant women facing language barriers, women who have sex with women and obese women participate in Pap smears less frequently. A series of barriers can act to impede decisions to vaccinate against HPV.

Conclusions

Both male and female controlled preventive methods and treatment measures should be developed in order to tackle HPV infection and different strategies are needed for different subgroups. A substantial discussion and research on alternative methods of prevention was and is lacking. In future research, sex and gender aspects of HPV-related diseases of boys and men as well as subgroup differences in HPV risk need to be addressed.

Association of age, gender, and race with intensity of end-of-life care for Medicare beneficiaries with cancer

PURPOSE

To measure intensity of end-of-life (EOL) care for Medicare cancer patients and variations in care by age, gender, and race.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort analysis of Medicare claims (20% sample) examined 235,821 Medicare Parts A and B fee-for-service patients dying with poor-prognosis cancers between 2003 and 2007. Logistic regression models quantified associations between care intensity and age, gender, and race. Measures included hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, in-hospital deaths, late-life chemotherapy administration, overall and late hospice enrollment within six months of death.

RESULTS

Within 30 days of death, 61.3% of patients were hospitalized, 10.2% were hospitalized more than once, 10.2% visited an ED more than once, 23.7% had ICU admissions, and 28.8% died in-hospital. Within two weeks of death, 6% received chemotherapy. In their final six months, 55.2% accessed hospice, 15.1% within three days of death. Older age (≥75 versus <75) was associated with lower odds ratios (ORs) of 0.49 to 0.89 for aggressive care, and an OR of 0.92 (95% CI 0.89-0.95) for late hospice enrollment. Female gender was associated with lower ORs (0.82 to 0.86) for aggressive care, and an OR of 0.84 (95% CI 0.81-0.86) for late hospice enrollment. Black (versus nonblack) race was associated with higher ORs (1.08 to 1.38) for aggressive acute care, lower ORs for late chemotherapy, OR 0.76 (95% CI 0.71-0.81), and late hospice enrollment, OR 0.81 (95% CI 0.76-0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

Seniors dying with poor-prognosis cancer experience high-intensity care with rates varying by age, gender, and race.

Burden of cervical cancer in the United States, 1998-2003

BACKGROUND

Recent interest in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers and the availability of several years of data covering 83% of the US population prompted this descriptive assessment of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in the US during the years 1998 through 2003. This article provides a baseline for monitoring the impact of the HPV vaccine on the burden of cervical cancer over time.

METHODS

Data from 2 federal cancer surveillance programs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institiute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, were used to examine cervical cancer incidence by race, Hispanic ethnicity, histology, stage, and US census region. Data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics were used to examine cervical cancer mortality by race, Hispanic ethnicity, and US census region.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of invasive cervical cancer was 8.9 per 100,000 women during 1998 through 2003. Greater than 70% of all cervical carcinomas were squamous cell type, and nearly 20% were adenocarcinomas. Cervical carcinoma incidence rates were increased for black women compared with white women and for Hispanic women compared with non-Hispanic women. Hispanic women had increased rates of adenocarcinomas compared with non-Hispanic women. The South had increased incidence and mortality rates compared with the Northeast.

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities by race/ethnicity and region persist in the burden of cervical cancer in the US. Comprehensive screening and vaccination programs, as well as improved surveillance, will be essential if this burden is to be reduced in the future.