Sociodemographic inequities in overall survival among younger and older women with cervical cancer.

Purpose:  Older Black women and women living in areas of low socioeconomic status (SES) diagnosed with cervical cancer (CC) have worse overall survival (OS). The objective was to investigate associations between OS and race/ethnicity and sociodemographic factors in younger (21-64 years) and older women (≥ 65 years) diagnosed with CC using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data.

Methods:  This retrospective, population-based cohort study included 39,000 women ≥ 21 years diagnosed with CC diagnosed between 2006 and 2020.

U.S. national trends in cervical cancer screening by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity in cisgender women.

Introduction: Changes in up-to-date cervical cancer screening (CCS) over time by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity were estimated to identify trends in screening disparities.

Methods: This 2024 retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of National Health Interview Survey data (years 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2021) included 40,818 cisgender women aged 21-65 without hysterectomy. Joinpoint analysis was performed to calculate the annual percent change (APC) of up-to-date CCS from 2013 to 2021.

Ethnic enclaves, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and obesity among Hispanic women in Chicago: a latent profile analysis approach.

Purpose: The prevalence of obesity, a crucial risk factor for breast cancer, is markedly higher among Hispanic women. The interaction between ethnic enclaves and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) as a determinant of this disparity warrants further research. We aimed to identify neighborhood profiles based on ethnic enclaves and socioeconomic status to evaluate the association with obesity among Hispanic women in the metropolitan Chicago region.

Gender and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in HIV Care and Viral Suppression at Jail Entry.

Women and racial/ethnic minorities living with HIV are less likely than White men to be engaged in HIV treatment when entering US jails. Few studies have examined the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity among incarcerated populations. The "Enhancing Linkages to HIV Primary Care and Services in Jail Settings Initiative" (EnhanceLink) was a 10-site prospective cohort study of 1,270 people living with HIV in correctional facilities between 2008 and 2011.

Perspectives of an NCI T32 Training Program Designed to Train a Diverse Workforce in Cancer Health Equity Research.

With cancer health disparities on the rise in the United States (USA), there is an increased need for novel approaches to address these challenges. One such approach that may help address these disparities is increasing diversity in the biomedical research workforce. The Cancer Health Equity and Career Development Program (CHECDP) embodies this approach by recruiting and training underrepresented minorities in cancer research to develop the skills and training needed to be competitive for independent research careers, thus diversifying the biomedical research workforce.

Sexual Orientation and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Cisgender Women.

Importance: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations face barriers accessing health care in Chicago, Illinois.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of up-to-date cervical cancer screening among lesbian, gay, and bisexual vs heterosexual cisgender women in Chicago.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective, cross-sectional, population-based study of cisgender women residing in Chicago was completed from 2020 to 2022 using data from the Healthy Chicago Survey, which is conducted annually by the Chicago Department of Public Health.

A qualitative study of primary care clinician's approach to ending cervical cancer screening in older women in the United States.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that cervical cancer screening end in average-risk patients with a cervix at 65 years of age if adequate screening measures have been met, defined as having 1) at least three normal consecutive cytology (Pap) tests, or 2) two normal cytology tests and/or two negative high-risk human papillomavirus tests between ages 55-65; the last test should be performed within the prior 5 years. Up to 60 % of all women aged 65 years and older who are ending screening do not meet the criteria for adequate screening. The objective of this study was to understand the process and approach that healthcare clinicians use to determine eligibility to end cervical cancer screening.

An Exploration of Black Men's Attitudes and Experiences Communicating with Dentists about Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer.

Background: Poor oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) survival among Black men is partially due to their limited knowledge about OPCs, which is exacerbated by dentists' limited training and discomfort in discussing OPC risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes and experiences that Black men have communicating with dentists about OPCs.

Methods: To qualitatively assess these attitudes and experiences, a focus group guide and recruitment strategy were developed using a community engagement approach.

Assessment of Institutional Implementation Research Capacity of the National Institutes of Health D43 Network.

Implementation science enhances the efficient practice of solutions from research to real-world application. Low- and lower- to middle-income countries may benefit significantly from implementation research given their limited resources. The National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center D43 network consists of partnerships between foreign and U.

A community-based participatory protocol to improving communication with Black men about oral and pharyngeal cancers: Research protocol.

Black men are disproportionately impacted by oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) mortality. This is in part due to a lack of information received about OPCs and their associated risk factors during health encounters. Discussions between dentists and Black men may improve Black men's knowledge, screening, and treatment uptake.

Association between adverse childhood experiences and later-life allostatic load in UK Biobank female participants.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences during key developmental periods have been shown to impact long-term health outcomes. Adverse childhood experiences may include psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; neglect; or socioeconomic factors. Adverse childhood experiences are linked with an increase in poor health behavior such as smoking and alcohol consumption, and may also influence epigenetic changes, inflammatory response, metabolic changes, and allostatic load.

Knowledge, attitudes and mental health of sub-Saharan African migrants living in Tunisia during COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic potentially impacted the mental health of migrants. Our objective was to measure the prevalence of psychological distress among a group of sub-Saharan African migrants living in Tunisia, and its association with knowledge about COVID-19. The Questionnaire of Knowledge towards COVID-19 (QK-COVID-19) was used to evaluate the level of Knowledge about COVID-19.

Qualitative Analysis of Multiple Sources and Dimensions of Stigma Among Older Adults Living With HIV Infection Released From Corrections.

While sources of stigma associated with HIV, incarceration, and aging have been explored separately, the concurrent effects of these multiple sources have been understudied. We conducted in-depth interviews with 48 older adults over 50 years of age with HIV infection who were returning from correctional settings concerning their experiences of stigma. Participants described HIV-related stigma substantially more often than incarceration-related stigma and a greater number of stigma experiences as time passed from release.

The association between neighborhood conditions and weight loss among older adults living in a large urban city.

To elucidate the role of neighborhood walkability and crime on weight loss, we examined data from older adults residing in Chicago who participated in a randomized controlled trial lifestyle intervention. Controlling for individual demographic characteristics and the intervention assignment, the neighborhood homicide rate was significantly associated with weight change. Participants who resided in neighborhoods above the 50th percentile of homicide rate actually gained weight between pre- and post-intervention.

Mediation of Racial and Ethnic Inequities in the Diagnosis of Advanced-Stage Cervical Cancer by Insurance Status.

Importance: Black and Hispanic or Latina women are more likely than White women to receive a diagnosis of and to die of cervical cancer. Health insurance coverage is associated with diagnosis at an earlier stage of cervical cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the extent to which racial and ethnic differences in the diagnosis of advanced-stage cervical cancer are mediated by insurance status.

Gender neutral HPV vaccination programs: Reconsidering policies to expand cancer prevention globally.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is responsible for many cancers in both women and men. Cervical cancer, caused by HPV, is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, even though it is one of the most preventable cancers. Prevention efforts include HPV vaccination, however these programs remain nascent in many countries.

Assessing the interrelationship between stigma, social influence, and cervical cancer prevention in an urban underserved setting: An exploratory study.

In the US, incidence and mortality from cervical cancer disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minorities and low-income women. Despite affordable access to primary and secondary prevention measures at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening rates are low, suggesting the presence of non-financial barriers to uptake in this population. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study sought to explore factors that influence the acceptability of cervical cancer prevention services among parents and legal guardians of vaccine-eligible girls attending an urban FQHC and to assess social influences related to cervical cancer prevention.

Structural Racism and Cancer: Calls to Action for Cancer Researchers to Address Racial/Ethnic Cancer Inequity in the United States.

As leaders with the American Society of Preventive Oncology (ASPO) Cancer Health Disparities Special Interest Group, we describe the role of structural racism in perpetuating cancer health inequity historically, and potential implications of COVID-19 in exacerbating the effects of structural racism on patients with cancer seeking screening, diagnostic care, treatment, and survivorship support. As a strategy to reduce cancer inequities in the United States, we provide the following calls to action for cancer researchers to help alleviate the burden of structural racism: (i) identify and name structural racism while describing its operation within all aspects of scientific research; (ii) comprehensively integrate discussions on structural racism into teaching, mentoring, and service activities; and (iii) understand and support community actions to address structural racism.

DNA Double-strand Break Signaling Is a Therapeutic Target in Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is common worldwide. Given poor outcomes for patients with HNC, research into targeted therapies is needed. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a DNA damage kinase which is activated by double-strand DNA breaks.

Stigma and cervical cancer prevention: A scoping review of the U.S. literature.

Cervical cancer is preventable through HPV vaccination and screening however, uptake falls below national targets. A scoping review was conducted to describe stigmas related to HPV infection and vaccination and cervical cancer and screening in the US. Results were organized into the domains proposed by Stangl and colleagues' Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas among males of the three largest Asian diasporas in the US, 2004-2013.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) have not been fully examined in the Asian diasporas in the US, despite certain Asian countries having the highest incidence of specific HNSCCs.

Methods: National Cancer Database was used to compare 1046 Chinese, 887 South Asian (Indian/Pakistani), and 499 Filipino males to 156,927 Non-Hispanic White (NHW) males diagnosed with HNSCC between 2004-2013. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association of race/ethnicity with two outcomes - site group and late-stage diagnosis.

The Uneven Distribution of Medically Underserved Areas in Chicago.

Safety net health services, such as federally funded health clinics, are interventions that aim to mitigate inequality in resource distribution, thus primarily clustered in poor areas with lack of access to health care. However, not all neighborhoods with the most needs benefit from safety net health services. In this article, we explore the distribution of a federally funded health service intervention designed to serve impoverished areas, the medically underserved areas (MUAs), and the relationship between MUA designation and neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics.

The health effects of gendered and devalued work: health outcomes of incarcerated women engaging in sex work and care/service work.

Background: Women with a history of incarceration are often engaged in highly gendered work, either sex work or low-wage care/service work jobs. While employment is an important element of reentry plans, low-wage jobs may not necessarily help women leave illicit activities, including commercial sex work. Incarcerated women often move between care/service work and sex work to supplement income, putting them at greater risk for negative health outcomes.

Introduction to the Special Issue of the SBM Mid-Career Leadership Institute: leadership and behavioral medicine in context.

In 2016, we established the year-long Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Mid-Career Leadership Institute. Individuals are often selected for leadership positions without intentional training in needed leadership skills, including strategic planning, building collaborative teams, goal setting, negotiation, and communication. The purpose of the Leadership Institute is to: (a) provide opportunities for mid-career professionals to build and sustain their leadership capacity; (b) create cohorts of connected fellows in behavioral medicine fields, disciplines, and institutions, who can support one another throughout their professional careers; and (c) enhance specific skills needed to navigate the challenges of mid-career.