Publications by authors named "Cleo Ryals"
Article Synopsis
- Racialized economic segregation contributes to health disparities in breast cancer treatment and survival, revealing significant disparities based on race and economic status.
- A study of 27,459 women with metastatic breast cancer showed that those from less privileged areas experienced longer wait times for treatment and shorter overall survival compared to those from more privileged areas.
- Addressing racialized economic segregation through public investments is crucial to improving equity in cancer care and patient outcomes.
Background: Lower neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with suboptimal cancer care and reduced survival. Most studies examining cancer inequities across area-level socioeconomic status tend to use less granular or unidimensional measures and pre-date the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we examined the association of area-level socioeconomic status on real-world treatment initiation and overall survival among adults with 20 common cancers.
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- Researchers and policymakers are urged to address structural racism in healthcare, and the ACCURE intervention at two U.S. cancer centers effectively eliminated the racial disparity in treatment completion for early-stage breast and lung cancer patients.
- The study utilized semi-structured interviews with 18 participants to identify the mechanisms and key components of ACCURE, which emphasized transparency and accountability in healthcare systems.
- The findings suggest that principles of transparency and accountability can serve as effective strategies for promoting equity in health services, providing a model for future adaptations and evaluations of similar interventions.
Importance: There is increasing recognition from regulatory agencies that racial and ethnic representation in clinical trials is inadequate and linked to health inequities. The extent of racial inequities in clinical trial participation is unclear because prior studies have synthesized enrollment data from published trials, which often do not report participant race and ethnicity.
Objective: To evaluate racial and ethnic inequities in oncology clinical trial participation in a contemporary cohort of patients with cancer before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article Synopsis
- There are ongoing disparities in cancer treatment, with Black patients typically receiving fewer treatment cycles than White patients.
- The ACCURE intervention successfully addressed this issue by employing trained nurse navigators to ensure Black patients received the same level of care, eliminating the disparity in treatment completion.
- The analysis of navigator notes revealed six key themes focusing on patient support, which highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in improving cancer care for marginalized populations.
Leveraging Digital Technology to Reduce Cancer Care Inequities.
Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book
April 2022
The rise of digital technologies such as telehealth, mobile apps, electronic medical records, and telementoring for rural primary care providers could provide opportunities for improving equity in cancer care delivery and outcomes. Benefitting from new technologies requires access to broadband internet, appropriate devices (smartphones, computers, etc.) along with basic digital literacy skills to use the devices.
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