Publications by authors named "Donald Blackman"
Background: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the quality of national data generated by the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP); to assess variables collected through the program that are appropriate to use for program management, evaluation, and data analysis; and to identify potential data-quality issues.
Methods: Information was abstracted randomly from 5603 medical records selected from 6 NBCCEDP-funded state programs, and 76 categorical variables and 11 text-based breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic variables were collected. Concordance was estimated between abstracted data and the data collected by the NBCCEDP.
Background: This paper examines the prevalence of cancer screening use as reported in 2005 among US adults, focusing on differences among historically underserved subgroups. We also examine trends from 1992 through 2005 to determine whether differences in screening use are increasing, staying the same, or decreasing.
Methods: Data from the National Health Interview Surveys between 1992 and 2005 were analyzed to describe patterns and trends in cancer screening practices, including Papanicolaou test, mammography, prostate-specific antigen, and colorectal screening.
Objective: To examine how the use of additional treatment for prostate cancer differs as a function of the initial therapy (radical prostatectomy [RP], radiation therapy [RT], androgen deprivation therapy [ADT], or watchful waiting [WW]) for men with non-metastatic prostate cancer.
Material And Methods: A dataset was created that combined information from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and Medicare claims for hospital and physician services. To identify patients receiving additional cancer treatment, we searched the claims for the presence of RP, RT (palliative radiation not included), or ADT.
Objectives: The amount of additional surgical procedures that cancer patients undergo following their initial treatment is one means of measuring the impact that cancer and cancer treatment has on their quality of life. In this study we looked for treatment-related differences in the need for additional surgical intervention among men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer within 66 mo of their initial treatment.
Methods: Data for this study were from the National Cancer Institutes Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and from the Medicare claims database.
Meeting the mammography screening needs of underserved women: the performance of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program in 2002-2003 (United States).
Cancer Causes Control
November 2006
Objective: To examine the extent to which the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (Program) has helped to meet the mammography screening needs of underserved women.
Methods: Low-income, uninsured women aged 40-64 are eligible for free mammography screening through the Program. We used data from the U.
Introduction: Although colorectal cancer mortality rates in the general U.S. population declined slightly from 1992 to 2000, the rates for Hispanic men and women did not.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the results of breast cancer screening among low-income and uninsured women in the only national organized screening program in the US, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP).
Methods: We analyzed mammography and diagnostic follow-up data for 789,647 women who received their first mammogram in the NBCCEDP and 454,754 subsequent mammograms among these women. We calculated the rate of mammograms with abnormal findings, diagnostic follow-up, biopsy, and cancers detected per 1000 mammograms by age and racial or ethnic groups.
Introduction: Public health organizations in the United States emphasize the importance of providing routine screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer, as well as vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal disease among older adults. We report a composite measure of adults aged 50 years and older who receive recommended cancer screening services and vaccinations.
Methods: We analyzed state data from the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which included 105,860 respondents aged 50 and older.
Background: In 2000, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) collected information about prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test use in a representative sample of U.S. men.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe results of cervical cytology screening among low-income and uninsured women in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
Methods: We analyzed data from 750,591 women who received their first Papanicolaou (Pap) test in the program between July 1995 and March 2001.
Results: Nearly 85% of the women were aged 40 years or older.
Background: The evidence is now compelling that colorectal cancer incidence and mortality can be reduced by screening, and medical organizations recommend regular screening among persons of average risk aged 50 years or older. We sought to determine whether appropriate screening has become more widespread now that consensus over its value has been achieved.
Methods: We analyzed data from the 1992 and 1998 National Health Interview Survey, an in-person survey of a nationally representative sample of the U.