Antiretroviral Prescription and Viral Suppression in a Representative Sample of HIV-Infected Persons in Care in 4 Large Metropolitan Areas of the United States, Medical Monitoring Project, 2011-2013.

Background: Comparisons of antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescription and viral suppression among people in HIV care across US metropolitan areas are limited. Medical Monitoring Project, 2011-2013, data were used to describe and compare associations between sociodemographics and ART prescription and viral suppression for persons receiving HIV care.

Setting: Chicago, Los Angeles County (LAC), Philadelphia, and San Francisco in the United States.

Regional differences among HIV patients in care: California medical monitoring project sites, 2007-2008.

Introduction: The Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) is a national, multi-site population-based supplemental HIV/AIDS surveillance project of persons receiving HIV/AIDS care. We compared California MMP data by region. Demographic characteristics, medical care experiences, HIV treatment, clinical care outcomes, and need for support services are described.

Barriers and unmet need for supportive services for HIV patients in care in Los Angeles County, California.

Abstract HIV-infected patients frequently experience depression, drug use, and unstable housing but are often unable to access supportive services to manage these challenges. Data on barriers to needed supportive services are critical to improving patient access. Data from the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP), a national supplemental surveillance system for HIV-infected persons in care, was used to examine barriers to support service use and factors associated with need and unmet need for services.

Factors associated with late HIV testing for Latinos diagnosed with AIDS in Los Angeles.

Latinos are more likely to test late for HIV infection compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. A population-based interview study was used to examine factors associated with late HIV testing for Latinos diagnosed with AIDS in Los Angeles County (LAC) to develop more effective HIV testing outreach strategies. Latinos testing for HIV within one year of an AIDS diagnosis were considered as late testers, while those diagnosed with AIDS more than one year after an HIV diagnosis were defined as non-late testers.

Cervical cancer survivorship in a population based sample.

Objective: Though cervical cancer is preventable, this cancer nonetheless poses serious mortality and morbidity threats to American women and women globally. The purpose of this study is to utilize a multidimensional framework to assess Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and its salient predictors among a population based sample of cervical cancer survivors.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used with a population-based sample ascertained from the California Cancer Surveillance Program.

Measuring quality of life among cervical cancer survivors: preliminary assessment of instrumentation validity in a cross-cultural study.

Background: With growing interest in cross-cultural and multicultural cancer-related quality of life studies, the need to assess reliability and validity of quality of life measures for linguistically and culturally diverse cancer survivors is pressing.

Methods: Reliability and validity of the English and Spanish versions of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-G subscales were tested with a sample of English-speaking European American (n = 273) and ethnic minority American (n = 194), and Spanish-speaking Latina (n = 199) cervical cancer survivors in the U.S.

Examining predictive models of HRQOL in a population-based, multiethnic sample of women with breast carcinoma.

Background: This study examined health related quality of life (HRQOL) and its predictors among African-, Asian-, Latina-, and European American breast cancer survivors (BCS) using a socio-ecologically and culturally contextual theoretical model of HRQOL.

Methods: We employed a case-control, cross sectional design with a population-based sample from the California Cancer Registry. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate regression analyses were conducted.

Survivorship: a qualitative investigation of Latinas diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Latinas experience high rates of cervical cancer (CCA) in the U.S. This health-related quality of life (HRQOL) qualitative study was conducted with key informant and focus groups (N = 26).

Breast cancer among Asian Americans: is acculturation related to health-related quality of life?

Purpose/objectives: To examine the association of acculturation with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Asian American breast cancer survivors.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Analysis of an Asian American subsample of breast cancer survivors from a larger multiethnic study.

Understanding the breast cancer experience of Latina women.

Qualitative interviews were used to investigate the impact of breast cancer among Latina survivors. The findings revealed that Latina survivors were optimistic about their health, utilized cultural and religious recovery practices; and seemed to accept their diagnosis, fears and suffering as part of their personal journey. The survivors' narrative identified spirituality as central to their recovery and coping.

The impact of cervical cancer and dysplasia: a qualitative, multiethnic study.

Study Purpose: Cervical cancer (CCA) remains a health challenge nationally and globally. In the US, more than 12,000 women are diagnosed each year with invasive cervical cancer and more than 220,000 are living with a history of this diagnosis (ACS, 2003). This qualitative study aims to examine health related quality of life (HRQOL) from a culturally consistent framework.

Breast cancer survivorship in a multiethnic sample: challenges in recruitment and measurement.

Background: The inclusion of ethnic minorities in cancer-related studies continues to be an important concern for researchers. In this article, the authors present 1) a brief discussion of recruitment and measurement challenges in conducting multiethnic survivorship research, and 2) recruitment outcomes and sample characteristics for a health-related quality-of-life study with a multiethnic sample of breast cancer survivors (BCS).

Methods: A case-control, cross-sectional design with mixed sampling methods was used.

Understanding the breast cancer experience of women: a qualitative study of African American, Asian American, Latina and Caucasian cancer survivors.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women across most ethnic groups. Although the psychosocial impact of breast cancer is being studied, there is little information on women from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. We conducted a qualitative study with breast cancer survivors (BCS) of various ethnicities.

Understanding the breast cancer experience of Asian American women.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and affects women across all ethnic groups. Although the psychosocial impact of breast cancer is being studied, there is little information on ethnic minorities. To better understand the breast cancer experience of Asian American women, we conducted key informant and focus group interviews.