Publications by authors named "Kymia Love-Jackson"
Background: Ambulatory visits to dermatologists and primary care physicians (PCPs) may improve melanoma outcomes through early detection. We sought to measure the effect of dermatologist and PCP visits on melanoma stage at diagnosis and mortality.
Methods: We used data from the database linking Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) and Medicare data (1994 to 2005) to examine patterns of dermatologist and PCP ambulatory visits before diagnosis for 18,884 Medicare beneficiaries with invasive melanoma or unknown stage at diagnosis.
Background: Utilization of primary care may decrease colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and death through greater receipt of CRC screening tests.
Objective: To examine the association of primary care utilization with CRC incidence, CRC deaths, and all-cause mortality.
Design: Population-based, case-control study.
Background: Primary care physician (PCP) services may have an impact on breast cancer mortality and incidence, possibly through greater use of screening mammography.
Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective, 1:1 matching case-control study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare-linked database to examine use of PCP services and their association with breast cancer mortality and incidence. SEER cases representing the 3 outcomes of interest (breast cancer mortality, all-cause mortality among women diagnosed with breast cancer, and breast cancer incidence) were matched to unaffected controls from the 5% Medicare random sample.
Purpose: We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database to explore the association between primary care and breast cancer outcomes.
Methods: Using a retrospective cohort study of 105,105 female Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis of breast cancer in SEER registries during the years 1994-2005, we examined the total number of office visits to primary care physicians and non-primary care physicians in a 24-month period before cancer diagnosis. For women with invasive cancers, we examined the odds of diagnosis of late-stage disease, according to the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) (stages III and IV vs stages I and II), and survival (breast cancer specific and all cause) using logistic regression and proportional hazards models, respectively.
Background: Elementary schools are one potential venue for sun protection interventions that reduce childhood sun exposure.
Purpose: To assess Year-2 results from a cluster randomized trial promoting hat use at schools.
Design: Block randomization was used to assign intervention/control status to participating schools.
Background: Primary medical care may improve colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes through increased use of CRC screening tests and earlier diagnosis. We examined the association between primary care utilization and CRC screening, stage at diagnosis, CRC mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients, aged 67 to 85 years, diagnosed as having CRC between 1994 and 2005 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare-linked database.
Background: Elementary schools represent both a source of childhood sun exposure and a setting for educational interventions.
Methods: Sun Protection of Florida's Children was a cluster randomized trial promoting hat use at (primary outcome) and outside of schools among fourth-grade students during August 8, 2006, through May 22, 2007. Twenty-two schools were randomly assigned to the intervention (1115 students) or control group (1376 students).
Background/objectives: Studies suggest that excessive sun exposure in childhood contributes to the development of skin cancer later in life.
Methods: This study explores 4th grade student assessment of their sun protection behaviors. This study used baseline data collected in the Fall of 2006 for the Sun Protection for Florida's Children (SPF) project.