Publications by authors named "Mark P Doescher"

Purpose: Native American (NA) patients with cancer are at increased risk of financial hardship due to lack of private health insurance coverage, medical comorbidities, and higher poverty rates. We aimed to implement and evaluate a pilot financial hardship screening (FHS) program among NA patients with cancer.

Methods: In 2022, we piloted the implementation of FHS among adult NA patients with cancer referred by NA-specific health facilities to an NCI-designated cancer center using the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity-Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (COST-FACIT) tool.

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  • Persistent Poverty Counties (PPCs) in the U.S. have high cancer mortality rates, partly due to high smoking rates, with this study focusing on Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (OTH) participants who smoke daily.
  • The study used a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the effectiveness of OTH treatments versus OTH treatments combined with financial incentives (OTH+FI) to help participants quit smoking.
  • Results showed that those in the OTH+FI group were significantly more likely to achieve smoking abstinence and complete more coaching calls compared to the standard OTH group, with high retention rates noted across both groups.
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Background: Cancer-related financial hardship is an increasingly recognized concern for patients, families, and caregivers. Many Native American (NA) patients are at increased risk for cancer-related financial hardship due to high prevalence of low income, medical comorbidity, and lack of private health insurance. However, financial hardship screening (FHS) implementation for NA patients with cancer has not been reported.

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  • This study examined the rise in alcohol use and binge drinking among American Indian populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on data collected from California and Oklahoma.
  • A total of 19.3% of participants reported binge drinking, while 21.6% reported increased alcohol consumption, with women and those practicing social distancing showing higher odds of increased use.
  • The study highlights the importance of providing culturally sensitive support services to address the mental health and substance use challenges faced during stressful times.
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Objective: Little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected cancer screenings among American Indian people residing in California and Oklahoma, 2 states with the largest American Indian populations. We assessed rates and factors associated with cancer screenings among American Indian adults during the pandemic.

Methods: From October 2020 through January 2021, we surveyed 767 American Indian adults residing in California and Oklahoma.

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Introduction: American Indian (AI) people experience a disproportionate tobacco and marijuana burden which may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the tobacco and marijuana habits of American Indian individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study is to examine tobacco and marijuana use as well as change in use during the COVID-19 pandemic among the American Indian community.

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  • Oklahoma has lower cancer mortality rates than 33 other states despite a higher cancer incidence, highlighting the urgent need to study cancer trends in its high-risk populations.
  • The study used data from OK2SHARE to analyze cancer rates by urban and rural classifications, revealing notable differences in cancer types and insurance coverage.
  • Results indicate that rural areas face higher mortality rates from various cancers, particularly lung cancer, emphasizing the necessity for better cancer detection and treatment in these regions.
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Objectives: Assess the percentage of cancer-related appointment delays, cancelations, and the unavailability of medications experienced by American Indian participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was completed between October 2020 and July 2021 by 360 individuals with cancer who lived in California and Oklahoma. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis was completed in SAS 9.

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Background: Oklahoma's cumulative COVID-19 incidence is higher in rural than urban counties and higher than the overall US incidence. Furthermore, fewer Oklahomans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine compared to the US average. Our goal is to conduct a randomized controlled trial using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) to test multiple educational interventions to improve uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among underserved populations in Oklahoma.

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Purpose: To evaluate geographic accessibility of ACR mammographic screening (MS), lung cancer screening (LCS), and CT colorectal cancer screening (CTCS) centers among US federally recognized American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) tribes.

Methods: Distances from AI/AN tribes' ZIP codes to their closest ACR-accredited LCS and CTCS centers were recorded using tools from the ACR website. The FDA's database was used for MS.

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Background: Although patient navigation has shown promise for increasing participation in colorectal cancer screening and follow-up, little evidence is available to guide implementation of patient navigation in clinical practice. We characterize 8 patient navigation programs being implemented as part of multi-component interventions of the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Moonshot Accelerating Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-Up Through Implementation Science (ACCSIS) initiative.

Methods: We developed a data collection template organized by ACCSIS framework domains.

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Context: Coordination between oncology and primary care practices in cancer survivorship is lacking.

Objective: To identify cancer care coordination perceptions, knowledge, and practices in a sample of Oklahoma oncology care providers (ONCs) and primary care providers (PCPs) regarding post-treatment care of adult cancer survivors.

Design: Cross-sectional, statewide survey by mail/web link in 2014/5.

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The Cherokee Nation Cancer Registry (CNCR) is the only tribally operated Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program registry. As registries, including the CNCR, lack detailed data characterizing health behavior or comorbidity, we aimed to enrich the CNCR by linking it with Cherokee Nation's electronic medical record (EMR). We describe the process of a tribal-academic partnership and linking records between the CNCR and the EMR for American Indian people diagnosed with cancer from 2015 to 2020.

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Walking has the potential to promote health across the life span, but age-specific features of the neighborhood environment (NE), especially in rural communities, linked with walking have not been adequately characterized. This study examines the relationships between NE and utilitarian walking among older vs. younger adults living in US rural towns.

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Introduction: Despite American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people having the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking nationwide, few studies have evaluated e-cigarette use among AI/AN adults who smoke. The primary objective of this observational pilot cohort study was to determine if e-cigarette use is associated with cigarette smoking cessation or reduction among adult AI individuals who smoke.

Methods: In 2016, we collected baseline survey and biomarker data among AI adults who smoke.

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Objectives: American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults use smokeless tobacco products (eg, chewing and dip tobacco) more often than other racial/ethnic groups do. Although US adults increasingly use potentially reduced exposure tobacco products (PREPs), such as electronic cigarettes and snus, no studies have examined the use of PREPs among AI/AN smokeless tobacco users. We examined associations between current PREPs use and smokeless tobacco-related measures, including cessation attempts and cotinine levels, in a sample of American Indian adults who currently use smokeless tobacco.

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Background: The American Cancer Society discourages the dual use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) and cigarettes because such use has not resulted in reduced exposures to the harmful effects of smoking. American Indian (AI) people have the highest prevalence of smoking and of EC use in the United States, but very little is known about dual EC and cigarette use in AI communities.

Methods: In 2016, 375 adult AI in Oklahoma who smoked cigarettes completed a survey about EC use (vaping).

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Introduction: Many American Indian communities have a high prevalence of smoking and e-cigarette use, but factors associated with their dual use are rarely studied.

Methods: In 2016, a total of 375 American Indian adults who smoke completed paper surveys regarding cigarette and e-cigarette use and provided saliva for cotinine levels. In 2018, cross-sectional analyses were performed, comparing dual users (12%), defined as using e-cigarettes on some or every day for the past 30 days, with never users of e-cigarettes (37%).

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Interest in electronic cigarette (EC) use, or vaping, to help control weight is increasing. Many American Indian (AI) populations have a high prevalence of smoking, obesity, and EC use, but their perceptions of EC use for weight control are unknown. In Oklahoma in 2016, 375 AI adults who smoke completed a survey including perceptions about smoking and EC effects on weight control.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Current e-cigarette users were found to be more likely to have made a quit attempt in the past year and to express a desire to quit smoking compared to those who never used e-cigarettes.
  • * However, e-cigarette use did not show a significant impact on daily cigarette consumption or smokers' confidence in their ability to quit, indicating that dual users may need additional smoking cessation support.
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Purpose: Patient preferences regarding the role of the primary care provider (PCP) in discussing electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use are unknown.

Methods: We administered a cross-sectional survey to 568 adult patients in a family medicine clinic to explore e-cigarette use, sources of information on e-cigarettes, perceived knowledge about e-cigarette health effects, views regarding PCP knowledge of e-cigarettes, interest in discussing e-cigarettes with PCPs and preferred format for e-cigarette information. We performed χ testing with a 2-tailed < .

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The incidence of skin cancer is rising among American Indians (AI) but the prevalence of harmful ultraviolet light (UVL) exposures among AI youth is unknown. In 2013, UVL exposures, protective behaviors, and attitudes toward tanning were assessed among 129 AI and Non-Hispanic (NHW) students in grades 8-12 in Southeastern Oklahoma. Sunburn was reported by more than half the AI students and most of the NHW students.

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Built environment (BE) data in geographic information system (GIS) format are increasingly available from public agencies and private providers. These data can provide objective, low-cost BE data over large regions and are often used in public health research and surveillance. Yet challenges exist in repurposing GIS data for health research.

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Studies examining associations between weight status and neighborhood built environment (BE) have shown inconsistent results and have generally focused on urban settings. However, many Americans do not live in metropolitan areas and BE impacts may be different outside of metropolitan areas. We sought to examine whether the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and neighborhood BE exists and varies by geographic region across small towns in the United States.

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