Publications by authors named "Petra Helbig"
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated how factors like education, income, and rurality affect patients' access to genome-matched cancer treatments and their overall survival rates among 1,258 cancer patients in Maine.
- - Results showed no significant differences in who received these treatments based on education or income, but a lower education level was linked to a higher mortality risk (36.7% died within a year).
- - Importantly, patients with lower educational attainment who did not receive genome-matched treatment had a significantly higher mortality risk, while those who did receive treatment showed no differences in mortality across education levels.
Article Synopsis
- - Genomic tumor testing (GTT) aims to identify specific tumor variants that can be treated with targeted drugs, but access is often limited for rural patients in community oncology settings.
- - In a study involving 1,603 adult cancer patients in Maine, 1,258 had actionable variants identified, leading to 240 genome-matched treatments, with a notable survival benefit for those treated (31% less likely to die within one year).
- - The results indicate that while GTT can provide effective treatment options in rural areas, there is still a need to increase the availability of clinical trials and improve the infrastructure supporting these tests.
Article Synopsis
- - The Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative (MCGI) aimed to improve genomic tumor testing access for cancer patients in rural Maine through genomic tumor boards, clinician education, and free testing services from 2016 to 2020.
- - A hub-and-spoke model was adopted for the initiative, involving a centralized genomic tumor board program, an online education module, and comprehensive testing that engaged all 19 oncology practices in Maine, with participation from 79 oncologists.
- - The initiative successfully enrolled 1610 patients, held 196 genomic tumor boards with 47 clinicians, and achieved significant improvements in clinician participation and patient enrollment in a rural setting, enhancing precision oncology accessibility.
Article Synopsis
- Social determinants like rurality, income, and education significantly influence cancer patients' knowledge and perceptions of genomic tumor testing (GTT), with rural patients generally having less understanding.
- A study using multivariable models revealed that decreased knowledge of GTT in rural patients was mostly linked to lower education and income, rather than rurality itself.
- The findings highlight the need for targeted educational efforts to improve knowledge and awareness of GTT among patients with lower socioeconomic status to reduce health disparities in access to this technology.
Purpose: Large-panel genomic tumor testing (GTT) is an emerging technology with great promise but uncertain clinical value. Previous research has documented variability in academic oncologists' perceptions and use of GTT, but little is known about community oncologists' perceptions of GTT and how perceptions relate to clinicians' intentions to use GTT.
Methods: Community oncology physicians (N = 58) participating in a statewide initiative aimed at improving access to large-panel GTT completed surveys assessing their confidence in using GTT, attitudes regarding the value of GTT, perceptions of barriers to GTT implementation, and future intentions to use GTTs.
Unlabelled: Large-panel genomic tumor testing (GTT) is an emerging technology that promises to make cancer treatment more precise. Because GTT is novel and complex, patients may have unrealistic expectations and limited knowledge of its benefits. These problems may limit the clinical value of GTT, but their prevalence and associated factors have not been explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Novel medical technologies like genomic tumor testing (GTT) have potential but come with uncertainty regarding their clinical value and use.
- A study involving community-based oncologists revealed that greater perceived uncertainty about GTT leads to more negative attitudes towards it, especially among those with low uncertainty tolerance (UT).
- The findings suggest that oncologists' responses to GTT are influenced by their personal tolerance of uncertainty, indicating a need for further research on how these factors impact their acceptance of new medical interventions.
Purpose: To assess cancer clinical trial recruitment and reasons for nonaccrual among a rural, medically underserved population served by a community-based cancer care center.
Methods: We prospectively tracked clinical trial enrollment incidence among all new patients presenting at the Rapid City Regional Cancer Care Institute. Evaluating physicians completed questionnaires for each patient regarding clinical trial enrollment status and primary reasons for nonenrollment.
Objective: Disparities in cancer-related health outcomes exist among Native Americans. This article assesses barriers to timely and effective cancer care among Native American cancer patients.
Methods: We conducted a community-based participatory survey of newly diagnosed cancer patients to assess their basic knowledge of cancer screening and their beliefs about cancer management.
Medical mistrust and less satisfaction with health care among Native Americans presenting for cancer treatment.
J Health Care Poor Underserved
February 2009
Purpose: To assess barriers to cancer care among Native Americans, whose health outcomes compare unfavorably with those of the general U.S. population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: American Indians (AIs) in the Northern Plains region suffer disproportionately high cancer mortality rates compared with the general US population and with AIs from other regions in the United States.
Methods: The National Cancer Institute developed the Cancer Disparity Research Partnership to address these inequities. This initiative in Rapid City, South Dakota, attempts to lower cancer mortality rates for AIs by access to innovative clinical trials, behavioral research, and a genetic study.