Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health among breast cancer patients and survivors in the United States.

Objective: To decompose the mental health disparities between breast cancer patients and survivors (hereafter survivors) of racial and ethnic minority groups and non-Hispanic White survivors into the contributions of individual-, interpersonal-, community-, and societal-level determinants.

Data Sources And Study Setting: We used data from the 2010-2020 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC). Our primary outcome was whether the person had mental health conditions or not.

GIS Mapping and Breast Cancer Health Care Access Gaps for African American Women.

Black women face an unequal opportunity to survive breast cancer compared with White women. One would expect that US metropolitan areas with high percentages of Black people should report similar racial disparities in breast health. Yet, this is not the case.

Evaluating the Potential Use of Smartphone Apps for Diabetes Self-Management in an Underserved Population: A Qualitative Approach.

Health disparities cause a higher rate of diabetes development in poor and minority groups and also limit the care these people receive. Smartphone applications (apps) may be a low-cost, accessible resource to patients with diabetes who experience barriers to traditional health care. Currently, little is known about using health apps to help underserved patients in the United States.

Who Can Help Us on This Journey? African American Woman with Breast Cancer: Living in a City with Extreme Health Disparities.

This qualitative descriptive research study looks at the services that community-based breast cancer support agencies provide to underserved and African American women who are at risk for or diagnosed with breast cancer in Memphis, Tennessee. We seek their understanding of breast cancer mortality disparities in Memphis. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth focus groups with five breast cancer support agencies.

Intervention and Public Policy Pathways to Achieve Health Care Equity.

Health care equity reflects an equal opportunity to utilize public health and health care resources in order to maximize one's health potential. Achieving health care equity necessitates the consideration of both quantity and quality of care, as well as vertical (greater health care use by those with greater needs) and horizontal (equal health care use by those with equal needs) equity. In this paper, we summarize the approaches introduced by authors contributing to this Special Issue and how their work is captured by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) framework.

Affordable Care Act and Disparities in Health Services Utilization among Ethnic Minority Breast Cancer Survivors: Evidence from Longitudinal Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys 2008⁻2015.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent female cancer in the US. Incidence rates are similar for white and black women but mortality rates are higher for black women. This study draws on rich, nationally representative data, the 2008⁻2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys, to estimate effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on reducing disparities in and access to use of diagnostic and medical services for black and Hispanic breast cancer survivors.

Quality of Life and African American Women Who are Family Caregivers: A Literature Review with Implications for Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.

Purpose: To identify factors affecting the quality of life (QOL) of African American women (AAW) family caregivers of individuals with kidney failure.

Methods: Ferrans' Conceptual Model of QOL provided the framework for this literature review. Included studies were (a) peer- reviewed, (b) published within the last ten years, (c) written in English, and (d) examined QOL of AAW family caregivers.

Male Caregivers of Persons with End Stage Renal Disease: A Qualitative Study.

This study explored experiences associated with burden, depressive symptoms, and perceived health in six male caregivers of persons with end stage renal disease (ESRD) using qualitative interviews. Analysis employed open coding and analysis to generate codes and categories. Eighty-three percent of the participants reported significant subjective and objective burden.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Patient-Provider Communication With Breast Cancer Patients: Evidence From 2011 MEPS and Experiences With Cancer Supplement.

The current study explores racial/ethnic disparities in the quality of patient-provider communication during treatment, among breast cancer patients. A unique data set, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and Experiences With Cancer Supplement 2011, is used to examine this topic. Using measures of the quality of patient-provider communication that patients are best qualified to evaluate, we explore the relationship between race/ethnicity and patients' perspectives on whether (1) patient-provider interactions are respectful, (2) providers are listening to patients, (3) providers provide adequate explanations of outcomes and treatment, and (4) providers spend adequate time in interacting with the patients.

Racial disparities in survival outcomes by breast tumor subtype among African American women in Memphis, Tennessee.

Racial disparities in survival among African American (AA) women in the United States have been well documented. Breast cancer mortality rates among AA women is higher in Memphis, Tennessee as compared to 49 of the largest US cities. In this study, we investigated the extent to which racial/ethnic disparities in survival outcomes among Memphis women are attributed to differences in breast tumor subtype and treatment outcomes.

Male Caregivers of Persons with End Stage Renal Disease: A Literature Review.

This literature review examined burden, depressive symptoms, and perceived health reported by male caregivers of persons with end stage renal disease. These studies suggest that male caregivers often experience negative outcomes. Compared to non-caregivers, male caregivers had higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

African American Women: Surviving Breast Cancer Mortality against the Highest Odds.

Among the country's 25 largest cities, the breast cancer mortality disparity is highest in Memphis, Tennessee, where African American women are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as White women. This qualitative study of African-American breast cancer survivors explores experiences during and post treatment that contributed to their beating the high odds of mortality. Using a semi-structured interview guide, a focus group session was held in 2012 with 10 breast cancer survivors.

Potential Health Implications of Medication Therapy Management Eligibility Criteria in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Across Racial and Ethnic Groups.

Background: The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act requires Part D plans to establish programs to provide medication therapy management (MTM) services starting from 2006. MTM services have been found to improve patient outcomes from pharmacotherapy, reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and reduce health care costs in a cost-effective fashion. However, previous research found that non-Hispanic blacks (blacks) and Hispanics may be less likely to be eligible for MTM services than non-Hispanic whites (whites) among the Medicare population, according to current Medicare MTM eligibility criteria.

Effects of medicare part d on disparity implications of medication therapy management eligibility criteria.

Background: Previous studies have shown that there were greater racial and ethnic disparities among individuals who were ineligible for medication therapy management (MTM) services than among MTM-eligible individuals before the implementation of Medicare Part D in 2006.

Objective: To determine whether the implementation of Medicare Part D in 2006 correlates to changes in racial and ethnic disparities among MTM-ineligible and MTM-eligible beneficiaries.

Methods: Data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey were analyzed in this retrospective observational analysis.

Potential effects of racial and ethnic disparities in meeting Medicare medication therapy management eligibility criteria.

Objective: Medication therapy management (MTM) has the potential to play an instrumental role in reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care. However, previous research has found that Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to be eligible for MTM. The purpose of the current study was to examine the potential effects of MTM eligibility criteria on racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes.

Potential health implications of racial and ethnic disparities in meeting MTM eligibility criteria.

Background: Previous studies have found that racial and ethnic minorities would be less likely to meet the Medicare eligibility criteria for medication therapy management (MTM) services than their non-Hispanic White counterparts.

Objectives: To examine whether racial and ethnic disparities in health status, health services utilization and costs, and medication utilization patterns among MTM-ineligible individuals differed from MTM-eligible individuals.

Methods: This study analyzed Medicare beneficiaries in 2004-2005 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.

Accessibility of antiretroviral therapy in Ghana: convenience of access.

The convenience of accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) is important for initial access to care and subsequent adherence to ART. We conducted a qualitative study of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and ART healthcare providers in Ghana in 2005. The objective of this study was to explore the participants' perceived convenience of accessing ART by PLWHA in Ghana.

Exploring mediators of food insecurity and obesity: a review of recent literature.

One in seven American households experience food insecurity at times during the year, lack of money and other resources hinder their ability to maintain consistent access to nutritious foods. Low-income, ethnic minority, and female-headed households exhibit the greatest risk for food insecurity, which often results in higher prevalence of diet-related disease. The food insecurity-obesity paradox is one that researchers have explored to understand the factors that influence food insecurity and its impact on weight change.

Conjoint analysis of patient preferences on Medicare medication therapy management.

Objectives: To identify attributes of medication therapy management (MTM) valued by Medicare beneficiaries and to determine patient preferences and willingness to pay for MTM attributes.

Design: Cross-sectional contingency valuation study.

Setting: Six senior centers in Memphis, TN, from September 2007 through August 2008.

Cost burden of the presenteeism health outcome: diverse workforce of nurses and pharmacists.

Objectives: To describe presenteeism, its cost burden, and comparative and interactive effects of race/ethnicity in nurses and pharmacists.

Methods: Using 226 self-reports, ordinal logistic regression with marginal/interactive effects modeled 12 presenteeism predictors, contingency tables detected differences/associations, and Human Capital Approach determined cost burden.

Results: Presenteeism's prevalence was 52.

Cultural competency, race, and skin tone bias among pharmacy, nursing, and medical students: implications for addressing health disparities.

The Institute of Medicine report, Unequal Treatment, asserts that conscious and unconscious bias of providers may affect treatments delivered and contribute to health disparities. The primary study objective is to measure, compare, and contrast objective and subjective cognitive processes among pharmacy, nursing, and medical students to discern potential implications for health disparities. Data were collected using a cultural competency questionnaire and two implicit association tests (IATs).

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: a valuable database for studying racial and ethnic disparities in prescription drug use.

Background: Despite the importance of equal access to prescription drugs by racial and ethnic groups, studies on access to prescription drugs have been incomprehensive.

Objective: To describe the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) as a valuable data source to study racial and ethnic disparities in prescription drug use.

Methods: Use of the MEPS database to study disparities in prescription drug use is detailed.

Parent caregiving choices of middle-generation Blacks and Whites in the United States.

Objective: This study compares how middle-generation caregivers and non-caregivers differ by race and explores racial differences in activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and financial assistance that middle-generation caregivers provide for their parents.

Method: Using 2000 Health and Retirement Study data, racially stratified descriptive analyses and logistic regression models for ADL, IADL, and financial assistance are presented.

Results: Parental need and race influence support, with similar patterns of Black and White ADL support, but racial differences in IADL and financial support.