Data on Breast Cancer Discussed by Researchers at University of Texas Health Science Center (The Role of Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Access…

Data on Breast Cancer Discussed by Researchers at University of Texas Health Science Center (The Role of Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Access in Breast Cancer Screening Compliance Among Hispanics)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Women's Health Weekly -- A new study on Oncology is now available. According to news reporting from Houston, Texas, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, "Considerable disparities in breast cancer screening exist between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) women. Identifying and quantifying the factors contributing to these racial-ethnic disparities can help shape interventions and policies aimed at reducing these disparities."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of Texas Health Science Center, "This study, for the first time, identified and quantified individual-level sociodemographic and health-related factors that contribute to racial-ethnic disparities in breast cancer screening using the nonlinear Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method. Analysis of the retrospective pooled cross-sectional Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 2000 to 2010 was conducted. Women aged 40 years and older were included in the study. Logistic regressions were used to estimate racial-ethnic disparities in breast cancer screening. Nonlinear Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method was used to identify and quantify the contribution of each individual-level factor toward racial-ethnic disparities. Based on the unadjusted analyses, Hispanic women had lower odds of receiving mammogram screening (MS) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69-0.80) and breast cancer screening (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.70-0.81) as compared with NHW women. However, the relationship reversed in adjusted analyses, such that Hispanic women had higher odds of receiving MS (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.16-1.40) and breast cancer screening (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.17-1.40) as compared with NHW women. The Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition estimated that improving insurance status, access to care, education, and income will considerably increase screening rates among Hispanic women. The study projects that improving health care access and health education will considerably increase breast cancer screening compliance among Hispanic women."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Policies like the Affordable Care Act, and patient navigation and health education interventions, might considerably reduce screening disparities in the Hispanic population."

For more information on this research see: The Role of Socioeconomic Status and Health Care Access in Breast Cancer Screening Compliance Among Hispanics. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 2015;21(5):467-476. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA. (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins - www.lww.com; Journal of Public Health Management and Practice - journals.lww.com/jphmp/pages/default.aspx)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting S. Jadav, Univ Texas Hlth Sci Center Houston, Dept. of Management Policy & Community Hlth, Houston, TX 77030, United States. Additional authors for this research include S.S. Rajan, S. Abughosh and S.S. Sansgiry (see also Oncology).

Keywords for this news article include: Texas, Houston, Oncology, United States, Breast Cancer, Women's Health, North and Central America

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