May 30, 2008
links for 2008-05-30
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Staying connected with family and friends may delay memory decline among the elderly, new research confirms.
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In Illinois in 2004, 5.9 white women died as a result of childbirth for every 100,000 live births compared to 14.8 African American women.
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While mortality rates improved or stabilized among non-Hispanic blacks, there was little improvement when compared with non-Hispanic whites. The report also found that mortality rates among Hispanics have been narrowing and approaching that of non-Hispani
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Starting this summer, the department plans to enroll 50 uninsured people from a group of patients currently relying on the state's Safety Net Pool to cover their medical costs, Auerbach said. Given the recent health insurance mandate tracked through incom
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... two research papers provide some interesting data points and insights into the disease process itself and how e-patients are using Web-enabled tools, such as PatientsLikeMe, to improve their own care.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 30, 2008
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Category: Lunch Break Reading
Pilot program to offer free health care to illegal immigrants
Massachusetts is initiating a pilot program which will provide free health insurance to 50 frequent users of the state's Safety Net Pool. If the program is effective it may be expanded statewide.
You can read the article at the Metro West Daily News. Steer clear of the comment section if you wish to avoid vitriol this morning.
EXTRA: The Seattle Times is reporting that more treatment isn't always better treatment:
When it comes to hospital health care, more isn't necessarily better, says a Consumer Reports analysis of care given at hospitals around the country.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 30, 2008
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Category: Health Care; Health Disparities; immigrants; insurance
May 29, 2008
links for 2008-05-29
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children in the poorest communities had a rate of ER use that was 86.1 percent greater than in the wealthiest communities
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GINA protects individuals with genetic conditions from health insurance and employment discrimination even if they have no symptoms of the condition. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects only individuals with symptoms in regard to employment, serv
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West Virginia children generally get a good start when it comes to health care, but fall far behind their peers in other states after reaching adulthood.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 29, 2008
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Category: Lunch Break Reading
Thursday Photovoice - Photo 4
This is the fourth in a series of entries that will highlight photographs taken as part of the photovoice component of Project HYPE.
You can read more about Project HYPE and see other photographs at our photovoice page.
Check back next Thursday when we will highlight another photograph.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 29, 2008
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Category: Photo Voice; neighborhood; photovoice
May 28, 2008
links for 2008-05-28
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Colorectal cancer death rate higher among African-Americans
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Health Affairs launches a new blog watch.
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A hospital CEO called out this problem in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this month; this morning, the WSJ reports that some hospitals are addressing the issue head-on by hiring doctors to work the graveyard shift.
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The Schwitzer health news blog takes a look at how journalists cover treatments, tests, products, and procedures. Article in PLoS.
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"Nearly two decades later, the researchers tracked down 250 of the subjects, ages 19-24. Controlling for a host of factors, including parental IQ, education, income and drug use, the team found that the more lead in a child's blood from birth through age
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Posted by: David Porter on May 28, 2008
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Category: Lunch Break Reading
Cool Whip #3
Researchers see flood of "brain-boosting" drugs.
You can find other comics from the series here.
EXTRA: Tomorrow night check out the Doctor Anonymous show. He'll be interviewing Dr. Bruce Campbell. You can find archives of the show at Viddler.com. The show is truly must see Vtv.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 28, 2008
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Category: Alzheimer's; Cool Whip; adhd; brain boosting drugs; memory loss
May 27, 2008
links for 2008-05-27
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Among kidney transplant recipients, depression doubles the risk of kidney failure, return to dialysis therapy, and death, new research indicates.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 27, 2008
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Category: Lunch Break Reading
Social networking and health
We recently learned that using text messaging might improve the rate in which teenagers take their medications. A new study out reports that social networks could be used to improve health.
From the Washington Post:
In a study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine, the team found that a person's decision to kick the habit is strongly affected by whether other people in their social network quit -- even people they do not know. And, surprisingly, entire networks of smokers appear to quit virtually simultaneously.
The study can be found in the New England Journal of Medicine.
EXTRA: Over the weekend Doc Rob celebrated 100,000 visitors to his website. Congratulations.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 27, 2008
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Category: Health; social networking
May 26, 2008
links for 2008-05-26
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A U.S. District court in Washington, D.C., has granted a reprieve to dozens of public hospitals across the nation that were facing $5 billion in cuts for treatments they provide to the poor - including a $100 million hit against Alameda County Medical Cen
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Blacks were less than half as likely as Whites to receive antiviral treatment. Both had similar odds of referral and liver biopsy. However, Blacks were significantly less likely to have complete laboratory evaluation and viral genotype testing.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 26, 2008
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Category: Lunch Break Reading
May 25, 2008
links for 2008-05-25
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The equality watchdog has ordered the National Health Service (NHS) to take urgent action to end anti-male discrimination in healthcare.
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Black men undergo elective AAA repair at a lower rate than white men even after accounting for their decreased disease burden.
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[P]oor families are up to 22 times more likely to be involved in the child-welfare system than wealthier families. And nationwide, blacks are four times more likely than other groups to live in poverty.
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Asked how he would address race disparities in education, health care and unemployment, Mr. McCain replied: "First of all, my general overall mission is to continue to erase barriers that are based on race, wherever policies are needed, and of course to i
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 25, 2008
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Category: Lunch Break Reading
May 23, 2008
Race disparities in the intensive care unit
Our own J. Daryl Thornton, M.D., M.P.H,(pdf biosketch) presented new research on May 21st at the American Thoracic Society’s 2008 International Conference in Toronto.
Based on interviews with more than 1,200 ICU physicians at five major medical centers across the country, researchers conclude that physicians are less comfortable discussing end-of-life issues and do it less frequently with African-American patients and their families than with Caucasian patients and families.
You can read the entire press release below the fold or check out the Washington Post article.
From EurekAlert!:
ATS 2008, TORONTO—An important study raises concern about the way intensive care physicians approach patients and families facing serious end-of-life medical decisions. Based on interviews with more than 1,200 ICU physicians at five major medical centers across the country, researchers conclude that physicians are less comfortable discussing end-of-life issues and do it less frequently with African-American patients and their families than with Caucasian patients and families.
J. Daryl Thornton, M.D., M.P.H., of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), an assistant professor at CWRU, will present the findings at the American Thoracic Society’s 2008 International Conference in Toronto on Wednesday, May 21.
One in five Americans will die in the ICU or shortly after a stay there, and, frequently, their deaths follow a decision made by families to withdraw life-sustaining therapies. “That is why it is so important that physicians are comfortable delivering difficult and sometimes complex diagnoses, potential outcomes and prognoses to patients and families in the ICU,” said Dr. Thornton. “Our study suggests there may be some underlying biases and/or discomfort among physicians, which impacts their ability to have these difficult conversations with families.”
“We had previously shown that ICU physicians, when predicting likelihood of survival of their patients, are less likely to predict that their African-Americans patients will survive,” he continued. “Ironically, those African-Americans were more likely to survive. These two studies, taken together, suggest we need to collect more information about what impacts the prognostic decisions by physicians, and whether any underlying biases are influencing the way they communicate with patients and families.”
The researchers examined data from the Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatment (SUPPORT), which was conducted between 1989 and 1994 involving a group of 9,105 seriously ill hospitalized patients and their 1,241 physicians at five major medical centers across the country. On the third day of the study, physicians were asked if they had had prognostic conversations with their patients or their patients’ surrogates (the person appointed by the patient to make their medical decisions).
Patients or their surrogates were also interviewed at the same time to assess their functional level two weeks prior to being admitted to the hospital, income, race, age and insurance status.
After adjusting for a variety of potentially confounding factors, such as severity of illness and insurance status, physicians reported having had prognostic conversations with 58 percent of their white patients, but only 41 percent of their African-American patients. Furthermore, physicians were less than half (43 percent) as likely to report feeling comfortable during those conversations with their African-American patients. This was true regardless of the actual prognosis.
“We acknowledge that this study uses data that is dated. The findings should be replicated and would be an important area for health disparities research—understanding the effects of physician biases on decision-making, communication and patient outcomes in the ICU,” said Dr. Thornton. “By having a detailed understanding of the components of this intricate relationship, interventions can be implemented to enable the provision of more culturally sensitive and equitable care in the ICU.”
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Posted by: David Porter on May 23, 2008
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Category: Health Disparities; Healthcare; emergency care; icu
May 22, 2008
Thursday Photovoice - Photo 3
This is the third in a series of entries that will highlight photographs taken as part of the photovoice component of Project HYPE.
You can read more about Project HYPE and see other photographs at our photovoice page.
Check back next Thursday when we will highlight another photograph.
EXTRA: Stanley Feld M.D. takes John McCain's health plan to task:
Mr. McCain seems to have no idea of the problems in the healthcare system. The government should create new rules to change the incentives of the stakeholders. The rules must create incentives for the consumers and physicians and not be punitive. One hundred and fifty million people presently have some form of healthcare insurance provided by their employers. Nonetheless, those insured employees can not afford the deductible they are required to pay while receiving less coverage at higher costs.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 22, 2008
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Category: Healthcare; Photo Voice; mccain; mural; neighborhood; photovoice
Voices to Action
Project REECH invites all interested researchers to attend:
Voices to Action. A report back on conversations held with community residents of the Hough neighborhood. This presentation will include Playback Theater.
Date: Thursday May 29th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Imani Temple Church. 1855 Ansel Rd. Cleveland.
Attend and hear about the types of research community residents would like to see conducted in their neighborhoods.
RSVP to Karen Tabb by phone at 216-778-7332 or ktabb@metrohealth.org
Community Partners:
Fellowship Missionary Human Development Center
Famicos Foundation
NEON
Faith Temple Imani Church
Footprints for Girls
Lexington Bell Community Center
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 22, 2008
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Category: Project Reech; Research; cbpr; community development; playback theater
May 21, 2008
Community Based Participatory Research - Are the scales balanced?
Maghboeba Mosavel PhD and her team discuss their community based participatory research projects. The challenges, lessons learned, and what's next.
This presentation was part of our Works in Progress series.
See this page for information on downloading and subscribing to our podcast.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 21, 2008
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Category: Audio / Video; cbpr; community based participatory research
Voices of Action - The Big Day
Project REECH (Research Engagement and Education for Community Health) is hosting a community meeting on health and health issues.
Date: Thursday May 22nd at 5:30 p.m.
Location: WSEM - 5209 Detroit. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
For more information call 778-7332.
All participants will receive a gift for attending the session.
Sponsored by:
The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization
The Center for Reducing Health Disparities
Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center
El Barrio
West Side Ecumenical Ministry
Spanish American Committee
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 21, 2008
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Category: Project Reech; community health
Cool Whip #2
MSNBC.com - Doctor's text nagging prods teens to take meds.
You can find other comics from the series here.
EXTRA: Daniel Carlat, M.D asks, "Why does the company believe it needs to give pens and pizzas to doctors in order to get them to prescribe their drugs?"
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 21, 2008
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Category: Cool Whip; rx; teenagers; text messaging
May 20, 2008
Huge gap in mortality rates among those with CKD
Using data from a population based survey of community dwelling individuals, Dr. Rajnish Mehrotra and his team found that those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) had an all-cause mortality rate twice that of those with normal kidney function. Also, among those with CKD, blacks who were under 65 years old were 78% more likely to die than their white counterparts.
From EurekaAlert.org:
Dr. Mehrotra and his team conclude that their findings may explain the lower mortality rates observed among blacks with advanced kidney disease. As a result of the higher risk for death in the early stage of chronic kidney disease, only healthier blacks are surviving and developing later stages of chronic kidney disease.
The study will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
EXTRA: Ohio Health Policy Review talks about how expensive open enrollment is for a high risk uninsured person. A single 40 year old can expect to pay $20,000 for a year of insurance.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 20, 2008
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Category: Health Disparities; ckd; insurance; kidney disease; racial differences
May 19, 2008
What's wrong with what we eat
NYTimes food writer Mark Bittman takes on fast food, meat, carbs, salisbury steak, convenience foods, farm subsidies, the decline of a quality dinner, yogurt, granola bars, organic foods, and the U.S.D.A. in this insightful talk.
EXTRA: Be careful when parking your car. The Scalpel reports on a recent valet scam at a local hospital.
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Posted by: David Porter on May 19, 2008
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Category: Healthcare; Nutrition; fast food; fast food; organic food; slow food; usda
May 16, 2008
Disparities in blood sugar control
From Reuters:
In general, the study found that black patients had a higher average blood sugar level than white patients did one year after starting drug therapy. They were also somewhat less likely to comply with their medication regimen, which was gauged by how often the patients refilled their prescriptions.
This did not, however, fully explain black patients' poorer blood sugar control, the researchers report in the journal Diabetes Care.
Exactly what does explain the racial gap remains an open question, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Alyce S. Adams.
One possibility, they suggest, is that African Americans tend to have more severe diabetes by the time they are diagnosed and treated. So they may need more intensive treatment off the bat, including higher medication doses.
The full study can be found at the journal Diabetes Care.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 16, 2008
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Category: Health Disparities; blood sugar
May 15, 2008
Thursday Photovoice - Photo 2
This is the second in a series of entries that will highlight photographs taken as part of the photovoice component of Project HYPE.
You can read more about Project HYPE and see other photographs at our photovoice page.
Check back next Thursday when we will highlight another photograph.
EXTRA: Ohio Health Policy Review is reporting on the disparity in death rates between different levels of education.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 15, 2008
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Category: Photo Voice; Research; cbpr; foreclosure; hypertension; photovoice; stress
May 14, 2008
Cool Whip #1
NYTimes.com - The Lost Supermarket
You can find other comics from the series here.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 14, 2008
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Category: Cool Whip; Nutrition; fast food; grocery stores; supermarkets
May 13, 2008
Vet commits suicide outside veterans' clinic
On Saturday the Health Disparities Blog celebrated its 2nd birthday. I had planned on posting today the first in a new series of comics focused on the topics of health and healthcare.
Then last night I stumbled upon a terribly sad story at curethis.org that was originally posted at greenvilleonline.com:
Harriett Chapman's eyes filled with tears Sunday as she recalled one of the last conversations she had with her 89-year-old father before he fatally shot himself outside a Greenville veterans' clinic last month.
Grover Cleveland Chapman told his family, "No matter what I apply for at the VA, they turn me down," she recalled.
The next day, the World War II veteran took his own life outside the Veterans Outpatient Clinic at 3510 Augusta Road, said Greenville County Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis.
Somehow posting a comic today just didn't feel right.
EXTRA: GoozNews.com posted an interesting article about the FDA and the Helsinki Declaration.
Last week, the FDA formally declared that it will no longer require that clinical trials submitted to the agency to get regulatory approval for a new drug adhere to the Helsinki Declaration. The new rule, which goes into effect next October, was supported by the drug industry but opposed by numerous public interest, patient advocacy, and consumer groups.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 13, 2008
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Category: Health Care
May 12, 2008
How the cost of medical school can affect health care quality
Andrew Herstein writing at theNation.com explains how the cost of medical school affects both patient care and health care access.
According to the article, in 2006 graduates of public medical schools owed a median amount of $120,000 in student debt. Their private school counterparts owed $160,000.
Citing 2004 U.S. Census Bureau statistics Mr. Herstein shows that while minorities make up 30% of the U.S. population only 14% of applicants to schools that grant an M.D are minorities. From theNation.com:
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the primary reason for this discrepancy is that minority students are much more likely to see financing a medical education as an insurmountable problem.
The article continues by showing how race matters with regards to health care providers.
Patients report higher measures of satisfaction and trust when their doctor is of the same race and ethnicity. One study found that race-concordant visits were longer on average and were characterized by more positive physician affect. In addition, minority physicians are more likely than white physicians to practice in geographic areas whose populations face multiple challenges to maintaining good health.
In addition, minority doctors report providing more care for under-served populations.
So what should be done about the low number of minority applicants to medical school? Mr. Herstein offers two possible solutions.
First the U.S. government could work towards reducing the cost of medical school for qualified college graduates. This could be accomplished by increased funding for scholarship programs that reward those who work in under-served areas.
The second possible solution is to provide more money to health professions schools which should increase the number of need based scholarships.
With the rising cost of tuition the article ends with a warning that things could get worse:
If such rapid tuition growth continues, larger and larger numbers of minority students will consider a medical education to be unaffordable. The result would be a workforce that is even less diverse than it is now. Considering the many benefits that a diverse workforce provides, this outcome should be avoided. The federal government has the ability to shape the composition of the physician workforce and ought to do so.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 12, 2008
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Category: Health Care; Healthcare; health care access; medical school; medical school debt
May 09, 2008
Cultural and Linguistic Competency - Implications for Reseach
On May 19th there will be a half-day symposium looking at techniques for designing research projects sensitive to cultural dynamics of patient population.
The guest speaker and facilitator will be Tawara D. Goode, M.A. Ms. Goode is an Assistant Professor and Director of the National Center for Cultural Competence at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development.
Date: May 19th, 2008
Time 8:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Wolstein Research Building, Room 1413, Case Western Reserve
You can download a pdf version of the flyer for the event here.
Please RSVP to Michele Abraham at 216-778-3858 or mabraham@metrohealth.org no later than May 12, 2008.
This symposium is sponsored in part by Case Western Reserve University, the Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and the Clinical & Translational Science Collaborative.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 09, 2008
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Category: Cultural competency; Cultural competency; Linguistic Competency; Research
May 08, 2008
Thursday Photovoice - Photo 1
This is the first in a series of entries that will highlight photographs taken as part of the photovoice component of Project HYPE.
Project HYPE is a community-based research project aimed at identifying the social context of hypertension management. The photovoice aspect of the project is designed to have community members photograph those things which positively and negatively affect their hypertension. Participants told the story behind each photo which stimulated dialogue about the issues related to hypertension management.
Check back next Thursday when we will highlight another photograph.
BONUS: I will be attending Case's Collaboration Technology and Engaging the Campus today. I'm looking forward to meeting many of the best and brightest of the Case digital community.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 08, 2008
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Category: Photo Voice; Research; cbpr; community; hypertension; photovoice
May 07, 2008
Racial disparities in diabetes control
DIABETES CONTROL may be more challenging for Hispanics than for non-Hispanic whites, a meta-analysis suggests.
Researchers found that hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels are higher in Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites, with an overall mean HbA1c difference of 0.5%. The reasons for the disparity in HbA1c levels are not known, but plausible explanations include differences in biology, access to care, insurance status, and diabetes treatment adherence
BONUS: New York City started issuing citations to restaurants that did not have calories posted on their menus. See NYTimes.com for more info.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 07, 2008
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Category: Health; Health Disparities; racial differences
May 06, 2008
Engaging community members for research purposes: Who benefits?
The Case Center for Reducing Health Disparities and Cleveland State's Center for Health Equity are hosting the next presentation in the Works in Progress Lecture Series.
“Engaging community members for research purposes: Who benefits?”
Date
Friday, May 9, 2008.
Time
3-4 p.m.
Location
Case Western Reserver University School of Medicine
2109 Adelbert Avenue.
T503
(the School of Medicine is #50 on this map.)
Please RSVP your attendance to Cydney Johnson at cjohnson3@metrohealth.org or by phone at (216) 778-8484.
We look forward to seeing you there.
BONUS: a NYTimes.com story reports that high blood pressure is a greater risk in poor and middle income countries.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 06, 2008
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Category: Works in Progress
May 05, 2008
Health care delivery problems in Canada
Often when the issue of health care access is discussed someone will point north and advocate for a Canada-styled heath care system for the U.S.
But there are problems in the Canadian health care system too. From theglobalandmail.com:
Canada, once able to boast about its high rank in the world for low infant-mortality rate – sixth place in 1990 – saw its rank plummet to 25th place in 2005, according to figures published this year by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Specifically, Canada's infant mortality rate of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births is tied with Estonia's and more than double Sweden's rate of 2.4.
According to the OECD the infant mortality rate for the U.S. was not listed for 2005 but it was 6.8 (deaths per 1000 live births) for 2004.
In addition, the waiting times for many procedures in Canada seems long. In a report titled The Wait Time Strategy (available as a pdf at the health.gov.on.ca website) the number of days between decision to treat and treatment is listed. These are the average number of days waiting for December 2006 and January 2007.
Cancer Surgery 68 days
Angiography 28 days
Angioplasty 17 days
Bypass Surgery 48 days
Cataract Surgery 183 days
Hip Replacement 257 days
Knee Replacement 307 days
MRI 105 days
CT 62 days
If interested, you can navigate the Canadian health care website and check the average waiting times for various hospitals and geographic areas in Ontario.
Bonus: The next lecture in our Works in Progress series will be titled, "“Engaging community members for research purposes: Who benefits?" Check back tomorrow for full details.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 05, 2008
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Category: Canada; Health Care; Health Inequities
May 02, 2008
Disparities in nutrition among poor women
From Reuters:
Researchers found that among 603 mothers of children in Head Start programs in Alabama and Texas, diets tended to be too low in important nutrients. But Hispanic mothers did generally get more fruits and vegetables than white and African-American mothers did, and a lower percentage of their daily calories came from fat.
On average, the study found, Hispanic women consumed what health experts consider an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables -- 4.6 cups per day, based on detailed dietary questionnaires.
In contrast, white and black women averaged between 2 and 3 cups per day, the researchers report in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
The study can be found in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 02, 2008
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Category: Head Start; Health Disparities
House introduces Health Equity and Accountability Act
Representative Joe Baca writing at the Huffington Post:
Latino children are less likely to receive adequate medical care, such as routine examinations and vaccinations. Latinos and African-Americans comprise 60% of all HIV/AIDS cases in the country. It is evident that priority must be given to diminishing these health disparities. If we have any chance of fixing health care for our community as a whole, action must be taken now.
To help address this issue the House has introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act, H.R. 3014.
Bonus: The journal, Archives of Surgery, is soliciting papers for a year long theme on the topic of disparities in health care.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 02, 2008
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Category:
May 01, 2008
Access barriers and disparities in the disabled
Posting as part of Blogging Against Disablism Day.
In a 2007 commentary that appeared in JAMA the authors list previous research that demonstrates how disabilities affect treatment.
- Women with major mobility problems were less like to have received a PAP test in the prior three years than women without major mobility issues.
- 45% of women with major mobility issues reported have a mammogram in the previous 2 years vs. 64% of women without mobility issues.
- In a study of Los Angeles County residents with disabilities those who were black, had lower incomes, and were more severely disabled were more likely to report difficulties in accessing clinicians offices.
- In women with breast cancer those who were disabled were less likely to receive radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery.
The authors close with a call to reduce structural barriers and emphasize form and function:
As health care facilities managers renovate structures, construct new buildings, and purchase equipment and furnishings, they should remember legal requirements as well as health care’s therapeutic mission. Environments with barriers will not foster healing and could endanger the safety and experiences of patients and employees. Form follows function. Healing, not handicapping, should guide design of environments to ensure health care access for all persons.
BONUS: The Medical Humanities Blog has the latest Health Wonk Review up. There are even a few Seinfeld references in the mix.
Send news items related to health disparities to ReduceDisparity(AT)case.edu
Posted by: David Porter on May 01, 2008
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Category: Health Disparities