Articles related to HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES

Learn about the precise genomic tests and compassionate treatments one doctor is using to address racial inequities in breast cancer care. JAMA’s latest study highlights a discrepancy in breast cancer care for Black women. The accuracy of widely used genomic tests for breast cancer, such as Oncotype DX, is notably less reliable for Black women. Hence, there’s an urgent call to address racial disparities in breast cancer care, especially as Black women currently face 41% higher mortality rates than white women. Dr. Nathalie Johnson, President of The American Society of Breast Cancer Surgeons, advocates for Agendia’s tests, which focus solely on biological factors. Such tests disregard race, ethnicity, age, or menopausal status, allowing for truly personalized treatment selection. Moreover, understanding every woman’s unique cancer empowers not only the patients but also their care teams. Recent research confirms that Black women are more likely to experience high-risk recurrence and death from axillary node-negative breast cancer compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. It reveals that Oncotype DX tests have lower prognostic accuracy for Black women. It points to the need for model calibration in genomic assays for populations with more racial/ethnic diversity. Dr. Johnson emphasizes personalized medicine and stresses the importance of […]

In our pursuit of health equity, cultural competence has become a crucial element in nursing. Unraveling its significance and practices, this guide illuminates the importance of cultural awareness in bridging health disparities and improving patient outcomes. Health disparities often stem from social, environmental, and economic disadvantages. Groups burdened by these disparities face larger obstacles to health, underlining the importance of health equity. In an effort to combat health disparities, the nursing profession emphasizes cultural awareness, diversity, and inclusivity. The stark differences in health outcomes for different racial and ethnic groups are impossible to ignore. Dr. Jamil Norman, a nursing instructor, found that Black mothers in the U.S. are 3-4 times more likely to die in childbirth than white mothers. Such disparities highlight the urgent need for culturally competent care. Culturally competent care includes four essential components: awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills. Through self-awareness, nurses can identify their own cultural biases. They can then address these biases, understand different cultural practices, and develop effective cross-cultural skills. Research shows that culturally competent nursing care yields significant benefits. It promotes mutual respect, fosters inclusion, and improves patient compliance and outcomes. Examples of culturally competent practices include using understandable language, respecting conflicting cultural beliefs, […]

Dive into the essence of AANA’s updated guidelines for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia as we spotlight its focus on health equity and safety in maternal care. Commencing with the unveiling of the revised practice guidelines for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) has emphasized enhancing patient care and safety. Interestingly, these updates also strive to tackle the critical issue of enduring health disparities in the United States. The AANA firmly believes in the power of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to help curb maternal mortality rates. The primary strategy focuses on mitigating racial and ethnic imbalances in pregnancy-related deaths. Beth Ann Clayton, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, the key subject matter expert behind the revisions, underscores these inequalities as significant barriers to optimal maternal care. Using an evidence-based process, the AANA revised the guidelines, paying careful attention to current research. They’ve prioritized enhancing the readability of the content, updating the quality of references, and broadening their scope to encompass the most recent recommendations on obstetric analgesia and anesthesia care. The notable alterations include the broadening of analgesia and anesthesia considerations for labor and delivery. This expansion encompasses inhalation analgesia, neuraxial analgesia, general anesthesia, and an updated […]

A study using Medicare claims data examined racial and ethnic disparities in the use of medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) among fee-for-service beneficiaries in the United States. The study found that after an OUD-related event, such as an overdose or hospitalization, Black patients had lower rates of receiving medications to treat OUD compared to White patients. In the 180 days following the index event, Black patients received buprenorphine after 12.7% of events, while Hispanic patients received it after 18.7% of events and White patients after 23.3% of events. Similar patterns were observed with naloxone and benzodiazepines. These racial and ethnic differences in medication receipt did not change significantly from 2016 to 2019, and all groups had multiple ambulatory visits despite the disparities. The study highlights substantial and persistent racial and ethnic disparities in accessing medications for OUD among Medicare beneficiaries with disability. Black patients, in particular, had lower rates of receiving medications compared to White patients. These disparities remained consistent over time, suggesting that efforts to improve equity in medication access for OUD are needed. The findings emphasize the need to address systemic barriers and biases in healthcare delivery to ensure equal access to evidence-based treatments for OUD among […]

According to census data, there are 49.2 million older persons in the United States, with 21 million (42.6%) earning less than 200% of the federal poverty threshold. With the majority of older persons having their natural dentition, there will be an increased demand for oral health (OH) treatments among this demographic. Although the causative links between oral and systemic diseases are still developing and not entirely established, there is undeniably a bidirectional relationship between OH, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in older persons.

Racial affinity group caucusing is explained and proposed as a component of the medical education curriculum for its potential value in dismantling the systems that produce inequities.