Opportunities for oral cancer screening among older African-American women

BACKGROUND: Older persons with smoking histories are important targets for oral cancer screening. Although older persons in low-income communities often lack regular dental care, little is known about the characteristics of groups at greatest risk for poor screening. METHODS: Survey data from 576 African-American women aged 45-93 were used to identify predictors of smoking and recency and type of dental care. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of respondents were current or former smokers, and 62% reported dental care within the past 3 years. Among smokers, no recent dental care was associated with older age, worse health, not working, no regular medical provider, and no recent mammography. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that episodic visits to non dentist providers offer opportunities for oral screening in high-risk populations.     

Receipt of preventive health care services by lesbians

BACKGROUND: We measured receipt of age-appropriate preventive health services by lesbians and assessed whether provider and individual characteristics, including disclosure of sexual orientation, are independently associated with receipt of these services. METHODS: A questionnaire was printed in a national biweekly gay, lesbian, and bisexual news magazine, and self-identified lesbians living in all U. S. states (N =6935) responded to the survey. Main outcome variables were receipt of a Pap smear within the preceding 1 and 2 years and, for women aged > or= 50, receipt of a mammogram within the past 1 and 2 years. RESULTS: Fifty-four percent had Pap smears within 1 year and 71% within 2 years, with increasing rates among older and more educated respondents. Seventy percent of respondents aged > or = 50 had a mammogram in the past year, and 83% within 2 years; rates did not vary significantly controlling for education. Sixty percent had disclosed their sexual orientation to their regular health care provider. Controlling for patient and provider characteristics, disclosure was independently associated with receipt of Pap smears, but not mammograms. CONCLUSIONS: It is important for providers to identify their lesbian patients' unmet needs for preventive health care. Additionally, it is important for providers to provide complete and appropriate preventive health care for their lesbian patients. Further research is needed to determine why lesbians are not receiving Pap smears at the recommended rate and whether this disparity is reflective of aspects of cervical cancer screening or indicates a more general problem with access to health care including receipt of preventive services.     

Disability and receipt of clinical preventive services among women

BACKGROUND: More individuals are surviving catastrophic injuries and living longer with persistent disability; however, their receipt of clinical preventive services is not well understood as compared with those without disabilities given the dual focus of care on both primary prevention and the prevention of secondary complications related to their disabilities. METHODS: Longitudinal analyses of 1999-2002 Medical Expenditure Survey (MEPS). Study sample consisted of 3,183 community-dwelling women aged 51-64 years and followed for 2 full years. Women with disabilities were defined as having reported any limitation in any area of activity of daily living in 2 years. Recommended clinical preventive services were defined as receiving the following at the recommended intervals: colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer; cholesterol screening; and influenza immunization. chi(2) tests and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine variations in use of clinical preventive services. RESULTS: Overall, 23% of the women in the study (n = 835) were disabled. Disabled women, however, were less likely to receive mammography and Pap smears within the recommended intervals. However, disabled women were more likely to receive influenza immunization, cholesterol screening, and colorectal screening within the recommended intervals. Among the disabled, usual source of care and health insurance remained significant predictors of receipt of clinical preventive services across all types, CONCLUSIONS: Disabled women were less likely to receive some of the cancer screening services, suggesting a need for targeted interventions to promote breast cancer and cervical cancer screening. Increased access to health care insurance and health care providers may also help.     

Are two doctors better than one? Women's physician use and appropriate care.

This study examines nonelderly women's concurrent use of two types of physicians (generalists and obstetrician-gynecologists) for regular health care and associations with receipt of preventive care, including a range of recommended screening, counseling, and heart disease prevention services. Data are from the 1999 Women's Health Care Experiences Survey conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, using random digit dialing (N = 509 women ages 18 to 64). Key findings are: 58% of women report using two physicians (a generalist and an ob/gyn) for regular care; seeing both a generalist and an ob/gyn, compared with seeing a generalist alone, is consistently associated with receiving more clinical preventive services, including screening, counseling, and preventive services related to heart disease. Because seeing an ob/gyn in addition to a generalist physician is associated with receiving recommended preventive services (even for heart disease), the findings suggest that non-elderly women who rely on a generalist alone may receive substandard preventive care. The implications for women's access to ob/gyns and for appropriate design of women's primary care are discussed.     

Feasibility of a tailored intervention to improve preventive care use in women

BACKGROUND: Women age 50 years and older are in need of multiple preventive health care services. Despite recent improvements in rates of delivery of preventive care services, especially within managed care organizations, substantial numbers of women are still being underscreened. Efforts to improve delivery of preventive care services have often focused on one outstanding service despite the fact that patients often are in need of many services. METHODS: A total of 893 women age 50 to 55 years were mailed a self-administered survey to identify outstanding preventive health care service needs. Patients in need of three or more outstanding preventive health care services were identified from survey respondents to participate in a feasibility study evaluating a tailored, customized intervention called Tic Tac Health. RESULTS: Five-hundred ninety-one women returned the survey (67%). Four-hundred forty-eight (76%) women were in need of one or more preventive health services; 92 (16%) were in need of three or more. Twenty-two patients (24%) completed the Tic Tac Health card. The women who completed the card were similar to those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Despite documented physician visits, presence of managed care health insurance, and a designated primary care provider, a significant number of women are still in need of multiple preventive health services. An intervention targeting multiple preventive health services was demonstrated to be both feasible and effective. Further evaluation via a randomized controlled trial should be conducted to determine if an intervention like Tic Tac Health would be an effective modality for improving rates of receipt of multiple preventive health care services.     

Primary care arrangements and access to care among African-American women in three Chicago communities.

African-American women of child-bearing age residing in three high-risk communities in Chicago were surveyed regarding their primary care arrangements and access to care (n = 552). This study examined factors which differentiated women who used office-based practices from those who used institutional settings (community clinics, health department clinics, hospital-based clinics) for primary care. Results of multivariate analysis indicate that women who used office-based practices were more likely than those who used institutional settings to see the same provider, to walk to their provider, to have less travel time and to walk in without an appointment. They were less likely to be hospitalized in the past year and less likely to report the availability of family planning at their usual source of care. Satisfaction with care, insurance status and sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with use of a particular facility type. Implications for organizing comprehensive health services for this population are discussed.     

Regular health care use by lesbians: a path analysis of predictive factors

BACKGROUND: Lesbians have more health risks than other women but access preventive medical care less frequently. OBJECTIVE: To test the influence of (i) provider inquiry about sexual orientation, (ii) perceived provider gay-positivity and (iii) patient disclosure of sexual orientation on regular health care use in a sample of Canadian lesbians. METHODS: A path analysis using community survey data from 489 lesbian respondents. RESULTS: 78.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 74.7-82.0] of women reported regular health service use; 75.8% (95% CI: 72.2-79.8) of women had disclosed their sexual orientation to their provider; and 24.4% (95% CI: 20.6-28.2) of women had been asked about their sexual orientation by their provider. Of those women whose physicians had inquired about their sexual orientation, 100% (95% CI: 97.5-100.0) had disclosed. In the final path analysis, perceived provider gay-positivity and level of patient outness predicted disclosure, which, along with health status predicted regular health care use. All paths were significant at P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Provider-related factors including perceived gay-positivity and inquiry about sexual orientation are strongly associated with disclosure of sexual orientation. Disclosure is associated with regular health care use. Minor changes to practice could improve access to health services for lesbians.     

Cultural and educational disparities in the use of primary and preventive health care services among midlife women in Israel.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess rates of primary and preventive healthcare use among women in midlife from different cultural origins and to identify sociodemographic and health characteristics that could explain cultural differences in health care utilization. METHODS: Data were collected for the Women's Health in Midlife National Study in Israel, in which women aged 45-64 were randomly selected according to age and ethnic/origin group strata: Long-term Jewish residents (n = 540), immigrants from the former Soviet Union (n = 151), and Arab women (n = 123). Interviews included measures of primary and preventive visits, clinical screening services (mammogram, Pap smear, bone density), health and lifestyle, and sociodemographics. MAIN FINDINGS: Long-term residents reported more preventive visits and screening tests and lower use of primary care, compared with immigrants and Arab women. In multivariate analyses, cultural group, education, self-rated health, and health motivation were significantly associated with utilization of primary and preventive care. Ethnic/origin group differences were mostly related to cultural differences and not to financial barriers or medical factors. For example, among the more traditional group, namely, Arab women, low use of preventive gynecologic care seemed to be related to the lack of physicians of the same culture and gender. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the importance of the primary care physician, especially in minority groups, as a provider who can identify at-risk groups and serve as a gateway to health promotion. The findings also suggest that the lack of female providers may be one explanation for the low utilization of gynecologic services among women from traditional cultures.     

Health needs and health care utilization among rural, low-income women

This study examined the correlates of health service utilization in a sample of low-income, rural women. Self-reported data were from Rural Families Speak (N = 275), a multi-state study of low-income, rural families in the U.S. collected in 2002. Findings indicated that women with health insurance, a regular doctor, and poorer overall physical health had higher incident rates of physician visits. Women who were divorced, separated or widowed and had more chronic health problems had higher incidence rates of emergency department (ED) use, while women living in counties with higher primary care physician rates had lower incidence rates of ED use. Future research and policies should focus on improved access to health insurance, increasing physician availability in rural areas, and providing rural women with a usual source of care, so as to reduce emergency services utilization for non-emergent needs and improve health status for this population.     

Does provider prevention orientation influence female patients' preventive practices?

BACKGROUND: Health care provider encouragement for particular preventive behaviors is associated with patient adherence, but it is unclear whether a provider's overall prevention approach influences whether patients engage in recommended preventive measures. We examined whether older women who perceived that their health care provider encouraged a particular preventive behavior were more likely to follow that recommendation if they also perceived that the provider encouraged other preventive behaviors. DATA AND METHODS: The sample included 1119 women aged 50 to 79 enrolled in a health maintenance organization. We examined associations of reported provider encouragement for post-menopausal hormone use, physical activity, fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), and flexible sigmoidoscopy with one another and with adherence to these measures according to recommended guidelines. RESULTS: Among women reporting provider encouragement for physical activity, the likelihood of reporting regular physical activity was greater among women who reported encouragement for one other (odds ratio [OR]=1.99; confidence interval [CI]=1.35 to 2.95) and at least two other (OR=2. 38; 95% CI=1.62 to 3.48) preventive measures compared with women who reported no other encouragement. The likelihood of reporting adequate counseling for post-menopausal hormone use was greater among women reporting encouragement for at least two other preventive measures compared with those reporting no other encouragement. The likelihood of having had an FOBT or sigmoidoscopic examination was related to encouragement for those procedures, but not with greater encouragement for other preventive measures. CONCLUSIONS: Patient perceptions of a provider's overall preventive practice approach may influence whether patients engage in recommended preventive practices, particularly for lifestyle factors.     

Predictors of screening mammography: implications for office practice

BACKGROUND: The completion of annual screening mammography and other preventive health services among women aged 50 years and older remains an important quality of care indicator. METHODS: A biracial sample of 843 rural women (aged > or =50 years) from a population-based sample reported demographic and preventive health services utilization in the last year including the completion of screening mammography. Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were used to investigate the extent to which completion of other screening examinations, including Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and clinical breast examination, is associated with successful completion of mammography relative to demographic and health service variables. RESULTS: The completion of mammography was associated with age, race, education, health insurance, and the presence of a regular primary care physician, but the strongest predictors were the completion of a clinical breast examination and/or a Pap smear. CONCLUSIONS: Women who receive a clinical breast examination and/or a Pap smear appear far more likely to receive screening mammography, suggesting a synergy in screening services. The relative efficacy of interventions to increase the completion of clinical breast examinations as well as other age-appropriate preventive services during routine office visits or during a single preventive services office visit should be further explored in primary care settings. Residency programs should provide training on the successful incorporation of such services into office practice patterns in an effort to continually improve quality of care.     

Te contaria mi vida: I would tell you my life,if only you would ask

Universal screening for domestic violence is recommended in many health care settings. This qualitative study was undertaken to explore the thoughts and feelings of Mexican American women regarding being asked questions about domestic violence by a health care provider. We wanted to further explore what characteristics about a nurse, or other health care provider, would give a woman confianza, the trust necessary to discuss this issue. Seven women, who self identified as abused or formerly abused, were recruited from a pool of Spanish-speaking women receiving services from a rural domestic violence agency in the midwestern United States. The researchers found that, given certain characteristics and actions of the health care provider, women welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue. The implications for practice are these: be sincerely present for the client, ask about her life, listen to her response, and when necessary assist her to connect with appropriate domestic violence community services.     

Health Needs and Health Care Utilization Among Rural,Low-Income Women

ABSTRACT

This study examined the correlates of health service utilization in a sample of low-income, rural women. Self-reported data were from Rural Families Speak (N = 275), a multi-state study of low-income, rural families in the U.S. collected in 2002. Findings indicated that women with health insurance, a regular doctor, and poorer overall physical health had higher incident rates of physician visits. Women who were divorced, separated or widowed and had more chronic health problems had higher incidence rates of emergency department (ED) use, while women living in counties with higher primary care physician rates had lower incidence rates of ED use. Future research and policies should focus on improved access to health insurance, increasing physician availability in rural areas, and providing rural women with a usual source of care, so as to reduce emergency services utilization for non-emergent needs and improve health status for this population.     

Cancer screening among Latino subgroups in the United States

BACKGROUND: Relying upon the Health Belief Model and a behavioral model of health care utilization, the purpose of this study was to examine current adherence to cancer screening among Latino subgroups. METHODS: Using data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey, 5377 Latinos were surveyed for their use of Pap smear, mammogram, breast self-examination and the clinical breast exam among women, prostate specific antigen test among men, and the fecal occult blood test, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and proctoscopy among both men and women. Using sampling weights, multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess screening use. RESULTS: Dominican women had 2.4 times greater likelihood of having had mammography than other Latinos. In addition, Latinas aged 50-69, who had more years of education, a personal history of cancer, who were not current smokers, had health insurance, had visited a primary care provider over the past 12 months, and had at least one other screening test had greater use of mammography. Younger age, marriage, greater acculturation, visits to a primary care provider, health insurance, and the use of other cancer screening tests predicted the uptake of the Pap smear. Latinas were more likely to use a CBE if they were younger, had a Bachelor's degree, a personal history of cancer, were more acculturated, had visits to a primary care provider over the past 12 months, and used other cancer screening tests. Puerto Ricans, Central or South Americans had half the likelihood of having colorectal cancer screening than other groups. Ages between 50 and 69, male sex, marriage, history of visiting a health care provider, and use of other screening tests predicted use of the FOBT. Older age, greater education, male sex, history of visiting a health care provider in the previous year, use of other screening tests, and better health status influenced the uptake of endoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. Cuban males had fivefold greater utilization of PSA testing. Additionally, PSA use among Latinos was predicted by older age, history of visiting a primary care provider in the past 12 months, and use of other screening tests. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer screening programs must take into account differences among Latinos in age, gender, educational levels, marital status, cancer history, risk behaviors, insurance, health status and health services utilization.     

Health insurance coverage and use of selected preventive services by working-age women, BRFSS, 2006

Access to healthcare and participation in preventive screening are important to the well-being of women. Using 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, we examined the prevalence of health insurance coverage among working-age women and their use of selected preventive health screening. These data were also used to determine these women's access to services and the extent to which cost was a barrier. Overall, 17.3% of working-age women reported not having health insurance coverage, and lack of coverage varied widely among the states. Those without coverage were significantly more likely to report having neither routine health examinations nor a regular provider, to report cost as a barrier to access, and to be less likely to get screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers during the specified time intervals. Future research and programs need to address the public health issues of unmet healthcare needs and health insurance coverage of U.S. women.     

Racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and access disparities in the use of preventive services among women

BACKGROUND: In this article we estimate the variations in receipt of age-appropriate preventive services among adult women between 21 and 64 years of age, by race and ethnic group, socioeconomic status, and access to health care. We also assess whether differences in access to care and socioeconomic status may explain racial and ethnic differences in the use of preventive services. METHOD: Nationally representative data on adult women from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were used to estimate the effect of socioeconomic characteristics on the receipt of each preventive service. Receipt of each of four preventive services-cholesterol test, blood pressure reading, and two cancer screening tests (Papanicolaou smear, mammogram)-according to the 1996 recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force were examined. RESULTS: An overwhelming majority of adult women (93%) had had a blood pressure reading within the last 2 years. Eighty-four percent of women had had their cholesterol checked within the last 5 years. Seventy-five percent of women had received a mammogram and 80% received Pap tests. College education, high income, usual source of care, and health insurance consistently predicted use of preventive services. These factors also explained ethnic disparities in the receipt of preventive services between Latinas and white women. CONCLUSIONS: The results from our study are encouraging because only a minority of women do not receive age-appropriate preventive services. However, low socioeconomic status, lack of insurance, and lack of a usual source of care represent significant barriers to preventive care for adult women.     

Examining the Influence of Social Ecological Factors on Prostate Cancer Screening in Urban African-American Men

African-American men experience a disparate burden of prostate cancer (PC). Little is known about how social factors influence PC screening in this population. Methods: African-American men over the age of 18 (N = 229) were recruited from a community health fair and anonymously surveyed about their PC screening behavior and conditions of their social environment. Analysis included logistic regression. Findings: Fifty one percent of respondents reported receiving any form of PC screening within the past five years. Older age, higher levels of education, and access to a usual health care provider were associated with PC screening. Conclusions: Social workers in preventive and community health settings should be increasingly attentive to the PC screening barriers facing African-American men, particularly those who may be undereducated and lack access to care.     

Access to health care among older adults and receipt of preventive services. Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002

BACKGROUND: Although most of the 34 million U.S. adults aged 65 years and older have health care coverage, many do not receive preventive care. To investigate why, we examined various barriers to access of health care and their effect on obtaining preventive care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted of noninstitutionalized adults, aged 65 years or older, in states that participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2002. RESULTS: Of the 46,659 respondents aged 65 years and older, 93% had a regular care provider, 98% had a regular place of care, and 98% were able to obtain needed medical care. Those with a regular care provider or a regular place of care were more likely to receive clinical preventive services than those without either of these. Reasons for not obtaining needed medical care were cost (27%), too long a wait for an appointment (20%), no transportation or distance (9%), office not open when the individual could get there (8%), and other reasons (32%). CONCLUSIONS: Having a regular care provider or a regular place of care is associated with a significant likelihood of receipt of clinical preventive services among older adults. Efforts to eliminate barriers to health care access may increase older adults' receipt of such services.     

Cervical cancer screening among Latinas: the importance of referral and participation in parallel cancer screening behaviors

Low cancer screening participation among medically underserved Latinas is largely due to lack of active referral to screening procedures by health care providers. We explored how physicians' referral and instruction on parallel screening procedures discriminates Latinas' cervical cancer screening practices in the context of relevant variables such as sociodemographic characteristics, health insurance, history of cancer, and level of acculturation. Of 153 women surveyed, 100 were compliant with yearly Pap smear while 53 were not compliant. Discriminant function analysis revealed that health care provider interventions and parallel breast cancer screening behaviors were significant discriminators between women who obtained a Pap smear within a year and those who were less compliant. A change in public health policy that facilitates to medically underserved Latinas access to reliable sources of health care referrals and services might increase their regular use of cervical cancer screening, which could potentially result in a reduction in cancer treatment costs and in lives lost to cervical cancer among these women.