National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedAgochukwu-Mmonu N, Qin Y, Kaufman S
Understanding the role of urology practice organization and racial composition in prostate cancer treatment disparities.
This study examined the associations between urology practice organization and racial composition and treatment patterns for Medicare beneficiaries with incident prostate cancer. The authors used a 20% sample of national Medicare data to identify beneficiaries diagnosed with prostate cancer between January 2010 and December 2015 and followed them through 2016. They then linked urologists to their practices with tax identification numbers and patients to their practices based on their primary urologist. They identified 54,443 patients with incident prostate cancer, with most (87%) White and 9% Black. They found wide variation in racial practice composition and practice segregation. Patients in practices with the highest proportion of Black patients had the lowest socioeconomic status (43.1%), highest comorbidity (9.9% with comorbidity score ≥ 3), and earlier age at prostate cancer diagnosis (33.5% age 66-69 years). Black patients had lower odds of definitive therapy and underwent less treatment than White patients in every practice context. Black patients had lower predicted probability of treatment (66%) than White patients (69%).
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Agochukwu-Mmonu N, Qin Y, Kaufman S .
Understanding the role of urology practice organization and racial composition in prostate cancer treatment disparities.
JCO Oncol Pract 2023 May; 19(5):e763-e72. doi: 10.1200/op.22.00147..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Men's Health, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Gordon BE, Basak R, Carpenter WR
Factors influencing prostate cancer treatment decisions for African American and white men.
This prospective, population-based cohort study examined some possible reasons for mortality outcome differences for prostate cancer between African American (AA) and white patients. A cohort of 1170 men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer were enrolled from 2011 to 2013 before treatment in North Carolina. Participants were asked to rate their aggressiveness of their cancer, and also the importance of 10 factors their treatment decision-making process. Among low-risk patients, there was no difference in perception of their cancer as “not very aggressive”. Among high-risk patients, 54% of AA patients considered their cancer to be “not very aggressive” while only 24% of white patients did. For AA patients, cost, treatment time, and recovery time were considered very important more than white patients.
AHRQ-funded.
Citation: Gordon BE, Basak R, Carpenter WR .
Factors influencing prostate cancer treatment decisions for African American and white men.
Cancer 2019 May 15;125(10):1693-700. doi: 10.1002/cncr.31932..
Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Cancer, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Disparities, Men's Health, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Lee DJ, Zhao Z, Huang LC
Racial variation in receipt of quality radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
Racial disparities are apparent in the management and outcomes for prostate cancer; however, disparities in compliance to quality measures for radiation therapy for prostate cancer have not been previously studied. The goal of this study was to characterize disparities in the compliance rates with quality measures. The investigators suggest that addressing disparities in access to providers that meet quality guidelines, and improving adherence to evidence-based processes of care may decrease racial/ethnic disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356; HS022640.
Citation: Lee DJ, Zhao Z, Huang LC .
Racial variation in receipt of quality radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
Cancer Causes Control 2018 Oct;29(10):895-99. doi: 10.1007/s10552-018-1065-5..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Disparities, Quality Measures, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Chhatre S, Jayadevappa R
Racial and ethnic disparities in substance use disorders and outcomes in elderly prostate cancer patients.
This study used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked data to identify prevalence of substance use among patients with advanced-stage prostate cancer. There are racial and ethnic disparities between substance use and outcomes. A multidisciplinary coordinated care approach is recommended to address these disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024106.
Citation: Chhatre S, Jayadevappa R .
Racial and ethnic disparities in substance use disorders and outcomes in elderly prostate cancer patients.
J Ethn Subst Abuse 2018 Apr-Jun;17(2):135-49. doi: 10.1080/15332640.2016.1160019..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Disparities, Elderly, Outcomes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Substance Abuse
Chhatre S, Malkowicz SB, Schwartz JS
Understanding the racial and ethnic differences in cost and mortality among advanced stage prostate cancer patients (STROBE).
The aims of the study were to understand the racial/ethnic differences in cost of care and mortality in Medicare elderly with advanced stage prostate cancer. It found that relationship between race/ethnicity, cost of care, and mortality is intricate. For non-Hispanic black men, disparity in mortality can be attributed to treatment differences.
AHRQ-funded; HS024106.
Citation: Chhatre S, Malkowicz SB, Schwartz JS .
Understanding the racial and ethnic differences in cost and mortality among advanced stage prostate cancer patients (STROBE).
Med Health 2015 Aug;94(32):e1353. doi: 10.1097/md.0000000000001353..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Mortality, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Elderly, Disparities