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 Date
Topics
- Access to Care (6)
- (-) Cancer (38)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (6)
- Cancer: Cervical Cancer (2)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (6)
- Cancer: Lung Cancer (4)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (2)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- Chronic Conditions (1)
- Colonoscopy (1)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Cultural Competence (2)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (2)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- (-) Disparities (38)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Elderly (4)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (1)
- Healthcare Costs (2)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (2)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (3)
- Health Insurance (1)
- Health Promotion (3)
- Health Status (1)
- Imaging (1)
- Infectious Diseases (1)
- Inpatient Care (1)
- Medicare (2)
- Medication (2)
- Men's Health (3)
- Opioids (1)
- Outcomes (2)
- Palliative Care (4)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (2)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (4)
- Practice Patterns (4)
- Prevention (4)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Care (1)
- Quality of Life (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (21)
- Research Methodologies (1)
- Risk (1)
- Rural/Inner-City Residents (1)
- Rural Health (3)
- Screening (6)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Shared Decision Making (1)
- Social Determinants of Health (1)
- Surgery (3)
- Telehealth (2)
- Treatments (3)
- Urban Health (2)
- Women (7)
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
26 to 38 of 38 Research Studies DisplayedGordon 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
Spees LP, Brewster WR, Varia MA
Examining urban and rural differences in how distance to care influences the initiation and completion of treatment among insured cervical cancer patients.
Although rural cancer patients encounter substantial barriers to care, they more often report receiving timely care than urban patients. In this study, the investigators examined whether geographic distance, a contributor to urban-rural health disparities, differentially influenced treatment initiation and completion among insured urban and rural cervical cancer patients. The investigators found that geographic distance differentially influenced the initiation and completion of treatment among urban and rural cervical cancer patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Spees LP, Brewster WR, Varia MA .
Examining urban and rural differences in how distance to care influences the initiation and completion of treatment among insured cervical cancer patients.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2019 May;28(5):882-89. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.Epi-18-0945..
Keywords: Rural Health, Urban Health, Disparities, Access to Care, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer
Johnston FM, Neiman JH, Parmley LE
Stakeholder perspectives on the use of community health workers to improve palliative care use by African Americans with cancer.
This study focused on the issue of lack of palliative care for African-Americans with cancer. Stakeholder interviews and focus groups were conducted with cancer patients, caregivers, health care administrators, oncologists, and community health workers (CHWs). Participants felt that CHWs could play a central role in bridging patients with their providers, information and resources. They also felt that CHWs should either come from the community, or be familiar with the history, culture, and norms of the communities from which they operate.
AHRQ-funded; HS024736.
Citation: Johnston FM, Neiman JH, Parmley LE .
Stakeholder perspectives on the use of community health workers to improve palliative care use by African Americans with cancer.
J Palliat Med 2019 Mar;22(3):302-06. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0366..
Keywords: Access to Care, Cancer, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Utilization, Cultural Competence, Disparities, Palliative Care, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Doll KM, Snyder CR, Ford CL
Endometrial cancer disparities: a race-conscious critique of the literature.
This review critiques how race has been conceptualized to explain the causes of endometrial cancer disparities, assesses gaps in knowledge production, and proposes new research priorities. The authors found that a narrow definition of race as a purely biological construct is common throughout the literature, resulting in an underemphasis on the role of modifiable, nonbiological contributors to racial disparities and a lack of follow-up work to address these contributors. Knowledge gaps included the role of health care systems in early diagnosis, a lack of intervention studies to address persistent treatment inequity by race, and the near absence of qualitative work to understand the perspectives of black women diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
AHRQ-funded; HS022982.
Citation: Doll KM, Snyder CR, Ford CL .
Endometrial cancer disparities: a race-conscious critique of the literature.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018 May;218(5):474-82.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2017.09.016.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Disparities, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Women
Rauscher GH, Dabbous F, Dolecek TA
Absence of an anticipated racial disparity in interval breast cancer within a large health care organization.
The researchers sought to estimate the extent of an anticipated racial disparity in interval breast cancer (IBC) within a single, large health care organization. Contrary to expectation, in patient-adjusted models, there was no IBC racial disparity. The sorting of patients by race across facilities appears to have mitigated an otherwise anticipated disparity in IBC.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Rauscher GH, Dabbous F, Dolecek TA .
Absence of an anticipated racial disparity in interval breast cancer within a large health care organization.
Ann Epidemiol 2017 Oct;27(10):654-58. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.09.002.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Women, Screening, Screening, Imaging
Ellis CT, Samuel CA, Stitzenberg KB
National trends in nonoperative management of rectal adenocarcinoma.
The researchers examined the use of non-operative management (NOM) for rectal cancer over time and the patient- and facility-level factors associated with its use. They found evidence of increasing NOM use, with this increase occurring more frequently in black and uninsured/Medicaid patients, raising concern that increased NOM use may actually represent increasing disparities in rectal cancer care rather than innovation. They recommended further studies to assess survival differences by treatment strategy.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Ellis CT, Samuel CA, Stitzenberg KB .
National trends in nonoperative management of rectal adenocarcinoma.
J Clin Oncol 2016 May 10;34(14):1644-51. doi: 10.1200/jco.2015.64.2066.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Disparities, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Treatments
Healy MA, Yin H, Wong SL
Multimodal cancer care in poor prognosis cancers: resection drives long-term outcomes.
The researchers compared effects of resection with other therapies on long-term outcomes across U.S. hospitals. They examined claims in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Medicare dataset for patients with esophageal and pancreatic cancers and found that a significant association exists between long-term survival and rates of cancer-directed surgery across hospitals, without variation in rates of other therapies.
AHRQ-funded; HS020937.
Citation: Healy MA, Yin H, Wong SL .
Multimodal cancer care in poor prognosis cancers: resection drives long-term outcomes.
J Surg Oncol 2016 May;113(6):599-604. doi: 10.1002/jso.24217.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Outcomes, Surgery, Treatments, Disparities
Dimou F, Sineshaw H, Parmar AD
Trends in receipt and timing of multimodality therapy in early-stage pancreatic cancer.
The researchers described treatment patterns and time trends with regard to age and treatment center in the receipt of multimodality therapy for early-stage pancreatic cancer. They concluded that despite increased use of multimodality therapy, it remains underutilized in all patients and especially in older patients. Receipt of multimodality therapy and neoadjuvant therapy is highly dependent on treatment at NCI-designated cancer centers.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Dimou F, Sineshaw H, Parmar AD .
Trends in receipt and timing of multimodality therapy in early-stage pancreatic cancer.
J Gastrointest Surg 2016 Jan;20(1):93-103; discussion 03. doi: 10.1007/s11605-015-2952-7.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Disparities, Practice Patterns, Elderly, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Du XL, Parikh RC, Lairson DR
Racial and geographic disparities in the patterns of care and costs at the end of life for patients with lung cancer in 2007-2010 after the 2006 introduction of bevacizumab.
The authors examined racial/ethnic and geographical disparities in cancer care and costs during the last 6 months of life for lung cancer decedents after the FDA's approval of bevacizumab. They found that there were substantial racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in the types of cancer care and costs in the last 6 months of life among lung cancer decedents, regardless of the length of survival times and hospice care status.
AHRQ-funded; HS018956.
Citation: Du XL, Parikh RC, Lairson DR .
Racial and geographic disparities in the patterns of care and costs at the end of life for patients with lung cancer in 2007-2010 after the 2006 introduction of bevacizumab.
Lung Cancer 2015 Dec;90(3):442-50. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2015.09.017.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Lung Cancer, Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Medication, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Practice Patterns, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Mortel M, Rauscher GH, Murphy AM
Racial and ethnic disparity in symptomatic breast cancer awareness despite a recent screen: the role of tumor biology and mammography facility characteristics.
In a racially and ethnically diverse sample of recently diagnosed urban patients with breast cancer, the researchers examined associations of patient, tumor biology, and mammography facility characteristics on the probability of symptomatic discovery of their breast cancer despite a recent prior screening mammogram. They concluded that facility resources and tumor aggressiveness explain much of the racial/ethnic disparity in symptomatic breast cancer among recently screened patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Mortel M, Rauscher GH, Murphy AM .
Racial and ethnic disparity in symptomatic breast cancer awareness despite a recent screen: the role of tumor biology and mammography facility characteristics.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015 Oct;24(10):1599-606. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-15-0305.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Disparities, Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Screening, Prevention
Pisu M, Kenzik KM, Oster RA
Economic hardship of minority and non-minority cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis: another long-term effect of cancer?
The authors investigated economic hardships experienced by racial/ethnic minority cancer survivors compared to whites. They found that economic hardship was evident in almost 1 in 2 cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis, especially African Americans. They recommended that future research evaluate and address risk factors and their impact on survival and survivorship outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Pisu M, Kenzik KM, Oster RA .
Economic hardship of minority and non-minority cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis: another long-term effect of cancer?
Cancer 2015 Apr 15;121(8):1257-64. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29206.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer, Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Koroukian SM
Dual-eligibility status: a marker of vulnerability and cancer-related disparities.
This editorial discusses a study by Warren et al that highlights important differences in receipt of chemotherapy across subgroups of the Medicare population according to type of supplemental insurance. It explores the important questions raised by the findings, especially the individual factors that may have contributed to the observed disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS023113.
Citation: Koroukian SM .
Dual-eligibility status: a marker of vulnerability and cancer-related disparities.
J Clin Oncol 2015 Feb 1;33(4):297-8. doi: 10.1200/jco.2014.59.1933..
Keywords: Medicare, Cancer, Health Insurance, Treatments, Disparities
Yaghjyan L, Wolin K, Chang SH
Racial disparities in healthy behaviors and cancer screening among breast cancer survivors and women without cancer: National Health Interview Survey 2005.
This study aimed to compare healthy behaviors and cancer screening practices among breast cancer survivors and respondents without cancer separately in Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic women. It found that most differences were suggestive and do not differ by race.
AHRQ-funded; HS022330.
Citation: Yaghjyan L, Wolin K, Chang SH .
Racial disparities in healthy behaviors and cancer screening among breast cancer survivors and women without cancer: National Health Interview Survey 2005.
Cancer Causes Control. 2014 May;25(5):605-14. doi: 10.1007/s10552-014-0365-7..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Women, Disparities, Screening