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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedHerb JN, Dunham LN, Mody G
Lung cancer surgical regionalization disproportionately worsens travel distance for rural patients.
Researchers hypothesized that lung cancer patients have been traveling further for surgery over time as regionalization has occurred, and this increased travel has primarily impacted rural patients. Using data from a North Carolina all-payer state discharge database, they found that the number of hospitals performing lung cancer resections decreased from 49 to 31 over the study period, and the proportion of patients receiving care at high-volume centers increased. Rural patient travel distance increased over time by 8.5 miles, with no change in urban patient travel distance. They concluded that, in North Carolina, lung cancer surgical regionalization occurred over the study period and was accompanied by increases in travel distance for rural patients only. They recommended further work to determine the effects of greater travel distance on patterns of cancer care for rural patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Herb JN, Dunham LN, Mody G .
Lung cancer surgical regionalization disproportionately worsens travel distance for rural patients.
J Rural Health 2020 Sep;36(4):496-505. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12440..
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Rural Health, Surgery, Access to Care
Longacre CF, Neprash HT, Shippee ND
Evaluating travel distance to radiation facilities among rural and urban breast cancer patients in the Medicare population.
This study characterizes the actual distance older breast cancer patients traveled to radiation treatment and the minimum distance necessary to reach radiation care, and examines whether any patient demographic or clinical factors are associated with greater travel distance. Findings showed that patients living in rural areas traveled on average nearly 3 times as far as those from urban areas, and their nearest facility was more than 4 times farther away. Older age, being single or widowed, and lower household income were significantly associated with shorter actual travel distance, while increasing rurality was significantly associated with greater actual and minimum travel distance to radiation treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS026660.
Citation: Longacre CF, Neprash HT, Shippee ND .
Evaluating travel distance to radiation facilities among rural and urban breast cancer patients in the Medicare population.
J Rural Health 2020 Jun;36(3):334-46. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12413..
Keywords: Rural Health, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Elderly, Women, Access to Care, Disparities
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
Lee SC, Higashi RT, Sanders JM
Effects of program scale-up on time to resolution for patients with abnormal screening mammography results.
Effects of geographic program expansion to rural areas on mammogram screening program outcomes are understudied. The authors of this study sought to determine whether time-to-resolution (TTR) varied significantly by service delivery time period, location, and participant characteristics across 19 North Texas counties.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Lee SC, Higashi RT, Sanders JM .
Effects of program scale-up on time to resolution for patients with abnormal screening mammography results.
Cancer Causes Control 2018 Oct;29(10):995-1005. doi: 10.1007/s10552-018-1074-4..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Imaging, Screening, Women, Rural Health, Access to Care, Prevention