National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
176 to 197 of 197 Research Studies DisplayedWang X, Du XL
Socio-demographic and geographic variations in the utilization of hormone therapy in older women with breast cancer after Medicare Part-D coverage.
The researchers assessed socio-demographic, geographic, and other variations in the receipt of hormone therapy among patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer as well as adherence to hormone therapy within 1-year follow-up. They found that found that increasing age was significantly associated with a decreased receipt of hormone therapy and aromatase inhibitors in all hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients after adjusting for other factors regardless of whether chemotherapy was received.
AHRQ-funded; HS018956.
Citation: Wang X, Du XL .
Socio-demographic and geographic variations in the utilization of hormone therapy in older women with breast cancer after Medicare Part-D coverage.
Med Oncol 2015 May;32(5):154. doi: 10.1007/s12032-015-0599-6..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Social Determinants of Health
Kadakia A, Rajan SS, Abughosh S
CMF-regimen preferred as first-course chemotherapy for older and sicker women with breast cancer: findings from a SEER-Medicare-based population study.
This study aimed to determine the utilization of Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate, and 5-Fluorouracil (CMF) as first-course chemotherapy in recent years, and identify the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with its prescription. It found that older and sicker women, living in census tracts with lower average education, and diagnosed with advanced stage, hormone receptor-negative tumors have a higher probability of CMF administration.
AHRQ-funded; HS018956.
Citation: Kadakia A, Rajan SS, Abughosh S .
CMF-regimen preferred as first-course chemotherapy for older and sicker women with breast cancer: findings from a SEER-Medicare-based population study.
Am J Clin Oncol 2015 Apr;38(2):165-73. doi: 10.1097/COC.0b013e31828f5b01..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Treatments, Elderly, Social Determinants of Health
Drake BF, Abadin SS, Lyons S
Mammograms on-the-go-predictors of repeat visits to mobile mammography vans in St Louis, Missouri, USA: a case-control study.
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which women use mobile mammography vans for breast cancer screening and what factors are associated with repeat visits to these vans. Women who were aged 50–65, uninsured, or African-American had higher odds of a repeat visit to the mobile mammography van compared with women who were aged 40–50, insured, or Caucasian.
AHRQ-funded; HS022330.
Citation: Drake BF, Abadin SS, Lyons S .
Mammograms on-the-go-predictors of repeat visits to mobile mammography vans in St Louis, Missouri, USA: a case-control study.
BMJ Open 2015 Mar 20;5(3):e006960. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006960..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Screening, Women, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging
Gidengil CA, Predmore Z, Mattke S
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma: a systematic review.
The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze recently published cases of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), with an emphasis on diagnosis, staging, treatment, and outcomes. The researchers found that, of 54 cases, most patients presented with a seroma, approximately half were associated with the capsule, most presented as stage IE, and all but one case were ALK-negative. Most patients received chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and 11 percent received stem cell transplants. Approximately one-quarter recurred, and 9 percent died.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Gidengil CA, Predmore Z, Mattke S .
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma: a systematic review.
Plast Reconstr Surg 2015 Mar;135(3):713-20. doi: 10.1097/prs.0000000000001037.
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Keywords: Adverse Events, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Surgery
Lee CI, Gold LS, Nelson HD
Comparative effectiveness of imaging modalities to determine metastatic breast cancer treatment response.
This literature review evaluates studies regarding the effectiveness of different imaging modalities in evaluating treatment response among metastatic breast cancer patients. The review of the literature demonstrates a current paucity of evidence regarding the use of imaging for treatment evaluation of metastatic lesions among breast cancer patients.
AHRQ-funded; 290201200014I.
Citation: Lee CI, Gold LS, Nelson HD .
Comparative effectiveness of imaging modalities to determine metastatic breast cancer treatment response.
Breast 2015 Feb;24(1):3-11. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2014.11.009..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Comparative Effectiveness, Imaging, Outcomes
Lee K, Rossi C
AHRQ Author: Lee K
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women.
L.M. is a 37-year-old nonsmoking woman who is not taking any medications and has no significant past medical problems. As breast cancer runs in her family, she is interested in genetic testing for breast cancer. This case study poses three multiple choice questions together with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and related background information.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Lee K, Rossi C .
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women.
Am Fam Physician 2015 Jan 15;91(2):119-20.
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Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Case Study, Family Health and History, Genetics, Prevention, Risk, Screening, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Women
Olsen MA, Nickel KB, Margenthaler JA
Increased risk of surgical site infection among breast-conserving surgery re-excisions.
The aim of this study was to determine the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) after primary breast-conserving surgery (BCS) versus re-excision among women with carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer. It found that the risk of SSI after re-excision remained significantly higher after accounting for multiple procedures within a woman.
AHRQ-funded; HS019713.
Citation: Olsen MA, Nickel KB, Margenthaler JA .
Increased risk of surgical site infection among breast-conserving surgery re-excisions.
Ann Surg Oncol 2015;22(6):2003-9. doi: 10.1245/s10434-014-4200-x..
Keywords: Surgery, Risk, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Injuries and Wounds, Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Women
Vyas A, Madhavan S, Sambamoorthi U
Association between persistence with mammography screening and stage at diagnosis among elderly women diagnosed with breast cancer.
The objective of this study is to determine the association between persistence with mammography screening and stage at breast cancer (BC) diagnosis among elderly women. It found that, as compared to women who were not persistent with mammography screening, women who were persistent with mammography screening were significantly more likely to be diagnosed at earlier stages of BC.
AHRQ-funded; HS018622.
Citation: Vyas A, Madhavan S, Sambamoorthi U .
Association between persistence with mammography screening and stage at diagnosis among elderly women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2014 Dec;148(3):645-54. doi: 10.1007/s10549-014-3204-3..
Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Elderly, Prevention, Screening, Women
Wheeler SB, Kohler RE, Reeder-Hayes KE
Endocrine therapy initiation among Medicaid-insured breast cancer survivors with hormone receptor-positive tumors.
The researchers sought to characterize endocrine therapy (ET) use in a low-income Medicaid-insured population in North Carolina. They found that, of 222 women meeting the inclusion criteria, only 50 percent filled a prescription for ET. Results suggest substantial underutilization of ET in this population.
AHRQ-funded; HS019468.
Citation: Wheeler SB, Kohler RE, Reeder-Hayes KE .
Endocrine therapy initiation among Medicaid-insured breast cancer survivors with hormone receptor-positive tumors.
J Cancer Surviv 2014 Dec;8(4):603-10. doi: 10.1007/s11764-014-0365-3..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Medication, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Wen KY, Hu A, Ma GX
Information and communication needs of Chinese American breast cancer patients: perspectives on survivorship care planning.
The researchers conducted a qualitative study to examine the information and communication needs as well as survivorship care preferences of Chinese American breast cancer survivors. The main themes identified through analysis of interview transcripts were: the need for evidence-based and culturally and linguistically appropriate health information; the role of language or communication barriers and culture in accessing care and communicating with providers; and preferences for care plan elements and format.
AHRQ-funded; HS019001.
Citation: Wen KY, Hu A, Ma GX .
Information and communication needs of Chinese American breast cancer patients: perspectives on survivorship care planning.
J Community Support Oncol 2014 Dec;12(12):439-45. doi: 10.12788/jcso.0095..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cultural Competence, Clinician-Patient Communication, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Thompson CA, Gomez SL, Chan A
Patient and provider characteristics associated with colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening among Asian Americans.
The researchers performed multivariable modeling to evaluate potential predictors (at the provider- and patient-level) of screening completion among Asian patients. They concluded that language- and gender-concordant primary care providers and culturally tailored online health resources may help improve preventive cancer screening in Asian patient populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS019815.
Citation: Thompson CA, Gomez SL, Chan A .
Patient and provider characteristics associated with colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening among Asian Americans.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014 Nov;23(11):2208-17. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-14-0487..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Healthcare Utilization, Screening
Vilhauer RP
Computer-mediated and face-to-face communication in metastatic cancer support groups.
This study compared the experiences of women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in computer-mediated and face-to-face support groups. Themes examined included convenience, level of support, intimacy, ease of expression, range of information, and dealing with debilitation and dying. Computer-mediated support groups (CMSGs) may provide a sense of control and a greater level of support. Intimacy may take longer to develop in a CMSG, but women may have more opportunities to get to know each other.
AHRQ-funded; HS010565.
Citation: Vilhauer RP .
Computer-mediated and face-to-face communication in metastatic cancer support groups.
Palliat Support Care 2014 Aug;12(4):287-97. doi: 10.1017/s1478951513000126..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Davidoff AJ, Gardner LD, Zuckerman IH
AHRQ Author: Davidoff AJ
Validation of disability status, a claims-based measure of functional status for cancer treatment and outcomes studies.
The researchers implemented and validated a disability status (DS) measure in 4 cohorts of cancer patients. They found that the DS measure is a significant independent predictor of cancer-directed treatment, but unobserved factors continue to play a role in determining treatments.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Davidoff AJ, Gardner LD, Zuckerman IH .
Validation of disability status, a claims-based measure of functional status for cancer treatment and outcomes studies.
Med Care 2014 Jun;52(6):500-10. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000122.
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Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Disabilities, Health Status, Cancer: Lung Cancer
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
Nelson HD, Pappas M, Zakher B
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.
This systematic review was done in support of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated recommendation on the benefit and harms of risk assessment, genetic testing, and genetic counseling for BRCA-related cancer in women. A systematic review was done on literature from 2004 to July 30, 2013 from MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Technology Assessment, Scopus, and reference lists. Data on the participants, study design, analysis, follow-up, and results was extracted and a second investigator confirmed key data. The studies were rated on study quality and applicability. The analysis found women with high-risk for breast cancer had decreased risk of breast cancer by 85% to 100% by having a mastectomy, and risk of mortality by 81% to 100% compared to women without surgery. There was also a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer after having salpingo-oopherectomy surgery.
AHRQ-funded; 290200710057
Citation: Nelson HD, Pappas M, Zakher B .
Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: a systematic review to update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation.
Ann Intern Med 2014 Feb 18;160(4):255-66. doi: 10.7326/m13-1684..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer: Ovarian Cancer, Cancer, Genetics, Screening, Prevention, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Women, Risk, Family Health and History
Ezaz G, Long JB, Gross CP
Risk prediction model for heart failure and cardiomyopathy after adjuvant trastuzumab therapy for breast cancer.
The investigators sought to develop a clinical risk score that identifies older women with breast cancer who are at higher risk of heart failure or cardiomyopathy after trastuzumab. That found that a 7-factor risk score was able to stratify 3-year risk of heart failure/cardiomyopathy after trastuzumab between the lowest and highest risk groups by more than 2-fold in a Medicare population.
AHRQ-funded; HS018781.
Citation: Ezaz G, Long JB, Gross CP .
Risk prediction model for heart failure and cardiomyopathy after adjuvant trastuzumab therapy for breast cancer.
J Am Heart Assoc 2014 Feb;3(1):e000472. doi: 10.1161/jaha.113.000472.
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Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Heart Disease and Health, Medication, Patient Safety, Risk
Pan IW, Smith BD, Shih YC
Factors contributing to underuse of radiation among younger women with breast cancer.
This study explores factors associated with noncompliance of RT among insured young patients. It found that competing demands from child care, especially the presence of a young child in the home, can constitute a barrier to complete guideline-concordant breast cancer therapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS018535.
Citation: Pan IW, Smith BD, Shih YC .
Factors contributing to underuse of radiation among younger women with breast cancer.
J Natl Cancer Inst 2014 Jan;106(1):djt340. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djt340..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Health Insurance, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Surgery, Treatments
Wernli KJ, DeMartini WB, Ichikawa L
Patterns of breast magnetic resonance imaging use in community practice.
The researchers described patterns of breast MRI use in US community practice during the period 2005 through 2009. They found that the overall rate of breast MRI from 2005 through 2009 nearly tripled from 4.2 to 11.5 examinations per 1000 women, with the most rapid increase from 2005 to 2007.
AHRQ-funded; HS019482.
Citation: Wernli KJ, DeMartini WB, Ichikawa L .
Patterns of breast magnetic resonance imaging use in community practice.
JAMA Intern Med 2014 Jan;174(1):125-32. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.11963..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Data, Healthcare Utilization, Imaging, Registries
Boothe DL, Coplowitz S, Greenwood E
Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) is a serum biomarker of radiation induced fibrosis in patients treated with intracavitary accelerated partial breast irradiation: preliminary results of a prospective study.
This study examined a relationship between serum transforming growth factor b-1 (TGF-b1) values and radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF). The results suggest that serum TGF-b1 levels before surgery, and during radiation therapy, and after radiation therapy could signal whether a patient is at risk for the development of moderate to severe RIF.
AHRQ-funded; HS016075.
Citation: Boothe DL, Coplowitz S, Greenwood E .
Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) is a serum biomarker of radiation induced fibrosis in patients treated with intracavitary accelerated partial breast irradiation: preliminary results of a prospective study.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2013 Dec 1;87(5):1030-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2013.08.045..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Risk
Percac-Lima S, Ashburner JM, Bond B
Decreasing disparities in breast cancer screening in refugee women using culturally tailored patient navigation.
The goal of this research was to evaluate whether a patient navigator (PN) program for refugee women decreases disparities in breast cancer screening. Results showed that linguistically and culturally tailored PN decreased disparities over time in breast cancer screening among female refugees from Somalia, the Middle East, and Bosnia.
AHRQ-funded; HS018161.
Citation: Percac-Lima S, Ashburner JM, Bond B .
Decreasing disparities in breast cancer screening in refugee women using culturally tailored patient navigation.
J Gen Intern Med 2013 Nov;28(11):1463-8. doi: 10.1007/s11606-013-2491-4.
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Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cultural Competence, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Screening
Nurgalieva ZZ, Franzini L, Morgan RO
Utilization of lymph node dissection, race/ethnicity, and breast cancer outcomes.
This study reports on the impact of nodal surgery utilization on survival among white, African American, Hispanic, and Asian women in a large population of women with breast cancer. It found that the disparities in survival among African American and Hispanic women with breast cancer are not explained by nodal surgery utilization among women with micrometastasis and macrometastasis in sentinel lymph nodes.
AHRQ-funded; HS018956.
Citation: Nurgalieva ZZ, Franzini L, Morgan RO .
Utilization of lymph node dissection, race/ethnicity, and breast cancer outcomes.
Am J Manag Care 2013 Oct;19(10):805-10..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Comparative Effectiveness, Disparities, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Boland MR, Miotto R, Gao J
Feasibility of feature-based indexing, clustering, and search of clinical trials. A case study of breast cancer trials from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Searching through a large collection of clinical trials using existing technology is a daunting task. This study extracted 1,437 eligibility features from 80 stage III breast cancer clinical trials and found that it is feasible to develop feature-based indexing and clustering methods for clinical trials to identify trials with similar target populations and to improve trial search efficiency.
AHRQ-funded; HS019853.
Citation: Boland MR, Miotto R, Gao J .
Feasibility of feature-based indexing, clustering, and search of clinical trials. A case study of breast cancer trials from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Methods Inf Med. 2013;52(5):382-94. doi: 10.3414/ME12-01-0092..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Research Methodologies