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Resources by Topic: Cancer

Breast Cancer Screening among Medicare Advantage Enrollees with Dementia
Compares rates of mammogram screening among screening-eligible women with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) using 2012-2019 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data. Compares screening rates of Medicare Advantage and fee-for-service Medicare enrollees, with data breakdowns by race and ethnicity, rural versus urban status, and more. Identifies potential risks related to over-screening.
Author(s): Eli Raver, Wendy Y. Xu, Jean Jung, Sunmin Lee
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 24, 283
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
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Associations of Demographic and Social Factors on Health-Related Quality-of-Life Changes Among Older Women With Breast or Gynecologic Cancer
Identifies factors associated with changes in physical and mental quality of life among women aged 65 and older with breast or gynecologic cancer, utilizing 1998-2017 SEER-MHOS data. Compares quality of life over time by race and ethnicity, marital status, level of health-related social interference, and rurality. Discusses implications to nurse-led quality-of-life interventions for older patients.
Author(s): Elizabeth K. Arthur, Melica Nikahd, J. Madison Hyer, et al.
Citation: Oncology Nursing Forum, 51(2), 127-141
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
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Risk Factors and Health Behaviors Associated With Loneliness Among Cancer Survivors During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Explores loneliness as a driver of negative health outcomes among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breaks down data by age, cancer type, living situation, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Elena S Aßmann, Jennifer Ose, Cassandra A Hathaway, et al.
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 47, 405-421
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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Association Between a Network-Based Physician Linchpin Score and Cancer Patient Mortality: A Seer-Medicare Analysis
Presents a study on patient-sharing networks among multidisciplinary teams treating cancer patients and, specifically, the oncologists hold these networks together as "linchpins". Discusses these linchpin oncologists and evaluates the effect they have on cancer outcomes. Explores the affect this has on patients with a number of variables, including living in a rural area.
Author(s): Erika L Moen, Rachel O Schmidt, Tracy Onega, et al.
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 116(2), 230-238
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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HPV ECHO for Providers: Strengthening Opportunities to Increase HPV Vaccination Coverage in Rural Primary Care
Discusses a study using the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Model to train rural primary care clinics to deliver evidence-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine communication to rural families in Pennsylvania. Highlights initial findings related to communication strategy and effectiveness.
Author(s): William A. Calo, Josheili Y. Llavona-Ortiz
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Oklahoma Cancer Prevention & Control Plan 2023-2028: Cancer is Not OK!
Outlines goals and strategies to prevent cancer, reduce deaths, and increase quality of life among people living with cancer in Oklahoma. Includes data and recommendations related to prevention, screening, survivorship, and population health. See pages 60-61 for discussion of cancer disparities and access barriers in rural areas.
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Oklahoma Comprehensive Cancer Network (OCCN), Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Disparities in Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis Based on Residence and Distance From Medical Facility
Evaluates associations between thyroid cancer stage at diagnosis, rural or urban status, and distance from treatment center among 800 current thyroid cancer patients in Nebraska. Includes demographic breakdowns and discussion of access-based treatment and outcome disparities.
Author(s): Sunita Regmi, Paraskevi A Farazi, Elizabeth Lyden, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Endocrine Society, 8(5), bvae033
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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The Báa nnilah Program: Results of a Chronic-Illness Self-Management Cluster Randomized Trial with the Apsáalooke Nation
Presents a study on the efficacy of a chronic illness self-management program for Apsáalooke tribe in Montana. Breaks down data by demographic information, such as education, income, and marital status, among other measures, and number and type of illnesses managed.
Author(s): Suzanne Held, Du Feng, Alma McCormick, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(3), 285
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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The Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. (Trust, Research, Understand, Teach, and Heal) Project—A Tribal Community–Academic Partnership for Understanding the Impact of Structural Factors on Perceived Cancer Risk in Rural Virginia
Provides an overview of the Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. Project, a community–academic partnership between the Virginia Chickahominy Indian Tribe and Virginia Commonwealth University. Designed to investigate perceived cancer risk in Charles City County, Virginia; assess cancer knowledge, care access gaps, and perceived risks; and develop culturally tailored cancer education and resource navigation. Based on data from 50 in-person interviews and water tests near an area with significantly elevated cancer incidence rates.
Additional links: Supplemental Materials
Author(s): Katherine Y. Tossas, Bianca D. Owens, Savannah Reitzel, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(3), 262
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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Factors Associated With Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Outcomes
Analyzes social determinants of health and demographic factors influencing racial and ethnic disparities in treatment response among rectal cancer patients. Provides data breakdowns of factors associated with patient outcomes, including treatment facilities' level of rurality. Highlights disparities experienced by Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients relative to non-Hispanic White patients.
Author(s): Rebecca M. Shulman, Mengying Deng, Elizabeth A. Handorf, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(2), e240044
Date: 02/2024
Type: Document
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