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PubMed2006

Androgen-deprivation therapy as primary treatment for localized prostate cancer: data from Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE).

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is largely an androgen-sensitive disease. Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) generally has been used for patients with advanced disease. However, ADT is used increasingly as monotherapy for patients with clinically localized disease. The objective of the current report was to describe the characteristics of patients who underwent ADT for the management of localized disease. METHODS: Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Endeavor (CaPSURE), which is a national disease registry of men with prostate cancer, was screened to identify patients who received treatment with primary ADT (PADT) between 1989 and 2002 for clinically localized disease (T1-T3,Nx/N0,Mx/M0). Clinical data (including Gleason score, prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level, and T classification) and sociodemographic data (including age, race, education, income, and insurance coverage) were analyzed with chi-square statistical tests. Time to failure data were analyzed using log-rank tests, the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. RESULTS: Of 7045 men, 993 patients (14.1%) with clinically localized disease received primary ADT. Compared with patients who underwent standard treatment, patients who received PADT had higher risk disease (as defined by PSA level, T classification, and Gleason score) and had more comorbidities. Patients who underwent PADT were older, less educated, had lower income, and were more likely to have Medicare than private insurance. The dominant forms of hormone therapy were luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) monotherapy (48.6%) and combined androgen blockade (LHRH agonist and antiandrogens; 38.8%). At 5 years after the initiation of PADT, 67.3% of patients still were receiving treatment with only androgen deprivation, 103 patients (13.8%) had gone on to receive definitive second treatment (radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or cryotherapy), 27 patients (3.9%) underwent second-line therapy (chemotherapy or alternative hormone-deprivation therapy), 22 patients (4.1%) died of prostate cancer, and 146 patients (19%) died of all causes. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PADT therapy appeared to control disease in the majority of patients who received it, at least for an intermediate period. However, such patients appeared to be unique based on sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidity status, and risk factors compared with patients who received other forms of therapy. The impact of PADT on quality of life needs to be compared with standard therapy, and its long-term durability should be assessed better in patients with prostate cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1996

The effect of insurance status on use of recombinant erythropoietin therapy among end-stage renal disease patients in three states.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been demonstrated to be effective in ameliorating anemia among persons with chronic renal failure, and is associated with improved functional status and quality of life. Access to rHuEPO has been examined by a variety of clinical, demographic, geographic, and facility characteristics. However, rHuEPO utilization based on insurance status has not been previously examined. All Medicare and Medicaid prevalent end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving dialysis services in California, Georgia, and Michigan in December 1991 were identified using state and federal administrative program data. The population in each state was stratified by insurance status as follows: Medicare-entitled, Medicare/Medicaid dually entitled, and Medicaid-only entitled. Insurance coverage of the ESRD population by Medicaid, as either a primary or secondary payer, differed greatly by state. In December 1991, the proportion of Medicaid-only and Medicaid/Medicare dually eligible dialysis patients ranged, respectively, from 8% and 43% in California, to 3% and 26% in Michigan, and to 3% and 18% in Georgia. Compared with the Medicare-entitled population, the Medicaid/Medicare dually eligible and Medicaid-only populations disproportionately comprised women, black patients, and individuals younger than 20 years. Using Lee's two-stage binary logit model, dual-eligibility was found to be associated with an increased access to rHuEPO. Compared with their state-specific, dually eligible counterparts, the odds of receiving rHuEPO was lower for Medicare-entitled patients in California (odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76,0.93) and Georgia (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53,0.80), and lower for Medicaid-only patients in Georgia (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01,0.05) and Michigan (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.23,0.52). We hypothesize that the absence of substantial copayments associated with rHuEPO, approximately $1,000 per year for a portion of Medicare-entitled patients, resulted in increased access among the dually eligible ESRD population. Dosing of rHuEPO was associated primarily with patient hematocrit level (P < 0.0001) and was unrelated to insurance status. Regardless of insurance status, an unexpectedly large number of Medicare prevalent dialysis patients receiving rHuEPO in each state (31%, 42%, and 41% in California, Georgia, and Michigan, respectively) had hematocrit values lower than 0.28, indicating inadequate treatment of anemia. Eleven percent of all patients receiving rHuEPO in California and nearly 20% in Georgia and Michigan were deemed to be severely anemic (hematocrit < 0.25). The wide variability in access to rHuEPO among the Medicaid-only populations may be indicative of state-specific differences in Medicaid prior approval, copayments, and other drug restrictions. We conclude that the Medicaid-only ESRD population excluded from Medicare coverage is particularly vulnerable to cost-containment measures that focus on expensive technologies such as rHuEPO.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Determinants of referral to cardiac rehabilitation programs in patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Despite the documented efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a minority of patients with diagnosed coronary artery disease are referred. Although referral is a necessary step in the promotion of CR uptake, little is known about its determinants. PURPOSE: The objective of this paper was to systematically review the available literature on factors predicting referral of patients to CR to appraise both their relative impact and consistency across studies. METHODS: Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE (1966-2003), CINAHL (1982-2003), HealthSTAR (1975-2003), EMBASE (1966-2003), and The Cochrane Library Controlled Trials. Search terms were "myocardial infarction," "acute myocardial infarction," "coronary artery disease," combined with "rehabilitation," "cardiac rehabilitation," "secondary prevention," "exercise training," "referral," and/or "consultation." Forty-five studies were identified and independently assessed by 2 reviewers using predetermined eligibility criteria. RESULTS: Ten published observational studies (1999-2004) including 30,333 coronary artery disease patients were selected. Determinants of referral to CR were grouped as sociodemographic, health status, and health care system factors. Major predictors were English speaking (RR 9.56, 95% CI 2.18-41.93), prior myocardial infarction (RR 2.73, 95% CI 1.69-4.42), being admitted to hospitals providing CR (RR 5.35, 95% CI 4.04-7.10), and having insurance coverage (RR 2.94, 95% CI 1.13-7.66). CONCLUSION: This review highlights disparities in referral to CR and reveals a treatment gap in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Precise estimates of the impact of all factors on referral are not possible, but some hierarchies and potential priorities for action are evident.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1998

Predictors of mammography utilization in Missouri, 1993-1994.

Mammography utilization data were studied for 915 women from a combined sample of 1994 Missouri Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and a Special Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Project Evaluation Survey, as well as similar data from 6,784 new participants in Missouri's Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Project during 1993-1994. Among women aged 40 and over, having some college education and having health insurance coverage were associated with a higher likelihood of ever having a mammogram. Education, age, health care, Pap testing, and smoking were identified as important predictors of compliance with recommended schedule of yearly mammography among women aged 50 and over.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Physician knowledge and attitudes about health insurance after the introduction of capitated health care plans.

A two-part closed-end survey similar to a survey done in 1980 was given to 25 family physicians at an academic family medical center to assess physician knowledge about five insurance programs covering most of the patients seeking care in the center, and to assess physician attitudes about the capitated insurance plan with which the clinic was affiliated. Results did not differ significantly from those obtained in a similar survey four years earlier at the same center. Physicians correctly identified benefits offered by insurance programs only about one half of the time and many did not ascertain patient insurance coverage at all. Physicians considered the most important advantages of capitated health care to be the patient protection from fees for services obtained, the coverage for health care maintenance, and the potential for controlling health care costs. Physician-perceived disadvantages included difficulties controlling costs generated by other specialists, dealing with after-the-fact authorization requests, controlling access to services, and obtaining information about costs within the capitated system.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1985

Utilization and expenditures for ambulatory medical care by people hospitalized: United States, 1980.

The National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey was conducted throughout 1980 to collect information on health, access to and use of medical services, associated charges and sources of payment, and health insurance coverage. The survey was based on a probability sample of about 6,600 households and 17,123 people representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. This report is one of a series of descriptive reports based on data from the National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey. It characterizes the population by hospital utilization and certain sociodemographic and health variables, and shows how hospitalization effects the use and cost of ambulatory medical care. The following are some of the highlights of the report. Almost everyone was covered by some form of health insurance at some time during 1980. Only 7.6 percent were not covered at all, and 10 percent had insurance only part of the year. The proportion not covered at all varied according to the number of times hospitalized, ranging from 8.2 percent for people not hospitalized during the year to 1.8 percent for people hospitalized three or more times. People with one or more hospital stays during 1980 had a physician visit rate greater than three times that for people not hospitalized. Similarly, the expenditures for ambulatory medical care for people experiencing hospitalizations was almost nine times that for people were not hospitalized during the year. The rate of physician visits is much larger immediately prior to hospital admission or immediately after discharge than it is at other times. About 40 percent of all physician visits during the year occurred within a month before admission and after discharge. within a month before admission and after discharge.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1999

Four methods of setting group premium rates require different insurer resources.

Methods used to calculate premium rates for group health insurance coverage require varying levels of staff and financial commitment and differ in how closely they match premium revenue to projected expenses in aggregate. Determining the appropriate method for a group requires an analysis of resources available as well as an examination of competitive forces, state and Federal legislation, and underwriting issues.

Actuarial Analysis↗

PubMed1995

The economics of pain. Mental health care costs among minorities.

In this article, we have underlined the importance of providing high-quality health and mental health services to the ethnic minority populations of the United States. We also have highlighted the complexities associated with the provision of these services, with special attention to the factors affecting health insurance coverage and the patients' socioeconomic conditions. Finally, we have advanced some potential solutions to the current health care crisis, particularly as they relate to minorities. In reviewing these solutions, we have focused primarily on the role of the service providers, third-party payors, poverty, and cultural and language barriers.

Culture↗

PubMed2004

Treatment retention among children entering a new episode of mental health care.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined use of mental health services among children and adolescents with private insurance who were entering treatment. Variations in service use were examined by age, gender, diagnosis, recent psychiatric hospitalization, and type of insurance. Differences between children who received treatment from mental health professionals and those who were treated by primary care physicians were also examined. METHODS: Drawn from a large database, the sample comprised 11,659 new users of mental health services. Service use was defined as the total number of days children were retained in treatment and the total number of mental health contacts recorded. RESULTS: The overall mean number of visits within a six-month period was 3.9. The average duration of treatment was 75.36 days. Children who were treated by a mental health specialist were less likely to drop out of treatment and had a larger number of visits. Severity of illness, psychiatric hospitalization, and managed care insurance coverage were also associated with lower risk of dropout and greater intensity of care. CONCLUSIONS: Children's access to services does not guarantee sustained involvement in treatment. To more fully address the nature of service use among children, a closer look at specific barriers to continued involvement in services is needed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

The future of pediatrics. Implications of the changing environment of medicine. Council on Long Range Planning and Development in cooperation with the American Academy of Pediatrics.

We present the results of an environmental analysis by the American Medical Association Council on Long Range Planning and Development to determine the key factors that are likely to affect the pediatric specialty in the future. Three factors were identified that are particularly salient to future pediatric practice: demographic trends, decisions by third-party payers, and public attitudes toward services for children. Less than half as many children per pediatrician is predicted for the year 2000 compared with 1970. Pediatricians are likely to face future constraints on reimbursement, particularly for cognitive services and for providing care to the growing number of children in poverty. One moderating effect may be laws enacted at the state or federal level mandating basic insurance coverage for child health supervision services. The public interest in children's services will influence future access to pediatric care for children and the compensation that pediatricians receive for children in poverty. In light of these issues, organized medicine may seek means to adjust to and also to shape the environment in which pediatric practice is to occur in the future.

American Medical Association↗

PubMed2003

Who's enrolled in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)? An overview of findings from the Child Health Insurance Research Initiative (CHIRI).

BACKGROUND: The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was enacted in 1997 to provide health insurance coverage to uninsured low-income children from families who earned too much to be eligible for Medicaid. OBJECTIVES: To develop a "baseline" portrait of SCHIP enrollees in 5 states (Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Indiana, and New York) by examining: 1) SCHIP enrollees' demographic characteristics and health care experiences before enrolling in SCHIP, particularly children with special health care needs (CSHCN), racial and ethnic minority children, and adolescents; 2) the quality of the care adolescents received before enrollment; and 3) the changes in enrollee characteristics as programs evolve and mature. METHODS: Each of 5 projects from the Child Health Insurance Research Initiative (CHIRI) surveyed new SCHIP enrollees as identified by state enrollment data. CHIRI investigators developed the CHIRI common core (a set of survey items from validated instruments), which were largely incorporated into each survey. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to ascertain whether there were racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care and differences between CSHCN and those without. Current Population Survey data for New York State were used to identify secular trends in enrollee characteristics. RESULTS: Most SCHIP enrollees (65% in Florida to 79% in New York) resided in families with incomes < or =150% of the federal poverty level. Almost half of SCHIP enrollees lived in single-parent households. A majority of SCHIP parents had not had education beyond high school, and in 2 states (Alabama and New York) approximately 25% had not completed high school. The vast majority of children lived in households with a working adult, and in a substantial proportion of households both parents worked. Children tended to be either insured for the entire 12 months or uninsured the entire 12 months before enrolling in SCHIP. Private insurance was the predominant form of insurance before enrollment in SCHIP in most states, but 23.3% to 51.2% of insured children had Medicaid as their most recent insurance. HEALTH CARE USE AND UNMET NEEDS BEFORE SCHIP: The vast majority of all SCHIP enrollees had a usual source of care (USC) during the year before SCHIP. The proportion of children who changed their USC after enrolling in SCHIP ranged from 29% to 41.3%. A large proportion of SCHIP enrollees used health services during the year before SCHIP, with some variability across states in the use of health care. Nevertheless, 32% to almost 50% of children reported unmet needs. CSHCN: The prevalence of CSHCN in SCHIP (between 17% and 25%) in the study states was higher than the prevalence of CSHCN reported in the general population in those states. In many respects, CSHCN were similar to children without special health care needs, but CSHCN had poorer health status, were more likely to have had unmet needs, and were more likely to use the emergency department, mental health care, specialty care, and acute care in the year before enrolling in SCHIP than children without special health care needs. RACE AND ETHNICITY: A substantial proportion of SCHIP enrollees were black non-Hispanic or Hispanic children (Alabama: 34% and <1%; Florida: 6% and 26%; Kansas: 12% and 15%; and New York: 31% and 45%, respectively). Minority children were poorer, in poorer health, and less likely to have had a USC or private insurance before enrolling in SCHIP. The prevalence and magnitude of the disparities varied among the states. QUALITY OF CARE FOR ADOLESCENTS: Seventy-three percent of adolescent SCHIP enrollees engaged in one or more risk behaviors (ie, feeling sad or blue; alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; having sexual intercourse; and not wearing seat belts). Although almost 70% of adolescents reported having had a preventive care visit the previous year, a majority of them did not receive counseling in each of 4 counseling areas. Controlling for other factors, having a private, confidential visit with the physician was associated with an increased liked likelihood (2-3 times more likely) that the adolescent received counseling for 3 of 4 counseling areas. TRENDS OVER TIME: New York SCHIP enrollees in 2001, compared with 1994 enrollees in New York's SCHIP-precursor child health insurance program, were more likely to be black or Hispanic, older, from New York City, and from families with lower education, income, and employment levels. A greater proportion of 2001 enrollees was uninsured for some time in the year before enrollment, was insured by Medicaid, and lacked a USC. Secular trends in the low-income population in the state did not seem to be responsible for these differences. Program modifications during this time period that may be related to the shift in enrollee characteristics include changes to benefits, outreach and marketing efforts, changes in the premium structure, and the advent of a single application form for multiple public programs. CONCLUSIONS: SCHIP enrollees are a diverse group, and there was considerable variation among the 5 study states. Overall, SCHIP enrollees had substantial and wide-ranging health care needs despite high levels of prior contact with the health care system. A sizable minority of SCHIP enrollees has special health care needs. There is racial and ethnic diversity in the composition of enrollees as well, with racial and ethnic disparities present. The quality of care adolescents received before enrollment in SCHIP was suboptimal, with many reporting unmet health care needs and not receiving recommended counseling. The characteristics of SCHIP enrollees can be expected to change as SCHIP programs evolve and mature. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: 1) Benefits should be structured to meet the needs of SCHIP enrollees, which are comparable to Medicaid enrollees' needs in many respects. 2) Provider networks will have to be broad if continuity of care is to be achieved. 3) Multiple outreach strategies should be used, including using providers to distribute information about SCHIP. 4) The quality of care delivered to vulnerable populations (eg, minority children, CSHCN, and adolescents) should be monitored. 5) States and health plans should actively promote quality health care with the goal of improving the care received by SCHIP enrollees before enrollment. 6) States will have to craft policies that fit their local context. 7) Collecting baseline information on SCHIP enrollees on a continuous basis is important, because enrollee characteristics and needs can change, and many vulnerable children are enrolling in SCHIP.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Hospital use by adolescents and young adults.

This article provides a descriptive profile of hospital use by adolescents (10-14 and 15-18 years of age) and young adults (19-24 years) based on the 1987 National Hospital Discharge Survey. During 1987, nearly 5 million adolescents and young adult patients were discharged from short-stay hospitals. The discharge rate for adolescents was 56.5 per 1000 compared to 127.0 per 1000 for young adults. Two diagnostic categories--complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium; and injury and poisoning--together accounted for 24% of discharges for patients aged 10-14 years, 51% for patients aged 15-18 years, and 65% for patients aged 19-24 years. Average length of stay varied substantially by age and diagnosis; that for adolescents averaged 1.1 days longer than that for young adults and for other age groups and was longest for mental disorders. Between 1980-1981 and 1986-1987, the rates of hospitalization for mental disorders increased markedly, particularly among adolescents aged 15-18 years with the diagnoses of adjustment reaction and disturbance of conduct, and psychosis, neurosis, and personality disorders. Hospitalizations for substance abuse increased most among young adults during this time period. Most adolescents and young adults relied on private health insurance as their primary payment source, followed by Medicaid. Still, there was no insurance coverage to pay for hospital bills for 729,000 discharges in 1987. Implications of these findings are discussed. Briefly, examining hospitalization patterns by narrower age intervals elucidates important differences by age, sex, diagnostic category, and expected source of payment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Determinants of discontinuation of new courses of antihypertensive medications.

Discontinuation of medication use constitutes a major barrier to adequate control of high blood pressure. We examined the effect of an array of potential predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors on the discontinuation of newly prescribed antihypertensive medications. We conducted a prospective cohort study through a network of 173 pharmacies across Canada where were identified individuals newly prescribed an antihypertensive monotherapy. We interviewed participants by telephone four times to obtain information for a minimum duration of 18 months after entry into the cohort. We analyzed data using a multivariate proportional hazard model. Of 682 eligible participants, 43.3% had discontinued their initial medication at the end of the observation period. Individuals more likely to discontinue their initial medication were those who perceived side effects from this medication [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.91; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.47-2.47). Individuals with medication insurance coverage were less likely to discontinue (HR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.55-0.99). Persistence with newly prescribed medications could be improved by selecting antihypertensive medications containing fewer side effects and by lifting economic barriers to drug treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Mammography screening and breast self-examination among minority women in public housing projects: the impact of physician recommendation.

This exploratory study examined the impact of physician recommendations and other factors on mammography screening and breast-self examination (BSE) among African American and Hispanic women in public housing communities. We surveyed a randomly selected sample of low-income households from three low-income communities (n = 291), which included both African Americans and Hispanic women. Data for this paper are reported only on women who were 40 years and older head of the households (n = 120 women, including 74 Hispanics and 46 African Americans), since they meet the age criterion for mammography screening. Our analyses indicated that only 46% of women obtained mammography in the previous 12 months, with no significant differences between the Hispanic and African American women in mammography rates. Physicians' recommendations were among the most significant and substantial predictors of obtaining a mammogram or performing BSE. Further, odds were also higher for those who had insurance coverage. In addition, our data also indicated that almost one out of four women, aged 40 and older participants in this study, claimed that their health care providers never told them they needed a mammogram or never told them that they should perform BSE, with no significant differences between Hispanic and African Americans. Our analyses points to an urgent need for intervention to inform and motivate the service providers in underserved communities to motivate breast cancer screening (BCS) among minority women. Additionally, our examination points to the need for urgent interventions targeting minority women, particularly women with no medical insurance for breast cancer screening.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Would better adherence to guidelines improve childhood immunization rates?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contribution of three provider practices to underimmunization of children with financial coverage for vaccines. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of children in a large health maintenance organization, based on computerized databases and chart review. SETTING: Large health maintenance organization in northern California. PATIENTS: The population included 24,268 children who had at least one immunization recorded in the health plan tracking system and had continuous health plan membership between 15 and 24 months of age in 1992 through 1993. The study group (N = 4691) were those who had missed one or more of the immunizations due during their second year. RESULTS: Most (57%) of the underimmunized children had made at least one clinic visit between 15 and 24 months of age. Among those underimmunized children who made well care visits, 90% had been partially immunized at the visit but had not been simultaneously given all vaccines for which they were eligible. When a provider did not give all possible vaccines simultaneously, there was a 9% chance that the child would go on to miss the remaining immunization. Simultaneous administration alone would have achieved full second year coverage of 30% of the underimmunized children in this population. Most underimmunized children (53%), including 35% of those children who had not made any well care visits, had made urgent visits between 15 and 24 months of age. Chart review of randomly sampled patients showed no obstacle or contraindication to immunization at 79% of urgent visits and at 71% of well care visits at which vaccines were withheld. A policy to use weekday urgent visits to promote immunization could potentially reach 27% of the underimmunized children. CONCLUSIONS: Provider practices play an important role in underimmunization of children who have insurance coverage for vaccines. Of the three guidelines evaluated, simultaneous administration of all possible vaccines has the greatest potential effectiveness to improve coverage rates in this population. Other guidelines, such as immunizing at urgent visits, are potentially effective but their costs and logistics need further study.

California↗

PubMed1997

Access to bone marrow transplantation for leukemia and lymphoma: the role of sociodemographic factors.

PURPOSE: Use of bone marrow transplantation (BMT), a complex, costly treatment for many forms of cancers, has increased significantly in recent years. The increasingly competitive health care marketplace raises concerns about patient access to costly medical procedures such as BMT. We attempted to evaluate patient access to BMT for the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas. METHODS: We analyzed inpatient hospital discharge data from four states (California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York) for 2 years (1988 and 1991) to examine whether the use of BMT for patients with either leukemia or lymphoma varies by sociodemographic characteristics and insurance coverage. We developed a sorting algorithm to collapse the discharge data into patient level records. We used logistic regression to analyze the odds of receiving a BMT stratified by disease type (leukemia or lymphoma). RESULTS: After controlling for other factors, black patients with leukemia are 51% to 53% as likely as whites, while black patients with lymphoma are 34% to 45% as likely as white patients to undergo a BMT (P < .05). Medicaid, self-pay patients, and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) enrollees with either leukemia or lymphoma are significantly less likely to undergo a BMT compared with patients with private insurance. Younger patients are significantly more predisposed to undergo a BMT than older patients. The odds of receiving a BMT have increased over time, but the rates of increase vary by state. Consistent with clinical expectations, the relative odds of BMT vary significantly by type of leukemia or lymphoma. CONCLUSION: Substantial variation exists in access to BMT for patients with either leukemia or lymphoma. Black patients, those enrolled in HMOs, those covered by Medicaid, and self-pay patients were less likely to receive a BMT when admitted for either leukemia or lymphoma. These findings raise concerns about access to cancer treatments for patients in the current health care system.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1992

Are radar detector users less safe than nonusers?

One hundred and seventy-four drivers who had purchased special insurance coverage during 1988-1989 for in-vehicle equipment that included a radar detector were compared to a similarly sized and sociodemographically stratified driver population random sample. It was found that the radar detector owners had significantly more accident claims and speeding convictions during the period 1986-1989 than those representing the general driver population.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1988

DTP immunization status and tetanus antitoxin titers of Mexican American children ages six months through eleven years.

Data from the Mexican American portion of the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES), conducted in 1982-83, were analyzed for the number of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) immunizations reported for Mexican American children 6 months-11 years of age and for levels of tetanus antitoxin titers in Mexican American children 4-11 years of age. In Mexican American children 6 months-11 years, 98.2 per cent had one or more DTP immunizations reported (95 per cent CI: 97.5, 98.9%); 85.1 per cent had three or more DTP immunizations reported (95 per cent CI: 83.2, 87.0%). The reported immunization coverage in Mexican American children was corroborated by the tetanus antitoxin titers which were above the minimum protective level (greater than or equal to 0.01 IU/ml) in 99.6 per cent of the 4-11 year olds. Using the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) recommendations for the number of DTP immunizations, 61.1 per cent of the children 6 months-11 years of age had the age-appropriate number of immunizations (95 per cent CI: 58.5, 63.7%). AAP immunization completion rates were higher for children who: had a source of care reported (62.1 vs 44.3%; 95% CI of the difference: 7.1, 28.5); had insurance coverage (63.5 vs 56.1%; 95% CI of the difference: 2, 12.8); lived in a standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA)-not central city as compared to SMSA-central city or not SMSA (66.6 vs 57.1%; 95% CI of the difference: 4.3, 14.7); and had 12 or more completed years of education for the head of the household (65.4 vs 58.3%; 95% CI of the difference: 1.8, 12.4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child↗