Disparities in Lung Transplantation
Since the initial report of long-term survival after lung transplantation (LT) in 1983, there has been remarkable progress in the field and LT is now the gold-standard therapy for patients with end-stage lung disease. It confers a significant survival advantage and improves the quality of life in patients who often have few other treatment options. However, LT remains a complex undertaking and establishing and maintaining an LT program is resource intensive with multiple potential barriers. In this article, we focus on disparities in LT and the potential solutions to improving access to LT. (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Simran K. Randhawa, Sophia H. Roberts, Varun Puri Source Type: research
Social Disparities in the Thoracic Surgery Workforce
Diversity fosters innovation, advances the work environment, and enriches patient care. Despite that, only 17%, 5%, and 3% of cardiothoracic (CT) surgeons in academia were women, Hispanic, and Black, respectively. Diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and deliberate initiatives are necessary to eradicate disparities in the CT workforce. Leading organizational changes from the top down is paramount and above all else, changes and improvements should be based on a meritocracy. (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: DuyKhanh P. Ceppa Source Type: research
Racial Disparities in Esophageal Cancer
Esophageal cancer is a deadly cancer. Advances in multimodal treatment have improved esophageal cancer outcomes. Advancements have not benefited all races equally. Major disparities in esophageal cancer outcomes exist. Minorities undergo fewer surgical resections of esophageal cancer and have poorer outcomes. (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Allan Pickens Source Type: research
Disparities in Health Care Delivery Systems
Racial disparities in health care systems exist in all phases of health care delivery. The Affordable Care Act has been unable to completely mitigate disparities in health care as the root cause (ie, socioeconomic inequality) remains unaddressed. Uninsured status, lack of transportation, high costs, health literacy, provider unavailability, lack of trust in the health system, and implicit bias block minority populations from obtaining deserved quality care. With the COVID-19 crisis, increased sensitivity and development of innovative approaches to provide accessibly and quality health care are necessary. (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Muhammad Farhan Nadeem, Larry R. Kaiser Source Type: research
Social Disparities in Benign Lung Diseases
The many socioeconomic disparities in the myriad of diagnoses that make up benign lung diseases are unfortunately a global issue that was most recently highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. In this chapter, we will be reviewing the socioeconomic disparities in benign lung disease from both a United States perspective as well as a global perspective. We will cover the spectrum of infectious, obstructive, and restrictive lung disease and review the evidence on how social disparities affect these populations and their access to medical care. (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Jairo Espinosa, Siva Raja Source Type: research
Social Disparities in Thoracic Surgery Database Research
A complex relationship exists between health care disparities and large databases among the thoracic surgical patient population. Using the example of thoracic malignancies, the ability of investigations leveraging large databases and novel analytical approaches to highlight disparate access to care and discordant outcomes following treatment is illustrated. Large, widely used databases may not be representative of the thoracic surgical patient population as a whole, and caution must be used when interpreting and generalizing results gleaned from such database analyses. Ensuring appropriate representation of all relevant p...
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Kyle G. Mitchell, Ian C. Bostock, Mara B. Antonoff Source Type: research
Challenges in the Methodology for Health Disparities Research in Thoracic Surgery
Research on health disparities in thoracic surgery is based on large population-based studies, which is associated with certain biases. Several methodological challenges are associated with these biases and warrant review and attention. The lack of standardized definitions in health disparities research requires clarification for study design strategy. Further inconsistencies remain when considering data sources and collection methods. These inconsistencies pose challenges for accurate and standardized downstream data analysis and interpretation. These sources of bias should be considered when establishing the infrastructu...
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Sakib M. Adnan, Michael Poulson, Virginia R. Litle, Cherie P. Erkmen Source Type: research
Social Disparities in Lung Cancer
Social disparities in lung cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival have been studied using national databases, statewide registries, and institution-level data. Some disparities emerge consistently, such as lower adherence to treatment guidelines and worse survival by race and socioeconomic status, whereas other disparities are less well studied. A critical appraisal of current data is essential to increasing equity in lung cancer care. (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Irmina Elliott, Cayo Gonzalez, Leah Backhus, Natalie Lui Source Type: research
Social Disparities in Thoracic Surgery Education
Despite an ever-diversifying US population, women, and underrepresented minorities lack proportionate membership in the CT surgery workforce. CT surgery is the surgical specialty practiced by the oldest surgeons as a group. This highlights a deficit within our specialty and foreshadows a shrinking of the CT surgery workforce that will be compounded by a lack of diversity as the workforce ages. If CT surgery is to continue to advance forward and attract the brightest, most skilled, and innovative people, we must invite, encourage, and guide qualified individuals from all races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, and ex...
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Luis A. Godoy, Elise Hill, David T. Cooke Source Type: research
Social Disparities in Lung Cancer Risk and Screening
Significant disparities exist in lung cancer incidence and screening. Geographic, racial, gender, and socioeconomic disparities affect lung cancer incidence. As the leading cause of lung cancer, smoking varies among different racioethnic groups, genders, and socioeconomic statuses. In addition, environmental pollutants, such as radon, industrial toxins, and air pollution, are significant risk factors for lung cancer development that is disproportionately seen in working-class communities, as well as underserved and disabled populations. Lung cancer incidence depends on diagnosis. Literature examining lung cancer incidence ...
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Vignesh Raman, Valeda Yong, Cherie P. Erkmen, Betty C. Tong Source Type: research
Health Disparities in Recruitment and Enrollment in Research
Despite advances in thoracic oncology research, the benefits of new discoveries are not universally experienced. A lack of representation of racial/ethnic minorities and individuals of low socioeconomic status in clinical trials and thoracic research contributes to persistent health care disparities. It is critical that improved racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity is achieved in our trials and research, if we are to attain generalizability of findings and reduction of health care disparities. Culturally tailored and community-based approaches can help improve recruitment and enrollment of marginalized groups in tho...
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Rian M. Hasson Charles, Ernesto Sosa, Meghna Patel, Loretta Erhunmwunsee Source Type: research
A History of Health Policy and Health Disparity
Civil Rights legislation and court decisions influenced health care policy, which attempted to provide health care to elderly and low-income populations. Passing Medicaid and Medicare was monumental in increasing access to health insurance. The Affordable Care Act aimed to increase access to and affordability of health care to alleviate some disparities in health care. The Affordable Care Act established the National Institute of Minority and Health Disparity and Offices of Minority Health. However, disparities of access, care, morbidity, and mortality among marginalized populations persist. We in the thoracic community mu...
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Jessica Magarinos, Takshaka Patel, Jason Strunk, Keith Naunheim, Cherie P. Erkmen Source Type: research
First Steps in Addressing Health Disparities in Thoracic Surgery
In the constitution of the World Health Organization, health is defined as “one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”1 The COVID-19 worldwide pandemic demonstrated that health is very much a function of all these factors. We can empirically measure differences in health out comes and mortality. However, to address root causes and develop interventions to correct health disparities, we must delve deeper into mechanisms. (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Cherie P. Erkmen Tags: Preface Source Type: research
Social Disparities in Thoracic Surgery
THORACIC SURGERY CLINICS (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Cherie P. Erkmen Source Type: research
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ELSEVIER (Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics)
Source: Thoracic Surgery Clinics - November 18, 2021 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Source Type: research
