Ana Natale-Pereira

The role of patient navigators in eliminating health disparities

Despite many important efforts to increase equity in the US health care system, not all Americans have equal access to health care—or similar health outcomes. With the goal of lowering costs and increasing accessibility to health care, the nations new health care reform legislation includes certain provisions that expand health insurance coverage to uninsured and underinsured populations, promote medical homes, and support coordination of care. These provisions may help narrow existing health care disparities. Many of the most vulnerable patients, however, may continue to have difficulty accessing and navigating the complex US health care delivery system. This article explores the unique role that patient navigation can play in improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities, as well as other underserved populations, in the context of a changing healthcare environment. Patient navigators can not only facilitate improved health care access and quality for underserved populations through advocacy and care coordination, but they can also address deep‐rooted issues related to distrust in providers and the health system that often lead to avoidance of health problems and non‐compliance with treatment recommendations. By addressing many of the disparities associated with language and cultural differences and barriers, patient navigators can foster trust and empowerment within the communities they serve. Specific patient navigator activities are discussed, and metrics to evaluate program efforts are presented. Cancer 2011;117(15 suppl):3541–50.

Defining and Targeting Health Care Access Barriers

The impact of social and economic determinants of health status and the existence of racial and ethnic health care access disparities have been well-documented. This paper describes a model, the Health Care Access Barriers Model (HCAB), which provides a taxonomy and practical framework for the classification, analysis and reporting of those modifiable health care access barriers that are associated with health care disparities. The model describes three categories of modifiable health care access barriers: financial, structural, and cognitive. The three types of barriers are reciprocally reinforcing and affect health care access individually or in concert. These barriers are associated with screening, late presentation to care, and lack of treatment, which in turn result in poor health outcomes and health disparities. By targeting those barriers that are measurable and modifiable the model facilitates root-cause analysis and intervention design.

Barriers and Facilitators for Colorectal Cancer Screening Practices in the Latino Community: Perspectives From Community Leaders

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among Latinos. While Latinos represent one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the United States, their participation in cancer prevention and treatment trials is low. METHODS Thirty-six Latino community leaders participated in five focus groups that examined factors affecting CRC screening practices among Latinos. RESULTS The top four barriers identified were low knowledge and awareness of CRC, language barriers, lack of insurance, and undocumented legal status. Additional barriers included seeking health care only when sick, fatalism, fear, denial that CRC can occur, other needs more pressing than preventive care, and use of home remedies rather than biomedical care. Participants also described strategies that could be used to increase screening rates including mass media, screening reminders, educational programs using visual tools, and interventions tailored to various literacy levels. CONCLUSIONS To ensure that the specific needs and health beliefs of the Latino community are addressed, future research should incorporate community input to create more tailored and effective cancer educational programs for Latinos.

Linguistic Acculturation and Skin Cancer–Related Behaviors Among Hispanics in the Southern and Western United States

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between linguistic acculturation (assessed using the Language Use and Linguistic Preference subscales from the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics) and skin cancer-related behaviors among US Hispanic adults to determine whether, compared with Hispanics denoted as Spanish-acculturated, English-acculturated Hispanics would report less frequent shade seeking and use of sun protective clothing and higher rates of sunscreen use, sunbathing, and indoor tanning. DESIGN Online survey study conducted in September 2011. SETTING Five southern and western US states. PARTICIPANTS A population-based sample of 788 Hispanic adults drawn from a nationally representative web panel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported sunscreen use, shade seeking, use of sun protective clothing, sunbathing, and indoor tanning. RESULTS Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine predictors of the skin cancer-related behaviors. As hypothesized, English-acculturated Hispanics had lower rates of shade seeking and use of sun protective clothing and reported higher rates of sunbathing and indoor tanning than Spanish-acculturated Hispanics. English-acculturated Hispanics and bicultural Hispanics (ie, those with high Spanish and high English acculturation) reported comparably high rates of sunbathing and indoor tanning. Results suggested that bicultural Hispanics seek shade and wear sun protective clothing less often than Spanish-acculturated Hispanics but more often than English-acculturated Hispanics. Acculturation was not associated with sunscreen use. CONCLUSIONS Hispanic adults do not routinely engage in behaviors that reduce their risk of skin cancer. Bicultural and English-acculturated Hispanics are particularly in need of skin cancer prevention interventions.

Skin cancer surveillance behaviors among US Hispanic adults

BACKGROUND Little skin cancer prevention research has focused on the US Hispanic population. OBJECTIVE This study examined the prevalence and correlates of skin cancer surveillance behaviors among Hispanic adults. METHODS A population-based sample of 788 Hispanic adults residing in 5 southern and western states completed an online survey in English or Spanish in September 2011. The outcomes were ever having conducted a skin self-examination (SSE) and having received a total cutaneous examination (TCE) from a health professional. The correlates included sociodemographic, skin cancer-related, and psychosocial factors. RESULTS The rates of ever conducting a SSE or having a TCE were 17.6% and 9.2%, respectively. Based on the results of multivariable logistic regressions, factors associated with ever conducting a SSE included older age, English linguistic acculturation, a greater number of melanoma risk factors, more frequent sunscreen use, sunbathing, job-related sun exposure, higher perceived skin cancer risk, physician recommendation, more SSE benefits, and fewer SSE barriers. Factors associated with ever having a TCE were older age, English linguistic acculturation, a greater number of melanoma risk factors, ever having tanned indoors, greater skin cancer knowledge, higher perceived skin cancer severity, lower skin cancer worry, physician recommendation, more TCE benefits, and fewer SSE barriers. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional design limits conclusions regarding the causal nature of observed associations. CONCLUSIONS Few Hispanic adults engage in skin cancer surveillance behaviors. The study highlights Hispanic subpopulations that are least likely to engage in skin cancer surveillance behaviors and informs the development of culturally appropriate interventions to promote these behaviors.

Skin cancer screening among Hispanic adults in the United States: results from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey.

Compared to non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics are more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma at an earlier age, with thicker and more advanced lesions, and are more likely to die from their disease.1 Physician skin examinations (PSE) may reduce the incidence of thick melanomas that have a poor prognosis.2 Few studies have examined the rate of PSE among US Hispanics. In the current study, we examined the prevalence and correlates of PSE among US Hispanics in a nationally representative sample.