Emily A. Haozous

Trends in premature mortality in the USA by sex, race, and ethnicity from 1999 to 2014: an analysis of death certificate data

BACKGROUND Reduction of premature mortality is a UN Sustainable Development Goal. Unlike other high-income countries, age-adjusted mortality in the USA plateaued in 2010 and increased slightly in 2015, possibly because of rising premature mortality. We aimed to analyse trends in mortality in the USA between 1999 and 2014 in people aged 25-64 years by age group, sex, and race and ethnicity, and to identify specific causes of death underlying the temporal trends. METHODS For this analysis, we used cause-of-death and demographic data from death certificates from the US National Center for Health Statistics, and population estimates from the US Census Bureau. We estimated annual percentage changes in mortality using age-period-cohort models. Age-standardised excess deaths were estimated for 2000 to 2014 as observed deaths minus expected deaths (estimated from 1999 mortality rates). FINDINGS Between 1999 and 2014, premature mortality increased in white individuals and in American Indians and Alaska Natives. Increases were highest in women and those aged 25-30 years. Among 30-year-olds, annual mortality increases were 2·3% (95% CI 2·1-2·4) for white women, 0·6% (0·5-0·7) for white men, and 4·3% (3·5-5·0) and 1·9% (1·3-2·5), respectively, for American Indian and Alaska Native women and men. These increases were mainly attributable to accidental deaths (primarily drug poisonings), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and suicide. Among individuals aged 25-49 years, an estimated 111 000 excess premature deaths occurred in white individuals and 6600 in American Indians and Alaska Natives during 2000-14. By contrast, premature mortality decreased substantially across all age groups in Hispanic individuals (up to 3·2% per year), black individuals (up to 3·9% per year), and Asians and Pacific Islanders (up to 2·6% per year), mainly because of declines in HIV, cancer, and heart disease deaths, resulting in an estimated 112 000 fewer deaths in Hispanic individuals, 311 000 fewer deaths in black individuals, and 34 000 fewer deaths in Asians and Pacific Islanders aged 25-64 years. During 2011-14, American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest premature mortality, followed by black individuals. INTERPRETATION Important public health successes, including HIV treatment and smoking cessation, have contributed to declining premature mortality in Hispanic individuals, black individuals, and Asians and Pacific Islanders. However, this progress has largely been negated in young and middle-aged (25-49 years) white individuals, and American Indians and Alaska Natives, primarily because of potentially avoidable causes such as drug poisonings, suicide, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. The magnitude of annual mortality increases in the USA is extremely unusual in high-income countries, and a rapid public health response is needed to avert further premature deaths. FUNDING US National Cancer Institute Intramural Research Program.

Challenges and Strategies in Recruitment of Ethnically Diverse Populations for Cancer Nursing Research

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe common barriers, identify challenges for researchers, and provide strategies for recruitment and retention of ethnic minority groups for cancer nursing research. DATA SOURCES Computerized search of databases, published articles, abstracts, masters theses, and doctoral dissertations. DATA SYNTHESIS Social, economic, and cultural factors present challenges to recruitment of minorities into research. Knowing the culture of the target population, developing trust, engaging the community, and using tailored materials are strategies for recruitment and retention of minorities. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of potential barriers and challenges to research with diverse populations provides the foundation for the development of strategies for successful recruitment of minorities in cancer nursing research. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Increasing ethnic minorities in research will generate knowledge that will contribute to culturally competent cancer care.

Enhancing access to cancer education for rural healthcare providers via telehealth.

Healthcare providers serving rural populations face numerous barriers to accessing educational programming. Difficulties accessing continuing professional education contribute to the challenges of providing comprehensive health care in the rural setting. Telehealth can inform and educate rural providers about changes in medicine and evidence-based practices, both of which may help them provide quality care. The Native People for Cancer Control Telehealth Network used telehealth technology to deliver a cancer education series in 2008 and 2009 to Washington and Alaska rural healthcare providers who treated American Indians and Alaska Native people. Customizing presentation content to providers’ educational needs encouraged attendance. Evaluation indicated videoconferencing technology was positively received for delivery of the educational sessions. This series demonstrated videoconferencing was a satisfactory means of delivering real-time, interactive cancer educational programming to providers who might not otherwise have access to such programs.

Role of telehealth/videoconferencing in managing cancer pain in rural American Indian communities

Objectives: This project is aimed at determining the feasibility and effect of using videoconferencing to deliver cancer‐related pain management education and case consultation to health care providers in rural AI/AN communities.

Understanding the cancer pain experience in American Indians of the Northern Plains

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of cancer pain in American Indians (AI) from the Northern Plains region of the United States.

Use of the talking circle for Comanche women's breast health education.

Background: As breast cancer screening is critical to early detection and treatment, it is imperative to furnish health care providers with effective educational materials for the populations they serve. To do so for Comanche American Indian women requires understanding the cultural constructs that influence the use of screening and treatment recommendations. Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the health—illness beliefs and barriers to breast health for a group of Comanche women. Design: This was a descriptive, qualitative study guided by the principles of community-based participatory research. Seven community health representatives serving Comanche women participated in a “Talking Circle,” an indigenous method of making decisions and conducting group process among American Indian people. Findings: Themes were Barriers to Information, Barriers to Screening, Economic Barriers, Barriers to Follow-up, and Protecting Our Women. Discussion/Conclusion: This study provided insight into barriers to breast health for women in the Comanche Nation. These findings contribute to a foundation for enhancements needed to make breast health education and interventions culturally appropriate. These findings also add to the cultural knowledge of nurses for use in the practice area to improve understanding and communication with American Indian patients.

Blood Politics, Ethnic Identity, and Racial Misclassification among American Indians and Alaska Natives

Misclassification of race in medical and mortality records has long been documented as an issue in American Indian/Alaska Native data. Yet, little has been shared in a cohesive narrative which outlines why misclassification of American Indian/Alaska Native identity occurs. The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of the current state of the science in racial misclassification among American Indians and Alaska Natives. We also provide a historical context on the importance of this problem and describe the ongoing political processes that both affect racial misclassification and contribute to the context of American Indian and Alaska Native identity.

Retention of faculty of color in academic nursing

BACKGROUND Racial and ethnic diversity among nursing faculty is low, preventing schools of nursing (SON) from reflecting the populations that they serve academically and clinically. Few studies address the experience and success of faculty of color (FOC) in nursing. PURPOSE The purpose of this article is to summarize the current literature related to FOC retention and promotion. METHODS We reviewed 25 articles from the nursing literature following PRISMA guidelines, using a critical race theory framework. DISCUSSION We describe barriers and promoters to retention, benefits of retaining FOC, and proposed solutions to FOC attrition. We also highlight polices by several SON that netted increased retention and promotion of nursing FOC. CONCLUSION FOC meet substantial challenges that influence their career pathway. SON can improve faculty retention through focused efforts on improving the institutional culture to promote an inclusive environment.

Assessing cultural competence among oncology surgeons

PURPOSE Racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States have the highest mortality rates for the most common cancers. Various factors, including a perceived lack of culturally congruent care and culturally competent providers, might lead minority patients to decline or delay care. As part of a large multimethod study to understand barriers to care among American Indian and Alaskan native patients with cancer, we examined surgical provider attributes associated with culturally congruent care. PATIENTS AND METHODS Surgical providers from six hospitals in the Puget Sound region of Washington State were invited to participate. Participants completed a 50-item survey that assessed demographic data and incorporated the Cultural Competence Assessment (CCA) and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. RESULTS Survey response rate was 51.1% (N = 253). Participants reported treating diverse patient populations; 71% encountered patients from six or more racial and ethnic groups. More than one half of participants (58%) reported completing cultural diversity training, with employer-sponsored training being the most common type reported (48%; 71 of 147). CCA scores ranged from 5.99 to 13.75 of a possible 14 (mean, 10.3; standard deviation, ±1.3), and receipt of diversity training was associated with higher scores than nonreceipt of diversity training (10.56 v 9.82, respectively; P<.001). After controlling for Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale score and hospital system,participation in diversity training was the variable most significantly associated with CCA score (P<.001). CONCLUSION Culturally competent care is an essential but often overlooked component of high-quality health care. Future work should compare training offered by various hospital systems.

Perceptions of cancer treatment decision making among American Indians/Alaska Natives and their physicians

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients are significantly less likely than non‐Hispanic whites to receive guideline‐concordant cancer care. Our objective was to examine cancer treatment decision making among AI/AN patients and their providers.