Pesticide Exposures and Body Mass Index (BMI) of Pesticide Applicators From the Agricultural Health Study.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including pesticides, may be associated with weight gain. This is the first longitudinal study to examine a potential association between weight gain and pesticides using data on 8,365 male pesticide applicators from the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) cohort established in 1993. The relationship between total cumulative days of exposure to pesticide functional/chemical classes and to the four most frequently used individual pesticides was studied in relation to body mass index (BMI) at the time of 5-yr follow-up (beginning in 1998) with the length of the exposure period dating back to age 20 yr. Multiple regression, Spearman correlation, ordinal logistic regression, and logistic regression models all utilized a Bonferroni-adjusted p value, were adjusted for relevant covariates, and were stratified by state of residence (Iowa/North Carolina) and presence/absence of weight-related health conditions. Adjusted multiple regression yielded statistically significant positive parameter estimates for the study sample and Iowa subgroups with consistent findings for triazine herbicides and atrazine: Change in BMI per 100 cumulative pesticide exposure days ranged from 0.07 to 0.11 for triazine herbicides and from 0.10 to 0.19 for atrazine. Ordinal logistic regression compared normal weight with overweight and with obese using the zero exposure category as referent. Statistically significant adjusted odds ratios identified for the study sample and both state subgroups for the highest level of atrazine exposure ranged from 1.4 to 1.7. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate the associations identified here.

Impact of patient navigation on timely cancer care: the Patient Navigation Research Program.

BACKGROUND: Patient navigation is a promising intervention to address cancer disparities but requires a multisite controlled trial to assess its effectiveness. METHODS: The Patient Navigation Research Program compared patient navigation with usual care on time to diagnosis or treatment for participants with breast, cervical, colorectal, or prostate screening abnormalities and/or cancers between 2007 and 2010. Patient navigators developed individualized strategies to address barriers to care, with the focus on preventing delays in care. To assess timeliness of diagnostic resolution, we conducted a meta-analysis of center- and cancer-specific adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) comparing patient navigation vs usual care. To assess initiation of cancer therapy, we calculated a single aHR, pooling data across all centers and cancer types. We conducted a metaregression to evaluate variability across centers. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: The 10521 participants with abnormal screening tests and 2105 with a cancer or precancer diagnosis were predominantly from racial/ethnic minority groups (73%) and publically insured (40%) or uninsured (31%). There was no benefit during the first 90 days of care, but a benefit of navigation was seen from 91 to 365 days for both diagnostic resolution (aHR = 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23 to 1.84; P < .001)) and treatment initiation (aHR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.86; P < .007). Metaregression revealed that navigation had its greatest benefits within centers with the greatest delays in follow-up under usual care. CONCLUSIONS: Patient navigation demonstrated a moderate benefit in improving timely cancer care. These results support adoption of patient navigation in settings that serve populations at risk of being lost to follow-up.

Do better-rated navigators improve patient satisfaction with cancer-related care?

Patient navigation has emerged as a promising strategy for addressing racial-ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in cancer-related care. However, little is known about the impact of patients' perception of the quality of navigation on patient outcomes. We examined the impact of better-rated navigators on patients' satisfaction with cancer-related care. The sample included 1,593 adults (85.8% with abnormal cancer screening and 14.2% with confirmed cancer diagnosis) who received patient navigation. We defined better-rated navigators as those scoring above the first quartile of mean scores on the Patient Satisfaction with Interpersonal Relationship with Navigator scale. We defined patient satisfaction based on scores above or below the median of the Patient Satisfaction with Cancer-Related Care (PSCC) scale. We controlled for patient and site characteristics using backward selection logistic regression analyses. Among patients with abnormal screening, having a better-rated navigator was associated with higher score on the PSCC (p < 0.05). After controlling for other bivariate predictors of satisfaction (e.g., age, race, income, and household size), navigation by better-rated navigators was associated with a greater likelihood of having higher patient satisfaction [odds ratio (OR), 1.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-1.82]. Similar findings between better-rated navigators and score on the PSCC were found for participants with diagnosed cancer (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 1.56-6.0). Patients navigated by better-rated navigators reported higher satisfaction with their cancer-related care.

Patient navigation significantly reduces delays in breast cancer diagnosis in the District of Columbia.

BACKGROUND: Patient Navigation (PN) originated in Harlem as an intervention to help poor women overcome access barriers to timely breast cancer treatment. Despite rapid, nationally widespread adoption of PN, empirical evidence on its effectiveness is lacking. In 2005, National Cancer Institute initiated a multicenter PN Research Program (PNRP) to measure PN effectiveness for several cancers. The George Washington Cancer Institute, a project participant, established District of Columbia (DC)-PNRP to determine PN's ability to reduce breast cancer diagnostic time (number of days from abnormal screening to definitive diagnosis). METHODS: A total of 2,601 women (1,047 navigated; 1,554 concurrent records-based nonnavigated) were examined for breast cancer from 2006 to 2010 at 9 hospitals/clinics in DC. Analyses included only women who reached complete diagnostic resolution. Differences in diagnostic time between navigation groups were tested with ANOVA models including categorical demographic and treatment variables. Log transformations normalized diagnostic time. Geometric means were estimated and compared using Tukey-Kramer P value adjustments. RESULTS: Average-geometric mean [95% confidence interval (CI)]-diagnostic time (days) was significantly shorter for navigated, 25.1 (21.7, 29.0), than nonnavigated women, 42.1 (35.8, 49.6). Subanalyses revealed significantly shorter average diagnostic time for biopsied navigated women, 26.6 (21.8, 32.5) than biopsied nonnavigated women, 57.5 (46.3, 71.5). Among nonbiopsied women, diagnostic time was shorter for navigated, 27.2 (22.8, 32.4), than nonnavigated women, 34.9 (29.2, 41.7), but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Navigated women, especially those requiring biopsy, reached their diagnostic resolution significantly faster than nonnavigated women. IMPACT: Results support previous findings of PN's positive influence on health care. PN should be a reimbursable expense to assure continuation of PN programs.

Having health insurance does not eliminate race/ethnicity-associated delays in breast cancer diagnosis in the District of Columbia.

BACKGROUND: Delays in follow-up after breast cancer screening contribute to disparities in breast cancer outcomes. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of race/ethnicity and health insurance on diagnostic time, defined as number of days from suspicious finding to diagnostic resolution. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study of 1538 women examined for breast abnormalities between 1998-2010 at 6 hospitals/clinics in the District of Columbia measured mean diagnostic times between non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs), and Hispanics with private, government, or no health insurance by using a full-factorial ANOVA model. RESULTS: Respective average--geometric mean (95% CI)--diagnostic times (in days) for NHWs, NHBs, and Hispanics were 16 (12, 21), 27 (23, 33), and 51 (35, 76) among privately insured; 12 (7, 19), 39 (32, 48), and 71 (48, 105) among government insured; 45 (17, 120), 60 (39, 92), and 67 (56, 79) among uninsured. Government insured NHWs had significantly shorter diagnostic times than government insured NHBs (P = .0003) and Hispanics (P < .0001). Privately insured NHWs had significantly shorter diagnostic times than privately insured NHBs (P = .03) and Hispanics (P < .0001). Privately insured NHBs had significantly shorter diagnostic times than uninsured NHBs (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Insured minorities waited >2 times longer to reach their diagnostic resolution than insured NHWs. Having private health insurance increased the speed of diagnostic resolution in NHBs; however, their diagnostic time remained significantly longer than for privately insured NHWs. These results suggest diagnostic delays in minorities are more likely caused by other barriers associated with race/ethnicity than by insurance status.

Use of the veterans history project to assess World War II veterans' perceptions of military experiences and health.

OBJECTIVE: This qualitative research study evaluated the attitudes, perceptions, and opinions of World War II veterans regarding the health impact of their military service. METHODS: The study design involved adding relevant health questions to the interview format developed by the ongoing Veterans History Project, a military oral history depository directed and maintained by the U.S. Library of Congress. Audiotaped interviews conducted with individuals and a focus group were coded and evaluated. Key informants provided background information. RESULTS: Findings included a general consensus among participants that military service during World War II was beneficial to their health. Preventive health practices were instilled as lifelong habits, as were feelings of self-confidence and independence. The Veterans Administration was viewed positively by respondents but was not used to any great extent. CONCLUSIONS: Current good health and feelings of patriotism, duty, and selflessness may underlie expressed positive attitudes about the health impact of service during World War II.