Racialized economic segregation and inequities in treatment initiation and survival among patients with metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Racialized economic segregation, a form of structural racism, may drive persistent inequities among patients with breast cancer. We examined whether a composite area-level index of racialized economic segregation was associated with real-world treatment and survival in metastatic breast cancer (mBC). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among adult women with mBC using a US nationwide electronic health record-derived de-identified database (2011-2022). Population-weighted quintiles of the index of concentration at the extremes were estimated using census tract data. To identify inequities in time to treatment initiation (TTI) and overall survival (OS), we employed Kaplan-Meier methods and estimated hazard ratios (HR) adjusted for clinical factors. RESULTS: The cohort included 27,459 patients. Compared with patients from the most privileged areas, those from the least privileged areas were disproportionately Black (36.9% vs. 2.6%) or Latinx (13.2% vs. 2.6%) and increasingly diagnosed with de novo mBC (33.6% vs. 28.9%). Those from the least privileged areas had longer median TTI than those from the most privileged areas (38 vs 31 days) and shorter median OS (29.7 vs 39.2 months). Multivariable-adjusted HR indicated less timely treatment initiation (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.83, 0.91, p < 0.01) and worse OS (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.13, 1.25, p < 0.01) among those from the least privileged areas compared to the most privileged areas. CONCLUSION: Racialized economic segregation is a social determinant of health associated with treatment and survival inequities in mBC. Public investments directly addressing racialized economic segregation and other forms of structural racism are needed to reduce inequities in cancer care and outcomes.

Changing the conversation: applying a health equity framework to maternal mortality reviews.

The risk of maternal death in the United States is higher than peer nations and is rising and varies dramatically by the race and place of residence of the woman. Critical efforts to reduce maternal mortality include patient risk stratification and system-level quality improvement efforts targeting specific aspects of clinical care. These efforts are important for addressing the causes of an individual's risk, but research to date suggests that individual risk factors alone do not adequately explain between-group disparities in pregnancy-related death by race, ethnicity, or geography. The holistic review and multidisciplinary makeup of maternal mortality review committees make them well positioned to fill knowledge gaps about the drivers of racial and geographic inequity in maternal death. However, committees may lack the conceptual framework, contextual data, and evidence base needed to identify community-based contributing factors to death and, when appropriate, to make recommendations for future action. By incorporating a multileveled, theory-grounded framework for causes of health inequity, along with indicators of the community vital signs, the social and community context in which women live, work, and seek health care, maternal mortality review committees may identify novel underlying factors at the community level that enhance understanding of racial and geographic inequity in maternal mortality. By considering evidence-informed community and regional resources and policies for addressing these factors, novel prevention recommendations, including recommendations that extend outside the realm of the formal health care system, may emerge.

Culturally Responsive Care Delivery in Oncology: The Example of Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) represents ∼1% of all cancers and is the second most common hematologic malignancy worldwide. The incidence of MM is at least two times higher in Blacks/African Americans compared with their White counterparts, and Hispanics/Latinxs are among the youngest patients diagnosed with the disease. Recent advances in available treatments for MM have demonstrated significant improvement in survival outcomes; however, patients from non-White racial/ethnic groups clinically benefit less due to multiple factors including access to care, socioeconomic status, medical mistrust, underutilization of novel therapies, and exclusion from clinical trials. Health inequities in disease characteristics and risk factors based on race also contribute to inequities in outcomes. In this review, we highlight racial/ethnic factors as well as structural barriers attributed to variations in MM epidemiology and management. We focus on three populations-Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, and American Indian/Alaska Native-and review factors that healthcare professionals may consider when treating patients of color. We offer tangible advice for healthcare professionals on how to incorporate cultural humility into their practice by following the five key steps: establishing trust, respecting cultural diversity, undergoing cross-cultural training, counseling patients on appropriate available clinical trial options, and connecting patients to community resources. The outlined recommendations will help the medical community to better understand and apply the important concept of cultural humility into their practice to provide the best care for all their patients, regardless of race/ethnicity.

Racial and Ethnic Inequities in US Oncology Clinical Trial Participation From 2017 to 2022.

Importance: There is increasing recognition from regulatory agencies that racial and ethnic representation in clinical trials is inadequate and linked to health inequities. The extent of racial inequities in clinical trial participation is unclear because prior studies have synthesized enrollment data from published trials, which often do not report participant race and ethnicity. Objective: To evaluate racial and ethnic inequities in oncology clinical trial participation in a contemporary cohort of patients with cancer before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used a nationwide electronic health record-derived deidentified database, which includes data for approximately 280 US cancer clinics (approximately 800 sites of care). The study included Latinx, non-Latinx Black (hereinafter, Black), and non-Latinx White (reference; hereinafter, White) patients aged 18 years or older who had been diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic breast cancer, multiple myeloma, or metastatic pancreatic cancer between January 1, 2017, and June 30, 2022 (follow-up through December 31, 2022). Data analysis was performed between August 1, 2022, and February 7, 2023. Exposures: Electronic health record-documented race and ethnicity. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was oncology trial participation (ie, receipt of a clinical study drug). Stratified cause-specific hazard models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for likelihood of participation. Participation was assessed overall, by cancer type, and by period of diagnosis (2017-2019 vs 2020-2022). Results: Of the 50 411 patients in this study, 28 878 (57.3%) were women and 21 533 (42.7%) were men. Black and Latinx patients were younger than White patients, with a median age of 65 (IQR, 57-72), 64 (IQR, 54-73), and 68 (IQR, 60-76) years, respectively. Oncology trial participation was lower among Black patients (307 of 6912 [4.4%]) and Latinx patients (166 of 3973 [4.2%]) relative to White patients (2858 of 39 526 [7.2%]) over the entire study period. Inequities in participation were observed across the 5 cancer types studied, with notably large inequities observed among Black patients (HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.36-0.81]) and Latinx patients (HR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.27-0.77]) with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Moreover, inequities between Black and White patients in terms of participation widened among those diagnosed in the COVID-19 era (2020-2022: HR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.40-0.60] vs 1.00 [95% CI, 0.93-1.09]) relative to those diagnosed before the pandemic (2017-2019: HR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.53-0.70] vs 1 [reference]). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that oncology trial participation was lower among Black and Latinx patients relative to White patients across all 5 cancer types examined. These findings, including potentially widening inequities in the COVID-19 era, support the need for regulatory guidance to improve enrollment of participants from historically excluded racial and ethnic populations in clinical trials.

Pull Up a Seat: Engaging Patients as Empowered Partners in Health Equity Transformation.

At the JADPRO Live Virtual 2021 keynote interview, Maimah Karmo, CEO and Founder of the Tigerlily Foundation, spoke with Amy Pierre, MSN, ANP-BC, on her breast cancer experience and drive to establish an organization that educates, advocates for, and empowers young women of color at every stage of their breast cancer journey. Ms. Karmo and Ms. Pierre also discussed the role of the advanced practitioner in furthering patient-centered, equitable care.

Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality.

Multisectoral investments over the past decade have accelerated the growth of Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) programs across the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) Initiative in 2019. Under ERASE MM, CDC directly funds 24 U.S. jurisdictions supporting MMRCs in 25 states. With increased investment in programs nationally, the CDC has designed a performance management framework to identify areas for improvement or sustained achievement and standardize measurement of key process benchmarks across programs. This article presents a report on the baseline measures collected through this performance management approach and suggests key partnerships required to continue to accelerate progress toward the elimination of preventable maternal mortality in the United States.

Integrating Best Practices to Improve Outcomes in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Amy E. Pierre, MSN, ANP-BC, and Joshua Richter, MD, break down the approved and emerging treatment options for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, including mechanisms of action, supporting clinical data, and associated adverse events, and discuss best practices for selecting and sequencing therapy.

African American Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Optimizing Care to Decrease Racial Disparities.

The incidence of multiple myeloma in African Americans is two to three times higher than in other ethnicities and is the leading hematologic malignancy in African Americans. Despite the high incidence of multiple myeloma in African American individuals, a vast majority experience delays in diagnosis and reduced usage of effective therapies, including stem cell transplantation, as well as low participation in clinical trials. Racial disparities, social and financial health disparities, and barriers to earlier access to care can lead to poorer patient outcomes. There are also unique characteristics in the disease manifestation in African Americans with multiple myeloma that are imperative for oncology nurses to understand and recognize to provide optimal care.

Challenges and Opportunities in Identifying, Reviewing, and Preventing Maternal Deaths.

Despite many efforts at the state, city, and national levels over the past 70 years, a nationwide consensus on how best to identify, review, and prevent maternal deaths remains challenging. We present a brief history of maternal death surveillance in the United States and compare the three systems of national surveillance that exist today: the National Vital Statistics System, the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System, and maternal mortality review committees. We discuss strategies to address the perennial challenges of shared terminology and accurate, comparable data among maternal mortality review committees. Finally, we propose that with the opportunity presented by a systematized shared data system that can accurately account for all maternal deaths, state and local-level maternal mortality review committees could become the gold standard for understanding the true burden of maternal mortality at the national level.

Building U.S. Capacity to Review and Prevent Maternal Deaths.

In the United States, the risk of death during and up to a year after pregnancy from pregnancy-related causes increased from ∼10 deaths per 100,000 live births in the early 1990s to 17 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013. While vital statistics-based surveillance systems are useful for monitoring trends and disparities, state and local maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) are best positioned to both comprehensively assess deaths to women during pregnancy and the year after the end of pregnancy, and identify opportunities for prevention. Although the number of committees that exist has increased over the last several years, both newly formed and long-established committees struggle to achieve and sustain progress toward reviewing and preventing deaths. We describe the key elements of a MMRC; review a logic model that represents the general inputs, activities, and outcomes of a fully functional MMRC; and describe Building U.S. Capacity to Review and Prevent Maternal Deaths, a recent multisector initiative working to remove barriers to fully functional MMRCs. Increased standardization of review committee processes allows for better data to understand the multiple factors that contribute to maternal deaths and facilitates the collaboration that is necessary to eliminate preventable maternal deaths in the United States.

Evidence-Based Guidelines for Preventing and Managing Side Effects of Multiple Myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: To review disease-related symptoms and side effects of treatment in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). DATA SOURCES: Peer-reviewed articles, research studies, and clinical guidelines. CONCLUSION: New therapies provide patients with extended survival, but in many cases this benefit is counterbalanced by an increased incidence of side effects. Preservation of organ function, while managing side effects, is essential for the care of patients with MM. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Disease- and treatment-related adverse events are prevalent in patients with MM. Patient, family, and health care professional education is essential to monitor and manage these side effects.

Myelosuppression, Bone Disease, and Acute Renal Failure: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Oncologic Emergencies

BACKGROUND: Oncologic emergencies associated with multiple myeloma include myelosuppression (anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia), bone-related emergencies, and acute renal failure. 
. OBJECTIVES: This article reviews the pathophysiology of these multiple myeloma-associated oncology emergencies and provides a framework for assessment and effective intervention.
. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the levels of evidence, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, comorbidities, treatment, ongoing monitoring, and patient education, are presented to support the plan of care for at-risk patients.
. FINDINGS: Attention to signs and symptoms is the foundation for preventing these emergencies or managing additional escalation of symptoms.

Resident work hours: what they are really doing.

HYPOTHESIS: We attempted to better quantitate resident work within our system of care. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Academic training program. PARTICIPANTS: Surgical residents. INTERVENTIONS: A work-hour survey was developed defining 5 areas of activity: patient care related to educational objectives, required educational activities, patient care activities unrelated to educational objectives, off-duty educational activity, and off-duty hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total work hours and noneducational work hours were analyzed by resident level, rotation, and category. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 52%, covering 110 workweeks. Residents worked 80 hours or less for 57 weeks and more than 80 hours for 53 weeks. The mean number of hours worked was 77. Fewer than one quarter (21.9%) of work hours were unrelated to educational activities. The amount of time spent in noneducational activities was lowest at community hospitals (17%) and similar at the Veterans Affairs (23%) and academic (22%) medical centers. It did not vary by total hours worked, averaging 21% for rotations of more than 80 h/wk and 23% for rotations of 80 h/wk or less. CONCLUSIONS: Residents spend a large amount of time in noneducational activities. Eliminating these activities would bring our rotations into compliance with the 80-hour workweek. It would also generate a large amount of time for educational activities within our training program.