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Biomedical subjects

Ann B Nattinger

Publications and source records attributed to Ann B Nattinger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Surgeon characteristics and variations in treatment for early-stage breast cancer.

HYPOTHESIS: Adherence to National Institutes of Health consensus statement recommendations for early-stage breast cancer will vary by surgeon characteristics. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results national tumor registry linked with Medicare claims data. Logistic regression was used to analyze data on a cohort of 1045 surgeons who operated on 9449 Medicare patients with early-stage breast cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Care adherent to the 1990 National Institutes of Health consensus statement recommendations. RESULTS: Surgeon age and specialty were not associated with adherent care overall, nor among breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy subgroups. Patients of higher-volume surgeons were significantly more likely to undergo adherent care overall because of greater use of lymph node dissection among women who received either breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy. Patients of female surgeons and surgeons with a medical school affiliation were less likely to undergo adherent care overall, which was related to greater use of breast-conserving surgery and lesser use of lymph node dissection among patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Several surgeon characteristics are significantly associated with variations in breast cancer treatment received. These results warrant further investigation into the association between these surgeon characteristics and cancer care outcomes.

Aged↗

Effect of model of care delivery on mammography use among elderly breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Despite gaps in the quality of follow-up care for breast cancer survivors, the most effective model for such care remains unclear. We evaluated receipt of mammography among survivors followed by generalist physicians, specialists, or both (referred to as 'shared care'). METHODS: We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results tumor registry data and Medicare claims to study 3828 older women, diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995. RESULTS: During the first 3 years after treatment, about two-thirds of patients underwent shared care. Use of mammography in such patients was 84.0, 81.0 and 78.6% in follow-up years 1-3 respectively. For patients not using shared care, use of mammography was 76.3, 70.5, 66.0% in years 1-3 respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression model, women receiving shared care had substantially greater mammography use than others, with an odds ratio of 2.13 (95% CI: 1.74, 2.58) in the first follow-up year and similar odds ratios in subsequent follow-up years. CONCLUSIONS: Most older breast cancer survivors undergo shared care. These patients receive better quality of care as measured by follow-up mammography.

Aged↗

The influence of graphic format on breast cancer risk communication.

Graphic displays can enhance quantitative risk communication. However, empiric data regarding the effect of graphic format on risk perception is lacking. We evaluate the effect of graphic format elements on perceptions of risk magnitude and perceived truth of data. Preferences for format also were assessed. Participants (254 female primary care patients) viewed a series of hypothetical risk communications regarding the lifetime risk of breast cancer. Identical numeric risk information was presented using different graphic formats. Risk was perceived to be of lower magnitude when communicated with a bar graph as compared with a pictorial display (p < 0.0001), or with consecutively versus randomly highlighted symbols in a pictorial display (p = 0.0001). Data were perceived to be more true when presented with random versus consecutive highlights in a pictorial display (p < 0.01). A pictorial display was preferred to a bar graph format for the presentation of breast cancer risk estimates alone (p = 0.001). When considering breast cancer risk in comparison to heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis, however, bar graphs were preferred pictorial displays (p < 0.001). In conclusion, elements of graphic format used to convey quantitative risk information effects key domains of risk perception. One must be cognizant of these effects when designing risk communication strategies.

Adult↗

Development of the facial skin care index: a health-related outcomes index for skin cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Existing health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) tools do not appear to capture patients' specific skin cancer concerns. OBJECTIVE: To describe the conceptual foundation, item generation, reduction process, and reliability testing for the Facial Skin Cancer Index (FSCI), a HRQOL outcomes tool for skin cancer researchers and clinicians. METHODS: Participants in Phases I to III consisted of adult patients (N=134) diagnosed with biopsy-proven nonmelanoma cervicofacial skin cancer. Data were collected via self-report surveys and clinical records. RESULTS: Seventy-one distinct items were generated in Phase I and rated for their importance by an independent sample during Phase II; 36 items representing six theoretical HRQOL domains were retained. Test-retest I results indicated that four subscales showed adequate reliability coefficients (alpha=0.60 to 0.91). Twenty-six items remained for test-retest II. Results indicated excellent internal consistency for emotional, social, appearance, and modified financial/work subscales (range 0.79 to 0.95); test-retest correlation coefficients were consistent across time (range 0.81 to 0.97; lifestyle omitted). CONCLUSION: Pretesting afforded the opportunity to select items that optimally met our a priori conceptual and psychometric criteria for high data quality. Phase IV testing (validity and sensitivity before surgery and 4 months after Mohs micrographic surgery) for the 20-item FSCI is under way.

Adult↗

Bone density testing in older women and its association with patient age.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the early adoption of bone density testing and examine the association between older age and such testing. DESIGN: Retrospective study of Medicare administrative claims. SETTING: Five states and six urban regions in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Female Medicare recipients aged 66 to 90. MEASUREMENTS: Bone density testing in women without prior osteoporosis or fracture (osteoporosis screening) was evaluated. The association between age and osteoporosis screening was then examined while controlling for other demographic and health factors. RESULTS: Of 43,802 women eligible for osteoporosis screening, 22.9% were tested between 1999 and 2001, the first 3 full years of Medicare coverage. Receipt of bone density tests decreased with increasing age, from 27.2% of women aged 66 to 70 to fewer than 10% of women aged 86 to 90. After adjustment for race, comorbidity, fracture risk, and socioeconomic factors, bone density testing decreased significantly with each age category, so that women aged 71 to 75 were slightly less likely than (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =0.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.86-0.96), women aged 76 to 80 were less likely than (AOR =0.71, 95% CI =0.67-0.76), and women aged 81 to 85 were half as likely as (AOR =0.50, 95% CI =0.46-0.55) women aged 66 to 70 to receive a bone density test. CONCLUSION: In the 3 years after Medicare reimbursement for osteoporosis screening began, adoption of bone density testing was lowest in women in age groups at highest fracture risk.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Colorectal cancer screening behavior and health insurance status (United States).

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between health insurance status and CRC screening behavior among a diverse sample of ambulatory patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional, retrospective study. Quota sampling techniques were used to recruit 52 insured/uninsured patients > or =age 50 from three Midwestern medical clinics (N=104). Data were collected by interviewer-administered CRC screening questionnaires. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of the sample was in compliance with CRC testing guidelines. Insured compared to uninsured participants were significantly more likely to have ever completed any testing (77% versus 33%), and were more likely to have undertaken testing according to current US guidelines (62% versus 17%), all ps < 0.001. Insured participants also were significantly more likely than the uninsured to know about, receive physician recommendation to screen, and profess future intent to screen, ps < 0.001. Fewer uninsured participants were tested for routine reasons compared to insured participants. Significant group differences did not emerge on future preference for a particular screening methodology, if testing costs were equal. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that CRC screening depends, in part, on health insurance status. Increasing insurance coverage or resources for low-cost, accurate tests may facilitate future screening.

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Creation of a quality of life instrument for nonmelanoma skin cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: Malignancies of the skin are the most common cancers among humans. The cervicofacial region is most affected by cutaneous malignancies, with approximately 80% of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC) occurring in the head and neck. Treatment of cervicofacial skin cancers also is more likely to result in significant patient morbidity, because of the functional and cosmetic importance of this region. Unlike other malignancies, skin cancer has not been well investigated in terms of patient quality of life (QOL) assessment. Furthermore, no validated disease-specific QOL instrument currently exists for skin cancer. The aim of this study was to construct a new QOL instrument, The Facial Skin Cancer Index (FSCI), that captures the relevant QOL issues for NMSC patients. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of patients presenting to a dermatologic surgery clinic with NMSC of the head and neck. METHODS: For stage I, item generation, a sample of 20 patients with cervicofacial NMSC and six health care providers specializing in the care of NMSC patients completed semistructured interviews. For stage II, item reduction, a second sample (n = 52) of NMSC patients rated the items in terms of their importance for QOL among skin cancer patients. Domains of the FSCI were evaluated in terms of data quality, item variability, internal consistency, and range and skewness of scale score on aggregation and floor and ceiling effects. RESULTS: A total of 71 distinct items were generated in stage I. After using the outlined item reduction techniques in stage II, the FSCI was reduced from 71 to 36 items, representing 6 domains. With the exception of Physical Functioning (alpha = 0.63) that suggested adequate reliability, all subscale scores showed excellent reliability coefficients, with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.78 (Lifestyle) to 0.87 (Social/Family). CONCLUSIONS: A new disease-specific QOL instrument for patients with NMSC of the head and neck has been created. Validation studies are currently underway. Future directions will include sensitivity analysis to determine whether the FSCI is sensitive to change over time among patients undergoing treatment for NMSC.

Adult↗

Predictive factors and outcomes in endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

PURPOSE: To assess objective and quality of life (QOL) outcomes before and after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and to determine preoperative factors that predict surgical outcome in these patients. METHODS: One hundred nineteen adult patients with CRS and a mean follow-up of 1.4 +/- 0.35 years were evaluated prospectively including the following patient factors: prior sinus surgery, polyps, asthma, acetylsalicylic acid intolerance (ASA), smoking, allergy, depression, and sex. Computed tomography (CT), endoscopy, and QOL assessment was performed. Predictive value of patient factors was determined based on change in endoscopy and QOL scores after ESS. RESULTS: Objective outcomes: preoperative CT scores were significantly worse in patients with polyps, asthma, and ASA, whereas CT score was unaffected by prior sinus surgery, smoking, allergy, depression, and sex. Patients with CRS demonstrated significant improvement on nasal endoscopy after ESS, but preoperative, postoperative, and change in scores were affected by certain patient factors. Endoscopy scores were significantly worse in patients with prior sinus surgery, polyps, asthma, and ASA, but these patients also experienced the greatest improvement in endoscopy scores. Smokers and patients with depression had the least change in endoscopy scores. QOL outcomes: patients with CRS experienced improvement in QOL after ESS. Pre- and postoperative QOL was positively affected by polyps and adversely affected by ASA, depression, and female sex, but these groups still experienced significant improvement in QOL scores. Pre- and postoperative QOL was unaffected by prior sinus surgery, asthma, smoking, and allergies, and all of these groups experienced significant improvement in QOL scores. Factors predictive of outcome: ASA and depression were predictive of worse outcome. Preoperative CT scores approached significance as being predictive of outcome. CONCLUSION: Surgical management of CRS was associated with significant improvement on objective and QOL measures; however, specific patient factors, in particular ASA and depression, predict poorer outcome. Preoperative CT may be a predictor of endoscopic and QOL outcome and deserves further study.

Adolescent↗

Decentralization of breast cancer surgery in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Physician volume of at least 15-30 annual breast cancer operations has been associated with higher 5-year survival rates. The authors sought to determine whether surgical volumes for breast cancer in the United States frequently reach this threshold. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of 987 surgeons who operated on 8105 Medicare patients with breast cancer during 1994-1995 in 6 areas in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results tumor registry. The 2-year physician volume of breast cancer operations was estimated among Medicare patients (approximating the on-average annual volumes for patients of all ages) and its association was examined with physician characteristics and with 3 measures of surgical care. RESULTS: The median 2-year Medicare volume for breast cancer surgeons was 6, and 79% of physicians performed < or = 12 operations. Approximately 50% of patients were cared for by physicians who performed < or = 12 operations over 2 years, and 10% of patients were cared for by physicians who performed > or = 30 operations. Surgeon characteristics of age, female gender, general surgery board certification, and academic affiliation were associated with modestly higher volumes of breast cancer surgery. Higher surgeon volumes were associated with higher patient receipt of breast-conserving surgery, testing for hormone receptors, and lymph node dissection during mastectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Most physicians who perform breast cancer surgery perform few annual operations in Medicare patients, and lower volumes are associated with differences in surgical processes of care. Because patients in the Medicare age group comprise almost 50% of all incident breast cancer cases, surgical volumes for patients of all ages also are likely to be low. It is likely that only approximately 10% of patients in the United States are treated by surgeons who performing at least 30 annual operations.

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Quality of life and sun-protective behavior in patients with skin cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether change occurred in the general quality of life (QOL) of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) patients following surgery, to identify variables associated with patients' change in QOL, and to assess the impact of the disease and treatment on sun-protective behaviors and cigarette smoking. DESIGN: Longitudinal prospective study of 121 consecutive patients referred to a dermatologic Mohs surgery clinic with NMSC of the head and neck. INTERVENTIONS: Quality-of-life, smoking habit, and sun-protective behavior assessments were performed before treatment (N=121) and after surgical treatment at 1 (n=105) and 4 (n=101) months. Quality-of-life measures included the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General. RESULTS: Overall, general QOL measures demonstrated little change over time. Only the mental (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey) and emotional (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) domains of QOL showed statistically significant change over time. A 2-way interaction showing effects for age and time on emotional well-being was modified by a 3-way interaction that depended on employment status. Emotional well-being scores for younger employed NMSC patients increased over time compared with scores among younger unemployed patients. In addition, many patients adopted greater use of sun-protective behaviors at 4 months following surgery. No change in cigarette smoking status was evidenced. CONCLUSIONS: Use of sun-protective behaviors increases after treatment. General QOL instruments demonstrate little change following treatment of NMSC. Although the associations are modest, improvements in emotional and mental health well-being following treatment of NMSC were demonstrated, especially for those younger than 65 years and employed. A disease-specific instrument may be necessary to further study this disease process.

Age Factors↗

Menopausal hormone therapy decisions: insights from a multi-attribute model.

A multi-attribute utility (MAU) decision model for menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was developed using structured interviews (n=40) to identify decision factors, and a telephone survey (n=97) to ascertain utility scores. Utility scores for individual factors and composite scores reflecting the HRT decision were compared according to HRT use. Composite utility scores (range of -1.0 to 1.0, with higher values supporting HRT use) were 0.55, -0.27, and -0.19 for the 48 HRT users, 23 former users, and 26 never users, respectively (P<0.0001). Among HRT current users, the main factors supporting use were concerns about heart disease, osteoporosis, and symptoms of menopause. Among former users, side effects weighed heavily against use, and among never users breast cancer concerns weighed heavily against use. Linear regression methods were used to identify the utilities most predictive of current HRT use. The decision model provided insight regarding how personal expectations and values influence HRT use.

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Agreement between scales in the measurement of breast cancer risk perceptions.

The objective of this article is to compare the accuracy and numeric responses of breast cancer risk perception as measured by a frequency scale and percentage scale. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Perceptions of five-year and lifetime breast cancer risk were measured using a frequency and a percentage scale. Estimation error was calculated as the absolute difference between actual breast cancer risk as determined by the Gail model and perceived risk. Agreement between scales was determined by calculating the mean and standard deviation of the difference between numeric responses. The study was conducted among women enrolled in two primary care clinics associated with an academic medical center. Two-hundred-fifty-four participants were recruited from one of the two participating internal medicine clinics. Inclusion criteria included female gender and age 40-84 years. Exclusion criteria included a history of breast cancer, dementia, or a life expectancy of less than two years. The frequency scale was more accurate than the percentage scale in estimating lifetime risk (p= 0.05), but less accurate in estimating five-year risk (p < 0.02). Only 79 participants (31%) were considered consistent scale users, providing identical responses when using the frequency and percentage scale for a given risk estimate. Although the mean difference (percentage-frequency scale) for estimates of breast cancer lifetime risk was only 2.4, the empirically determined 90% limits of agreement between the frequency and percentage scale for lifetime risk were wide, from -30 to 40. Higher numeracy was associated with consistent use of scales (OR 1.61, 95% CI; 1.09-2.37). We report disagreement in breast cancer risk perceptions when measured by a frequency and a percentage scale. The accuracy and direction of bias associated with each scale varies according to the time frame of risk being assessed.

Adult↗

An algorithm for the use of Medicare claims data to identify women with incident breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a clinically informed algorithm that uses solely Medicare claims to identify, with a high positive predictive value, incident breast cancer cases. DATA SOURCE: Population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Tumor Registry data linked to Medicare claims, and Medicare claims from a 5 percent random sample of beneficiaries in SEER areas. STUDY DESIGN: An algorithm was developed using claims from 1995 breast cancer patients from the SEER-Medicare database, as well as 1995 claims from Medicare control subjects. The algorithm was validated on claims from breast cancer subjects and controls from 1994. The algorithm development process used both clinical insight and logistic regression methods. DATA EXTRACTION: Training set: Claims from 7,700 SEER-Medicare breast cancer subjects diagnosed in 1995, and 124,884 controls. Validation set: Claims from 7,607 SEER-Medicare breast cancer subjects diagnosed in 1994, and 120,317 controls. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A four-step prediction algorithm was developed and validated. It has a positive predictive value of 89 to 93 percent, and a sensitivity of 80 percent for identifying incident breast cancer. The sensitivity is 82-87 percent for stage I or II, and lower for other stages. The sensitivity is 82-83 percent for women who underwent either breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy, and is similar across geographic sites. A cohort identified with this algorithm will have 89-93 percent incident breast cancer cases, 1.5-6 percent cancer-free cases, and 4-5 percent prevalent breast cancer cases. CONCLUSIONS: This algorithm has better performance characteristics than previously proposed algorithms. The ability to examine national patterns of breast cancer care using Medicare claims data would open new avenues for the assessment of quality of care.

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Skin cancer and quality of life: assessment with the Dermatology Life Quality Index.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) has been identified as an important outcome in cancer research, yet the most common malignancy among humans, nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), has been poorly studied in this regard. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether change occurred in the QOL of NMSC patients after surgery using a general, validated dermatology QOL instrument: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 121 consecutive patients referred to a dermatologic Mohs surgery clinic with NMSC of the head and neck. QOL assessment was performed using the DLQI before (n=121) and after surgical treatment at 4 months (n=101). RESULTS: QOL scores demonstrated little handicap at initial diagnosis. The total DLQI scores showed little change over time, but an item analysis revealed that 2 of the 10 items demonstrated statistically significant change over time, with QOL improving after treatment-decreased painfulness/itchiness/soreness and less necessity to use concealing clothing. CONCLUSIONS: General dermatology QOL instruments demonstrated minimal handicap at initial diagnosis and little change after treatment of NMSC. Although the associations were modest, improvement in some aspects of well-being after treatment of NMSC was demonstrated. A more disease-specific instrument may be necessary to study this disease process further.

Aged↗

Predictors of pessimistic breast cancer risk perceptions in a primary care population.

OBJECTIVE: To identify sociodemographic characteristics, numeracy level, and breast cancer risk factors that are independently associated with the accuracy of lifetime and 5-year breast cancer risk perceptions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. A probability scale was used to measure lifetime and 5-year risk perceptions. The absolute difference between perceived risk and the Gail model risk of breast cancer was calculated. Linear regression models were built to predict lifetime and 5-year breast cancer risk estimation error. SETTING: Primary care internal medicine practices (N = 2). PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred fifty-four women 40 to 85 years of age. RESULTS: The mean lifetime and 5-year calculated breast cancer risk was 8.4% (SD [standard deviation] 6.1) and 1.5% (SD 1.3), respectively. Subjects had a mean estimation error for lifetime and 5-year risk of 29.5% (SD 22.9) and 24.8% (SD 23.9), respectively. In multivariate analyses, lower numeracy scores (0.005), higher number of previous breast biopsies (0.016), and a higher number of first-degree relatives (0.054) were predictive of larger estimation error for lifetime breast cancer risk. White race (0.014), lower educational levels (0.009), higher number of previous breast biopsies (0.008), and higher number of first-degree relatives (0.014) were predictive of larger estimation error for 5-year risk. CONCLUSION: Among a primary care population, breast cancer risk factors may be more consistently associated with pessimistic perceptions of breast cancer risk than other factors studied during a lifetime and 5-year time span. Primary care physicians should consider counseling patients about individual breast cancer risk factors and risk over time.

Adult↗

Effect of nurse case management on the treatment of older women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of nurse case management on the treatment of older women with breast cancer. DESIGN: Randomized prospective trial. SETTING: Sixty surgeons practicing at 13 community and two public hospitals in southeast Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred thirty-five women (166 control and 169 intervention) aged 65 and older newly diagnosed with breast cancer. INTERVENTION: Women seeing surgeons randomized to the intervention group received the services of a nurse case manager for 12 months after the diagnosis of breast cancer. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the type and use of cancer-specific therapies received in the first 6 months after diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction and arm function on the affected side 2 months after diagnosis. RESULTS: More women in the intervention group received breast-conserving surgery (28.6% vs 18.7%; P=.031) and radiation therapy (36.0% vs 19.0%; P=.003). Of women undergoing breast-conserving surgery, greater percentages in the case management group received adjuvant radiation (78.3% vs 44.8%; P=.001) and axillary dissection (71.4% vs 44.8%; P=.057). Women in the case management group were also more likely to receive more breast reconstruction surgery (9.3% vs 2.6%, P=.054), and women in the case management group with advanced cancer were more likely to receive chemotherapy (72.7% vs 30.0%, P=.057). Two months after surgery, higher percentages of women in the case manager group had normal arm function (93% vs 84%; P=.037) and were more likely to state that they had a real choice in their treatment (82.2% vs 69.9%, P=.020). Women with indicators of poor social support were more likely to benefit from nurse case management. CONCLUSION: Nurse case management results in more appropriate management of older women with breast cancer.

Age Factors↗

Measuring the performance of screening mammography in community practice with Medicare claims data.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the outcomes of screening mammography in community practice, particularly the extent of false positive exams among older asymptomatic women. RESEARCH DESIGN: Subjects were female Medicare beneficiaries, age 67 or older, residing in one of eleven SEER areas, with no evidence of breast cancer. Medicare claims data were used to identify their screening mammograms over two time periods, 1993-1995 and 1996-1998, and to measure their use of follow-up diagnostic testing (diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound and breast biopsy) within three months of the screening mammogram. RESULTS: There were significant differences among the rates of diagnostic testing for each age group (67-74; 75+ ) by year, but no clear trend toward higher or lower rates over time. Although rates of diagnostic testing differed significantly by geographic region in both time periods 1993-1995 and 1996-1998, estimates of specificity for all regions were within AHRQ clinical practice guidelines (specificity greater than 90%). Specificity significantly improved with the volume of the radiologist's practice for the latter time period (1996-1998) but not for the former (1993-1995). CONCLUSION: Medicare claims offer an accessible population-based source of data for mammography performance indicators. As such, they offer a low cost method for evaluating individual mammography practices as well as monitoring the impact of reimbursement policies, practice guidelines and laws mandating requirements for accrediting facilities.

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