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Biomedical subjects

Kevin Fiscella

Publications and source records attributed to Kevin Fiscella.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Is patient HMO insurance or physician HMO participation related to racial disparities in primary care?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between racial disparities in common primary care procedures and patient HMO membership and physician level of HMO participation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. METHODS: Data were obtained from a nationally representative sample of primary care office visits documented in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1985, 1989-1992, and 1997-2000. Patient HMO membership was assessed based on reports by primary care physicians (defined as family physicians/general practitioners, internists, or obstetrician-gynecologists). Physician HMO participation was assessed based on the proportion of the physician's patients who were in an HMO. Patient characteristics (age, sex, race, insurance, diagnoses) and office procedures or interventions were determined by examining the physician report. Patients were adults aged 19 years or older. RESULTS: In adjusted analyses, African Americans, compared with whites, had lower odds of receiving a Pap test (adjusted odds ratio [AORI = 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.65, .90), a rectal exam (AOR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.54, 0.84), smoking cessation advice (AOR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.58, 0.91), and mental health advice (AOR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.29, 0.72), but had higher odds of receiving advice on diet and weight, and a follow-up appointment. Notably, there were no significant interactions between either patient HMO membership or physician level of HMO participation, patient race, and receipt of primary care services. CONCLUSION: Neither patient HMO membership nor physician level of HMO participation is substantially associated with racial disparities in primary care.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Race, genes and preterm delivery.

High rates of preterm delivery (PTD) among African Americans are the leading cause of excess infant mortality among African Americans. Failure to fully explain racial disparity in PTD has led to speculation that genetic factors might contribute to this disparity. Current evidence suggests that genetic factors contribute to PTD, but this does not imply that genetic factors contribute to racial disparity in PTD. Environmental factors clearly contribute to PTD. Many of these factors acting over a women's life prior to pregnancy disproportionately affect African Americans and contribute significantly to racial disparity in PTD. Thus, inferring genetic contribution to racial disparity in PTD by attempting to control for environmental factors measured at a single point in time is flawed. There is emerging evidence of gene-environment interactions for PTD, some of which disproportionately affect African Americans. There is also evidence of racial differences in the prevalence of polymorphisms potentially related to PTD. However, to date there is no direct evidence that these differences contribute significantly to racial disparity in PTD. Given the complexity of polygenic conditions such as PTD, the possibility of any single gene contributing substantially to racial disparity in PTD seems remote.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2004

Are racial differences in vaginal pH explained by vaginal flora?

OBJECTIVES: The study assessed racial differences in vaginal pH among women without bacterial vaginosis. STUDY DESIGN: Data from the Vaginal Infections and Prematurity (VIP) Study were analyzed. From 1984 to 1989, 13,917 largely low-income women were enrolled during routine prenatal visits from 23 to 26 weeks' gestation. Vaginal cultures, Gram stains, and pH levels were collected. Comparisons of pH by race were made among women with Gram stain scores <7 and without trichomoniasis before and after adjustment for actual Gram stain score. RESULTS: Among women with Gram stain scores <7, there was a modest but statistically significant racial difference in vaginal pH level. However, after controlling for difference in Gram stain score, age, and study site, there was no longer a significant difference in vaginal pH. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in vaginal pH level between black and white women after controlling for differences in confounding factors, particularly vaginal flora.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Estimating racial/ethnic disparity in mammography rates: it all depends on how you ask the question.

BACKGROUND: Estimates of racial disparity in mammography appear to differ depending on the data source. This study examined the impact of different survey methodology on estimates of racial disparity in mammography. METHODS: Responses from 3,090 women > or =40 years to two different questions from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were compared when a mammogram was last obtained versus what medical services, including mammography, were obtained over a 4-month interval, aggregated across 1 year. RESULTS: There was no significant racial disparity in 1-year mammography prevalence based on the first question (white-black difference, 3.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.5, 9.2). In contrast, a significant disparity in 1-year mammography prevalence was found based on the medical services question (difference, 13.1%; 95% CI 8.6, 17.6). Disparity estimates by Hispanic ethnicity were similar for the two questions: white-Hispanic difference, 1.6%; 95% CI -4.3, 7.5, and white-Hispanic difference 5% (-0.2, 10.1). Adjustment for age, income, and insurance did not alter these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Estimates of racial, but not ethnic, disparities in mammography seem to depend on how the question is asked. These results caution against exclusive reliance on annual self-reports for monitoring disparities in preventive care.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Racial disparity in infant and maternal mortality: confluence of infection, and microvascular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: Racial disparities in infant and maternal mortality have been attributed to the unique stresses faced by Black women in the United States, but the underlying pathophysiological pathways are poorly understood. This paper reviews the literature related to potential causes of racial disparities in infant and maternal mortality. METHODS: A review of the literature from 1966 to 2003 was conducted using a series of searches of Medline, obstetrical journals, and bibliographies. The review focused on potential contributing pathophysiological factors to infant and maternal mortality. RESULTS: Racial disparities in neonatal mortality largely result from excess rates of preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and neonatal sepsis while racial disparities in maternal mortality reflect greater prevalence and/or severity of cardiovascular/preeclamptic complications, hemorrhage, and infection among African American women. A large body of epidemiological, placental, and pathophysiological evidence suggests that racial disparities in these disparate outcomes result from two distinct, but potentially converging, pathways: infection and vascular. Racial disparities in intrauterine infection and microvascular dysfunction during pregnancy may result from a constellation of environmental and intergenerational risk factors including psychosocial stress, douching, bottle-feeding, lead exposure, diet, intrauterine growth, and genes. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in infant and maternal mortality appear to reflect a confluence of infections and microvascular dysfunction during pregnancy among African American women. Interventions that target these conditions offer promise for reducing racial disparities in these critical outcomes.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2004

Jail management of arrestees/inmates enrolled in community methadone maintenance programs.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many jails fail to adequately detoxify arrestees/inmates who are enrolled in methadone programs, but there are few empirical data. The objective of this study was to assess how jails manage arrestees/inmates enrolled in methadone programs. A national survey of 500 jails in the United States was conducted. Surveys were mailed to the 200 largest jails in the country in addition to a random sample of 300 of the remaining jails (10% sample). Jails were specifically asked about management of opiate dependency among arrestees/inmates enrolled in methadone programs. Weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess predictors of continuing methadone during incarceration and use of recommended detoxification protocols. Among the 245 (49%) jails that responded, only 1 in 4 (27%) reported they contacted the methadone programs regarding dose, and only 1 in 8 (12%) continued methadone during the incarceration. Very few (2%) jails used methadone or other opiates for detoxification. Most used clonidine. However, half (48%) of jails failed to use clonidine, methadone, or other opiates to detoxify inmates from methadone. Weighted logistic regression models showed that moderately large jails and those located in the South and Midwest were significantly more likely to continue methadone. Very large jails, those with an estimated prevalence of opiate dependence of 6%-10% among arrestees/inmates, and those located in the Northeast were significantly more likely to use recommended detoxification protocols. Very few jails provided continuous treatment to arrested persons on methadone, and half failed to detoxify arrestees/inmates using recommended protocols. These practices jeopardize the health and well-being of persons enrolled in methadone programs and underscore the need for uniform national policies within jails.

Heroin Dependence↗
PubMed2004

Health disparities based on socioeconomic inequities: implications for urban health care.

Health is unevenly distributed across socioeconomic status. Persons of lower income, education, or occupational status experience worse health and die earlier than do their better-off counterparts. This article discusses these disparities in the context of urban medical practice. The article begins with a discussion of the complex relationship among socioeconomic status, race, and health in the United States. It highlights the effects of institutional, individual, and internalized racism on the health of African Americans, including the insidious consequences of residential segregation and concentrated poverty. Next, the article reviews health disparities based on socioeconomic status across the life cycle, beginning in fetal health and ending with disparities among the elderly. Potential explanations for these socioeconomic-based disparities are addressed, including reverse causality (e.g., being poor causes lower socioeconomic status) and confounding by genetic factors. The article underscores social causation as the primary explanation for health disparities and highlights the cumulative effects of social disadvantage across stages of the life cycle and across environments (e.g., fetal, family, educational, occupational, and neighborhood). The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of health disparities for the practice of urban medicine, including the role that concentration of disadvantage plays among patients and practice sites and the need for quality improvement to mitigate these disparities.

Cities↗
PubMed2004

Patient trust: is it related to patient-centered behavior of primary care physicians?

BACKGROUND: Patients' trust in their health care providers may affect their satisfaction and health outcomes. Despite the potential importance of trust, there are few studies of its correlates using objective measures of physician behavior during encounters with patients. METHODS: We assessed physician behavior and length of visit using audio tapes of encounters of 2 unannounced standardized patients (SPs) with 100 community-based primary care physicians participating in a large managed care organization. Physician behavior was assessed via 3 components of the Measure of Patient-Centered Communication (MPCC) scale. The Primary Care Assessment Survey (PCAS) trust subscale was administered to 50 patients from each physician's practice and to SPs. We used multilevel modeling to examine the associations between physicians' Patient-Centered Communication during the SP visits and ratings of trust by both patients and SPs. RESULTS: Component 1 of the MPCC, which explored the patient's experience of the disease and illness, was independently associated with patient's rating of trust in their physician. A I SD increase in this score was associated with 0.08 SD increase in trust (95% confidence interval 0.02-0.14). Each additional minute spent in SP visits was also independently associated with 0.01 SD increase in patient trust. (95% confidence interval 0.0001-0.02). Component 1 and visit length were also positively associated with SP trust ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Physician verbal behavior during an SP encounter is associated with trust reported by SPs and patients. Research is needed to determine whether interventions designed to enhance physicians' exploration patients' experiences of disease and illness improves trust. Key Words: physician-patient relationship, patient-centered care, trust, physician behavior

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Preventive care.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of provider continuity on preventive care among adults who have a regular site of care. DESIGN: Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore whether continuity, categorized as having no regular care, site continuity, or provider continuity, was associated with receipt of 3 preventive care services (influenza vaccination, receipt of a mammogram, and smoking cessation advice), independent of predisposing, need, and enabling factors. PARTICIPANTS: This study examined 42664 persons with private, Medicaid, Medicare, or no health insurance coverage who reported either having no site of care or being seen in a physician's office, HMO, hospital outpatient department, or other health center. SETTING: The 1996/1997 Community Tracking Study (CTS) household survey, a telephone-based survey providing a cross-sectional sample of 60446 U.S. adults aged 18 and older representing the U.S. housed, noninstitutionalized population. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After adjustment for differences in predisposing, enabling, and need factors, site continuity was associated with significant increases of 10.4% in influenza vaccinations (P =.006) and 12.6% in mammography (P =.001), and a nonsignificant increase of 5.6% in smoking cessation advice (P =.13) compared to having no regular site of care. After adjustment for these factors, provider continuity was associated with an additional improvement of 6.0% in influenza vaccinations (P =.01) and 6.2% in mammography (P =.04), and a nonsignificant increase of 2.5% in smoking cessation advice (P =.30) compared to site continuity. CONCLUSIONS: Provider continuity and site continuity are independently associated with receipt of preventive services. Compared to having no regular site of care, having site continuity was associated with increased receipt of influenza vaccination and mammography and, compared to having site continuity, having provider continuity was associated with further increases in the receipt of these two preventive services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Alcohol and opiate withdrawal in US jails.

We sought to estimate the number of arrestees at risk for inadequately treated drug and alcohol withdrawal in US jails. We used Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program data to estimate prevalence rates of alcohol and opiate dependence. Our results revealed rates of alcohol and opiate dependency among arrestees of approximately 12% and 4%, respectively; only 28% of jail administrators reported that their institutions had ever detoxified arrestees. Inadequately treated drug and alcohol withdrawal in US jails appears widespread. Our data raise important ethical and constitutional questions.

Alcohol-Related Disorders↗
PubMed2003

Low-dose mifepristone for uterine leiomyomata.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of 5 and 10 mg of mifepristone on uterine leiomyoma size and symptoms, and to measure side effects. METHODS: Forty premenopausal women with large, symptomatic leiomyomata were randomized to receive either 5 or 10 mg of mifepristone daily for 6 months in an open-label study. Uterine volume was measured at bimonthly intervals by sonography. Serum concentrations of hemoglobin levels, follicle-stimulating hormone, and liver enzymes were obtained, and endometrial samples, symptoms, and menstrual bleeding were also assessed. RESULTS: Nineteen of 20 subjects taking 5 mg and all 20 subjects taking 10 mg completed all 6 months of the study. Mean uterine volume shrank by 48% (P <.001) in the 5-mg group and 49% (P <.001) in the 10-mg group, a nonsignificant difference. Leiomyoma-related symptoms were comparably reduced in both groups. Amenorrhea occurred in 60-65% of both groups. Hemoglobin levels increased by 2.5 g/dL in anemic subjects. The incidence of hot flashes increased significantly over baseline in the 10-mg group but not in the 5-mg group. Simple endometrial hyperplasia occurred in 28% of all subjects, with no difference between groups. No atypical hyperplasia was noted. CONCLUSION: Mifepristone in doses of 5 mg or 10 mg results in comparable leiomyoma regression, improvement in symptoms, and few side effects. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of low-dose mifepristone.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Sociodemographics, self-rated health, and mortality in the US.

Using data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey, a representative sample of US civilians, and their 5-year mortality, we examined the adjusted relationships among baseline self-reported health, derived from SF-20 subscales (health perceptions, physical function, role function and mental health) and sociodemographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, income and education) and subsequent mortality. Included were 21,363 persons aged 21 and over, with complete follow-up on 19,812. Physical function showed the greatest decline with age, whereas mental health increased slightly. Women reported lower health for all scales except role function. Greater income was associated with better health, least marked for mental health. Greater education was associated with better health, most marked for health perceptions. Compared with whites, blacks reported lower health, whereas Latinos reported higher health. Lower self-reported health predicted increased adjusted mortality. After adjustment for baseline self-rated health, the relationships between income and education and mortality were greatly attenuated, whereas the relationships between age, gender, race/ethnicity and mortality were not. Self-rated health exhibited more profound relationships with mortality in younger persons, those with more education, and whites. In conclusion, lower socioeconomic status (SES), and being black are associated with lower reported health status and higher mortality; women report lower health status but exhibit lower mortality; and Latinos report higher health status and exhibit lower mortality. The effects of SES on mortality are largely explained by their associations with self-rated health, whereas, the effects of gender and race/ethnicity on mortality appear to act through independent pathways. Because of these differential sociodemographic relationships caution is urged when using self-rated health measures in research, clinical, and policy settings.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2003

Effects of patient and physician practice socioeconomic status on the health care of privately insured managed care patients.

BACKGROUND: Previous research shows that patient socioeconomic status (SES) affects health care, but little is known about the relative effects of patient and physician practice SES among privately insured patients. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of patient and physician practice SES on prevention, disease management, utilization, and cost expenditures. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analyses of claims data. SUBJECTS: Primary care physicians (568) and their adult managed care organization patients (437,743) in the Rochester, New York, area. MEASURES: Pap smears, mammograms, glycohemoglobins, and eye examinations for diabetics, physician visits, referrals, hospitalizations, costs standardized expenditures (diagnostic testing, office visits, and total), patient zip code-based SES, and physician practice SES (mean SES of patients in practice). RESULTS: After adjustment, lower SES patients had lower compliance with Pap smears, mammograms, and diabetic eye exams, and were less likely to have a referral or make any office visit, but were more likely to be hospitalized, and generated higher testing standardized expenditures. Lower physician practice SES was associated with lower adjusted Pap, mammogram, and glycohemoglobin compliance, lower office visit standardized expenditures, but higher diagnostic testing and total standardized expenditures. Patient SES effects were stronger for mammography, whereas physician practice SES effects were stronger for diagnostic testing costs. For the utilization indicators, the SES effects on utilization exhibited a linear gradient, whereas there was a threshold effect for costs. CONCLUSIONS: Patient and practice SES are independently associated with care among privately insured patients. These effects are not confined to the poorest patients but span the entire socioeconomic spectrum. Interventions to address these disparities need to be broad-based, but should also address the needs of practices with predominantly lower SES patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Risk of preterm birth that is associated with vaginal douching.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between vaginal douching and preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN: We enrolled hospitalized women after delivery in a case-control study. Women who were delivered of a live preterm singleton infant were assigned as cases. Women who were delivered at term were randomly selected as control subjects. We surveyed women about their douching habits and risk factors for preterm birth and abstracted data from the records. RESULTS: After adjustment, vaginal douching within 6 months of pregnancy was not significantly associated with preterm birth (odds ratio, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.6). However, in secondary analyses, douching more than once per week (odds ratio, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.0-15.5) or longer than 10 years (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.2) was associated with preterm birth. CONCLUSION: Vaginal douching does not appear to be a strong risk factor for preterm birth. Further study is needed to confirm the risk that is associated with frequent or long-term douching.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Disparities in health care by race, ethnicity, and language among the insured: findings from a national sample.

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic disparities in health care have been well documented, but poorly explained. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of access barriers, including English fluency, on racial and ethnic disparities in health care. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the Community Tracking Survey (1996-1997). SUBJECTS: Adults 18 to 64 years with private or Medicaid health insurance. MEASURES: Independent variables included race, ethnicity, and English fluency. Dependent variables included having had a physician or mental health visit, influenza vaccination, or mammogram during the past year. RESULTS: The health care use pattern for English-speaking Hispanic patients was not significantly different than for non-Hispanic white patients in the crude or multivariate models. In contrast, Spanish-speaking Hispanic patients were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic white patients to have had a physician visit (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.72-0.83), mental health visit (RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.32-0.76), or influenza vaccination (RR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.15-0.52). After adjustment for predisposing, need, and enabling factors, Spanish-speaking Hispanic patients showed significantly lower use than non-Hispanic white patients across all four measures. Black patients had a significantly lower crude relative risk of having received an influenza vaccination (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58-0.87). Adjustment for additional factors had little impact on this effect, but resulted in black patients being significantly less likely than non-Hispanic white patients to have had a visit with a mental health professional (RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.37-0.55). CONCLUSIONS: Among insured nonelderly adults, there are appreciable disparities in health-care use by race and Hispanic ethnicity. Ethnic disparities in care are largely explained by differences in English fluency, but racial disparities in care are not explained by commonly used access factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Effect of patient socioeconomic status on physician profiles for prevention, disease management, and diagnostic testing costs.

BACKGROUND: Previous research shows patient socioeconomic status (SES) affects physician profiles for health status and satisfaction, but effects on other aspects of care are not known. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of patient SES on physician profiles for preventive care, disease management, and diagnostic testing costs. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a managed care claims data. SUBJECTS: Five hundred sixty-eight physicians and 600,618 patients. MEASURES: Patient age, gender, case-mix, and SES based on zip code, likelihood of having a Papanicolaou smear, mammogram, for diabetics having had a glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetic eye exam, and diagnostic testing costs. RESULTS: For each performance indicator, except glycosylated hemoglobin, there was a statistically significant effect of adjusting for patient SES. For diabetic eye checks, mammograms and Papanicolaou tests respectively, 5%, 16%, and 21% of physicians who were outliers (in the top or bottom 5% of rankings) were no longer outliers after socioeconomic adjustment. For all performance measures the change in physician ranking was strongly correlated with the mean practice SES. CONCLUSIONS: Patient SES, as measured by zip code, appreciably affects physician profiles for preventive care and diabetes management. Monitoring patient SES using patient zip codes could be used to target resources to improve outcomes for higher risk patients.

Adult↗