Health Disparities News and Research

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Health disparities (also called healthcare inequality in some countries) refer to gaps in the quality of health and health care across racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and socioeconomic groups.

Einstein College's new website features latest information on aging research

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has launched SuperAgers.com, a new website that features the latest information on more than a decade of aging research at Einstein.

2 Nov 2010

New e-SMART-HD program helps improve doctor-patient communications

While many young adults will share the details of their daily lives with friends on Facebook, communicating with their doctors about mental illness is another story. E-SMART-MH, developed at Case Western Reserve University, might improve those communications.

29 Oct 2010

Public and private investment approaches carry potential for eliminating health disparities

According to Dr. Calvin B. Johnson, former PA Secretary of Health, there have been far too few meaningful, public discussions with regard to the substantial economic costs being borne by the U.S., as a result of its lengthy pattern of race – and gender – based health disparities. Johnson is planning to address that issue and the ability to eliminate disparities by investing in businesses, communities, and people, specifically, when he leads a panel, titled “Using Public and Private Equity Investment to Strengthen and Sustain Our Communities: Can we strategically invest our way out of health disparity and into health equity?”, at the Fourth Annual National Conference on Health Disparities, November 12, 2010, at 2:45pm, at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel.

27 Oct 2010

Research finds succimer drug not effective in removing mercury

Succimer, a drug used for treating lead poisoning, does not effectively remove mercury from the body, according to research supported by the National Institutes of Health. Some families have turned to succimer as an alternative therapy for treating autism.

25 Oct 2010

New disease map resource can reduce MRSA infection in hospitalized patients

Gary A. Puckrein, Ph.D., CEO of the National Minority Quality Forum, and Gary Doern, Ph.D., nationally recognized infectious disease expert, will host the launch of the national MRSA Atlas by way of a webinar.

25 Oct 2010

Primary care-based patient navigation can reduce healthcare disparities

A new research study conducted by Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) shows that patient navigation services significantly improve biennial mammography screening rates among inner city women. The results, published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, indicate the importance of patient navigation in reducing health disparities in vulnerable patient populations.

22 Oct 2010

NIH grants $ 3.2 million to promote reproductive science research

Scientists from Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Morgan State University have received a $ 3.2 million National Institutes of Health grant designed to promote racial, ethnic and socio-economic diversity in reproductive science research.

22 Oct 2010

UCLA researchers receive NIH grant to study HIV-positive men from LA County jails

A team of UCLA researchers has received a $4.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study ways to get HIV-positive men who have been released from Los Angeles County jails into medical care and on sustained treatment.

22 Oct 2010

AACR's magazine gives details about immense challenges faced by homeless cancer patients

An article published in the fall 2010 issue of CR, the AACR's magazine for cancer survivors and their families and caregivers, details the immense challenges faced by those who suffer with cancer and lack the necessary resources for proper treatment and care the homeless.

18 Oct 2010

Minnesota Foundation announces collaborative effort to improve health of underserved populations

In a report released this week, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation highlights the accomplishments of a collaborative effort to improve the health of underserved populations through the training and use of community health workers, titled Community health workers in Minnesota: Bridging barriers, expanding access, improving health.

12 Oct 2010

Woman’s socioeconomic status impacts clinicians' decisions for contraception: Study

A woman's race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status impact whether health care providers recommend one of the most highly effective forms of contraception, a UCSF study confirms. The results also indicate that the interaction of both factors plays a role in clinicians' decisions.

12 Oct 2010

Global study finds new set of genes associated with body fat distribution and obesity

Two major international studies looking at data from a quarter of a million people around the globe have found a new set of genes associated with body fat distribution and obesity. Researchers at 280 institutions worldwide, including Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, conducted the studies. The research, published in the October 10 online edition of Nature Genetics, sheds light on the biological processes involved in body fat distribution, possibly leading to new ways of treating obesity.

12 Oct 2010

Study finds link between language barriers and diabetes-related health outcomes

Patients who cannot discuss their diabetes with a doctor in their own language may have poorer health outcomes, even when interpreter services are available, according to a new study by researchers at UCSF and the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research.

7 Oct 2010

Race, ethnicity affect diagnostic delay more than insurance status for women with breast abnormalities

Race and ethnicity appeared to affect diagnostic delay more than insurance status for women with breast abnormalities, as revealed by data presented at the Third American Association for Cancer Research Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, being held Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2010.

5 Oct 2010

Puerto Rican's awarness of genetic testing high, but usage low

Awareness of genetic testing was higher among adults in Puerto Rico compared to previous U.S. population-based studies, while use of genetic testing was lower, according to data presented at the Third AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held Sept. 30 to Oct 3, 2010.

4 Oct 2010

Mind-body intervention effective in treating persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors

A group-based, holistic, mind-body intervention was equally effective in treating persistent fatigue and improving quality of life for breast cancer survivors, regardless of their race.

4 Oct 2010

Cancer patients likely to experience memory impairment: Study

People with a history of cancer have a 40 percent greater likelihood of experiencing memory problems that interfere with daily functioning, compared with those who have not had cancer, according to results of a new, large study.

4 Oct 2010

Vigorous exercise reduces breast cancer risk: Study

Vigorous exercise of more than two hours per week reduces the risk of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal African-American women by 64 percent, compared to women of the same race who do not exercise, according to researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

4 Oct 2010

Environmental smoke exposure increases breast cancer risk among Mexican women

Mexican women who do not smoke but are exposed to smoking, known as environmental smoke exposure, are at three times higher risk for breast cancer than non-smoking women not exposed to passive smoking, according to findings presented at the Third AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, being held Sept. 30-Oct.3, 2010.

4 Oct 2010

Socioeconomic status impacts colorectal cancer incidence

People living in economically deprived neighborhoods were more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage, non-localized colorectal cancer, even after researchers controlled for known colorectal cancer risk factors, according to data presented at the Third American Association for Cancer Research Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, being held Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2010.

4 Oct 2010

Health Disparities News and Research

Further Reading

Einstein College's new website features latest information on aging research

New e-SMART-HD program helps improve doctor-patient communications

Public and private investment approaches carry potential for eliminating health disparities

Research finds succimer drug not effective in removing mercury

New disease map resource can reduce MRSA infection in hospitalized patients

Primary care-based patient navigation can reduce healthcare disparities

NIH grants $ 3.2 million to promote reproductive science research

UCLA researchers receive NIH grant to study HIV-positive men from LA County jails

AACR's magazine gives details about immense challenges faced by homeless cancer patients

Minnesota Foundation announces collaborative effort to improve health of underserved populations

Woman’s socioeconomic status impacts clinicians' decisions for contraception: Study

Global study finds new set of genes associated with body fat distribution and obesity

Study finds link between language barriers and diabetes-related health outcomes

Race, ethnicity affect diagnostic delay more than insurance status for women with breast abnormalities

Puerto Rican's awarness of genetic testing high, but usage low

Mind-body intervention effective in treating persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors

Cancer patients likely to experience memory impairment: Study

Vigorous exercise reduces breast cancer risk: Study

Environmental smoke exposure increases breast cancer risk among Mexican women

Socioeconomic status impacts colorectal cancer incidence

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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