J Natl Med Assoc
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HIV disproportionately affects Black/African American women in the United States, particularly in the southern states, including Tennessee. Despite this, limited research and intervention are targeting this population, especially regarding biomedical prevention technologies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This study aims to describe the HIV testing history of a sample of Black women in middle Tennessee, assess their awareness and potential for adopting modern HIV prevention technologies like PrEP, and explore the dyadic and social factors that influence their HIV prevention awareness and use. ⋯ Age significantly influenced HIV testing history, emphasizing the importance of regular screening, especially among older women. Dyadic factors such as concurrency and having a shared male partner were associated with differences in testing behavior. Awareness of both rapid HIV testing and PrEP was limited among participants, highlighting the need for increased education and awareness campaigns specifically highlighting benefits to Black women. Social norms, particularly recommendations from healthcare providers, played a crucial role in influencing women's willingness to adopt these prevention technologies. [Increasing routine HIV testing and awareness of PrEP, especially among women in non-monogamous relationships, is essential in reducing HIV disparities among Black women.] IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare providers play a crucial role in initiating and recommending HIV testing and PrEP among Black women, emphasizing the importance of patient-provider relationships and ongoing conversations about prevention strategies. This study underscores the importance of community-engaged research in addressing HIV disparities and highlights the potential for partnerships between medical centers and community organizations in the fight against HIV.
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With increasing prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs), there is a need to provide appropriate management. Several studies have suggested that minorities in the United States have limited access to non-invasive imaging leading to increased presentation of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages (aSAHs). Given our medical institution's commitment to ensuring racial equality within our health care system, we chose to analyze our practice to assess the utilization of care provided by our neuroendovascular team. We hypothesized that given our diverse neuroendovascular care team along with our dedication to equity in healthcare, that we would find no difference in care provided to minority patients versus white patients who presented with UIAs. ⋯ Building a diverse neuroendovascular physician team with intentionality to equity in healthcare, and providing appropriate funding and resources to facilities used by marginalized populations, such as safety-net institutions, can mitigate minority patients' limited access to intracranial aneurysmal care.
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Research has shown chronic diseases can be associated with suicide but there is limited data on suicide in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Given the substantial psychosocial, financial, quality of life, and health impact of CVD, we aimed to study suicide-related mortality in CVD. ⋯ PSrM in CVD peaked in the early 2010s, with varying differences across sex, racial/ethnic, and age groups. Further research is needed to understand disparities and develop preventive strategies.
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INTRODUCTION: Cancer causes significant morbidity and mortality in the United States. It is the second most common cause of death in the United States, after heart disease. African Americans are disproportionately affected by malignancy, with overall higher death rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Screening tests can identify early stage malignancy allowing for timely intervention. However, African Americans less frequently undergo cancer screening. Advancement in genomic technology has led to the identification of signals for cancer in the blood. This has resulted in the development of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests which evaluate for circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA). This study evaluated physicians' perception of the use of a multi-cancer early detection test (MCED). ⋯ This is one of the largest surveys to assess physicians' perceptions about MCED testing and is the first study to evaluate the perspectives of African American physicians. It offers insight about physician acceptance and potential incorporation of MCED into clinical practice. It is important that a multifaceted approach is employed to improve cancer outcomes and reduce disparities in survival. MCED tests, a relatively new advancement in genomic technology, have the potential to be an important component in cancer screening strategies.