Supporting Southern Research Program to bring genetics-driven health insights to Alabama free of charge to address healthcare disparities
Author: Disparity Matters
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals a troubling trend in hospital admission notes, where language expressing doubt about patient-reported clinical histories is more prevalent for non-Hispanic Black patients compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. The research, conducted at a large academic health system in the Northeast United States, analyzed 54,936 admission notes from 1,249 clinicians over a five-year period. The study found that 71% of all admission notes contained what researchers termed “doubt language” – words or phrases that cast uncertainty on a patient’s reported symptoms, experiences, or health behaviors. Alarmingly, notes about non-Hispanic Black patients had 21%…
Addressing obesity-related health disparities by tracking how frequently people visit locations that influence physical activity and food choices
Working to ensure presentation of all human brains in scientific studies
A new perspective article suggests that skin pigmentation could play a significant role in how effectively medications work, potentially leading to unintended health disparities among people with different skin tones. Researchers Simon Groen and Sophie Zaaijer argue that melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color, may act as a “sponge” for certain drugs, affecting their bioavailability and efficacy. The study, published in the journal Human Genomics, raises alarming questions about the standard dosing practices in the pharmaceutical industry. Groen, an assistant professor at the University of California, Riverside, states, “Melanin’s implications for drug safety and dosing have been largely overlooked, raising…
Launching mobile mammography to bring screening to underserved communities in Oakland
In a stark reminder of the health disparities that persist in the United States, Indigenous women are encountering significant obstacles in accessing and receiving breast cancer care. This issue, highlighted by the experiences of women like Nicole Hallingstad, a member of the Tlingit and Haida Native Indian Tribes of Alaska, underscores the complex interplay of cultural, geographic, and systemic factors that impact healthcare delivery to Native American communities. Hallingstad’s journey with breast cancer illuminates the unique challenges faced by Indigenous women. These barriers often begin with limited access to screening facilities, particularly in rural and remote areas where many Native American…
Producing bilingual physicians to provide equitable healthcare access to Spanish-speaking patients
A recent study has uncovered significant health disparities in mortality rates from gastrointestinal diseases across different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The research, conducted by Mayo Clinic and North Dakota State University, reveals that Native Americans, specifically those designated as “American Indian and Alaska Native,” experience the highest mortality rates from digestive system diseases. Dr. Wafa Aldhaleei, Mayo Clinic Advanced Motility Fellow and first author of the study, emphasized the critical nature of these findings. “Our findings revealed that Native people experienced the highest mortality rates from diseases affecting the digestive system, particularly among females, which highlights a…
A recent survey reveals alarming trends in mental health disparities among Asian Americans in California. According to the 2023 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, Asian adults experienced a significant increase in severe social impairment due to emotional issues, rising from 7.2% in 2019 to 8.9% in 2023. This trend is part of a broader pattern of health inequities affecting various racial and ethnic groups across the state. While the overall proportion of adults reporting serious psychological distress was returning to pre-pandemic levels, this improvement was not consistent across all demographics. The survey also…