Racial gaps in lung cancer surgery

A new study published in JAMA found that black patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer were less inclined to have surgery than whites because they did not connect well with their doctors.

Researchers analysed data from 386 lung cancer patients in Carolina and found that only 55% of black patients had surgery compared to 66% of white patients. They found that many black patients misunderstood their prognosis or did not feel comfortable enough to discuss with their doctors treatment options and outcomes. Black patients were also less likely to have other sources of support.

The authors said that there are many barriers to improving the disparities but doctors and hospitals can work on the negative perceptions of patient-physician communications and spend more time with patients about their treatment options.

Source: "Factors Associated With Decisions to Undergo Surgery Among Patients With Newly Diagnosed Early-Stage Lung Cancer". JAMA, 2010; 303 (23): 2368-2376

Racial differences in care after heart attack

A large study published in the June 13 issue of JAMA has found that black Medicare patients are less likely than white patients to receive blood vessel opening procedures following a heart attack, whether they are admitted to hospitals that provide or do not provide these procedures, but also have higher mortality rates after 1 year.

The authors suggest that "efforts to standardize post-AMI treatment with evidence-based protocols and aggressive risk-factor management are essential to eliminating racial differences in care for AMI and other coronary syndromes."

Read the press release "Black patients less likely to receive certain coronary procedures following heart attack and have higher mortality rates one year later"