Women’s health has always been a hot topic for many. For years, they’ve had to fight to have access to certain procedures and basic care needs met. Layer in that despite all the advancements in technology, Latinas still experience disparities in follow-up care. A research study found that women of color are less likely to get same-day notification if a mammogram is abnormal.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Radiology, cited there was a clear notification discrepancy with Latinas, Black women, and Asian women as opposed to Caucasian women.
Researchers reviewed mammogram data from over 1.1 million women from 2010 to 2020
A team of researchers, led by Dr. Marissa Lawson, analyzed mammography records of women aged 40 to 89. They pulled information from 136 United States-based medical facilities between January 2010 and December 2020.
The University of Washington cites that Lawson found that the disparities weren’t caused by a lack of available technologies for patients.
Lawsone explains, “We’re looking at how the diagnostic workup process might contribute to the population disparities we see with breast-cancer outcomes. It was surprising to find similar availability (of technologies) across racial and ethnic groups. But we still saw big differences in who was getting those same-day services.”
They analyzed several variables: race, ethnicity, neighborhood-level educational attainment, household income, and rurality.
Researchers also took into account the participant’s age, screening modality, facility academic affiliation, screening examination year, breast density, biopsy history, and family history.
They reviewed data from 1,123,177 women who collectively underwent 3,519,502 mammogram screening examinations during that time.
Within that amount, about 10.3% were Asian patients (roughly 362,440).
About 12.7% were Black patients (447,777) and about 6.5% were Latina/Hispanic patients (227,177). Caucasian patients lead by an overwhelming majority of 68.3% (2,403,159).
Remaining ethnicities topped off the data group at about 2.2% (78,949).
Latinas and Hispanic women were 39% less likely to receive same-day follow-up if abnormalities were present
In addition to Latinas, 44% of Black women experienced disparities. The study found 26% of Asian women were also less likely to receive same-day follow-up services.
They also cited was how patients living in low-income neighborhoods were 58% less likely to get same-day follow-ups. However, women in rural areas had a higher likelihood (51%) of receiving same-day follow-up than urban dwellers.
Lawson also notes that ensuring same-day follow-ups can help patients overall.
“If you’re able to do a diagnostic workup on the same day, instead of making them wait to schedule a follow-up visit — which might create a headache with work or transportation — that’s better for the patient,” she’s quoted by the University of Washington.
She continues, “And if treatment is advised based on imaging and biopsy, we should do all we can to shorten the time between screening and treatment (for those diagnosed with breast cancer).”
