Strategies to improve breast cancer care in vulnerable populations. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Veluswamy, Rajwanth R; Kinberg, Eliezer C; Bickell, Nina A
• Is Part Of: Breast cancer management. Volume 2:Number 5(2013)
• Page Start: 431
• Page End: 439
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: Breast -- Cancer -- Periodicals; Breast -- Cancer -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.9944905
• DOI: 10.2217/bmt.13.42
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-1923

Abstract

SUMMARY Despite remarkable medical progress in breast cancer detection and treatment, racial and socioeconomic disparities in care continue. To eliminate these inequities in care, a multilevel approach to effectively address individual- and population-based barriers is required. Patient-centered interventions, including patient navigators, have proven valuable by improving diagnostic resolution rates and times. System-level interventions providing organizational changes are effective in increasing follow-up adherence and improving standardization of care. Ultimately, to sustain these efforts requires policy changes with far-reaching potential to increase healthcare coverage and access to these resources. As these changes go into effect, ongoing monitoring of disparity trends and continued redress of remediable causes is critical.