Gaps in Gastric Cancer Risk Factor Management: Analysis of Electronic Health Data and Provider/Patient Perspectives
Abstract
Latinos are becoming a larger proportion of the U.S. population. They are at high risk for cancer, which is their number one killer as of 2012. Gastric cancer occurs more often among Latinos than whites, and in Texas it is diagnosed at younger ages and more advanced stages. Gastric cancer was also the eighth leading cause of Latina cancer deaths in 2015. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterial infection that increases gastric cancer risk, is also very common among Latinos, but how well stomach disorders related to it (like gastritis and some ulcers) are diagnosed and treated is not known. This project will look at relationships between Latino H. pylori infection and gastric cancer risk relative to non-Hispanic whites and examine contributions of other factors like behaviors, environment, and social status. My long-term goal is to become a leader in the field of health services research (HSR), with a main focus on gastrointestinal cancer prevention in the outpatient clinic setting. This award will help me develop skills in HSR, while at the same time advancing knowledge of effective gastric cancer prevention strategies in Latinos. This research, though targeted at Latinos, has the potential to help other under-represented minorities who suffer from high rates of H. pylori and gastric cancer, like Native Americans, to lead healthier lives, with fewer hospitalizations and procedures related to stomach disorders and cancer. The long-term research goal is to develop decision tools that can be used in the clinic to speed up access to and effectiveness of gastric cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in underserved populations. The timeframe for development and testing of such tools is 5 to 10 years, including the 3 years covered by this award. The results of this study will provide proof of the need for health care policies that are more population-specific and patient-centered, not "one size fits all." These include using more effective antibiotics against H. pylori. As Latinos make up larger proportions of the U.S. population, more are also joining the ranks of active duty military and Veterans. They need to stay healthy in order to do their jobs and raise their families. This study will examine ways to improve healthcare for H. pylori-related illnesses that cause a lot of pain and disability (gastric disorders) and may help prevent gastric cancer in Latinos.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 16, 2019
- Source ID
- W81XWH1910215
Entities
People
- Dorothy Long Parma
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio