Featured Research
This page features research conducted by RAND Health research staff that has been published in a scholarly journal.Do Variations in Provider Discussions Explain Socioeconomic Disparities in Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction?
Greenberg CC, Schneider EC, Lipsitz SR, Ko CY, Malin JL, Epstein AM, Weeks JC, Kahn KL. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, [Epub Feb 1 2008], Vol. 206, No. 4, April 2008, pp. 605-615.
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Background
The use of postmastectomy reconstruction varies with socioeconomic status, but the etiology of these variations is not understood. We investigated whether these differences reflect variations in the rate or qualitative aspects of the provider's discussion of reconstruction as an option.
Study Design
Data were collected through chart review and patient survey for stages I to III breast cancer patients during the National Initiative on Cancer Care Quality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of reconstruction and discussion of reconstruction as an option. Predictors of not receiving reconstruction despite a documented discussion were also determined.
Results
There were 253 of 626 patients who received reconstruction (40.4%). Younger, more educated Caucasian women who were not overweight or receiving postmastectomy radiation were more likely to receive reconstruction. Patients who were younger, more educated, and not receiving postmastectomy radiation were more likely to have a documented discussion of reconstruction. If a discussion was documented, patients who were older, Hispanic, not born in the US, and received postmastectomy radiation were less likely to receive reconstruction. The greatest predictor of reconstruction was medical record documentation of a discussion about reconstruction.
Conclusions
We observed disparities in the likelihood of reconstruction that were at least partially explained by differences in the likelihood that reconstruction was discussed. But there were also differences in the likelihood of reconstruction based on age, race, and radiation once discussions occurred. Efforts to increase and improve discussions about reconstruction may decrease disparities for this procedure.
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