Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
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Increasing social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities may not translate to parity in health care access and health outcomes. Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) may continue to contribute to differences in preventive health behavior including cancer screening. Our purpose was to estimate the independent effect of SOGI on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening adherence. ⋯ SOGI can affect cancer screening adherence. Bisexual individuals had worse health care access and socioeconomic hardships among sexual and gender minorities. Given the independent effects of social determinants of health on cancer screening adherence, more attention needs to be paid to sexual and gender minorities, especially bisexual population.
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Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States across all races and ethnicities, but it does not affect everyone equally. Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, experience two to four times greater lung cancer mortality in part due to high rates of smoking, delays in cancer diagnosis, and inequities in cancer treatment. ⋯ Given disparities in other cancer screening modalities, these rates are likely to be even lower among individuals with SMI. This article provides a brief overview of current challenges in lung cancer screening and describes a pilot collaboration between radiology and psychiatry that has potential to improve access to lung cancer screening for individuals with serious mental illness.
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The aim of this study was to measure diagnostic imaging safety events reported to an electronic safety reporting system and assess steps at which they occurred within the diagnostic imaging workflow and contributing sociotechnical factors. ⋯ Safety events were related to diagnostic imaging in 7% of reported events. Potential harm occurred primarily during imaging procedure and result communication. Safety events were attributed to multifactorial sociotechnical factors. Further work is necessary to decrease safety events related to diagnostic imaging.
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Studies have shown that having a baseline mammogram, the first screening mammogram, available for comparison at the time of interpreting a subsequent mammogram significantly decreases the potential of a false-positive examination. Our aim was to evaluate knowledge of and perception about the significance of baseline mammograms in those women undergoing screening mammography. ⋯ In a group of educated women who routinely get mammograms, almost one-half had not heard the term baseline mammogram. Furthermore, most women did not think baseline mammography was important for decreasing associated cost, time, and discomfort due to mammograms incorrectly read as abnormal. This study suggests that efforts to improve women's understanding of baseline mammograms and their importance are warranted, with greatest opportunity for health care providers and radiologists.