The American journal of managed care
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To evaluate the ability of initial medication dispensings to predict long-term patterns of adherence. ⋯ Initial filling behavior strongly predicted future adherence trajectory. Predicting adherence trajectories may facilitate better targeting of interventions to patients most likely to benefit.
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Observational Study
Targeting a high-risk group for fall prevention: strategies for health plans.
Although Medicare has implemented incentives for health plans to reduce fall risk, the best way to identify older people at high risk of falling and to use screening results to target fall prevention services remains unknown. We evaluated 4 different strategies using a combination of administrative data and patient-reported information that health plans could easily obtain. ⋯ The combination of administrative data and a simple screening item can be used by health plans to target patients at high risk for future fall-related injuries.
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Observational Study
Socioeconomic disparities across ethnicities: an application to cervical cancer screening.
Our aim is to investigate socioeconomic disparities in cervical cancer screening utilization among and between ethnic groups in the United States. ⋯ Uptake of cervical cancer screening is common in the United States, with large socioeconomic disparities also evident. Those from lower socioeconomic or uninsured groups who are most likely to have, and to die from, cervical cancer, are least likely to use preventive screening. Disparities differ across ethnic groups and are greatest amongst white women. Incorporating organized screening may serve to improve both the systems efficiency and address disparities between and within groups.