ONS Connect - June 2008 - (Page 7)

EDITOR’SNOTE All Nurses Can Address Disparities in Their Communities [By Debra M. Wujcik, RN, PhD, AOCN®, Editor] I Debra M. Wujcik, RN, PhD, AOCN ®, Editor Every nurse has the ability and opportunity to address disparities for the patients being cared for in his or her practice setting and community. t is well documented that cancer disparities exist at many levels. An unequal burden of cancer deaths is found in African American women, who are 35% more likely to die from breast cancer, and Native American women, who are 1.9 times more likely to die from cervical cancer than their Caucasian counterparts. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (2007), Hispanic women are 2.2. times more likely than non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Asian and Pacific Islander men and women have higher incidence and death rates for liver and stomach cancer than Caucasian men and women. Lack of insurance creates a disparity in access to cancer screening services. Uninsured women have lower utilization rates than insured women for common screening tests: Pap test within the past three years (62% versus 82%), mammogram within the past two years (38% versus 70%), and colorectal screening (18% versus 38%). Uninsured men obtain colorectal screening less often than insured men (20% versus 41%) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006). Several resources are available to help you better identify and understand the disparities in your own community and state. You can find state-specific information from your State Office of Minority Health, located through the Office of Minority Health Resource Center (www .omhrc.gov/images/stateliaisons.htm). Each state’s cancer profile is available at Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. (Plan, Link, Act, Network With EvidenceBased Tools), a link to resources for cancer control for health professionals (www.cancercontrolplanet.cancer.gov). The National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program’s Web site lists the contact information and comprehensive cancer control plan for each state at www.cdc.gov/cancer/ncccp. This month, Contributing Editor Robin M. Lally, PhD, RN, BA, AOCN®, CNS, interviewed two ONS members who report progress in reducing disparities in their communities through education and screening programs targeted toward minority and underserved populations. In addition, Usha Menon, PhD, RN, describes her work testing culturally appropriate and relevant educational messages designed to increase understanding and participation in regular cancer screening. The unequal burden of cancer is not a simple problem with easy solutions. But every nurse has the ability and opportunity to address disparities for the patients being cared for in his or her practice setting and community. I hope you will use the resources provided by ONS and cited in this month’s issue of ONS Connect to do your part. ✱ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). Reducing cancer disparities. Retrieved May 19, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/ cancer/healthdisparities/basic_info/disparities .htm U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. (2007). Hispanic/Latino profile. Retrieved May 19, 2008, from http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/browse .aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=54 June 2008 ONS CONNECT 7 http://www.cancercontrolplanet.cancer.gov http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ncccp http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/healthdisparities/basic_info/disparities.htm http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/healthdisparities/basic_info/disparities.htm http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/healthdisparities/basic_info/disparities.htm http://www.omhrc.gov/images/stateliaisons.htm http://www.omhrc.gov/images/stateliaisons.htm http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=54 http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=54

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ONS Connect - June 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In They Have a Dream A Year in the Life—Month Six Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Manage Skin Toxicities Associated With EGFR Inhibitors Blood Test for Ovarian Cancer May Be 99 Percent Accurate Calendar of Events Working For You Staying On Top

ONS Connect - June 2008

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