Race linked to increased treatment interruptions among women with gynecologic cancer
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Black women undergoing treatment for gynecologic cancer reported significantly higher levels of race-associated stress compared with white women, according to study results.
The results, presented during Society of Gynecologic Oncology 2022 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, also showed that the racism Black women experienced resulted in increased treatment interruptions, longer time to treatment initiation and longer treatment interruptions.
Rationale and methods
It is known that racism contributes to psychological and physical stress among Black individuals receiving care within the U.S. health care system.
For this reason, researchers sought to examine whether increased race-based stress had an association with treatment interruptions among 72 women (mean age, 60.6 years; 68.1% Black; 29.2% white; 2.8% Hispanic) attending visits for gynecologic cancer treatment or surveillance at a single institution. Enrolled women completed a brief health history and the Index of Race-Related Stress-Brief (IRRS-B) questionnaire.
Researchers used a one-sided Wilcoxon rank-sum test to examine the link between IRRS-B scores in women with and without treatment interruptions; a one-sided Spearman’s correlation test to determine whether increased IRRS-B score had an association with increased length of treatment interruption and/or increased time to treatment initiation; and Kruskal-Wallis tests to examine the significance between race-related stress and multiple variables, including race, cancer stage, insurance, social support and concern.
Key findings
Results showed Black women had a significantly higher median IRRS-B score compared with white women (38 vs. 10; false discovery rate-adjusted P < .001).
Researchers additionally found that the 18.1% of women who experienced treatment interruption (median length, 7 days) had a higher likelihood of reporting increased race-related stress than women without treatment interruptions (median IRRS-B scores, 46 vs. 27; P = .023).
The investigators observed a significant moderate positive association between IRRS-B score and length of treatment interruption (correlation coefficient, 0.573; P = .02).
All women had a median time to treatment initiation of 21 days, and researchers reported a significant weak positive correlation between IRRS-B score and time to treatment initiation (correlation coefficient, 0.226; P = .035).
Implications
“Our study demonstrates the toll of racism experienced by Black women with gynecologic cancer affects their standard cancer care,” Ebony R. Hoskins, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center, said in a press release. “Expanded studies are needed to examine race-related stress and its possible contribution to worse clinical outcomes in these Black patients. With further understanding, we can work toward solutions for more equitable cancer care.”
References:
Alvarez A, et al. Abstract 16. Presented at: Society of Gynecologic Oncology 2022 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer (hybrid meeting); March 18-21, 2022; Phoenix.
Race associated with treatment interruptions and higher prevalence and urgency of social needs among gynecologic cancer patients. Available at: https://www.newswise.com/articles/race-associated-with-treatment-interruptions-and-higher-prevalence-and-urgency-of-social-needs-among-gynecologic-cancer-patients. Published March 11, 2022. Accessed March 23, 2022.
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Alvarez A, et al. Abstract 16. Presented at: Society of Gynecologic Oncology 2022 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer (hybrid meeting); March 18-21, 2022; Phoenix.
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