Research on ethnicity, identity, and health. Covers code-switching, traditional health practices, immigration and disease, and patient communication.
A large-scale ethnically diverse genetic study has identified more regions of the genome linked to blood glucose and insulin levels, contributing to type 2 diabetes risk. The study found that including different multi-ethnic participants yields more and better results than conducting research in Europeans alone.
Researchers discovered a molecular mechanism that alters immune response to infection in Gouin children, but not in Fulani children. The study's findings could lead to better malarial therapeutic interventions and vaccine responsiveness in populations.
A model for broaching these issues is described, involving joining, assessment, preparation, and delivery steps. The model provides a framework for counselors to address client concerns about racial, ethnic, and cultural topics.
Researchers found two gene variants associated with an increased risk of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in African American women. The ANKLE1 gene variant is protective against TNBC, but a version found in African Americans may be oncogenic. A mutation in the Duffy gene also increases TNBC risk in African American women.
Research shows that Native Americans and Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence of migraine and headache disorders, while Black men receive the least care. The article proposes solutions to address these disparities through clinical strategies, professional training, and research initiatives.
African American families living in public housing face unique challenges that contribute to high rates of suicidal behavior among young people. The study suggests that culturally tailored interventions delivered within public housing communities could be effective in preventing suicides.
A recent study by Oregon Health & Science University found that people of color are more than twice as likely to die after a traumatic brain injury compared to white patients. The researchers analyzed over a decade of data and attributed the disparity to underlying social determinants such as diet, lifestyle, and access to healthcare.
Over 50 years of progress in women's health has seen significant improvements in access to healthcare and survivorship. However, maternal death rates remain high, particularly among African American women, and intersectional health disparities persist.
A new study finds that plastic surgeons' apparent gender and ethnicity can influence patient perceptions of their competence. However, the findings suggest more favorable perceptions of surgeons of the same racial/ethnic group, which may be crucial for cosmetic surgery patients in the US.
A study examining racial and ethnic representation among academic medicine departmental chairs found that people of color comprised just 3% of the positions between 1980 and 2019. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights a persistent diversity gap in academic leadership.
A University of Minnesota Medical School study found that COVID-19 outcomes are worse for racial and ethnic groups in the Twin Cities, independent of socioeconomic status. Non-English speaking also contributes to worse outcomes, according to the research.
New research published in CMAJ found Indigenous peoples in Canada experience higher rates of complications after surgery, lower surgery rates, and longer wait times for life-saving procedures. The study highlights the need for better data collection methods and real-time outcome monitoring to address structural racism in healthcare.
A new study finds that non-Hispanic African American women with triple-negative breast cancer have a 28% increased risk of death compared to their white counterparts. The disparity is attributed to lower rates of surgery and chemotherapy, as well as differences in tumor biology and socioeconomic factors.
A study finds that different social groups have varying views of the problem's urgency, with Black Americans gaining a better understanding of their risk after learning about health disparities. White Americans' attitudes towards Blacks also play a role, with those with warmer feelings favoring a more vigorous public health response.
Advanced-stage kidney cancer is more common among Hispanic Americans and Native Americans than non-Hispanic whites in Arizona. The study found that Arizona's Hispanic Americans have a two times higher risk of advanced-stage kidney cancer, while Native Americans face a 30% increased risk.
A large study of over 17 million adults in England found that minority ethnic groups had a higher risk of testing positive, hospitalisation, ICU admissions, and death from COVID-19 compared to white groups. The disparities widened for South Asian groups during the second wave.
A new study suggests that an hour of daily exercise can help Arctic Inuit people with a faulty TBC1D4 gene control their high blood sugar levels. This finding has the potential to improve the lives of thousands across the Arctic region, providing a positive outlook for those living with type 2 diabetes.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers suggests that Hispanic Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 due to workplace exposure. The analysis of federal data showed that Hispanics of working age have died of COVID-19 at a higher rate than whites, with excess cases and deaths also highest among this group.
Researchers tested two suicide prediction models on nearly 14 million health records and found they performed poorly on Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native patients. The study highlights the need to test how prediction models perform in all racial and ethnic groups before implementing them in clinical care.
A new study reveals African Americans under 45 with CAD have a higher incidence of obesity, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and mental health conditions like depression. These non-traditional risk factors contribute to the complex burden of disease in this patient population.
A study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health found that nearly one-quarter (23.6%) of children and adolescents were involuntarily admitted to psychiatric hospitals. Involuntary hospitalisation is associated with factors such as race, ethnicity, psychosis, substance misuse, and intellectual disability.
This survey study investigated changes in marijuana use in e-cigarettes among students from 2017 to 2020, highlighting significant racial and ethnic differences. The findings suggest that racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by marijuana use in e-cigarettes.
A Texas A&M study found that racial and ethnic diversity in schools can decrease mental health risk for some Latinx students, while increasing symptoms among non-Latinx Black and Latinx students. The research used data from 389 sixth-graders across 14 urban Texas public schools.
Genetic ancestry data provides specific insights into disease risk and management, allowing for targeted interventions. The study found that 25% of BioMe participants had links to populations predisposed to certain genetic diseases.
Research at UCLA Health Sciences suggests that elderly patients of female physicians are more likely to be vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. The trend holds across all racial and ethnic groups studied, with Black patients being about 14 percentage points less likely to be vaccinated than white patients.
A recent study from Oregon State University found that racial and ethnic minority groups living in rural areas are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 than those in urban areas. The researchers suggest allocating additional resources to rural areas with high minority populations to address these disparities.
A University of Alabama at Birmingham study found that cytosine-p-guanine, or CpG, methylation of the DNA in the heart is associated with differences in heart-failure outcomes. The researchers also discovered that African American patients had higher rates of death from heart failure compared to Caucasian patients, suggesting a link be...
Researchers found that patients with medical risk factors or from underserved communities opted for telehealth appointments, which led to fewer diagnostic tests and medications. Despite the benefits of increased access to care, researchers note potential pitfalls and plan to examine patient outcomes.
Researchers analyzed national survey data to compare HMO enrollment rates among children with commercial and public coverage by race and ethnicity. The study reveals racial and ethnic differences in HMO enrollment rates, highlighting disparities in healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
A study analyzing UK Biobank data found that deprivation is the primary driver of Covid-19 disparities among minority ethnic groups. Reducing material deprivation could play a pivotal role in decreasing these disparities and improving health outcomes.
A recent study found that Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans are severely underrepresented in the US health workforce, with representation ranging from 3.3% to 11.4%. The study highlights the need for increased diversity in the health professions to improve access and outcomes in underserved communities.
A study in the San Francisco Bay area found that COVID-19 vaccine uptake differed significantly across racial and ethnic groups. Among health workers, vaccination rates were highest among white healthcare providers and lowest among Asian-American healthcare workers.
Updated USPSTF guidelines based on age, pack-years, and quit-years exacerbate eligibility disparities among racial and ethnic minorities. However, incorporating certain risk prediction models may help mitigate these inequalities, according to a study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Researchers are investigating how sleep affects lung health and exercise tolerance in African Americans compared to Caucasian smokers, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the CHEST Foundation. The study aims to identify potential associations between sleep deficiency, smoking, and lung health disparities in high-risk African American adults.
Research suggests Spanish as primary language is associated with higher childhood obesity rates among U.S. children, regardless of ethnicity. The prevalence of obesity among Spanish-speaking households was 24.4%, significantly higher than those from English-speaking households.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially avoidable hospitalizations for non-COVID conditions dropped more among white patients than Black patients. This UCLA study suggests that existing racial healthcare disparities worsened, with African Americans facing worse access to outpatient care.
A survey of English smokers found that ethnic minority groups were less likely to use e-cigarettes as a means of reducing cigarette consumption or during temporary abstinence. This disparity may contribute to the higher risk of smoking-related diseases among these groups, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
A new study reveals how socioeconomic factors contribute to the increased odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 among Black and Hispanic Americans. The researchers found that median income was the largest proportion of COVID-19 positive tests, with population density and household size also playing a role.
Serious vision impairment declined by 26% among those aged 85 and older, while Black and Hispanic Americans showed greater reductions. The decline was attributed to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and advances in medical interventions for vision problems.
A 20-year-long study of Puerto Rican youth sheds light on the factors influencing mental health development, highlighting the importance of context and resilience. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding developmental psychopathology among ethnically diverse children growing up in disadvantaged contexts.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 40 million pregnant and post-partum women and found that African American women experienced a 41% higher incidence of pregnancy-associated stroke and a 7.8% in-hospital mortality rate compared to white women. The study highlights serious disparities in cardiovascular disease outcomes despite adjust...
Researchers analyzed data on 744,044 Medicare beneficiaries who had been treated for ischemic stroke between 2005 and 2007. The study found that Black patients had higher rates of kidney failure, dementia, and diabetes, while white patients had more common chronic conditions like atherosclerosis and COPD.
Research found over 40% of students reported at least one adverse childhood event (ACE), with girls reporting more ACEs than boys. School connectedness buffered the association between ACEs and suicidality for some youth, while increasing risk for others, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
The UK's colour-blind vaccination model is putting ethnic minorities at a higher risk of COVID-19 illness and death due to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on these groups. Targeted vaccination of high-risk groups, including essential workers, is crucial to control further outbreaks and end the pandemic.
African American breast cancer survivors are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease due to increased prevalence of risk factors, yet their knowledge about CVD is low. Participants with healthier diets and higher education levels had better CVD knowledge.
A culturally tailored intervention combining safe sex and risky alcohol use strategies reduced drinking and increased safe sex among young Black women. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that a group therapy component was effective in addressing these issues.
A study found that county-level factors, such as demographics and socioeconomic conditions, significantly impact cardiovascular disease death rates among different racial and ethnic groups. Black adults had the highest average death rate, while socioeconomic concerns explained much of the variation in death rates among this population.
A new study found that Black NBA players have a 30% greater chance of exiting the league than their white counterparts with equivalent performance. The disparity is mainly due to bench players, who are predominantly Black but average less than 20 minutes of court time per game.
The Cleveland African American Prostate Cancer Project aims to reduce health disparities by increasing prostate cancer screening among African American men. The project will develop and implement a comprehensive, sustainable program to screen for prostate cancer using barbershops as community hubs.
Researchers have identified a gene variant associated with childhood asthma using a diverse patient population. The study found that African Americans were more likely to carry the protective variant, which resulted in an increased risk of developing asthma.
Multi-ethnic neighborhoods in England have grown from 0.5% to over 4% of all neighborhoods between 1991 and 2011, while retaining high diversity and stability rates. This contrasts with racially diverse neighborhoods in the U.S., which are often transitional.
A genetic tool has been validated to estimate age of onset for aggressive prostate cancer in diverse ethnic/racial groups, with improved performance in men of African ancestry. The polygenic hazard score demonstrated excellent performance across European, Asian, and African genetic backgrounds.
African Americans have a distinct genetic risk landscape for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with specific genes contributing to risk, according to the first whole-genome study. The study identified rare genetic variants and highlights the need for personalized approaches to IBD treatment.
A new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found significant racial and ethnic disparities in the uptake of seasonal flu vaccines among people aged 65 and over in the USA. Among those who received a vaccine, minorities were 26-32% less likely to receive the High Dose Vaccine, which is more effective in older adults.
A new review highlights biological differences in prostate cancer development across ethnicities, identifying potential improvements for African American men. The study aims to reduce incidence and mortality rates by leveraging these differences.
The new guidelines recommend broadening eligibility criteria and requiring diversity study plans to increase African American participation. Gathering clinical trial data post-approval can also identify differences in safety and efficacy among racial subpopulations.
A new longitudinal study examines relations between parenting, culture, and prosocial behaviors in U.S. Mexican youth, finding both universal and culturally-specific factors contribute to fostering helpful behavior. Cultural practices like ethnic socialization and familism values play a crucial role in supporting prosocial development.
A new survey found that 52% of UK adults thought the government was doing a good job controlling COVID-19, despite lower levels of trust in its honesty and transparency. The study suggests that targeted community engagement measures can help maintain public support for control guidelines.
A USC-led study finds that Native Hawaiians with more Polynesian ancestry are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and obesity. The study analyzed the genomes of 3,940 Native Hawaiians and found an 11% increase in heart failure risk per 10% increase in Polynesian ancestry.
A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that Chinese adults are more likely to face high blood pressure and other health risks as a result of higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. The research analyzed data from over 126,000 participants and discovered that C...