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Objectives: To investigate self‐reported out‐of‐pocket health care expenses, both overall and by cost type, for a large population‐based sample of Australians, by cancer status and socio‐demographic and medical characteristics. Study design: Cross‐sectional study. Setting, participants: New South Wales residents participating in the 45 and Up Study (recruited aged 45 years or older during 2005–2009) who completed the 2020 follow‐up questionnaire; survey responses linked with New South Wales Cancer Registry data. Main outcome measures: Proportions of respondents who reported that out‐of‐pocket health care expenses during the preceding twelve months exceeded $1000 or $10 000; adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for associations with socio‐demographic and medical characteristics. Results: Of the 267 357 recruited 45 and Up Study participants, 45 061 completed the 2020 survey (response rate, 53%); 42.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 42.2–43.1%) reported that overall out‐of‐pocket health care expenses during the previous year exceeded $1000, including 55.4% (52.1–58.7%) of participants diagnosed in the preceding two years and 44.9% (43.7–46.1%) of participants diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago. After adjustment for socio‐demographic factors, out‐of‐pocket expenses greater than $1000 were more likely to be reported by participants with cancer than by those without cancer (diagnosis in past two years: aOR, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.77–2.40]; diagnosis more than two years ago: aOR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.15–1.29]). The odds of out‐of‐pocket expenses exceeding $1000 increased with area‐based socio‐economic advantage and household income, and were higher for people with private health insurance (v people with Medicare coverage only: aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.53–1.75). Out‐of‐pocket expenses exceeding $10 000 were also more likely for participants diagnosed with cancer during the past two years (v no cancer: aOR, 3.30; 95% CI, 2.56–4.26). Conclusions: People diagnosed with cancer during the past two years were much more likely than people without cancer to report twelve‐month out‐of‐pocket health care expenses that exceeded $1000. Out‐of‐pocket expenses for people with cancer can exacerbate financial strain at a time of vulnerability, and affect health care equity because some people cannot pay for all available treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine changes in multiple myeloma incidence and mortality rates during 1982–2018, and to estimate its incidence, mortality, and prevalence for 2019–2043. Study design: Population‐based statistical modelling study; analysis of and projections based on Australian Institute of Health and Welfare multiple myeloma incidence, mortality, and survival data. Setting: Australia, 1982–2018 (historical data) and projections to 2043. Main outcome measures: Changes in multiple myeloma incidence and mortality rates, 1982–2018, determined by joinpoint regression analysis (age‐standardised to 2021 Australian population); projection of rates to 2043 based on age–period–cohort models; estimated 5‐ and 30‐year prevalence of multiple myeloma (modified counting method). Results: The incidence of multiple myeloma increased during 1982–2018 (eg, annual percentage change [APC], 2006–2018, 1.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7–2.2%), but the mortality rate declined during 1990–2018 (APC, –0.4%; 95% CI, –0.5% to –0.2%). The age‐standardised incidence rate was projected to increase by 14.9% during 2018–2043, from 8.7 in 2018 to 10.0 (95% CI, 9.4–10.7) new cases per 100 000 population in 2043; the mortality rate was projected to decline by 27.5%, from 4.0 to 2.9 (95% CI, 2.6–3.3) deaths per 100 000 population. The annual number of people newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma was estimated to increase by 89.2%, from 2120 in 2018 to 4012 in 2043; the number of deaths from multiple myeloma was projected to increase by 31.7%, from 979 to 1289. The number of people living with multiple myeloma up to 30 years after initial diagnosis was projected to increase by 163%, from 10 288 in 2018 to 27 093 in 2043, including 13 019 people (48.1%) diagnosed during the preceding five years. Conclusion: Although the decline in the mortality rate was projected to continue, the projected increases in the incidence and prevalence of multiple myeloma in Australia over the next 25 years indicate that investment in prevention and early detection research, and planning for prolonged treatment and care, are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Symptoms of mental distress increased sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among older adolescents and young adults. Mental health distress may make it more challenging for young people to seek other needed health care, including contraception. This study explored the association of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress with delays in getting a contraceptive method or prescription. Materials and Methods: Data from a supplementary study (May 15, 2020–March 20, 2023) to a cluster randomized trial in 29 sites in Texas and California were used. The diverse study sample included community college students assigned female at birth of ages 18–29 years (n = 1,665 with 7,023 observations over time). We measured the association of depression (CES-D [Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale]) or anxiety and stress (DASS-21 [Depression Anxiety Stress Scales]) symptoms with delayed contraceptive care-seeking with mixed-effects multivariable regression with random effects for individual and site. We controlled for age and sociodemographic factors important for access to care. Results: Over one-third of participants (35%) reported they delayed getting the contraceptive method they needed. Multivariable regression results showed increased odds of delayed contraceptive care among participants with symptoms of depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27–1.96). Likewise, delays were associated with anxiety and stress symptoms (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.17–1.82). Adolescents were more likely to delay seeking contraception than young adults (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.07–1.63). Conclusions: Results showed a strong association between mental distress and delayed contraception. Interventions are needed to increase contraceptive access for young people delaying care, along with supportive mental health care services, including for adolescents who face elevated odds of delay. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT03519685. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a protocol for a systematic review and meta‐analysis of research on mental health outcomes of abortion. Does abortion increase the risk of adverse mental health outcomes? That is the central question for this review. Our review aims to inform policy and practice by locating, critically appraising, and synthesizing empirical evidence on associations between abortion and subsequent mental health outcomes. Given the controversies surrounding this topic and the complex social, political, legal, and ideological contexts in which research and reviews on abortion are conducted, it is especially important to conduct this systematic review and meta‐analysis with comprehensive, rigorous, unbiased, and transparent methods. We will include a variety of study designs to enhance understanding of studies' methodological strengths and weaknesses and to identify potential explanations for conflicting results. We will follow open science principles, providing access to our methods, measures, and results, and making data available for re‐analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While previous reviews found a positive association between pre‐existing cancer diagnosis and COVID‐19‐related death, most early studies did not distinguish long‐term cancer survivors from those recently diagnosed/treated, nor adjust for important confounders including age. We aimed to consolidate higher‐quality evidence on risk of COVID‐19‐related death for people with recent/active cancer (compared to people without) in the pre‐COVID‐19‐vaccination period. We searched the WHO COVID‐19 Global Research Database (20 December 2021), and Medline and Embase (10 May 2023). We included studies adjusting for age and sex, and providing details of cancer status. Risk‐of‐bias assessment was based on the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. Pooled adjusted odds or risk ratios (aORs, aRRs) or hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using generic inverse‐variance random‐effects models. Random‐effects meta‐regressions were used to assess associations between effect estimates and time since cancer diagnosis/treatment. Of 23 773 unique title/abstract records, 39 studies were eligible for inclusion (2 low, 17 moderate, 20 high risk of bias). Risk of COVID‐19‐related death was higher for people with active or recently diagnosed/treated cancer (general population: aOR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.36‐1.61, I2 = 0; people with COVID‐19: aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.41‐1.77, I2 = 0.58; inpatients with COVID‐19: aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.34‐2.06, I2 = 0.98). Risks were more elevated for lung (general population: aOR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.4‐4.7) and hematological cancers (general population: aOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.68‐2.68, I2 = 0.43), and for metastatic cancers. Meta‐regression suggested risk of COVID‐19‐related death decreased with time since diagnosis/treatment, for example, for any/solid cancers, fitted aOR = 1.55 (95% CI: 1.37‐1.75) at 1 year and aOR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.80‐1.20) at 5 years post‐cancer diagnosis/treatment. In conclusion, before COVID‐19‐vaccination, risk of COVID‐19‐related death was higher for people with recent cancer, with risk depending on cancer type and time since diagnosis/treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision public health holds promise to improve disease prevention and health promotion strategies, allowing the right intervention to be delivered to the right population at the right time. Growing concerns underscore the potential for precision-based approaches to exacerbate health disparities by relying on biased data inputs and recapitulating existing access inequities. To achieve its full potential, precision public health must focus on addressing social and structural drivers of health and prominently incorporate equity-related concerns, particularly with respect to race and ethnicity. In this article, we discuss how an antiracism lens could be applied to reduce health disparities and health inequities through equity-informed research, implementation, and evaluation of precision public health interventions. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(11):1210–1218. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307386) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic referral for Lynch syndrome (LS) exemplifies complex clinical pathways. Identifying target behaviours (TBs) for change and associated barriers requires structured group consultation activities with busy clinicians – consolidating implementation activities whilst retaining rigour is crucial. This study aimed to: i) use process mapping to gain in-depth understandings of site-specific LS testing and referral practices in Australian hospitals and support identification of TBs for change, ii) explore if barriers to identified TBs could be identified through process mapping focus-group data, and iii) demonstrate pandemic-induced transition from in-person to virtual group interactive process mapping methods. LS clinical stakeholders attended interactive in-person or virtual focus groups to develop site-specific "process maps" visually representing referral pathways. Content analysis of transcriptions informed site-specific process maps, then clinical audit data was compared to highlight TBs for change. TBs were reviewed in follow-up focus groups. Secondary thematic analysis explored barriers to identified TBs, coded against the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). The transition from in-person to pandemic-induced virtual group interactive process mapping methods was documented. Process mapping highlighted six key areas of clinical practice variation across sites and site-specific TBs for change were identified. Key barriers to identified TBs emerged, categorised to seven TDF domains. Process mapping revealed variations in clinical practices surrounding LS referral between sites. Incorporating qualitative perspectives enhances process mapping by facilitating identification of TBs for change and barriers, providing a pathway to developing targeted interventions. Virtual process mapping activities produced detailed data and enabled comprehensive map development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the broader implications of overturning Roe v Wade in June 2022, highlighting concerns beyond abortion statistics, such as maternal and infant mortality. Topics include the potential mental health repercussions of restrictive abortion policies, a study's findings on increased anxiety and depression symptoms in trigger-ban states post-Dobbs, and the importance of clinicians' awareness in states with abortion restrictions.