Perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in Puerto Rico: a qualitative research study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Puerto Rico, relative to the United States, a disparity exists in detecting oral precancers and early cancers. To identify factors leading to the deficit in early detection, we obtained the perspectives of San Juan healthcare prac...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2011-05-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/391 |
| _version_ | 1811314514384125952 |
|---|---|
| author | Baek Linda S Vélez Himilce Buxó Carmen J Psoter Walter J Vélez Vega Carmen M Morse Douglas E Elias Augusto Ayendez Melba |
| author_facet | Baek Linda S Vélez Himilce Buxó Carmen J Psoter Walter J Vélez Vega Carmen M Morse Douglas E Elias Augusto Ayendez Melba |
| author_sort | Baek Linda S |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Puerto Rico, relative to the United States, a disparity exists in detecting oral precancers and early cancers. To identify factors leading to the deficit in early detection, we obtained the perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners whose practice could be involved in the detection of such oral lesions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Key informant (KI) interviews were conducted with ten clinicians practicing in or around San Juan, Puerto Rico. We then triangulated our KI interview findings with other data sources, including recent literature on oral cancer detection from various geographic areas, current curricula at the University of Puerto Rico Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, as well as local health insurance regulations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Key informant-identified factors that likely contribute to the detection deficit include: many practitioners are deficient in knowledge regarding oral cancer and precancer; oral cancer screening examinations are limited regarding which patients receive them and the elements included. In Puerto Rico, specialists generally perform oral biopsies, and patient referral can be delayed by various factors, including government-subsidized health insurance, often referred to as Reforma. Reforma-based issues include often inadequate clinician knowledge regarding Reforma requirements/provisions, diagnostic delays related to Reforma bureaucracy, and among primary physicians, a perceived financial disincentive in referring Reforma patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Addressing these issues may be useful in reducing the deficit in detecting oral precancers and early oral cancer in Puerto Rico.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:14:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21662d93a66448608abff12b3c5cdb02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:14:03Z |
| publishDate | 2011-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-21662d93a66448608abff12b3c5cdb022022-12-22T02:49:02ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582011-05-0111139110.1186/1471-2458-11-391Perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in Puerto Rico: a qualitative research studyBaek Linda SVélez HimilceBuxó Carmen JPsoter Walter JVélez Vega Carmen MMorse Douglas EElias AugustoAyendez Melba<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Puerto Rico, relative to the United States, a disparity exists in detecting oral precancers and early cancers. To identify factors leading to the deficit in early detection, we obtained the perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners whose practice could be involved in the detection of such oral lesions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Key informant (KI) interviews were conducted with ten clinicians practicing in or around San Juan, Puerto Rico. We then triangulated our KI interview findings with other data sources, including recent literature on oral cancer detection from various geographic areas, current curricula at the University of Puerto Rico Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, as well as local health insurance regulations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Key informant-identified factors that likely contribute to the detection deficit include: many practitioners are deficient in knowledge regarding oral cancer and precancer; oral cancer screening examinations are limited regarding which patients receive them and the elements included. In Puerto Rico, specialists generally perform oral biopsies, and patient referral can be delayed by various factors, including government-subsidized health insurance, often referred to as Reforma. Reforma-based issues include often inadequate clinician knowledge regarding Reforma requirements/provisions, diagnostic delays related to Reforma bureaucracy, and among primary physicians, a perceived financial disincentive in referring Reforma patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Addressing these issues may be useful in reducing the deficit in detecting oral precancers and early oral cancer in Puerto Rico.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/391 |
| spellingShingle | Baek Linda S Vélez Himilce Buxó Carmen J Psoter Walter J Vélez Vega Carmen M Morse Douglas E Elias Augusto Ayendez Melba Perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in Puerto Rico: a qualitative research study BMC Public Health |
| title | Perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in Puerto Rico: a qualitative research study |
| title_full | Perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in Puerto Rico: a qualitative research study |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in Puerto Rico: a qualitative research study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in Puerto Rico: a qualitative research study |
| title_short | Perspectives of San Juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in Puerto Rico: a qualitative research study |
| title_sort | perspectives of san juan healthcare practitioners on the detection deficit in oral premalignant and early cancers in puerto rico a qualitative research study |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/391 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT baeklindas perspectivesofsanjuanhealthcarepractitionersonthedetectiondeficitinoralpremalignantandearlycancersinpuertoricoaqualitativeresearchstudy AT velezhimilce perspectivesofsanjuanhealthcarepractitionersonthedetectiondeficitinoralpremalignantandearlycancersinpuertoricoaqualitativeresearchstudy AT buxocarmenj perspectivesofsanjuanhealthcarepractitionersonthedetectiondeficitinoralpremalignantandearlycancersinpuertoricoaqualitativeresearchstudy AT psoterwalterj perspectivesofsanjuanhealthcarepractitionersonthedetectiondeficitinoralpremalignantandearlycancersinpuertoricoaqualitativeresearchstudy AT velezvegacarmenm perspectivesofsanjuanhealthcarepractitionersonthedetectiondeficitinoralpremalignantandearlycancersinpuertoricoaqualitativeresearchstudy AT morsedouglase perspectivesofsanjuanhealthcarepractitionersonthedetectiondeficitinoralpremalignantandearlycancersinpuertoricoaqualitativeresearchstudy AT eliasaugusto perspectivesofsanjuanhealthcarepractitionersonthedetectiondeficitinoralpremalignantandearlycancersinpuertoricoaqualitativeresearchstudy AT ayendezmelba perspectivesofsanjuanhealthcarepractitionersonthedetectiondeficitinoralpremalignantandearlycancersinpuertoricoaqualitativeresearchstudy |