Medical College of Wisconsin
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Delving deeper into disparity: The impact of health literacy on the surgical care of breast cancer patients. Am J Surg 2020 Oct;220(4):806-810

Date

05/24/2020

Pubmed ID

32444064

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7541468

DOI

10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.05.009

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85084806865 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   17 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breast surgical oncology is a unique field that involves complex cancer management and longstanding patient interactions with the healthcare system, making it potentially challenging for patients with low health literacy. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding health literacy in breast cancer and identify future directions for research and potential intervention in breast surgical oncology.

DATA SOURCES: A search of relevant literature querying PubMed and Science Direct was performed and included the following keywords: health literacy, breast cancer, breast surgical oncology, surgery, outcomes, prevention, screening, healthcare utilization, chronic disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Limited health literacy may detrimentally affect understanding and outcomes in breast surgical oncology. Identifying ways providers can improve patient understanding and utilization of health information is important, and surgeons may have a pivotal role. Further studies addressing health literacy in breast surgical oncology is needed in order to better optimize care of patients.

Author List

Portelli Tremont JN, Downs-Canner S, Maduekwe U

Author

Ugwuji N. Maduekwe MD Associate Dean, Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Breast Neoplasms
Female
Health Literacy
Healthcare Disparities
Humans