Open AccessAccounting for Apparent “Reverse” Racial Disparities in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)–Based Medical Care: Influence of Out-of-VA Care
Author(s) -
Andrea D. Gurmankin,
Daniel Polsky,
Kevin G. Volpp
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.94.12.2076
Subject(s) - veterans affairs , medicine , family medicine , racial differences , test (biology) , prostate specific antigen , gerontology , demography , prostate cancer , ethnic group , paleontology , cancer , sociology , anthropology , biology
Conclusions regarding racial differences in care following a newly elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may differ depending on whether follow-up care outside the VA is considered. Consecutive Philadelphia, Pa, VA patients with newly elevated PSA tests (n = 183) were interviewed 1 year after baseline. Among exclusive VA users, Blacks had higher rates of urology referrals and prostate biopsies compared with Whites. However, these racial differences were attenuated when care obtained outside the VA also was considered.