Alexis Hayes
PHD, MSN-Ed, APRN, FNP-BC

Katy, Texas

Specialties

Family, Women's Health

Details

Professional Achievements:

(Pending Publication Submission)

Factors Affecting Breast Cancer Treatment Options in African American Women:

A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer amongst women in the United States and the second most common cause of death in African American women (ACS, 2016; ASCAN, 2017). In 2016, it was estimated that there would be 30,700 new cases of breast cancer in African American women and 6, 310 estimated deaths from breast cancer in African American women alone (ACS, 2016). Although Caucasian women have a higher incidence of breast cancer, African American women have a 41% higher risk of death than that of Caucasian women (Connors et al., 2014). The purpose of this systematic literature review is to investigate factors that affect breast cancer treatment options in African American women and increase substantive knowledge regarding the care of African American women with breast cancer. Research Question:In African American women, what factors affect breast cancer treatment options? The review of 16 research studies published from 2008-2018 examined factors effecting breast cancer treatment options in African American women. As this review demonstrates there are several factors such as race, age, education, insurance status, marital status, tumor stage, diagnostic and treatment delays that play a role in breast cancer treatment options. Overall, the review displays that racial disparities exist and that racial disparities alone are multifactorial in its effects on breast cancer treatment in African American women.

Keywords:African American, women, breast cancer treatment

Collaboration Projects

Predictors of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) Among Young Girls in Egypt.

Authors:Alexis Hayes MSN, APRN, FNP-BC; Ashley Hollins RN, APRN FNP-BC; Padmavathy Ramaswamy MSN,MPH, FNP & Vuong Tran MSN, BSN, RN

Clinical Research ProjectPresented April 9, 2016

ABSTRACT:

Background

Over 27.2 million girls and women have undergone FGM/C in Egypt (UNICEF, 2013). FGM/C is any procedure consisting of complete or partial removal of the female genitalia (WHO, 2014). Immediate health consequences include infection, hemorrhage, urinary complications, pain, shock, and even death. Long-term consequences include post-traumatic stress, decreased sexual desire, vaginal fistulas, and childbirth complications. FGM/C is widely accepted in Egyptian culture through societal norms.

Aim

This study aims to determine what factors predict Egyptian women’s choice to have their daughters undergo FGM/C.

Methods

The study utilized data from the 2014 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for Egypt. The analysis included 9488 females from the sample. Data analysis included binary logistic regression to determine whether the five predictors (circumcision of respondent, region, education level, religion, and wealth) significantly predict the respondents’ intention to have their daughters circumcised.

Results

When all predictors are considered together, they significantly predict whether or not the respondents intend FGM/C (χ2(11) = 3482.446, p < .001). Respondents with poor wealth had higher odds of FGM/C (OR=3.310, p<0.001) than the richest respondents. Respondents with no education also had higher odds of the intent for FGM/C than those respondents with higher education (OR = 2.877, p<.001). Those respondents living in upper urban and rural Egypt had higher odds of choosing FGM/C than respondents living in the frontier governorates (OR=1.763, p<.001).

Conclusion

In this regression analysis, region, education, religion, wealth, and circumcised respondents were significant factors predicting Egyptian women’s intention of FGM/C in their daughters.

Patricia L. Starck Scholarship Fall 2015

Crawford and Hattie Jackson Scholarship Fall 2015

Research and Project Outcomes

Hayes, A. (2012)Factors in Decision Making Amongst Women of Childbearing age with a Brca1/Brca2 Mutation who are Faced with Prophylactic Mastectomy,Southern University School of Nursing Graduate Nursing Programs' Clinical Research Project Presentation Day, Baton Rouge, LA, May, 7, 2012, 10 - 1:30 pm.

Significance to Nursing:

This integrated review of literature was conducted to provide empirical data that will contribute to evidenced based practice by allowing nurses, physicians and other health care professional to be knowledgeable of factors affecting women during the diagnosis of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation and prophylactic mastectomy.

Recommendations:

More studies are need addressing women of childbearing age
More quantitative studies are needed
More studies are needed to examine factors that affect the decision making process in women of childbearing age with a BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation
Promote education and risk reducing strategies to women of childbearing age and those at high risk beginning at age 25 or earlier if applicable.
Develop sensitive psychological interventions that are specific to women of childbearing age through the educational, assessment, decision-making and risk reducing process.

Conclusion:

There is a significant need to expand the substantive knowledge base on genetic mutations in women of childbearing age and the factors that affect their decision making process. This integrated literature review has the potential to make contributions to evidence-based practice nursing and other disciplines. The objective of nursing care is not only to aid the client in the healing process but to understand the life changes and the impact of these changes on their quality of life. Once the decision-making process and its factors are understood interventions aimed at enhancing support to women of childbearing age facing prophylactic mastectomy can be developed and empirically tested.