Data for Cancer and Older Adults

CASE 3 BHA 240
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CASE 3 BHA 240
Selecting cancer as the subject and older adults as the population subgroup in the data finder website generated different datasets about this issue. In this paper, the focus was table 035 about the utilization of colorectal tests and procedures by American adults between 50 to 75 years irrespective of their economic, racial, education, and gender characteristics. Results generated revealed notable trends from 2000 to 2018 that would significantly benefit the healthcare administrator.
The data gathered seeks to highlight the usage of colorectal procedures in the United States by the older populations. The data revealed adults between the age of 50 to 70 years have been seeking this test in the different healthcare institutions in the nation since 2000 (Health, United States, 2019). It indicates that no racial group has been left behind because statistics highlight the presence of Hispanics or Latino, Non-Hispanic whites, African Americans or Blacks, Alaska Natives or American Indians, and American Asians. It also displays the location and education levels of the persons seeking these services in the different locations. The distribution of this data shows that colorectal tests have become commonplace among the aging population in the country for early diagnosis of colorectal cancers.
The results reveal diverse trends among the selected population. For instance, evidence indicates that the frequency for all adults in the selected age group seeking colorectal procedures has increased gradually since 2000. The rate rose from 33.9 in 2000 to 44.3 in 2005 (Health, United States, 2019). In 2010, it jumped to 58.7 and increased to 62.4 in 2015 (Health, United States, 2019). The most recent data demonstrates that it reached a maximum of 67.2 in 2018, establishing a relatively consistent rise for eighteen years. Several reasons could explain this observed trend in the nation. One of these is that increased health education by the healthcare providers has created a sense of awareness among the at-risk population in the country, motivating them to seek the tests for early intervention if needed actively. According to Alyabsi et al. (2020), understanding that colorectal cancer is a life-threatening condition and the third most common type of cancer in the United States could have increased the need for preventative strategies that begin with early diagnosis. As a result, this awareness through education created a positive health-seeking behavior leading to the increasing trends.
The second trend established by this data is that white older persons have been the leading subgroup in utilizing these tests for the entire period, followed closely by the African Americans. For instance, in 2000, their rate was 34.9 compared to the 20.4 for the Asians (Health, United States, 2019). By 2018, theirs had risen to 68.2 while that of the Asians was 58.2 (Health, United States, 2019). Even the African Americans were yet to catch up with a test frequency of approximately 65.2. According to Alyabsi et al. (2020), sc...