Using the claims data of one million insured residents in Taiwan from 1996–2013, this study identified 12,126 women in an urban city (Taichung) and 7229 women in a rural county (Yunlin), aged 20 and above. We compared Papanicolaou (Pap) test uses and cervical cancer detection rates between urban and rural women. Results showed that the Pap screening rate was slightly higher in rural women than in urban women (86.1 vs. 81.3 percent). The cervical cancer incidence was much greater for women without Pap test than women with the test (35.8 vs. 9.00 per 1000 in rural women and 20.3 vs. 7.00 per 1000 in urban women). Nested case-control analysis showed that Pap test receivers had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.35 (95% CI = 0.25–0.51) to be diagnosed with cervical cancer as compared to those who did not receive the test. The rural women had an adjusted OR of 1.46 (95% CI = 1.03–2.06) to be diagnosed with cervical cancer as compared to urban women. In conclusion, women in rural area are at higher cancer risk than city women. Women who do not undergo Pap tests deserve timely intervention of Pap test to prevent the onset of cancer, particularly in rural women with low income.

BackgroundStudies comparing mental disorder risks between women with breast cancer and cervical cancer are lacking. This study compared risks of developing anxiety and depression between women with breast cancer (BC cohort) and women with cervical cancer (CC cohort) using insurance claims data of Taiwan.MethodsFrom the 2000 to 2016 data, we identified a BC cohort and BC controls (N = 96,862) and a CC cohort and CC controls (N = 26,703), matched by propensity scores. Incident mental disorders and the Cox method estimated the related cancer cohort to control cohort hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by the end of 2016.ResultsCompared to the CC cohort, the BC cohort had slightly higher incident anxiety (15.9 versus 15.5 per 1,000 person-years) and depression (6.92 vs. 6.28 per 1,000 person-years). These mental disorders were higher in respective cancer cohorts than controls. The BC cohort to BC control adjusted HRs of anxiety and depression were 1.29 (95% CI = 1.25–1.33) and 1.78 (95% CI = 1.69–1.87), respectively. The corresponding adjusted HRs for the CC cohort were 1.12 (95% CI = 1.06–1.18) and 1.29 (95% CI = 1.18–1.41). The combined incidence rates of both disorders were 1.4-fold greater in the BC cohort than in BC controls (22.8 vs. 15.8 per 1,000 person-years), and 1.2-fold greater in the CC cohort than in the CC controls (21.7 vs. 18.3 per 1,000 person-years).ConclusionWomen with breast cancer or cervical cancer are at an elevated likelihood of developing anxiety and depression disorders. These incident disorders are slightly higher in those with breast cancer.

Objectives Patients with terminal cancer often experience physical and mental distress. Signing a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) is crucial to protect against invalid treatment. This study aims to explore the effect of hospice shared care intervention by medical staff on the completion of a DNR-S (DNR order signed by surrogates) for patients with terminal cancer. Method The cross-sectional study in this research involved secondary analysis of data from the 2011–2015 clinical cancer case management database of a medical center in central Taiwan. Those with a DNR order signed by patients (DNR-P) or DNR-S before the hospice shared care consultation were excluded from this study; a total of 1,306 patients with terminal cancer were selected. Results This study demonstrated that the percentage of DNR-S after consultation involving both nurse and physician was 75.4%. With other variables controlled, the number of DNR-Ss after consultation with a nurse was significantly lower [odds ratio (OR) = 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.42–0.75] and that of DNR-Ss after consultation involving both nurse and physician was significantly higher (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.01–1.79), than that of DNR-Ss after consultation with only the physician. Significance of results Joint involvement of the nurse and physician in hospice care provides sufficient information to patients and family with terminal cancer about their condition and enhances doctor–patient communication. This effectively assists patients with terminal cancer and their family members in making the major decision of signing a DNR, alleviates the concerns of patients and family members about signing a DNR, and reduces terminal cancer patients’ pain at the end of life to ensure that they die in peace and dignity.