While prostate cancer treatment rates are high, there still appear to be racial disparities, according to a study involving nearly 650 men. Participants included black (n=359) and white (n=282) men with Gleason scores ≥7 diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 at 2 urban hospitals. Investigators looked at treatment underuse rate, and interviewed physicians to determine the reasons for such underuse. Among the results:

• Overall, 4% of patient experienced treatment underuse.
• 92% of those undertreated were black.
• 8 in every 10 instances of underuse were attributed to system failures where recommended treatment was not given.
• 38% of these men continued receiving hospital care.
• All men experiencing system failures were black.

The authors noted that institutions are not fully using health information technology capabilities to reduce disparities in care.