Tamsen L Bassford
- Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine - (Clinical Scholar Track)
Contact
- (520) 626-7864
- AHSC, Rm. 4320
- Tucson, AZ 85724
- bassford@arizona.edu
Degrees
- M.D. Medicine
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
- B.A. Biology
- Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, United States
Work Experience
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2002 - 2014)
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2000 - 2002)
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona (1996 - 2002)
Awards
- Dean's List of Excellence in Teaching
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Spring 1998
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Spring 1997
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Fall 1991
- President’s Award 1998 for Best Paper
- American Association for Cancer Education, Spring 1998
- Career Development Award
- American Cancer Society, Spring 1990
- Local Hero Award
- American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, Spring 2013
- Local Legends Award
- American Medical Women's Association, Spring 2004
- Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
- Arnold P Gold Foundation, Spring 2001
Licensure & Certification
- Controlled Substance Registration Certificate, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (1987)
- Licence to Practice Medicine, Arizona (1987)
- Diplomate, American Board of Family Practice, American Board of Family Practice (1988)
- Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiner, National Board of Medical Examiner (1987)
Interests
No activities entered.
Courses
2024-25 Courses
-
Care of Individuals with IDD
FCM 850J (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Care of Individuals with IDD
FCM 850J (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Care of Individuals with IDD
FCM 850J (Spring 2023) -
Independent Study
FCM 899 (Spring 2023) -
Internship
FCM 493 (Spring 2023) -
Care of Individuals with IDD
FCM 850J (Fall 2022) -
Internship
FCM 493 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Internship
FCM 493 (Spring 2022)
2020-21 Courses
-
Disability Directed Res Exp
FCM 492A (Summer I 2021) -
Disability Directed Res Exp
FCM 492A (Spring 2021)
Scholarly Contributions
Chapters
- Bassford, T. L. (1994). Special Health Problems of Hispanics in the United States. In Preventive Medicine. Mosely.
Journals/Publications
- Chen, Z., Heymsfield, S. B., Nicolas, J. S., Wright, N. C., LaCroix, A. Z., Bassford, T. L., Wertheim, B. C., Going, S. B., & Bea, J. W. (2018). Body composition and physical function in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Prev Med Rep, 11, 15-22. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.05.007
- Gordon, P. R., Bassford, T. L., & Lippman, S. M. (2015). Cancer risk reduction counseling: a computer-assisted curriculum. American journal of preventive medicine, 7(4), 244-7.More infoSignificant progress has been made in the identification of factors associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. Cancer is increasingly viewed as a preventable disease. Its prevention involves risk reduction counseling. This counseling is an important skill for the family physician but can be difficult to learn and to teach. We used a prototype, computer-assisted cancer risk reduction counseling curriculum with first-year medical students. We found a statistically significant change in both knowledge-based and attitudinal questions and answers after the use of this curriculum.
- Valanis, B. G., Bowen, D. J., Bassford, T., Whitlock, E., Charney, P., & Carter, R. A. (2015). Sexual orientation and health: comparisons in the women's health initiative sample. Archives of family medicine, 9(9), 843-53.More infoLittle is known about older lesbian and bisexual women. Existing research rarely compares characteristics of these women with comparable heterosexual women.
- Wright, N. C., Lisse, J. R., Beck, T. J., Sherrill, D. L., Mohler, M. J., Bassford, T., Cauley, J. A., Lacroix, A. Z., Lewis, C. E., & Chen, Z. (2015). Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with less optimal hip structural geometry. Journal of clinical densitometry : the official journal of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, 15(1), 39-48.More infoThe overall goal of this study was to assess the longitudinal changes in bone strength in women reporting rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n=78) compared with nonarthritic control participants (n=4779) of the Women's Health Initiative bone mineral density (WHI-BMD) subcohort. Hip structural analysis program was applied to archived dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans (baseline, years 3, 6, and 9) to estimate bone mineral density (BMD) and hip structural geometry parameters in 3 femoral regions: narrow neck (NN), intertrochanteric (IT), and shaft (S). The association between RA and hip structural geometry was tested using linear regression and random coefficient models. Compared with the nonarthritic control, the RA group had a lower BMD (p=0.061) and significantly lower outer diameter (p=0.017), cross-sectional area (p=0.004), and section modulus (p=0.035) at the NN region in the longitudinal models. No significant associations were seen at the IT regions or S regions, and the association was not modified by age, ethnicity, glucocorticoid use, or time. Within the WHI-BMD, women with RA group had reduced BMD and structural geometry at baseline, and this reduction was seen at a fixed rate throughout the 9 yr of study.
- Perkins, A., Miller, H., Davis, A., Thompson, B., Campbell, T., James, P., Bassford, T., Borkan, J., David, A., Ewigman, B., Kuzel, A., Magill, M., Matson, C., Newton, W., & Wender, R. (2013). ADFM's 2013 winter meeting focus: moving to value-based health care. Annals of family medicine, 11(4), 383-4.
- Bea, J. W., Zhao, Q., Cauley, J. A., LaCroix, A. Z., Bassford, T., Lewis, C. E., Jackson, R. D., Tylavsky, F. A., & Chen, Z. (2011). Effect of hormone therapy on lean body mass, falls, and fractures: 6-year results from the Women's Health Initiative hormone trials. Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 18(1), 44-52.More infoLoss of lean body mass with aging may contribute to falls and fractures. The objective of this analysis was to determine if taking postmenopausal hormone therapy (or HT: estrogen plus progestogen therapy or estrogen therapy alone) favorably affects age-related changes in lean body mass and if these changes partially account for decreased falls or fractures with HT.
- Jackson, R. D., Wright, N. C., Beck, T. J., Sherrill, D., Cauley, J. A., Lewis, C. E., LaCroix, A. Z., LeBoff, M. S., Going, S., Bassford, T., & Chen, Z. (2011). Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation has limited effects on femoral geometric strength in older postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative. Calcified tissue international, 88(3), 198-208.More infoCalcium plus vitamin D (CaD) supplementation has a modest but significant effect on slowing loss of femoral bone mass and reducing risk of hip fractures in adherent postmenopausal women. The goal of this study was to determine if CaD supplementation influences hip structural parameters that are associated with fracture risk. We studied 1,970 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial of CaD at one of three bone mineral density (BMD) clinical centers. Hip structural analysis software measured BMD and strength parameters on DXA scans at three regions: femoral narrow neck, intertrochanter, and shaft. Random effects models were used to test the average differences in hip BMD and geometry between intervention and placebo. There was greater preservation of hip BMD at the narrow neck with CaD relative to placebo across 6 years of intervention. CaD also altered the underlying cross-sectional geometry at the narrow neck in the direction of greater strength, with small increases in cross-sectional area and section modulus and a decrease in buckling ratio with CaD relative to placebo. While trends at both the intertrochanter and shaft regions were similar to those noted at the narrow neck, no significant intervention effects were evident. There was no significant interaction of CaD and age or baseline calcium levels for hip structural properties. CaD supplementation is associated with modest beneficial effects on hip structural features at the narrow neck, which may explain some of the benefit of CaD in reducing hip fracture risk.
- LaCroix, A. Z., Chlebowski, R. T., Manson, J. E., Aragaki, A. K., Johnson, K. C., Martin, L., Margolis, K. L., Stefanick, M. L., Brzyski, R., Curb, J. D., Howard, B. V., Lewis, C. E., Wactawski-Wende, J., & , W. I. (2011). Health outcomes after stopping conjugated equine estrogens among postmenopausal women with prior hysterectomy: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 305(13), 1305-14.More infoThe Women's Health Initiative Estrogen-Alone Trial was stopped early after a mean of 7.1 years of follow-up because of an increased risk of stroke and little likelihood of altering the balance of risk to benefit by the planned trial termination date. Postintervention health outcomes have not been reported.
- Nelson, D. A., Beck, T. J., Wu, G., Lewis, C. E., Bassford, T., Cauley, J. A., LeBoff, M. S., Going, S. B., & Chen, Z. (2011). Ethnic differences in femur geometry in the women's health initiative observational study. Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 22(5), 1377-88.More infoParticipants in the observational study of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) were studied to determine if ethnic differences in femur geometry can help to explain differences in hip fracture rates. Structural differences in femurs of African and Mexican-American women appear to be consistent with lower rates of hip fractures vs. whites.
- Chlebowski, R. T., Anderson, G. L., Gass, M., Lane, D. S., Aragaki, A. K., Kuller, L. H., Manson, J. E., Stefanick, M. L., Ockene, J., Sarto, G. E., Johnson, K. C., Wactawski-Wende, J., Ravdin, P. M., Schenken, R., Hendrix, S. L., Rajkovic, A., Rohan, T. E., Yasmeen, S., Prentice, R. L., & , W. I. (2010). Estrogen plus progestin and breast cancer incidence and mortality in postmenopausal women. JAMA, 304(15), 1684-92.More infoIn the Women's Health Initiative randomized, placebo-controlled trial of estrogen plus progestin, after a mean intervention time of 5.6 (SD, 1.3) years (range, 3.7-8.6 years) and a mean follow-up of 7.9 (SD, 1.4) years, breast cancer incidence was increased among women who received combined hormone therapy. Breast cancer mortality among participants in the trial has not been previously reported.
- LaCroix, A. Z., Beck, T. J., Cauley, J. A., Lewis, C. E., Bassford, T., Jackson, R., Wu, G., & Chen, Z. (2010). Hip structural geometry and incidence of hip fracture in postmenopausal women: what does it add to conventional bone mineral density?. Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA, 21(6), 919-29.More infoHip geometry measurements of outer diameter and buckling ratio at the intertrochanter and shaft of the hip dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan predicted incident hip fracture in postmenopausal women. These associations, independent of age, body size, clinical risk factors, and conventional areal bone mineral density, suggest hip geometry plays a role in fracture etiology and may aid in improving identification of older women at high fracture risk.
- Chlebowski, R. T., Kuller, L. H., Prentice, R. L., Stefanick, M. L., Manson, J. E., Gass, M., Aragaki, A. K., Ockene, J. K., Lane, D. S., Sarto, G. E., Rajkovic, A., Schenken, R., Hendrix, S. L., Ravdin, P. M., Rohan, T. E., Yasmeen, S., Anderson, G., & , W. I. (2009). Breast cancer after use of estrogen plus progestin in postmenopausal women. The New England journal of medicine, 360(6), 573-87.More infoFollowing the release of the 2002 report of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial of estrogen plus progestin, the use of menopausal hormone therapy in the United States decreased substantially. Subsequently, the incidence of breast cancer also dropped, suggesting a cause-and-effect relation between hormone treatment and breast cancer. However, the cause of this decrease remains controversial.
- Kabat, G. C., Kim, M., Adams-Campbell, L. L., Caan, B. J., Chlebowski, R. T., Neuhouser, M. L., Shikany, J. M., Rohan, T. E., & , W. I. (2009). Longitudinal study of serum carotenoid, retinol, and tocopherol concentrations in relation to breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 90(1), 162-9.More infoProspective studies have examined the association of serum and plasma carotenoids and micronutrients and breast cancer; however, to date, studies have only assessed exposure at one point in time.
- Heiss, G., Wallace, R., Anderson, G. L., Aragaki, A., Beresford, S. A., Brzyski, R., Chlebowski, R. T., Gass, M., LaCroix, A., Manson, J. E., Prentice, R. L., Rossouw, J., Stefanick, M. L., & , W. I. (2008). Health risks and benefits 3 years after stopping randomized treatment with estrogen and progestin. JAMA, 299(9), 1036-45.More infoThe Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial of estrogen plus progestin vs placebo was stopped early, after a mean 5.6 years of follow-up, because the overall health risks of hormone therapy exceeded its benefits.
- McTiernan, A., Wu, L., Barnabei, V. M., Chen, C., Hendrix, S., Modugno, F., Rohan, T., Stanczyk, F. Z., Wang, C. Y., & , W. I. (2008). Relation of demographic factors, menstrual history, reproduction and medication use to sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women. Breast cancer research and treatment, 108(2), 217-31.More infoIn postmenopausal women, levels of estrogens, androgens, and perhaps prolactin have been related to risk of breast and other hormonal cancers in women. However, the determinants of these hormone concentrations have not been firmly established. Associations among various demographic, menstrual, and reproductive factors, medication use and endogenous sex hormone concentrations (estradiol, free estradiol, estrone, estrone sulfate, testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), dihydrotestosterone, and prolactin) were evaluated in a cross-sectional analysis from a simple random sample of 274 postmenopausal women selected from the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial. In multiple regression analyses on log-transformed hormones, the concentrations of DHEA, and DHEAS were negatively and statistically significantly associated with age (both beta=-0.03, P
- Beresford, S. A., Johnson, K. C., Ritenbaugh, C., Lasser, N. L., Snetselaar, L. G., Black, H. R., Anderson, G. L., Assaf, A. R., Bassford, T., Bowen, D., Brunner, R. L., Brzyski, R. G., Caan, B., Chlebowski, R. T., Gass, M., Harrigan, R. C., Hays, J., Heber, D., Heiss, G., , Hendrix, S. L., et al. (2006). Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of colorectal cancer: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. JAMA, 295(6), 643-54.More infoObservational studies and polyp recurrence trials are not conclusive regarding the effects of a low-fat dietary pattern on risk of colorectal cancer, necessitating a primary prevention trial.
- Espeland, M. A., Rapp, S. R., Robertson, J., Granek, I., Murphy, C., Albert, M., Bassford, T., & , W. H. (2006). Benchmarks for designing two-stage studies using modified mini-mental state examinations: experience from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. Clinical trials (London, England), 3(2), 99-106.More infoThe most efficient approach for studies examining the incidence of dementia involves a brief screening instrument to identify participants for more extensive testing to identify cognitive impairment. The modified mini-mental state examination (3MS) is commonly used as this initial screen in such two-stage designs, however its properties for this role require further study.
- Hendrix, S. L., Wassertheil-Smoller, S., Johnson, K. C., Howard, B. V., Kooperberg, C., Rossouw, J. E., Trevisan, M., Aragaki, A., Baird, A. E., Bray, P. F., Buring, J. E., Criqui, M. H., Herrington, D., Lynch, J. K., Rapp, S. R., Torner, J., & , W. I. (2006). Effects of conjugated equine estrogen on stroke in the Women's Health Initiative. Circulation, 113(20), 2425-34.More infoThe Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Estrogen Alone trial assessed the balance of benefits and risks of hormone use in healthy postmenopausal women. The trial was stopped prematurely because there was no benefit for coronary heart disease and an increased risk of stroke. This report provides a thorough analysis of the stroke finding using the final results from the completed trial database.
- Howard, B. V., Van Horn, L., Hsia, J., Manson, J. E., Stefanick, M. L., Wassertheil-Smoller, S., Kuller, L. H., LaCroix, A. Z., Langer, R. D., Lasser, N. L., Lewis, C. E., Limacher, M. C., Margolis, K. L., Mysiw, W. J., Ockene, J. K., Parker, L. M., Perri, M. G., Phillips, L., Prentice, R. L., , Robbins, J., et al. (2006). Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. JAMA, 295(6), 655-66.More infoMultiple epidemiologic studies and some trials have linked diet with cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, but long-term intervention data are needed.
- Jackson, R. D., LaCroix, A. Z., Gass, M., Wallace, R. B., Robbins, J., Lewis, C. E., Bassford, T., Beresford, S. A., Black, H. R., Blanchette, P., Bonds, D. E., Brunner, R. L., Brzyski, R. G., Caan, B., Cauley, J. A., Chlebowski, R. T., Cummings, S. R., Granek, I., Hays, J., , Heiss, G., et al. (2006). Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of fractures. The New England journal of medicine, 354(7), 669-83.More infoThe efficacy of calcium with vitamin D supplementation for preventing hip and other fractures in healthy postmenopausal women remains equivocal.
- Jackson, R. D., Wactawski-Wende, J., LaCroix, A. Z., Pettinger, M., Yood, R. A., Watts, N. B., Robbins, J. A., Lewis, C. E., Beresford, S. A., Ko, M. G., Naughton, M. J., Satterfield, S., Bassford, T., & , W. H. (2006). Effects of conjugated equine estrogen on risk of fractures and BMD in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy: results from the women's health initiative randomized trial. Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 21(6), 817-28.More infoFurther analyses from the Women's Health Initiative estrogen trial shows that CEE reduced fracture risk. The fracture reduction at the hip did not differ appreciably among risk strata. These data do not support overall benefit over risk, even in women at highest risk for fracture.
- Stefanick, M. L., Anderson, G. L., Margolis, K. L., Hendrix, S. L., Rodabough, R. J., Paskett, E. D., Lane, D. S., Hubbell, F. A., Assaf, A. R., Sarto, G. E., Schenken, R. S., Yasmeen, S., Lessin, L., Chlebowski, R. T., & , W. I. (2006). Effects of conjugated equine estrogens on breast cancer and mammography screening in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy. JAMA, 295(14), 1647-57.More infoThe Women's Health Initiative Estrogen-Aone trial comparing conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) with placebo was stopped early because of an increased stroke incidence and no reduction in risk of coronary heart disease. Preliminary results suggesting possible reduction in breast cancers warranted more detailed analysis.
- Wactawski-Wende, J., Kotchen, J. M., Anderson, G. L., Assaf, A. R., Brunner, R. L., O'Sullivan, M. J., Margolis, K. L., Ockene, J. K., Phillips, L., Pottern, L., Prentice, R. L., Robbins, J., Rohan, T. E., Sarto, G. E., Sharma, S., Stefanick, M. L., Van Horn, L., Wallace, R. B., Whitlock, E., , Bassford, T., et al. (2006). Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of colorectal cancer. The New England journal of medicine, 354(7), 684-96.More infoHigher intake of calcium and vitamin D has been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in epidemiologic studies and polyp recurrence in polyp-prevention trials. However, randomized-trial evidence that calcium with vitamin D supplementation is beneficial in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer is lacking.
- Anderson, G. L., Limacher, M., Assaf, A. R., Bassford, T., Beresford, S. A., Black, H., Bonds, D., Brunner, R., Brzyski, R., Caan, B., Chlebowski, R., Curb, D., Gass, M., Hays, J., Heiss, G., Hendrix, S., Howard, B. V., Hsia, J., Hubbell, A., , Jackson, R., et al. (2004). Effects of conjugated equine estrogen in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy: the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 291(14), 1701-12.More infoDespite decades of use and considerable research, the role of estrogen alone in preventing chronic diseases in postmenopausal women remains uncertain.
- Hsia, J., Aragaki, A., Bloch, M., LaCroix, A. Z., Wallace, R., & , W. I. (2004). Predictors of angina pectoris versus myocardial infarction from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. The American journal of cardiology, 93(6), 673-8.More infoAlthough risk factors for acute coronary syndromes have been extensively studied, characteristics distinguishing women who will develop unstable angina rather than acute myocardial infarction (MI) are less well understood. This analysis evaluates baseline demographic, physical, and medical characteristics as predictors of angina versus MI in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. During a prospective 4.5-year follow-up of 92,152 postmenopausal women, 1,527 hospitalizations for angina and 797 for MI were confirmed by centrally trained physician adjudicators. In a multivariate analysis of women with incident angina or MI, high cholesterol (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47 to 0.80; p = 0.0004) and prior coronary disease (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.89; p = 0.004) independently predicted angina (referent), whereas current cigarette smoking (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.26; p = 0.007) and diabetes mellitus (1.44, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.87; p = 0.007) predicted MI. Older age and hypertension were independently, but less strongly, predictive of MI. Aspirin or statin use, physical activity, body mass index, and educational levels were not independently associated with one or the other type of acute coronary syndrome. Thus, specific risk factors strongly and independently predicted whether women with an acute coronary syndrome would present with angina or with MI.
- Margolis, K. L., Bonds, D. E., Rodabough, R. J., Tinker, L., Phillips, L. S., Allen, C., Bassford, T., Burke, G., Torrens, J., Howard, B. V., & , W. H. (2004). Effect of oestrogen plus progestin on the incidence of diabetes in postmenopausal women: results from the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Trial. Diabetologia, 47(7), 1175-87.More infoStudies examining the effect of postmenopausal hormone therapy on concentrations of glucose, insulin and diabetes incidence have been inconclusive, in part because many of the studies were too small. We examined the effect of oestrogen plus progestin on diabetes incidence and insulin resistance.
- Chlebowski, R. T., Hendrix, S. L., Langer, R. D., Stefanick, M. L., Gass, M., Lane, D., Rodabough, R. J., Gilligan, M. A., Cyr, M. G., Thomson, C. A., Khandekar, J., Petrovitch, H., McTiernan, A., & , W. I. (2003). Influence of estrogen plus progestin on breast cancer and mammography in healthy postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Trial. JAMA, 289(24), 3243-53.More infoThe Women's Health Initiative trial of combined estrogen plus progestin was stopped early when overall health risks, including invasive breast cancer, exceeded benefits. Outstanding issues not previously addressed include characteristics of breast cancers observed among women using hormones and whether diagnosis may be influenced by hormone effects on mammography.
- Greaves, K. A., Going, S. B., Fernandez, M. L., Milliken, L. A., Lohman, T. G., Bassford, T., & McNamara, D. J. (2003). Cholesteryl ester transfer protein and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activities in hispanic and anglo postmenopausal women: associations with total and regional body fat. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 52(3), 282-9.More infoReverse cholesterol transport is one process by which high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has been hypothesized to play a role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. This study was designed to examine cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activities, 2 modulators of reverse cholesterol transport, in Hispanic and Anglo postmenopausal women. The associations between plasma CETP and LCAT activities and body composition were also examined. Of the 199 subjects, 33% were of Hispanic origin and 47% were undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometry. Plasma CETP activity was higher in Hispanic compared to Anglo women, although the difference was eliminated when data were adjusted for abdominal fat. Hispanic women had lower plasma HDL cholesterol concentrations, higher total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratios and triglyceride concentrations, and greater susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles to oxidation. Hispanic women also had a significantly greater relative deposition of body fat on the trunk and intra-abdominally than did Anglo women, even after adjusting for total body fat. There were no significant ethnic differences in LCAT activity. Plasma CETP and LCAT activities were negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol and positively correlated with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as total and regional body composition variables. In conclusion, results suggest a greater risk for coronary heart disease in Hispanic women compared to Anglo women.
- Wassertheil-Smoller, S., Hendrix, S. L., Limacher, M., Heiss, G., Kooperberg, C., Baird, A., Kotchen, T., Curb, J. D., Black, H., Rossouw, J. E., Aragaki, A., Safford, M., Stein, E., Laowattana, S., Mysiw, W. J., & , W. I. (2003). Effect of estrogen plus progestin on stroke in postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative: a randomized trial. JAMA, 289(20), 2673-84.More infoThe Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial of estrogen plus progestin was stopped early because of adverse effects, including an increased risk of stroke in the estrogen plus progestin group.
- Wright, A. L., Schwindt, L. A., Bassford, T. L., Reyna, V. F., Shisslak, C. M., St Germain, P. A., & Reed, K. L. (2003). Gender differences in academic advancement: patterns, causes, and potential solutions in one US College of Medicine. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 78(5), 500-8.More infoThe influx of women into academic medicine has not been accompanied by equality for male and female faculty. Women earn less than men in comparable positions, progress more slowly through academic ranks, and have not attained important leadership roles. This study tested hypotheses about why gender disparities exist in salary, rank, track, leadership, and perceptions of campus climate at one academic center, the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson.
- Larkey, L. K., Staten, L. K., Ritenbaugh, C., Hall, R. A., Buller, D. B., Bassford, T., & Altimari, B. R. (2002). Recruitment of Hispanic women to the Women's Health Initiative. the case of Embajadoras in Arizona. Controlled clinical trials, 23(3), 289-98.More infoThis study examined the use of lay advocates (i.e., women enrolled in a study who advocate to others) to improve recruitment among Hispanic women in the Arizona recruitment sites for a large-scale, national prevention study, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). We examined whether trained, Hispanic lay advocates (called Embajadoras) brought more women into the study than a matched group of Hispanic and Anglo enrollees in the WHI who were supplied with brochures. Fifty-six Hispanic participants in the WHI were randomized to receive training or no training on advocacy, and continued to meet quarterly for 18 months. Also, 42 Anglo women were assigned to control. All groups received brochures to use for advocating the WHI. The number of women referred and enrolled was tracked as well as other factors expected to influence outcomes. Embajadoras were more successful at referral and enrollment than untrained Hispanic women and more successful at enrollment than untrained Anglo controls. Embajadoras were also found to distribute significantly more brochures than control groups. Therefore, a culturally aligned training program to encourage current Hispanic participants in a clinical trial to advocate the study to others may be an effective way to boost referrals and enrollments. Other potential influences on enrollment or referral success could not be determined due to the small sample size. Further study is needed to examine the best methods to encourage enrollment for women referred to the study.
- Taren, D. L., Thomson, C. A., Koff, N. A., Gordon, P. R., Marian, M. J., Bassford, T. L., Fulginiti, J. V., & Ritenbaugh, C. K. (2001). Effect of an integrated nutrition curriculum on medical education, student clinical performance, and student perception of medical-nutrition training. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 73(6), 1107-12.More infoNinety-eight percent of medical schools report nutrition as a component of medical education. However, most schools do not have an identifiable nutrition curriculum. Medical schools that do include nutrition have not evaluated its effect on clinical skills.
- Thomson, C. A., Taren, D., Koff, N., Marian, M., Canfield, L., Bassford, T., & Ritenbaugh, C. (2000). An integrated nutrition curriculum in medical education. Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education, 15(3), 127-9.More infoR25 grant support from the NIH/NCI enabled the University of Arizona to assess nutrition education, develop and evaluate specific course content, and move toward comprehensive prevention-based nutrition education in 1991-1997. Hours of nutrition education increased to 115% over baseline, and students indicated greater satisfaction with the amount of nutrition instruction they received. Especially valuable was a course in prenatal and infant nutrition that paired each student with a pregnant patient. After the grant support ended, nutrition began to be crowded out of the curriculum by other, more traditional, topics, but a 57% gain over baseline was sustained. External support for nutrition education is urgently needed.
- Brownstein, J. N., Cheal, N., Ackermann, S. P., Bassford, T. L., & Campos-Outcalt, D. (1992). Breast and cervical cancer screening in minority populations: a model for using lay health educators. Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education, 7(4), 321-6.More infoAlthough mammography and the Pap smear have significantly reduced US deaths related to breast and cervical cancers, screening prevalence and survival rates for both diseases are disproportionately lower among minority women. This model program outlines techniques for recruiting and training minority women to serve as lay health educators who can effectively deliver preventive health care information to their peers. Lay health educators have three primary functions: to serve as mediators between minority women and health agencies, to establish a social network, and to offer social support. When properly recruited and trained, these educators can bridge the gap between health professionals and the community as well as help health professionals to better understand community and individual concerns about cancer. The goal is to increase the detection, prevention, and treatment of breast and cervical cancers in minority communities and thus decrease related deaths. An ongoing intervention by the Arizona Disease Prevention Center, targeting Yaqui Indian and Mexican-American women aged 35 and older, illustrates specific elements of the model.
- Lippman, S. M., Bassford, T. L., & Meyskens, F. L. (1992). A quantitatively scored cancer-risk assessment tool: its development and use. Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education, 7(1), 15-36.More infoAchievement of NIH and ACS goals for reduction in cancer mortality will require increased efforts directed at risk reduction and early detection in the general population. Primary care providers will play a major role. This paper describes the development and use of a quantitative cancer-risk appraisal tool designed to promote cancer prevention and screening and provide a framework for advancing education on these critical issues at all levels of medical training, to assist physicians in risk identification and patient counseling. The risk assessment questionnaire is close-ended and easily completed by the patient within 10 to 15 minutes. The IBM-compatible format permits easy quantitation by laser scanning and computer analysis. This program quantitates risks arising from interacting independent factors and estimates the effects of primary prevention interventions. Program output includes age- and sex-specific ACS screening guidelines and discussion of intensified screening measures in high-risk subjects.
- Weiss, B. D., Bassford, T., & Davis, T. (1991). The cervical cap. American family physician, 43(2), 517-23.More infoThe cervical cap is a barrier contraceptive method with an efficacy similar to that of the diaphragm. It has several advantages over other barrier contraceptives. In particular, it can be left in place for up to 48 hours, and repeated applications of spermicide are not necessary, even if sexual intercourse occurs more than once. In addition, the side effects seen with other barrier methods do not occur with the cervical cap. In some women, Papanicolaou tests may become abnormal, especially during the first three months of cap use. Therefore, careful monitoring of cervical cap users is essential.
- Lippman, S. M., Bassford, T. L., & Meyskens, F. L. (1988). Quantitative assessment of cancer risk. Texas medicine, 84(10), 48-53.
Presentations
- Arnett, M., Arnett, M., Cornelison, B. R., Cornelison, B. R., Bassford, T. L., Bassford, T. L., Spear-Ellinwood, K. C., Spear-Ellinwood, K. C., Shirai, Y., & Shirai, Y. (2019, November). Creative Approaches for Integrating Patients/Families and Community Members as Participants and Facilitators in Interprofessional Education Activities.. the annual meetings of the Nexus Arizona Summit of the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. Phoenix, Arizona: the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education.
- Arnett, M., Cornelison, B. R., Bassford, T. L., Spear-Ellinwood, K. C., & Shirai, Y. (2019, Summer). Creative Approaches for Integrating Patients/Families and Community Members as Participants and Facilitators in Interprofessional Education Activities.. the annual meetings of the Nexus Summit of the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. Minneapolis, MN: the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education.
- Bassford, T. L., & Shirai, Y. (2019, Feburary). Critical Role of Primary Care and Caregiver Partnership for Promoting Early Detection and Health Care Advocacy: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia in Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Resarch Grand Round. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona, Depertment of Family & Community Medicine.
- Bassford, T. L., & Whightman, P. (2018, June). Assessment of a Model Coordinated Primary Care Program for Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) by Analysis of Medicaid Billing Data.. 16th Annual Conference of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. Seattle, Washington: American Academy if Developmental Medicine and Dentistry.
- Bassford, T. L. (2012, April). The Patent Centered Medical Home and Care of People with IDD. Developmental Disabilities Lecture Series, The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities. New Jersey: Robert Wood Jphnson Medical School.
- Bassford, T. L. (2012, December). UCEDDs and Family Medicine:The New Jersey and Arizona Experience in Providing a Primary Care Health Home Model for Adults. AUCD Annual Meeting. Bethesda Maryland: Association of University Centers on Disabilities.
Poster Presentations
- Kennedy, T., Bassford, T. L., & Lavine, C. (2018, June). Medical Students Self Reported Knowledge and Attitudes toward Topics in Developmental Disability. 16th Annual Conference American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. Seattle, Washington: American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry.
- Bassford, T. L. (2015, July). Utilizing a Developmental Disability Focused Electronic Health Records Template to Guide Family Medicine Resident Physicians Through a Patient Visit.. AADMD Annual Education Conference. Los Angeles CA: American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry.
Creative Productions
- Arnett, M., Shirai, Y., Bassford, T. L., & Spear-Ellinwood, K. C. (2019. Vicky's Big Move. Center for Transformative Interprofessioanl Healthcare, UA Health Sciences Center Disabilities Event. UAHS, Tucson, AZ.More infohttps://youtu.be/IYU6p4AVKTgThis video was created for the Center for Transformative Interprofessional Healthcare of the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center (UAHS) as curriculum for an educational event entitled, “Interprofessional Education Disabilities Event”. Editors include Dr. Tamsen Bassford, Family & Community Medicine, Dr. Yumi Shirai, Family & Community Medicine; and Margie Arnet, MS, Center for Transformative Interprofessional Healthcare. Camera, Direction and production credit: Roy Wageman, BioCommunications, UAHS
Others
- Bassford, T. L. (1994, October). Quality Determinants of Mammography Clinical Practice Guideline No. 13. AHCPR Publication No. 95-0632.. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services..