Assessing the influence of rural residence and economic distress on lower extremity risk stratification among diabetic foot ulcer patients utilizing the Wound, Ischemia, and Foot Infection (WIfI) classification system.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a major sequela of uncontrolled diabetes with a high risk of adverse outcomes. Poor DFU outcomes disproportionately impact patients living in rural and economically distressed communities with lack of access to consistent, quality care. This study aimed to analyze the risk of geographic and economic disparities, including rural status and county economic distress, on the disease burden of DFU at presentation utilizing the SVS WIfI classification system. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 454 patients diagnosed with a DFU from 2011 to 2020 at a single institution's inpatient and outpatient wound care service. Patients >18 years old, with type II diabetes mellitus, and diabetic foot ulcer were included. RESULTS: ANCOVA analyses showed rural patients had significantly higher WIfI composite scores (F(1,451) = 9.61, p = .002), grades of wound (F(1,439) = 11.03, p = .001), and ischemia (F(1,380) = 12.574, p = .001) compared to the urban patients. Patients that resided in at-risk economic counties had significantly higher overall WIfI composite scores (F(2,448) = 3.31, p = .037) than patients who lived in transitional economic counties, and higher foot infection grading (F(2,440) = 3.02, p = .05) compared to patients who lived in distressed economic counties. DFU patients who resided in distressed economic counties presented with higher individual grades of ischemia (F(2, 377) = 3.14, p = .04) than patients in transitional economic counties. Chi-Square analyses demonstrated patients who resided in urban counties were significantly more likely to present with grade 1 wounds (χ2(3) = 9.86, p = .02) and grade 0 ischemia (χ2(3) = 16.18, p = .001) compared to patients in rural areas. Economically distressed patients presented with significantly less grade 0 ischemia compared to patients in transitional economic counties (χ2(6) = 17.48, p = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are the first to demonstrate the impact of geographic and economic disparities on the disease burden of DFU at presentation utilizing the SVS WIfI classification system. This may indicate need for improved multidisciplinary primary care prevention strategies with vascular specialists in these communities to mitigate worsening DFU and promote early intervention.

Overcoming Patient Pain Together: Breast Cancer Patients and Caregivers' Pretreatment Psychosocial Distress Linked to Patients' Pain Interference During the First Year of Treatment.

Breast cancer patients experience treatment-related pain from surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and long-term hormonal treatment, which can lead to poorer outcomes. Patient and family caregivers' psychosocial distress exacerbates patient pain interference, but this has not been directly examined among breast cancer patients in dyadic models longitudinally. Guided by a biopsychosocial framework, the Biobehavioral Family Model, we explore how multiple reports of patient pain interference across the first year of treatment are linked to the patient (N = 55) and caregiver (N = 55) pretreatment psychosocial distress (eg, depression, anxiety, marital satisfaction, family relationship quality). Specifically, we find that breast cancer patients' pain interference increases and then decreases over the first year of treatment. Additionally, caregivers' pretreatment anxiety was associated with increased patient pain interference over time (B = .19, SE = .07, P = .008), while patients' pretreatment psychosocial distress was not associated with a change in their pain interference. Yet, looking at clinically specific times during the first year of treatment, we find that caregiver-reported higher marital satisfaction is associated with lower patient-reported pain interference later in treatment (6 months: B = -.58, SE = .24, P = .017; 12 months: B = -.82, SE = .23, P < .001). We conclude that, per the Biobehavioral Family Model, pretreatment patient and caregiver psychosocial distress is linked to patient pain interference during the first year of breast cancer treatment. Thus, caregivers' psychosocial distress (ie, anxiety and marital satisfaction) may be a particularly important target in future dyadic behavioral intervention strategies to reduce breast cancer patient pain. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents the link between breast cancer patients and family caregiver pretreatment psychosocial distress (anxiety, depression, marital satisfaction, and family quality) on patient pain interference during 1 year of breast cancer treatment. Findings suggest that caregiver anxiety and marital satisfaction may be important targets for future dyadic behavioral pain interventions.

The impact of rural structural and community health factors on postmastectomy complications among south central Appalachian breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The study examined how structural and community health factors, including primary care physicians (PCP), food insecurity, diabetes, and mortality rate per county, are linked to the number and severity of postmastectomy complications among south central Appalachian breast cancer patients depending on rural status. METHODS: Data was obtained through a retrospective review of 473 breast cancer patients that underwent a mastectomy from 2017 to 2021. Patient's ZIP Code was used to determine their rural-urban community area code and their county of residence for census data. We conducted a zero inflated Poisson regression. FINDINGS: Results demonstrated that patients in small rural/isolated areas with low (B = -4.10, SE = 1.93, OR = 0.02, p = 0.03) to average (B = -2.67, SE = 1.32, OR = 0.07, p = 0.04) food insecurity and average (B = -2.67, SE = 1.32, OR = 0.07, p = 0.04) to high (B = -10.62, SE = 4.71, OR = 0.00, p = 0.02) PCP have significantly fewer postmastectomy complications compared to their urban counterparts. Additionally, patients residing in small rural/isolated areas with high (B = 4.47, SE = 0.49, d = 0.42, p < 0.001) diabetes and low mortality (B = 5.70, SE = 0.58, d = 0.45, p < 0.001) rates have significantly more severe postmastectomy complications. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that patients who reside in small/rural isolated areas may experience fewer and less severe postmastectomy when there is certain optimal structural and community health factors present compared to their urban counterparts. Oncologic care teams could utilize this information in routine consult for risk assessment and mitigation. Future research should further examine additional risks for postmastectomy complications.

Ambulatory Status before Diabetic Foot Ulcer Development as a Predictor of Amputation and 1-Year Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Up to 25% of people with diabetes develop a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) during their lifetime, which precedes approximately 85% of nontraumatic lower limb amputations. Diabetic limb salvage has been at the forefront of recent research, as major amputation is associated with 5-year mortality rates of 52%-80%. We sought to determine if ambulatory status before DFU diagnosis is predictive of amputations and outcomes within 1 year, as no studies have directly examined this relationship. Methods: A retrospective review of patients diagnosed with DFUs from January 2011 to December 2021 was performed. Patients aged 18 years or more with type II diabetes were included. Ambulatory status was defined as the primary form of mobility reported by the patient before development of DFU, and was categorized as independent ambulation, ambulatory with assisting device (AWAD), or nonambulatory (NA). Statistical analyses included χ2, multinomial, and multivariable logistic regressions. Results: After review, 506 patients were included. NA (OR = 5.10; P = 0.002) and AWAD status (OR = 2.77; P = 0.01) before DFU development were predictive of major (below or above-knee) amputation during hospitalization, emergency department visits within 30-days (NA: OR = 4.19; P = 0.01, AWAD: OR = 3.09; P = 0.02), and mortality within one-year (NA: OR = 4.19; P = 0.01, AWAD: OR = 3.09; P = 0.02). AWAD status was also associated with increased risk of hospital readmission (OR = 2.89; P < 0.001) within 30-days and any amputation (OR = 1.73; P = 0.01) within 1 year. Conclusions: In patients with DFUs, NA and AWAD status were predictive of major amputation during hospitalization and are associated with poorer 1-year outcomes, including mortality. Ambulatory status assessment may be used to inform DFU treatment approaches.

Differences in Distress Between Rural and Non-rural Appalachian Breast Cancer Patient/Caregiver Dyads During the First Year of Treatment.

Introduction: Breast cancer patients and their caregivers living in rural Appalachia face substantial health disparities compared to their non-rural Appalachian counterparts. However, there is limited research on how these specific health disparities in rural Appalachian communities may impact patient psychological distress and caregiver strain during the first year of breast cancer treatment. Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to assess differences in patient psychological distress (depression and anxiety) and caregiver strain between rural non-rural Appalachian breast-cancer-affected dyads (patients and their caregivers) during the first year of treatment. Methods: A total of 48 Appalachian breast cancer patients (with a Stage I through Stage III diagnosis) and their identified caregiver (together, 'dyads') were identified from The University of Tennessee Medical Center across 2019 to 2020. Dyads completed follow-up surveys throughout the first year of treatment. In this prospective pilot study, measures on anxiety, depression and caregiver strain were self-reported and then analyzed using RM-ANOVA. Results: There was a statistically significant higher number of reports of patient depression and caregiver strain in rural-residing dyads compared to non-rural-residing dyads. However, there was not a statistically significant difference between rural and non-rural Appalachian dyads for patient-reported anxiety during the first year of treatment. Implications: The higher reported patient depression and caregiver strain among rural-residing Appalachian patients may indicate the need for implementing remote (e.g., telehealth) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address the psychological needs of rural-residing dyads. Additionally, greater education from physicians to rural dyads on what to expect during treatment could alleviate caregiver strain.

The importance of family relationships for the health of underserved Appalachians: An application and extension of the biobehavioral family model.

INTRODUCTION: Appalachia is characterized by many contextual stressors, including geographic, economic, and cultural barriers to healthcare. Guided by the biobehavioral family model (BBFM), an understanding of the influence of interpersonal relationships (i.e., marital and nonmarital relationships) on health outcomes could be critical to mitigating the region's contextual stressors. METHOD: Data were collected from 2018 to 2019 among 243 participants across seven pop-up medical clinics in central and southern Appalachia 59% from rural Appalachian counties (rural Mage = 41, 66% women, 90% White; urban Mage = 36, 74% women, 82% White). A series of multivariate regression models were conducted for outcome measures (i.e., depression, pain, physical symptoms, number of conditions, and perceived health). RESULTS: The results suggest that family quality was significantly related to all outcome measures except for perceived health, whereas marital satisfaction was only significantly linked to physical symptoms. Rurality was not significantly associated with any outcome measures and only moderated the association between family quality and a number of conditions. DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate the importance of nonmarital family relationships on health outcomes for people in Appalachia. Given the limited direct impact rurality in this sample, close relationships may be important for the health and well-being of all economically marginalized Appalachians regarding where they live. Given the cultural tendency for Appalachians to rely on family and kinship networks for healthcare support and the findings in this study, medical professionals should develop innovative programs to incorporate family into healthcare visits, and disease management interventions for people living in Appalachia. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

I am feeling stressed, are you?: Breast cancer patients and caregivers' inter-psychophysiological symptoms during the first year of breast cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer treatment can be a stressful time for both the patient and their caregiver. Both patients and caregivers can experience increases psychophysiological distress (e.g., pain interference, fatigue, anxiety, depressive symptoms, perceived health); however, it is not clear how psychophysiological distress before treatment is linked to distress during the first year of treatment both interpersonally and intrapersonally. METHODS: The present study recruited 54 patient-caregiver dyads during diagnosis before breast cancer treatment started. Both patients and caregivers complete self-reported surveys at baseline (before treatment), then 6-weeks, 6-months, and 12-months after the start of treatment. Specifically, we examine trajectories of psychophysiological change using Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIMs) Growth Curve Models and clinically specific times of psychophysiological influence using APIM path analyses. RESULTS: Results indicate that patient and caregiver psychophysiological distress before treatment is linked to psychophysiological distress during the first year of treatment both intrapersonally and interpersonally but somewhat differently depending on the symptom. For example, for perceived health there are no interpersonal effects and for fatigue caregivers appear to experience the majority of psychophysiological distress effects. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that medical practitioners could evaluate patients and their caregivers for psychophysiological distress prior to breast cancer treatment and consider referrals to therapy or psychoeducation to help with symptom management throughout the first year of treatment.

Examining Contextual Influences Affecting health-related Quality of life Among under-resourced Appalachian Patients Attending pop-up Medical Clinics.

Appalachian residents face substantial barriers to accessing health care and these barriers have negative ramifications for this community's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [1, 2]. Pop-up medical clinics address some of these barriers by offering a range of free health care services throughout Appalachia. Although these services are undoubtedly helpful, information on how these clinics may be linked to HRQoL changes among under-resourced communities is limited. The present study is among the first to examine how (1) individuals attending pop-up medical clinics present on HRQoL indicators, (2) how HRQoL changes 3-months post-clinic, and (3) how individual, social, and community factors interact with HRQoL at presentation and change in HRQoL 3-months post-clinic. Data were collected from 243 individuals attending one of seven pop-up medical clinics across Central, South Central, and Southern Appalachia. During the week of the clinic, participants completed a survey assessing individual, social, and community factors as well as HRQoL variables (i.e., overall health, depressive symptoms, pain, sleep quality, and several physical symptoms). Participants completed the same survey 3-months post-clinic. Results revealed that baseline individual, social, and community factors were predictive of HRQoL indicators at baseline; individual and social factors also uniquely predicted change in HRQoL at 3-months post-clinic. Within the Social Ecological Framework, these data emphasize the significance of individual and social level factors on an individual's HRQoL. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Relationship quality and psychophysiological distress for underserved breast cancer patients and their caregiver before treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer patients and caregivers experience biobehavioral reactivity (e.g., depression, anxiety, pain, fatigue) during breast cancer treatment which predicts cancer recurrence and mortality. High quality patient-caregiver relationships can mitigate this distress during treatment, but this association is unclear pre-treatment. Identifying early interventions that target high risk Appalachian patients could impact biobehavioral reactivity. METHODS: We recruited 55 breast cancer patient-caregiver dyads to complete a self-report survey after diagnosis but before treatment. We used a series of Actor-Partner Interdependence Models to test the hypotheses that both patient and caregiver relationship quality would be linked to their own and their partners' biobehavioral reactivity. RESULTS: Caregiver reported marital quality lower caregiver anxiety, patient anxiety, caregiver depression, patient depression, caregiver pain, and caregiver fatigue. Interestingly, patient-reported marital quality was linked with higher caregiver anxiety, higher patient anxiety, lower patient depression, and lower patient pain. Patients reported family quality was linked to lower patient and caregiver pain. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that pre-treatment marital and family quality levels are directly related to psychophysiological measures in both the caregiver and the patient, though sometimes in unexpected directions. Additionally, our findings potentially reveal an opportunity to intervene at the time of diagnosis to improve relationship quality, impacting patient and caregiver psychophysiological outcomes.