Shifting the paradigm of research-to-policy impact: Infrastructure for improving researcher engagement and collective action.

The body of scientific knowledge accumulated by the scholarly disciplines such as Developmental Psychopathology can achieve meaningful public impact if wielded and used in policy decision-making. Scientific study of how policymakers use research evidence underscores the need for researchers' policy engagement; however, barriers in the academy create conditions in which there is a need for infrastructure that increases the feasibility of researchers' partnership with policymakers. This need led to the development of the Research-to-Policy Collaboration model, a systematic approach for developing "boundary spanning" infrastructure, which has been experimentally tested and shown to improve policymakers' use of research evidence and bolster researchers' policy skills and engagement. This paper presents original research regarding the optimization of the RPC model, which sought to better serve and engage scholars across the globe. Trial findings shed light on ways to improve conditions that make good use of researchers' time for policy engagement via a virtual platform and enhanced e-communications. Future directions, implications, and practical guidelines for how scientists can engage in the political process and improve the impact of a collective discipline are also discussed.

Lawmakers' use of scientific evidence can be improved.

Core to the goal of scientific exploration is the opportunity to guide future decision-making. Yet, elected officials often miss opportunities to use science in their policymaking. This work reports on an experiment with the US Congress-evaluating the effects of a randomized, dual-population (i.e., researchers and congressional offices) outreach model for supporting legislative use of research evidence regarding child and family policy issues. In this experiment, we found that congressional offices randomized to the intervention reported greater value of research for understanding issues than the control group following implementation. More research use was also observed in legislation introduced by the intervention group. Further, we found that researchers randomized to the intervention advanced their own policy knowledge and engagement as well as reported benefits for their research following implementation.

Self as both target and judge: Who has an easier time knowing their own personality?

OBJECTIVE: The past two decades have established that people generally have insight into their personalities, but less is known about how and why self-knowledge might vary between individuals. Using the Realistic Accuracy Model as a framework, we investigate whether some people make better "targets" of self-perception by behaving more consistently in everyday life, and whether these differences have benefits for psychological adjustment. METHOD: Using data from the Electronically Activated Recorder (n = 286), we indexed self-knowledge as the link between self-reports of personality and actual daily behavior measured over 1 week. We then tested if consistency in daily behavior as well as psychological adjustment predicted stronger self-knowledge. RESULTS: We found that behaving more consistently in everyday life was associated with more accurate self-reports, but that psychological adjustment was not. CONCLUSIONS: Analogous to interpersonal perception, self-knowledge of personality might be affected by "target-side" factors, like the quality of information provided through one's behavior. However, unlike being a good target of interpersonal perception, self-knowledge does not seem to be related to psychological adjustment.

Who makes a more consistent first impression? Examining the structure and correlates of dissensus.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: How do targets shape consensus in impression formation? Targets are known to play an outsized role in the accuracy of first impressions, but their influence on consensus has been difficult to study. With the help of the recently developed extended Social Relations Model, we explore the structure and correlates of individual differences in consensus (i.e., dissensus). METHOD: Across 3 studies, 187 photographs of targets were rated by 960 perceivers on personality and evaluative traits, as well as being coded for physical cues by trained coders. We explored the within-target consistency of consensus across traits, as well as its relationship to four categories of theoretically relevant correlates: expressiveness, normativity, positivity, and social categories. RESULTS: The tendency to make a consistent impression on others was broadly consistent across traits. High-consensus targets tended to be more expressive, had more normative physical cues, and were viewed more positively. CONCLUSIONS: At least in a first impression context, targets may play a unique role in predicting the consensus of personality judgments by providing perceivers with more information to work with, and making a negative impression on others may carry social costs.

US Cigarette Smoking Disparities by Race and Ethnicity - Keep Going and Going!

INTRODUCTION: Although current cigarette smoking among US adults decreased from 42.4% in 1965 to 12.5% in 2020, prevalence is higher among certain racial and ethnic groups, including non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) adults. METHODS: We examined trends in current cigarette smoking prevalence, population estimates, and relative disparity among US adults (aged ≥18 y) between 2011 and 2020 by using data from the National Health Interview Survey. SAS-callable SUDAAN was used to obtain prevalence and population estimates, and relative disparity was calculated on the basis of findings in the literature. Trends were significant at P < .05. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2020, linear decreases in prevalence and population estimates were observed for non-Hispanic White (20.6% to 13.3%; 32.1 million to 20.7 million), non-Hispanic Black (19.4% to 14.4%; 5.1 million to 4.0 million), and Hispanic (12.9% to 8.0%; 4.2 million to 3.3 million) adults. For non-Hispanic AIAN adults, prevalence remained around 27%, and a linear increase in the population estimate was observed from 400,000 to 510,000. Relative disparity did not change across racial and ethnic categories. CONCLUSION: Linear decreases have occurred between 2011 and 2020 for non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic adults who smoke, but the number of non-Hispanic AIAN adults who currently smoke has increased by 110,000, and relative disparities persist. To reduce racial and ethnic disparities in smoking, understanding how factors at multiple socioecologic levels impact smoking and helping to inform paths to equitable reach and implementation of tobacco control interventions for all population groups are needed.

The effect of letter writing on a long-term care resident with loneliness.

Older adults living in long term care (LTC) facilities may experience increased isolation and loneliness. This was compounded with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Loneliness and isolation increase the risk for physical, psychological, and social decline. This case report discusses the effect of a letter writing initiative on feelings of loneliness and connection in a long-term care resident. Personalized care is the standard in the long-term care setting and letter writing between two people can contribute to personalized meaningful care as evidenced by the example provided. Further research is needed to explore social connection and loneliness and methods to combat these issues with a personalized approach for different populations within LTC facilities.

Promoting Connection in the Faith Community Through Letter Writing.

ABSTRACT: Faith community nurses can reduce loneliness and provide connection for homebound members of faith communities through promotion of letter writing. Undergraduate nursing students who were matched with members of their own faith community wrote letters to older adults for 10 weeks as a community service-learning project. Data from the UCLA Loneliness Scale pre- and post-intervention showed reduced loneliness and greater connection among recipients of the letters.

Effectiveness of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccines Among Incarcerated People in California State Prisons: Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Prisons and jails are high-risk settings for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccines may substantially reduce these risks, but evidence is needed on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness for incarcerated people, who are confined in large, risky congregate settings. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to estimate effectiveness of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna), against confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among incarcerated people in California prisons from 22 December 2020 through 1 March 2021. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provided daily data for all prison residents including demographic, clinical, and carceral characteristics, as well as COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and outcomes. We estimated vaccine effectiveness using multivariable Cox models with time-varying covariates, adjusted for resident characteristics and infection rates across prisons. RESULTS: Among 60 707 cohort members, 49% received at least 1 BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 dose during the study period. Estimated vaccine effectiveness was 74% (95% confidence interval [CI], 64%-82%) from day 14 after first dose until receipt of second dose and 97% (95% CI, 88%-99%) from day 14 after second dose. Effectiveness was similar among the subset of residents who were medically vulnerable: 74% (95% CI, 62%-82%) and 92% (95% CI, 74%-98%) from 14 days after first and second doses, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with results from randomized trials and observational studies in other populations, mRNA vaccines were highly effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections among incarcerated people. Prioritizing incarcerated people for vaccination, redoubling efforts to boost vaccination, and continuing other ongoing mitigation practices are essential in preventing COVID-19 in this disproportionately affected population.

COVID-19 related perception among some community members and frontline healthcare providers for NTD control in Ghana.

INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a major breakdown of health service provision in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). COVID-19 may impact NTDs service delivery in varied ways. As the Ghana NTD programme planned to resume MDA activities, we examined the COVID-19 related perceptions and practices among some community members and frontline health workers for NTD control activities in the country. METHODS: The study was conducted in seven communities in the Ahanta West district of Ghana. This was a qualitative study using in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGDs) for data collection. Participants were purposively selected from varied backgrounds to represent both beneficiaries and service providers directly involved in NTD programme implementation. Trained and experienced qualitative data collectors conducted the FGD and IDI sessions in the local Twi language, while health worker sessions were conducted in English. Discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed directly into English. Data was analysed using an iterative process. The transcripts were pre-coded using the broad themes, entered into a computer using Microsoft Word, and then imported into the MAXQDA software for thematic content analysis to select relevant representative narratives for presentation. RESULTS: Participants were aware of the COVID-19 pandemic and referred to it appropriately as 'coronavirus', COVID-19, and often as 'the new disease'. Though many respondents could not describe the route of transmission, most of them reported that it is transmitted through touch or sharing of common items. They reported some signs/symptoms like fever, headache and difficulty breathing, and prevention methods like the use of hand sanitiser, washing of hands and sneezing appropriately. Respondents have reported that COVID-19 has negatively affected their daily lives by limiting their movements and therefore work. It also came to light that COVID-19 has also negatively affected the NTD programme implementation, especially mass drug administration (MDA) activities, leading to the postponement of the yearly MDA. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected clinic attendance; people are afraid that they may be tested for COVID-19 at the clinic. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has negatively affected the NTD programme. Education and the provision of personal protective equipment will be required to build the confidence of frontline care providers including community drug distributors and community members in order to enhance quality service and participation in future MDA activities.

Zambia Assessment of Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in the Mines (ZATHIM): implications for programs and policies.

BACKGROUND: Mineworkers in Southern Africa have the highest rates of tuberculosis (TB) among working populations in the world (The World Bank, Benefits and costs associated with reducing tuberculosis among Southern Africa's mineworkers, 2014), making mineworkers a key population for TB program efforts. The current evaluation aimed to characterize mineworkers and former (ex-) mineworkers, and assess knowledge, attitudes and practices related to TB and HIV care among mineworkers and healthcare workers (HCWs) in Zambia. METHODS: A mixed-methods evaluation of current and former (ex-) mineworkers and HCWs was conducted in the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces, Zambia. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) related to TB care and policies were assessed using a structured survey. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with current and ex-mineworkers to understand perceptions, practices, and barriers related to accessing healthcare for TB. RESULTS: Overall, 2,792 mineworkers and 94 HCWs completed the KAP survey, and 206 (171 current, 71 ex-) mineworkers participated in FGDs. Mineworkers and ex-mineworkers were knowledgeable about TB symptoms (cough; 94%), transmission (81.7%) and treatment (99.2%). Yet, barriers to seeking care were evident with 30% of mineworkers experiencing cough, and 19% reporting 2 or more TB symptoms at the time of the survey. The majority of mineworkers (70.9%) were aware of policies barring persons from working after a diagnosis of TB, and themes from FGDs and HCW comments (n = 32/62; 51.6%) recognized fear of job loss as a critical barrier to providing timely screening and appropriate care for TB among mineworkers. The majority (76.9%) of mineworkers indicated they would not disclose their TB status to their supervisor, but would be willing to share their diagnosis with their spouse (73.8%). CONCLUSION: Fear of job loss, driven by governmental policy and mistrust in mining companies, is a major barrier to healthcare access for TB among mineworkers in Zambia. As a result of these findings, the government policy prohibiting persons from working in the mines following TB disease is being repealed. However, major reforms are urgently needed to mitigate TB among mineworkers, including ensuring the rights of mineworkers and their communities to healthy living and working environments, improved social responsibility of mining companies, and facilitating choice and access to affordable, timely, and high-quality healthcare services.

Exploring Alternate Visions of Caring in a World of Social Distancing.

Compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, both loneliness and isolation are a growing concern for the older adult population. An intergenerational holistic exchange, Cardinals CARE (Cardinals, Adopt, Residents for Engagement), was developed as a way to connect older adults in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) with nursing students while demonstrating the meeting of student service learning outcomes. Students shared correspondence with residents in LTCFs for a 10-week period, sending mail weekly in the form of letters, artwork, crafts, an appropriate joke, or anything to encourage engagement. Jean Watson's Theory of Transpersonal Caring was used as a framework for the project. Students (n = 109) participating in the program provided interaction with 734 residents in 11 LTCFs in 3 counties. Students utilized reflective journaling to demonstrate the meeting of service learning outcomes and described the power of connection and the opportunity to provide holistic care. A result of the project was the intergenerational connectedness showcasing the reciprocal nature of the CARE project. Further research is needed to build an evidence base for the use of such interaction to promote connection and combat loneliness.

Improving nursing students' confidence in caring for persons with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students need experiences providing patient centered care for persons with dementia. METHODS: Students were provided with a voluntary opportunity to complete an online educational module that focused on caring for persons with dementia. Dementia knowledge was measured with the Alzheimer Dementia and Knowledge Scale and confidence was assessed with the Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff Scale. RESULTS: Data suggested that students developed an increased confidence in caring for persons with dementia after the education. Key to person centered care, students demonstrated an increased ability to sustain person hood and build relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The growing complexity and needs of persons with dementia in various practice settings requires a nursing workforce able to apply clinical reasoning and provide person centered care. Further studies are needed exploring the effects of online educational opportunities on learning outcomes and clinical reasoning to build confidence in caring for persons with dementia.

Rapid-Cycle Experimentation With State and Federal Policymakers for Optimizing the Reach of Racial Equity Research.

Racial disparities and racism are pervasive public health threats that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it is critical and timely for researchers to communicate with policymakers about strategies for reducing disparities. From April through July 2020, across four rapid-cycle trials disseminating scientific products with evidence-based policy recommendations for addressing disparities, we tested strategies for optimizing the reach of scientific messages to policymakers. By getting such research into the hands of policymakers who can act on it, this work can help combat racial health disparities.(Am J Public Health. 2021;111(10):1768-1771. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306404).

Faith Community Nursing: Identifying and Combating Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: The number of older adults worldwide is growing; the incidence of social isolation and loneliness among this population is also increasing. Social isolation and loneliness can have significant physical, mental, and spiritual impacts. Faith community nurses are in an optimal position to identify and intervene to help faith communities reduce the social isolation and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. Risk factors and tools to identify both circumstances are discussed along with interventions and a case study.

Trends and Associations of Menthol Cigarette Smoking Among US Middle and High School Students-National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2011-2018.

INTRODUCTION: Youth cigarette smoking decreased significantly over the last two decades in the United States. This study provides estimates and trends from 2011 to 2018 and factors associated with youth menthol and non-menthol smoking from 2016 to 2018. METHODS: Using data from the 2011-2018 National Youth Tobacco Surveys, past 30-day (current) menthol and non-menthol cigarette smoking were estimated for all youth (prevalence) and youth smokers (proportions). Trends were examined using Joinpoint regression, calculating the annual percent change (APC). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with menthol smoking. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2018, menthol cigarette smoking among current youth cigarette smokers significantly decreased from 57.3% to 45.7% (APC: -3.0%), while non-menthol (38.2% to 47.3% [APC: 2.9%]) and unknown menthol status (not sure\missing) (4.5% to 7.0% [APC: 7.1%]) significantly increased. Menthol cigarette smoking among high school, male, female, and non-Hispanic white current cigarette smokers decreased, but remained unchanged among middle school, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic smokers. Significantly higher proportions of menthol cigarette smokers smoked on ≥20 days, ≥2 cigarettes per day, and ≥100 cigarettes in their lifetime compared to non-menthol smokers. Among current cigarette smokers, non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanics, flavored non-cigarette tobacco users, frequent smokers (≥20 days), those smoking 2-5 cigarettes per day, and those living with someone who uses tobacco had higher odds of menthol cigarette smoking. CONCLUSIONS: In 2018, nearly half of current youth cigarette smokers smoked menthol cigarettes. While menthol cigarette smoking declined from 2011 to 2018 among all youth and among youth smokers, there was no change in menthol cigarette smoking among non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and middle school cigarette smokers. IMPLICATIONS: This study finds that overall cigarette and menthol cigarette smoking declined in youth from 2011 to 2018. However, menthol cigarette smoking among non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and middle school youth cigarette smokers did not change. Information from this study can help inform efforts to reduce menthol cigarette smoking among US youth, particularly racial/ethnic minority populations.

Experiential Service Learning: Building skills and sensitivity with Kolb's learning theory.

Preparing a healthcare workforce able to respond to the growing complexity of health issues facing older adults is a critical issue for interprofessional educators. Students are in need of experiences promoting confidence and skill in communicating with older adults with cognitive issues. Student emotional and cognitive responses to an interprofessional Music and Memory® project in long term care facilities were evaluated. Forty-eight students met with assigned adults weekly to develop personalized music playlists and complete a journal entry. Student participants demonstrated improved interpersonal connections, enhanced professional skills, and increased empathy toward clients. Results are explored within the context of Kolb's Learning Theory and application of the evaluation outcomes for interprofessional education.

Severe Pulmonary Disease Associated with Electronic-Cigarette-Product Use - Interim Guidance.

On September 6, 2019, this report was posted as an MMWR Early Release on the MMWR website (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr). As of August 27, 2019, 215 possible cases of severe pulmonary disease associated with the use of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) products (e.g., devices, liquids, refill pods, and cartridges) had been reported to CDC by 25 state health departments. E-cigarettes are devices that produce an aerosol by heating a liquid containing various chemicals, including nicotine, flavorings, and other additives (e.g., propellants, solvents, and oils). Users inhale the aerosol, including any additives, into their lungs. Aerosols produced by e-cigarettes can contain harmful or potentially harmful substances, including heavy metals such as lead, volatile organic compounds, ultrafine particles, cancer-causing chemicals, or other agents such as chemicals used for cleaning the device (1). E-cigarettes also can be used to deliver tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive component of cannabis, or other drugs; for example, "dabbing" involves superheating substances that contain high concentrations of THC and other plant compounds (e.g., cannabidiol) with the intent of inhaling the aerosol. E-cigarette users could potentially add other substances to the devices. This report summarizes available information and provides interim case definitions and guidance for reporting possible cases of severe pulmonary disease. The guidance in this report reflects data available as of September 6, 2019; guidance will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Using Personalized Music Playlists for Patients With Dementia as a Teaching Innovation.

Nursing students need innovative educational approaches to bridge generational and cultural differences and improve communication skills with patients who are cognitively impaired. An individualized music and memory intervention for older adults with dementia and communication issues was implemented. A review of weekly student journals provided information regarding the use of the approach as an alternative therapy and benefit for students. The usefulness of the music and memory program as an innovative learning tool has widespread applicability to various health care settings.