Barriers and Benefits of Online Group Exercise Programs for Older Adults.

Engaging in regular physical activity offers a myriad of benefits, including the improvement of mental health, social well-being, and cognitive function. Unfortunately, obstacles, such as transportation constraints, time limitations, and inadequate exercise facilities, hinder the regular participation of older adults in physical activity. Online group physical activity programs present a promising solution to enhance the involvement of older adults; however, several barriers impede their effective utilization. To explore these barriers and benefits, we conducted semi-structured interviews with participants and instructors of a community-based exercise program. Thematic analysis of interviews with 12 physical activity instructors and eight program participants unveiled key hindrances, including limited awareness and accessibility of online programs, challenges in assessing performance during exercise sessions, lack of social component, and technological difficulties. On the positive side, the benefits encompass convenience, wide accessibility, and enhanced social comfort. We also deliberate on future considerations to further bolster participation in these programs.

Adaptations to a statewide walking program: Use of iterative feedback cycles between research and delivery systems improves fit for over 10 years.

FitEx is an 8-week, group-based physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption program co-created and implemented with the Cooperative Extension System. Effectiveness and delivery personnel perceptions of the program are promising; however, ongoing adaptations are required to continuously meet shifting needs of both researchers and delivery systems. We applied the APDER iterative cycles of implementation over 15 years to understand dynamic and ongoing adaptations as well as implications for FitEx sustainability. Each year, an IRPP between delivery (FitEx deliverers) and research (FitEx developers) systems shared feedback on program core elements and strategies for adaptation through regular team meetings, emails, and evaluations. While the core elements (delivering to groups, goal setting, feedback, and self-monitoring) of FitEx remained consistent, changes were made to address logistical factors, emergent research questions, and technological advancements. For example, program deliverers suggested decreasing training time and making program content available on demand rather than through traditional in-person training. Using APDER with a long-standing IRPP allowed the delivery system to provide feedback to program developers to co-create ongoing adaptations and data-driven decisions. Future work in response to shifting needs includes Fitbit integration and technological updates to the usability of the FitEx platform. Our aim is to report the 15+ years of applying the Assess, Plan, Do, Evaluate, Report (APDER) process with an integrated research-practice partnership (IRPP) for co-creation of ongoing adaptations of FitEx and to share methods for capturing relevant data for decision-making to integrate health promotion programs in community settings.

This study focuses on the collaborative adaptations of an 8-week physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption program called FitEx through a long-standing partnership of over 10 years between researchers developing FitEx (developers) and community-based health educators delivering FitEx (deliverers) to fit the needs of the delivery systems and the communities they serve. Developers and deliverers partnered through the following six steps: (i) collaboratively assess needs for adaptation to improve program fit, participant reach, and deliverer adoption; (ii) plan the "what, when, where, how" to adapt and implement; (iii) work together to co-create and implement these adaptations; (iv) evaluated who is adopting and whom is being reaching; (v) report on what's working and not working through a two-way communication loop between research and delivery systems; (vi) repeat. One example of a collaborative adaptation is when the developers added the option of a 1-h online training to reduce travel time for in-person training. This study reports how this partnership and cyclic method for co-adaptations helped ensure that FitEx continues to be sustained and maintained in response to shifting needs over the last 15+ years of its implementation.

Mixed-method approach to informing a lifestyle intervention to improve the survivorship of patients with endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To identify endometrial cancer survivors' (ECS) barriers and facilitators for participation in lifestyle interventions to improve their dietary and exercise behaviors. Our secondary objective is to determine baseline information: physical activity level, quality of life (QoL), and impact of COVID-19 on exercise, diet, and mental health. METHODS: Obese, early-stage ECS participated in 2-part mixed-methods data collection; Part 1: survey gathering sample characteristics, QoL, exercise, and basic endometrial cancer- related knowledge. Part 2: virtual focus group or individual interviews using a brainwriting premortem protocol. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS (version 8.3). Qualitative data were analyzed using deductive thematic coding guided by the RE-AIM framework. RESULTS: Twenty percent (70/358) of ECS from a survivorship database and clinic recruitment completed the survey; 16 ECS provided qualitative feedback. Common barriers to intervention participation included time and resource costs, meeting frequency, and pessimism about weight loss maintenance. Facilitators included an opportunity to connect with other survivors and a focus on health rather than weight loss. Most ECS could not identify exercise guidelines (60%) and 83% were not meeting these guidelines. Higher BMI was correlated with a lower confidence in completing in moderate physical activity (p-value = 0.0206). Post-COVID-19 pandemic, physical activity, nutritional decisions, and/or mental health worsened for 67% of ECS. CONCLUSION: ECS are a disparate population, with worsening behaviors and mental health following the pandemic. The identified ECS-specific barriers and facilitators to behavioral intervention participation are being used to simultaneously improve the reach of and adherence to a lifestyle intervention aimed at improving their health and QoL.

A "sludge audit" for health system colorectal cancer screening services.

OBJECTIVES: "Sludge," or the frictions or administrative burdens that make it difficult for people to attain what they want or need, is an unexplored health care delivery factor that may contribute to deficiencies in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. We piloted a method to identify and quantify sludge in a southeastern US health system's delivery of CRC screening services. STUDY DESIGN: Mixed methods sludge audit. METHODS: We collected and analyzed quantitative (insurance claims, electronic health record, and administrative files) and qualitative (stakeholder interviews and process observations) data associated with CRC screening for instances of sludge. Because they contribute to sludge and reduce system capacity for high-value screening, we also evaluated low-value CRC screening processes. RESULTS: Although specific results were likely amplified by effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sludge audit revealed important areas for improvement. A 60.4% screening rate was observed. Approximately half of screening orders were not completed. The following categories of sludge were identified: communication, time, technology, administrative tasks, paperwork, and low-value care. For example, wait times for screening colonoscopy were substantial, duplicate orders were common, and some results were not accessible in the electronic health record. Of completed screenings, 32% were low-value and 38% were associated with low-value preoperative testing. There was evidence of a differential negative impact of sludge to vulnerable patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our sludge audit method identified and quantified multiple instances of sludge in a health system's CRC screening processes. Sludge audits can help organizations to systematically evaluate and reduce sludge for more effective and equitable CRC screening.

On the Road Again: Return to Driving Following Minor Hand Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patient return-to-driving following minor hand surgery is unknown. Through daily text message surveys, we sought to determine return-to-driving after minor hand surgery and the factors that influence return-to-driving. METHODS: One hundred five subjects undergoing minor hand surgery received daily text messaging surveys postoperatively to assess: (1) if they drove the day before and if so; (2) whether they wore a cast, sling, or splint. Additional patient-, procedure-, and driving-related data were collected. RESULTS: More than half of subjects, 54 out of 105, returned to driving by the end of postoperative day #1. While patient-related factors had no effect on return-to-driving, significant differences were seen in anesthesia type, procedure laterality, driving assistance, and distance. Return-to-driving was significantly later for subjects who had general anesthetic compared to wide awake local anesthetic with no tourniquet (4 ± 4 days vs 1 ± 3 days, P = 0.020), as well as for bilateral procedures versus unilateral procedures (5 ± 5 days vs 1 ± 3 days, P = 0.046). Lack of another driver and driving on highways led to earlier return-to-driving (P = 0.040 and, P = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients rapidly return to driving after minor hand surgery. Use of general anesthetic and bilateral procedures may delay return-to-driving. Confidential real-time text-based surveys can provide valuable information on postoperative return-to-driving and other patient behaviors.

Including a Vessel Loop in Wound Closure Facilitates Suture Removal Following Open Carpal Tunnel Release.

BACKGROUND: Many hand surgeons prefer to close palmar wounds with non-absorbable mattress sutures. Suture removal can be painful and time-consuming. In this study, we investigated if suture removal can be facilitated by including a vessel loop in wound closure following open carpal tunnel release (CTR). METHODS: Overall, 47 patients aged 18 to 75 undergoing elective primary open unilateral CTR completed this unblinded, prospective randomized controlled superiority trial. Subjects were randomized into 1 of 2 study arms: (1) wound closure without a vessel loop (standard, n = 28); or (2) wound closure with a vessel loop (vessel loop, n = 19). Data were collected on time for wound closure and for suture removal. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess satisfaction and pain with suture removal. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in patient demographics or time for suture placement. Visual analog scale satisfaction with suture removal was significantly lower in the standard group (8.6 ± 2.6) compared to vessel loop group (9.9 ± 0.28, P < .05). VAS pain with suture removal was significantly higher in the standard group (2.6 ± 2.7) versus vessel loop group (0.68 ± 1.1, P < .01). Additionally, suture removal time was significantly longer in standard group (84 seconds ± 83) versus vessel loop group (31 seconds ± 13, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of a vessel loop in wound closure for primary open CTR increases patient satisfaction and reduces pain with and time taken for suture removal.

Corrigendum: A Genetic System for Methanocaldococcus jannaschii: An Evolutionary Deeply Rooted Hyperthermophilic Methanarchaeon.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01256.].

A Genetic System for Methanocaldococcus jannaschii: An Evolutionary Deeply Rooted Hyperthermophilic Methanarchaeon.

Phylogenetically deeply rooted methanogens belonging to the genus of Methanocaldococcus living in deep-sea hydrothermal vents derive energy exclusively from hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, one of the oldest respiratory metabolisms on Earth. These hyperthermophilic, autotrophic archaea synthesize their biomolecules from inorganic substrates and perform high temperature biocatalysis producing methane, a valuable fuel and potent greenhouse gas. The information processing and stress response systems of archaea are highly homologous to those of the eukaryotes. For this broad relevance, Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, the first hyperthermophilic chemolithotrophic organism that was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, was also the first archaeon and third organism for which the whole genome sequence was determined. The research that followed uncovered numerous novel information in multiple fields, including those described above. M. jannaschii was found to carry ancient redox control systems, precursors of dissimilatory sulfate reduction enzymes, and a eukaryotic-like protein translocation system. It provided a platform for structural genomics and tools for incorporating unnatural amino acids into proteins. However, the assignments of in vivo relevance to these findings or interrogations of unknown aspects of M. jannaschii through genetic manipulations remained out of reach, as the organism was genetically intractable. This report presents tools and methods that remove this block. It is now possible to knockout or modify a gene in M. jannaschii and genetically fuse a gene with an affinity tag sequence, thereby allowing facile isolation of a protein with M. jannaschii-specific attributes. These tools have helped to genetically validate the role of a novel coenzyme F420-dependent sulfite reductase in conferring resistance to sulfite in M. jannaschii and to demonstrate that the organism possesses a deazaflavin-dependent system for neutralizing oxygen.