FINDINGS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS FROM A SMOKING CESSATION TRIAL UTILIZING A CLINICAL DECISION SUPPORT TOOL.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of disease, death, and disability in the United States. Dental practitioners are advised to provide evidence-based smoking cessation interventions to their patients, yet dental practitioners frequently fail to deliver brief smoking cessation advice. OBJECTIVES: To test whether giving dental practitioners a clinical decisions support (CDS) system embedded in their electronic dental record would increase the rate at which patients who smoke (1) report receiving a brief intervention or referral to treatment during a recent dental visit, (2) taking action related to smoking cessation within 7 days of visit, and (3) stop smoking for 1 day or more or reduce the amount smoked by 50% within 6 months. METHODS: Two-group, parallel arm, cluster-randomized trial. From March through December 2019, 15 nonacademic primary care dental clinics were randomized via covariate adaptive randomization to either a usual care arm or the CDS arm. Adult smokers completed an initial telephone survey within 7 days of their visit and another survey after 6 months. RESULTS: Forty-three patients from 5 CDS and 13 patients from 2 usual care clinics completed the 7-day survey. While the proportion of patients who reported receipt of a brief intervention or referral to treatment was significantly greater in the CDS arm than the usual care arm (84.3% vs 58.6%; P = .005), the differences in percentage of patients who took any action related to smoking cessation within 7 days (44.4% vs 22.3%; P = .077), or stopped smoking for one day or more and/or reduced amount smoked by 50% within 6 months (63.1% vs 46.2%; P = .405) were large but not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Despite interruption by COVID-19, these results demonstrate a promising approach to assist dental practitioners in providing their patients with smoking cessation screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment.

Reducing diabetes distress and improving self-management with mindfulness.

Stress associated with diabetes makes managing diabetes harder. We investigated whether mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) could reduce diabetes distress and improve management. We recruited 38 participants to complete an MBSR program. Surveys and lab values were completed at baseline and post-intervention. Participants showed significant improvement in diabetes-related distress (Cohen's d -.71, p < .002), psychosocial self-efficacy (Cohen's d .80, p < .001), and glucose control (Cohen's d -.79, p < .001). Significant improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, coping, self-compassion, and social support were also found. These results suggest that MBSR may offer an effective method for helping people better self-manage their diabetes and improve mental health.

Dental Decision Simulation (DDSim): Development of a virtual training environment.

PURPOSE: Case-based simulations are powerful training tools that can enhance learning and drive behavior change. This is an overview of the design/development of Dental Decision Simulation (DDSim), a web-based simulation of an electronic dental record (EDR). The purpose was to use DDSim to train dentists to make evidence-based treatment planning decisions consistent with current evidence. This simulated EDR provides case-based information in support of a set of defined evidence-based learning objectives. METHODS: The development of this complex simulation model required coordinated efforts to create several components: identify behavior changes, case authoring mechanism, create virtual patient visits, require users to make treatment plan decisions related to learning objectives, and a feedback mechanism to help users recognize departures from those learning objectives. This simulation was evaluated in a 2-arm, clinic-randomized, controlled pilot study examining the extent to which DDSim changed dentists' planned treatment to conform to evidence-based treatment guidelines relative to change in dentists not exposed to DDSim. Outcomes were measured by comparing preintervention and postintervention patient EDR treatment data. RESULTS: Changes in behavior over time did not favor intervention or control clinics. CONCLUSION: DDSim provides a standardized learning platform that cannot be achieved through the use of live patients. Both live patients and case-based simulations can be used to transfer knowledge and skill development. DDSim offers the advantage of providing a platform for developing treatment planning skills in a low-risk environment. However, further research examining behavior change is needed.

Measuring patients' orofacial appearance: Validity and reliability of the English-language Orofacial Esthetic Scale.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the English-language version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES-E) in a population of dental patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 1,784 English-speaking, adult dental patients (mean age, 56.7 [standard deviation, 15.8] years; 60.0% women) were included. The 8-item OES-E was used to assess orofacial appearance. Dimensionality of the OES was investigated through an analysis of the items' correlation matrix, a parallel analysis, and an exploratory factor analysis. Convergent validity was determined by means of several correlations between the OES and items of the Oral Health Impact Profile measuring orofacial appearance. Reliability of the OES was assessed as the instrument's internal consistency by means of computing Cronbach α and average interitem correlation. RESULTS: All analyses for dimensionality revealed that the OES is sufficiently represented by a single factor. Convergent validity was supported by means of the correlations of the OES summary score with the other measures of the construct with Pearson product moment and Spearman rank correlation coefficients of the expected size and direction. Cronbach α (lower boundary of 95% confidence interval, 0.94) and average interitem correlation (0.70) revealed that the scale's internal consistency was excellent. CONCLUSION: This study found that the OES-E has sufficient psychometric properties to characterize dental patient's global assessment of orofacial appearance. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The brevity and the easy application make the OES a pragmatic tool to clinically appraise the important construct of orofacial appearance in dental patients.

Persistence of smoking-cessation decision support use in a dental practice.

INTRODUCTION: A computer-assisted tobacco decision support tool increased dental practitioners' (dentists and dental hygienists) advice to quit smoking and referral to a quitline during a group randomized trial. The purpose of this study is to document the extent to which use persisted after the trial. METHODS: Electronic dental record (EDR) data from 2010 to 2013 were analyzed in 2014 for use of computer-assisted tobacco intervention tool advice scripts and referral to a quitline during four periods: during the trial and post-trial when only intervention clinic dental practitioners had access to the tool, and during full deployment, both before and after an EDR modification. RESULTS: Intervention clinic dental practitioners (18.5 dentist full-time equivalents [FTEs] and 27.8 dental hygienist FTEs practicing in seven clinics) referred 19.0% of 1,368 smokers to a quitline during the trial and referred 15.4% of 4,011 smokers post-trial. After full tool deployment but pre-EDR change, these dental practitioners referred 15.6% of 2,214 intervention clinic smokers, whereas 18.3 dentist FTEs and 29.7 dental hygienist FTEs practicing in eight clinics referred 8.5% of 2,113 smokers. Post-EDR change, dental practitioners referred 12.2% of 2,214 intervention clinic smokers and 8.1% of 2,399 control clinic smokers to a quitline. In the last three quarters of observation, clinic script use ranged from 15.4% to 65.8% and referral to a quitline ranged from 2.0% to 18.7% of visits. CONCLUSIONS: Although EDR design affected rates of referral, dental practitioners persisted in using a computer-assisted tobacco intervention tool to refer smokers to a quitline.

Integrating tobacco dependence counseling into electronic dental records: a multi-method approach.

Dentistry has historically seen tobacco dependence as a medical problem. As a consequence, dentistry has not adopted or developed effective interventions to deal with tobacco dependence. With the expanded use of electronic dental records, the authors identified an opportunity to incorporate standardized expert support for tobacco dependence counseling during the dental visit. Using qualitative results from observations and focus groups, a decision support system was designed that suggested discussion topics based on the patient's desire to quit and his or her level of nicotine addiction. Because dental providers are always pressed for time, the goal was a three-minute average intervention interval. To fulfill the provider's need for an easy way to track ongoing interventions, script usage was recorded. This process helped the provider track what he or she had said to the patient about tobacco dependence during previous encounters and to vary the messages. While the individual elements of the design process were not new, the combination of them proved to be very effective in designing a usable and accepted intervention. The heavy involvement of stakeholders in all components of the design gave providers and administrators ownership of the final product, which was ultimately adopted for use in all the clinics of a large dental group practice in Minnesota.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family caregivers: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Caring for a family member with dementia is associated with chronic stress, which can have significant deleterious effects on caregivers. The purpose of the Balance Study was to compare a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention to a community caregiver education and support (CCES) intervention for family caregivers of people with dementia. DESIGN AND METHODS: We randomly assigned 78 family caregivers to an MBSR or a CCES intervention, matched for time and attention. Study participants attended 8 weekly intervention sessions and participated in home-based practice. Surveys were completed at baseline, postintervention, and at 6 months. Participants were 32- to 82-year-old predominately non-Hispanic White women caring for a parent with dementia. RESULTS: MBSR was more effective at improving overall mental health, reducing stress, and decreasing depression than CCES. Both interventions improved caregiver mental health and were similarly effective at improving anxiety, social support, and burden. IMPLICATIONS: MBSR could reduce stress and improve mental health in caregivers of family members with dementia residing in the community.

Computer-assisted guidance for dental office tobacco-cessation counseling: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Decreases in smoking prevalence from recent decades have slowed, and national goals to reduce tobacco use remain unmet. Healthcare providers, including those in physician and dental teams, have access to evidence-based guidelines to help patients quit smoking. Translation of those guidelines into practice, however, remains low. Approaches that involve screening for drug use, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) are a promising, practical solution. PURPOSE: This study examined whether dentists and dental hygienists would assess interest in quitting, deliver a brief tobacco intervention, and refer to a tobacco quitline more frequently as reported by patients if given computer-assisted guidance in an electronic patient record versus a control group providing usual care. DESIGN: A blocked, group-randomized trial was conducted from November 2010 to April 2011. Randomization was conducted at the clinic level. Patients nested within clinics represented the lowest-level unit of observation. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Participants were patients in HealthPartners dental clinics. INTERVENTION: Intervention clinics were given a computer-assisted tool that suggested scripts for patient discussions. Usual care clinics provided care without the tool. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were post-appointment patient reports of the provider assessing interest in quitting, delivering a brief intervention, and referring them to a quitline. RESULTS: Patient telephone surveys (72% response rate) indicated that providers assessed interest in quitting (control 70% vs intervention 87%, p=0.0006); discussed specific strategies for quitting (control 26% vs intervention 47%, p=0.003); and referred the patient to a tobacco quitline (control 17% vs intervention 37%, p=0.007) more frequently with the support of a computer-assisted tool integrated into the electronic health record. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical decision support embedded in electronic health records can effectively help providers deliver tobacco interventions. These results build on evidence in medical settings supporting this approach to improve provider-delivered tobacco cessation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.govNCT01584882.

Recruiting and retaining family caregivers to a randomized controlled trial on mindfulness-based stress reduction.

Caregivers for a family member with dementia experience chronic long-term stress that may benefit from new complementary therapies such as mindfulness-based stress reduction. Little is known however, about the challenges of recruiting and retaining family caregivers to research on mind-body based complementary therapies. Our pilot study is the first of its kind to successfully recruit caregivers for a family member with dementia to a randomized controlled pilot study of mindfulness-based stress reduction. The study used an array of recruitment strategies and techniques that were tailored to fit the unique features of our recruitment sources and employed retention strategies that placed high value on establishing early and ongoing communication with potential participants. Innovative recruitment methods including conducting outreach to health plan members and generating press coverage were combined with standard methods of community outreach and paid advertising. We were successful in exceeding our recruitment goal and retained 92% of the study participants at post-intervention (2 months) and 90% at 6 months. Recruitment and retention for family caregiver interventions employing mind-body based complementary therapies can be successful despite many challenges. Barriers include cultural perceptions about the use and benefit of complementary therapies, cultural differences with how the role of family caregiver is perceived, the use of group-based designs requiring significant time commitment by participants, and travel and respite care needs for busy family caregivers.

Physician-patient interaction for smoking cessation medications: a dance of mutual accommodation?

OBJECTIVE: To study physician-smoker interactions around the receipt of smoking cessation medication prescriptions to better understand the low rates of reported assistance and follow-up. METHODS: A stratified random sample of smokers recently filling prescriptions for cessation medications was identified for a phone interview about the quitting experience. The transcriptions of those portions of 50 interviews that addressed cessation contacts with clinicians were reviewed by the co-authors and analyzed for quantifiable data, observations, and themes. RESULTS: Although there were low levels of reported physician adherence to the Assist and Arrange recommendations of the Public Health Service 5As clinical guideline for smoking cessation, 27 (55%) of these smokers were quit at 1 to 3 months after the medication fill. Smoker descriptions of the contacts with their physicians about smoking cessation suggested nonconfrontational, collaborative, and satisfying interactions that were flexibly dominated by either party. Physician assistance predominantly concerned use of the medication (66%). CONCLUSIONS: These physician-smoker interactions seemed to be mutually accommodative. Given the apparent high quit rates and limited evidence of smoker interest in other forms of assistance, perhaps a physician-dominant encounter is not as common or as necessary as has been thought.