Recruitment, Methods, and Descriptive Results of a Physiologic Assessment of Latino Farmworkers: The California Heat Illness Prevention Study.

OBJECTIVE: The California heat illness prevention study (CHIPS) devised methodology and collected physiological data to assess heat related illness (HRI) risk in Latino farmworkers. METHODS: Bilingual researchers monitored HRI across a workshift, recording core temperature, work rate (metabolic equivalents [METs]), and heart rate at minute intervals. Hydration status was assessed by changes in weight and blood osmolality. Personal data loggers and a weather station measured exposure to heat. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect demographic and occupational information. RESULTS: California farmworkers (n = 588) were assessed. Acceptable quality data was obtained from 80% of participants (core temperature) to 100% of participants (weight change). Workers (8.3%) experienced a core body temperature more than or equal to 38.5 °C and 11.8% experienced dehydration (lost more than 1.5% of body weight). CONCLUSIONS: Methodology is presented for the first comprehensive physiological assessment of HRI risk in California farmworkers.

Guideline implementation and patient-tailoring strategies to improve medication adherence for schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of an intervention to promote medication adherence. METHOD: Data were collected for adults with exacerbation of schizophrenia who were treated at one of 6 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers (VAMCs) in 3 regional VA networks (Veterans Integrated Service Networks [VISNs]) from March 1999 to October 2000. All 6 VAMCs received a basic guideline implementation strategy for medication management of schizophrenia using usual VA procedures. One VAMC within each VISN was randomly selected to receive an enhanced implementation strategy designed to promote guideline-concordant prescribing by physicians and medication adherence by patients. In the enhanced strategy, a research nurse worked with study participants to identify medication adherence barriers and to develop patient-specific strategies to overcome those barriers. Participants (N = 349) were interviewed at enrollment and 6 months later, using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale, and the Schizophrenia Outcomes Module (SCHIZOM). Medication adherence was measured via subjects' self-report, using the SCHIZOM, and from data abstracted from medical records. RESULTS: Participants were primarily male (94%) and nonwhite (69%, primarily African American) with a mean age of 46 years. Medication adherence at follow-up was modeled using logistic regression, controlling for adherence at baseline, demographic characteristics, PANSS total score, akathisia at baseline, family history of mental illness, and substance abuse. A logistic regression model for adherence at follow-up was significant (likelihood ratio = 52.72, df = 14, p < .0001). Patients enrolled at sites receiving the enhanced intervention were almost twice as likely to be adherent at follow-up. Those who were nonadherent at baseline were significantly less likely to be adherent at follow-up. In addition, adherence at follow-up was significantly greater at 2 of the VA networks as compared to the third network. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a patient-centered strategy to identify and overcome barriers to adherence can improve adherence to antipsychotic medications.

Equity in veterans' mental health care: Veterans Affairs medical center clinics versus community-based outpatient clinics.

This study examined differences in structures and processes of mental health care at Veterans Administration (VA) primary care clinics, comparing VA medical center (VAMC) clinics to community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). A survey was conducted of nurse managers at 46 of 49 primary care clinics (23 VAMC clinics and 23 CBOCs) within a VA health care network in the south central United States. Integration of care and services overall was comparable between VAMC clinics and CBOCs. The service mix differed. Integrated CBOCs more often offered group therapy, medication management, and smoking cessation. Integrated VAMC clinics more frequently used written suicide protocols and depression screening. Distance to offsite specialty care and wait times for referrals were shorter for patients at VAMCs than at CBOCs. The provision of mental health care at CBOCs is comparable to that at VAMC clinics, although differences in patient access to offsite care indicate that full equity was not achieved at the time of the survey. Since 2000, the VA has initiated several programs to address this need.

Disparities in use of antipsychotic medications among nursing home residents in Arkansas.

Pilot work was conducted to determine whether there were racial disparities in the use of second-generation antipsychotic medications in a sample of 2,717 residents of nursing homes in Arkansas in 2001. Chi square analysis and a logistic regression model were used to examine the relationship between residents' race and likelihood of receiving a second-generation antipsychotic. Other independent variables included in the model were age, gender, and the location of the nursing home. The results indicated racial disparities in use of second-generation antipsychotics among the nursing home residents, with African-American residents less likely to receive these medications than residents from other racial or ethnic groups.