Transitioning From an In-Person Intervention to Augmented Text Messaging During COVID-19 in Mexican Americans With Prediabetes: The Starr County Diabetes Prevention Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to explore the feasibility of using commonly available technology, such as text messaging, for diabetes prevention in rural Mexican American communities during COVID-19. METHODS: Participants were selected from a diabetes prevention study funded by the National Institutes of Health that, prior to COVID-19, involved in-person group intervention sessions. Participants were predominantly female adults born in Mexico and Spanish-speaking. A subsample (n = 140) was divided into 3 cohorts: (1) 50 who completed the initial in-person intervention prior to the COVID-19 research pause, (2) 60 who needed additional support sessions to complete the intervention and thus received 10 text messages with links to relevant online diabetes prevention videos (TM+), and (3) 30 who received enhanced usual care involving health guidance offered during data collection (control). Repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to evaluate cohort differences at 24 months post baseline. RESULTS: No significant cohort differences were found for depression, eating self-efficacy, alcohol intake, fat avoidance, or sedentary behaviors. Differences in A1C showed both in-person and TM+ cohorts having lower mean A1C levels (5.5%) than the control cohort (5.7%). The TM+ cohort had lower body mass index than other cohorts and a lower diabetes conversion rate (22.2%) compared to the control cohort (28%). Participants indicated preferences for in-person/TM+ combination interventions. The strongest positive feedback was for the TM+ intervention cooking demonstration videos. CONCLUSIONS: Augmented text messaging combined with in-person sessions had similar outcomes to the all in-person strategy and thus has the potential for expanding the reach of diabetes prevention to many Mexican American communities.

Managing complex research datasets using electronic tools: a meta-analysis exemplar.

Meta-analyses of broad scope and complexity require investigators to organize many study documents and manage communication among several research staff. Commercially available electronic tools, for example, EndNote, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Blackboard, Excel, and IBM SPSS Statistics (SPSS), are useful for organizing and tracking the meta-analytic process as well as enhancing communication among research team members. The purpose of this article is to describe the electronic processes designed, using commercially available software, for an extensive, quantitative model-testing meta-analysis. Specific electronic tools improved the efficiency of (a) locating and screening studies, (b) screening and organizing studies and other project documents, (c) extracting data from primary studies, (d) checking data accuracy and analyses, and (e) communication among team members. The major limitation in designing and implementing a fully electronic system for meta-analysis was the requisite upfront time to decide on which electronic tools to use, determine how these tools would be used, develop clear guidelines for their use, and train members of the research team. The electronic process described here has been useful in streamlining the process of conducting this complex meta-analysis and enhancing communication and sharing documents among research team members.

Are immunizations safe and effective for patients being treated with immunosuppressive agents?

Most immunizations have not been well studied in patients with drug-induced immune suppression. This article reviews strategies for administering vaccines to patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are taking disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

The effects of gender and country of origin on acculturation, psychological factors, lifestyle factors, and diabetes-related physiological outcomes among Mexican Americans: The Starr County diabetes prevention initiative.

OBJECTIVES: Examine acculturation and psychological, lifestyle, and physiological factors based on gender and country of origin (U.S. vs. Mexico). METHODS: Baseline data from the Starr County diabetes prevention study (N = 300) were analyzed - acculturation (language), psychological factors (depression), lifestyle factors (sedentary behaviors), and diabetes-related physiological outcomes (insulin resistance). MANOVA and linear regression were used to examine variable relationships based on gender and country of origin and identify predictors of depression and insulin resistance. RESULTS: Participants were: predominantly female (73%); 51 years of age, on average; born in Mexico (71%); and Spanish-speaking. Individuals spent 11 of their waking hours (range = 0-18 h) in sedentary activities. Compared to females, more males spoke English and reported fewer hours in sedentary activities. Compared to participants born in Mexico, those born in the U.S. were more likely to: speak English; report depressive symptoms; and exhibit elevated BMI and insulin resistance rates. Two distinct models significantly predicted depression (R2 = 14.5%) and insulin resistance (R2 = 26.8%), with acculturation-language entering into both models. DISCUSSION: Significant gender and country-of-origin differences were found. Future research on diabetes prevention should examine other Hispanic subgroups and strategies for addressing individual differences, while employing cost-effective group interventions that incorporate these differences and reach more at-risk individuals.

Acculturation, Dietary Behaviors, and Macronutrient Intake Among Mexican Americans With Prediabetes: The Starr County Diabetes Prevention Initiative.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the influences of sex and acculturation on dietary behaviors, macronutrient intake, and dietary quality in participants enrolled in a diabetes prevention initiative in Starr County, Texas. METHODS: Baseline data from the Starr County diabetes prevention study (N = 300) were analyzed-acculturation (country of origin, years in Starr County, language and food preferences), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), healthy eating self-efficacy (Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire-Short Form), diet quality (USDA Healthy Eating Index), fat avoidance (Fat Avoidance Scale, Spanish version), and macronutrients. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis of covariance were used to examine differences based on acculturation, controlling for sex. RESULTS: Participants were predominantly female (73%) and, on average, 51 years of age. Language and food preferences favored Spanish language and Hispanic foods, respectively. The majority (71%) was born in Mexico but had resided in Starr County for 33 years, on average. Depressive symptoms were moderate, and eating self-efficacy scores suggested low confidence in making healthy food choices, particularly for saturated fats. Spanish language preference was associated with worse dietary habits. The mean dietary quality score was lower than the national average (54 vs 59 nationally); females had slightly higher dietary quality than males and a higher mean fat avoidance score, although differences were not clinically significant. Intakes of carbohydrate, saturated fats, and cholesterol were higher than recommended daily allowances. CONCLUSIONS: The overall preference for speaking Spanish and the influence of language on dietary intake should inform future dietary interventions. Accommodating cultural norms and food preferences remain major challenges to improving dietary quality among the diverse Hispanic ethnic groups.

Integrating education, group support, and case management for diabetic Hispanics.

OBJECTIVES: Culturally tailored diabetes self-management education (DSME) improves glycemic control and other health outcomes in Mexican Americans but sociocultural barriers to health improvements remain. This study explored the feasibility of adding a nurse case manager (NCM) to DSME to foster DSME attendance and increase utilization of other available health care services. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The setting was a rural community on the Texas-Mexico border in one of the poorest counties in the United States. Using a repeated measures pretest, post-test control group design, we enrolled 165 Mexican American adults into: 1) an experimental group that received a DSME intervention plus access to a NCM; or 2) a control group that received DSME only. RESULTS: Both experimental and control groups received the DSME intervention, reported positive changes in diet and physical activity, and showed improved clinical outcomes; there were no significant group differences. A statistically significant reduction in body mass index was seen in women compared to men, regardless of group or number of NCM contacts. For individuals having the most NCM contacts, DSME attendance rates were greater. Participants expressed acceptance of the NCM; they preferred face-to-face contact rather than by telephone. CONCLUSIONS: Our previously tested, culturally tailored DSME continues to be an effective strategy for improving glycemic control in Mexican Americans. This feasibility study provided partial support for the NCM model for underserved border communities, but additional research is needed on resource utilization and the nature of NCM contacts.

The Starr County Border Health Initiative: Focus Groups on Diabetes Prevention in Mexican Americans.

Purpose The purpose of the study was to conduct focus groups with Mexican Americans in an impoverished rural community on the Texas-Mexico border to identify current barriers to adopting healthier lifestyles and to obtain recommendations for diabetes prevention. Methods Three separate 2-hour focus groups were led by an experienced bilingual Mexican American moderator. Interviews included questions about cultural factors and barriers that influence lifestyle behaviors, aspects of previous diabetes self-management interventions that were helpful for motivating behavioral change, and recommendations for diabetes prevention. Results Twenty-seven participants attended a focus group session; each session involved 7 to 12 informants. Individuals were diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus; most were female, foreign born, and Spanish speaking. Interviews documented the cultural importance of food. Informants raised priority issues for diabetes prevention, including the need to learn how to prepare healthier foods and track caloric intake. Major barriers to healthier lifestyles included high costs of healthy foods, fatigue from busy schedules and working multiple jobs, a cultural view that exercise is a waste of valuable time, and fear of deportation. Conclusions Cultural influences and barriers to implementing healthy lifestyles should be assessed regularly and strategies implemented to overcome them. Such factors may change as environmental, sociocultural, and political environments change.

Biobehavioral determinants of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a model-driven meta-analysis of correlational research on psychological and motivational predictors of diabetes outcomes, with adherence factors as mediators. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of published and unpublished studies located a sample of 775 individual correlational or predictive studies reported across 739 research reports. RESULTS: Results varied according to the outcome variable included in the regression models. Depression had a larger negative effect on adherence to physical activity than on dietary adherence. Coping and self-efficacy were strongly related to dietary adherence, which was strongly related to improved glycemic control. Medication adherence was related to glycosylated hemoglobin, whereas medications and self-monitoring were related to fasting blood glucose. Adding appointment keeping to the models did not significantly alter the results. CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy was the most consistent predictor of all adherence behaviors and dietary adherence was the most significant predictor of HbA1c. Physical activity was the most predictive factor of BMI and glucose self-monitoring the most predictive of FBG. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Metabolic control is a primary goal in T2DM, so the best pathway to attaining that goal appears to be an emphasis on self-efficacy and dietary adherence.

Blood glucose self-monitoring patterns in Mexican Americans: further lessons from the Starr County Border Health Initiative.

BACKGROUND: The purpose was to describe patterns of home self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in Mexican Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus enrolled in a diabetes self-management education protocol. Research questions were as follows: (1) What were the patterns and rates of home glucose self-monitoring over the 6-month course of the study? (2) What were the differences in monitoring rates between experimental and control groups? (3) What were the relationships between rates of monitoring and glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C), gender, and years with diabetes? SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We used a randomized (by group) repeated-measures pretest/posttest control group design. Glucometer data from an experimental group (diabetes self-management education plus nurse case management) and a comparison group (diabetes self-management education only) were analyzed. Data were collected at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: Overall average SMBG rates were low. Experimental and control group monitoring levels were not significantly different. More females than males never monitored glucose values, but more females than males checked at least one time per week. Those participants who checked their glucose levels more than once per week had diabetes for a longer period of time. Rates of monitoring were not strongly associated with A1C levels at 3 and 6 months, but at 6 months A1C levels were statistically significantly different based on whether or not individuals monitored their glucose levels (P=0.03, n=71). CONCLUSIONS: SMBG rates were low in this study despite SMBG education and access to free glucometers and test strips. The lower rates of SMBG may reflect the effects of unexpected environmental challenges, but exact causes remain unclear. Reasons for low rates of SMBG need to be explored further, especially in underserved communities.

Culturally tailored diabetes prevention in the workplace: focus group interviews with Hispanic employees.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to conduct focus groups with Hispanic employees to obtain input into adaptation of previous DSME interventions for use as a workplace diabetes prevention program. METHODS: From a list of interested Hispanic employees who attended a local health fair (n = 68), 36 were randomly selected to participate in focus groups held during supper mealtime breaks. An experienced bilingual moderator directed the sessions, using interview guidelines developed by the research team. RESULTS: Participants' ages ranged from 22 to 65 years (mean = 50.4, n = 36, SD = 10.7), 7 males and 29 females attended, and 53% had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Employees expressed a keen interest in diabetes classes and recommended a focus on preparing healthier Hispanic foods. Primary barriers to promoting healthier lifestyles were work schedules; many employees worked 2 part-time or full-time jobs. Administrators and direct supervisors of the employees were highly supportive of a workplace diabetes prevention program. CONCLUSIONS: The consistent message was that a workplace program would be the ideal solution for Hispanic employees to learn about diabetes and healthy behaviors, given their busy schedules, family responsibilities, and limited resources. If found to be effective, such a workplace program would be generalizable to other service employees who have disproportionate diabetes rates.

Family characteristics and sexual risk behaviors among black men in the United States.

CONTEXT: Past research indicates that family characteristics are associated with sexual risk-taking behaviors in adolescence and adulthood Because the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases is higher among black males than among males of other races, it is important to understand factors associated with sexual risk in this group. METHODS: Data from 1,125 black men participating in the 1991 National Survey of Men were used in structural equation modeling to examine the association of individual and family characteristics with age at sexual initiation and the lifetime number of sexual partners. RESULTS: Men whose mothers worked were likely to have first intercourse at a younger age than others (beta, -.104), whereas those raised by both parents were likely to delay sexual initiation (.072) and to have fewer partners during their lifetime (-.062). Men who were married or had had first intercourse at an old erage were likely to have a lower total number of partners than others (-.297 and -.369, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: School and community programs should provide culturally appropriate and accessible activities for black youth, and should reach black males early, while they are still in elementary school. Programming targeted at parents mayhelp them learn skills for communicating effectively with children about sexuality-related issues.

Interventions for family members caring for an elder with dementia.

This chapter reviews 73 published and unpublished research reports of interventions for family members caring for an elder with dementia by nurse researchers and researchers from other disciplines. Reports were identified through searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Social Science Index, PsycINFO, ERIC, Social Work Abstracts, American Association of Retired Persons database, CRISP index of the National Institutes of Health, Cochrane Center database, and Dissertation Abstracts using the following search terms: caregiver, caregiving, dementia, Alzheimer's, intervention study, evaluation study, experimental, and quasi-experimental design. Additional keywords were used to narrow or expand the search as necessary. All nursing research was included in the review and nonnursing research was included if published between 1991 and 2001. Studies were included if they used a design that included a treatment and control group or a one-group, pretest-posttest design (ex post facto designs were included if they used a comparison group). Key findings show that approximately 32% of the study outcomes (e.g., burden, depression, knowledge) were changed after intervention in the desired direction. In addition, several problematic issues were identified including small, diverse samples; lack of intervention specificity; diversity in the length, duration, and intensity of the intervention strategies; and problematic outcome measures.

Depression and adherence to lifestyle changes in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Depression affects millions of people worldwide and is prevalent among those with diabetes. The purpose of this review was to synthesize recent research on depression and adherence to dietary and physical activity recommendations in persons with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS: This systematic review is a subanalysis of an NIH-funded model-testing meta-analysis. Thirteen electronic databases were searched using terms: depression, adherence, T2DM, diabetes. Selected studies: were reported in English between 2000 and 2012, focused on adults with T2DM, and measured depression and dietary and/or physical activity adherence. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies involving 7266 participants were selected; participants were 54% female and 62 years of age, on average. When reported, depression prevalence in study samples ranged from 4.5% to 74%. Six intervention studies targeted diabetes treatment, with or without depression treatment; no studies focused solely on treating depression. Twenty-one descriptive studies examined relationships between depression and diet/physical activity adherence, finding a negative association. Only 2 of the 6 intervention studies examined this relationship; findings were inconsistent. CONCLUSION: Depression was associated with lower adherence to diabetes self-care, as evidenced primarily by descriptive studies; results of intervention studies were conflicting. Future research should focus on the effects of treating depression on diabetes health outcomes.

Immunization of children receiving immunosuppressive therapy for cancer or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

In the past 3 decades, the number of immunocompromised children has increased steadily because of dramatic improvement in survival rates in certain malignancies as a result of intensive curative treatment regimens and an increase in the number of children undergoing life-saving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Children receiving immunosuppressive therapy for cancer, as well as HSCT recipients, will benefit from vaccination but warrant close evaluation for a variety of reasons, such as the risk of developing severe infections, serious adverse events following certain vaccines, and decreased vaccine efficacy caused by poor immune response to vaccination. Various professional organizations have published vaccination guidelines for immunocompromised patients. Given their heterogeneity, recommendations for the immunization of immunocompromised patients may not be universally applicable. The safety of many commonly used vaccines has not been established in immunocompromised children. In addition, no large-scale vaccine studies have evaluated the clinical outcome of disease prevention in this population. All killed vaccines are generally safe, while live vaccines may be administered to immunocompromised children in select circumstances, depending on the degree of altered immunocompetence and the underlying primary condition. Healthcare providers should be knowledgeable about the indications, contraindications, and precautions for vaccine administration in immunocompromised patients. To protect immunocompromised patients, all family, household contacts, and healthcare workers should also be immunized with all routinely recommended vaccines. Pediatricians play a crucial role in identifying and effectively communicating the risks and benefits of vaccines to immunocompromised patients and their parents.

Impact of various body weights and serum creatinine concentrations on the bias and accuracy of the Cockcroft-Gault equation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of various body weights and serum creatinine (S(c) (r) ) concentrations on the bias and accuracy of the Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance (C-G Cl(c) (r) ) equation compared with measured 24-hour Cl(c) (r) . DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 3678 patients with stable renal function and who underwent a 24-hour urine collection between July 1, 1996, and June 30, 2010. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: For each patient, C-G Cl(c) (r) was calculated and compared with a measured 24-hour Cl(c) (r) . Body weight adjustments to the calculation were performed based on the following weight classifications: underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese. In addition, C-G Cl(c) (r) was calculated by using rounded S(c) (r) values based on two S(c) (r) thresholds-0.8 mg/dl and 1 mg/dl-for patients with measured S(c) (r) values below those thresholds. Those patients were then evaluated after stratification into two age groups: all ages and a subgroup of patients aged 65 years or older. The S(c) (r) -rounded C-G Cl(c) (r) values were compared with the C-G Cl(c) (r) values using actual S(c) (r) values. Mean differences were calculated, and accuracy was evaluated. Use of actual body weight in the calculations for underweight patients resulted in an unbiased Cl(c) (r) of -0.22 ml/minute (p=0.898). Use of ideal body weight in the calculations of patients of normal weight returned an unbiased Cl(c) (r) of -1.3 ml/minute (p=0.544). An unbiased C-G Cl(c) (r) could not be calculated for other weight categories. In those patients, adjusted body weight using a factor of 0.4 (ABW(0.4) ) was the least biased and most accurate. In patients aged 65 years or older with an S(c) (r) less than 0.8 mg/dl and less than 1 mg/dl, actual S(c) (r) was unbiased (-3 ml/min [p=1] and -9 ml/min [p=0.279], respectively) and more accurate than rounded S(c) (r) . In patients of all ages with an S(c) (r) less than 0.8 mg/dl and less than 1 mg/dl, actual S(c) (r) proved less biased (-4.5 ml/min [p=0.038] and -5.5 ml/min [p<0.001], respectively) and more accurate than rounded S(c) (r) . CONCLUSION: An unbiased C-G Cl(c) (r) can be calculated using actual body weight in underweight patients and ideal body weight in patients of normal weight. Using ABW(0.4) for overweight, obese, and morbidly obese patients appears to be the least biased and most accurate method for calculating their C-G Cl(c) (r) . Rounding S(c) (r) in patients with low S(c) (r) did not improve accuracy or bias of the Cl(cr) calculations.