Evaluating the Federal Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority: Early Implementation and Progress of State Efforts to Develop New Statewide Academic Assessments. Evaluation Report. NCEE 2023-004

Education officials have long hoped that the statewide academic assessments most students take each year could be used not only for accountability but also to guide instruction. Congress established the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) program in 2015 to help address this goal, offering up to seven states temporary flexibility from federal testing requirements so that they may more easily make progress toward replacing their current assessments with more innovative ones. The key incentive to participate in IADA is that students trying out the innovative assessment are not required to also take the state's current assessment. However, states approved for IADA must still show that their innovative assessments meet most requirements for federal accountability, and they are expected to implement the new assessments statewide within 5 years. This report describes the progress of the first five assessment systems approved under IADA in order to help policymakers consider expanding the program to more states. The report is primarily based on an analysis of states' IADA applications and performance reports to the U.S. Department of Education through the 2020-2021 school year and is part of a broader evaluation of IADA required by Congress. [For the Appendix, see ED627873. For the Study Highlights, see ED627880.]

A Brief Statistical and Geostatistical Survey of the Relationship between COVID-19 and By-Mail Balloting in the 2020 North Carolina General Election

Adding to the already polarizing 2020 general election was the COVID-19 pandemic. One way in which this pandemic greatly affected the election was through an increased participation in by-mail, or mail-in, ballots. The state of North Carolina experienced a 316 percent increase in by-mail votes between 2016 and 2020, when approximately 977,186 votes were cast by mail. It is no surprise that this increase was due to the COVID-19 pandemic;however, these by-mail voting patterns are spatial in nature and vary across the state. This research measures to what degree COVID-19 rates affected by-mail voting rates. Using geographic information systems data developed from robust tabular files provided by the North Carolina State Board of Elections, by-mail votes were calculated and mapped at ZIP code scale and compared to COVID-19 rates measured at different dates. By-mail rates taken from final absentee tallies for the highest and lowest COVID-19 ZIP codes saw no significant differences across multiple dates (30 September 2020 and 31 October 2020) when COVID-19 data were collected. COVID-19 hot spots (high COVID-19 rates surrounded by other high COVID-19 rates) were extracted using geostatistical techniques and compared to COVID-19 cold spots (low COVID-19 rates surrounded by other low COVID-19 rates). It was found the lowest by-mail rates actually occurred in these COVID-19 hot spots across both dates, as well a metric that expressed percentage change in COVID-19 rates in the month before the 2020 election.Alternate :COVID-19使得已经两极分化的2020年美国大选, 变得更加雪上加霜。COVID-19影响选举的一种方式是邮寄选票的增加。2016年至2020年, 北卡罗来纳州的邮寄选票增加了316%, 共约977,186张。毫无疑问, COVID-19导致了邮寄选票的增加。然而, 邮寄选票在本质上是空间性的, 并且在北卡罗来纳州的各个地方具有差异性。本研究计算了COVID-19发病率对邮寄选票比例的影响程度。利用北卡罗来纳州选举委员会提供的准确的表格文件, 本文制作了地理信息系统数据, 在邮政编码尺度上对邮寄选票进行计算和制图, 并将这些邮寄选票与不同时间的COVID-19发病率进行了比较。在拥有最高和最低COVID-19发病率的邮政编码和不同时间（2020年9月30日和2020年10月31日）, 从缺失人数统计中得到的邮寄选票比例没有显著差异。利用地学统计方法提取COVID-19热点（COVID-19高发病率在空间上被其它高发病率所包围）, 并与COVID-19冷点（COVID-19低发病率在空间上被其它低发病率所包围）进行比较。结果发现, 在这两个时间内, 最低邮寄选票比例出现在COVID-19热点地区。本文还制定了一个指标, 可以表示2020年大选前一个月的COVID-19发病率百分比的变化。

Did A Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Program Support low-income Households in North Carolina during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Mixed Methods Assessment of the Healthy Helping Program and Other Pandemic-Related Food Assistance

In 2020, the Healthy Helping Fruit and Vegetable Program provided SNAP-eligible beneficiaries with $40/month, for up to 3 months, to purchase fruits and vegetablesata chainsupermarket inNorthCarolina.A survey to describeparticipants' experiences with the program and interviews to explore whether these experiences were shaped byparticipating inotherpandemic-related food access programs were conducted.In conjunction with other food access programs,programs that allow participants freedom to choose what they purchase mayalleviate household hardships and provide greater access tonutrient-dense foods during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond..Copyright © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Demonstrating a Nurse-Driven Model for Interprofessional Academic-Practice Partnerships

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes interprofessional practice (IPP) as "...multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds working] together with patients, families, caregivers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care" (WHO. 2010. The WHO deemed that interprofessional education and practice (IPEP) is vital to attain a workforce that Is ready and able to care for local health needs through teamwork and collaboration (WHO. 201 Oh Interprofessional teams are critical in the care of acute, chronic, and complex health and social support needs of COVID-19 patients (Michalec & Lamb. 20201.1 PE and IPP are so essential to care that accreditation bodies have come together to provide guidance about how to embed these activities throughout all health professions programs (Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative. 2019). When delivered Intentionally, IPEP has the potential to achieve the Quadruple Aim (i.e., Improved quality, Increased population health, reduced costs, and improved clinician experience), with teamwork playing a large part In the achievement of the fourth aim: addressing the needs of healthcare workers, and reducing stressors experienced by the past, current, and future healthcare workforce, including nurses (Bachvnskv. 2020: Nurses have demonstrated that they are In an ideal position on the healthcare team to meet the additional demands placed on health services (e.g., contact tracing, testing, vaccine administration) and increased demand for staff, resources, policies, and supplies by the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which threaten an already overtaxed system (Diabv et al„ 2021).

Importance of meaningful engagement: how and why older adults volunteer in uncertain times

PurposeMany older adults engage in volunteer activities, drawing meaning and purpose through such efforts. Social distancing restrictions, put in place during Covid-19 surges to reduce the risk of transmission, disrupted older adult volunteers' lives and volunteer experiences. Social distancing measures provide a unique opportunity to explore what happened when the choices around pausing or stopping volunteering were not entirely within the control of older adults. This paper aims to explore the experiences of older adult volunteers as they navigated uncertainties and made difficult decisions around balancing their safety and their desire to continue volunteering.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted interviews with 26 community-dwelling older adults, age 50+, who had engaged in volunteer activities for at least 1 h a week prior to the start of the pandemic. The interviews were conducted on the phone or via Zoom. The authors used thematic analysis to help us analyze the data and identify patterns from participants' experiences.FindingsDespite the risk presented by Covid-19, most participants volunteered during the pandemic. They continued some or all of their previous activities with safety-related adjustments, with some seeking new or different opportunities. Participants' discussions highlight the challenges of volunteering during the pandemic and the importance of engagement to their resiliency and subjective well-being.Originality/valueThis paper provides original contributions to understanding how and why older adults volunteered during the Covid-19 pandemic. The social distancing measures provide a novel opportunity to enrich our understanding of the meaningfulness and value of volunteerism to older adults' lives and subjective well-being.

Evaluating the Federal Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority: Early Implementation and Progress of State Efforts to Develop New Statewide Academic Assessments. Study Highlights. NCEE 2023-004h

Education officials have long hoped that the statewide academic assessments most students take each year could be used not only for accountability but also to guide instruction. Congress established the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) program in 2015 to help address this goal, offering up to seven states flexibility from federal requirements so that they may more easily make progress toward replacing their current assessments with more innovative ones. The report describes the early progress of the first five IADA systems to help policymakers consider expanding the program to more states. The report is primarily based on analyses of states' IADA applications and annual performance reports through the 2020-2021 school year and is part of a broader evaluation of IADA required by Congress. This Study Highlights describes the key findings from the report. [For the full report, see ED627872. For the Appendix, see ED627873.]

Spatial and Temporal Trends in Travel for COVID-19 Vaccinations.

Introduction: Understanding spatial and temporal trends in travel for COVID-19 vaccinations by key demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, race, age) is important for ensuring equitable access to and increasing distribution efficiency of vaccines and other health services. The aim of this study is to examine trends in travel distance for COVID-19 vaccinations over the course of the vaccination rollout in North Carolina. Methods: Data were collected using electronic medical records of individuals who had first- or single-dose COVID-19 vaccination appointments through UNC Health between December 15, 2020, and August 31, 2021 (N = 204,718). Travel distances to appointments were calculated using the Euclidean distance from individuals' home ZIP code centroids to clinic addresses. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models with individuals' home ZIP codes incorporated as fixed effects were used to examine differences in travel distances by gender, race, and age. Results: Males and White individuals traveled significantly farther for vaccination appointments throughout the vaccination rollout. On average, females traveled 14. 4 miles, 3.5% shorter distances than males; Black individuals traveled 13.6 miles, 10.0% shorter distances than White individuals; and people aged 65 and older traveled 14.5 miles, 2.6% longer distances than younger people living in the same ZIP code. Conclusions: Controlling for socioeconomic status and spatial proximity to vaccination clinics at the ZIP code level, males and White individuals traveled longer distances for vaccination appointments, demonstrating more ability to travel for vaccinations. Results indicate a need to consider differential ability to travel to vaccinations by key demographic characteristics in COVID-19 vaccination programs and future mass health service delivery efforts.

Insights from the Field: How North Carolina Local Government Climate Communications Compare to IPCC Guidelines

As climate change increasingly threatens the United States, many local governments are implementing programs in response, helping to reduce their communities' contributions to climate change and enhancing their resilience to climate impacts. The purpose of this study is to understand how local governments in North Carolina communicate with residents about their climate change programming. Twelve local government sustainability employees participated in interviews about how they communicated with and received input from residents about such programs. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using Atlas.ti 9, and communications approaches were compared to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations. Participants' communications could be characterized as applying some of the IPCC recommendations, and findings suggest opportunities for greater adoption of IPCC strategies in local government communication about climate programs. The Covid-19 pandemic was primarily described as a barrier to communicating about climate programs but also was credited as creating an opportunity for enhanced connections in one community. Additionally, participants described misconceptions about climate change programming expressed by residents, such as initiatives being perceived as impractical when they were in fact feasible. © 2023 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

LEADING THE DISPERSED CHURCH: A CASE STUDY OF CONNECTIVISM IN PIEDMONT CHAPEL

Connectivism is a learning theory first proposed by Siemens and Downes (2005, 2009) as a learning theory for the digital age. This theory proposes that learning may occur external to the learner and teacher;it exists in the multiple complex networks with which the learner associates. In 2020, Corbett and Spinello followed up on Siemen's work to move connectivism from a learning theory to a leadership theory. Connectivism is a leadership theory that specifically works in modern churches. This theory emphasizes the connectedness of all knowledge and the mutuality of those connections, becoming a tool used to build better teams in the local church, especially in this dispersed environment.

Prevalence of substance use in adults with cystic fibrosis

Background: Substance use is an understudied aspect of cystic fibrosis (CF) care. Even casual use of drugs or alcohol may reduce compliance with complicated treatment plans, worsen existing conditions associated with CF, or cause potential drug interactions. To understand the need for mitigation mechanisms for risky substance use in a CF population, we studied the prevalence of substance use in our adult CF clinic population to characterize relationships between substance use and health status. Method(s): In our large academic CF center, we performed a retrospective chart ion of 420 patients over a 6-year period (2015-2021). Clinical staff annually administer the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) to assess drug use, alcohol use, depression, and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Demographic characteristics, lung function (percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1pp)), and anxiety and depression symptom screening scores were recorded. Because substance use can change over time, we counted each assessment date as an independent observation (n = 1434). The chi-square test (Table 1) was conducted in R/RStudio [1] to assess for associations between self-reported substance use and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Because of insufficient data, aggregate datawere used to describe the presence (PHQ-9 or GAD-7 >= 10) or absence (PHQ-9 or GAD-7 < 10) of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Result(s): Positive scores for risky use were defined as a DAST score of 1 or higher and an AUDIT score of 8 or hither. Eighty-three of 326 patients (25%) met criteria for risky substance use on at least one observation. Therewas a slight male predominance (54.2%) and wide age distribution (mean age 30 +/- 7, range 20-55);Thirty (36.1%) had a higher AUDIT score, 34 (40.9%) had a high DAST score, and 19 (22.9%) had high scores on both.We selected 2019 to evaluate single-year prevalence of positive screenings to avoid the impact of COVID. In 2019, 29 patients had at least one positive screening result (DAST,15/203, 7.3%;AUDIT, 24/193,12%;both,10/193, 5.2%). In the 6- year dataset, we did not find a statistically significant association between symptoms of depression and anxiety and indication of drug or alcohol use in self-reported users (355 observations). Conclusion(s): According to a 2020 national survey of healthy Americans, 20.8% have used illicit drugs at least once in the past year, and 10.2% meet criteria for alcohol use disorder [2], compared with 7.3% of patients in our 2019 data who have used drugs (n = 15) and 12% (n = 24) who indicated risky alcohol use. In this review, positive screening scores on the DAST and AUDIT were not associated with degree of symptoms of depression and anxiety, suggesting that substance use and symptoms of depression and anxiety were not temporally associated with each other. Future work will include analysis of the relationship between substance use and mental health in the larger University of North Carolina clinic population and linear regression to evaluate possible explanatory variables for substance use in this populationCopyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

When the Big Deal Gets Smaller: Use of ScienceDirect after Cancellations

This study investigates how article downloads from ScienceDirect changed after Temple University Libraries downsized its all-inclusive Elsevier big deal bundle to a selective custom package. After the libraries lost current-year access to nearly half of Elsevier's active journals, the total downloads from Elsevier journals declined by 16.2 percent over three years. Combined use of still-subscribed and open access journals fell 10.6 percent in the same three years, suggesting that the drop in total use is due not only to the loss of journals but also to factors that would affect the remaining journals, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and a slight decrease in enrollment. Patrons may have substituted articles from still-subscribed and open access journals for those that were canceled, though the data are not conclusive. Reliance on open access appears to have increased.

Organizational decision‐making during COVID‐19: A qualitative analysis of the organizational decision‐making system in the United States during COVID‐19

This study sought to understand COVID‐19‐related organizational decisions were made across sectors. To gain this understanding, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with organizational decision‐makers in North Carolina about their experiences responding to COVID‐19. Conventional content analysis was used to analyse the context, inputs, and processes involved in decision‐making. Between October 2020 and February 2021, we interviewed 44 decision‐makers from the following sectors: business (n = 4), community non‐profit (n = 3), county government (n = 4), healthcare (n = 5), local public health (n = 5), public safety (n = 7), religious (n = 6), education (n = 7) and transportation (n = 3). We found that during the pandemic, organizations looked to scientific authorities, the decisions of peer organizations, data about COVID‐19, and their own experience with prior crises. Interpretation of inputs was informed by current political events, societal trends, and organization mission. Decision‐makers had to account for divergent internal opinions and community behaviour. To navigate inputs and contextual factors, organizations decentralized decision‐making authority, formed auxiliary decision‐making bodies, learned to resolve internal conflicts, learned in real time from their crisis response, and routinely communicated decisions with their communities. In conclusion, aligned with systems and contingency theories of decision‐making, decision‐making during COVID‐19 depended on an organization's 'fit' within the specifics of their existing system and their ability to orient the dynamics of that system to their own goals. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The lived experiences of indigenous youth during the transition to emergency remote learning: A qualitative study

This qualitative study was conducted to learn about the lived experiences of Indigenous youth during the transition to emergency remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight students at two schools in the Western part of Robeson County, North Carolina, told their stories. Tribal Critical Race Theory was used in this study as a lens to analyze the stories told by these Indigenous students and five themes emerged from the data collected from their stories: students had significant issues with the internet, remote learning was challenging, the support of teachers was vital, students wanted to return to school, and school is better now that students are back in class face to face. Findings showed the lack of access to high-speed internet often impeded students' ability to connect with their teachers consistently. Students found remote learning was much more challenging than being in the classroom face to face and returning to school was important to them. Once students returned to school, Indigenous students reported how much better they felt and how much easier it was to learn and retain new information. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The Missing Strategy in Addressing Language Barriers

By following the 3 points below, health care leaders can improve their health care delivery practices for patients with limited English proficiency: * improve health care delivery for populations with limited English proficiency, * partner with community-based organizations that teach ESL, and * leverage Medicaid and work with insurers to better manage the care of non–English-speaking patients. _____ Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality data show that Latinxs are disproportionately dying in the United States.1 These findings parallel known health disparities for Latinxs, which can be attributed in part to language barriers. When patients and their clinicians do not speak the same language, patients receive less health education and experience more testing, more readmissions, and longer lengths of stay, resulting in higher health care utilization.3 Beyond the clinical setting, language, like other social determinants of health, affects patients' lived environments, including their ability to understand food labels, apply for public housing services, and access reliable community health information. Funding could also be sought through the reintroduction of an Obama administration federal proposal that supported partnerships among states, adult education providers, higher education institutions, and private organizations.9 Bolstering language services with health-focused ESL courses may ultimately reduce health care spending and satisfy mandatory community health needs assessment implementation strategies. Health systems can then evaluate the effectiveness of their courses internally or by partnering with the Department of Education, which provides funds for evaluation of adult education programs.11 Access to health-focused ESL classes can be improved, but participation can still be hindered by day-to-day patient barriers, such as working multiple jobs and lacking transportation. [...]ESL programs should not be implemented in isolation but rather as part of a larger infrastructure focused on addressing patients' social needs.

Impact of COVID-19: Case study on teachers' technology use in virtual learning

The COVID-19 global pandemic caused a sudden shift from in-person instruction to virtual learning for fifth-grade teachers and students in Title 1 elementary schools. Through professional development opportunities, fifth-grade teachers had to adjust instructional practices to facilitate virtual learning and adopt and embrace new teaching methods including technology. The most significant gap in the literature was student participation, preparedness, curriculum design, instruction, and the effectiveness of virtual learning were not fully understood. The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of fifth-grade teachers with virtual learning and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily instruction for students situated in Title 1 elementary schools in a large urban school district in North Carolina. In this qualitative case study, the target population was 135 fifth-grade teachers, from which 15 fifth-grade teachers were selected through purposive sampling. The data collection methods were a questionnaire and one-on-one in-depth interviews. Thematic coding was used for data analysis. Fifth-grade teachers transitioned from classroom instruction to virtual learning using technology and developed technical knowledge through professional development opportunities. Factors in the home environment and engagements in learning management systems (LMSs) influenced fifth-grade teachers' perceptions of student performance, behavior, and attitudes. A comparative study in non-Title 1 schools and professional development opportunities on best practices in virtual learning is recommended for future research. Education leaders and policymakers can benefit from this research study as they learn about the potential risk of widening achievement gaps among students from high and low-performing groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Seroepidemiology and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection among household members of food processing and farm workers in North Carolina.

Background: Racial and ethnic minorities have borne a disproportionate burden from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Certain essential occupations, including food processing and farm work, employ large numbers of Hispanic migrant workers and have been shown to carry an especially high risk of infection. Methods: This observational cohort study measured the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and assessed the risk factors for seropositivity among food processing and farm workers, and members of their households, in North Carolina, USA. Participants completed questionnaires, blood samples were collected, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Univariate and multi-variate analyses were undertaken to identify risk factors associated with seropositivity, using generalized estimating equations to account for household clustering. Findings: Among the 218 participants, 94.5% were Hispanic, and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was 50.0%. Most seropositive individuals did not report a history of illness compatible with COVID-19. Attending church, having a prior history of COVID-19, having a seropositive household member, and speaking Spanish as one's primary language were associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, while preventive behaviours were not. Interpretation: These findings underscore the substantial burden of COVID-19 among a population of mostly Hispanic essential workers and their households in rural North Carolina. This study contributes to a large body of evidence showing that Hispanic Americans have suffered a disproportionate burden of COVID-19. This study also highlights the epidemiologic importance of viral transmission within the household.

A Review of COVID-19 Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Transport

Introduction: Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been a transport standard of care for cardiovascular and pulmonary compromised patients. However, implementation and associated outcomes for unstable patients diagnosed with SARS-COV-2 infection has not been documented. Method(s): A retrospective chart review was performed examining ECMO transports of patients with SARS-COV-2 infection from April 2020- October 2021 involving one healthcare transport program. Variables of interest included: pH pre-post cannulation, BMI, pre-existing health conditions, medications utilized, and health outcomes. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. Result(s): 21 transports were completed involving North Carolina and South Carolina referral facilities: 15 ground ambulance and 6 EC-145 rotor wing aircraft. All patients were cannulated at outside hospitals, with 2 performed by the transport team. While there were no complications during transport, trends illustrated those patients persistently acidotic (pH< 7.35) after ECMO cannulation were more likely to die.8 of the 10 patients who died had persistently low pH, versus the survivors where only 3 of 11 had persistently low pH after cannulation. This was a statistically significant difference in survival outcomes for those with sustained normal pH after cannulation, p=0.03. BMI had no statistically significant influence on outcomes, p=0.08. Conclusion(s): Transportof patients on ECMO with SARS-COV-2 virus infection is safe and effective with a specialty transport team. The significance between post-ECMO cannulation pH and patient outcomes requires further examination which may aid in patient management.Copyright © 2022

Could Earlier Availability of Boosters and Pediatric Vaccines Have Reduced Impact of COVID-19?

The objective is to evaluate the impact of the earlier availability of COVID-19 vaccinations to children and boosters to adults in the face of the Delta and Omicron variants. We employed an agent-based stochastic network simulation model with a modified SEIR compartment model populated with demographic and census data for North Carolina. We found that earlier availability of childhood vaccines and earlier availability of adult boosters could have reduced the peak hospitalizations of the Delta wave by 10% and the Omicron wave by 42%, and could have reduced cumulative deaths by 9% by July 2022. When studied separately, we found that earlier childhood vaccinations reduce cumulative deaths by 2,611 more than earlier adult boosters. Therefore, the results of our simulation model suggest that the timing of childhood vaccination and booster efforts could have resulted in a reduced disease burden and that prioritizing childhood vaccinations would most effectively reduce disease spread. © 2022 IEEE.

Black Americans' Perceptions of Communication and Other Factors during Oncology Care Virtual Visits: Presenter(s): Jennifer Elston Lafata, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many oncology practices began offering virtual visits via video and/or telephone. How such visits are perceived by Black patients, who have historically faced access barriers and poorer cancer outcomes, is not known. We elicited Black patients' perceptions of and experiences with oncology virtual visits. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews with Black adults receiving oncology care for head and neck cancer, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma between 6/1/19 - 3/20/21 from two US-based academic health systems. The interview guide elicited virtual visit perceptions and experiences within predefined themes (e.g., ease of use, usefulness, communication quality, appropriateness). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for a priori themes and new ones identified during data immersion. Two trained research assistants coded transcripts, using Atlas.ti for data management. Forty-nine adults completed an interview between 9/2021 and 2/2022 (n=16 head and neck, n=16 prostate, and n=17 multiple myeloma);mean age 63 years (range: 39-75), 53% male, and 77% ever having a virtual visit. Participants indicated communication with their doctor and privacy was comparable between in-person and virtual visits but expressed feeling less human connectedness during virtual visits. They cited convenience advantages (e.g., being home, flexibility when physicians run late, and reduced travel barriers);however, they also reported preferring in-person visits, due to wanting doctors to conduct physical examinations or needing in-person testing. Participants described wanting a choice regarding visit type and valued it when physicians articulated the option to conduct an in-person visit (i.e., patient-centeredness in scheduling). To overcome technical barriers to virtual visit attendance, patients received assistance from adult children, physicians, and other support. We identified barriers to and facilitators of virtual visit use among Black patients receiving cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Patient Education & Counseling is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)