A Culturally Adapted Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Intervention Among Muslim Women in New York City: Results from the MARHABA Trial.

We examine the efficacy of MARHABA, a social marketing-informed, lay health worker (LHW) intervention with patient navigation (PN), to increase breast and cervical cancer screening among Muslim women in New York City. Muslim women were eligible if they were overdue for a mammogram and/or a Pap test. All participants attended a 1-h educational seminar with distribution of small media health education materials, after which randomization occurred. Women in the Education + Media + PN arm received planned follow-ups from a LHW. Women in the Education + Media arm received no further contact. A total of 428 women were randomized into the intervention (214 into each arm). Between baseline and 4-month follow-up, mammogram screening increased from 16.0 to 49.0% in the Education + Media + PN arm (p < 0.001), and from 14.7 to 44.6% in the Education + Media arm (p < 0.001). Pap test screening increased from 16.9 to 42.3% in the Education + Media + PN arm (p < 0.001) and from 17.3 to 37.1% in the Education + Media arm (p < 0.001). Cancer screening knowledge increased in both groups. Between group differences were not statistically significant for screening and knowledge outcomes. A longer follow-up period may have resulted in a greater proportion of up-to-date screenings, given that many women had not yet received their scheduled screenings. Findings suggest that the educational session and small media materials were perhaps sufficient to increase breast and cervical cancer screening among Muslim American women. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03081507.

The Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic on Registered Nurses' Intent to Stay in Nursing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for registered nurses. Media reports, most of them anecdotal, have reported upticks in nurse resignations, and plans to resign and/or leave nursing due to COVID-19. This article reports findings from an online anonymous 95-item survey completed by about 1,600 nurses from a New York City metropolitan area health system's (HS) four hospitals and ambulatory care centers about their COVID-19 experience in the spring of 2020, their intent to stay at the HS, and their intent to stay working as a nurse. Conducted early in the pandemic, this survey addresses a major gap in the literature, as there was no timely evaluation of nurses' intent to leave during the "Great Attrition" wave or to stay during the "Great Attraction" trend. Among those nurses completing the survey, 85.7% reported that they planned to work as a nurse one year later and 77.9% reported that they planned to work at the HS one year later. Those nurses who obtained a master's or doctoral degree as their first professional degree in nursing, or had a high level of mastery, were less likely to report an intent to stay at the HS. Those with no children, those who thought the HS was more supportive, and those who thought that registered nurse-medical doctor relations were higher were more likely to intend to stay at the HS. Those nurses who reported worse communication with their nurse manager were less likely to report an intent to stay in nursing. Those who reported lower stress, who were unmarried and had no children were more likely to intend to work as nurses. Our findings on nurses' intent to leave their organization and their intent to leave nursing are much lower than reports in the popular press. Our data were collected early in the pandemic and it may not reflect the accumulated stress nurses experienced from witnessing the death of so many patients.

Disparities in colorectal cancer screening among South Asians in New York City: a cross-sectional study.

Despite improvements in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in New York City (NYC) since the early 2000s, the degree to which disparities persist for specific Asian American subgroups has yet to be fully elucidated. The purpose of this study is to examine disparities in rates of timely colonoscopy screening among five racial/ethnic groups in NYC. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of combined 2014-2018 NYC Community Health Survey data. Prevalence estimates of timely colonoscopy screening (within the past 10 years) among individuals ≥ 50 years of age were calculated and presented overall (n = 24,288) and by socio-demographic variables. Racial/ethnic categories included White, Black, Hispanic, East Asian, and South Asian. Multivariable models examined socio-demographic and racial/ethnic predictors of timely colonoscopy screening. A trend analysis examined colonoscopy screening by race/ethnicity and year from 2012 to 2018 (n = 33,130). Age-adjusted prevalence of timely colonoscopy screening was lowest among Asian Americans (South Asian 61.1% and East Asian 65.9%) compared to Hispanics (71.3%), Blacks (70.2%), and Whites (68.6%). Adjustment by socio-demographics, including insurance status, further explained disparities for South Asians (adjusted risk ratio [RR] = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.73-0.97) compared to Hispanics; additionally, Whites (adjusted RR=0.88, 95% CI = 0.84-0.92) were less likely to have received a timely colonoscopy compared to Hispanics. Age, health insurance, poverty group, and education were significant predictors in adjusted regression. Results indicate that South Asians have not equally benefited from campaigns to increase colonoscopy screening in NYC. Our findings support the development of targeted, and linguistically and culturally adapted campaigns that facilitate access to health systems and leverage existing community assets and social support systems among South Asian populations.

The psychosocial impact on frontline nurses of caring for patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in New York City.

BACKGROUND: Infectious disease pandemics, such as COVID-19, have dramatically increased in the last several decades. PURPOSE: To investigate the personal and contextual factors associated with the psychological functioning of nurses responding to COVID in the New York City area. METHOD: Cross sectional data collected via a 95-item internet-based survey sent to an email list of the 7,219 nurses employed at four hospitals. FINDINGS: 2,495 nurses responded (RR 35%). The more that nurses cared for COVID patients as well as experienced home-work conflict and work-home conflict the higher the nurses' depression and anxiety. When asked what has helped the nurses to carry out their care of patients the most common responses were support from and to co-workers, training in proper PPE, and support from family/friends. DISCUSSION: Understanding the potential triggers and vulnerability factors can inform the development of institutional resources that would help minimize their impact, reducing the risk of psychological morbidity.

Reciprocal relationships between the will-to-live and successful aging.

Objectives: The search for concomitants and predictors of successful aging is of theoretical and practical importance. In this study, we assessed the reciprocal relationships between the will-to-live (WTL) and both objective and subjective successful aging (SA) among older adults. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 1,216 randomly selected persons aged 75+ years (T1) and repeated with 1,019 of these participants one year later (T2). At each session, we collected data on WTL, subjective SA, and objective SA (medical conditions, disability, pain symptoms), and demographics. Using SEM techniques, we examined cross-lagged autoregressive relationships between WTL and both objective and subjective SA. Results: Significant reciprocal relationships were found among WTL, objective SA, and subjective SA. Higher WTL at T1 predicted higher objective and subjective SA at T2 (i.e., fewer medical conditions, less disability, less pain symptoms and higher ratings of subjective SA). Higher objective and subjective SA at T1 predicted higher WTL at T2. Comparison of the bidirectional temporal relationship between WTL and SA showed that the effect of WTL on objective SA was as strong as the reverse effect, but the influence of WTL on subjective SA was stronger than the reverse effect. Finally, objective SA at T1 predicted subjective SA at T2, but the reverse effect was not significant. Conclusion: WTL is an important precursor for both objective and subjective SA. It may also be maintained and further strengthened by successful aging. Policy makers and practitioners should consider WTL in their efforts to help older adults enhance and preserve SA.

Gerontological social work and cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a setting in which integrating social work services can benefit older adults. Many cardiac rehabilitation patients endorse symptoms of stress and depression following a cardiac event, impeding their ability to participate fully in cardiac rehabilitation services or recover from a heart attack. Gerontologically trained social workers can improve the care of older adults with heart disease in a variety of ways and this paper discusses the potential roles social workers can play in enhancing care. Two examples demonstrating how community academic partnerships can lead to improved options for older adults following a heart attack are discussed. First, using a microsystems approach, social workers embedded within cardiac rehabilitation may improve patient quality of life, address social service needs, provide mental health treatment, and assist in the completion of standard cardiac rehabilitation assessments. Second, using a macrosystems approach, social workers can help communities by developing partnerships to establish infrastructure for new cardiac rehabilitation clinics that are integrated with mental health services in rural areas. Social workers can serve an important role in addressing the psychological or social service needs of cardiac rehabilitation patients while increasing access to care.

Psychosocial Influences on Disaster Preparedness in San Francisco Recipients of Home Care.

Disasters disproportionately impact certain segments of the population, including children, pregnant women, people living with disabilities and chronic conditions and those who are underserved and under-resourced. One of the most vulnerable groups includes the community-dwelling elderly. Post-disaster analyses indicate that these individuals have higher risk of disaster-related morbidity and mortality. They also have suboptimal levels of disaster preparedness in terms of their ability to shelter-in-place or evacuate to a shelter. The reasons for this have not been well characterized, although impaired health, financial limitations, and social isolation are believed to act as barriers to preparedness as well as to adaptability to changes in the environment both during and in the immediate aftermath of disasters. In order to identify strategies that address barriers to preparedness, we recently conducted a qualitative study of 50 elderly home care recipients living in San Francisco. Data were collected during in-home, in-person interviews using a semi-structured interview guide that included psychosocial constructs based on the social cognitive preparedness model and a new 13-item preparedness checklist. The mean preparedness score was 4.74 (max 13, range 1-11, SD. 2.11). Over 60 % of the participants reported that they had not made back-up plans for caregiver assistance during times of crisis, 74 % had not made plans for transportation to a shelter, 56 % lacked a back-up plan for electrical equipment in case of power outages, and 44 % had not prepared an emergency contacts list-the most basic element of preparedness. Impairments, disabilities, and resource limitations served as barriers to preparedness. Cognitive processes that underlie motivation and intentions for preparedness behaviors were lacking. There were limitations with respect to critical awareness of hazards (saliency), self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, and perceived responsibility. There was also a lack of trust in response agencies and authorities and a limited sense of community. Participants wanted to be prepared and welcomed training, but physical limitations kept many of them home bound. Training of home care aides, the provision of needed resources, and improved community outreach may be helpful in improving disaster outcomes in this vulnerable segment of the population.

Health, coping and subjective well-being: results of a longitudinal study of elderly Israelis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test a conceptual model designed to promote the understanding of factors influencing subjective well-being (SWB) in old age. Within this framework, we evaluated the relative influences on elderly Israelis' SWB of health and/or function, personal resources, coping behaviors (reactive and proactive), and changes in all of these factors over time. METHOD: At baseline, 1216 randomly selected elderly persons (75+) were interviewed at home (T1) and 1019 one year later (T2). The conceptual model was evaluated by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis using AMOS 18. RESULTS: After one year, a relatively high percentage of participants reported decline in health/function (DHF) and in personal resources. The effects of the study variables on T2-SWB were evaluated by a SEM analysis, resulting in a satisfying fit: χ2 = 279.5 (df = 102), p < .001, CFI = .970, NFI = .954, TLI = .955, RMSEA = .046. In addition to significant direct effects of health/function on T2-SWB, health/function was found to indirectly influence T2-SWB. Our analysis showed that health/function had a negative influence on the positive effects of personal resources (function self-efficacy, social support) and the diverse effects of the coping patterns (goal-reengagement - positive; expectations for future care needs - negative; having concrete plans for future care - positive). CONCLUSION: Personal resources and use of appropriate coping behaviors enable elderly people to control their well-being even in the presence of DHF. Evidence-based interventions can help older people to acquire and/or strengthen effective personal resources and coping patterns, thus, promoting their SWB.

Enabling a Disaster-Resilient Workforce: Attending to Individual Stress and Collective Trauma.

PURPOSE: Superstorm Sandy forced the evacuation and extended shutdown of New York University Langone Medical Center. This investigation explored how nurses were impacted by the disasters and how they can best be supported in their nursing responsibilities. DESIGN: Sequential mixed methods were used to explore the psychosocial issues nurses experienced throughout the course of this natural disaster and its lingering aftermath. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted from April to June 2013 with a subsample of nurses who participated in the evacuation deployment (n = 16). An anonymous, Internet-based cross-sectional survey sent to all registered nurses employed at the hospital at the time of the storm explored storm impact and recovery. Between July and September 2013, 528 surveys were completed. FINDINGS: The qualitative data revealed challenges in balancing professional obligations and personal concerns. Accounts described dealing in the immediate recovery period with unexpected job changes and resultant work uncertainty. The storm's lingering aftermath did not signify restoration of their predisaster lifestyle for some, but necessitated coping with this massive storm's long-lasting impact on their personal lives and communal loss. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses working under the rapidly changing, uncontrolled, and potentially dangerous circumstances of a weather-related disaster are also experiencing concerns about their families' welfare and worries about personal loss. These multiple issues increase the psychosocial toll on nurses during a disaster response and impending recovery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Awareness of concerns and competing demands nurses experience in a disaster and aftermath can inform education and services to enable nurses to perform their critical functions while minimizing risk to patients and themselves.

Challenges and Resources for Nurses Participating in a Hurricane Sandy Hospital Evacuation.

PURPOSE: Weather-related disasters have increased dramatically in recent years. In 2012, severe flooding as a result of Hurricane Sandy necessitated the mid-storm patient evacuation of New York University Langone Medical Center. The purpose of this study was to explore, from the nurses' perspective, what the challenges and resources were to carrying out their responsibilities, and what the implications are for nursing education and preparation for disaster. DESIGN: This mixed-methods study included qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of nurses and an online survey of nurses who participated in the evacuation. METHODS: The interviews explored prior disaster experience and training, communication, personal experience during the evacuation, and lessons learned. The cross-sectional survey assessed social demographic factors, nursing education and experience, as well as potential challenges and resources in carrying out their disaster roles. FINDINGS: Qualitative interviews provided important contextual information about the specific challenges nurses experienced and their ability to respond effectively. Survey data identified important resources that helped nurses to carry out their roles, including support from coworkers, providing support to others, personal resourcefulness, and leadership. Nurses experienced considerable challenges in responding to this disaster due to limited prior disaster experience, training, and education, but drew on their personal resourcefulness, support from colleagues, and leadership to adapt to those challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Disaster preparedness education in schools of nursing and practice settings should include more hands-on disaster preparation exercises, more "low-tech" options to address power loss, and specific policies on nurses' disaster roles. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurses play a critical role in responding to disasters. Learning from their disaster experience can inform approaches to nursing education and preparation.

Challenges of nurses' deployment to other New York City hospitals in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

On October 29, 2012, a 12-ft storm surge generated by Hurricane Sandy necessitated evacuation and temporary closure of three New York City hospitals including NYU Langone Medical Center (NYULMC). NYULMC nurses participated in the evacuation, and 71 % were subsequently deployed to area hospitals to address patient surge for periods from a few days up to 2 months when NYULMC reopened. This mixed methods study explored nurses' experience in the immediate disaster and the subsequent deployment. More than 50 % of deployed nurse participants reported the experience to be extremely or very stressful. Deployed nurses encountered practice challenges related to working in an unfamiliar environment, limited orientation, legal concerns about clinical assignments. They experienced psychosocial challenges associated with the intense experience of the evacuation, uncertainty about future employment, and the increased demands of managing the deployment. Findings provide data to inform national and regional policies to support nurses in future deployments.

Mobile phone text messaging intervention for cervical cancer screening: changes in knowledge and behavior pre-post intervention.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer poses a significant threat to Korean American women, who are reported to have one of the highest cervical cancer mortality rates in the United States. Studies consistently report that Korean American women have the lowest Pap test screening rates across US ethnic groups. OBJECTIVE: In response to the need to enhance cervical cancer screening in this vulnerable population, we developed and tested a 7-day mobile phone text message-based cervical cancer Screening (mScreening) intervention designed to promote the receipt of Pap tests by young Korean American women. METHODS: We developed and assessed the acceptability and feasibility of a 1-week mScreening intervention to increase knowledge of cervical cancer screening, intent to receive screening, and the receipt of a Pap test. Fogg's Behavior Model was the conceptual framework that guided the development of the mScreening intervention. A series of focus groups were conducted to inform the development of the intervention. The messages were individually tailored for each participant and delivered to them for a 7-day period at each participant's preferred time. A quasi-experimental research design of 30 Korean American women aged 21 to 29 years was utilized with baseline, post (1 week after the completion of mScreening), and follow-up (3 months after the completion of mScreening) testing. RESULTS: Findings revealed a significant increase in participants' knowledge of cervical cancer (P<.001) and guidelines for cervical cancer screening (P=.006). A total of 23% (7/30) (95% CI 9.9-42.3) of the mScreening participants received a Pap test; 83% (25/30) of the participants expressed satisfaction with the intervention and 97% (29/30) reported that they would recommend the program to their friends, indicating excellent acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of the effectiveness and feasibility of the mScreening intervention. Mobile technology is a promising tool to increase both knowledge and receipt of cervical cancer screening. Given the widespread usage of mobile phones among young adults, a mobile phone-based health intervention could be a low-cost and effective method of reaching populations with low cervical cancer screening rates, using individually tailored messages that cover broad content areas and overcome restrictions to place and time of delivery.

Translating infection control guidelines into practice: implementation process within a health care institution.

Health-care-associated infections (HAIs) remain a major patient safety problem even as policy and programmatic efforts designed to reduce HAIs have increased. Although information on implementing effective infection control (IC) efforts has steadily grown, knowledge gaps remain regarding the organizational elements that improve bedside practice and accommodate variations in clinical care settings. We conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews in 11 hospitals across the United States with a range of hospital personnel involved in IC (n = 116). We examined the collective nature of IC and the organizational elements that can enable disparate groups to work together to prevent HAIs. Our content analysis of participants' narratives yielded a rich description of the organizational process of implementing adherence to IC. Findings document the dynamic, fluid, interactional, and reactive nature of this process. Three themes emerged: implementing adherence efforts institution-wide, promoting an institutional culture to sustain adherence, and contending with opposition to the IC mandate.

Breathing on the mind: Treating dyspnea and anxiety symptoms with biofeedback in chronic lung disease - A qualitative analysis.

RATIONALE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by dysfunctional breathing patterns that contribute to impaired lung function and symptoms of dyspnea, anxiety, and abnormal carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to measure the acceptability of a new mind-body intervention we developed called Capnography-Assisted, Learned Monitored (CALM) Breathing, implemented before pulmonary rehabilitation. METHODS: CALM Breathing is a 4-week (8-session) intervention designed to treat dyspnea and anxiety in adults with COPD by targeting dysfunctional breathing behaviors (guided by end-tidal CO2 levels). CALM Breathing consists of ten core breathing exercises, CO2 biofeedback, and motivational interviewing. Using qualitative methods and semi-structured interviews immediately post-intervention, we evaluated the acceptability and participation process of CALM Breathing. Themes were identified using constant comparative analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen participants were interviewed after receiving CALM Breathing. Three main themes of CALM Breathing were identified: (1) Process of learning self-regulated breathing, (2) Mechanisms of a mind-body intervention, (3) Clinical and implementation outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Positive themes supported the acceptability of CALM Breathing and described participants' process of learning more self-regulated breathing to manage their dyspnea and anxiety. Positive signals from qualitative participant feedback provided support for CALM Breathing as an intervention for COPD, but larger scale efficacy trials are needed.

Social Support and Commitment to Life and Living: Bidirectional Associations in Late Life over Time.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to enhance the understanding of longitudinal associations between two important facets of well-being in late life: social support and commitment to life and living (CTL). METHODS: Structured home interviews were conducted with 824 Israelis ≥75 years of age, with three annual data collection timepoints. We hypothesized and tested a cross-lagged, longitudinal structural equation model (SEM) in which CTL and social support were assumed to predict each other over time, covarying for previously reported CTL and social support. RESULTS: Social support has a positive, contemporaneous effect, predicting commitment to living at T1 and T3, while CTL predicts social support the following year (i.e., T1-T2 & T2-T3). Satisfaction with relationships significantly contributes to measurement of both latent constructs at each point of data collection. DISCUSSION: Commitment to life and living and social support are intertwined phenomena. Whereas social support has a concomitant effect on CTL, the effect of CTL on social support emerges over time. This suggests that greater social support fosters greater CTL, leading older adults to nurture social networks and relationships; the effect of which is greater social support in the future. The implications of these results warrant further research over longer periods and across cultures.

Capnography-Assisted Learned, Monitored (CALM) breathing therapy for dysfunctional breathing in COPD: A bridge to pulmonary rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Although dyspnea is a primary symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), its treatment is suboptimal. In both COPD and acute anxiety, breathing patterns become dysregulated, contributing to abnormal CO2, dyspnea, and inefficient recovery from breathing challenges. While pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves dyspnea, only 1-2% of patients access it. Individuals with anxiety who use PR have worse outcomes. METHODS: We present the protocol of a randomized controlled trial designed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a new, four-week mind-body intervention that we developed, called "Capnography-Assisted Learned, Monitored (CALM) Breathing," as an adjunct to PR. Eligible participants are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either CALM Breathing program or Usual Care. CALM Breathing consists of 10 core, slow breathing exercises combined with real time biofeedback (of end-tidal CO2, respiratory rate, and airflow) and motivational interviewing. CALM Breathing promotes self-regulated breathing, linking CO2 changes to dyspnea and anxiety symptoms and targeting breathing efficiency and self-efficacy in COPD. Participants are randomized to CALM Breathing or a Usual Care control group. RESULTS: Primary outcomes include feasibility and acceptability metrics of recruitment efficiency, participant retention, intervention adherence and fidelity, PR facilitation, patient satisfaction, and favorable themes from interviews. Secondary outcomes include breathing biomarkers, symptoms, health-related quality of life, six-minute walk distance, lung function, mood, physical activity, and PR utilization and engagement. CONCLUSION: By disrupting the cycle of dyspnea and anxiety, and providing a needed bridge to PR, CALM Breathing may address a substantive gap in healthcare and optimize treatment for patients with COPD.

Social Support and Symptoms of Depression in Late Life: Bidirectional Associations over Time.

Social support functions as an effective buffer against depression, especially among older adults with limited social networks. For the current study, we examined longitudinal bidirectional associations between social support and depression among those 75+ years of age. We recruited and followed a sample of Israeli adults 75+ years of age (N = 824; M = 80.84; range 75-96 years). Structured interviews were conducted in the homes of participants at three annual points of measurement. Participants reported depressive symptoms and emotional and instrumental support received from friends and family. We examined a cross-lagged, longitudinal structural equation model (SEM) in which social support and depressive symptoms predict each other over time, covarying for previously reported social support and depressive symptoms. We found that both depressive symptoms and social support are largely consistent in late life. Depressive symptoms and social support reported at baseline predict levels reported 1 and 2 years thereafter. Cross-over effects emerged over time. Depressive symptoms predicted lower social support in future, and social support at baseline predicted depressive symptoms 2 years later. These findings suggest that associations between depressive symptoms and social support are bidirectional in late life. Further research is needed to replicate findings in other cultures and over longer periods, ideally until end of life.

Associations between Spiritual Health Locus of Control, Perceived Discrimination and Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening for Muslim American Women in New York City.

BACKGROUND: We sought to understand the impacts of religion-related factors, namely perceived discrimination and spiritual health locus of control, on breast and cervical cancer screening for Muslim American women. METHODS: A total of 421 Muslim American women were surveyed at baseline of a breast and cervical cancer screening intervention, measuring discrimination through the Perceived Ethnic Discrimination Questionnaire (PED-Q), a 17-item scale measuring perceived interpersonal racial/ethnic discrimination; and spiritual beliefs through the Spiritual Health Locus of Control Scale, a 13-item scale measuring the link between control over one's health with a connection to religious beliefs. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with an up-to-date mammogram and Pap test. RESULTS: Most women preferred to receive medical care from a healthcare provider of their same gender (75.2%) and same race, ethnicity or religion (62.1%). The middle age group (50-59) and a lower God's Grace Spiritual Health Locus of Control subscale were associated with up-to-date mammogram. Younger age, lower education, higher Exclusion/Rejection subscale, and lower Spiritual Life/Faith Subscale were associated with an up-to-date Pap test. CONCLUSION: The spiritual beliefs of Muslim American women impact their likelihood of obtaining breast and cervical cancer screenings. Therefore, these services need to be better tailored to match these needs, for example, by ensuring that Muslim American women have access to healthcare providers of their same gender, race, ethnicity or religion.

Young Same-Gender-Loving Men (SGLM) Living with HIV Continue to Experience Symptoms that May Impair Their Retention in Care.

Over half of HIV infections in the U.S. are among young gay, bisexual, and other same-gender-loving men (SGLM). Symptoms affecting these individuals must be clarified in order to be detected and addressed by health care providers. This report describes the symptom prevalence in young SGLM living with HIV. Study participants in an urban context experienced high symptom burden with a median of 6.2 symptoms despite antiretroviral treatment with viral suppression. Most common symptoms included fatigue (57%), depression (54%), insomnia (53%), anxiety (44%), dizziness (33%), and headache (33%). This study showed that young SGLM with HIV experience a high number of symptoms given their age. Health care providers should work to alleviate this symptom burden that affects patients' quality of life and may influence engagement in care.

Health advocacy organizations and the pharmaceutical industry: an analysis of disclosure practices.

Health advocacy organizations (HAOs) are influential stakeholders in health policy. Although their advocacy tends to closely correspond with the pharmaceutical industry's marketing aims, the financial relationships between HAOs and the pharmaceutical industry have rarely been analyzed. We used Eli Lilly and Company's grant registry to examine its grant-giving policies. We also examined HAO Web sites to determine their grant-disclosure patterns. Only 25% of HAOs that received Lilly grants acknowledged Lilly's contributions on their Web sites, and only 10% acknowledged Lilly as a grant event sponsor. No HAO disclosed the exact amount of a Lilly grant. As highly trusted organizations, HAOs should disclose all corporate grants, including the purpose and the amount. Absent this disclosure, legislators, regulators, and the public cannot evaluate possible conflicts of interest or biases in HAO advocacy.