Delayed and Forgone Health Care Among Adults With Limited English Proficiency During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) have long faced barriers in navigating the health care system. More information is needed to understand whether their care was limited further during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of English proficiency on delayed and forgone health care during the early COVID-19 pandemic. RESEARCH DESIGN: Multivariate logistic regression analysis of National Health Interview Survey data (July-December 2020; n=16,941). Outcomes were self-reported delayed and forgone health care because of cost or the COVID-19 pandemic. Delayed health care included medical, dental, mental health, and pharmacy care. Forgone health care also included care at home from a health professional. RESULTS: A greater percentage of LEP adults reported delayed (49%) and forgone (41%) health care than English-proficient adults (40% and 30%, respectively). However, English proficiency was not significantly associated with delayed or forgone health care, after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors. Among LEP adults, multivariate models showed that being uninsured, having a disability, and having chronic conditions increased the risk of delaying and forgoing health care. LEP adults of Asian race and Hispanic ethnicity were also more likely to forgo health care while those with 65+ years were less likely to forgo health care. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with LEP were more likely to experience challenges accessing health care early in the pandemic. Delayed and forgone health care were explained by low socioeconomic status and poor health. These findings highlight how during a period of limited health resources, deficiencies in the health care system resulted in an already disadvantaged group being at greater risk of inequitable access to care.

Differences in Telemedicine, Emergency Department, and Hospital Utilization Among Nonelderly Adults with Limited English Proficiency Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: a Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The unprecedented use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to examine its uptake among individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). OBJECTIVE: To assess telemedicine use among nonelderly adults with LEP and the association between use of telehealth and emergency department (ED) and hospital visits. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study using the National Health Interview Survey (July 2020-December 2021) PARTICIPANTS: Adults (18-64 years), with LEP (N=1488) or English proficiency (EP) (N=25,873) MAIN MEASURES: Telemedicine, ED visits, and hospital visits in the past 12 months. We used multivariate logistic regression to assess (1) the association of English proficiency on having telemedicine visits; and (2) the association of English proficiency and telemedicine visits on having ED and hospital visits. KEY RESULTS: Between July 2020 and December 2021, 22% of adults with LEP had a telemedicine visit compared to 35% of adults with EP. After controlling for predisposing, enabling, and need factors, adults with LEP had 20% lower odds of having a telemedicine visit than adults with EP (p=0.02). While English proficiency was not associated with ED or hospital visits during this time, adults with telemedicine visits had significantly greater odds of having any ED (aOR: 1.80, p<0.001) and hospital visits (aOR: 2.03, p<0.001) in the past 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: While telemedicine use increased overall during the COVID-19 pandemic, its use remained much less likely among adults with LEP. Interventions targeting structural barriers are needed to address disparities in access to telemedicine. More research is needed to understand the relationship between English proficiency, telemedicine visits, and downstream ED and hospital visits.

Interventions to Improve Outcomes for High-Need, High-Cost Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic disease patients who are the greatest users of healthcare services are often referred to as high-need, high-cost (HNHC). Payers, providers, and policymakers in the United States are interested in identifying interventions that can modify or reduce preventable healthcare use among these patients, without adversely impacting their quality of care and health. We systematically reviewed the evidence on the effectiveness of complex interventions designed to change the healthcare of HNHC patients, modifying cost and utilization, as well as clinical/functional, and social risk factor outcomes. METHODS: We searched 8 electronic databases (January 2000 to March 2021) and selected non-profit organization and government agency websites for randomized controlled trials and observational studies with comparison groups that targeted HNHC patients. Two investigators independently screened each study and abstracted data into structured forms. Study quality was assessed using standard risk of bias tools. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted for outcomes reported by at least 3 comparable samples. RESULTS: Forty studies met our inclusion criteria. Interventions were heterogenous and classified into 7 categories, reflecting the predominant service location/modality (home, primary care, ambulatory intensive caring unit [aICU], emergency department [ED], community, telephonic/mail, and system-level). Home-, primary care-, and ED-based interventions resulted in reductions in high-cost healthcare services (ED and hospital use). ED-based interventions also resulted in greater use of primary care. Primary care- and ED-based interventions reduced costs. System-level transformation interventions did not reduce costs. DISCUSSION: We found limited evidence of intervention effectiveness in relation to cost and use, and additional evidence is needed to strengthen our confidence in the findings. Few studies reported patient clinical/functional or social risk factor outcomes (e.g., homelessness) or sufficient details for determining why individual interventions work, for whom, and when. Future evaluations could provide additional insights, by including intermediate process outcomes and patients' experiences, in assessing the impact of these complex interventions. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020161179.

Characteristics of High-Need, High-Cost Patients : A "Best-Fit" Framework Synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Accurately identifying high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patients to reduce their preventable or modifiable health care use for their chronic conditions is a priority and a challenge for U.S. policymakers, health care delivery systems, and payers. PURPOSE: To identify characteristics and criteria to distinguish HNHC patients. DATA SOURCES: Searches of multiple databases and gray literature from 1 January 2000 to 22 January 2022. STUDY SELECTION: English-language studies of characteristics and criteria to identify HNHC adult patients, defined as those with high use (emergency department, inpatient, or total services) or high cost. DATA EXTRACTION: Independent, dual-review extraction and quality assessment. DATA SYNTHESIS: The review included 64 studies comprising multivariate exposure studies (n = 47), cluster analyses (n = 11), and qualitative studies (n = 6). A National Academy of Medicine (NAM) taxonomy was an initial "best-fit" framework for organizing the synthesis of the findings. Patient characteristics associated with being HNHC included number and severity of comorbid conditions and having chronic clinical conditions, particularly heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. Patients' risk for being HNHC was often amplified by behavioral health conditions and social risk factors. The reviewers revised the NAM taxonomy to create a final framework, adding chronic pain and prior patterns of high health care use as characteristics associated with an increased risk for being HNHC. LIMITATION: Little evidence distinguished potentially preventable or modifiable health care use from overall use. CONCLUSION: A combination of characteristics can be useful for identifying HNHC patients. Because of the complexity of their conditions and circumstances, improving their quality of care will likely also require an individualized assessment of care needs and availability of support services. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (PROSPERO: CRD42020161179).

Screening for Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Adults: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.

Importance: Eating disorders are associated with adverse health and social outcomes. Objective: To review the evidence on screening for eating disorders in adolescents and adults to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. Data Sources: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and trial registries through December 19, 2020; surveillance through January 1, 2022. Study Selection: English-language studies of screening test accuracy, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of screening or interventions for eating disorders in populations with screen-detected or previously untreated eating disorders (trials limited to populations who are underweight were ineligible). Data Extraction and Synthesis: Dual review of abstracts, full-text articles, and study quality. Meta-analysis of test accuracy studies and intervention trials. Main Outcomes and Measures: Test accuracy, eating disorder symptom severity, quality of life, depression, and harms. Results: Fifty-seven studies were included (N = 10 773); 3 (n = 1073) limited to adolescents (mean or median age, 14-15 years). No study directly evaluated the benefits and harms of screening. Seventeen studies (n = 6804) evaluated screening test accuracy. The SCOFF questionnaire (cut point ≥2) had a pooled sensitivity of 84% (95% CI, 74% to 90%) and pooled specificity of 80% (95% CI, 65% to 89%) in adults (10 studies, n = 3684). Forty RCTs (n = 3969) evaluated interventions for eating disorders; none enrolled a screen-detected population. Lisdexamfetamine for binge eating disorder (4 RCTs; n = 900) was associated with larger reductions in eating disorder symptom severity on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale modified for binge eating (YBOCS-BE) than placebo (pooled mean difference, -5.75 [95% CI, -8.32 to -3.17]). Two RCTs (n = 465) of topiramate for binge eating disorder found larger reductions in YBOCS-BE scores associated with topiramate than placebo, from -6.40 (95% CI, -8.16 to -4.64) to -2.55 (95% CI, -4.22 to -0.88). Nine pharmacotherapy trials (n = 2006) reported on harms. Compared with placebo, lisdexamfetamine was associated with higher rates of dry mouth, headache, and insomnia, and topiramate was associated with higher rates of paresthesia, taste perversion, confusion, and concentration difficulty. Twenty-four trials (n = 1644) assessed psychological interventions. Guided self-help for binge eating disorder improved eating disorder symptom severity more than control (pooled standardized mean difference, -0.96 [95% CI, -1.26 to -0.67]) (5 studies, n = 391). Evidence on other interventions was limited. Conclusions and Relevance: No studies directly assessed the benefits and harms of screening. The SCOFF questionnaire had adequate accuracy for detecting eating disorders among adults. No treatment trials enrolled screen-detected populations; guided self-help, lisdexamfetamine, and topiramate were effective for reducing eating disorder symptom severity among referred populations with binge eating disorder, but pharmacotherapies were also associated with harms.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs and the Patient-Prescriber Encounter: A Systematic Review.

We systematically reviewed the research on patients' and prescribers' perceptions of, and self-reported behaviors prompted by, exposure to direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) (For ease of reading we use the term "advertising" to encompass advertising and promotional labeling. Broad use of this term does not imply endorsement by FDA) of prescription drugs that occurs in the context of a clinical encounter. This research offers an important perspective on the broader goal of incorporating patient and prescriber voices in decision-making. Outcomes included patient information seeking, medication adherence, patient requests for DTCA-promoted prescription drugs, prescribing behaviors, and perceptions of the patient-prescriber relationship and interactions. We searched PubMed and other databases from 1982-2017 and identified 38 studies meeting our study criteria. Of these, 24 studies used patient-reported outcomes and 18 used prescriber-reported outcomes (four used both). Studies suggested some potential benefits of exposure to DTCA, including patients' enhanced information-seeking, increased patient requests for appropriate prescriptions (when addressing potential underuse) and patients' perceptions of higher-quality interactions with prescribers. Most prescribers perceived a neutral influence on the quality of their clinical interactions with patients regarding DTCA. Harms included patients receiving prescriptions for drugs that were not appropriate for them or that the patients did not need, and the potential for DTCA to interfere with medication adherence in some populations, such as those with mental illness. The potential benefits of DTCA on the patient-provider encounter must be balanced with the potential for harms.

Screening for Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnant Adolescents and Women to Prevent Preterm Delivery: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.

Importance: Preterm delivery results in adverse outcomes; identifying and treating bacterial vaginosis may reduce its occurrence. Objective: To update the evidence on screening and treatment of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Data Sources: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and trial registries through May 29, 2019; bibliographies from retrieved articles, experts, and surveillance of the literature through December 31, 2019. Study Selection: Fair- or good-quality English-language studies evaluating diagnostic accuracy of tests feasible within primary care; randomized clinical trials (RCTs); nonrandomized controlled intervention studies (for harms only); or meta-analyses of metronidazole or clindamycin. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Two reviewers independently assessed titles/abstracts and full-text articles, extracted data, and assessed study quality; when at least 3 similar studies were available, meta-analyses were conducted. Main Outcomes and Measures: Sensitivity, specificity, preterm delivery, maternal adverse effects, congenital birth defects, childhood cancer. Results: Forty-four studies (48 publications) were included. No studies evaluated the benefits or harms of screening. Twenty-five studies (n = 15 785) evaluated the accuracy of screening tests; across individual studies and tests, sensitivity ranged from 0.36 to 1.0 and specificity ranged from 0.49 to 1.0. Among trials reporting findings from general obstetric populations (n = 7953), no significant association was observed between treatment and spontaneous delivery before 37 weeks (pooled absolute risk difference [ARD], -1.44% [95% CI, -3.31% to 0.43%]; 8 RCTs, n = 7571) or any delivery before 37 weeks (pooled ARD, 0.20% [95% CI, -1.13% to 1.53%]; 6 RCTs, n = 6307). Among 5 trials reporting findings among women with a prior preterm delivery, findings were inconsistent; 3 showed a significant beneficial effect, while 2 did not. Maternal adverse events from treatment were infrequent and minor (eg, candidiasis) but were slightly more common with active treatment compared with placebo across 8 RCTs. Two meta-analyses of observational studies reported no significant association between metronidazole exposure and congenital malformations (odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.75 to 1.22]; odds ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.90 to 1.29]). One cohort study reported no significantly increased incidence of childhood cancer among metronidazole-exposed children (adjusted relative risk, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.41 to 1.59]). However, studies of in utero exposure had important limitations. Conclusions and Relevance: Accuracy of screening tests for bacterial vaginosis varies. The evidence suggests no difference in the incidence of preterm delivery and related outcomes from treatment for asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis in a general obstetric population but was inconclusive for women with a prior preterm delivery. Maternal adverse events from treatment appear to be infrequent and minor, but the evidence about harms from in utero exposure was inconclusive.

Screening to Prevent Osteoporotic Fractures: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.

Importance: Osteoporotic fractures cause significant morbidity and mortality. Objective: To update the evidence on screening and treatment to prevent osteoporotic fractures for the US Preventive Services Task Force. Data Sources: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and trial registries (November 1, 2009, through October 1, 2016) and surveillance of the literature (through March 23, 2018); bibliographies from articles. Study Selection: Adults 40 years and older; screening cohorts without prevalent low-trauma fractures or treatment cohorts with increased fracture risk; studies assessing screening, bone measurement tests or clinical risk assessments, pharmacologic treatment. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Dual, independent review of titles/abstracts and full-text articles; study quality rating; random-effects meta-analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident fractures and related morbidity and mortality, diagnostic and predictive accuracy, harms of screening or treatment. Results: One hundred sixty-eight fair- or good-quality articles were included. One randomized clinical trial (RCT) (n = 12 483) comparing screening with no screening reported fewer hip fractures (2.6% vs 3.5%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.72 [95% CI, 0.59-0.89]) but no other statistically significant benefits or harms. The accuracy of bone measurement tests to identify osteoporosis varied (area under the curve [AUC], 0.32-0.89). The pooled accuracy of clinical risk assessments for identifying osteoporosis ranged from AUC of 0.65 to 0.76 in women and from 0.76 to 0.80 in men; the accuracy for predicting fractures was similar. For women, bisphosphonates, parathyroid hormone, raloxifene, and denosumab were associated with a lower risk of vertebral fractures (9 trials [n = 23 690]; relative risks [RRs] from 0.32-0.64). Bisphosphonates (8 RCTs [n = 16 438]; pooled RR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.76-0.92]) and denosumab (1 RCT [n = 7868]; RR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.67-0.95]) were associated with a lower risk of nonvertebral fractures. Denosumab reduced the risk of hip fracture (1 RCT [n = 7868]; RR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.37-0.97]), but bisphosphonates did not have a statistically significant association (3 RCTs [n = 8988]; pooled RR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.44-1.11]). Evidence was limited for men: zoledronic acid reduced the risk of radiographic vertebral fractures (1 RCT [n = 1199]; RR, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.16-0.70]); no studies demonstrated reductions in clinical or hip fractures. Bisphosphonates were not consistently associated with reported harms other than deep vein thrombosis (raloxifene vs placebo; 3 RCTs [n = 5839]; RR, 2.14 [95% CI, 0.99-4.66]). Conclusions and Relevance: In women, screening to prevent osteoporotic fractures may reduce hip fractures, and treatment reduced the risk of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures; there was not consistent evidence of treatment harms. The accuracy of bone measurement tests or clinical risk assessments for identifying osteoporosis or predicting fractures varied from very poor to good.

Screening for Intimate Partner Violence, Elder Abuse, and Abuse of Vulnerable Adults: Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.

Importance: Intimate partner violence (IPV), elder abuse, and abuse of vulnerable adults are common and result in adverse health outcomes. Objective: To review the evidence on screening and interventions for IPV, elder abuse, and abuse of vulnerable adults to inform the US Preventive Services Task Force. Data Sources: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and trial registries through October 4, 2017; references; experts; literature surveillance through August 1, 2018. Study Selection: English-language randomized clinical trials (RCTs), studies evaluating test accuracy, and cohort studies with a concurrent control group assessing harms. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Dual review of titles and abstracts, full-text articles, and study quality; qualitative synthesis of findings. Data were not pooled, primarily because of heterogeneity of populations, interventions, and outcomes. Main Outcomes and Measures: Abuse or neglect, morbidity caused by abuse, test accuracy, and harms. Results: Thirty studies were included (N = 14 959). Three RCTs (n = 3759) compared IPV screening with no screening; none found significant improvements in outcomes (eg, IPV or quality of life) over 3 to 18 months and 2 (n = 935) reported no harms of screening. Nine studies assessed tools to detect any past-year or current IPV in women; for past-year IPV (5 studies [n = 6331]), sensitivity of 5 tools ranged from 65% to 87% and specificity ranged from 80% to 95%. The accuracy of 5 tools (4 studies [n = 1795]) for detecting current abuse varied widely; sensitivity ranged from 46% to 94% and specificity ranged from 38% to 95%. Eleven RCTs (n = 6740) evaluated interventions for women with screen-detected IPV. Two enrolling pregnant women (n = 575) found significantly less IPV among women in the intervention group: 1 home visiting intervention (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.34 [95% CI, -0.59 to -0.08]) and 1 behavioral counseling intervention for multiple risks (IPV, smoking, depression, tobacco exposure) (SMD, -0.40 [95% CI, -0.68 to -0.12]). No studies evaluated screening or interventions for elder abuse or abuse of vulnerable adults. One study assessing a screening tool for elder abuse had poor accuracy (sensitivity, 46% and specificity, 73% for detecting physical or verbal abuse). Conclusions and Relevance: Although available screening tools may reasonably identify women experiencing IPV, trials of IPV screening in adult women did not show a reduction in IPV or improvement in quality of life over 3 to 18 months. Limited evidence suggested that home visiting and behavioral counseling interventions that address multiple risk factors may lead to reduced IPV among pregnant or postpartum women. No studies assessed screening or treatment for elder abuse and abuse of vulnerable adults.

Binge-Eating Disorder in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The best treatment options for binge-eating disorder are unclear. PURPOSE: To summarize evidence about the benefits and harms of psychological and pharmacologic therapies for adults with binge-eating disorder. DATA SOURCES: English-language publications in EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Academic OneFile, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov through 18 November 2015, and in MEDLINE through 12 May 2016. STUDY SELECTION: 9 waitlist-controlled psychological trials and 25 placebo-controlled trials that evaluated pharmacologic (n = 19) or combination (n = 6) treatment. All were randomized trials with low or medium risk of bias. DATA EXTRACTION: 2 reviewers independently extracted trial data, assessed risk of bias, and graded strength of evidence. DATA SYNTHESIS: Therapist-led cognitive behavioral therapy, lisdexamfetamine, and second-generation antidepressants (SGAs) decreased binge-eating frequency and increased binge-eating abstinence (relative risk, 4.95 [95% CI, 3.06 to 8.00], 2.61 [CI, 2.04 to 3.33], and 1.67 [CI, 1.24 to 2.26], respectively). Lisdexamfetamine (mean difference [MD], -6.50 [CI, -8.82 to -4.18]) and SGAs (MD, -3.84 [CI, -6.55 to -1.13]) reduced binge-eating-related obsessions and compulsions, and SGAs reduced symptoms of depression (MD, -1.97 [CI, -3.67 to -0.28]). Headache, gastrointestinal upset, sleep disturbance, and sympathetic nervous system arousal occurred more frequently with lisdexamfetamine than placebo (relative risk range, 1.63 to 4.28). Other forms of cognitive behavioral therapy and topiramate also increased abstinence and reduced binge-eating frequency and related psychopathology. Topiramate reduced weight and increased sympathetic nervous system arousal, and lisdexamfetamine reduced weight and appetite. LIMITATIONS: Most study participants were overweight or obese white women aged 20 to 40 years. Many treatments were examined only in single studies. Outcomes were measured inconsistently across trials and rarely assessed beyond end of treatment. CONCLUSION: Cognitive behavioral therapy, lisdexamfetamine, SGAs, and topiramate reduced binge eating and related psychopathology, and lisdexamfetamine and topiramate reduced weight in adults with binge-eating disorder. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Comparative Effectiveness of Treatments for Binge-Eating Disorder: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Psychological and pharmacological interventions for binge-eating disorder have previously demonstrated efficacy (compared with placebo or waitlist control); thus, we aimed to expand that literature with a review of comparative effectiveness. We searched MEDLINE,® EMBASE,® Cochrane Library, Academic OneFile, CINAHL® for binge-eating disorder treatment articles and selected studies using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were sufficient for network meta-analysis comparing two pharmacological interventions; psychological interventions were analysed qualitatively. In all, 28 treatment comparisons were included in this review: one pharmacological comparison (second-generation antidepressants versus lisdexamfetamine) and 26 psychological comparisons. Only three statistically significant differences emerged: lisdexamfetamine was better at increasing binge abstinence than second-generation antidepressants; therapist-led cognitive behavioural therapy was better at reducing binge-eating frequency than behavioural weight loss, but behavioural weight loss was better at reducing weight. The majority of other treatment comparisons revealed few significant differences between groups. Thus, patients and clinicians can choose from several effective treatment options. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Patient Characteristics and Telemedicine Use in the US, 2022.

Importance: Telemedicine use was common during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding many patients' approaches to accessing health care. Of concern is whether telemedicine access was poorer among higher-needs and disadvantaged populations. Objective: To assess patient characteristics associated with telemedicine use and telemedicine mode and describe telemedicine visit experiences by telemedicine mode. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study included data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey and included US adults with a health care visit. Data were analyzed from May to September 2023. Exposure: Patient characteristics. Main Outcomes and Measures: Any telemedicine visits vs in-person visits only; telemedicine mode (video vs audio-only). Multivariable logistic models assessed patient characteristics associated with telemedicine visits and mode. Bivariate analyses compared telemedicine experiences by mode. Results: The study included 5437 adult patients (mean [SE] age, 49.4 [0.23] years; 3136 females [53.4%]; 1928 males [46.6%]). In 2022, 2384 patients (43%) had a telemedicine visit; 1565 (70%) had a video visit while 819 (30%) had an audio-only visit. In multivariable models, older age (≥75 years: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42-0.94), no internet use (aOR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.48-0.81), and living in the Midwest (aOR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.35-0.70) were negatively associated with having telemedicine visits. Female sex (aOR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.12-1.83), having chronic conditions (aOR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.66-2.73), and multiple health care visits (2-4 visits: aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.23-2.54; ≥5 visits: aOR, 3.29; 95% CI, 2.20-4.92) were positively associated. Among individuals who used telemedicine, older age (65-74 years: aOR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.09-4.14; ≥75 years: aOR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.60-8.00), no health insurance (aOR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.42-5.67), and no internet use (aOR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.18-3.78) were positively associated with having audio-only visits. We observed no significant differences in telemedicine use or mode by education, race and ethnicity, or income. Patients' experiences using telemedicine were generally similar for video and audio-only except more individuals who used audio-only had privacy concerns (20% vs 12%, P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study of adults with health care visits, many patients, including those with the greatest care needs, chose telemedicine even after in-person visits were available. These findings support continuing this care delivery approach as an option valued by patients. Differences were not observed by most common measures of socioeconomic status. Continued monitoring of telemedicine use is needed to ensure equitable access to health care innovations.

A tool to assess risk of bias in non-randomized follow-up studies of exposure effects (ROBINS-E).

BACKGROUND: Observational epidemiologic studies provide critical data for the evaluation of the potential effects of environmental, occupational and behavioural exposures on human health. Systematic reviews of these studies play a key role in informing policy and practice. Systematic reviews should incorporate assessments of the risk of bias in results of the included studies. OBJECTIVE: To develop a new tool, Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Exposures (ROBINS-E) to assess risk of bias in estimates from cohort studies of the causal effect of an exposure on an outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: ROBINS-E was developed by a large group of researchers from diverse research and public health disciplines through a series of working groups, in-person meetings and pilot testing phases. The tool aims to assess the risk of bias in a specific result (exposure effect estimate) from an individual observational study that examines the effect of an exposure on an outcome. A series of preliminary considerations informs the core ROBINS-E assessment, including details of the result being assessed and the causal effect being estimated. The assessment addresses bias within seven domains, through a series of 'signalling questions'. Domain-level judgements about risk of bias are derived from the answers to these questions, then combined to produce an overall risk of bias judgement for the result, together with judgements about the direction of bias. CONCLUSION: ROBINS-E provides a standardized framework for examining potential biases in results from cohort studies. Future work will produce variants of the tool for other epidemiologic study designs (e.g. case-control studies). We believe that ROBINS-E represents an important development in the integration of exposure assessment, evidence synthesis and causal inference.

The health literacy skills framework.

Although there are a variety of models and frameworks that describe factors that are associated with health literacy skills, few illustrate the full pathway from development and moderators of health literacy skills, their application, and the outcomes that result all in one framework or model. This article introduces the Health Literacy Skills conceptual framework that does encompass this full continuum. To develop the framework, the authors reviewed and built upon existing health literacy frameworks. The Health Literacy Skills framework hypothesizes the relations between health literacy and health-related outcomes and depicts how health literacy functions at the level of the individual. The framework also reflects how factors external to the individual (e.g., family, setting, community, culture, and media) influence the constructs and relations represented in the framework. The framework is organized into 4 primary components: (a) factors that influence the development and use of health literacy skills; (b) health-related stimuli; (c) health literacy skills needed to comprehend the stimulus and perform the task; and (d) mediators between health literacy and health outcomes. Previous theoretical frameworks lend support to the proposed causal pathways it illustrates. The authors hope this conceptual framework can serve as a springboard for further discussion and advancement in operationalizing this complex construct. The Health Literacy Skills framework could also be used to guide the development of interventions to improve health literacy. Future research should be conducted to fully test the relations in the framework.

Low health literacy and health outcomes: an updated systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 80 million Americans have limited health literacy, which puts them at greater risk for poorer access to care and poorer health outcomes. PURPOSE: To update a 2004 systematic review and determine whether low health literacy is related to poorer use of health care, outcomes, costs, and disparities in health outcomes among persons of all ages. DATA SOURCES: English-language articles identified through MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, and Cochrane Library databases and hand-searching (search dates for articles on health literacy, 2003 to 22 February 2011; for articles on numeracy, 1966 to 22 February 2011). STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers independently selected studies that compared outcomes by differences in directly measured health literacy or numeracy levels. DATA EXTRACTION: One reviewer abstracted article information into evidence tables; a second reviewer checked information for accuracy. Two reviewers independently rated study quality by using predefined criteria, and the investigative team jointly graded the overall strength of evidence. DATA SYNTHESIS: 96 relevant good- or fair-quality studies in 111 articles were identified: 98 articles on health literacy, 22 on numeracy, and 9 on both. Low health literacy was consistently associated with more hospitalizations; greater use of emergency care; lower receipt of mammography screening and influenza vaccine; poorer ability to demonstrate taking medications appropriately; poorer ability to interpret labels and health messages; and, among elderly persons, poorer overall health status and higher mortality rates. Poor health literacy partially explains racial disparities in some outcomes. Reviewers could not reach firm conclusions about the relationship between numeracy and health outcomes because of few studies or inconsistent results among studies. LIMITATIONS: Searches were limited to articles published in English. No Medical Subject Heading terms exist for identifying relevant studies. No evidence concerning oral health literacy (speaking and listening skills) and outcomes was found. CONCLUSION: Low health literacy is associated with poorer health outcomes and poorer use of health care services. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The Health Literacy Skills Instrument: a 10-item short form.

The 25-item Health Literacy Skills Instrument (HLSI) was designed to measure the ability to read and understand text and locate and interpret information in documents (print literacy), to use quantitative information (numeracy), to listen effectively (oral literacy), and to seek information through the Internet (navigation). It is a publically available measure that can be used in surveillance activities, to evaluate interventions, and in research examining the relation between health literacy and health outcomes. The authors developed a 10-item, short form (SF) version of the HLSI, the HLSI-SF, using data gathered for the development of the longer form. The authors selected 10 items for inclusion in the HLSI-SF and conducted a confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory analyses, then computed Cronbach's alpha. The HLSI-SF demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability (α = .70) for use in group-level comparisons. The HSLI-SF has many of the same advantages of the longer version with the additional benefit of taking only approximately 5 to 10 min to administer. The HLSI-SF offers researchers and practitioners a valid and reliable measure of health literacy skills.

Unpacking complex interventions that manage care for high-need, high-cost patients: a realist review.

OBJECTIVE: Payers, providers and policymakers in the USA are interested in developing interventions that reduce preventable or modifiable healthcare use among high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patients. This study seeks to describe how and why complex interventions for HNHC patients lead to more appropriate use of healthcare services. DESIGN: A realist review which develops programme theories from causal explanations generated and articulated through the creation of context-mechanism-outcome configurations. METHODS: Electronic databases (including PubMed and Embase) and gray literature from January 2000 to March 2021 were searched. All study designs were included if the article provided data to develop our programme theories. Included studies were conducted in the USA and focused on interventions for adult, HNHC patients. RESULTS: Data were synthesised from 48 studies. Identifying HNHC patients for inclusion in interventions requires capturing a combination of characteristics including their prior use of healthcare services, complexity of chronic disease(s) profile, clinician judgment and willingness to participate. Once enrolled, engaging HNHC patients in interventions requires intervention care providers and patients to build a trusting relationship. Tailored, individualised assistance for medical and non-medical needs, emotional support and self-management education empowers patients to increase their participation in managing their own care. Engagement of care providers in interventions to expand support of HNHC patients is facilitated by targeted outreach, adequate staffing support with shared values and regular and open communication. CONCLUSIONS: Building relationships with HNHC patients and gaining their trust is a key component for interventions to successfully change HNHC patients' behaviors. Identifying HNHC patients for an intervention can be best achieved through a multipronged strategy that accounts for their clinical and psychosocial complexity and prior experiences with the healthcare system. Successful interventions recognise that relationships with HNHC patients require the sustained engagement of care providers. To succeed, providers need ongoing emotional, financial, logistical and practical resources. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020161179.

Interventions for individuals with low health literacy: a systematic review.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently called for action on health literacy. An important first step is defining the current state of the literature about interventions designed to mitigate the effects of low health literacy. We performed an updated systematic review examining the effects of interventions that authors reported were specifically designed to mitigate the effects of low health literacy. We searched MEDLINE®, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), and the Cochrane Library databases (2003 forward for health literacy; 1966 forward for numeracy). Two reviewers independently reviewed titles, abstracts, and full-text articles for inclusion and included studies that examined outcomes by health literacy level and met other pre-specified criteria. One reviewer abstracted article information into evidence tables; a second checked accuracy. Two reviewers independently rated study quality using predefined criteria. Among 38 included studies, we found multiple discrete design features that improved comprehension in one or a few studies (e.g., presenting essential information by itself or first, presenting information so that the higher number is better, adding icon arrays to numerical information, adding video to verbal narratives). In a few studies, we also found consistent, direct, fair or good-quality evidence that intensive self-management interventions reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations; and intensive self- and disease-management interventions reduced disease severity. Evidence for the effects of interventions on other outcomes was either limited or mixed. Multiple interventions show promise for mitigating the effects of low health literacy and could be considered for use in clinical practice.

Impact of the 2002 American society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology guidelines on cervical cancer diagnosis in a geographically diverse population of commercially insured women, 1999-2004.

OBJECTIVE: To report the impact of the release of the 2002 American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology guidelines on the management of abnormal cytological findings on time to diagnosis of cervical cancer in an insured population. METHODS: This retrospective study identified women with cervical cancer (invasive and carcinoma in situ) through commercially insured administrative claims data. The cervical cancer case definition required a claim for cervical cancer and a claim with a diagnostic procedure (colposcopy, conization, biopsy, or hysterectomy). Time to diagnosis was defined as days between the initial Pap screening and the diagnostic procedure. RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2004, there were 3,325 women aged 18 to 64 years who met the case definition for cervical cancer. Median time to diagnosis decreased from 42 days (interquartile range = 23-93 d) to 36.5 days (interquartile range = 20.5-80 d) for women with invasive cancer after the guideline change. The number of follow-up Pap screenings before biopsy also decreased (p = .0067). Among women with carcinoma in situ whose initial Pap screening was completed by a family practice clinician, time to diagnosis was projected to be more than 9 days longer compared with those whose screening was performed by a gynecologist. CONCLUSIONS: The 2002 American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology guidelines for the management of abnormal cytological findings seem to have had a positive impact on the time to diagnosis and Pap screening use before biopsy for women diagnosed with cervical cancer.