Physical pain among urban Native American emerging adults: Socio-cultural risk and protective factors.

OBJECTIVE: American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people have high rates of physical pain. Pain is understudied in urban-dwelling, AI/AN emerging adults, a group with unique socio-cultural risk and protective factors. We explore associations between socioeconomic disadvantage, additional socio-cultural factors, and pain among urban AI/AN emerging adults. METHODS: AI/AN participants aged 18-25 (N = 417) were recruited via social media. Regression models tested associations between socioeconomic disadvantage (income and ability to afford healthcare) and pain as well as additional socio-cultural factors (discrimination, historical loss, cultural pride and belonging, visiting tribal lands) and pain. Multi-group regression models tested whether associations between socio-cultural factors and pain differed between participants who were socioeconomically disadvantaged and those who were less disadvantaged. RESULTS: In the full sample, lower income (b = 1.00 - 1.48, p < .05), inability to afford healthcare (b = 1.00, p = .011), discrimination (b = 0.12, p = .001), and historical loss (b = 0.24, p = .006) were positively associated with pain, whereas visiting tribal lands was negatively associated with pain (b = -0.86 - -0.42, p < .05). In the multi-group model, visiting tribal lands 31+ days was negatively associated with pain only among the less socioeconomically disadvantaged group (b = -1.48, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic disadvantage may, in part, drive pain disparities among AI/AN emerging adults and act as a barrier to benefitting from visiting tribal lands. Results support a biopsychosocial approach to targeting pain in this population, including addressing socioeconomic challenges and developing culturally informed, strengths-based interventions.

Concordance of HIV Prevention Advocacy Reports and its Associations with HIV Protective Behaviors.

Peer advocacy can promote HIV protective behaviors, but little is known about the concordance on prevention advocacy(PA) reports between people living with HIV(PLWH) and their social network members. We examined prevalence and correlates of such concordance, and its association with the targeted HIV protective behavior of the social network member. Data were analyzed from 193 PLWH(index participants) and their 599 social network members(alters). Kappa statistics measured concordance between index and alter reports of PA in the past 3 months. Logistic and multinomial regressions evaluated the relationship between advocacy concordance and alter condom use and HIV testing behavior and correlates of PA concordance. Advocacy concordance was observed in 0.3% of index-alter dyads for PrEP discussion, 9% for condom use, 18% for HIV testing, 26% for care engagement, and 49% for antiretroviral use discussions. Fewer indexes reported condom use(23.5% vs. 28.1%;[Formula: see text]=3.7, p=0.05) and HIV testing(30.5% vs. 50.5%; [Formula: see text]=25.3, p<0.001) PA occurring. Condom advocacy concordance was higher if the index and alter were romantic partners(OR=3.50; p=0.02), and lower if the index was 10 years younger than the alter(OR=0.23; p = 0.02). Alters had higher odds of using condoms with their main partner when both reported condom advocacy compared to dyads where neither reported advocacy(OR=3.90; p<0.001) and compared to dyads where only the index reported such advocacy(OR = 3.71; p=0.01). Age difference and relationship status impact advocacy agreement, and concordant perceptions of advocacy are linked to increased HIV protective behaviors. Alters' perceptions may be crucial for behavior change, informing strategies for improving advocacy.

Correlates of HIV Prevention Advocacy by Persons Living with HIV in Kampala, Uganda: A Cross-sectional Evaluation of a Conceptual Model.

BACKGROUND: HIV prevention advocacy empowers persons living with HIV (PLWH) to act as advocates and encourage members of their social networks to engage in protective behaviors such as HIV testing, condom use, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. We examined correlates of HIV prevention advocacy among PLWH in Uganda. METHOD: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with baseline data from 210 PLWH (70% female; mean age = 40 years) who enrolled in a trial of an HIV prevention advocacy training program in Kampala, Uganda. The baseline survey, which was completed prior to receipt of the intervention, included multiple measures of HIV prevention advocacy (general and specific to named social network members), as well as internalized HIV stigma, HIV disclosure, HIV knowledge, positive living (condom use; ART adherence), and self-efficacy for HIV prevention advocacy. RESULTS: Consistent with our hypotheses, HIV disclosure, HIV knowledge, consistent condom use, and HIV prevention advocacy self-efficacy were all positively correlated with at least one measure of HIV prevention advocacy, after controlling for the other constructs in multiple regression analysis. Internalized HIV stigma was positively correlated with advocacy in bivariate analysis only. CONCLUSION: These findings identify which characteristics of PLWH are associated with acting as change agents for others in their social network to engage in HIV protective behaviors.

United States Doula Programs and Their Outcomes: A Scoping Review to Inform State-Level Policies.

BACKGROUND: The field of maternal health has advanced significantly over the past decades. However, the United States continues to have poor outcomes in comparison with other industrialized nations. With emerging evidence on the promise of doula care, states are including doula care under their Medicaid programs. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review across four academic databases and gray literature published between January 1, 2012, and March 10, 2022, to describe the landscape of literature on U.S. doula programs and their outcomes in order to inform state policy makers considering laws or programs related to doula care. FINDINGS: Of 740 records identified, 100 met inclusion criteria. Outcomes fell into four areas: birthing people's outcomes, infant outcomes, systems of care and implementation, and cross-cutting issues. Data on outcomes related to doula care in the literature were predominantly clinical, even though doulas are not clinical providers. Although some studies have found associations between doula care and improved clinical outcomes for birthing people and infants, the evidence is limited due to small sample sizes, study methodology, or conflicting conclusions. Doula outcomes are underexplored in the literature, with mainly qualitative data describing low levels of diversity and equity within the doula workforce and ineffective payment models. When cost-effectiveness estimates have been calculated, they largely rely on savings realized from averted cesarean births, preterm births, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions. CONCLUSIONS: As state Medicaid programs expand to include doula care, policymakers should be aware of the limitations in the evidence as they plan for successful implementation, such as the narrow focus on certain clinical outcomes to quantify cost savings and conflicting conclusions on the impact of doula care. An important consideration is the impact of the reimbursement rate on the adoption of doula care, which is why it is important to engage doulas in compensation determinations, as well as the development of improved metrics to untangle the components that contribute to maternal health outcomes in the United States.

Qualitative Assessment CIH Institutions' Engagement With Underserved Communities to Enhance Healthcare Access and Utilization.

Background: In North America, there is a notable underutilization of complementary and integrative health approaches (CIH) among non-White and marginalized communities. Objectives: This study sought to understand how CIH educational instutitions are proactively working to redress this disparity in access and utilization among these communities. Methods: We conducted interviews with 26 key informants, including presidents, clinicians, and research deans across 13 CIH educational institutions across the US and Canada. Thematic analysis included deductive codes based on the interview guide during interview scripts review. Results: Six themes were identified: (1) CIH institutions often had a long and varied history of community engaged care through partnerships to increase access and utilization; (2) CIH institutions' long-standing community outreach had been intentionally designed; (3) CIH institutions provided an array of services to a wide range of demographics and communities; (4) addressing healthcare access and utilization through community partnerships had a strong positive impact; (5) funding, staffing and COVID-19 were significant challenges that impeded efforts to increase CIH access through community engaged work; (6) identified gaps in community partnerships and services to increase access and utilization were recognized. Conclusion: These findings underscore significant efforts made to enhance healthcare access and utilization among marginalized, underserved, and racial and ethnic communities. However, barriers such as funding constraints, resource allocation, and the need for proper measurement and accountability hinder proactive initiatives aimed at redressing disparities in CIH utilization within these communities.

Clinic Readiness for Trauma-Informed Health Care Is Associated With Uptake of Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are strongly correlated with many of the most common causes of preventable illness, preventable death, and health disparities. In January 2020, California launched the first statewide initiative to integrate ACE screening throughout its Medicaid system. A key element of the initiative was the California ACEs Learning and Quality Improvement Collaborative, a 48-clinic, 16-month learning collaborative. This evaluation aimed to determine whether developing a trauma-informed environment of care was associated with uptake of ACE screening. METHODS: Participants included 40 of 48 clinics that participated in the statewide learning collaborative. Clinics completed an assessment of progress in 5 essential components of trauma-informed health care at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Clinics tracked data on ACE screens completed on an ongoing basis and submitted data quarterly. A hierarchical linear model was used to examine the association between change in readiness for trauma-informed health care and change in quarterly screens. RESULTS: Readiness for trauma-informed health care increased for all participating clinics over the course of the learning collaborative. The average number of quarterly screens also increased, with considerable variability among clinics. Clinics with larger increases in readiness for trauma-informed health care had larger increases in quarterly screens. DISCUSSION: The findings align with long-standing recommendations for trauma screening to occur in the context of trauma-informed environments of care. CONCLUSION: A trauma-informed clinic is the foundation for successful adoption of ACE screening. ACE screening initiatives should include education and sufficient support for clinics to embrace a trauma-informed systems change process.

Voices of Identity: Exploring Identity Development and Transformation among Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Emerging Adults.

Emerging adulthood shapes personal, professional, and overall well-being through identity exploration. This study addresses a gap in the minority identity literature by investigating how urban AI/AN emerging adults think about their identity and discussing challenges and protective factors associated with exploring their identity holistically. This mixed-methods study created a sampling framework based on discrimination experiences, cultural identity, social network support, mental health, and problematic substance use. We recruited 20 urban AI/AN emerging adults for interviews. We sought to gain deeper insights into their experiences and discussions surrounding identity formation and exploration. We provide descriptives for demographic characteristics and conducted a thematic analysis of the qualitative data from the interviews. Four themes emerged: a) being an urban AI/AN emerging adult means recognizing that one's identity is multifaceted; b) a multifaceted identity comes with tension of living in multiple worlds; c) the trajectory of one's identity grows over time to a deeper desire to connect with Native American culture; and d) understanding one's Native American background affects one's professional trajectory. Findings underscore the importance of developing programs to support well-being and identity development through cultural connection for urban AI/AN emerging adults.

Improving Pain Care for Service Members: Administrator, Provider, and Patient Perspectives on Treatment, Policies, and Opportunities for Change.

Acute and chronic pain are common among service members, with musculoskeletal pain and injuries being the leading cause of nondeployability among active-duty service members. Given the significant implications for individual health and force readiness, providing high-quality pain care to service members is a priority of the Military Health System (MHS). Prior RAND research used administrative data to assess the quality and safety of pain care and opioid prescribing in the MHS, generated a set of quality measures that the MHS could adopt going forward, and identified strengths and opportunities for improvement in care provided to service members with pain conditions. In this study, authors document findings from interviews with MHS administrators, providers, and patients, providing valuable detail and context for those findings, along with on-the-ground perspectives on MHS pain care policies and guidance in practice. Staff and patients recommended prioritizing increases in treatment access and availability to improve pain care, and patients emphasized effective treatment and patient-centered care as the most important facilitators of high-quality pain care.