Cluster Randomized Pragmatic Clinical Trial Testing Behavioral Economic Implementation Strategies to Improve Tobacco Treatment for Patients With Cancer Who Smoke.

PURPOSE: Few cancer centers systematically engage patients with evidence-based tobacco treatment despite its positive effect on quality of life and survival. Implementation strategies directed at patients, clinicians, or both may increase tobacco use treatment (TUT) within oncology. METHODS: We conducted a four-arm cluster-randomized pragmatic trial across 11 clinical sites comparing the effect of strategies informed by behavioral economics on TUT engagement during oncology encounters with cancer patients. We delivered electronic health record (EHR)-based nudges promoting TUT across four nudge conditions: patient only, clinician only, patient and clinician, or usual care. Nudges were designed to counteract cognitive biases that reduce TUT engagement. The primary outcome was TUT penetration, defined as the proportion of patients with documented TUT referral or a medication prescription in the EHR. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the parameters of a linear model. RESULTS: From June 2021 to July 2022, we randomly assigned 246 clinicians in 95 clusters, and collected TUT penetration data from their encounters with 2,146 eligible patients who smoke receiving oncologic care. Intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that the clinician nudge led to a significant increase in TUT penetration versus usual care (35.6% v 13.5%; OR = 3.64; 95% CI, 2.52 to 5.24; P < .0001). Completer-only analysis (N = 1,795) showed similar impact (37.7% clinician nudge v 13.5% usual care; OR = 3.77; 95% CI, 2.73 to 5.19; P < .0001). Clinician type affected TUT penetration, with physicians less likely to provide TUT than advanced practice providers (ITT OR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.88; P = .004). CONCLUSION: EHR nudges, informed by behavioral economics and aimed at oncology clinicians, appear to substantially increase TUT penetration. Adding patient nudges to the implementation strategy did not affect TUT penetration rates.

Determinants of Blood Culture Use in Critically Ill Children: A Multicenter Qualitative Study.

Blood cultures are fundamental in diagnosing and treating sepsis in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), but practices vary widely. Overuse can lead to false positive results and unnecessary antibiotics. Specific factors underlying decisions about blood culture use and overuse are unknown. Therefore, we aimed to identify perceived determinants of blood culture use in the PICU. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews of clinicians (M.D., D.O., R.N., N.P., P.A.) from 6 PICUs who had participated in a quality improvement collaborative about blood culture practices. We developed interview questions by combining elements of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and behavioral economics. We conducted telephone interviews, open-coded the transcripts, and used modified content analysis to determine key themes and mapped themes to elements of Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and behavioral economics. Results: We reached thematic saturation in 24 interviews. Seven core themes emerged across 3 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains: individual characteristics [personal belief in the importance of blood cultures, the perception that blood cultures are a low-risk test]; inner setting [adherence to site-specific usual practices, site-specific overall approach to PICU care (collaborative versus hierarchical), influence of non-PICU clinicians on blood culture decisions]; and outer setting [patient-specific risk factors, sepsis guidelines]. In addition, outcome bias, default bias, and loss aversion emerged as salient behavioral economics concepts. Conclusions: Determinants of blood culture use include individual clinician characteristics, inner setting, and outer setting, as well as default bias, outcome bias, and loss aversion. These determinants will now inform the development of candidate strategies to optimize culture practices.

Stakeholder Perspectives on MAPS.

BACKGROUND: Managed problem solving (MAPS) is an evidence-based intervention that can boost HIV medication adherence and increase viral suppression, but it is not widely used in community clinics. Deploying community health workers to deliver MAPS could facilitate broader implementation, in support of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative's goal of reducing new HIV infections in the US by 90% by 2030. SETTING: Ryan White-funded clinics in Philadelphia, 1 of 48 US counties prioritized in the EHE. METHODS: Semistructured stakeholder interviews were conducted with 13 clinics and 4 stakeholder groups: prescribing clinicians, nonprescribing clinical team members (eg, medical case managers), clinic administrators, and policymakers. Interviews were based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and investigated perceived barriers to and facilitators of MAPS delivery by community health workers. Rapid qualitative analytic techniques were used to synthesize interview data and identify key categories along an implementation pathway. Core determinants (ie, barriers and facilitators) of MAPS implementation were grouped within each category. RESULTS: Stakeholders were receptive to CHW-delivered MAPS and offered critical information on potential implementation determinants including preferences for identification and referral of patients, and the importance of integration and communication within the care team. CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates insights regarding barriers and facilitators to delivering an evidence-based behavioral intervention in clinics serving people with HIV (PWH) and extends a rapid qualitative approach to HIV care that rigorously incorporates stakeholder data into the development of implementation strategies. It also offers insights for national implementation efforts associated with EHE.

A Cluster-Randomized Clinical Trial Testing the Effectiveness of the Addressing Tobacco Through Organizational Change Model for Improving the Treatment of Tobacco Use in Community Mental Health Care: Preliminary Study Feasibility and Baseline Findings.

INTRODUCTION: People with mental illness are more likely to smoke and less likely to receive tobacco treatment than the general population. The Addressing Tobacco Through Organizational Change (ATTOC) approach supports organizational change to increase tobacco treatment in this population. We describe preliminary study feasibility and baseline behaviors and attitudes among clients and staff regarding tobacco treatment, and assesse correlates of treatment of smoking. METHODS: Preliminary accrual, engagement, and baseline data are reported from a cluster-randomized trial comparing ATTOC to usual care. Feasibility, thus far, was the rate of site and participant accrual and engagement (eg, participants remaining in the trial). Correlates of assessing smoking, advising cessation, and providing treatment were assessed. RESULTS: Site and participant accrual is 80% (8/10) and 86% (456/533), and engagement is 100% and 82%. "Staff asking about smoking" was reported by 63% of clients and 38% of staff; "staff advising cessation" was reported by 57% of clients and 46% of staff; staff report "assisting clients with any medication" at most 22% of the time, whereas at most 18% of clients report receiving a cessation medication; 59% of clients want tobacco treatment, but 36% of staff think that it is part of their job. "Staff assisting with medications" is related to more training, believing treating smoking is part of their job, and believing patients are concerned about smoking (ps < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This trial of training in tobacco treatment within mental health care is feasible thus far; self-reported rates of tobacco treatment are low and associated with clinician attitudes and barriers. IMPLICATIONS: Evaluation of ways to help address tobacco use treatment in community mental health care is feasible and needed, including the use of technical assistance and training guided by an organizational change approach.

Changing Antibiotic Prescribing in a Primary Care Network: The Role of Readiness to Change and Group Dynamics in Success.

Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics in outpatient pediatrics remains a significant issue and there is limited evidence on how to effectively implement outpatient stewardship interventions. This study examines the relationship between readiness to change and modifiable factors affecting success of a primary care network antibiotic stewardship intervention. A survey designed to measure readiness to accept a health care innovation was administered to 209 clinicians. Practices were split in half into "high" versus "low" readiness to change. Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 2 to 3 clinicians from 6 practices in each readiness group. High readiness practices trended toward greater improvements between years (8% to 26% vs 2% to 10% mean improvement). High readiness practice clinicians described more open communication, active group change process, and supportive underlying group cohesion. Low readiness practice clinicians functioned more independently and were influenced more by external forces but were developing group cohesion through the initiative. System-wide interventions should be appropriately tailored to different levels of readiness to change, specifically addressing group dynamics and their differing foci of influence.