Bandgap-universal passivation enables stable perovskite solar cells with low photovoltage loss.

The efficiency and longevity of metal-halide perovskite solar cells are typically dictated by nonradiative defect-mediated charge recombination. In this work, we demonstrate a vapor-based amino-silane passivation that reduces photovoltage deficits to around 100 millivolts (>90% of the thermodynamic limit) in perovskite solar cells of bandgaps between 1.6 and 1.8 electron volts, which is crucial for tandem applications. A primary-, secondary-, or tertiary-amino-silane alone negatively or barely affected perovskite crystallinity and charge transport, but amino-silanes that incorporate primary and secondary amines yield up to a 60-fold increase in photoluminescence quantum yield and preserve long-range conduction. Amino-silane-treated devices retained 95% power conversion efficiency for more than 1500 hours under full-spectrum sunlight at 85°C and open-circuit conditions in ambient air with a relative humidity of 50 to 60%.

Understanding the heterogeneity of alloreactive natural killer cell function in kidney transplantation.

Human Natural Killer (NK) cells are heterogeneous lymphocytes regulated by variegated arrays of germline-encoded activating and inhibitory receptors. They acquire the ability to detect polymorphic self-antigen via NKG2A/HLA-E or KIR/HLA-I ligand interactions through an education process. Correlations among HLA/KIR genes, kidney transplantation pathology and outcomes suggest that NK cells participate in allograft injury, but mechanisms linking NK HLA/KIR education to antibody-independent pathological functions remain unclear. We used CyTOF to characterize pre- and post-transplant peripheral blood NK cell phenotypes/functions before and after stimulation with allogeneic donor cells. Unsupervised clustering identified unique NK cell subpopulations present in varying proportions across patients, each of which responded heterogeneously to donor cells based on donor ligand expression patterns. Analyses of pre-transplant blood showed that educated, NKG2A/KIR-expressing NK cells responded greater than non-educated subsets to donor stimulators, and this heightened alloreactivity persisted > 6 months post-transplant despite immunosuppression. In distinct test and validation sets of patients participating in two clinical trials, pre-transplant donor-induced release of NK cell Ksp37, a cytotoxicity mediator, correlated with 2-year and 5-year eGFR. The findings explain previously reported associations between NK cell genotypes and transplant outcomes and suggest that pre-transplant NK cell analysis could function as a risk-assessment biomarker for transplant outcomes.

Chloride-Based Additive Engineering for Efficient and Stable Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells.

Metal halide perovskite based tandem solar cells are promising to achieve power conversion efficiency beyond the theoretical limit of their single-junction counterparts. However, overcoming the significant open-circuit voltage deficit present in wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells remains a major hurdle for realizing efficient and stable perovskite tandem cells. Here, a holistic approach to overcoming challenges in 1.8 eV perovskite solar cells is reported by engineering the perovskite crystallization pathway by means of chloride additives. In conjunction with employing a self-assembled monolayer as the hole-transport layer, an open-circuit voltage of 1.25 V and a power conversion efficiency of 17.0% are achieved. The key role of methylammonium chloride addition is elucidated in facilitating the growth of a chloride-rich intermediate phase that directs crystallization of the desired cubic perovskite phase and induces more effective halide homogenization. The as-formed 1.8 eV perovskite demonstrates suppressed halide segregation and improved optoelectronic properties.

The Influence of Social Determinants on Cancer Screening in a Medicaid Sample.

INTRODUCTION: Little attention has been paid to the influence of individually measured social determinants of health on cancer screening tests in the Medicaid population. METHODS: Analysis was conducted on 2015-2020 claims data from a subgroup of Medicaid enrollees from the District of Columbia Medicaid Cohort Study (N=8,943) who were eligible for colorectal (n=2,131), breast (n=1,156), and cervical cancer (n= 5,068) screening. Participants were grouped into four distinct social determinants of health groups on the basis of their responses to social determinants of health questionnaire. This study estimated the influence of the four social determinants of health groups on the receipt of each screening test using log-binomial regression adjusted for demographics, illness severity, and neighborhood-level deprivation. RESULTS: The receipt of cancer screening tests was 42%, 58%, and 66% for colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer, respectively. Those in the most disadvantaged social determinants of health group were less likely to receive a colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy than those in the least disadvantaged one (adjusted RR=0.70, 95% CI=0.54, 0.92). The pattern for mammograms and Pap smears was similar (adjusted RR=0.94, 95% CI=0.80, 1.11 and adjusted RR=0.90, 95% CI=0.81, 1.00, respectively). In contrast, participants in the most disadvantaged social determinants of health group were more likely to receive fecal occult blood test than those in the least disadvantaged one (adjusted RR=1.52, 95% CI=1.09, 2.12). CONCLUSIONS: Severe social determinants of health measured at the individual level are associated with lower cancer preventive screening. A targeted approach that addresses the social and economic adversities that affect cancer screening could result in higher preventive screening rates in this Medicaid population.

Reducing Nonradiative Losses in Perovskite LEDs through Atomic Layer Deposition of Al2O3 on the Hole-Injection Contact.

Halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) exhibit great potential for use in next-generation display technologies. However, scale-up will be challenging due to the requirement of very thin transport layers for high efficiencies, which often present spatial inhomogeneities from improper wetting and drying during solution processing. Here, we show how a thin Al2O3 layer grown by atomic layer deposition can be used to preferentially cover regions of imperfect hole transport layer deposition and form an intermixed composite with the organic transport layer, allowing hole conduction and injection to persist through the organic hole transporter. This has the dual effect of reducing nonradiative recombination at the heterojunction and improving carrier selectivity, which we infer to be due to the inhibition of direct contact between the indium tin oxide and perovskite layers. We observe an immediate improvement in electroluminescent external quantum efficiency in our p-i-n LEDs from an average of 9.8% to 13.5%, with a champion efficiency of 15.0%. The technique uses industrially available equipment and can readily be scaled up to larger areas and incorporated in other applications such as thin-film photovoltaic cells.

Evaluating Patient Perceptions on PrEP Screening and Referral in the Acute Care Setting.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is highly effective, yet uptake has been limited. We measured PrEP knowledge, eligibility, and referral willingness among patients receiving emergency or acute care in Washington, DC. We surveyed HIV-negative patients with STI-related complaints on HIV risk behaviors, PrEP knowledge, eligibility, and willingness for PrEP referral. Among 174 participants, 70% were PrEP unaware and 33% were PrEP eligible. Most participants (81%) supported learning more, 64% would consider taking PrEP, and 28% agreed to immediate referral. Willingness to learn more about PrEP suggests referral from non-traditional settings may increase uptake. Further evaluation of this approach is warranted.

Social Determinants of Health Influence Future Health Care Costs in the Medicaid Cohort of the District of Columbia Study.

Policy Points Social determinants of health are an important predictor of future health care costs. Medicaid must partner with other sectors to address the underlying causes of its beneficiaries' poor health and high health care spending. CONTEXT: Social determinants of health are an important predictor of future health care costs but little is known about their impact on Medicaid spending. This study analyzes the role of social determinants of health (SDH) in predicting future health care costs for adult Medicaid beneficiaries with similar past morbidity burdens and past costs. METHODS: We enrolled into a prospective cohort study 8,892 adult Medicaid beneficiaries who presented for treatment at an emergency department or clinic affiliated with two hospitals in Washington, DC, between September 2017 and December 31, 2018. We used SDH information measured at enrollment to categorize our participants into four social risk classes of increasing severity. We used Medicaid claims for a 2-year period; 12 months pre- and post-study enrollment to measure past and future morbidity burden according to the Adjusted Clinical Groups system. We also used the Medicaid claims data to characterize total annual Medicaid costs one year prior to and one year after study enrollment. RESULTS: The 8,892 participants were primarily female (66%) and Black (91%). For persons with similar past morbidity burdens and past costs (p < 0.01), the future morbidity burden was significantly higher in the upper two social risk classes (1.15 and 2.04, respectively) compared with the lowest one. Mean future health care spending was significantly higher in the upper social risk classes compared with the lowest one ($2,713, $11,010, and $17,710, respectively) and remained significantly higher for the two highest social risk classes ($1,426 and $3,581, respectively), given past morbidity burden and past costs (p < 0.01). When we controlled for future morbidity burden (measured concurrently with future costs), social risk class was no longer a significant predictor of future health care costs. CONCLUSIONS: SDH are statistically significant predictors of future morbidity burden and future costs controlling for past morbidity burden and past costs. Further research is needed to determine whether current payment systems adequately account for differences in the care needs of highly medically and socially complex patients.

The perceived work environment and well-being: A survey of emergency health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care provider well-being was affected by various challenges in the work environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the perceived work environment and mental well-being of a sample of emergency physicians (EPs), emergency medicine (EM) nurses, and emergency medical services (EMS) providers during the pandemic. METHODS: We surveyed attending EPs, resident EPs, EM nurses, and EMS providers from 10 academic sites across the United States. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to estimate the effect of the perceived work environment on screening positive for depression/anxiety and burnout controlling for respondent characteristics. We tested possible predictors in the multivariate regression models and included the predictors that were significant in the final model. RESULTS: Our final sample included 701 emergency health care workers. Almost 23% of respondents screened positive for depression/anxiety and 39.7% for burnout. Nurses were significantly more likely to screen positive for depression/anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-3.86) and burnout (aOR 2.05, 95% CI 1.22-3.49) compared to attendings. The LCA analysis identified four subgroups of our respondents that differed in their responses to the work environment questions. These groups were identified as Work Environment Risk Group 1, an overall good work environment; Risk Group 2, inadequate resources; Risk Group 3, lack of perceived organizational support; and Risk Group 4, an overall poor work environment. Participants in the two groups who perceived their work conditions as most adverse were significantly more likely to screen positive for depression/anxiety (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.05-3.42; and aOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.14-3.66) compared to participants working in environments perceived as less adverse. CONCLUSIONS: We found a strong association between a perceived adverse working environment and poor mental health, particularly when organizational support was deemed inadequate. Targeted strategies to promote better perceptions of the workplace are needed.

In their own words: Experiences of emergency health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial number of emergency health care workers (HCWs) have screened positive for anxiety, depression, risk of posttraumatic stress disorder, and burnout. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the impact of COVID-19 on emergency care providers' health and well-being using personal perspectives. We conducted in-depth interviews with emergency physicians, emergency medicine nurses, and emergency medical services providers at 10 collaborating sites across the United States between September 21, 2020, and October 26, 2020. METHODS: We developed a conceptual framework that described the relationship between the work environment and employee health. We used qualitative content analysis to evaluate our interview transcripts classified the domains, themes, and subthemes that emerged from the transcribed interviews. RESULTS: We interviewed 32 emergency HCWs. They described difficult working conditions, such as constrained physical space, inadequate personnel protective equipment, and care protocols that kept changing. Organizational leadership was largely viewed as unprepared, distant, and unsupportive of employees. Providers expressed high moral distress caused by ethically challenging situations, such as the perception of not being able to provide the normal standard of care and emotional support to patients and their families at all times, being responsible for too many sick patients, relying on inexperienced staff to treat infected patients, and caring for patients that put their own health and the health of their families at risk. Moral distress was commonly experienced by emergency HCWs, exacerbated by an unsupportive organizational environment. CONCLUSIONS: Future preparedness efforts should include mechanisms to support frontline HCWs when faced with ethical challenges in addition to an adverse working environment caused by a pandemic such as COVID-19.

Relationship Between Social Determinants of Health and Antihypertensive Medication Adherence in a Medicaid Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relationship between social determinants of health (SDH) and medication adherence among Medicaid beneficiaries with hypertension. METHODS: We conducted a posthoc subgroup analysis of 3044 adult Medicaid beneficiaries who enrolled in a parent prospective cohort study and had a diagnosis of hypertension based on their Medicaid claims during a 24-month period before study enrollment. We calculated the proportion of days covered by at least one antihypertensive medication during the first 12 months after study enrollment using the prescription claims data. We measured numerous SDH at the time of study enrollment and we categorized our hypertension cohort into 4 social risk groups based on their response profiles to the SDH variables. We compared the mean proportion of days covered by the different levels of the SDH factors. We modeled the odds of being covered by an antihypertensive medication daily throughout the follow-up period by social risk group, adjusted for age, sex, and disease severity using a generalized linear model. RESULTS: The nonrandom sample was predominately Black (93%), female (62%) and had completed high school (77%). The mean proportion of days covered varied significantly by different SDH, such as food insecurity (49%-56%), length of time living at present place (47%-57%), smoking status (50%-56%), etc. Social risk group was a significant predictor of medication adherence. Participants in the 2 groups with the most social risks were 36% (adjusted odds ratio=0.64 [95% CI, 0.53-0.78]) and 20% (adjusted odds ratio=0.80 [95% CI, 0.70-0.93]) less adherent to their hypertension therapy compared with participants in the group with the fewest social risks. CONCLUSIONS: Social risks are associated with lower antihypertensive medication adherence in the Medicaid population.

Social determinants of health impacting adherence to diabetic retinopathy examinations.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluates the association of multidimensional social determinants of health (SDoH) with non-adherence to diabetic retinopathy examinations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a post-hoc subgroup analysis of adults with diabetes in a prospective cohort study of enrollees in the Washington, DC Medicaid program. At study enrollment, participants were given a comprehensive SDoH survey based on the WHO SDoH model. Adherence to recommended dilated diabetic retinopathy examinations, as determined by qualifying Current Procedural Terminology codes in the insurance claims, was defined as having at least one eye examination in the 2-year period following study enrollment. RESULTS: Of the 8943 participants enrolled in the prospective study, 1492 (64% female, 91% non-Hispanic Black) were included in this post-hoc subgroup analysis. 47.7% (n=712) were adherent to the recommended biennial diabetic eye examinations. Not having a regular provider (eg, a primary care physician) and having poor housing conditions (eg, overcrowded, inadequate heating) were associated with decreased odds of adherence to diabetic eye examinations (0.45 (95% CI 0.31 to 0.64) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.94), respectively) in the multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, overall health status using the Chronic Disability Payment System, diabetes severity using the Diabetes Complications Severity Index, history of eye disease, and history of diabetic eye disease treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A multidimensional evaluation of SDoH revealed barriers that impact adherence to diabetic retinopathy examinations. Having poor housing conditions and not having a regular provider were associated with poor adherence. A brief SDoH assessment could be incorporated into routine clinical care to identify social risks and connect patients with the necessary resources to improve adherence to diabetic retinopathy examinations.

Rethinking Farkas: Updating Cephalic Index Norms in a Large, Diverse Population.

BACKGROUND: Cephalic index, the ratio of head width to length, is one normative indicator used by insurers to derive criteria for plagiocephaly helmet authorization. Current norms were established by a small sample of white children in the 1987 Farkas and Munro data set. This study establishes updated cephalic index values for infants and children in a large, diverse patient population. METHODS: Children aged 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, 9 to 12 months, 2 to 3 years, and 12 to 14 years were recruited at their well-child appointment. Cephalic index was calculated for each age group and compared to previously established norms. RESULTS: Eight hundred seventy patients met inclusion criteria. The means for boys and girls between 0 and 6 months were 83.5 (n = 155, SD 6.01) and 83.5 (n = 191, SD 5.80), respectively. Established means for boys and girls between 0 and 6 months were 74.4 (n = 38, SD 5.2) and 74.3 (n = 49, SD 6.1), respectively. The difference between norms is highly statistically significant (p < 0.0001). For this age range, insurance criteria for a helmet is >83.7 for boys and >82.7 for girls. Using previous norms, 74 boys (44.6 percent) and 104 girls (54.5 percent) would meet criteria for a helmet under current guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The mean cephalic index of children has changed. The reasons could include diversifying populations in the United States and the introduction of the Back to Sleep campaign. Over 50 percent of children may inappropriately meet criteria for a helmet based on prior norms. Updating norms could change the definition of plagiocephaly for a helmet orthosis.

Injuries related to electric scooter and bicycle use in a Washington, DC, emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: E-scooter use has grown rapidly in the United States. Its rise in popularity has coincided with the promotion of cycling in many cities, but more needs to be known about how these transportation modes compare to determine if cycling should serve as an appropriate benchmark for policy decisions and safety expectations regarding e-scooters. METHODS: We examined characteristics of adults seeking treatment in a Washington, DC, emergency department (ED) for injuries associated with riding e-scooters during 2019 (n = 99) or bicycles during 2015-2017 (n = 337). RESULTS: E-scooter incidents less frequently involved moving vehicles (13.1% vs. 37.7%) or occurred on roads (24.5% vs. 50.7%) than cycling incidents. A smaller proportion of injured e-scooter riders were ages 30-49 (32.3% vs. 48.4%) and a larger proportion were 50 and older (34.3% vs. 22.6%) or female (45.5% vs. 29.1%). Distal lower extremity injuries were more common among e-scooter riders (13.1% vs. 3.0%; RR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.79-3.54), and injuries to the proximal upper extremity (9.1% vs. 20.5%; RR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.24-0.92) or chest, abdomen, and spine (3.0% vs. 14.0%; RR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.07-0.70) were less common. Head injury rates were similar, but e-scooter riders more often experienced concussion with loss of consciousness (4.0% vs. 0.6%; RR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.20-4.09) and were far less likely to wear helmets (2.0% vs. 66.4%). Estimated ED presentation rates per million miles traveled citywide were higher among e-scooter riders than cyclists (RR, 3.76; 95% CI, 3.08-4.59). CONCLUSIONS: E-scooters and bicycles are both popular forms of micromobility, but the characteristics of riders injured on them, the ways in which they become injured, and the types of injuries they sustain differ substantially. E-scooter rider injury rates, though currently high, may decrease as they gain experience; however, if the number of new users continues to climb, they will persist in using the ED more often than cyclists per mile that they travel.

The Use of Visible-Light Hyperspectral Imaging in Evaluating Burn Wounds: A Case Report.

Burn depth is a critical factor in determining the healing potential of a burn as the extent of injury ultimately guides overall treatment. Visible-Light Hyperspectral Imaging is an FDA-approved, noninvasive, and noncontrast imaging technology that uses light waves within the visible spectrum to evaluate skin and superficial soft tissue perfusion. In this case report, visible-light hyperspectral imaging was used to evaluate a 37-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department with a thermal burn of the trunk, back, and right upper extremity. Images were taken at initial evaluation, 6 hours postinjury, and again during daily dressing changes until hospital day 5 when the patient underwent surgical debridement. In this patient, operative treatment was postponed until 89.7 hours postinjury, at which point the clinical examination showed clear visual demarcation in regions of irreversible damage. Comparatively, visible-light hyperspectral imaging analysis of the permanently injured tissue demonstrated acute but varying changes in both oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin at the time of initial evaluation. The most dramatic change in tissue oxygenation occurred between 6.5 and 39.3 hours, demonstrating visible-light hyperspectral imaging's ability to detect significant differences in oxygenation values between areas of second-degree superficial burns and areas of second-degree deep and third-degree burns in the acute period. The data suggest that the utilization of visible-light hyperspectral imaging in this 6.5- to 39.3-hour window may help predict final burn depth before clinical assessment, potentially allowing for surgical intervention within the first 48 hours following injury.

A health-related social needs referral program for Medicaid beneficiaries treated in an emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDH) play an important role in health outcomes. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a SDH screening and health-related social needs (HRSNs) referral program in an emergency department (ED) setting with adult Medicaid beneficiaries. METHODS: Between November 2016 and March 2017 we enrolled adult Medicaid patients in a prospective cohort study. Research assistants (RAs) completed an SDH screening survey with participants and asked them if they needed assistance with HRSNs related to medical, behavioral health, wellness, housing, food, legal and job training issues. RAs referred participants to community-based organizations (CBO) for their top three HRSNs. Patients referred to at least one CBO were phoned a month later to determine whether their HRSN was addressed and CBOs also reported their assistance rates within four months of the ED visit. RESULTS: Of the 505 patients enrolled, 69% were female, 82% completed high school, and 57% reported working. Most participants (85%) requested assistance for at least one HRSN. Almost half (44%) received referrals to three different agencies. Help with housing (70%), medical issues (51%), and finding food (42%) were the most common. Among the 430 subjects referred to ≥1 agency, 76% completed the follow-up interview. Few patients reported receiving help from the referral agencies (5% for a wellness program to 15% for medical services). Referral agencies generally reported even lower assistance rates (0% for job training to 17% for medical services). CONCLUSION: The majority of adult Medicaid patients treated in our ED wanted assistance with one or more HRSN. The passive referral system we implemented resulted in few patients receiving assistance from the referral agency, regardless of whether measured by self-report or by agency.

The Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Emergency Departments Visits in a Medicaid Sample.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We evaluate the relationship between social determinants of health and emergency department (ED) visits in the Medicaid Cohort of the District of Columbia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 8,943 adult Medicaid beneficiaries who completed a social determinants of health survey at study enrollment. We merged the social determinants of health data with participants' Medicaid claims data for up to 24 months before enrollment. Using latent class analysis, we grouped our participants into 4 distinct social risk classes based on similar responses to the social determinants of health questions. We classified ED visits as primary care treatable or ED care needed, using the Minnesota algorithm. We calculated the adjusted log relative primary care treatable and ED care needed visit rates among the social risk classes by using generalized linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The majority (71%) of the 49,111 ED visits made by the 8,943 participants were ED care needed. The adjusted log relative rate of both primary care treatable and ED care needed visit rates increased with each higher (worse) social risk class compared with the lowest class. Participants in the highest social risk class (ie, unemployed and many social risks) had a log relative primary care treatable and ED care needed rate of 39% (range 28% to 50%) and 29% (range 21% to 38%), respectively, adjusted for age, sex, and illness severity. CONCLUSION: There is a strong relationship between social determinants of health and ED utilization in this Medicaid sample that is worth investigating in other Medicaid samples and patient populations.

Severity of e-scooter rider injuries associated with trip characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: E-scooter rider injuries have been growing, but little is known about how trip and incident characteristics contribute to their severity. METHOD: We enrolled 105 adults injured while riding e-scooters who presented to an emergency department in Washington, DC, during 2019. Enrolled participants completed an interview during the emergency department visit, and their charts were abstracted to document their injuries and treatment. Logistic regression examined the association of incident location and circumstances with the likelihood of sustaining an injury on the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) ≥ 2, while controlling for rider characteristics. RESULTS: The most common locations of e-scooter injuries in our study sample occurred on the sidewalk (58%) or road (23%). Accounting for other trip and rider attributes, e-scooter riders injured on the road were about twice as likely as those injured elsewhere to sustain AIS ≥ 2 injuries (RR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.23-2.36) and those who rode at least weekly more often sustained AIS ≥ 2 injuries compared with less frequent riders (RR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.11-2.32). CONCLUSIONS: Greater injury severity for riders injured on the road may reflect higher travel speeds. Practical applications: Injury severity associated with riding in the road is one factor that jurisdictions can consider when setting policy on where e-scooters should be encouraged to ride, but the risk of any crash or fall associated with facilities should also be examined. Although injuries are of lower severity on sidewalks, sharing sidewalks with slower moving pedestrians could potentially lead to more conflicts.

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Text Messaging to Increase Tobacco Treatment Reach in the Emergency Department.

INTRODUCTION: Automated text messaging programs have been studied as a treatment tool, but have not been studied as an outreach tool to increase the reach of smoking cessation treatment. AIMS AND METHODS: Two distinct text messaging programs were developed. One was aimed at connecting smokers to quitline phone counseling via text message (Text4Coach [T4C]) and the other was aimed at connecting smokers to a smoking cessation text messaging program (Text&Quit [T&Q]). Adult daily smokers with Medicaid insurance (N = 80) were recruited from the Emergency Department at an urban hospital and randomized to T4C or T&Q. The primary outcome was program reach. RESULTS: Outreach text messages were found to have moderately high uptake, with the majority of participants (63.8%) opting into their assigned tobacco treatment program and younger and female participants more likely to opt in (p < .01). Receipt of the treatment portion of the program differed among the programs with 67.5% of T&Q receiving the treatment program and 27.5% of T4C receiving the program (p < .001). Most participants across both groups replied to at least one message (71.3%) and very few unsubscribed from the service over the 3-week trial. The majority of participants reported overall satisfaction with their program (63.8%), found it helpful for quitting smoking (60.0%) and would recommend the program to a friend (62.5%). Overall, 11 (13.8%) participants reported being abstinent from smoking for the past 7 days at follow-up, with no differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Outreach text messages were found to have moderately high reach among Medicaid smokers. Larger trials are needed to evaluate the impact of such programs on helping low-income smokers quit. IMPLICATIONS: Automated text messaging programs have been tested as a treatment tool, but have not been tested as an outreach tool to increase the reach of smoking cessation treatment. This study tests a new way of conducting outreach to smokers in a health system through text messages. It tests the effect of outreach on (1) rates of opting in and (2) successful treatment delivery. Results may inform new models of providing outreach for tobacco treatment in health systems.

The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Medication Adherence: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Medication adherence (MA) is critical to successful chronic disease management. It is not clear how social determinants of health (SDH) impact MA. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the evidence on the relationship between SDH and MA. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) format. A literature search was performed using three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Clinical Trials Register in December of 2018. Included studies were completed in the USA, included adults aged 18 years and older, measured at least one social determinant of health, and medication adherence was the primary outcome measure. Data from included full texts were independently extracted using a standardized data extraction form. We then conducted a meta-analysis and pooled the odds ratios from the included studies for each social determinant as well as for all SDH factors collectively. RESULTS: A total of 3137 unduplicated abstracts were identified from our database searches. A total of 173 were selected for full text review after evaluating the abstract. A total of 29 articles were included for this systematic review. Economic-related SDH factors and MA were mostly commonly examined. The meta-analysis revealed a significant relationship between food insecurity (aOR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.42-0.7), housing instability (aOR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.44-0.93), and social determinants overall (aOR = 0.75; 95% CI 0.65-0.88) and medication adherence. DISCUSSION: Food insecurity and housing instability most consistently impacted medication adherence. Although included studies were heterogenous and varied widely in SDH and MA measurements, adverse social determinants overall were significantly associated with lower MA. The relationship between SDH and MA warrants more attention and research by health care providers and policymakers.

Practitioners' Self-Assessment of Family-Centered Practice in Telepractice Versus In-Person Early Intervention.

For infants and young children who are identified as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), best practice principles indicate the provision of family-centered early intervention (FCEI). However, factors such as geographical inaccessibility and workforce shortages can limit families' access to FCEI in their local area. One strategy for overcoming these barriers is telepractice-a method of connecting families and practitioners using synchronous, two-way audiovisual technologies. This study compared the self-assessed use of family-centered practices by a group of practitioners delivering FCEI through telepractice with that of a similar group delivering FCEI in-person. A sample of 38 practitioners (15 telepractice and 23 in-person) from two early intervention programs for children who are DHH completed a self-assessment tool: the Measures of Processes of Care for Service Providers. Results indicated that there were no significant differences between telepractice and in-person sessions with regard to practitioners' self-assessment of their use of family-centered practices.