Population-Level Disparities in Exposure to COVID-19 Mitigation Policies, April 2020-April 2021.

CONTEXT: Studies have found that COVID-19 stay-at-home orders (SHOs) and face mask policies (FMPs) were associated with reduced COVID-19 transmission and deaths. But it is unknown whether exposure to these policies varied by sociodemographic characteristics across the US population. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to quantify and characterize the sociodemographic characteristics and geographic distribution of populations exposed to evidence-based COVID-19 mitigation policies. DESIGN: We obtained statewide SHOs and FMPs for all US counties from April 10, 2020, to April 10, 2021, calculated median policy lengths, and categorized counties into 4 groups based on length of policy exposure: low SHO-low FMP, high SHO-low FMP, low SHO-high FMP, and high SHO-high FMP. We described exposure groups by COVID-19 cumulative case/death and vaccination rates and county sociodemographic characteristics. SETTING: In total, 3142 counties from all 50 states and Washington, District of Columbia, were included in the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: County-level sociodemographic factors and county cumulative rates for COVID-19 cases, deaths, and vaccinations. RESULTS: The largest percentage of the US population lived in counties with high exposure to SHOs and FMPs. However, populations living in high SHO-high FMP counties had the lowest percent non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and highest percent non-Hispanic White (NHW) populations. Populations living in high SHO-low FMP counties had the highest percent NHB and Hispanic populations and the lowest percent NHW population. CONCLUSION: This study identified county-level racial, ethnic, and sociodemographic disparities in exposure to evidence-based statewide COVID-19 mitigation policies. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Exposure to evidence-based policies is an important consideration for studies evaluating the root causes of health inequities.

Individual and Institutional Factors Contribute to Research Capacity Building for Early-Stage Investigators from Groups Underrepresented in Biomedical Research: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Enhancement of diversity within the U.S. research workforce is a recognized need and priority at a national level. Existing comprehensive programs, such as the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) and Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI), have the dual focus of building institutional research capacity and promoting investigator self-efficacy through mentoring and training. METHODS: A qualitative comparative analysis was used to identify the combination of factors that explain the success and failure to submit a grant proposal by investigators underrepresented in biomedical research from the RCMI and non-RCMI institutions. The records of 211 participants enrolled in the NRMN Strategic Empowerment Tailored for Health Equity Investigators (NRMN-SETH) program were reviewed, and data for 79 early-stage, underrepresented faculty investigators from RCMI (n = 23) and non-RCMI (n = 56) institutions were included. RESULTS: Institutional membership (RCMI vs. non-RCMI) was used as a possible predictive factor and emerged as a contributing factor for all of the analyses. Access to local mentors was predictive of a successful grant submission for RCMI investigators, while underrepresented investigators at non-RCMI institutions who succeeded with submitting grants still lacked access to local mentors. CONCLUSION: Institutional contexts contribute to the grant writing experiences of investigators underrepresented in biomedical research.

The Role of Mock Reviewing Sessions in the National Research Mentoring Network Strategic Empowerment Tailored for Health Equity Investigators: A Randomized Controlled Study.

The National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) Strategic Empowerment Tailored for Health Equity Investigators (SETH) study evaluates the value of adding Developmental Network to Coaching in the career advancement of diverse Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs). Focused NIH-formatted Mock Reviewing Sessions (MRS) prior to the submission of grants can significantly enhance the scientific merits of an ESI's grant application. We evaluated the most prevalent design, analysis-related factors, and the likelihood of grant submissions and awards associated with going through MRS, using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and logistic regression methods. A total of 62 out of 234 applications went through the MRS. There were 69.4% that pursued R grants, 22.6% career development (K) awards, and 8.0% other grant mechanisms. Comparing applications that underwent MRS versus those that did not (N = 172), 67.7% vs. 38.4% were submitted for funding (i.e., unadjusted difference of 29.3%; OR = 4.8, 95% CI = (2.4, 9.8), p-value < 0.0001). This indicates that, relative to those who did not undergo MRS, ESIs who did, were 4.8 times as likely to submit an application for funding. Also, ESIs in earlier cohorts (1-2) (a period that coincided with the pre COVID-19 era) as compared to those who were recruited at later cohorts (3-4) (i.e., during the peak of COVID-19 period) were 3.8 times as likely to submit grants (p-value < 0.0001). The most prevalent issues that were identified included insufficient statistical design considerations and plans (75%), conceptual framework (28.3%), specific aims (11.7%), evidence of significance (3.3%), and innovation (3.3%). MRS potentially enhances grant submissions for extramural funding and offers constructive feedback allowing for modifications that enhance the scientific merits of research grants.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Research Career Advancement of Health Equity Scholars from Diverse Backgrounds.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly taxed scientific research and seems to have exacerbated existing inequities within the research field, particularly for early-stage investigators (ESIs). This study examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on traditionally underrepresented ESIs enrolled in an NIH-supported study evaluating the effectiveness of developmental networks, grant writing coaching, and mentoring on research career advancement. The survey consisted of 24 closed-ended (quantitative) and 4 open-ended questions (qualitative) linked to a participant's ability to meet grant submission deadlines, research and professional development disruptions, stress level, career transition level, self-efficacy and management of scholarly tasks, and familial responsibilities. Results from 32 respondents (53%) suggest that COVID-19 adversely impacted the continuity of research (81%) and grant submissions (63%). On average, grant submissions were delayed by 6.69 months (i.e., greater than one grant cycle). We also conducted additional analyses characterizing nonresponse and found that there were no significant predictors of nonresponse, indicating a limited threat to the validity of our findings. The disruption caused by COVID-19 to the careers of ESIs from underrepresented groups in the biomedical workforce has been profound in the short term. The long-term consequences to the future success of these groups are unknown but is a worthwhile area of research and potential innovation.

American College of Preventive Medicine: Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Through a Prevention Framework.

The opioid epidemic has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Health systems, policymakers, payers, and public health have enacted numerous strategies to reduce the harms of opioids, including opioid use disorder (OUD). Much of this implementation has occurred before the development of OUD‒related comparative effectiveness evidence, which would enable an understanding of the benefits and harms of different approaches. This article from the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) uses a prevention framework to identify the current approaches and make recommendations for addressing the opioid epidemic, encompassing strategies across a primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention approach. Key primordial prevention strategies include addressing social determinants of health and reducing adverse childhood events. Key primary prevention strategies include supporting the implementation of evidence-based prescribing guidelines, expanding school-based prevention programs, and improving access to behavioral health supports. Key secondary prevention strategies include expanding access to evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder, especially for high-risk populations, including pregnant women, hospitalized patients, and people transitioning out of carceral settings. Key tertiary prevention strategies include the expansion of harm reduction services, including expanding naloxone availability and syringe exchange programs. The ACPM Opioid Workgroup also identifies opportunities for de-implementation, in which historical and current practices may be ineffective or causing harm. De-implementation strategies include reducing inappropriate opioid prescribing; avoiding mandatory one-size-fits-all policies; eliminating barriers to medications for OUD, debunking the myth of detoxification as a primary solo treatment for opioid use disorder; and destigmatizing care practices and policies to better treat people with OUD.

Randomized Controlled Study to Test the Effectiveness of Developmental Network Coaching in the Career Advancement of Diverse Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs): Implementation Challenges and Lessons Learned.

Introduction: Adding developmental networks (DN) to grant-writing coaching can significantly enhance ESIs' research careers. Herein, we present study design, ESIs' characteristics and encountered challenges/lessons learned and their resolutions when deploying/implementing (a) NCR algorithm(s), (b) recruitment/retention and (c) implementing DN intervention. Methods: Nested Cluster Randomization (NCR) design governs this study implementation. The sample size is 220 ESIs intending to submit an NIH K, R, U, and/or Minority Supplement application(s). Primary outcome: intensity/sustainability of grant submission(s)/funding(s), measured by time to/between application(s). Outcome(s) analyses modes: summaries, Kaplan Meir and Cox proportional hazard models as a function of randomization groups and other predictors of outcomes. Results: In the present study, we recruited two cohorts of ESIs (N = 85): 39% African Americans, 18% Latinx, 18% Whites, 20% Asians and 6% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/other ethnicities; 65% are women; 73% are assistant professors, 4% are Associate Professors and 23% are instructors/scientists/post-doctoral. Participants' disciplines: 32% basic/biomedical, 36% clinical/translational and 32% social/behavioral. Proposal(s) mechanisms: 61% research grants (R series), 31% career development (K series), 7% support of competitive research (SCORE) and 1% National Science Foundation applications. NCR did produce balance in the distribution of ESIs' demographics, sex at birth, ethnicity, professional appointments, background disciplines, and mechanism of sought funding. Lessons learned/challenges: NCR implementation was methodologically challenged during implementation by added constraints (e.g., assigning coaches to the same randomization arm of their participants as well as blinding them to ESIs' randomization group). Recruitment and retention were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and more progressive and innovative strategies were needed to heighten the visibility and outreach of this program. DN delivery was also affected by the pandemic and monitoring of ESIs' engagement and facilitation of communications interventions were needed. Resolution of these challenges effectively reconfigured NCR algorithms, recruitment/retention plans, and DN intervention delivery. We intend to recruit an additional 135 ESIs focusing on underrepresented scholars from RCMIs, CTSAs, and other programs. COVID-19 rendered this program 100% virtual, with recruitment/retention challenges and substantial disruption of ESIs' research. We may extend the grant writing period, coaching, and Mock Study Section support.

Racial and ethnic disparities in H1N1 vaccine uptake in Medicaid: Lessons learned for a COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic minorities in the US have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk for disparities in COVID-19 vaccinations. The H1N1 flu vaccine experience provides lessons learned to address and prevent racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccinations. We aim to identify racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in H1N1 vaccinations among Medicaid enrollees to inform equitable COVID-19 vaccination policies and strategies. METHODS: The study population included people under 65 who were continuously enrolled in Medicaid in 2009 and 2010 from 28 states and the District of Columbia. H1N1 vaccinations were identified from Medicaid outpatient claims. Vaccination rates were calculated for the overall sample and subpopulations by race/ethnicity and state. RESULTS: 3,708,894 (12.3%) Medicaid enrollees in the sample were vaccinated for H1N1 in 2009-2010. Race-specific vaccination rates ranged from 8.1% in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) to 19.8% in Asian/Pacific Islander Medicaid enrollees. NHB enrollees had lower vaccination rates than non-Hispanic White (NHW) enrollees in all states, with the exceptions of Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, and Washington. The largest disparity between NHB and NHW was in Pennsylvania (1.0% vs. 7.0%), while the largest absolute difference between NHB and NHW enrollees was in Georgia (17.4% vs. 30.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found huge variation in H1N1 vaccinations across states and racial/ethnic disparities in H1N1 vaccinations within states. In most states, NHB and AI/AN Medicaid enrollees had lower vaccination rates than Whites. Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander Medicaid enrollees in most states had higher vaccination rates than Whites.

Variation in Reporting of the Race and Ethnicity of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Across US States: April 12, 2020, and November 9, 2020.

Despite growing evidence that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting communities of color, state-reported racial/ethnic data are insufficient to measure the true impact.We found that between April 12, 2020, and November 9, 2020, the number of US states reporting COVID-19 confirmed cases by race and ethnicity increased from 25 to 50 and 15 to 46, respectively. However, the percentage of confirmed cases reported with missing race remained high at both time points (29% on April 12; 23% on November 9). Our analysis demonstrates improvements in reporting race/ethnicity related to COVID-19 cases and deaths and highlights significant problems with the quality and contextualization of the data being reported.We discuss challenges for improving race/ethnicity data collection and reporting, along with opportunities to advance health equity through more robust data collection and contextualization. To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on racial/ethnic minorities, accurate and high-quality demographic data are needed and should be analyzed in the context of the social and political determinants of health.

Population-Level Disparities in COVID-19: Measuring the Independent Association of the Proportion of Black Population on COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in US Counties.

CONTEXT: There is a need to understand population race and ethnicity disparities in the context of sociodemographic risk factors in the US experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: Determine the association between county-level proportion of non-Hispanic Black (NHB) on county COVID-19 case and death rates and observe how this association was influenced by county sociodemographic and health care infrastructure characteristics. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was an ecologic analysis of US counties as of September 20, 2020, that employed stepwise construction of linear and negative binomial regression models. The primary independent variable was the proportion of NHB population in the county. Covariates included county demographic composition, proportion uninsured, proportion living in crowded households, proportion living in poverty, population density, state testing rate, Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area status, and hospital beds per 1000 population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were exponentiated COVID-19 cases per 100 000 population and COVID-19 deaths per 100 000 population. We produced county-level maps of the measures of interest. RESULTS: In total, 3044 of 3142 US counties were included. Bivariate relationships between the proportion of NHB in a county and county COVID-19 case (Exp ß = 1.026; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.024-1.028; P < .001) and death rates (rate ratio [RR] = 1.032; 95% CI, 1.029-1.035; P < .001) were not attenuated in fully adjusted models. The adjusted association between the proportion of NHB population in a county and county COVID-19 case was Exp ß = 1.025 (95% CI, 1.023-1.027; P < .001) and the association with county death rates was RR = 1.034 (95% CI, 1.031-1.038; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of NHB people in a county was positively associated with county COVID-19 case and death rates and did not change in models that accounted for other socioecologic and health care infrastructure characteristics that have been hypothesized to account for the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minority populations. Results can inform efforts to mitigate the impact of structural racism of COVID-19.

Percentage of Black Population and Primary Care Shortage Areas Associated with Higher COVID-19 Case and Death Rates in Georgia Counties.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that the proportion of Black individuals in a county would be associated with higher rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and deaths, even after accounting for other high-risk socioecologic factors such as poverty, population density, and household crowding, and uninsured rates. We also expected that counties designated as primary care health professional shortage areas (PCHPSAs) would be associated with higher COVID-19 death rates, and the lack of primary care access would exacerbate racial disparities in death rates. We undertook this study to test these hypotheses and discern the independent effects of racial composition, socioecologic characteristics, and healthcare system factors on COVID-19 cases and deaths in Georgia counties. METHODS: We used county-level COVID-19 cases and deaths on April 23, 2020 from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center and estimates of 2019 county-level populations from the US Census Bureau to calculate the cumulative event rates for the state of Georgia. We used multiple regression models to examine crude and adjusted associations of socioecologic and health system variables with county-level COVID-19 case and mortality rates. RESULTS: After adjustment, a 1% increase in the proportion of Black people in the county resulted in a 2.3% increase in the county COVID-19 confirmed case rate and a 3.0% increase in the death rate (relative risk 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.05, P < 0.001). Primary care shortage areas had a 74% higher death rate (relative risk 1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.00-3.00, P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the impact of racial disparities on the spatial patterns of COVID-19 disease burden in Georgia, which can guide interventions to mitigate racial disparities. The results also support the need for robust primary care infrastructure throughout the state.

Predictors of genetic beliefs toward cancer risk perceptions among adults in the United States: Implications for prevention or early detection.

The objective of this study is to assess predictors of genetic beliefs toward cancer risk perceptions among adults, aged 18 years and over, in the United States (US). Data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Health Information National Trends Survey 2014 (HINTS) 4 Cycle 4. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess factors associated with an individual's beliefs about genetic and cancer risk perceptions. The results showed that African Americans, Non-White Hispanics, Non-Hispanic Asians, individuals with a high school education or less, and annual household incomes less than $20,000 and do not believe that health behaviors play some role in determining whether a person will develop cancer was significantly less likely to report that genetics plays at least some role in whether a person will develop cancer. Findings of this study provide an opportunity for genetic counselors to address beliefs about genetics and cancer risk perceptions among minority populations and promote health equity.

The association between health care coverage and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes over a 10-year period.

Persons without health care coverage have poorer health outcomes. We investigated the association between health care coverage and trends in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes pre- and post-Affordable Care Act (ACA) periods. Using data from 3,824,678 surveyed adults in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey from 2007 - 2016, we calculated the yearly prevalence of CVD and diabetes. Using logistic regression, we investigated the association between health care coverage and CVD and diabetes, controlling for sociodemographic factors (age, sex, race, marital status, education and income). The mean age of participants was 55.3 ± 18.9 years. Health care coverage increased from 88.6% in 2007 to 93% in 2016. The prevalence of CVD and diabetes increased from pre- to post-ACA periods. After adjustment, in pre-ACA period, the odds ratio (OR) for the association between health care coverage and CVD and diabetes was 1.32 (95% CI:1.30-1.34) and 1.44 (95% CI:1.41-1.46), respectively; in the post-ACA period, the OR was 1.26 (95% CI:1.22-1.30) and 1.48 (95% CI:1.44-1.52), respectively. We found a significant association between health care coverage and trends in the prevalence of CVD and diabetes in the pre- and post-ACA periods.

Use of consumer wearable devices to promote physical activity among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors: a review of health intervention studies.

PURPOSE: A growing amount of research has successfully incorporated Fitbit devices and other wearable activity trackers into technology-oriented lifestyle interventions to increase physical activity among cancer survivors. METHODS: The present review of this literature is based upon bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL and relevant search terms. Articles published in English from January 1, 2009, through October 16, 2019, were considered. RESULTS: A total of 1726 article citations were identified in PubMed and non-duplicates in CINAHL. After screening the abstracts or full texts of these articles and reviewing the references of previous review articles, we found 13 studies that met the eligibility criteria. Of these, 8 were randomized controlled trials, one was a pre-post-test trial, and 4 were qualitative studies (focus groups, in-depth interviews). The studies focused on breast cancer (n = 8), prostate cancer (n = 2), and colorectal cancer (n = 1), and the remainder focused on more than one cancer site. CONCLUSIONS: Additional research is needed to examine the efficacy of consumer wearable devices in promoting physical activity and weight management among cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Cancer survivors show an increase in physical activity when using consumer wearable activity trackers. Increased physical activity plays an important role in alleviating many adverse effects of breast cancer therapy as well as improving morbidity and mortality. Additional research such as clinical trials focused on the development of successful interventions utilizing these devices is warranted.

A review of home-based physical activity interventions for breast cancer survivors.

As breast cancer relative survival continues to increase, many breast cancer patients face many issues, including recurrence of cancer and cancer-related side effects that impact several aspects of their quality of life. With breast cancer patients living longer, there is more of a concern for negative breast cancer outcomes. Although physical activity is an affordable and relatively convenient way to improve breast cancer outcomes, only about one-third of breast cancer survivors engage in the recommended level of physical activity. This article reviews articles published to date to examine whether home-based physical activity interventions are effective in improving physical activity and other outcomes among breast cancer survivors who have completed primary therapy for the disease. The present review is based upon bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL and relevant search terms. Articles published in English from 1980 through February 28, 2019 were identified. A total of 360 article citations were identified in PubMed and non-duplicates in CINAHL. After screening the abstracts or full texts of these articles and reviewing the references of previous review articles, 20 studies that met the eligibility criteria. Three of the studies were pre-/post-test trials and 17 were randomized controlled trials. home-based exercise programs are effective in improving physical activity among breast cancer survivors who have completed primary therapy for the disease. Home-based exercise programs such as walking programs offer a convenient and affordable option for women who wish to increase their physical activity and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Home-based physical activity interventions for breast cancer patients receiving primary therapy: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer in women in the US, so it is important to provide these women with good therapies. However, there are adverse effects to these therapies. Physical activity plays an important role in alleviating these adverse effects of breast cancer therapy. However, the effectiveness of home-based physical activity interventions such as walking programs has not been detailed by prior reviews. METHODS: This article reviews articles published to date to examine whether home-based physical activity interventions are effective in improving physical activity and other outcomes among breast cancer patients who are undergoing primary therapy for the disease. The present review is based upon bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL and relevant search terms. Articles published in English from 1980 through February 28, 2019 were identified. A total of 360 article citations were identified in PubMed and non-duplicates in CINAHL. RESULTS: After screening the abstracts or full texts of these articles and reviewing the references of previous review articles, we found 15 studies that met the eligibility criteria. Four of the studies were pre/post-test trials, 10 were randomized controlled trials, and one study was an observational study. CONCLUSION: Results from studies published to date indicate that among women receiving primary breast cancer therapy, home-based physical activity programs have positive effects on physical functioning and symptoms such as fatigue. Among women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy, home-based physical activity programs are effective in reducing symptoms and improving physical functioning. Additional studies are needed to clarify the impact of home-based physical therapy interventions on other outcomes including quality-of-life, bone mineral density, cognitive functioning, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Do Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Plans Improve Health Outcomes?

Although they have been widely studied, important questions remain about the impact of breast cancer survivorship care plans on improving health outcomes. The goal of this article was to review published studies on the impact of cancer survivorship care plans on health outcomes and health care delivery among breast cancer survivors. A total of 111 article citations were identified in PubMed and non-duplicates in CINAHL. After screening the abstracts or full texts of these articles and reviewing the references of previous review articles, 7 studies met the eligibility criteria. All of the studies had a randomized controlled design. Early trials of the efficacy of breast cancer survivorship care plans generally showed little or no improvement in health outcomes. The positive findings of recent studies suggest that survivorship care interventions that empower and activate patients to self-manage their follow-up care and improve patient-provider communication may be especially promising.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems or E-cigarettes: American College of Preventive Medicine's Practice Statement.

INTRODUCTION: E-cigarettes or or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have rapidly gained popularity in the U.S. Controversy exists about the safety and efficacy of ENDS. The American College of Preventive Medicine's Prevention Practice Committee undertook a consensus-based evidence review process to develop a practice statement for the American College of Preventive Medicine. METHODS: A rapid review of the literature was performed through June 2017 to identify efficacy, patient-oriented harms, and the impact on population health. RESULTS: On an individual level, limited evidence suggests that ENDS may be effective at reducing cigarette use among adult smokers intending to quit. There is insufficient evidence addressing potential long-term harms of ENDS, and limited evidence is available about short-term harms of ENDS and the impact of secondhand exposure. Although ENDS appear safer than combustible cigarettes, they are not without risk. Among youth there is no known benefit and significant concern for harm. On a population level, there may be significant harms associated with ENDS, particularly among youth nonsmokers. The long-term balance of potential benefits versus harms from the individual and population perspectives are unclear. CONCLUSIONS: The American College of Preventive Medicine developed practice recommendations that include encouraging screening for ENDS use, strategies to prevent the initiation of ENDS use in nonsmokers, particularly in youth, adoption of a harm reduction model for smokers intending to quit in those who refuse or fail to quit with evidence-based smoking-cessation methods, recommendations on policy and regulatory strategies to decrease public use of ENDS and regulation of their components, and future research needs.

A review of cancer outcomes among persons dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.

The fragmentation and lack of coordination of health care may result in less efficient and more costly care and lead to poorer outcomes. There has been increasing interest in examining cancer outcomes among persons who are dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. Previous studies have identified disparities in the quality of cancer treatment according to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and source of health insurance. This article, which is based upon bibliographic searches in PubMed, reviews the literature on dual enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid and cancer survival and quality of cancer treatment. A total of 65 articles were identified. Of the 65 articles that were screened using the full texts or abstracts, 13 studies met the eligibility criteria, one cross-sectional study and 12 cohort studies. The results of this systematic review indicate that there is only limited evidence that dual enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid is associated with poorer survival or quality of cancer care. The number of studies that have looked for associations between dual Medicare-Medicaid status and survival and quality of cancer treatment is still small. Outcomes and cancer site(s) varied among the studies. Additional studies are needed to determine the replicability of findings reported to date. Of particular interest are studies of major forms of cancer (breast, prostate, lung, colorectal) that include adequate numbers of patients described by insurance status, race, comorbidity, stage, receipt of appropriate cancer therapy, and survival.

Patterns of Internet-based health information seeking in adult survivors of childhood cancer.

BACKGROUND: To assess where, when, and why survivors of childhood cancer seek health information. PROCEDURE: Data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) cohort (n = 1386) and Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 2385) were analyzed to determine the health information seeking strategies of childhood cancer survivors. Descriptive frequencies, χ2 analyses, t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: To seek health-related information for themselves, 54% (n = 742) of the childhood survivors reported using the Internet in the past 12 months, compared to 45% of the general population (adjusted OR: 2.76; 95% CI: 2.40-3.19). Childhood cancer survivors who used the Internet for health information were more likely to be female, between the ages of 18-34, have received some college education or be a college graduate, and report being in poor health. Although survivors were less likely than the general population to trust health information from the Internet (P < 0.01), they indicated that they would like a secure website that uses information from their medical records to provide individualized health-related information. CONCLUSION: The use of the Internet to access health information among the childhood cancer survivors was over 50%. Information on late effects was a high priority for most survivors, as was their interest in websites related to late effects and a website on patient information tailored to personal situations. Identification of factors associated with searching the Internet for cancer information may provide direction for development of effective cancer communication interventions for this at-risk population.