Intervention during wait time: identification and referral of individuals non-adherent for colorectal cancer screening.

Background: Despite unanimous recommendations from numerous specialty societies on regular colorectal cancer screening, a substantial proportion of eligible adults are non-adherent with screening. The current study investigated whether research associates (RAs) in the emergency department (ED) can adequately assess patients' adherence with colorectal cancer screening recommendations, outlined by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and provide referrals to individuals who are found to be non-adherent. Methods: RAs at seven heterogeneous hospitals in the USA queried non-emergent adult patients and visitors between the ages of 50 and 75. After obtaining verbal consent, the participant's adherence with USPSTF guidelines for colorectal cancer screening was assessed. Participants found due for screening were provided with referrals to obtain these recommended screenings. Results: A total of 8258 participants were surveyed on their colorectal cancer screening status, with RAs identifying 2063 participants who were not adherent with USPSTF guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and 67 for whom adherence could not be determined (total 27%). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that RAs can identify a large volume of eligible adults who would benefit from colorectal cancer screening across a variety of emergency department settings.

Identifying Cancer Screening Adherence in the Emergency Department Utilizing Research Associates.

BACKGROUND: Despite the demonstrated benefits of regular screening, a large proportion of the adult female population are out of compliance with recommendations from specialty societies regarding breast and cervical cancer. OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated whether research associates (RAs) in the emergency department (ED) can usefully assess patients' recent compliance with breast and cervical cancer screening (BCCS) recommendations and provide information regarding how patients may access any recommended screening when it is overdue. METHODS: RAs at 5 heterogeneous hospitals in the United States approached willing nonemergent female patients and visitors between the ages of 21 and 74 years. After obtaining verbal consent, the participant's compliance with U.S. Preventive Service Task Force recommendations for BCCS was assessed. Participants found overdue for screening were provided information on how to obtain these recommended screenings. RESULTS: A total of 5419 participants were between 50 and 74 years old and would be recommended to have breast cancer screening, and 11,667 participants were between 21 and 65 years old and would be recommended to have cervical cancer screening. Among women of age for either of these screenings, 3169 reported that they did not have a women's primary health care provider (i.e., doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who manages women's primary health care issues). A total of 786 women (15% of women 50-74 years old) were found to be out of compliance with breast cancer screening guidelines and 1208 women (12% of women 21 to 65 years with intact uteruses) were found to be out of compliance with cervical cancer screening guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that RAs can identify large numbers of women who should undergo BCCS screening across a variety of emergency department settings.

An Emergency Department Pilot Study to Save Money for Patients through use of Retail Pharmacy Generic Drug Discount Programs.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the number of emergency department patients with selected chronic medical conditions having medicine on a generic drug discount program list (GDDP), and to see if providing information about GDDPs would lead to cost savings. METHODS: A survey was given to consenting patients with at least one of 16 chronic medical conditions. Participants were offered education, which provided information about the three pharmacies closest to the participant. Participants were called after 30 days after to assess GDDP use and money saved. RESULTS: Nearly all (96%) of the 116 participants had at least one medicine on a GDDP list; 80% were unaware of GDDPs. Of the 45 participants enrolled in the intervention component, 37 patients were reached for 30-day follow-up. Of those reached, 26 (70%) reported switching to a GDDP and saving money. CONCLUSION: Discussing GDDPs with patients in the ED may produce cost-savings.

Association of Oral Health Literacy and Dental Visitation in an Inner-City Emergency Department Population.

To examine the association between oral health literacy (OHL) with sociodemographic variables and dental visitation in adults presenting to an urban emergency department (ED). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 556 adults aged 18⁻90. Interview data from the study were used to collect self-reported sociodemographic characteristics and dental visitation history. The OHL of the study participants was measured using the Health Literacy in Dentistry scale (HeLD-14), and the score was dichotomized into low and high OHL. Bivariate associations between sociodemographic variables and OHL were conducted using chi-square tests, and logistic regression was used to examine the association between OHL and dental visitation within the past year. Results: Sixty percent of participants reported having visited a dentist within the past year. Over two-thirds of the sample was classified as having low OHL. Low OHL was more common in non-White races, less-educated, single, unemployed, and lower-income individuals, and those without a primary care physician or dental insurance (p < 0.05). Patients with low oral health literacy were 39% less likely to have visited the dentist in the past year (OR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.38, 0.96). Conclusions: This study highlights significant disparities in OHL. Interventions targeted toward the unique needs of underserved populations should be developed to improve health outcomes.

The General Public's Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Resource Management, Collaboration, and Community Assistance Centers During Disasters.

BACKGROUND: The key to resilience after disasters is the provision of coordinated care and resource distribution to the affected community. Past research indicates that the general public lacks an understanding regarding agencies' roles and responsibilities during disaster response.Study ObjectivesThis study's purpose was to explore the general public's beliefs regarding agencies or organizations' responsibilities related to resource management during disasters. In addition, the public's attitudes towards the management and use of community disaster assistance centers were explored. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with members of the general public. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to analyze the data and identify themes that describe the public's expectations of disaster response agencies and the use of community disaster assistance centers. RESULTS: A total of 28 interviews were conducted. Half of the participants (n=14) were black, 57% (n=16) were female, and the mean age was 49 years. The general public has developed trust and distrust toward response organizations and governmental agencies based on past experiences during disasters. The public wishes to have local agencies to help lead disaster response, but expects a collaboration between all response organizations, including the government. The managing agency overseeing community disaster assistance centers was not perceived as important, but the proximity of these centers to community members was considered critical. CONCLUSIONS: The general public prefers that local agencies and leaders manage disaster response, and they expect collaboration among response agencies. Community assistance centers need to be located close to those in need, and be managed by agencies trusted by the general public. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:446-449).

The Impact of Teach-Back Method on Retention of Key Domains of Emergency Department Discharge Instructions.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that patient understanding and recall of their emergency department (ED) discharge instructions is limited. The teach-back method involves patients repeating back what they understand, in their own words, so that discharge providers can confirm comprehension and correct misunderstandings. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if the teach-back method would increase retention of post ED discharge instructions. METHODS: A before-and-after study design (pre and post teach-back method) was used at an academic Midwestern institution. After discharge, patients were asked a set of standardized questions regarding their discharge instructions via telephone interview. Answers were compared with the participant's discharge instructions in the electronic medical record. A composite score measuring mean percent recall correct was calculated in four categories: diagnosis, medication reconciliation, follow-up instructions, and return precautions. Data were collected for 1 week prior to and 1 week post intervention. One additional week between the pre- and postintervention phases included training and practice behavior adoption. The primary outcome was mean percent recall correct between the two groups assessed by a Mann-Whitney U test, and adjusted for confounders with an analysis of covariance model. RESULTS: The mean percent recall correct in the teach-back phase was 79.4%, or 15 percentage points higher than the preintervention group. After adjusting for age and education, the adjusted model showed a recall rate of 70.0% pre vs. 82.1% (p < 0.005) post intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The teach-back method had a positive association on retention of discharge instructions in the ED regardless of age and education.

Public Expectations of Hospitals to Provide Resources and Services to the Uninjured During Disasters: A Qualitative Study.

Hospitals are perceived as stable sources of support and assistance for the community during disasters. Expectations may outstrip hospital plans or ability to provide for the public. The purpose of this project was to explore racial disparities found in prior research and general perceptions related to the public's expectations of hospitals during disasters. Qualitative interviews were conducted with members of the general public. Content analysis was used to analyze the data and identify themes that describe racial differences related to public expectations of hospitals. A total of 28 interviews were conducted. Half of the participants (n = 14) were black, 57% (n = 16) female, with a mean age of 49 years. No racial differences in terms of the general public's expectations of hospitals were identified. Participants believed that hospitals have a service role and responsibility during disaster response to provide both tangible and intangible supplies and resources to the uninjured public. Hospitals were perceived as able to provide these resources, in terms of having sufficient funds and supplies to share with the uninjured public. In addition, hospitals are perceived as being caring organizations that have compassion toward the public and thus as welcoming places to seek assistance following a disaster. Hospitals need to be prepared to manage the general public's expectations both before and during disasters.

Racial differences in opiate administration for pain relief at an academic emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: The decision to treat pain in the emergency department (ED) is a complex, idiosyncratic process. Prior studies have shown that EDs undertreat pain. Several studies demonstrate an association between analgesia administration and race. This is the first Midwest single institution study to address the question of race and analgesia, in addition to examining the effects of both patient and physician characteristics on race-based disparities in analgesia administration. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of patients presenting to an urban academic ED with an isolated diagnosis of back pain, migraine, or long bone fracture (LBF) from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011. Demographic and medication administration information was collected from patient charts by trained data collectors blinded to the hypothesis of the study. The primary outcome was the proportion of African-Americans who received analgesia and opiates, as compared to Caucasians, using Pearson's chi-squared test. We developed a multiple logistic regression model to identify which physician and patient characteristics correlated with increased opiate administration. RESULTS: Of the 2,461 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 57% were African-American and 30% Caucasian (n=2136). There was no statistically significant racial difference in the administration of any analgesia (back pain: 86% vs. 86%, p=0.81; migraine: 83% vs. 73%, p=0.09; LBF: 94% vs. 90%, p=0.17), or in opiate administration for migraine or LBF. African-Americans who presented with back pain were less likely to receive an opiate than Caucasians (50% vs. 72%, p<0.001). Secondary outcomes showed that higher acuity, older age, physician training in emergency medicine, and male physicians were positively associated with opiate administration. Neither race nor gender patient-physician congruency correlated with opiate administration. CONCLUSION: No race-based disparity in overall analgesia administration was noted for all three conditions: LBF, migraine, and back pain at this institution. A race-based disparity in the likelihood of receiving opiate analgesia for back pain was observed in this ED. The etiology of this is likely multifactorial, but understanding physician and patient characteristics of institutions may help to decrease the disparity by raising awareness of practice patterns and can provide the basis for quality improvement projects.

Oligoanalgesia in blunt geriatric trauma.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that older age can influence perception, assessment, and treatment of acute pain, resulting in inadequate pain control for geriatric patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if geriatric trauma patients are less likely to receive analgesia in our emergency department (ED). METHODS: This retrospective chart review includes blunt trauma adult patients who presented to a Level I trauma center ED between June 1 and December 31, 2012. Age was categorized as ≥65 years old and 18-64 years old. χ(2) was used to analyze differences in patients receiving pain medication by age groups. Analysis excluded those with no or low pain. A logistic regression model estimated the odds ratio of analgesic use controlling for age, pain level, sex, race, alcohol, drugs, Glasgow Coma Scale, ED length of stay, and Injury Severity Score. T-test compared differences in analgesia administration time. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixty-three blunt trauma patients were included in the analysis. Seventy percent of those ≥65 years received analgesia, compared with 84% of those 18-64 years old (p < 0.01). The mean time to analgesia administration was 92 min (≥65 years) compared to 61 min (18-64 years) (p = 0.03). Those ≥65 years were 69% less likely (odds ratio = 0.31; 95% confidence interval 0.16-0.59) to receive analgesia compared to patients aged 18-64 years, after controlling for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma patients ≥ 65 years of age are less likely to receive analgesia than the younger cohort in our ED and waited longer to get it.

Promoting tobacco cessation utilizing pre-health professional students as research associates in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the extent to which volunteer research associates (RAs) can be utilized to screen emergency department patients and their visitors for tobacco use and effectively refer tobacco users requesting help to state Tobacco Quitlines. METHODS: A sample of 19,149 individuals in 10 emergency departments around the country was enrolled into a prospective, interventional study on tobacco cessation by pre-health professional RAs. Participants who screened positive for tobacco use were provided a brief description of Tobacco Quitline programs and then offered a faxed referral to their respective state Quitline. RESULTS: A total of 10,303 (54%) participants reported tobacco use for more than one month during their lives, with 3861 (20%) currently using every day and an additional 1340 using on some days (7%). Most importantly, 2151 participants requested a faxed Tobacco Quitline referral (36% of individuals who used tobacco in the past month). DISCUSSION: Pre-health professional RAs were shown to be an effective and cost-efficient resource for providing a strongly recommended service in the emergency department. Patient care (and the care of their visitors) was supplemented, emergency department personnel were not provided with additional burden, and RAs were provided with valuable experience for their futures in the health professions.

Gender-specific research on mental illness in the emergency department: current knowledge and future directions.

Mental illness is a growing, and largely unaddressed, problem for the population and for emergency department (ED) patients in particular. Extensive literature outlines sex and gender differences in mental illness' epidemiology and risk and protective factors. Few studies, however, examined sex and gender differences in screening, diagnosis, and management of mental illness in the ED setting. Our consensus group used the nominal group technique to outline major gaps in knowledge and research priorities for these areas, including the influence of violence and other risk factors on the course of mental illness for ED patients. Our consensus group urges the pursuit of this research in general and conscious use of a gender lens when conducting, analyzing, and authoring future ED-based investigations of mental illness.

Knowledge of alcohol impairment in boaters in southern Illinois.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is the leading contributor to boating deaths. Earlier literature estimates that 30-40% of people drink alcohol while boating. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to directly approach boaters at the dock to assess the prevalence of alcohol consumption while boating, as well as their knowledge of alcohol impairment. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of boaters aged 21 years and older at Illinois lakes and rivers during July 2011. Participants completed a survey of alcohol use and impaired boating knowledge consisting of six multiple-choice questions. A χ(2) analysis was used to assess knowledge differences by demographic variables. RESULTS: Two hundred and ten people participated. Less than one fourth of participants correctly answered 4 of the 5 knowledge questions. Eighty-four percent correctly reported the watercraft blood alcohol legal limit. Eighty-one percent erroneously believed that it was more dangerous for the driver to be intoxicated than the passenger. There were no differences in knowledge by sex, education, boat ownership, or driver status. Seventy-six percent admitted to drinking alcohol while boating. Younger participants (aged 21 to 40 years) were significantly more likely to report drinking while boating compared with older participants (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of participants imbibe while boating and with only a rudimentary understanding of the dangers. Designated drivers (for boating) campaigns might falsely imply imbibing-passenger safety. Public health officials should readdress the dangers of passenger drinking, especially with the younger age group, to help decrease alcohol-related morbidity and mortality.

Racial differences in beliefs of physician prescribing practices for low-cost pharmacy options.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that certain populations are sensitive to high out-of-pocket drug costs, and drug noncompliance leads to poorer health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to measure patient awareness of discount pharmacy options, cost barriers to medication access, and beliefs about health care provider's use of low-cost medications. METHODS: This cross-sectional 17-item survey was administered to patients in the emergency department of an urban trauma center in February 2011. Differences in responses by sex and race groups were assessed. A logistic regression model was created to estimate the association of sociodemographic factors and medication use with awareness of discount pharmacy options. RESULTS: Five hundred and fifty-two surveys were analyzed. Among respondents who were prescribed medications within the past year, three fourths of patients felt comfortable asking physicians for cheaper medicines. Slightly more than half were aware of low-cost pharmacy options, and 78% of these respondents correctly listed at least one of these pharmacies. Caucasian patients were more comfortable than African American patients asking for cheaper medicines (82.5% vs. 72.2%; p < 0.05) and were more aware of low-cost prescription programs (63.9% vs. 43.5%; p < 0.001). When adjusted for insurance status and current medication use, Caucasian patients were 2.7 times more likely to name a valid discount pharmacy option compared to African Americans (95% confidence interval 1.85-4.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests populations may be more uncomfortable initiating a discussion about medication costs and selection of lower-cost alternatives. Health care providers may need to develop communication strategies in which medication cost is addressed with sensitivity and consistency.

Public perceptions of hospital responsibilities to those presenting without medical injury or illness during a disaster.

BACKGROUND: During natural and manmade disasters, the hospital is perceived as a central rallying and care site for the public, for both those with and without emergency medical needs. The expectations of the public may outstrip hospital plans and abilities to provide nonmedical assistance. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the public expectations of the hospital during disasters regarding resource provision. METHODS: A survey was distributed to adult patients or family members at three emergency departments (EDs). Respondents were asked to evaluate hospital responsibility to provide nine resources to those without emergency medical needs, including vaccination, medication refill or replacement, food and water, grief/stress counseling, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) access assistance, short/long-term shelter, family reunification, and hospital. Additionally, respondents answered questions regarding prior disaster experience and demographics. RESULTS: There were 961 respondents (66.9% were female, 47.5% were white, and 44.6% were black). Respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the hospital should provide the following services: event-specific vaccination (84%), medication refill/replacement (76.5%), food and water (61%), grief or stress counseling (53%), FEMA access assistance (52%), short-term shelter (51%), family reunification (50%), long-term shelter (38%), and hospital transportation (29%). Those 36-45 years of age were less likely to expect services (p < 0.05) and non-whites and those with a family member with a medical condition requiring electricity were more likely to expect services (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). There were no differences based on frequency of ED use, sex, income, or prior disaster experience. CONCLUSION: There is a high public expectation that hospitals will provide significant nonmedical disaster relief. Understanding these expectations is essential to appropriate community disaster planning.