An atlas of human vector-borne microbe interactions reveals pathogenicity mechanisms.

Vector-borne diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide and pose a substantial unmet medical need. Pathogens binding to host extracellular proteins (the "exoproteome") represents a crucial interface in the etiology of vector-borne disease. Here, we used bacterial selection to elucidate host-microbe interactions in high throughput (BASEHIT)-a technique enabling interrogation of microbial interactions with 3,324 human exoproteins-to profile the interactomes of 82 human-pathogen samples, including 30 strains of arthropod-borne pathogens and 8 strains of related non-vector-borne pathogens. The resulting atlas revealed 1,303 putative interactions, including hundreds of pairings with potential roles in pathogenesis, including cell invasion, tissue colonization, immune evasion, and host sensing. Subsequent functional investigations uncovered that Lyme disease spirochetes recognize epidermal growth factor as an environmental cue of transcriptional regulation and that conserved interactions between intracellular pathogens and thioredoxins facilitate cell invasion. In summary, this interactome atlas provides molecular-level insights into microbial pathogenesis and reveals potential host-directed targets for next-generation therapeutics.

Development of an Implementation Science Telehealth Toolkit to Promote Research Capacity in Evaluation of Telehealth Programs.

Background: The field of telehealth is rapidly growing and expanding access to quality health care, although there have been varied implementation outcomes in telehealth modalities. Dissemination and implementation (D&I) research can provide a systematic approach to identifying barriers and facilitators to telehealth implementation processes and outcomes. Methods: An interdisciplinary research and clinical team developed an implementation science telehealth toolkit to guide D&I evaluations of new and existing telehealth innovations. Results: The toolkit includes a separate section to correspond to each step in the D&I evaluation process. Each section includes resources to guide evaluation steps, telehealth specific considerations, and case study examples based on three completed telehealth evaluations. Discussion: The field of telehealth is forecasted to continue to expand, with potential to increase health care access to populations in need. This toolkit can help guide health care stakeholders to develop and carry out evaluations to improve understanding of telehealth processes and outcomes to maximize implementation and sustainability of these valuable innovations.

Implementation of a women's reproductive behavioral health telemedicine program: a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators in obstetric and pediatric clinics.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders and Substance Use Disorders are common and result in significant morbidities and mortality. Despite evidence-based treatment availability, multiple barriers exist to care delivery. Because telemedicine offers opportunities to overcome these barriers, the objective of this study was to characterize barriers and facilitators to implementing a mental health and substance use disorder telemedicine program in community obstetric and pediatric clinics. METHODS: Interviews and site surveys were completed with practices engaged in a Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health Telemedicine program (N = 6 sites; 18 participants) at the Medical University of South Carolina and telemedicine providers involved in care delivery (N = 4). Using a structured interview guide based on implementation science principles, we assessed program implementation experiences and perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation. A template analysis approach was used to analyze qualitative data within and across groups. RESULTS: The primary program facilitator was service demand driven by the lack of available maternal mental health and substance use disorder services. Strong commitment to the importance of addressing these health concerns provided a foundation for successful program implementation yet practical challenges such as staffing, space, and technology support were notable barriers. Services were supported by establishing good teamwork within the clinic and with the telemedicine team. CONCLUSION: Capitalizing on clinics' commitment to care for women's needs and a high demand for mental health and substance use disorder services while also addressing resource and technology needs will facilitate telemedicine program success. Study results may have implications for potential marketing, onboarding and monitoring implementation strategies to support clinics engaging in telemedicine programs.

A Programmatic Evaluation of School Preparedness for Latinx Children and Families: A Partnership Program.

Introduction: Latinx children are the fastest-growing ethnic minority of children under the age of 5 years in a tri-county area in the Southeastern United States (US Census, 2018). There are limited culturally and linguistically appropriate school preparedness initiatives in this geographic region. Methods: A cultural and linguistic appropriate program was developed in coordination with the state's largest Latinx advocacy organization and two patient-centered pediatric medical homes (PCPMHs) after securing extramural grant funding for an evidenced-based home visitation program using skilled community health workers (CHWs) aimed at Latinx children at the age of 0-5 years and their caregivers. The program includes developmental screenings using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ®-3), CHW role modeling of developmentally appropriate play, early literacy, connection to resources, oral health, nutrition, and physical activity. Results: Of the 103 unique children represented in this programmatic evaluation that received an initial and follow-up ASQ®-3 developmental screening, paired t-tests indicate statistically significant improvement in mean scores from the first to second ASQ®-3 in all five major developmental domains with the largest gains represented in the communication and fine motor skill domains. Conclusion: This evaluation suggests that low-frequency home visits from skilled CHWs can have a beneficial effect on development in early childhood. PPCMHs can serve as a hub for these community-based programs.

Treatment of chlamydia and gonorrhea infections during the COVID-19 pandemic using provisional Centers for Disease Control guidance.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges in controlling the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), forcing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to temporarily modify recommendations. As rapid COVID-19 testing emerged, supplies for similar testing platforms, specifically Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, became compromised. LOCAL PROBLEM: The local community was identified as having the highest rate of chlamydia infections in North Carolina. Concerns regarding disease transmission within the community were amplified as the project site began experiencing a critical shortage of chlamydia and gonorrhea testing kits. METHODS: This quality improvement (QI) project, conducted in an emergency department, located in an underserved area with high STD infection rates, offered a prioritized approach to STD testing and treatment during a critical time with limited testing capabilities. INTERVENTIONS: Program analysis evaluated the management of 227 patients preintervention and 218 patients postintervention with confirmed or suspected infection, using a testing and treatment algorithm to identify and treat those most likely to be infected while preserving testing supplies for those at higher risk for complications from infections. RESULTS: Test utilization decreased by 25% (p-value = .003 via t-test), whereas a significant improvement in empiric treatment, increasing from 59% (133/227) to 73% (158/218), was also observed (p-value = .002 via chi-square analysis). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that a testing and treatment algorithm for providers can successfully guide testing and treatment decisions, reducing onward transmission and preserving supplies for those more likely to experience complications from chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.

Acute Care Reimagined: Home Hospital Care Can Support the Triple Aim and Reduce Health Disparities.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Home hospital care (HHC) is a new and exciting concept that holds the promise of achieving all three components of the Triple Aim and reducing health disparities. As an innovative care delivery model, HHC substitutes traditional inpatient hospital care with hospital care at home for older patients with certain conditions. Studies have shown evidence of reduced cost of care, improved patient satisfaction, and enhanced quality and safety of care for patients treated through this model. The steady growth in Medicare Advantage enrollment and the expansion in 2020 of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospitals Without Walls program to include acute hospital care at home creates an opportunity for hospitals to implement such programs and be financially rewarded for reducing costs. Capacity constraints exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that now is the ideal time for healthcare leaders to test and advance the concept of HHC in their communities.

Nurse Perspectives Regarding Implementation of an Asthma Monitoring Mobile Health Application in the School Setting.

Background: School-based telehealth (SBTH) plays a valuable role in child asthma management, although nurses have concerns with caregiver engagement. Mobile technology (m-health) has potential to improve this engagement. Objective: We identified barriers and key desired features of an asthma m-health application as a supplement to an existing SBTH asthma program in rural settings. Methods: Multimethod design using school nurse surveys and interviews with school and SBTH personnel to describe processes related to implementation of an m-health application. Results: Nurses reported SBTH programs were an ideal setting to identify potential families for m-health. Benefits of caregiver education and engagement and barriers related to technology, smart phone data availability, and family buy-in were described. Desired application features included education on inhaler technique, asthma symptom, and medication adherence reports. Conclusions: The feedback identified from nurses can be incorporated into an asthma m-health program within an SBTH program to facilitate implementation.

Facilitators and Barriers to Implementation of School-Based Telehealth Asthma Care: Program Champion Perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood, conferring an immense burden on children and their caregivers. School-based telehealth approaches for asthma care provide the opportunity to deliver convenient, cost-effective care to more children in the school setting. Our study objective was to characterize school-based telehealth asthma program delivery experiences and examine barriers and facilitators to telehealth program implementation. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with telehealth program staff and school stakeholders in nine schools engaged in a school-based telehealth asthma program. A structured interview guide was designed using the Exploration, Adoption/Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework. A template analysis qualitative approach was used to identify themes related to implementation processes. RESULTS: Interviews identified key telehealth implementation strategies including building relationships, marketing and provision of technical assistance, education and support to aid program delivery. Key facilitators to successful program implementation included strong partnerships between the telehealth and school teams, a shared commitment to enhancing access to asthma care for children, and strong nurse leadership. Primary barriers to implementation included lack of family/caregiver involvement and competing demands for nurses. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified barriers and facilitators to implementing a school-based telehealth asthma program that can be used to guide education, training and support strategies to enhance program delivery. Recommended implementation strategies include building strong program-school partnerships, creating a shared vision to improve access to care, and building engagement in families and communities while supporting nurse leaders and family involvement with training and resources. These results can help guide future telehealth interventions.

Determinants of Evidence-based Practice Uptake in Rural Intensive Care Units. A Mixed Methods Study.

Rationale: Evidence-based practices promote quality care for intensive care unit patients but chronic evidence-to-practice gaps limit their reach.Objectives: To characterize key determinants of evidence-based practice uptake in the rural intensive care setting.Methods: A parallel convergent mixed methods design was used with six hospitals receiving a quality improvement intervention. Guided by implementation science principles, we identified barriers and facilitators to uptake using clinician surveys (N = 90), key informant interviews (N = 14), and an implementation tracking log. Uptake was defined as completion of eight practice change steps within 12 months. After completing qualitative and quantitative data analyses for each hospital, site, staff, and program delivery factors were summarized within and across hospitals to identify patterns by uptake status.Results: At the site level, although structural characteristics (hospital size, intensivist staffing) did not vary by uptake status, interviews highlighted variability in staffing patterns and culture that differed by uptake status. At the clinician team level, readiness and self-efficacy were consistently high across sites at baseline with time and financial resources endorsed as primary barriers. However, interviews highlighted that as initiatives progressed, differences across sites in attitudes and ownership of change were key uptake influences. At the program delivery level, mixed methods data highlighted program engagement and leadership variability by uptake status. Higher uptake sites had better training attendance; more program activities completed; and a stable, engaged, collaborative nurse and physician champion team.Conclusions: Results provide an understanding of the multiple dynamic influences on different patterns of evidence-based practice uptake and the importance of implementation support strategies to accelerate uptake in the intensive care setting.

Disparities in Bariatric Surgery Utilization in Underserved Diabetes Populations.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery is cost-effective for treating obesity and diabetes. There are higher rates of obesity and diabetes in medically-underserved populations, yet it is unclear if disparities in bariatric surgery utilization exist in this population. METHODS: Bariatric surgery rates were calculated for underserved populations with obesity and diabetes using secondary data sets of four states in the diabetes belt (Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina), a region in the southeast United States with higher rates of diabetes and obesity. Surgery rates were compared across states and demographic groups. RESULTS: Males, Blacks, and patients in rural areas had lower rates of bariatric surgery compared to females, Whites, and patients in urban areas. Payer rates were mixed across states. Surprisingly, minorities in Florida had higher surgery rates. DISCUSSION: Disparities exist in bariatric surgery rates in underserved populations with obesity and diabetes. It is vital to improve surgery access to this population to promote health equity.

Inter-ICU transfer of patients with ventilator dependent respiratory failure: Qualitative analysis of family and physician perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: Ventilator dependent respiratory failure (VDRF) patients are seriously ill and often transferred between ICUs. Our objective was to obtain multi-stakeholder insights into the experiences of families during inter-ICU transfer. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with family members of VDRF patients as well as clinicians that have received or transferred VDRF patients to our hospital. Interviews were transcribed and template analysis was used to identify themes within/across stakeholder groups. RESULTS: Patient, family, clinician and systems-level factors were identified as key themes during inter-ICU transfer. The main findings highlight that family members were rarely engaged in the decision to transfer as well as a lack of standardized communication between clinicians during care transitions. Family members were reassured with the care after transfer in spite of practical and financial challenges. Clinicians acknowledged the lack of a systematic approach for meeting the needs of families and suggested various resources. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first qualitative studies to gather a multi-stakeholder perspective and identify problems faced by families during inter-ICU transfer of VDRF patients. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our results provide a starting point for the development of family-centered support interventions which will need to be tested in future studies.

Implementation of an Academic-to-Community Hospital Intensive Care Unit Quality Improvement Program. Qualitative Analysis of Multilevel Facilitators and Barriers.

Rationale: Implementation of evidence-based best practices is influenced by a variety of contextual factors. It is vital to characterize such factors to maintain high-quality care. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are critically ill and require complex, interdisciplinary, evidence-based care to enable high-quality outcomes. Objectives: To identify facilitators and barriers to implementation of an academic-to-community hospital ICU interprofessional quality improvement program, "ICU Innovations." Methods: ICU Innovations is a multimodal quality improvement program implemented between 2014 and 2017 in six community ICUs in rural settings serving underserved patients in South Carolina. ICU Innovations includes quarterly on-site seminars and extensive behind the scenes facilitation to catalyze the implementation of evidence-based best practices. We use qualitative analysis to identify contextual factors related to program implementation processes. Guided by an implementation science framework, the Exploration, Adoption/Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment framework, we conducted semistructured key informant interviews with clinician champions at six community ICUs and six parallel interviews with ICU Innovations' leadership. We developed a qualitative coding template based on the framework and identified contextual factors associated with implementation. Standard data on hospital and ICU structure and processes of care were also collected. Results: Outer and inner factors interconnected dynamically to influence implementation of ICU Innovations. Collaborative engagement between the program developers and partner sites (outer context factor) and site program champion leadership and staff readiness for change (inner context factors) were key influences of implementation. Conclusions: This research focused on rural hospital ICUs with limited or nonexistent intensivist leadership. Although enthusiasm for the ICU Innovations program was initially high, implementation was challenging because of multiple contextual factors. Critical steps for implementation of evidence-based practice in rural hospitals include optimizing engagement with external collaborators, maximizing the role of a committed site champion, and conducting thorough site assessments to ensure staff and organizational readiness for change. Identifying barriers and facilitators to program implementation is an on-going process to tailor and improve program initiatives.

The effects of breastfeeding versus formula-feeding on cerebral cortex maturation in infant rhesus macaques.

Breastfeeding is positively associated with several outcomes reflecting early brain development and cognitive functioning. Brain neuroimaging studies have shown that exclusively breastfed children have increased white matter and subcortical gray matter volume compared to formula-fed children. However, it is difficult to disentangle the effects of nutrition in breast milk from other confounding factors that affect brain development, particularly in studies of human subjects. Among the nutrients provided by human breast milk are the carotenoid lutein and the natural form of tocopherol, both of which are selectively deposited in brain. Lutein is the predominant carotenoid in breast milk but not in most infant formulas, whereas infant formulas are supplemented with the synthetic form of tocopherol. In this study, a non-human primate model was used to investigate the effects of breastfeeding versus formula-feeding, as well as lutein and natural RRR-α-tocopherol supplementation of infant formula, on brain maturation under controlled experimental conditions. Infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were exclusively breastfed, or were fed infant formulas with different levels and sources of lutein and α-tocopherol. Of note, the breastfed group were mother-reared whereas the formula-fed infants were nursery-reared. Brain structural and diffusion MR images were collected, and brain T2 was measured, at two, four and six months of age. The mother-reared breastfed group was observed to differ from the formula-fed groups by possessing higher diffusion fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corpus callosum, and lower FA in the cerebral cortex at four and six months of age. Cortical regions exhibiting the largest differences include primary motor, premotor, lateral prefrontal, and inferior temporal cortices. No differences were found between the formula groups. Although this study did not identify a nutritional component of breast milk that could be provided to infant formula to facilitate brain maturation consistent with that observed in breastfed animals, our findings indicate that breastfeeding promoted maturation of the corpus callosum and cerebral cortical gray matter in the absence of several confounding factors that affect studies in human infants. However, differences in rearing experience remain as a potential contributor to brain structural differences between breastfed and formula fed infants.

Lutein Is Differentially Deposited across Brain Regions following Formula or Breast Feeding of Infant Rhesus Macaques.

Background: Lutein, a yellow xanthophyll, selectively accumulates in primate retina and brain. Lutein may play a critical role in neural and retinal development, but few studies have investigated the impact of dietary source on its bioaccumulation in infants. Objective: We explored the bioaccumulation of lutein in infant rhesus macaques following breastfeeding or formula-feeding. Methods: From birth to 6 mo of age, male and female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were either breastfed (BF) (n = 8), fed a formula supplemented with lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-carotene, and lycopene (237, 19.0, 74.2, and 338 nmol/kg, supplemented formula-fed; SF) (n = 8), or fed a formula with low amounts of these carotenoids (38.6, 2.3, 21.5, and 0 nmol/kg, unsupplemented formula-fed; UF) (n = 7). The concentrations of carotenoids in serum and tissues were analyzed by HPLC. Results: At 6 mo of age, the BF group exhibited significantly higher lutein concentrations in serum, all brain regions, macular and peripheral retina, adipose tissue, liver, and other tissues compared to both formula-fed groups (P < 0.001). Lutein concentrations were higher in the SF group than in the UF group in serum and all tissues, with the exception of macular retina. Lutein was differentially distributed across brain areas, with the highest concentrations in the occipital cortex, regardless of the diet. Zeaxanthin was present in all brain regions but only in the BF infants; it was present in both retinal regions in all groups but was significantly enhanced in BF infants compared to either formula group (P < 0.001). ß-Carotene accumulated across brain regions in all groups, but was not detected in retina. Although lycopene was found in many tissues of the SF group, it was not detected in the brain or retina. Conclusions: Although carotenoid supplementation of infant formula significantly increased serum and tissue lutein concentrations compared to unsupplemented formula, concentrations were still well below those in BF infants. Regardless of diet, occipital cortex showed selectively higher lutein deposition than other brain regions, suggesting lutein's role in visual processing in early life.

Hospitalization in low-level trauma centres after severe traumatic brain injury: review of a population-based emergency department data base.

OBJECTIVE: To achieve the best possible recovery, individuals with severe TBI should be treated at Level I/II trauma centres (I/II TC). Increased morbidity and mortality can result when injured patients are admitted to facilities that may not have the appropriate resources or expertise to treat the injury. The purpose of this study was to estimate the proportion of severe TBI visits resulting in hospitalization in lower-level trauma centres (OTH) and evaluate the characteristics associated with such hospitalizations. METHODS: The 2012 National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data set was analysed. Weighted descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to describe the association of hospitalization in OTH with demographic, clinical and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Of visits for severe TBI, 112 208 were admitted to I/II TC and 43 294 admitted to OTH. The adjusted odds of hospitalization in OTH were higher for isolated TBI, falls, women, in those with ≥3 chronic conditions and increasing age. CONCLUSIONS: An estimated 19.5% of visits for severe TBI resulted in hospitalization in OTH. These findings show the need to further evaluate the relationship between sex, age and mechanism of injury to inform efforts to appropriately triage individuals with TBI to ensure the best possible recovery.

Identification and Management of Obese Patients in a Pediatric Orthopaedic Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a complex healthcare problem that affects all aspects of a child's health. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Expert Committee recommends that all children be evaluated for current medical conditions including the risk for obesity by identifying elevated body mass index (BMI), physical activity habits, and diet. Childhood obesity is defined as a BMI of 95th percentile or greater on standardized age-based growth charts. Abdominal and visceral fat mass has a negative effect on bone formation during childhood and adolescence. Effective interventions are aimed at prevention and treatment and include collection and assessment of obesity, eating habits, physical activity, and family history. At a local outpatient pediatric orthopaedic practice, few patients had a diagnosis of childhood obesity and weight management varied by providers. PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve identification of obese children and increase referrals to a weight management program. METHODS: Setting: A hospital-affiliated pediatric orthopaedic clinic staffed with 3 orthopaedic surgeons and 2 nurse practitioners. POPULATION: 6- to 18-year-olds with a BMI of greater than 95th percentile (N = 239). DATA COLLECTION: Electronic medical record chart review for documented obesity and referral to weight management program: Intervention: Provider educational in-service reviewing management guidelines and referral process. RESULTS: Average percentages of documented obesity diagnosis increased from 11% to 53%. The number of referrals to Heart Healthy weight management program increased by 400%. CONCLUSION: An educational-based intervention in a pediatric orthopaedic clinic was effective in increasing the number of patients with a diagnosis of obesity and referred to a weight management program.

Effect of Carotenoid Supplemented Formula on Carotenoid Bioaccumulation in Tissues of Infant Rhesus Macaques: A Pilot Study Focused on Lutein.

Lutein is the predominant carotenoid in the developing primate brain and retina, and may have important functional roles. However, its bioaccumulation pattern during early development is not understood. In this pilot study, we investigated whether carotenoid supplementation of infant formula enhanced lutein tissue deposition in infant rhesus macaques. Monkeys were initially breastfed; from 1 to 3 months of age they were fed either a formula supplemented with lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-carotene and lycopene, or a control formula with low levels of these carotenoids, for 4 months (n = 2/group). All samples were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Final serum lutein in the supplemented group was 5 times higher than in the unsupplemented group. All brain regions examined showed a selective increase in lutein deposition in the supplemented infants. Lutein differentially accumulated across brain regions, with highest amounts in occipital cortex in both groups. ß-carotene accumulated, but zeaxanthin and lycopene were undetectable in any brain region. Supplemented infants had higher lutein concentrations in peripheral retina but not in macular retina. Among adipose sites, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue exhibited the highest lutein level and was 3-fold higher in the supplemented infants. The supplemented formula enhanced carotenoid deposition in several other tissues. In rhesus infants, increased intake of carotenoids from formula enhanced their deposition in serum and numerous tissues and selectively increased lutein in multiple brain regions.

Bariatric surgery implementation trends in the USA from 2002 to 2012.

BACKGROUND: Many beneficial health care interventions are either not put into practice or fail to diffuse over time due to complex contextual factors that affect implementation and diffusion. Bariatric surgery is an example of an effective intervention that recently experienced a plateau and decrease in rates, with minimal documented justification for this trend. While there are conceptual models that provide frameworks of general innovation implementation and diffusion, few studies have tested these models with data to measure the relative effects of factors that affect diffusion of specific health care interventions. METHODS: A literature review identified factors associated with implementation and diffusion of health care innovations. These factors were utilized to construct a conceptual model of diffusion to explain changes in bariatric surgery over time. Six data sources were used to construct measures of the study population and factors in the model that may affect diffusion of surgery. The population included obese and morbidly obese patients from 2002 to 2012 who had bariatric surgery in 15 states. Multivariable models were used to identify environmental, population, and medical practice factors that facilitated or impeded diffusion of bariatric surgery over time. RESULTS: It was found that while bariatric surgery rates increased over time, the speed of growth in surgeries, or diffusion, slowed. Higher cumulative number of surgeries and higher proportion of the state population in age group 50-59 slowed surgery growth, but presence of Medicare centers of excellence increased the speed of surgery diffusion. Over time, the factors affecting the diffusion of bariatric surgery fluctuated, indicating that diffusion is affected by temporal and cumulative effects. CONCLUSIONS: The primary driver of diffusion of bariatric surgery was the extent of centers of excellence presence in a state. Higher cumulative surgery rates and higher proportions of older populations in a state slowed diffusion. Surprisingly, measures of the presence of champions were not significant, perhaps because these are difficult to measure in the aggregate. Our results generally support the conceptual model of diffusion developed from the literature, which may be useful for examining other innovations, as well as for designing interventions to support rapid diffusion of innovations to improve health outcomes and quality of care.

Trends in bariatric surgery, 2002-2012: do changes parallel the obesity trend?

BACKGROUND: It is well documented that bariatric surgery is an effective weight loss intervention, and bariatric procedure rates have increased over time. However, there was a period of plateau in procedure rates in the mid to late 2000s. Recent literature has not identified current trends in procedure rates or associations between bariatric surgery and population factors, such as obesity and diabetes. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine trends in statewide rates of bariatric operations, obesity, and diabetes over an 11-year period and to determine if population factors are associated with procedure rates. SETTING: Data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Database (SID) were utilized to identify a study sample population of patients who underwent bariatric procedures from 2002-2012. METHODS: State level population characteristics were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and Census Bureau Data for the 11-year period. Statistical analyses determined rates of surgery, obesity, and diabetes over time, as well as associations between surgery rates and population factors. RESULTS: From 2002-2012, bariatric procedure rates increased, with an exponential rise in laparoscopic surgical methods. Procedure rates reached a peak value in 2009 and then plateaued. Statewide obesity and diabetes rates increased over time, although there was no association between these population factors and procedure rates. Women had consistently higher rates of bariatric operations. CONCLUSION: Although bariatric procedures are an evidenced-based effective treatment for obesity, procedure rates were not associated with the increasing obesity and diabetes rates in the United States. Further research is needed to identify factors that affect the adoption and diffusion of bariatric operations to increase diffusion of beneficial innovations and improve overall quality of care and health outcomes.

Discharge disposition after bariatric surgery.

Weight loss continues for extended time post-bariatric surgery; thus, discharge destination is an important factor to consider when examining outcomes of surgery. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality State Inpatient Database was utilized to identify patients with bariatric surgery and to determine factors associated with and predictive of home discharge. Patients that were discharged home had shorter length of stays, lower total hospital costs, fewer chronic conditions, and lower readmission rates. Factors predictive of discharge were identified. Being discharged home could be associated with characteristics vital to patient's long-term weight loss. It is imperative to focus on factors predictive of home discharge in order to reap the most beneficial outcomes of surgery.