Embedding Dental Hygienists into Medical Care Teams: Implementation and evaluation of a medical-dental integration approach in Colorado.

This case report describes the implementation approach and evaluation of a medical-dental integration (MDI) project in Colorado that embedded dental hygienists (DHs) into 10 medical practice settings. Through the MDI Learning Collaborative, DHs were integrated into primary care medical care practices to provide full-scope dental hygiene care to patients. Dental hygienists were trained to collect quality-improvement metrics on all encounters, including untreated tooth decay, and referred patients with restorative needs to partnering dentists. Cross-sectional, aggregated clinic-level oral health metrics were submitted monthly from 2019-2022. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population receiving MDI care and interviews were conducted with MDI staff to describe their perspectives on this approach to comprehensive care. A logistic regression model, adjusted for time and practice, compared untreated dental caries in established vs new MDI patient-visits. From 2019-2021, integrated DHs completed 13,458 visits to low-income patients, Medicaid (70%, n=9,421), uninsured (24%, n=3,230), SCHIP (3%, n=404), private (3%, n=404), of various ages: 0-5 (29%, n=3,838), 6-18 (17%, n=2,266), 18-64 (51%, n=6,825), >65 (4%, n=529). A total of 912 visits were provided to pregnant patients. Services included caries risk assessment (n=9,329), fluoride varnish (n=6,722), dental sealants (n=1,391), silver diamine fluoride (n=382), x-rays (n=5,465) and scaling/root-planing (n=2,882). Improvement was found in untreated decay of established vs. new patient-visits in four of the practices. Dental hygienists integrated into medical teams provided full-scope dental hygiene care to patients and expanded access to dental services. Medical-dental integration (MDI) care was variably associated with reduction in untreated decay. Integrating dental hygienists into primary care medical practices has potential to improve oral health-related outcomes, however access to restorative dental care remains a challenge.

Paid Family Caregiving for Children With Medical Complexity.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated Colorado's paid family caregiver certified nursing assistant (CNA) program by assessing stakeholders' perceptions of the model's strengths and potential areas for improvement. METHODS: A professional bilingual research assistant conducted key informant interviews of English- and Spanish-speaking certified nursing assistant (CNA) family caregivers (FCs), primary care providers, and pediatric home health administrators of children with medical complexity in the family caregiver CNA program. Interview questions focused on the program's benefits, drawbacks, and implications for the child and caregiver's quality of life. Transcripts were coded and analyzed, and themes summarizing program benefits and disadvantages were identified. RESULTS: Semistructured interviews were completed by phone with 25 FCs, 10 home health administrators, and 10 primary care providers between September 2020 and June 2021. Overall, the program was highly valued and uniformly recommended for prospective families. Perceived benefits included: (1) fulfilling the desire to be a good parent, (2) providing stable and high-quality home health care, (3) benefitting the child's health and wellbeing, and (4) enhancing family financial stability. Perceived drawbacks included: (1) FCs experiencing mental and physical health burdens, (2) difficult access for some community members, (3) extraneous training requirements, and (4) low program visibility. CONCLUSIONS: Given the perceived benefits of the family CNA program, the model may be considered for future dissemination to other communities. However, additional research and program improvements are needed to help make this a more equitable and sustainable home health care model for children with medical complexity.

An artificially intelligent, natural language processing chatbot designed to promote COVID-19 vaccination: A proof-of-concept pilot study.

Objective: Our goal is to establish the feasibility of using an artificially intelligent chatbot in diverse healthcare settings to promote COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: We designed an artificially intelligent chatbot deployed via short message services and web-based platforms. Guided by communication theories, we developed persuasive messages to respond to users' COVID-19-related questions and encourage vaccination. We implemented the system in healthcare settings in the U.S. between April 2021 and March 2022 and logged the number of users, topics discussed, and information on system accuracy in matching responses to user intents. We regularly reviewed queries and reclassified responses to better match responses to query intents as COVID-19 events evolved. Results: A total of 2479 users engaged with the system, exchanging 3994 COVID-19 relevant messages. The most popular queries to the system were about boosters and where to get a vaccine. The system's accuracy rate in matching responses to user queries ranged from 54% to 91.1%. Accuracy lagged when new information related to COVID emerged, such as that related to the Delta variant. Accuracy increased when we added new content to the system. Conclusions: It is feasible and potentially valuable to create chatbot systems using AI to facilitate access to current, accurate, complete, and persuasive information on infectious diseases. Such a system can be adapted to use with patients and populations needing detailed information and motivation to act in support of their health.

Engage, Develop, Learn: a pilot randomized clinical trial to test if a mobile application can enhance home support for early cognitive development among children living in poverty.

Background: Mobile applications (apps) exist to promote early child development; however, few studies have examined use of these apps among low-income families. Our objectives were to measure engagement with the Engage, Develop, Learn (EDL) app and determine if it promoted engagement and behavior change among low-income caregivers. Methods: We conducted a pilot study among English and Spanish-speaking, low-income families with children ages 12 to 15 months who received either the EDL app or injury prevention text messages. Baseline data were collected and interventions delivered over two home visits. App engagement was measured using messages opened. Caregiver development-promoting behaviors were measured with STIMQ score changes from baseline to follow-up at child age 2 years. We conducted key informant interviews among families randomized to receive the EDL app to identify barriers and facilitators to app use. Results: A total of 100 caregivers were recruited at their children's preventive care visit with 50 randomized to receive the EDL app and 50 to receive the injury prevention text messages; however, only 25 in the development app and 34 in the injury prevention group completed both home visits. Follow-up data were collected from 14 in the development app group and 30 in the injury prevention group. Over 10 weeks, 24% (6/25) remained engaged with the development app. STIMQ scores did not differ between groups. Barriers included technical difficulties accessing the app, social stressors, and 'forgetting' to use it. Conclusions: Our pilot randomized trial of a child development app suggests that it may not be effective for promoting behavior change among low-income caregivers due to low engagement. Trial Registration: This pilot trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT02717390).

Factors Enhancing Trust in Electronic Communication Among Patients from an Internal Medicine Clinic: Qualitative Results of the RECEPT Study.

BACKGROUND: Electronic health records are now the norm in US healthcare. Bidirectional patient portals allow frequent communication between patients and their healthcare team. Many studies have examined the importance of patient engagement and trust between patients and their healthcare team, typically in the context of face-to-face interactions. Little is known about how patient trust and engagement are built or enhanced through electronic communications. COVID-19 provided a unique time in history for this novel exploration. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to learn how patients experience trust formation through electronic communication (patient messaging and video visits) with their healthcare team. DESIGN: Our research was guided by grounded theory methodology. Qualitative interviews were conducted between February and December 2020 with patients or their caregivers from an internal medicine clinic in Colorado. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-one participants were recruited by age group and gender to represent the clinic's adult ambulatory care demographics. Seven were patients' caregivers who were purposefully recruited. Average age was 53 with an educated, middle class, and largely white predominance in our eventual sample. APPROACH: Thirty-minute semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide informed by a validated physician-patient trust scale. Interviews were conducted by telephone, recorded via Zoom, and transcribed. Results were analyzed and coded in ATLAS.ti utilizing the constant comparative method, with two coders. KEY RESULTS: Patients experienced enhanced trust in their healthcare team through electronic communications. Interpersonal and system factors contributed to trust formation. Promptness of reply was the most salient factor in trust formation with a majority desiring same day response. CONCLUSIONS: Patients now rely on electronic communication with their healthcare team. Opportunities exist to leverage this to improve health outcomes. Important research in expanded demographic groups, along with ambulatory healthcare redesign, will be necessary to optimize benefits of electronic communication with patients and meet patient expectations.

Nudge me: tailoring text messages for prescription adherence through N-of-1 interviews.

Almost 50% of patients with cardiovascular diseases face challenges in taking medications and increased morbidity and mortality. Text messaging may impact medication refill behavior and can be delivered at scale to patients by texting mobile phones. To obtain feedback from persons with chronic conditions on the design of interactive text messages and determine language of message for making messages that can motivate patients to refill medications on time. We purposively sampled 35 English and Spanish speaking patients with at least one chronic condition from three large healthcare delivery systems to participate in N-of-1 video-based synchronous interviews. Research assistants shared ideas for theory-informed text messages with content intended to persuade patients to refill their medication. We transcribed recorded interviews and conducted a content analysis to identify strategies to employ generating a dynamic interactive text message library intended to increase medication refill. Those interviewed were of diverse age and race/ethnicity and typical of persons with multiple chronic conditions. Several participants emphasized that personally tailored and positively framed messages would be more persuasive than generic and/or negative messages. Some patients appreciated humor and messages that could evoke a sense of social support from their providers and rejected the use of emojis. Messages to remind patients to refill medications may facilitate improvements in adherence, which in turn can improve chronic care. Designing messages that are persuasive and can prompt action is feasible and should be considered given the ease with which such messages can be delivered automatically at scale.

Patient Perspectives on a Text Messaging Program to Support Asthma Management: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction. This study investigated participants' acceptance of a short messaging service (SMS) intervention designed to support asthma management, including suggestions regarding program delivery and message content. Methods. Individual and group interviews were conducted with patients from a safety-net health care system in Denver, Colorado. Eligible participants were English or Spanish speakers between the ages of 13 and 40 years, with diagnosed persistent asthma. All individual and group interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, translated from Spanish to English (where applicable), and analyzed for thematic content by experienced analysts using established qualitative content techniques. The qualitative software package ATLAS.ti was used for data analysis and management. Results. This study included a total of 43 participants. In general, participants were receptive toward the SMS program and supported the use of tailored and interactive messages. Adolescents supported the idea of enhancing care by sending messages to a support person, such as a parent or guardian. However, adults were less receptive toward this idea. Participants also preferred directive educational messages and cues to action, while general messages reminding them of their asthma diagnosis were viewed less favorably. Implications. The results from this study will inform a randomized control trial evaluating the efficacy of the SMS intervention.

Does a text-messaging program to promote early childhood development reach the highest risk families?

BACKGROUND: Bright by Three (BB3), a non-profit organization that promotes caregiver behaviors to support language development in young children was augmented with a text-messaging program, Bright by Text (BBT), in 2015. While some evidence suggests that text-messaging can promote early development, it is unknown if these interventions are reaching children at increased sociodemographic risk for developmental delay. The purpose of this study is to compare socio-demographic characteristics of caregivers who did and did not enroll in BBT. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of caregivers who received BB3 written materials and were eligible to sign up for BBT in 2016. Outcomes: (I) provision of a mobile phone number; (II) enrollment in BBT (receipt of 3+ messages). Predictors: education, marital status, race/ethnicity, insurance, language, and urban vs. rural residence. A multivariable generalized linear model was used to determine characteristics of caregivers more likely to sign up for BBT. RESULTS: A total of 18,145 caregivers received BB3 written materials; 10,843 (60%) provided a mobile phone number and 2,314 (21%) enrolled in BBT. The relative risk (RR) of enrollment was higher for caregivers who were non-minority (RR 1.15, 95% CI, 1.04-1.28), had higher education (1.60, 1.35-1.89), had private insurance (1.15, 1.15-1.28) and lived in urban areas (1.21, 1.06-1.37). Non-English speaking caregivers were less likely to enroll (0.73, 0.59-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers with lower incomes and education, minorities and non-English speakers were less likely to enroll in BBT. Future research could identify ways to increase engagement among these populations and determine if BBT is effective in changing parent behavior and improving children's development.

Use of rapid needs assessment as a tool to identify vaccination delays in Guatemala and Peru.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of rapid needs assessment (RNA) surveys to determine the prevalence and factors contributing to delays in vaccination of children in two low middle-income countries (LMIC). METHODS: Data from two RNA surveys performed as part of program improvement evaluations in Guatemala and Peru were used for this analysis. The primary endpoint was the timeliness of immunization with delay defined as administration of vaccines beyond 28 days from recommended age for DTwP-HepB-Hib (Penta) and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines, as well as past age-restrictions for rotavirus vaccine. Independent risk factors analyzed included child's gender, birth year, number of children in household, maternal age, maternal education, and food insecurity. RESULTS: Vaccine information was available from 811 children from 838 households surveyed. High rate of immunization delays was observed, with 75.6% of children in Guatemala and 57.8% of children in Peru being delayed for the third dose of Penta primary series. Factors associated with delayed vaccination in Guatemala included advanced maternal age and increased number of children in household. In Peru, significant associations were birth year before 2009, lower maternal education level, and increased number of children in household. CONCLUSIONS: RNA is a fast and effective method to identify timely vaccine coverage and derive a hypothesis of factors possibly associated with vaccination delay.