Factors Associated with Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services in a Medicaid Managed Care Pediatric Population.

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services is a Medicaid benefit for children that addresses their health problems before they become advanced, debilitating, and expensive. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of pediatric beneficiaries (newborn to younger than 21 years) enrolled in a Medicaid managed care organization to examine the factors associated with EPSDT screening services completion. We obtained 2018 administrative claims data for beneficiaries continuously enrolled for a minimum of 90 days (n=156,108). Completion of EPSDT screening services among our Medicaid managed care beneficiaries was low. Those having more emergency department visits and hospitalizations, having family medicine practitioners as primary care physicians, belonging to the racial/ethnic group Asian/Pacific Islander/Hawaiian/Alaskan Native/Native American, and 18 to younger than 21 years age group were less likely than others to complete EPSDT services. Our results provide information on segments of pediatric beneficiaries that can be targeted to increase EPSDT screening services completion.

Preventative diabetes self-care management practices among individuals with diabetes and mental health stress.

BACKGROUND: The study purpose examines diabetes self-care management practices among individuals diagnosed with diabetes with and without mental health stress. METHODS: Pooled cross-sectional data (2011-2016) from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (HC-MEPS) were used. The sample consisted of individuals ages 25-85 years (n = 13,193; weighted n = 23,559,975). Dependent variables were engagement in moderate/vigorous physical exercise five times weekly, receiving dilated eye exams, foot checks, treating diabetes with diet modification or insulin injections, and eating fewer high fat/cholesterol foods. The independent variable was diabetes with and without mental health stress. The study controlled for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. RESULTS: Compared with individuals with diabetes without mental health stress, findings indicate individuals with diabetes and low or mild/moderate mental health stress were more likely to treat diabetes with diet modification and to restrict high fat/cholesterol food. Individuals with diabetes and severe mental health stress were more likely to restrict high fat/cholesterol. Additionally, individuals with mild/moderate to severe mental health stress were less likely to engage in diabetes care behavior. LIMITATIONS: Mental health stress is represented as a non-specific psychological distress index summary during the past 30 days and may not be an actual representation of overall distress in a person's life. There were no variables distinguishing diabetes type or severity. The study uses self-reported data and is cross-sectional. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health stress may contribute to individuals not engaging in self-management practices. It would be beneficial to incorporate psychosocial services for individuals with diabetes and mental health stress.

Diabetes Self-Management Among Individuals With Diabetes and Physical Disabilities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine diabetes self-management behavior among individuals who have diabetes living with and without physical limitations. METHODS: Pooled cross-sectional data (2011-2016) from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used. Dependent variables were utilization of dilated eye exams, foot checks, at least 1 dental checkup annually, treating diabetes with oral medication, treating diabetes with insulin injections, and engagement in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week. The independent variable was diabetes with physical limitations compared with diabetes without physical limitations. The study controlled for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. RESULTS: Findings indicate that individuals with diabetes and physical limitations were less likely to engage in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week, have at least 1 annual dental checkup, and treat their diabetes orally with medication. CONCLUSIONS: Self-management behavior was poor among individuals with diabetes and physical limitations. Environmental barriers may partially contribute to reasons why individuals with diabetes and physical limitations do not engage in diabetes self-management behaviors that would assist them in mitigating diabetes complications. Other reasons could be the lack of equipment accessibility or adaptability and cultural competence among providers treating/caring for individuals with physical limitations.

Development of a culturally sensitive narrative intervention to promote genetic counseling among African American women at risk for hereditary breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: African American women with hereditary breast cancer risk are less likely to undergo genetic counseling and testing compared with non-Hispanic White women. Inequities in the use of precision cancer care are likely to exacerbate racial disparities in cancer outcomes. A culturally sensitive multimedia narrative intervention was developed to motivate African American women at risk for hereditary breast cancer to engage in genetic counseling. METHODS: Development of the intervention was grounded in the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction using a phenomenological, deductive approach and employed multiple qualitative methods for data collection, including 1-on-1 interviews and story circles with members of the target audience to identify salient themes and lived experiences. Focus group testing was then conducted with members of the group of focus, primary care providers, and community stakeholders. RESULTS: Six themes that mapped to the theoretical model were identified. Lived experiences were abstracted from story circle data to create a narrative storyline. Educational content and motivational messaging derived from the 6 themes were embedded into the script. Focus group testing with stakeholder groups was used to refine the intervention. Testing of the final multimedia narrative with focus groups indicated that the intervention was culturally sensitive and authentic, and the messaging was effective. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple qualitative data collection methods and a robust theoretical framework of health behavior were key elements for this study to develop a culturally sensitive, narrative intervention that reflects lived experiences and motivates underserved African American women with hereditary breast cancer risk to engage in genetic counseling. This strategy can be applied to mitigate racial inequities in the use of other genomic approaches for personalizing cancer care.

Diabetes Standard of Care Among Individuals Who Have Diabetes With and Without Cognitive Limitation Disabilities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine diabetes standard of care among individuals who have diabetes with and without cognitive limitation disabilities (CLDs). Individuals with CLDs are more likely to develop diabetes and less likely to participate in diabetes standard of care services compared to those without CLDs. METHODS: We used pooled cross-sectional data (2011-2016) from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (HC-MEPS). Dependent variables were utilization of dilated eye exams, foot checks, A1C blood tests, and engagement in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week. Our independent variable was diabetes with CLDs vs diabetes without CLDs. We controlled for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. RESULTS: Findings suggest that individuals with diabetes and CLDs were less likely to engage in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week compared to individuals without CLDs. For other diabetes care services, individuals with CLDs are as likely to participate in health services utilization as those without CLDs. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports research that indicates individuals with diabetes and CLDs were less likely to participate in physical exercise compared to individuals without CLDs. Conversely, individuals with diabetes and CLDs were just as likely to receive a dilated eye exam, have their feet checked, and have their A1C checked as individuals without CLDs, which is a very encouraging finding.

Experiences With Stress Among African American Men Living With Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Inquiry.

Self-managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) is critical but often presents a challenge among African American men. Stress may exacerbate both mental and physical problems, which can lead to poor self-management; however, the evidence is sparse. The purpose of this manuscript is to examine the relationship the role of stress in type 2 diabetes management among a prospective group of African American men living in the southern United States. Nineteen African American men with T2D were recruited from barbershops and churches. Interviews were conducted using a semi structured interview guide. Transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological approach and focused on identifying common themes describing the responses regarding any stress that the participants have pertaining to living with and managing T2D. The themes that emerged from the participant responses are: (a) experiencing less stress, (b) stress not attributed from diabetes, (c) avoid thinking about stress, and (d) some stress is prevalent. Overall, participants expressed either that diabetes was not attributing to the stress that they have or that they have less stress than they did prior to being diagnosed with T2D. In this sample of African American men, stress became a factor for some participants when considering the complications that can occur from diabetes. These findings suggest the need for key considerations to only incorporate general information about diabetes and stress management, but should be gender and culturally relevant to African American men.

Review of Community-Engaged Research in Pediatric Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Community-engaged research (CER), which is characterized by collaborations between researchers and community partners, is a promising approach to bridge the gaps in translating research evidence into care settings and to address health disparities. This review describes CER in investigations focused on pediatric diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies were focused on African American, Hispanic, and Native American youth. Most studies aimed to develop and evaluate preventive interventions for type 2 diabetes. Across studies, the community partners and organizations that collaborated with researchers were diverse (e.g., youth, schools). In most studies, community partners participated in developing behavioral, psychosocial, or public health interventions, and/or participant recruitment. Fewer studies reported intensive involvement in other aspects of the research (e.g., grant writing, publication). The findings suggested that CER is a feasible approach for engaging community partners in the development of interventions and participant recruitment in studies focused on diabetes among minority youth.

Trends and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination.

Even though pneumococcal vaccination recommendations have been in existence since 1983, vaccination rates are low in the United States. This study analyzed 5-year trends in pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination uptake across racial/ethnic groups of individuals aged ≥65 years and high-risk individuals aged 19-64 years. Further, it examined factors that may explain the association between race/ethnicity and vaccination uptake. The 2011-2015 annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data were used to determine trends. The Behavioral Model of Health Care Utilization was used to identify covariates in the model. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify the association between race/ethnicity and vaccination uptake from 2015 BRFSS. Overall, from 2011 to 2015, vaccination uptake increased moderately from 69% to 71% among those aged ≥65 years, and from 21% to 24% for high-risk individuals aged 19-64 years. Among those aged ≥65 years (n = 99,403), African Americans (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.21-1.52) and Hispanics (AOR: 2.13, 95%CI: 1.85-2.46) were more likely to be vaccinated than Whites. Among the younger population (n = 177,976), African Americans (AOR: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.79-0.92) and Asians (AOR: 0.73, 95%CI: 0.63-0.84) were less likely to be vaccinated than Whites. Over the 5 years there were no significant increases in vaccination uptake. The rates are far below the Healthy People 2020 goals. Reverse disparities were observed in the older group. In younger group, minorities were less likely to get vaccinated. As gaps still exist, this study implies tailored interventions based on race/ethnicity to promote vaccination uptake among both groups.

Discovering Perspectives on Health and Well-Being from Parents and Teachers of Preschool- Aged Children.

BACKGROUND: This study explores the concept of health and well-being as perceived by teachers and parents of preschool-aged children in the specific context of a child day care facility. The study also identifies the barriers parents and teachers encounter and the supports they require in promoting the health and well-being of preschool-aged children. METHOD: A qualitative phenomenological research design combined with a projective technique of Photovoice was used for data collection. A total of eight participants, four teachers and four parents of preschool-aged children from a child day care facility, participated in the study. RESULTS: Several themes were identified related to barriers that parents and teachers face and the supports they require in promoting the health and well-being of preschool-aged children. CONCLUSIONS: This study discusses a potential role for occupational therapy practitioners in collaborating with administrators and teachers and parents of preschool-aged children to develop a program to promote the health and well-being of preschool-aged children.

Society of behavioral medicine supports increasing HPV vaccination uptake: an urgent opportunity for cancer prevention.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage remains low in the USA. The Society for Behavioral Medicine (SBM) supports the goals outlined by Healthy People 2020, the President's Cancer Panel, and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee to increase vaccination coverage among both males and females. SBM makes the following recommendations in support of efforts to reduce structural and other barriers to HPV vaccination services in order to increase rates of series completion. We encourage legislators and other policymakers to improve administration authority, insurance coverage, and reimbursement rates to healthcare providers who make the HPV vaccine available to adolescents; provide instrumental support to fund the development of school curricula on HPV vaccination; and increase public awareness that HPV vaccination can prevent cancer. We urge healthcare providers and healthcare systems to increase the strength, quality, and consistency of HPV vaccination recommendations for all eligible patients; to treat HPV vaccination as a routine preventive service; employ culturally appropriate communication strategies in clinical settings to educate eligible patients, parents, and guardians about the importance, effectiveness, and safety of HPV vaccination; and to strengthen and better coordinate the use of electronic medical records and immunization information systems.

Individuals With Disabilities Who Have Diabetes: Do We Have Targeted Interventions?

According to 2010 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. It is assumed that various diabetes interventions are available to help individuals manage this chronic disease, but that is not the case. The literature is scant regarding interventions focused on people with disabilities who have diabetes. The purpose of this article is to review interventions specifically focused on people with disabilities who have diabetes and to discuss the effect of these interventions on this population.