Obesity paradox of cardiovascular mortality in older adults in the United States: A cohort study using 1997-2018 National Health Interview Survey data linked with the National Death Index.

BACKGROUND: Large-scale, population-based investigations primarily investigating the association between body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among older and younger adults in the United States (U.S.) are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between BMI and CVD mortality in older (≥65 years) and younger (<65 years) adults and to identify the nadir for CVD mortality. DESIGN: This cohort study used serial cross-sectional data from the 1997 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) linked with the National Death Index. NHIS is an annual nationally representative household interview survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. SETTING: Residential units of the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the U.S. PARTICIPANTS: The target population for the NHIS is the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population at the time of the interview. We included all adults who had BMI data collected at 18 years and older and with mortality data being available. To minimize the risk of reverse causality, we excluded adults whose survival time was ≤2 years of follow-up after their initial BMI was recorded and those with prevalent cancer and/or CVD at baseline. METHODS: We used the BMI record obtained in the year of the NHIS survey. Total CVD mortality used the NHIS data linked to the latest National Death Index data from the survey inception to December 31, 2019. We performed multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The study included 425,394 adults; the mean (SD) age was 44 (16.7) years. During a median follow-up period of 11 years, 12,089 CVD-related deaths occurred. In older adults, having overweight was associated with a lower risk of CVD mortality (aHR 0.92 [95 % CI, 0.87-0.97]); having class I obesity (1.04 [0.97-1.12]) and class II obesity (1.12 [1.00-1.26]) was not significantly associated with an increased CVD mortality; and having class III obesity was associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality (1.63 [1.35-1.98]), in comparison with adults who had a normal BMI. Yet, in younger adults, having overweight, class I, II, and III obesity was associated with a progressively higher risk of CVD mortality. The nadir for CVD mortality is 28.2 kg/m2 in older adults and 23.6 kg/m2 in younger adults. CONCLUSION: This U.S. population-based cohort study highlights the significance of considering age as a crucial factor when providing recommendations and delivering self-care educational initiatives for weight loss to reduce CVD mortality.

Heterogeneity in the Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors by Ethnicity and Birthplace Among Asian Subgroups: Evidence From the 2010 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey.

BACKGROUND: Asian people in the United States have different sociodemographic and health-related characteristics that might affect cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by ethnicity and birthplace. However, they are often studied as a monolithic group in health care research. This study aimed to examine heterogeneity in CVD risk factors on the basis of birthplace among the 3 largest Asian subgroups (Chinese, Asian Indian, and Filipino) compared with US-born non-Hispanic White (NHW) adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 2010 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey data from 125 008 US-born and foreign-born Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, and US-born NHW adults. Generalized linear models with Poisson distribution were used to examine the prevalence and prevalence ratios of self-reported hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, smoking, and overweight/obesity among Asian subgroups compared with US-born NHW adults. The study included 118 979 US-born NHW and 6029 Asian adults who self-identified as Chinese (29%), Asian Indian (33%), and Filipino (38%). Participants' mean (±SD) age was 49±0.1 years, and 53% were females. In an adjusted analysis, foreign-born Asian Indians had significantly higher prevalence of diabetes, physical inactivity, and overweight/obesity; foreign-born Chinese had higher prevalence of physical inactivity, and foreign-born Filipinos had higher prevalence of all 5 CVD risk factors except smoking compared with NHW adults. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed significant heterogeneity in the prevalence of CVD risk factors among Asian subgroups by ethnicity and birthplace, stressing the necessity of disaggregating Asian subgroup data. Providers should consider this heterogeneity in CVD risk factors and establish tailored CVD prevention plans for Asian subgroups.

A Systematic Review of the Hill-Bone Compliance to Blood Pressure Therapy Scale.

Background: Poor medication adherence hampers hypertension control and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes. Medication adherence can be measured with direct and indirect methods. The Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy (HBCHBPT) Scale, one of the most popular adherence measures, indirectly assesses adherence to hypertension therapy in three behavioral domains: appointment keeping, diet and medication adherence. Aim: To synthesize evidence on the use of the HBCHBPT Scale, including psychometric properties, utility in diverse patient populations, and directions for future clinical use and research. Methods: We searched electronic databases, specifically CINAHL, PubMed, PsychInfo, Embase, and Web of Science. We included original studies that used the HBCHBPT Scale or its subscales to measure a health outcome, or methodological studies involving translations and validations of the scale. We extracted and synthesized data following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Fifty studies were included in this review, 44 on hypertension, two on diabetes, and others on other chronic conditions. The scale was successfully translated into numerous languages and used in descriptive and intervention studies. The scale demonstrated sound psychometric properties (Cronbach's α coefficient 0.75) and sensitivity to capture intervention effects when used to evaluate the effectiveness of high blood pressure adherence interventions. The medication-taking subscale of HBCHBPT performs best and is widely used in diverse contexts to assess medication adherence for chronic conditions. Conclusion: The HBCHBPT Scale has high versatility globally and has been used in various settings by various healthcare worker cadres and researchers. The scale has several strengths, including high adherence phenotyping capabilities, contributing to the paradigm shift toward personalized health care.

Shared Decision-Making and Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Shared decision-making is increasingly embraced in health care and recommended in cardiovascular guidelines. Patient involvement in health care decisions, patient-clinician communication, and models of patient-centered care are critical to improve health outcomes and to promote equity, but formal models and evaluation in cardiovascular care are nascent. Shared decision-making promotes equity by involving clinicians and patients, sharing the best available evidence, and recognizing the needs, values, and experiences of individuals and their families when faced with the task of making decisions. Broad endorsement of shared decision-making as a critical component of high-quality, value-based care has raised our awareness, although uptake in clinical practice remains suboptimal for a range of patient, clinician, and system issues. Strategies effective in promoting shared decision-making include educating clinicians on communication techniques, engaging multidisciplinary medical teams, incorporating trained decision coaches, and using tools (ie, patient decision aids) at appropriate literacy and numeracy levels to support patients in their cardiovascular decisions. This scientific statement shines a light on the limited but growing body of evidence of the impact of shared decision-making on cardiovascular outcomes and the potential of shared decision-making as a driver of health equity so that everyone has just opportunities. Multilevel solutions must align to address challenges in policies and reimbursement, system-level leadership and infrastructure, clinician training, access to decision aids, and patient engagement to fully support patients and clinicians to engage in the shared decision-making process and to drive equity and improvement in cardiovascular outcomes.

"Living like an empty gas tank with a leak": Mixed methods study on post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The burden and presentation of post-acute sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are a developing major public health concern. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the burden of PASC in community-dwelling individuals and understand the experiences of people living with PASC. METHODS: This mixed-methods study of COVID-19 positive community-dwelling persons involved surveys and in-depth interviews. Main outcome was self-report of possible PASC symptoms 3 weeks or longer after positive COVID-19 test. In-depth interviews were guided by a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions and probes based on emerging literature on PASC and the impact of COVID-19. RESULTS: With a survey response rate of 70%, 442 participants were included in this analysis, mean (SD) age 45.4 (16.2) years, 71% female, 12% Black/African American. Compared to those with no PASC symptoms, persons who reported PASC symptoms were more likely to be older (mean age: 46.5 vs. 42; p = 0.013), female (74.3% vs. 61.2%; p = 0.010), to have pre-existing conditions (49.6% vs. 34%; p = 0.005), and to have been hospitalized for COVID-19 (14.2% vs. 2.9%; p = 0.002). About 30% of the participants experienced severe fatigue; the proportion of persons reporting severe fatigue was 7-fold greater in those with PASC symptoms (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR] 6.73, 95%CI: 2.80-16.18). Persons with PASC symptoms were more likely to report poor quality of life (16% vs. 5%, p<0.001) and worse mental health functioning (Mean difference: -1.87 95%CI: -2.38, -1.37, p<0.001). Themes from in-depth interviews revealed PASC was experienced as debilitating. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prevalence of PASC among community-dwelling adults was substantial. Participants reported considerable coping difficulties, restrictions in everyday activities, invisibility of symptoms and experiences, and impediments to getting and receiving PASC care.

Digital and virtual strategies to advance community stakeholder engagement in research during COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the adversity presented by COVID-19 pandemic, it also pushed for experimenting with innovative strategies for community engagement. The Community Research Advisory Council (C-RAC) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), is an initiative to promote community engagement in research. COVID-19 rendered it impossible for C-RAC to conduct its meetings all of which have historically been in person. We describe the experience of advancing the work of the C-RAC during COVID-19 using digital and virtual strategies. Since March 2020, C-RAC transitioned from in person to virtual meetings. The needs assessment was conducted among C-RAC members, and individualized solutions provided for a successful virtual engagement. The usual working schedule was altered to respond to COVID-19 and promote community engaged research. Attendance to C-RAC meetings before and after the transition to virtual operation increased from 69% to 76% among C-RAC members from the community. In addition, the C-RAC launched new initiatives and in eighteen months since January 2020, it conducted 50 highly rated research reviews for 20 research teams. The experience of the C-RAC demonstrates that when community needs are assessed and addressed, and technical support is provided, digital strategies can lead to greater community collaborations.

Subclinical myocardial injury, coagulopathy, and inflammation in COVID-19: A meta-analysis of 41,013 hospitalized patients.

Background: Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can lead to myocardial injury, evidenced by increases in specific biomarkers and imaging. Objective: To quantify the association between biomarkers of myocardial injury, coagulation, and severe COVID-19 and death in hospitalized patients. Methods: Studies were identified through a systematic search of indexed articles in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus, published between December 2019 to August 2021. Effect estimates from individual studies for association between markers of myocardial injury (Troponin), myocardial stretch (N-terminal-pro hormone BNP, NT-proBNP), and coagulopathy (D-Dimer) and death or severe/critical COVID-19 were pooled using inverse variance weighted random-effects model. Odds Ratios (OR), Hazard Ratios (HR), and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were pooled separately and reported by outcomes of critical/severe COVID-19 and death. A meta-analysis of proportions was also performed to summarize the pooled prevalence of co-morbidities in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Results: We included 62 articles, with a total of 41,013 patients. The pooled proportion of patients with history of hypertension was 39% (95% CI: 34-44%); diabetes, 21% (95% CI: 18%-24%); coronary artery disease, 13% (95% CI: 10-16%); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 7% (95% CI: 5-8%); and history of cancer, 5% (95% CI: 4-7%). Elevated troponin was associated with higher pooled odds of critical/severe COVID-19 and death [Odds Ratio (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.42-2.16)]; and also separately for death (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.32-2.25), and critical/severe COVID-1919 (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.45-2.40). Elevations in NT-proBNP were also associated with higher severe COVID-19 and death (OR: 3.00, 95% CI: 1.58-5.70). Increases in D-dimer levels was also significantly associated with critical/severe COVID-19 and death (pooled OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07-1.79). Conclusions: This meta-analysis synthesizes existing evidence showing that myocardial injury, and coagulopathy are complications of COVID-19. The durability of these complications and their contributions to long-term cardiac implications of the disease is still being investigated. Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 may benefit from minimally invasive assessment for markers of myocardial injury, stretch and coagulopathy for early risk stratification purposes.

Massive open online course (MOOC) learning builds capacity and improves competence for patient safety among global learners: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Education about patient safety has historically been limited in health professionals curricula and largely inaccessible to the general public. We developed a massive open online course (MOOC), The Science of Safety in Healthcare, to present the foundational patient safety principles to a broad global audience of health professionals, learners, and patients interested in patient safety. OBJECTIVES: To describe the Science of Safety in Healthcare MOOC, its effects on patient safety competence, and the satisfaction of course participants. METHODS: The five-week video-based course was delivered in 2013 and 2014, and was organized in five modules: 1) overview of science of safety and safety culture, 2) enabling and contextual factors that influence patient safety and quality, 3) methods to improve safety and quality, 4) translating evidence intro practice and leading change, and 5) summary and opportunities for capacity building. Each module had three or four segments. Participants were introduced to key concepts, and tools and skills to promote patient safety. Participants completed the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey (H-PEPSS), which measures patient safety competence, and a course satisfaction survey. Pre- and post- course H-PEPSS scores were compared using paired t-tests. Course satisfaction surveys were administered at the completion of the course and six months later. RESULTS: A total of 20,957, and 9679 participants enrolled in the course in 2013 and 2014, respectively. About half of participants were 25-44 years old (57%), and female (54%). Participants joined from over 100 countries. The majority were health professionals (61%) or health professionals in training (7%). Mean H-PEPSS scores improved after course completion, with significant increases on all survey domains in both years (p < 0.01). Mean score differences were: Teamwork 0.68 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.71), Communication 0.70 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.73), Managing Risk 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.82), Human Environment 0.64 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.68), Recognizing and Responding 0.64 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.68), and Culture 0.72 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.75). About 8% of participants in each cohort earned a certificate of completion. At 6-months post-course, the majority of the participants agreed or agreed strongly that the course content was useful (93%) and that the course positively influenced their clinical practice (69%) and communication (84%). CONCLUSIONS: The MOOC course allowed educators to reach a large, diverse audience. The course was well-received and participants reported a significant increase in patient safety competence. As with most MOOCs, rates of completion were low.

Medication Adherence Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Medications are integral to the management and control of CVD; however, suboptimal adherence impacts health outcomes. This systematic review aims to critically examine interventions targeted at improving medication adherence among persons with CVD in LMICs. METHODS: In this systematic review, we searched online databases PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL for studies that evaluated a medication adherence intervention for CVD, reported adherence as an outcome measure, were conducted in LMICs and reported the strategy or tool used to measure adherence. We included articles published in English, available in full text, peer-reviewed, and published between 2010 and 2020. RESULTS: We included 45 articles in this review. The majority of the studies implemented counseling and educational interventions led by nurses, pharmacists, or community health workers. Many of the studies delivered medication-taking reminders in the form of phone calls, text messages, short message services (SMS), and in-phone calendars. Multi-component interventions were more effective than unifocal interventions. Interventions involving technology, such as mobile phone calls, electronic pillboxes, and interactive phone SMS reminders, were more effective than generic reminders. The outcomes reported in the studies varied based on the complexity and combination of strategies. When interventions were implemented at both the patient level, such as reminders, and at the provider level, such as team-based care, the effect on medication adherence was larger. CONCLUSION: In LMICs, medication adherence interventions among persons with CVD included a combination of patient education, reminders, fixed-dose combination therapy and team-based care approach were generally more effective than singular interventions. Among patients who had CVD, the medication adherence interventions were found to be moderately effective. Future studies focusing on improving medication adherence in LMICs should consider non-physician-led interventions and appropriately adapt the interventions to the local context.

Use of electronic recruitment methods in a clinical trial of adults with gout.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Electronic-based recruitment methods are increasingly utilized in clinical trials to recruit and enroll research participants. The cost-effectiveness of electronic-based methods and impact on sample generalizability is unknown. We compared recruitment yields, cost-effectiveness, and demographic characteristics across several electronic and traditional recruitment methods. METHODS: We analyzed data from the diet gout trial recruitment campaign. The diet gout trial was a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial that examined the effects of a dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH)-like diet on uric acid levels in adults with gout. We used four electronic medical record and four non-electronic medical record-based recruitment methods to identify and recruit potentially eligible participants. We calculated the response rate, screening visit completion rate, and randomization rate for each method. We also determined cost per response, the screening, and randomization for each method. Finally, we compared the demographic characteristics among individuals who completed the screening visit by recruitment method. RESULTS: Of the 294 adults who responded to the recruitment campaign, 51% were identified from electronic medical record-based methods. Patient portal messaging, an electronic medical record-based method, resulted in the highest response rate (4%), screening visit completion rate (37%), and randomization rate (21%) among these eight methods. Electronic medical record-based methods ($60) were more cost-effective per response than non-electronic medical record-based methods ($107). Electronic-based methods, including patient portal messaging and Facebook, had the highest proportion of White individuals screened (52% and 60%). Direct mail to non-active patient portal increased enrollment of traditionally under-represented groups, including both women and African Americans. CONCLUSION: An electronic medical record-based recruitment strategy that utilized the electronic medical record for participant identification and postal mailing for participant outreach was cost-effective and increased participation of under-represented groups. This hybrid strategy represents a promising approach to improve the timely execution and broad generalizability of future clinical trials.

Feasibility of patient-reported diagnostic errors following emergency department discharge: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The National Academy of Medicine identified diagnostic error as a pressing public health concern and defined failure to effectively communicate the diagnosis to patients as a diagnostic error. Leveraging Patient's Experience to improve Diagnosis (LEAPED) is a new program for measuring patient-reported diagnostic error. As a first step, we sought to assess the feasibility of using LEAPED after emergency department (ED) discharge. METHODS: We deployed LEAPED using a cohort design at three EDs within one academic health system. We enrolled 59 patients after ED discharge and queried them about their health status and understanding of the explanation for their health problems at 2-weeks, 1-month, and 3-months. We measured response rates and demographic/clinical predictors of patient uptake of LEAPED. RESULTS: Of those enrolled (n=59), 90% (n=53) responded to the 2-week post-ED discharge questionnaire (1 and 3-month ongoing). Of the six non-responders, one died and three were hospitalized at two weeks. The average age was 50 years (SD 16) and 64% were female; 53% were white and 41% were black. Over a fifth (23%) reported they were not given an explanation of their health problem on leaving the ED, and of those, a fourth (25%) did not have an understanding of what next steps to take after leaving the ED. CONCLUSIONS: Patient uptake of LEAPED was high, suggesting that patient-report may be a feasible method of evaluating the effectiveness of diagnostic communication to patients though further testing in a broader patient population is essential. Future research should determine if LEAPED yields important insights into the quality and safety of diagnostic care.

The RICH LIFE Project: A cluster randomized pragmatic trial comparing the effectiveness of health system only vs. health system Plus a collaborative/stepped care intervention to reduce hypertension disparities.

Disparities in the control of hypertension and other cardiovascular disease risk factors are well-documented in the United States, even among patients seen regularly in the healthcare system. Few existing approaches explicitly address disparities in hypertension care and control. This paper describes the RICH LIFE Project (Reducing Inequities in Care of Hypertension: Lifestyle Improvement for Everyone) design. METHODS: RICH LIFE is a two-arm, cluster-randomized trial, comparing the effectiveness of enhanced standard of care, "Standard of Care Plus" (SCP), to a multi-level intervention, "Collaborative Care/Stepped Care" (CC/SC), for improving blood pressure (BP) control and patient activation and reducing disparities in BP control among 1890 adults with uncontrolled hypertension and at least one other cardiovascular disease risk factor treated at 30 primary care practices in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Fifteen practices randomized to the SCP arm receive standardized BP measurement training; race/ethnicity-specific audit and feedback of BP control rates; and quarterly webinars in management practices, quality improvement and disparities reduction. Fifteen practices in the CC/SC arm receive the SCP interventions plus implementation of the collaborative care model with stepped-care components (community health worker referrals and virtual specialist-panel consults). The primary clinical outcome is BP control (<140/90 mm Hg) at 12 months. The primary patient-reported outcome is change from baseline in self-reported patient activation at 12 months. DISCUSSION: This study will provide knowledge about the feasibility of leveraging existing resources in routine primary care and potential benefits of adding supportive community-facing roles to improve hypertension care and reduce disparities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.govNCT02674464.

Heart failure self-care, factors influencing self-care and the relationship with health-related quality of life: A cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: Self-care helps maintain health, prevents complications and improves the quality of life of patients living with heart failure (HF). Self-care is critical to HF management but has received limited attention in Nepal. Identification of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with self-care is crucial to tailoring appropriate self-care programs to improve health outcomes including patients' quality of life. AIMS: The aims of this study were to describe self-care including the factors influencing self-care and the relationship between self-care and health-related quality of life in patients living with HF in Kathmandu, Nepal. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional observational study design to measure self-care maintenance, self-care management, and self-care confidence using the Nepali Self-Care of Heart Failure Index. To analyze data, we used descriptive statistics, bivariate associations and regression modeling. RESULTS: We recruited 221 patients with HF: mean age 57.5 ± 15.76 years, 62% male. The results in this sample indicated poor self-care maintenance (38.5 ± 11.56), management (45.7 ± 15.14), and confidence (40.9 ± 16.31). Patients with higher education were associated with higher self-care maintenance and management. Living alone and a better New York Heart Association functional classification for HF were related to higher self-care confidence. Higher social support was associated with better self-care. Self-care confidence was an independent predictor of self-care maintenance, management and health-related quality of life on adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION: Self-care was limited among patients living with HF in Nepal yet was associated with better quality of life. The study identified various sociodemographic and clinical factors related to self-care, which could be crucial while developing self-care interventions.

Aligning community-engaged research competencies with online training resources across the Clinical and Translational Science Award Consortium.

INTRODUCTION: The extent to which Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) programs offer publicly accessible online resources for training in community-engaged research (CEnR) core competencies is unknown. This study cataloged publicly accessible online CEnR resources from CTSAs and mapped resources to CEnR core competency domains. METHODS: Following a search and review of the current literature regarding CEnR competencies, CEnR core competency domains were identified and defined. A systematic review of publicly accessible online CEnR resources from all 64 current CTSAs was conducted between July 2018 and May 2019. Resource content was independently reviewed by two reviewers and scored for the inclusion of each CEnR core competency domain. Domain scores across all resources were assessed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Eight CEnR core competency domains were identified. Overall, 214 CEnR resources publicly accessible online from 35 CTSAs were eligible for review. Scoring discrepancies for at least one domain within a resource initially occurred in 51% of resources. "CEnR methods" (50.5%) and "Knowledge and relationships with communities" (40.2%) were the most frequently addressed domains, while "CEnR program evaluation" (12.1%) and "Dissemination and advocacy" (11.2%) were the least frequently addressed domains. Additionally, challenges were noted in navigating CTSA websites to access CEnR resources, and CEnR competency nomenclature was not standardized. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings guide CEnR stakeholders to identify publicly accessible online resources and gaps to address in CEnR resource development. Standardized nomenclature for CEnR competency is needed for effective CEnR resource classification. Uniform organization of CTSA websites may maximize navigability.

The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index: A psychometric study.

BACKGROUND: The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index is an empirically tested instrument to measure self-care of heart failure patients across different populations and cultures. AIMS: To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Nepali Self-Care of Heart Failure Index. DESIGN: This psychometric study used a cross-sectional, observational, study design to collect data. The study was guided and reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guideline. METHODS: To develop and culturally validate Nepali Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, a combination of the recommended methods for cross-cultural validation studies were applied such as translation, back translation, expert committee review of the translated version and validity/reliability testing. Face and content validity were ensured using expert review. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Composite reliability scores were calculated for each sub-scale of the Nepali Self-Care of Heart Failure Index. RESULTS: A total of 221 heart failure patients in Nepal were enrolled in the study. Adequate face and content validity were ensured through expert review. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor model. Although the three factors explained only 41% of the variance, confirmatory factor analysis fit indexes and error measures were found reasonable. The composite reliability coefficients for self-care maintenance, management and confidence scale were 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Nepali Self-Care of Heart Failure Index is a theoretically based, culturally acceptable and appropriate instrument for use among Nepali heart failure patients. However, further studies are needed to refine its psychometric properties. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Access to reliable, valid and culturally appropriate instruments is crucial in describing the state of the problem as well as for developing and evaluating tailored and targeted self-care practice interventions for Nepali patients living with heart failure.

Electronic medical record-based cohort selection and direct-to-patient, targeted recruitment: early efficacy and lessons learned.

OBJECTIVE: The study sought to characterize institution-wide participation in secure messaging (SM) at a large academic health network, describe our experience with electronic medical record (EMR)-based cohort selection, and discuss the potential roles of SM for research recruitment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study teams defined eligibility criteria to create a computable phenotype, structured EMR data, to identify and recruit participants. Patients with SM accounts matching this phenotype received recruitment messages. We compared demographic characteristics across SM users and the overall health system. We also tabulated SM activation and use, characteristics of individual studies, and efficacy of the recruitment methods. RESULTS: Of the 1 308 820 patients in the health network, 40% had active SM accounts. SM users had a greater proportion of white and non-Hispanic patients than nonactive SM users id. Among the studies included (n = 13), 77% recruited participants with a specific disease or condition. All studies used demographic criteria for their phenotype, while 46% (n = 6) used demographic, disease, and healthcare utilization criteria. The average SM response rate was 2.9%, with higher rates among condition-specific (3.4%) vs general health (1.4%) studies. Those studies with a more inclusive comprehensive phenotype had a higher response rate. DISCUSSION: Target population and EMR queries (computable phenotypes) affect recruitment efficacy and should be considered when designing an EMR-based recruitment strategy. CONCLUSIONS: SM guided by EMR-based cohort selection is a promising approach to identify and enroll research participants. Efforts to increase the number of active SM users and response rate should be implemented to enhance the effectiveness of this recruitment strategy.