Kidney transplant referral practices in southeastern dialysis units.

BACKGROUND: The Southeastern Kidney Transplant Coalition was created in 2010 to improve kidney transplant (KTx) rates in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. To identify dialysis staff-reported barriers to transplant, the Coalition developed a survey of dialysis providers in the region. METHODS: All dialysis units in the ESRD Network (n = 586) were sent a survey to be completed by the professional responsible for helping patients get transplants. RESULTS: One staff member at almost all (n = 546) of the dialysis units in Network 6 completed the survey (93% response rate). Almost all respondents reported being very comfortable (51.47%) or comfortable (46.89%) discussing the KTx process with patients. Just over half (56%) of facilities reported discussing KTx as a treatment option with patients on an annual basis. Fewer than one quarter of respondents (19%) perceived that more than 50% of their patients were interested in kidney transplant, and most of the staff surveyed (68%) reported that <25% of their dialysis patients completed the evaluation process and been wait-listed for a kidney transplant. CONCLUSION: The survey results provide insight into KTx referral practices in southeastern dialysis units that may be contributing to low KTx rates in this region.

The RaDIANT community study protocol: community-based participatory research for reducing disparities in access to kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The Southeastern United States has the lowest kidney transplant rates in the nation, and racial disparities in kidney transplant access are concentrated in this region. The Southeastern Kidney Transplant Coalition (SEKTC) of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina is an academic and community partnership that was formed with the mission to improve access to kidney transplantation and reduce disparities among African American (AA) end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in the Southeastern United States. METHODS/DESIGN: We describe the community-based participatory research (CBPR) process utilized in planning the Reducing Disparities In Access to kidNey Transplantation (RaDIANT) Community Study, a trial developed by the SEKTC to reduce health disparities in access to kidney transplantation among AA ESRD patients in Georgia, the state with the lowest kidney transplant rates in the nation. The SEKTC Coalition conducted a needs assessment of the ESRD population in the Southeast and used results to develop a multicomponent, dialysis facility-randomized, quality improvement intervention to improve transplant access among dialysis facilities in GA. A total of 134 dialysis facilities are randomized to receive either: (1) standard of care or "usual" transplant education, or (2) the multicomponent intervention consisting of transplant education and engagement activities targeting dialysis facility leadership, staff, and patients within dialysis facilities. The primary outcome is change in facility-level referral for kidney transplantation from baseline to 12 months; the secondary outcome is reduction in racial disparity in transplant referral. DISCUSSION: The RaDIANT Community Study aims to improve equity in access to kidney transplantation for ESRD patients in the Southeast. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT02092727.

Barriers to women's participation in inter-conceptional care: a cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: We describe participation rates in a special interconceptional care program that addressed all commonly known barriers to care, and identify predictors of the observed levels of participation in this preventive care service. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data from women in the intervention arm of an interconceptional care clinical trial in Philadelphia (n = 442). Gelberg-Andersen Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations to Health Services (herein called Andersen model) was used as a theoretical base. We used a multinomial logit model to analyze the factors influencing women's level of participation in this enhanced interconceptional care program. RESULTS: Although common barriers were addressed, there was variable participation in the interconceptional interventions. The Andersen model did not explain the variation in interconceptional care participation (Wald ch sq = 49, p = 0.45). Enabling factors (p = 0.058), older maternal age (p = 0.03) and smoking (p = < 0.0001) were independently associated with participation. CONCLUSIONS: Actively removing common barriers to care does not guarantee the long-term and consistent participation of vulnerable women in preventive care. There are unknown factors beyond known barriers that affect participation in interconceptional care. New paradigms are needed to identify the additional factors that serve as barriers to participation in preventive care for vulnerable women.

Assessment of Professional Quality of Life in the Alabama Physical Therapy Workforce.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to 1) determine the level of professional quality of life among physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in Alabama and 2) to identify personal or professional factors that may contribute to compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout, and secondary traumatic stress (STS). METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design and mixed-methods survey methodology to calculate odds ratios for factors affecting professional quality of life. Respondents completed a survey that included the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale, an open-ended question regarding their experience with professional burnout, and personal and professional demographics. RESULTS: Of the 742 physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in Alabama who completed the survey, the majority experienced moderate-high levels of CS and moderate-low levels of burnout and STS. Regression analyses indicated clinicians working 40 or more hours per week in patient care had greater odds for low-moderate CS and moderate-high burnout and STS subscale scores. Clinicians in our sample licensed between 6 to 15 or more than 30 years and those working in private outpatient settings had reduced odds of having moderate-high burnout, whereas those working 16 or more years had significantly increased odds for high CS scores. Responses to the open-ended question indicated workload demands and documentation as the top factors contributing to clinician burnout, while the connections with patients and coworkers help minimize such feelings. CONCLUSION: Individuals later in their career may develop protective factors to mitigate feelings of burnout compared to those early in their career. Also, clinicians working 40 or more hours per week may be more vulnerable to experiencing low-moderate CS and moderate-high burnout. Thus, individual clinicians and employers must evaluate personal, occupational, and systemic factors that contribute to reduced professional quality of life to inform preventive strategies for mitigating burnout.

Confidence in Understanding Health Insurance and Challenges Paying Medical Bills Among Men in the United States.

Although the number of men with health insurance has increased, men are less likely to utilize health services than females, and experience difficulty in paying medical bills. Understanding the details of health insurance can be challenging and the lack of understanding can have financial consequences. This study, guided by Andersen's model of health-care utilization, assessed the relationship between confidence level in understanding health insurance terms and difficulty in paying medical bills among American men. Data were drawn from the Health Reform Monitoring Survey, 2015-2016. The study included 6,643 men aged between 18 and 64. Descriptive statistics examined participants' difficulty in paying medical bills by predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics, and by confidence in understanding health insurance terms. A modified Poisson regression analysis examined the association between difficulty in paying medical bills, confidence in understanding health insurance terms score, and predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics. An increase in confidence in understanding health insurance terms score was associated with significantly lower reported difficulty in paying medical bills (PR = .98; 95% CI = [.97-.99]; p = .002). Participants with a college degree or higher were less likely to report difficulty in paying their medical bills compared to participants with less than a high school degree (PR = .72; 95% CI = [.56-.92]; p = .009). A better understanding of health insurance might prevent men from experiencing difficulties in paying medical bills. Additional research should be performed to understand the relationship between the level of confidence in understanding health insurance, knowledge level of health insurance terms, use of health insurance, and their impact on difficulty in paying medical bills.

A randomized trial of tailoring and motivational interviewing to promote fruit and vegetable consumption for cancer prevention and control.

BACKGROUND: Healthful dietary patterns, including eating fruits and vegetables (F&V) and avoiding obesity, may decrease the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. In addition to promoting health for the general population, a cancer diagnosis may provide a "teachable moment," facilitating the adoption of more healthful eating habits and leading to lower risk of chronic disease and better overall health. PURPOSE: This study was designed to test the effectiveness of two health communication interventions in increasing F&V consumption and physical activity in a sample of older adults (average age of 66 years), including both colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors and noncolorectal cancer-affected (N-CRC) individuals. METHODS: CRC survivors and N-CRC individuals were recruited from a population-based case-control study and randomly assigned to four conditions using a 2 x 2 design. We tested two different methods of communicating and promoting health behavior change alone or in combination: tailored print communication (TPC) and brief telephone-based motivational interviewing (TMI). RESULTS: A significant increase in F&V consumption was found for the combined intervention group in the entire sample (p < 0.05). When stratified by cancer survivor status, the effect was concentrated in the N-CRC subset (p < 0.01) versus CRC survivors. The combined intervention was also found to be most cost-effective for the N-CRC group, with TPC more cost-effective than TMI. For physical activity, none of the interventions produced statistically significant improvements. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that combining tailoring and motivational interviewing may be an effective and cost-effective method for promoting dietary behavior change among older healthy adults. More research is needed to identify the optimal dose and timing for intervention strategies to promote dietary and physical activity change among both CRC survivors and the general population.

An internet-based weight loss intervention initiated by a newspaper.

BACKGROUND: An estimated two-thirds of North Carolina residents are overweight or obese. Mass media, such as newspapers and the Internet, can be used to broadly convey health messages for weight loss. CONTEXT: Newspapers have traditionally been a primary source of health information for the general public. They may be uniquely suited to initiate and manage a community-based weight loss program by quickly reaching a broad readership. METHODS: Participants in the 2005 Lose to Win weight loss challenge visited the Herald-Sun Web site and anonymously entered a nickname and identification number and reported their weight each week. Participants had access to weekly articles on diet and physical activity and 4 free educational seminars. CONSEQUENCES: Of the 154 participants who self-reported weight at baseline and during the last week of the challenge, the mean weight lost was 5.9 lb. INTERPRETATION: Results suggest that this challenge fostered health awareness and promoted weight loss in the community. Future interventions of this type should use strategies to increase participation and retention, improve the accuracy of reported weight, and evaluate long-term success of the program. This type of intervention may be a useful first step to reach residents who are interested in losing weight.

The Kidney Education Outreach Program's community-based screenings: participants' demographics and screening results.

OBJECTIVE: To outline the Kidney Education Outreach Program (KEOP) screening protocol, to describe the context in which these chronic kidney disease (CKD) screenings were administered, and to report the characteristics and screening results for participants from October 2005 to September 2008. METHODS: A cohort of 1742 people participated in targeted, free, community-based CKD screenings. Screenings included a self-report questionnaire regarding sociodemographic information, lifestyle behaviors, and personal and family health history. This survey was followed by urine dipstick testing for proteinuria and microalbuminuria. RESULTS: Medical histories were provided by 1694 individuals: 1522 through the complete questionnaire and 172 through an abbreviated questionnaire that differed principally in lack of information on family history of disease. Urine samples were collected from 1706 participants. The mean age of screening participants was 54 years old; 70% were female, 50% were African American, and 13% were Latino. More than 40% of subjects were obese. Roughly one-quarter (23%) had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and about half (47%) had been diagnosed with hypertension. Twenty-four percent reported a family history of kidney disease. While 60% of the participants tested positive for microalbuminuria, less than 4% of these persons had ever been told they had kidney disease. LIMITATIONS: Lack of confirmatory testing with a serum creatinine (and estimated glomerular filtration rate) or, alternatively, with a 24-hour urine collection for creatinine clearance and protein excretion; no standardized follow-up for screened participants. DISCUSSION: The KEOP targeted screenings disclosed a high prevalence of known risk factors for CKD--diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, advanced age, and family history of kidney disease. However, despite these factors, less than 4% of screened participants were aware of a diagnosis of CKD.

Change in proteinuria after adding aldosterone blockers to ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in CKD: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The use of mineralocorticoid receptor blockers (MRBs) in patients with chronic kidney disease is growing, but data for efficacy in decreasing proteinuria are limited by a relative paucity of studies, many of which are small and uncontrolled. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a systematic review using the MEDLINE database (inception to November 1, 2006), abstracts from national meetings, and selected reference lists. SETTING & POPULATION: Adult patients with chronic kidney disease and proteinuria. SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES: English-language studies investigating the use of MRBs added to long-term angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor and/or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy in adult patients with proteinuric kidney disease. INTERVENTION: MRBs as additive therapy to conventional renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade in patients with chronic kidney disease. OUTCOMES: Changes in proteinuria as the primary outcome; rates of hyperkalemia, changes in blood pressure, and changes in glomerular filtration rate as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: 15 studies met inclusion criteria for our review; 4 were parallel-group randomized controlled trials, 4 were crossover randomized controlled trials, 2 were pilot studies, and 5 were case series. When MRBs were added to ACE-inhibitor and/or ARB therapy, the reported proteinuria decreases from baseline ranged from 15% to 54%, with most estimates in the 30% to 40% range. Hyperkalemic events were significant in only 1 of 8 randomized controlled trials. MRB therapy was associated with statistically significant decreases in blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate in approximately 40% and 25% of included studies, respectively. LIMITATIONS: Reported results were insufficient for meta-analysis, with only 2 studies reporting sufficient data to calculate SEs of their published estimates. We were unable to locate studies that showed no effect of MRB treatment over placebo, raising concern for publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: Although data suggest that adding MRBs to ACE-inhibitor and/or ARB therapy yields significant decreases in proteinuria without adverse effects of hyperkalemia and impaired renal function, routine use of MRBs as additive therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease cannot be recommended yet. However, the findings of this review promote interesting hypotheses for future study.

Healthcare practices among blacks and whites with urinary tract symptoms.

CONTEXT: The reasons for African-American men to seek care for lower urinary care symptoms has not been determined due to sparse population-based data. OBJECTIVE: Our study examines the solicitation and receipt of medical care for urinary symptoms among racially oversampled elderly urban and rural cohort of African Americans and whites. DESIGN: Longitudinal analyses were conducted on five North Carolina counties through the Piedmont Health Survey of the Elderly Established Populations for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly. In 1994, the analytic cohort included 482 African Americans and 407 whites; by 1998, 249 and 222, respectively. RESULTS: In 1994, 49.4% of African Americans presented with lower urinary tract symptoms compared to 56.8% of whites. By 1998, these percentages increased to 60.6% and 70.3%, respectively. African Americans reported more interference with activities of daily living than whites. African Americans were less likely than whites to have regular digital rectal exams (DRE) and were more likely to have never received a DRE at all. Additionally, elders with less educational attainment, those who smoked, those who delayed care quite often and those who used less-experienced physicians were less likely to receive regular DREs. CONCLUSION: Poor health behavior has the greatest impact on healthcare seeking for lower urinary tract symptoms. These health behavior risk factors are systemic of a lack of health education. Increases in health education among African Americans regarding lower urinary tract symptoms may close the racial disparity in healthcare-seeking behaviors.

Phase II study of low-dose infusional 5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel (Taxol) given every 2 weeks in metastatic breast cancer.

Twenty-one patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer were treated with paclitaxel (Taxol) as a 1-hour infusion on day 1 only of a 14-day cycle. This treatment was followed by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via a portable home pump, through a central venous catheter at 350 mg/m2 per day over 24 hours for a total of 96 hours, on days 1 to 5 and again on days 8 to 12. Based on reported phase I trials in other organ system cancers, the first 5 patients were treated with paclitaxel at 150 mg/m2 every 2 weeks, but this was associated with excessive toxicity. Subsequent patients received paclitaxel at 135 mg/m2. The FACT-B scale was used to assess quality of life for patients on entry of the study and after three cycles. Treatment was well tolerated, with no grade III or IV hematologic toxicities. Grade III nonhematologic toxicities comprised one patient with fatigue, one with mucositis, and one with diarrhea. Grade IV nonhematologic toxicities included 1 hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel. Four of the 16 patients (25%) had pump-related problems resulting in disrupted 5-FU dosing in the home setting. The patients had the following responses to the treatment: complete response 0 (0%), partial response 6 (37.5%), stable disease 4 (25%), progression 4 (25%), unassessable 2 (12.5%)-1 anaphylaxis and 1 thrombocytopenia; overall response rate 6 of 16 (0.37; 95% CI, of 0.57). The median duration of survival was 14 months, 95% CI (5.6-18.24). The FACT-B was assessed in 14 patients at baseline and in 8 patients after 3 cycles. Quality of Life improved in 6 patients, no patients remained stable, and worsened in 2 patients. Biweekly paclitaxel with weekly 4-day continuous infusion 5-FU was associated with minimal toxicity but did not meet the target response rate of 60%. This response rate does not justify use of a complex home infusion of 5-FU.

Factors predicting successful needle-localized breast biopsy.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict successful removal of nonpalpable breast lesions with mammography-guided needle-localized breast biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 455 consecutive patients referred for needle-localized breast biopsy of one or more nonpalpable breast lesions between January 1990 and December 1994, 272 (59.8%) had sufficiently complete data to be included in this study. Medical charts, pathology laboratory reports, wire-placement mammograms, and radiographs of specimens from each patient were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the effect of the following factors on the success of the procedure: distance from the lesion to the localizing wire, breast density, breast size, specimen volume, and lesion volume. All radiographs were independently evaluated by two radiologists who are experts in breast imaging. RESULTS: Needle-localized breast biopsy was successful in 254 (93.3%) of 272 lesions. Placement of the localization wire within 5 mm of the breast lesion was a significant predictor of successful lesion removal (P = .007). Results from logistic regression analysis showed that needle-localized breast biopsy failure was associated with increased wire distance (P = .0006), decreased breast size (P = .02), and decreased specimen volume (P = .03). CONCLUSION: Needle localization wires should be placed within 5 mm of mammographically visible lesions to increase the probability of successful lesion excision.

Body image and body satisfaction differ by race in overweight postpartum mothers.

BACKGROUND: Body image (BI) and body satisfaction may be important in understanding weight loss behaviors, particularly during the postpartum period. We assessed these constructs among African American and white overweight postpartum women. METHODS: The sample included 162 women (73 African American and 89 white) in the intervention arm 6 months into the Active Mothers Postpartum (AMP) Study, a nutritional and physical activity weight loss intervention. BIs, self-reported using the Stunkard figure rating scale, were compared assessing mean values by race. Body satisfaction was measured using body discrepancy (BD), calculated as perceived current image minus ideal image (BD<0: desire to be heavier; BD>0: desire to be lighter). BD was assessed by race for: BD(Ideal) (current image minus the ideal image) and BD(Ideal Mother) (current image minus ideal mother image). RESULTS: Compared with white women, African American women were younger and were less likely to report being married, having any college education, or residing in households with annual incomes >$30,000 (all p < 0.01). They also had a higher mean body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.04), although perceived current BI did not differ by race (p = 0.21). African Americans had higher mean ideal (p = 0.07) and ideal mother (p = 0.001) BIs compared with whites. African Americans' mean BDs (adjusting for age, BMI, education, income, marital status, and interaction terms) were significantly lower than those of whites, indicating greater body satisfaction among African Americans (BD(Ideal): 1.7 vs. 2.3, p = 0.005; BD(Ideal Mother): 1.1 vs. 1.8, p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Racial differences exist in postpartum weight, ideal images, and body satisfaction. Healthcare providers should consider tailored messaging that accounts for these racially different perceptions and factors when designing weight loss programs for overweight mothers.

Racial differences in clinical progression among Medicare recipients after treatment for localized prostate cancer (United States).

OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer recurrence impacts patient quality of life and risk of prostate-cancer specific death following definitive treatment. We investigate differences in disease-free survival among white, black, Hispanic, and Asian patients in a large, population-based database. METHODS: Merged Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) and Medicare files provided data on 23,353 white patients, 2,814 black patients, 480 Hispanic patients, and 566 Asian patients diagnosed at age 65-84 years with clinically localized prostate cancer between 1986 and 1996 in five SEER sites. Patients were followed through 1998. Racial differences in disease-free survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression models. RESULTS: The 75th percentile disease-free survival time for black patients was 13 months less than that for white patients (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.2-19.8 months), 29.7 months less than that for Hispanic patients (95% CI: 4.4-55.0 months), and 39.1 months less than that for Asian patients (95% CI: 12.1-66.1 months). In multivariate analysis, black race predicted shorter disease-free survival among surgery patients, but not among radiation patients. CONCLUSIONS: Black patients experienced shorter disease-free survival compared to white, Hispanic, and Asian patients, and the disease-free survival of white, Hispanic, and Asian patients were not statistically different. Earlier recurrence of prostate cancer may help explain black patients' increased risk of mortality from prostate cancer.

Prevention of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting after moderately high to highly emetogenic chemotherapy: comparison of ondansetron, prochlorperazine, and dexamethasone.

The purpose of this article is to assess the comparative antiemetic efficacy of prochlorperazine, ondansetron, and dexamethasone in the prevention of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) after moderately high to highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Cancer patients (n = 232) receiving moderately high to highly emetogenic chemotherapy were randomized to 1 of 3 treatments: 15 mg prochlorperazine spansules twice daily; 8 mg ondansetron tablets twice daily; or 8 mg dexamethasone tablets twice daily on days 2 through 5. All patients received 24 mg ondansetron and 20 mg dexamethasone orally before chemotherapy. Daily assessment (days 1 through 5) included the number of episodes of retching and vomiting, severity of nausea, restlessness, difficulty concentrating and fatigue, treatment satisfaction, and overall quality of life (measured using a 10-cm VAS). The Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE) was completed on day 5. Other side effects attributed to antiemetic therapy were recorded daily. For acute CINV, total control, defined as no vomiting, retching, nausea <1 cm on a 10-cm visual analog scale, and no administration of rescue medications, was achieved in 78% in the overall group and was not significantly different in the patients randomized to the 3 treatment arms for delayed CINV. Delayed CINV was reported by 43% to 57% of patients, with the highest incidence reported on day 3. For delayed CINV, patients receiving prochlorperazine reported the lowest average nausea score on days 2 to 5, whereas patients receiving ondansetron reported the highest nausea score (P = 0.05). No statistically significant differences in CINV or side effects of antiemetic therapy were noted between treatment groups on days 2 to 5. For patients similar to those included in this study, there does not appear to be a clinically important difference in efficacy, adverse effects, or treatment satisfaction among dexamethasone, prochlorperazine, and ondansetron in the doses used in these delayed CINV regimens on days 2 to 5 in this study.

Racial differences in mortality among Medicare recipients after treatment for localized prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer mortality is higher among black American men than among white American men. We investigated whether racial disparities in outcomes of clinically localized prostate cancer vary by treatment (surgery, radiation therapy, or nonaggressive treatment). METHODS: Merged Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) and Medicare files provided data (on treatment modality, age, race, cancer stage, tumor grade, census tract socioeconomic status, and date of death) on 5747 black and 38 242 white patients diagnosed at age 65-84 years with clinically localized prostate cancer between 1986 and 1996 in five SEER sites. Patients were followed through 1998. Racial differences in survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression models. RESULTS: The median survival time for black patients was 1.7 years (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6 to 1.9 years) less than that for white patients. Median survival in black patients relative to white patients was 1.8 years (95% CI = 1.5 to 2.0 years) less among those who had surgery, 0.7 years (95% CI = 0.5 to 1.0 years) less among those who had radiation therapy, and 1.0 years (95% CI = 0.7 to 1.1 years) less among those who had nonaggressive treatment. Racial disparities were evident both in overall survival and in prostate cancer-specific survival, before and after statistical adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Black patients' poorer overall survival from localized prostate cancer varies by initial treatment, with the survival gap being largest among patients undergoing surgery. Investigating these treatment-specific differences may clarify the mechanisms underlying worse outcomes for black patients in the health care system.