Can we prevent aspiration pneumonia in the nursing home?

Aspiration pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality in the nursing home population. Patients who aspirate have three times higher mortality than patients who do not aspirate. We discuss the factors known to increase the risk of aspiration and its consequences, and recognize some of the preventive measures for aspiration pneumonia. We suggest approaches to decrease the risk of this very prevalent syndrome.

Can we prevent aspiration pneumonia in the nursing home?

Aspiration pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality in the nursing home population. Patients who aspirate have three times higher mortality than patients who do not aspirate. We discuss the factors known to increase the risk of aspiration and its consequences, and recognize some of the preventive measures for aspiration pneumonia. We suggest approaches to decrease the risk of this very prevalent syndrome.

Accessibility and acceptability of the Department of Veteran Affairs health care: diverse veterans' perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: Diverse veteran's perspectives on the accessibility and acceptability of the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health services are presented. METHODS: The qualitative methodology uses 16 focus groups (N = 178) stratified by war cohort (World War II and Korean Conflict versus Vietnam War and Persian Gulf War) and four ethnic/racial categories (African American, Asian American, European American, Hispanic American). RESULTS: Five themes emerged regarding veterans' health care expectations: (1) better information regarding available services, (2) sense of deserved benefits, (3) concern about welfare stigma, (4) importance of physician attentiveness, and (5) staff respect for patients as veterans. Although veterans' ethnic/racial backgrounds differentiated their military experiences, it was the informants' veteran identity that framed what they expected of VA health services. CONCLUSIONS: Accessibility and acceptability of VA health care is related to veterans' perspectives of the nature of their entitlement to service. Provider education and customer service strategies should consider the identified factors to increase access to VA as well as improve veterans' acceptance of the care.

Community-based strategies for focus group recruitment of minority veterans.

Minority recruitment is crucial to successful clinical research and associated community-based outreach programs. Reaching and retaining a diverse sample is particularly challenging when research targets not only ethnic or racial minorities but also subcultural groups such as veterans of different war periods. We describe various strategies that address the special challenges of minority recruitment through our experience engaging an ethnically diverse sample of 258 veterans as part of an evaluation of ambulatory care services at Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities. Most veterans were recruited by liaison with the community center, which accounted for 29% of the total sample. Other strategies included on-site recruitment (21%), word of mouth (21%), mailings to veterans' organizations (12%), and newspaper advertisements (7%). Strategies varied in their effectiveness at reaching specific racial or ethnic groups and veterans from different cohorts of war service.

Racial variations in Department of Veterans Affairs ambulatory care use and unmet health care needs.

Our objective was to describe racial/ethnic variations in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ambulatory care use and its association with the presence of unmet health care needs. Using the 1992 National Survey of Veterans, we examined race/ethnicity and unmet health care need for ambulatory care users of VA and non-VA facilities. Black and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report any VA use. In unadjusted analyses, American Indian/Eskimo, Hispanic, and black veterans were 4.4, 2.5, and 1.9 times more likely, respectively, than white veterans to report an inability to get needed care. Adjusting for VA ambulatory care use diminished the disparity in inability to get needed care between American Indian/Eskimo or Hispanic veterans and white veterans and eliminated the disparity between black and white veterans. Our findings support the VA's role as a medical safety net provider and suggest that VA ambulatory care use is effective in mitigating health-related racial disparities for some veterans. Additional facilitators for reducing unmet need should be explored.

The influence of military service on outpatient care use among racial/ethnic groups in Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers.

This study examines race-specific military service effects on outpatient care utilization in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) using data from the 1992 National Survey of Veterans. The study population consisted of 4,791 male veterans. After controlling for predisposing, enabling, and need variables, black veterans were 3.7 times more likely than white veterans to use VA outpatient care. Veterans discharged from the military for medical release were less likely to use VA outpatient care (odds ratio = 0.76) than veterans discharged at the end of their normal terms. Hispanic veterans discharged for medical release were 5.3 times more likely than white veterans discharged for the same reason to use VA outpatient care. Korean conflict and mixed war period veterans were more likely to use VA outpatient care than World War II veterans. Racial/ethnic differences in military service characteristics influence the use of VA outpatient care and should be understood in delivering outpatient care to veterans.

Pneumonia in the long-term resident.

Pneumonia in the long-term resident is common. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, diagnosis and management of pneumonia in long-term care residents is challenging. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and management recommendations for pneumonia in this setting.

Feasibility study of home telerehabilitation for physically inactive veterans.

The aim of this study was to develop a system for and determine the feasibility of monitoring home exercise for physically inactive older adults using a Health Buddy (HB) text messaging device (Robert Bosch Healthcare; Palo Alto, California). Questions and messages related to exercise adherence are displayed on the HB screen and participants choose a response by pressing the corresponding button on the device. Responses are transmitted through a landline connection and high-risk responses are highlighted by the system for follow-up. We developed the questions and messages based on input from patient and clinician focus groups. We evaluated feasibility by administering the intervention to inpatient and outpatient adults aged 60 or older. We gave participants a choice of exercise monitoring by HB (n = 20) or telephone (n = 18). The results showed that home exercise monitoring by HB and telephone is safe, as evidenced by low adverse event rates. We saw a decline in exercise adherence rates to both the HB and telephone after 8 weeks, although adherence was better for HB than telephone. Taken together, the results demonstrate the feasibility of using text messaging to monitor home exercise adherence in physically inactive older adults.

Veteran identity and race/ethnicity: influences on VA outpatient care utilization.

BACKGROUND: "Veteran identity" is defined as veterans' self-concept that derives from his/her military experience within a sociohistorical context. Veteran identity may vary by race/ethnicity because the sociohistorical context of the military experience varies by race. OBJECTIVES: To explore veteran identity and how it varies by race/ethnicity, and to identify aspects of veteran identity that significantly influence preferences for, and use of, VA outpatient care. RESEARCH DESIGN: Focus groups were conducted at community sites to explore concepts related to veteran identity, race/ethnicity, military experience, and health services use. The focus groups informed the development of a telephone survey, which was administered to veterans of four racial/ethnic groups in Southern California and Southern Nevada. SUBJECTS: One hundred seventy-eight veterans participated in the focus groups, and 3,227 veterans completed the telephone survey. MEASURES: Dependent variables include: (1) preference for VA health services, (2) VA-only outpatient use, (3) Any VA outpatient use, and (4) number of outpatient visits within the previous 12 months. Independent variables include veteran identity, sociodemographic, and health-related characteristics. RESULTS: All veteran identity variables were significantly associated with race/ethnicity. Race/ethnicity, eg, being black or Hispanic, in addition to veteran identity factors, significantly influenced preferences for VA outpatient care. Veteran identity factors, however, had less influence on VA outpatient service utilization than socioeconomic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Minority veterans who highly identify with their veteran status may prefer the VA to other systems of care. Factors associated with veteran identity may be useful for incorporation into interventions to improve access to VA care.