Examining differences in prescription opioid use behaviors among U.S. adults with and without disabilities.

We aimed to identify differences in prescription opioid-related behaviors between adults with and without disabilities in the U.S. We analyzed data from the 2015-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (128,740 individuals; weighted N of 244,831,740) to examine disability-based differences in (1) reasons and sources of last prescription opioid misuse and, in multivariate models overall and stratified by disability, the likelihood of (2) prescription opioid use, and if used, (3) misuse and prescription opioid use disorder (OUD), overall and stratified by disability. Adults with disabilities were 11% more likely than adults without disabilities to report any past-year prescription opioid use, adjusted for sociodemographic, health, and behavioral health characteristics. However, among adults with any prescription opioid use, which is more common among people with disabilities, likelihood of prescription OUD did not vary by disability status. Pain relief as the reason for last misuse was associated with 18% increased likelihood of prescription OUD, if any use. To reduce risk of opioid misuse among people with disabilities, accessible and inclusive chronic pain management services are essential. Further, the substance use treatment field should provide accessible and inclusive services, and be aware of the need for pain management by many people with disabilities, which may include the use of prescription opioids. These findings highlight essential opportunities for public health and policies to improve access, accommodations, and quality of health and behavioral health care for people with disabilities, and to encourage a holistic perspective of people with disabilities and their needs.

Renal functional outcomes for tumours in a solitary kidney managed by ablative or extirpative techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To present the renal functional outcomes for patients treated with open partial nephrectomy (OPN) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for tumours in a solitary kidney, as renal masses in a solitary kidney present a challenging treatment dilemma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of institutional databases identified 89 patients with 98 renal tumours in a solitary kidney managed by RFA or OPN under cold ischaemia between January 1997 and September 2007. The choice of therapy was based on patient and surgeon preference, tumour characteristics and comorbidities. Renal function was calculated using the modified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. RESULTS: Outcomes from 47 patients treated by RFA and 42 by OPN were analysed at a median follow-up of 18.1 and 30.0 months, respectively (P = 0.02). The median age (65.9 vs 59.6 years, P = 0.03) and American Society of Anesthesiology score (3.0 vs 2.0, P = 0.01) were both higher in patients treated with RFA. The median tumour size was greater for tumours managed by OPN (3.9 vs 2.8 cm, P = 0.001), while the median preoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was lower in the RFA group (46.5 vs 55.9 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for OPN, P = 0.04). Compared to RFA, patients treated with OPN had a greater decline in GFR at all times evaluated, including soon after the procedure (15.8% vs 7.1%), 12 months after surgery (24.5% vs 10.4%) and at the last follow-up (28.6% vs 11.4%, all P < 0.001). For patients with a pretreatment GFR of > 60 or > 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2), there was a new onset of decline in GFR of <60 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) in none and 7% of patients after RFA, and in 35% and 17% after OPN. CONCLUSION: Ablative techniques, which obviate ischaemic insults, might be a particularly attractive option for managing tumours in solitary renal units at risk of declining function. Renal functional outcomes compare favourably to extirpative surgery using cold ischaemia.

30 Years After the Americans with Disabilities Act: Perspectives on Employment for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, represented landmark legislation and led to significant improvements in accessibility, such as prohibiting discrimination based on disability in public life, including employment. Now 30 years later, however, employment rates for persons with disabilities, including spinal cord injury, remain low. This article discusses why employment is so important for persons with spinal cord injury and challenges that remain. Presented are previously unpublished employment data from a nationally representative US sample. Finally, the state of the art of vocational rehabilitation, including models proven to facilitate this critical rehabilitation outcome, is discussed.

Needlescopic ablation of small adrenal masses.

Needlescopic adrenal ablative therapy is an attractive therapeutic option for the management of small adrenal masses. The spectrum of neoplasms that can be ablated includes isolated solid organ metastases (lung, kidney, liver), nonisolated but symptomatic (painful) adrenal metastasis, and small, nonmetastatic, hormonally active adrenal tumors. Moreover, needlescopic ablation offers an effective minimally morbid intervention for patients who are poor surgical candidates either due to advanced age and/or significant comorbid conditions. Ablative techniques described to date include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation, and chemical ablation. Most procedures can be performed under percutaneous radiographic guidance on an outpatient basis. By and large, the bulk of clinical experience with adrenal ablation pertains to RFA. Successful ablation is usually dependent upon lesion size, with tumors 5 cm or smaller demonstrating the highest successful ablation rates. The most frequently described adverse sequelae of adrenal ablation are local tumor recurrences. However, many of these local recurrences can be managed by repeat ablation, with patients demonstrating durable oncologic outcomes.

Assessing the association between mental health and disability indicators among adults living in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Over 40 million people in the U.S. experience mental illness and/or disabilities. However, there has been limited characterization of the relationship between mental health and disability in national surveys. OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between current indicators for psychological distress, serious mental illness, and disability in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). METHODS: Secondary analysis (univariate and multivariate log-binomial estimation of relative risk) of non-specific psychological distress, duration of serious mental illness, disability types, and demographic factors in adults from the NHIS. RESULTS: Strong associations between psychological distress, serious mental illness, and disability types were found. After demographic stratifications and adjustment, associations were strongest for cognitive disabilities, compared to other disability types. Adults reporting serious psychological distress or more than 10 years of serious mental illness were 19.7 (17.8, 21.7) and 11.0 (10.2, 12.0) times more likely to report cognitive disabilities, compared to adults reporting no psychological distress or serious mental illness. After sex and race/ethnicity adjustment, individuals ages 35-54 years reporting serious psychological distress or more than 10 years of serious mental illness were 8.6 (6.9, 10.6) and 3.7 (3.3, 4.2) times more likely to report cognitive disabilities, compared to individuals ages 35-54 years reporting no psychological distress or serious mental illness. CONCLUSIONS: There is a robust association between mental health and cognitive disabilities among adults. Our results suggest health agencies and public policy consider addressing the concurrent nature of mental illness and cognitive disabilities in services and programs for adults with disabilities.

Comparing estimates of disability prevalence using federal and international disability measures in national surveillance.

BACKGROUND: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is changing the annual inclusion of standardized disability identifiers, reinvigorating the priority to examine existing disability question sets. These sets include questions developed by the United States (U.S.) National Center for Health Statistics in conjunction with the U.S. Census Bureau (the American Community Survey questions, ACS) and United Nations (the Washington Group Short Set questions, WGSS), that are policy relevant, comparable across populations, and short enough to be included in censuses and surveys across countries. OBJECTIVE: To compare disability prevalence estimates from federal and international standardized disability questions across demographic factors. METHODS: Bivariate analysis of disability question sets asking adults about vision, hearing, ambulation, cognition, and self-care difficulties and demographic factors using secondary data from supplements in the 2010 and 2013-2015 NHIS. RESULTS: Our study found substantial and statistically significant differences in the percentage of disabilities (overall and by type) based on comparable ACS and WGSS questions across demographic categories. Dependent on response coding, WGSS-based disability prevalence was consistently and significantly larger or smaller than ACS-based disability prevalence. Overall disability prevalence using ACS and two different WGSS response combinations were 16.3% and 9.2% or 39.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: ACS and WGSS measures identify predictably different sized populations of adults with disabilities. Further, with some exceptions, ACS and WGSS questions identify populations with disabilities with relatively consistent demographic factors. Additional research is recommended to understand the comparability of disability prevalence and health disparities and inequities people with disabilities experience when using these measures.

Prescription opioid behaviors among adults with and without disabilities - United States, 2015-2016.

BACKGROUND: Prescription opioid use among people with disabilities has not been well characterized. OBJECTIVE: To examine prescription opioid use, misuse, and use disorder, reason and source for last prescription opioid misuse, and receipt of prescription opioid treatment among people with and without disabilities. METHOD: Stratified analysis of prescription opioid use, misuse, and use disorders; primary reason and primary source for last prescription opioid misuse; receipt of prescription opioid treatment; and disability status among civilian, noninstitutionalized adults (ages 18+) using data from the 2015-2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. RESULTS: Adults with disabilities were significantly more likely than adults without disabilities to experience past year prescription opioid use (52.3% for those with disabilities compared to 32.8% of those without), misuse (4.4% compared to 3.4%), and use disorders (1.5% compared to 0.5%). People with disabilities were significantly more likely to misuse opioids for pain (Risk Ratio = 1.5, p < 0.001) and to receive opioids from a healthcare provider (Risk Ratio = 2.0, p < 0.001). Among people with opioid use disorder, people with disabilities were less likely to receive treatment for prescription opioid use (Risk Ratio = 0.6, p = 0.067). CONCLUSION: In the U.S., a substantial population with disabilities using and misusing prescription opioids exists that has not been well characterized. Persons with disabilities experience disparities in reason and source for last opioid misuse. Healthcare and substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment providers must collaborate to address the needs of this population.

Identifying Barriers and Supports to Breastfeeding in the Workplace Experienced by Mothers in the New Hampshire Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Utilizing the Total Worker Health Framework.

Variations in the barriers and contributors to breastfeeding across industries have not been well characterized for vulnerable populations such as mothers participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Our study used the Total Worker Health Framework to characterize workplace factors acting as barriers and/or contributors to breastfeeding among women participating in the New Hampshire WIC. Surveys were collected from WIC mothers (n = 682), which asked about employment, industry, and workplace accommodation and supports related to breastfeeding in the workplace. We found workplace policy factors supporting breastfeeding (i.e., having paid maternity leave, other maternity leave, and a breastfeeding policy) varied by industry. Women in specific service-oriented industries (i.e., accommodation and retail) reported the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation and workplace supports for breastfeeding and pumping. Further, how a woman hoped to feed and having a private pumping space at work were significantly associated with industry, breastfeeding initiation, and breastfeeding duration. A substantial portion of women reported being not sure about their workplace environment, policies, and culture related to breastfeeding. Additional studies with larger sample sizes of women participating in WIC are needed to further characterize the barriers to breastfeeding associated with specific industries.

Estimates of prevalence, demographic characteristics and social factors among people with disabilities in the USA: a cross-survey comparison.

OBJECTIVE: A national priority for disability research in the USA is the standardised identification of people with disabilities in surveillance efforts. Mandated by federal statute, six dichotomous difficulty-focused questions were implemented in national surveys to identify people with disabilities. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, demographic characteristics and social factors among people with disabilities based on these six questions using multiple national surveys in the USA. SETTING: American Community Survey (ACS), Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS-ASEC), National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). PARTICIPANTS: Civilian, non-institutionalised US residents aged 18 and over from the 2009 to 2014 ACS, 2009 to 2014 CPS-ASEC, 2009 to 2014 NHIS and 2008 SIPP waves 3, 7 and 10. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Disability was assessed using six standardised questions asking people about hearing, vision, cognition, ambulatory, self-care and independent living disabilities. Social factors were assessed with questions asking people to report their education, employment status, family size, health and marital status, health insurance and income. RESULTS: Risk ratios and demographic distributions for people with disabilities were consistent across survey. People with disabilities were at decreased risk of having college education, employment, families with three or more people, excellent or very good self-reported health and a spouse. People with disabilities were also consistently at greater risk of having health insurance and living below the poverty line. Estimates of disability prevalence varied between surveys from 2009 to 2014 (range 11.76%-17.08%). CONCLUSION: Replicating the existing literature, we found the estimation of disparities and inequity people with disabilities experience to be consistent across survey. Although there was a range of prevalence estimates, demographic factors for people with disabilities were consistent across surveys. Variations in prevalence estimates can be explained by survey context effects.

A comparison of two weight management programs for adults with mobility impairments.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with physical disabilities experience disparities in obesity; yet few interventions have incorporated accommodations necessary for weight loss in this population. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: This project compared the effectiveness of two weight loss interventions among individuals with physical disabilities. METHODS: Adults with physical disabilities who were overweight or obese were randomized across two diet approaches: a modified version of the MyPlate diet (usual care (UC)) and a modified Stoplight Diet (SLDm) supplemented with portion-controlled meals. Project staff met monthly with each participant to measure weight, 24-recalls of diet intake, self-tracking of foods and beverages, and physical activity during the preceding month. RESULTS: Of 126 enrollees, 70% completed the initial 6-month diet phase and 60% of these completed a 6-month follow-up phase. Participants in the SLDm group reduced weight and BMI during the 6 month intervention, and maintained or lost more weight during the 6 month maintenance period. Alternately, the UC diet resulted in a reduction in weight and BMI only at 6 months. BMI from baseline was significantly more improved for SLDm than UC and, among those who lost weight, the SLDm group lost more weight at 6 and 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that interventions with proper design and accommodations can overcome the barriers to weight loss unique to individuals with mobility impairments with low income. Additionally, the results suggest that using portion control may be more effective than teaching portion sizes.