Association of Fentanyl Test Strip Use, Perceived Overdose Risk, and Naloxone Possession among People Who Use Drugs.

Background: As opioid overdoses continue rising, interventions are needed to expand naloxone carriage, an opioid overdose reversal agent. Use of fentanyl test strips (FTS) might promote naloxone carriage. This study examines the relationship between FTS use, perceived overdose risk, and naloxone carriage in Wisconsin, United States. Methods: In a survey of people who use drugs (n = 341) in southern Wisconsin, respondents were asked about FTS use, perceived overdose risk, and how often they (1) have naloxone, (2) have more than one dose of naloxone, and (3) the number of naloxone doses possessed currently. Likert responses were mapped to an integer scale. Ordinal and linear multivariable regression examined the relationship between FTS use and study outcomes while adjusting for respondent characteristics. Results: Most respondents were male (59.6%), identified heroin as their drug of choice (70.7%) and reported intravenous use (87.9%). In unadjusted models, FTS use was associated with more often having naloxone (OR: 2.10; p = 0.005), more often having multiple naloxone doses (OR: 2.98; p < 0.001), and possessing a greater number of naloxone doses (dose count difference: 2.85; p = 0.001). In adjusted models, FTS use was associated with more often having multiple naloxone doses (OR: 2.29; p = 0.005) and possessing a greater number of naloxone doses (dose count difference: 2.25, p = 0.020). Conclusions: Individuals who use FTS more often carry multiple doses relative to individuals who do not use FTS. Given that naloxone carriage is critical for reducing opioid overdose risk, expanding FTS use may offer a strategy to reduce opioid overdose rates via improved naloxone carriage.

Differences in drug use behaviors that impact overdose risk among individuals who do and do not use fentanyl test strips for drug checking.

BACKGROUND: Opioid-involved overdose continues to rise, largely explained by fentanyl adulteration of the illicit opioid supply. Fentanyl test strips are a novel drug checking tool that can be used by people who use drugs to detect the presence of fentanyl in drug products. However, it is unclear whether fentanyl test strip use can prompt behavior changes that impact risk of overdose. METHODS: In this mixed-methods study involving a structured survey (n = 341) of syringe service program clients in southern Wisconsin, we examined the association between fentanyl test strip use and overdose risk behaviors in scenarios where the presence of fentanyl is confirmed and unknown. Individual items were transformed into summary scales representing the performance of riskier and safer behaviors. Linear regression examined the association of behaviors with FTS use. Models are adjusted for study site, race/ethnicity, age, gender, drug of choice, indicator of polysubstance use, times used per day, and lifetime overdose count. RESULTS: In response to survey questions before prompting about fentanyl risk, people who used fentanyl test strips reported an increased number of safer (p = 0.001) as well as riskier behaviors (p = 0.018) relative to people who did not use fentanyl test strips. The same held true in situations when fentanyl adulteration was suspected, though fentanyl test strip use lost significance in the fully adjusted model examining safer behaviors (safer: p = 0.143; riskier: p = 0.004). Among people who use fentanyl test strips, in unadjusted models, a positive test result was associated with more safer behaviors and fewer riskier behaviors, but these associations became nonsignificant in fully adjusted models (safer: p = 0.998; riskier: p = 0.171). Loss of significance was largely due to the addition of either polysubstance use or age to the model. CONCLUSIONS: Fentanyl test strip use is associated with behaviors that may impact overdose risk, including safer and riskier behaviors. Specifically, a positive test result may promote more risk reducing behaviors and fewer risk enhancing behaviors than a negative test result. Results suggest that while FTS may promote safer drug use behaviors, outreach and education should emphasize the need for multiple harm reduction techniques in all scenarios.

Discriminative Accuracy of the CAPTURE Tool for Identifying Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in US Primary Care Settings.

Importance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underdiagnosed in primary care. Objective: To evaluate the operating characteristics of the CAPTURE (COPD Assessment in Primary Care To Identify Undiagnosed Respiratory Disease and Exacerbation Risk) screening tool for identifying US primary care patients with undiagnosed, clinically significant COPD. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cross-sectional study, 4679 primary care patients aged 45 years to 80 years without a prior COPD diagnosis were enrolled by 7 primary care practice-based research networks across the US between October 12, 2018, and April 1, 2022. The CAPTURE questionnaire responses, peak expiratory flow rate, COPD Assessment Test scores, history of acute respiratory illnesses, demographics, and spirometry results were collected. Exposure: Undiagnosed COPD. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the CAPTURE tool's sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients with undiagnosed, clinically significant COPD. The secondary outcomes included the analyses of varying thresholds for defining a positive screening result for clinically significant COPD. A positive screening result was defined as (1) a CAPTURE questionnaire score of 5 or 6 or (2) a questionnaire score of 2, 3, or 4 together with a peak expiratory flow rate of less than 250 L/min for females or less than 350 L/min for males. Clinically significant COPD was defined as spirometry-defined COPD (postbronchodilator ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration [FEV1] to forced vital capacity [FEV1:FVC] <0.70 or prebronchodilator FEV1:FVC <0.65 if postbronchodilator spirometry was not completed) combined with either an FEV1 less than 60% of the predicted value or a self-reported history of an acute respiratory illness within the past 12 months. Results: Of the 4325 patients who had adequate data for analysis (63.0% were women; the mean age was 61.6 years [SD, 9.1 years]), 44.6% had ever smoked cigarettes, 18.3% reported a prior asthma diagnosis or use of inhaled respiratory medications, 13.2% currently smoked cigarettes, and 10.0% reported at least 1 cardiovascular comorbidity. Among the 110 patients (2.5% of 4325) with undiagnosed, clinically significant COPD, 53 had a positive screening result with a sensitivity of 48.2% (95% CI, 38.6%-57.9%) and a specificity of 88.6% (95% CI, 87.6%-89.6%). The area under the receiver operating curve for varying positive screening thresholds was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77-0.85). Conclusions and Relevance: Within this US primary care population, the CAPTURE screening tool had a low sensitivity but a high specificity for identifying clinically significant COPD defined by presence of airflow obstruction that is of moderate severity or accompanied by a history of acute respiratory illness. Further research is needed to optimize performance of the screening tool and to understand whether its use affects clinical outcomes.

Single-Dose Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Psilocybin shows promise as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). Objective: To evaluate the magnitude, timing, and durability of antidepressant effects and safety of a single dose of psilocybin in patients with MDD. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this phase 2 trial conducted between December 2019 and June 2022 at 11 research sites in the US, participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single dose of psilocybin vs niacin placebo administered with psychological support. Participants were adults aged 21 to 65 years with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition diagnosis of MDD of at least 60 days' duration and moderate or greater symptom severity. Exclusion criteria included history of psychosis or mania, active substance use disorder, and active suicidal ideation with intent. Participants taking psychotropic agents who otherwise met inclusion/exclusion criteria were eligible following medication taper. Primary and secondary outcomes and adverse events (AEs) were assessed at baseline (conducted within 7 days before dosing) and at 2, 8, 15, 29, and 43 days after dosing. Interventions: Interventions were a 25-mg dose of synthetic psilocybin or a 100-mg dose of niacin in identical-appearing capsules, each administered with psychological support. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was change in central rater-assessed Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score (range, 0-60; higher scores indicate more severe depression) from baseline to day 43. The key secondary outcome measure was change in MADRS score from baseline to day 8. Other secondary outcomes were change in Sheehan Disability Scale score from baseline to day 43 and MADRS-defined sustained response and remission. Participants, study site personnel, study sponsor, outcome assessors (raters), and statisticians were blinded to treatment assignment. Results: A total of 104 participants (mean [SD] age, 41.1 [11.3] years; 52 [50%] women) were randomized (51 to the psilocybin group and 53 to the niacin group). Psilocybin treatment was associated with significantly reduced MADRS scores compared with niacin from baseline to day 43 (mean difference,-12.3 [95% CI, -17.5 to -7.2]; P <.001) and from baseline to day 8 (mean difference, -12.0 [95% CI, -16.6 to -7.4]; P < .001). Psilocybin treatment was also associated with significantly reduced Sheehan Disability Scale scores compared with niacin (mean difference, -2.31 [95% CI, 3.50-1.11]; P < .001) from baseline to day 43. More participants receiving psilocybin had sustained response (but not remission) than those receiving niacin. There were no serious treatment-emergent AEs; however, psilocybin treatment was associated with a higher rate of overall AEs and a higher rate of severe AEs. Conclusions and Relevance: Psilocybin treatment was associated with a clinically significant sustained reduction in depressive symptoms and functional disability, without serious adverse events. These findings add to increasing evidence that psilocybin-when administered with psychological support-may hold promise as a novel intervention for MDD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03866174.

Long-Term Effects of the Comprehensive Primary Care Model on Health Care Spending and Utilization.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched the 4-year Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPC Classic) in 2012 and its 5-year successor, CPC Plus (CPC+), in 2017 to test whether improving primary care delivery in five areas-and providing practices with financial and technical support-reduced spending and improved quality. This is the first study to examine long-term effects of a primary care practice transformation model. OBJECTIVE: To test whether long-term primary care transformation-the 4-year CPC Classic and the first 2 years of its successor, CPC+-reduced hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and spending over 6 years. DESIGN: We used a difference-in-differences analysis to compare outcomes for beneficiaries attributed to CPC Classic practices with outcomes for beneficiaries attributed to comparison practices during the year before and 6 years after CPC Classic began. PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 565,674 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries attributed to 502 CPC Classic practices and 1,165,284 beneficiaries attributed to 908 comparison practices, with similar beneficiary-, practice-, and market-level characteristics as the CPC Classic practices. INTERVENTIONS: The interventions required primary care practices to improve 5 care areas and supported their transformation with substantially enhanced payment, data feedback, and learning support and, for CPC+, added health information technology support. MAIN MEASURES: Hospitalizations (all-cause), ED visits (outpatient and total), and Medicare Part A and B expenditures. KEY RESULTS: Relative to comparison practices, beneficiaries in intervention practices experienced slower growth in hospitalizations-3.1% less in year 5 and 3.5% less in year 6 (P < 0.01) and roughly 2% (P < 0.1) slower growth each year in total ED visits during years 3 through 6. Medicare Part A and B expenditures (excluding care management fees) did not change appreciably. CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of favorable effects on hospitalizations in years 5 and 6 suggests primary care transformation takes time to translate into lower hospitalizations. Longer tests of models are needed.

Characteristics and context of fentanyl test strip use among syringe service clients in southern Wisconsin.

BACKGROUND: Fentanyl adulteration of illicit drugs is a major driver of opioid-involved overdose in the USA. Fentanyl test strips are increasingly used by people who use drugs to check for fentanyl. However, little is known about factors that influence test strip use in this population. METHODS: In this mixed-methods study employing semi-structured open-ended interviews (n = 29) and a structured survey (n = 341), we examined characteristics associated with test strip use, characteristics of test strip use, and situational, logistical and psychosocial factors influencing test strip use. Respondents were recruited from a syringe service program in southern Wisconsin. Bivariate tests of association and multivariable logistic regression examined the relationship between respondent characteristics and test strip use. Summary statistics were used to describe how situational, logistical and psychosocial factors impact test strip use. RESULTS: Most respondents were male (59.6%), non-Hispanic white (77.4%), young (mean 35.7 years), reported heroin as their primary drug (70.7%), injection as their primary route (87.9%), and use ≥ 3 times daily (78.6%). In multivariable models, site, race and ethnicity, drug of choice, and seeking fentanyl were associated with test strip use. Among test strip users, 36.5% use them most of the time or more and 80.6% get positive results half the time or more. Among individuals reporting heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, or cocaine or crack cocaine at least once per month, 99.1%, 56.8%, 42.2%, and 55.7% reported testing these drugs, respectively. Test strip use is supported by information from suppliers, regular transportation, diverse distribution locations, recommendations from harm reduction staff, and having a safe or private place to use. CONCLUSIONS: We found that individuals who use fentanyl test strips are more often non-Hispanic white, use heroin, and seek drugs with fentanyl relative to individuals without test strip use. Findings confirm high fentanyl penetration in the Wisconsin drug supply. Low rates of stimulant testing suggest inadequate awareness of fentanyl penetration. Findings support outreach to key populations, increased diversity of distributing locations, efforts to correct misperceptions about drug wasting, emphasis on pre-consumption testing, and the importance of adjunct behaviors to prevent overdose given high rates of intentional fentanyl use.

Alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy and treatment in primary care (ADaPT-PC) trial: Impact on identified barriers to implementation.

Background: A minority of individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders (AUD) receive any type of formal treatment. Developing options for AUD treatment within primary care settings is imperative to increase treatment access. A multi-faceted implementation intervention including provider and patient education, clinician reminders, development of local champions and ongoing facilitation was designed to enhance access to AUD pharmacotherapy in primary care settings at three large Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. This qualitative study compared pre-implementation barriers to post-implementation barriers identified via provider interviews to identify those barriers addressed and not addressed by the intervention to better understand the limited impact of the intervention. Methods: Following the nine-month implementation period, primary care providers at the three participating facilities took part in qualitative interviews to collect perceptions regarding which pre-implementation barriers had and had not been successfully addressed by the intervention. Participants included 20 primary care providers from three large VHA facilities. Interviews were coded using common coding techniques for qualitative data using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) codebook. Summary reports were created for each CFIR construct for each facility and the impact of each CFIR construct on implementation was coded as positive, neutral, or negative. Results: Some barriers identified during pre-implementation interviews were no longer identified as barriers in the post-implementation interviews. These included Relative Advantage, Relative Priority, and Knowledge & Beliefs about the Innovation. However, Compatibility, Design Quality & Packaging, and Available Resources remained barriers at the end of the implementation period. No substantial new barriers were identified. Conclusions: The implementation intervention appears to have been successful at addressing barriers that could be mitigated with traditional educational approaches. However, the intervention did not adequately address structural and organizational barriers to implementation. Recommendations for enhancing future interventions are provided.

Psychological and endocannabinoid responses to aerobic exercise in substance use disorder patients.

BACKGROUND: Exercise has been examined as an adjunctive treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), yet few exercise interventions have been conducted among patients undergoing intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment, who may be the most vulnerable to relapse and for whom exercise could provide the most benefits. This study examined the effects of aerobic exercise, in addition to IOP treatment, on psychological variables and endocannabinoids in individuals with SUDs. Methods: Twenty-one SUD patients (mean age 35 years) were recruited from local IOPs. Participants were randomized to either treatment-as-usual (TAU, at their outpatient clinic) or TAU plus aerobic exercise training (EX). EX participants engaged in supervised, moderate-intensity exercise for 30 min, 3 times/week for 6 weeks. TAU participants came into the laboratory once per week for assessments and a 30-min quiet rest session. Participants provided blood samples and completed questionnaires evaluating substance use, mood states, depression, anxiety, perceived stress, self-efficacy to abstain from substance use, and craving. Data were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U tests or mixed model ANOVAs to determine group differences in outcomes acutely and over 6 weeks. Results: Over 6 weeks, there were reductions in perceived stress (p < 0.01) and craving (p < 0.05) for both groups. There were no group differences in abstinence rates or changes from baseline in self-efficacy, depression, or anxiety (p > 0.05). Acutely, both exercise and quiet rest sessions led to reductions in craving, tension, depression, anger, confusion, and total mood disturbance (all ps < 0.05). In addition, the EX group experienced acute increases in vigor and circulating concentrations of the endocannabinoid, anandamide (p < 0.01). Conclusions: An adjunctive aerobic exercise program during SUD treatment was associated with similar reductions in perceived stress and drug craving as standard care. Thirty minutes of exercise or quiet rest led to acute improvements in mood, but exercise produced the additional benefit of increases in vigor and circulating anandamide.

Predictors of skin and soft tissue infections among sample of rural residents who inject drugs.

INTRODUCTION: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality for people who inject drugs (PWID). Studies demonstrate that certain injection practices correlate with SSTI incidence among PWID. The opioid epidemic in the USA has particularly affected rural communities, where access to prevention and treatment presents unique challenges. This study aims to estimate unsafe injection practices among rural-dwelling PWID; assess treatments utilized for injection related SSTIs; and gather data to help reduce the overall risk of injection-related SSTIs. METHODS: Thirteen questions specific to SSTIs and injection practices were added to a larger study assessing unmet health care needs among PWID and were administered at six syringe exchange programs in rural Wisconsin between May and July 2019. SSTI history prevalence was estimated based on infections reported within one-year prior of response and was compared to self-reported demographics and injection practices. RESULTS: Eighty responses were collected and analyzed. Respondents were white (77.5%), males (60%), between the ages 30 and 39 (42.5%), and have a high school diploma or GED (38.75%). The majority of respondents (77.5%) reported no history of SSTI within the year prior to survey response. Females were over three times more likely to report SSTI history (OR = 3.07, p = 0.038) compared to males. Water sources for drug dilution (p = 0.093) and frequency of injecting on first attempt (p = 0.037), but not proper skin cleaning method (p = 0.378), were significantly associated with a history of SSTI. Injecting into skin (p = 0.038) or muscle (p = 0.001) was significantly associated with a history of SSTI. Injection into veins was not significantly associated with SSTI (p = 0.333). CONCLUSION: Higher-risk injection practices were common among participants reporting a history of SSTIs in this rural sample. Studies exploring socio-demographic factors influencing risky injection practices and general barriers to safer injection practices to prevent SSTIs are warranted. Dissemination of education materials targeting SSTI prevention and intervention among PWID not in treatment is warranted.

Adolescents' awareness about prescription opioid misuse and preferences for educational interventions.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored adolescents' awareness about prescription opioid misuse, sources of medication information, and educational preferences. DESIGN: An online survey explored adolescents' understanding and perceptions of prescription opioids and opioid misuse and safety, medication information sources, and educational preferences. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Eligible participants included students from 3 Wisconsin high schools who could speak and understand English. Participants were recruited through "backpack mail" and completed surveys online at school. OUTCOME MEASURS: Survey responses were compared across demographic information of the study participants. Binary response items were compared across demographic strata by Fisher exact tests, and Likert responses were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: A total of 190 students (53% female, 53% white, 32% Hispanic) were surveyed. Most (83.5%) considered using someone else's opioid medication to be misuse, 85.2% identified using opioids at a higher dose or frequency than prescribed as misuse, and 67.6% considered using an opioid prescription after its expiration date to be misuse. Approximately 90% of students perceived that opioid misuse causes some, quite a bit, or a great deal of harm to a person's physical and mental health and school ability. Many students were able to correctly identify examples and consequences of misuse, however 24.7% believed that flushing opioids down the drain was dangerous. The most common source for finding information about opioids was Google or other search engines (67.6%), followed by talking with parents (56.7%), talking with a doctor or nurse (54.9%), and online videos (42.3%). CONCLUSION: Adolescents have some opioid safety knowledge, but there is a clear opportunity to increase knowledge and understanding of risks. Adolescents could benefit from opioid safety education, particularly on safe storage and disposal, harms of misuse, and strategies for discouraging peer opioid misuse.

Two-Year Costs and Quality in the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative.

BACKGROUND: The 4-year, multipayer Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative was started in October 2012 to determine whether several forms of support would produce changes in care delivery that would improve the quality and reduce the costs of care at 497 primary care practices in seven regions across the United States. Support included the provision of care-management fees, the opportunity to earn shared savings, and the provision of data feedback and learning support. METHODS: We tracked changes in the delivery of care by practices participating in the initiative and used difference-in-differences regressions to compare changes over the first 2 years of the initiative in Medicare expenditures, health care utilization, claims-based measures of quality, and patient experience for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries attributed to initiative practices and a group of matched comparison practices. RESULTS: During the first 2 years, initiative practices received a median of $115,000 per clinician in care-management fees. The practices reported improvements in approaches to the delivery of primary care in areas such as management of the care of high-risk patients and enhanced access to care. Changes in average monthly Medicare expenditures per beneficiary did not differ significantly between initiative and comparison practices when care-management fees were not taken into account (-$11; 95% confidence interval [CI], -$23 to $1; P=0.07; negative values indicate less growth in spending at initiative practices) or when these fees were taken into account ($7; 95% CI, -$5 to $19; P=0.27). The only significant differences in other measures were a 3% reduction in primary care visits for initiative practices relative to comparison practices (P<0.001) and changes in two of the six domains of patient experience--discussion of decisions regarding medication with patients and the provision of support for patients taking care of their own health--both of which showed a small improvement in initiative practices relative to comparison practices (P=0.006 and P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Midway through this 4-year intervention, practices participating in the initiative have reported progress in transforming the delivery of primary care. However, at this point these practices have not yet shown savings in expenditures for Medicare Parts A and B after accounting for care-management fees, nor have they shown an appreciable improvement in the quality of care or patient experience. (Funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02320591.).

Does cross-cultural communication training for physicians improve pediatric asthma outcomes? A randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Adverse cross-cultural interactions are a persistent problem within medicine impacting minority patients' use of services and health outcomes. To test whether 1) enhancing the evidence-based Physician Asthma Care Education (PACE), a continuing medical education program, with cross cultural communication training (PACE Plus) would improve the asthma outcomes of African American and Latino/Hispanic children; and 2) whether PACE is effective in diverse groups of children. METHODS: A three-arm randomized control trial was used to compare PACE Plus, PACE, and usual care. Participants were primary care physicians (n = 112) and their African American or Latino/Hispanic pediatric patients with persistent asthma (n = 867). The primary outcome of interest included changes in emergency department visits for asthma overtime, measured at baseline, and 9 and 21 months following the intervention. Other outcomes included hospitalizations, asthma symptom experience, caregiver asthma-related quality of life, and patient-provider communication measures. RESULTS: Over the long term, PACE Plus physicians reported significant improvements in confidence and use of patient-centered communication and counseling techniques (p < 0.01) compared to PACE physicians. No other significant benefit in primary and secondary outcomes was observed in this trial. CONCLUSION: PACE Plus did not show significant benefit in asthma-specific clinical outcomes. More trials and multi-component strategies continue to be needed to address complex risk factors and reduce disparities in asthma care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01251523 December 1, 2010.

Model-based transcriptome engineering promotes a fermentative transcriptional state in yeast.

The ability to rationally manipulate the transcriptional states of cells would be of great use in medicine and bioengineering. We have developed an algorithm, NetSurgeon, which uses genome-wide gene-regulatory networks to identify interventions that force a cell toward a desired expression state. We first validated NetSurgeon extensively on existing datasets. Next, we used NetSurgeon to select transcription factor deletions aimed at improving ethanol production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures that are catabolizing xylose. We reasoned that interventions that move the transcriptional state of cells using xylose toward that of cells producing large amounts of ethanol from glucose might improve xylose fermentation. Some of the interventions selected by NetSurgeon successfully promoted a fermentative transcriptional state in the absence of glucose, resulting in strains with a 2.7-fold increase in xylose import rates, a 4-fold improvement in xylose integration into central carbon metabolism, or a 1.3-fold increase in ethanol production rate. We conclude by presenting an integrated model of transcriptional regulation and metabolic flux that will enable future efforts aimed at improving xylose fermentation to prioritize functional regulators of central carbon metabolism.

A sequence-to-sequence model-based deep learning approach for recognizing activity of daily living for senior care.

Ensuring the health and safety of independent-living senior citizens is a growing societal concern. Researchers have developed sensor based systems to monitor senior citizens' Activity of Daily Living (ADL), a set of daily activities that can indicate their self-caring ability. However, most ADL monitoring systems are designed for one specific sensor modality, resulting in less generalizable models that is not flexible to account variations in real-life monitoring settings. Current classic machine learning and deep learning methods do not provide a generalizable solution to recognize complex ADLs for different sensor settings. This study proposes a novel Sequence-to-Sequence model based deep-learning framework to recognize complex ADLs leveraging an activity state representation. The proposed activity state representation integrated motion and environment sensor data without labor-intense feature engineering. We evaluated our proposed framework against several state-of-the-art machine learning and deep learning benchmarks. Overall, our approach outperformed baselines in most performance metrics, accurately recognized complex ADLs from different types of sensor input. This framework can generalize to different sensor settings and provide a viable approach to understand senior citizen's daily activity patterns with smart home health monitoring systems.

Poor peripheral blood stem cell mobilization affects long-term outcomes in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization is routinely undertaken prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). A number of studies have identified risk factors for poor PBSC mobilization, however, little data exists to correlate mobilization with disease-specific outcomes in this patient population. Prospective work in MM has demonstrated similar outcomes in a homogenous patient population. METHODS: In this single institution analysis, we retrospectively studied the impact of poor PBSC mobilization on progression free survival (PFS) and OS in MM patients undergoing PBSC mobilization. Poor mobilizers are defined as patients that collected < 4 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg over maximum of 5 apheresis days, or those that required ≥2 mobilization cycles to achieve this target. RESULTS: We confirm that poor PBSC mobilization is significantly associated with a shortened PFS (P = .0012) and OS (P = .0005) compared with good mobilizers. Our univariate analysis also shows that independent risk factors for poor mobilization include male gender, higher ideal body weight, and a greater median number of lines of chemotherapy prior to PBSC mobilization. However, by multivariate analysis, only number of prior lines of chemotherapy remains significantly predictive of poor mobilization (Odds ratio 1.857, P = .0095). The use of high-dose G-CSF (> 10 mcg/kg/day) and/or plerixafor can significantly improve mobilization and ASCT chances in this population. DISCUSSION: These data indicate that poor mobilization can be predictable and is associated with more aggressive disease biology and worse outcomes, warranting intensive post-ASCT management.

The use of external change agents to promote quality improvement and organizational change in healthcare organizations: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: External change agents can play an essential role in healthcare organizational change efforts. This systematic review examines the role that external change agents have played within the context of multifaceted interventions designed to promote organizational change in healthcare-specifically, in primary care settings. METHODS: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Academic Search Premier Databases in July 2016 for randomized trials published (in English) between January 1, 2005 and June 30, 2016 in which external agents were part of multifaceted organizational change strategies. The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. A total of 477 abstracts were identified and screened by 2 authors. Full text articles of 113 studies were reviewed. Twenty-one of these studies were selected for inclusion. RESULTS: Academic detailing (AD) is the most prevalently used organizational change strategy employed as part of multi-component implementation strategies. Out of 21 studies, nearly all studies integrate some form of audit and feedback into their interventions. Eleven studies that included practice facilitation into their intervention reported significant effects in one or more primary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that practice facilitation with regular, tailored follow up is a powerful component of a successful organizational change strategy. Academic detailing alone or combined with audit and feedback alone is ineffective without intensive follow up. Provision of educational materials and use of audit and feedback are often integral components of multifaceted implementation strategies. However, we didn't find examples where those relatively limited strategies were effective as standalone interventions. System-level support through technology (such as automated reminders or alerts) is potentially helpful, but must be carefully tailored to clinic needs.

Implementing a Mobile Health System to Integrate the Treatment of Addiction Into Primary Care: A Hybrid Implementation-Effectiveness Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the near ubiquity of mobile phones, little research has been conducted on the implementation of mobile health (mHealth) apps to treat patients in primary care. Although primary care clinicians routinely treat chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes, they rarely treat addiction, a common chronic condition. Instead, addiction is most often treated in the US health care system, if it is treated at all, in a separate behavioral health system. mHealth could help integrate addiction treatment in primary care. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to report the effects of implementing an mHealth system for addiction in primary care on both patients and clinicians. METHODS: In this implementation research trial, an evidence-based mHealth system named Seva was introduced sequentially over 36 months to a maximum of 100 patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) in each of three federally qualified health centers (FQHCs; primary care clinics that serve patients regardless of their ability to pay). This paper reports on patient and clinician outcomes organized according to the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. RESULTS: The outcomes according to the RE-AIM framework are as follows: Reach-Seva reached 8.31% (268/3226) of appropriate patients. Reach was limited by our ability to pay for phones and data plans for a maximum of 100 patients per clinic. Effectiveness-Patients who were given Seva had significant improvements in their risky drinking days (44% reduction, (0.7-1.25)/1.25, P=.04), illicit drug-use days (34% reduction, (2.14-3.22)/3.22, P=.01), quality of life, human immunodeficiency virus screening rates, and number of hospitalizations. Through Seva, patients also provided peer support to one another in ways that are novel in primary care settings. Adoption-Patients sustained high levels of Seva use-between 53% and 60% of the patients at the 3 sites accessed Seva during the last week of the 12-month implementation period. Among clinicians, use of the technology was less robust than use by patients, with only a handful of clinicians using Seva in each clinic and behavioral health providers making most referrals to Seva in 2 of the 3 clinics. Implementation-At 2 sites, implementation plans were realized successfully; they were delayed in the third. Maintenance-Use of Seva dropped when grant funding stopped paying for the mobile phones and data plans. Two of the 3 clinics wanted to maintain the use of Seva, but they struggled to find funding to support this. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing an mHealth system can improve care among primary care patients with SUDs, and patients using the system can support one another in their recovery. Among clinicians, however, implementation requires figuring out how information from the mHealth system will be used and making mHealth data available in the electronic health (eHealth) record. In addition, paying for an mHealth system remains a challenge.

Survey Assessing Medical Student and Physician Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Opioid Crisis.

BACKGROUND: There is a national opioid misuse and overdose crisis. Consensus guidelines seek to inform practice and reduce risk; however, effect on clinician attitudes and knowledge remains unclear. METHODS: We surveyed 228 medical students and physicians in Wisconsin to assess their knowledge regarding at-risk patients, alternatives to opioids, and best treatment practices for opioid addiction. We also assessed attitudes about prescribing naloxone, relapse likelihood, and responsibility for the crisis. DISCUSSION: Enhancement of opioid-related education is both necessary to address knowledge gaps and desired by students and physicians.

Predischarge Injectable Versus Oral Naltrexone to Improve Postdischarge Treatment Engagement Among Hospitalized Veterans with Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Pilot Proof-of-Concept Study.

BACKGROUND: Injectable naltrexone for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) has been efficacious in several studies. It has not been (i) compared head-to-head with oral naltrexone or (ii) examined in the hospital setting as an intervention that might facilitate treatment attendance after hospital discharge. METHODS: Fifty-four hospitalized veterans identified as having DSM-IV-TR alcohol dependence were randomized to receive (i) a 50 mg oral naltrexone plus a 30-day prescription or (ii) a 380 mg intramuscular naltrexone injection prior to discharge. Of 113 veteran inpatients deemed eligible based on screening criteria, 54 met final eligibility criteria and were enrolled and randomized. Baseline data included demographics, alcohol consumption, and comorbidity. Measures of treatment initiation and engagement and alcohol consumption were reassessed at 14- and 45-day follow-ups. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants (64.8%) completed the entire study protocol (received a study medication and completed 14- and 45-day follow-ups). Among those who received a study medication (n = 45), 77.8% completed all follow-up interviews. This pilot study was not designed to have sufficient statistical power for hypothesis testing, and thus, as expected, there were no significant differences between groups in medication adherence (self-report of >80% of daily doses taken in oral group; receipt of second injection in the injection group), treatment engagement (at least treatment 3 visits in the 30 days postdischarge, and 2 or more visits per month in each of the 3 months following discharge) or alcohol consumption at 14 or at 45 days (p > 0.05). The median number of drinks among the entire cohort in the 2 weeks prior to hospitalization (128 drinks) was significantly higher than at day 14 (0 drinks, p < 0.001) or day 45 (0 drinks, p < 0.001). Rates of medication adherence were 62% in the oral group and 61% in the injection group. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate feasibility for larger, more definitive study. Both groups had significant reductions in alcohol consumption over time and high-treatment engagement rates. Both oral and injectable formulations are feasible to initiate prior to discharge for hospital inpatients identified as having an AUD.