Culture change and lessons learned from ten years in the VA centers of excellence in primary care education.

BACKGROUND: Team-based care is critical to achieving health care value while maximizing patient outcomes. Few descriptions exist of graduate-level team training interventions and practice models. Experience from the multisite, decade-long Veterans Affairs (VA) Centers of Excellence in Primary Care Education provides lessons for developing internal medicine training experiences in interprofessional clinical learning environments. METHODS: A review of multisite demonstration project transforming traditional silo-model training to interprofessional team-based primary care. Using iterative quality improvement approaches, sites evaluated curricula with learner, faculty and staff feedback. Learner- and patient-level outcomes and organizational culture change were examined using mixed methods, within and across sites. Participants included more than 1600 internal medicine, nurse practitioner, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, social work and physical therapy trainees. This took place in seven academic university-affiliated VA primary care clinics with patient centered medical home design RESULTS: Each site developed innovative design and curricula using common competencies of shared decision making, sustained relationships, performance improvement and interprofessional collaboration. Educational strategies included integrated didactics, workplace collaboration and reflection. Sites shared implementation best practices and outcomes. Cross-site evaluations of the impacts of these educational strategies indicated improvements in trainee clinical knowledge, team-based approaches to care and interest in primary care careers. Improved patient outcomes were seen in the quality of chronic disease management, reduction in polypharmacy, and reduced emergency department and hospitalizations. Evaluations of the culture of training environments demonstrated incorporation and persistence of interprofessional learning and collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: Aligning education and practice goals with cross-site collaboration created a robust interprofessional learning environment. Improved trainee/staff satisfaction and better patient care metrics supports use of this model to transform ambulatory care training. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This evaluation was categorized as an operation improvement activity by the Office of Academic Affairs based on Veterans Health Administration Handbook 1058.05, in which information generated is used for business operations and quality improvement (Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations Part 16 (38 CFR 16.102(l)). The overall project was subject to administrative oversight rather Human Subjects Institutional Review Board, as such informed consent was waived as part of the project implementation and evaluation.

Sociodemographic and Health Belief Model Factors Associated with Nonadherence to COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Virus mitigation strategies such as adhering to stay-at-home orders, practicing social distancing, and engaging in personal protective behaviors are central to slowing the spread of COVID-19. This population-based cohort study sought to identify sociodemographic characteristics and Health Belief Model factors that are associated with nonadherence to COVID-19 mitigation strategies with the goal of informing public health messaging campaigns. METHODS: An online population-based survey was distributed via social media over an 8-week period from April 13, 2020, to June 8, 2020. RESULTS: Data were derived from 2,222 adults (57% female; 40% racial/ethnic minorities). Univariate analyses revealed that men, younger aged (18-30 years) and unmarried adults, and noncollege educated individuals had lower levels of perceived threat, control, and knowledge about COVID-19 (p ≤ .001). Multivariable linear regression models further revealed that male gender was significantly associated with reporting lower levels of adherence to COVID-19 mitigation strategies (p < .001), and that higher levels of perceived threat, perceived control, and knowledge about how to keep oneself and others safe from COVID-19 were significantly associated with reporting higher levels of adherence to COVID-19 mitigation strategies (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that public health appeals that target men, emphasize individual risk, and provide clear, consistent guidance on what individuals can do to decrease their risk for COVID-19 may be effective in motivating increased mitigation adherence.

Examining changes in interprofessional attitudes associated with virtual interprofessional training.

Interprofessional care is essential in healthcare, but prior work has shown that physicians and nurses tend to have different perceptions about working interprofessionally (interprofessional attitudes). Although training has been shown to improve interprofessional attitudes, providing traditional face to face training is logistically challenging in the healthcare setting. The current study examined whether a virtual interprofessional training program could improve interprofessional attitudes for nurses and physicians. Among a sample of 35 physicians and nurses, results suggested that engagement in a virtual interprofessional training program was associated with improvements in interprofessional attitudes (i.e., perceived ability to work with, value in working with, and comfort in working with other professions) (p = .002), with attitudes improving an average of 0.25 points on a six-point scale (Cohen's d = 0.52). As a secondary aim, results showed that the magnitude of change in interprofessional attitudes did not differ significantly between physicians and nurses. Altogether, results suggest that virtual interprofessional training appears to be a suitable way to begin to improve interprofessional attitudes for both physicians and nurses.

Impact of Patient-Centered Medical Home Implementation on Diabetes Control in the Veterans Health Administration.

BACKGROUND: Given its widespread dissemination across primary care, the Veterans Health Administration (VA) is an ideal setting to examine the impact of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) on diabetes outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of PCMH implementation on diabetes outcomes among patients receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis and multilevel logistic regression. PATIENTS: Twenty thousand eight hundred fifty-eight patients in one Midwest VA network who had a diabetes diagnosis in both 2009 and 2012 and who received primary care between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009. MAIN MEASURES: Glycemic and lipid control using VA quality indicators [hemoglobin (Hb) A1c < 9%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) < 100 mg/dL]. KEY RESULTS: Odds of glycemic control were lower in 2012 than 2009 (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.67-0.77, p < 0.001), and this change in control over time varied by race (OR of the interaction between time and race = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02-1.36, p = 0.028). While the disparity in glycemic control between white and black patients persisted post-PCMH, the magnitude of the disparity was smaller in 2012 compared to 2009 (2012: OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.18-1.47, p < 0.0001 and 2009: OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.39-1.82, p < 0.0001). Odds of lipid control did not significantly change between 2009 and 2012 and change did not vary by race and/or gender. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were no significant improvements in odds of lipid control, and odds of glycemic control decreased following PCMH implementation, there was evidence of reduced racial disparities in glycemic control post-PCMH implementation.

A Systematic Literature Review of Instruments to Measure Coordination.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Organizing patient care and improving team coordination have been identified by the Institute of Medicine and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as essential components of high-quality care. Research is lacking, however, on the measurement of care team coordination and its mechanisms. Using an organizational psychology framework developed by Okhuysen and Bechky (O&B) as a guide, the authors identify strengths and gaps in the existing literature related to the measurement of coordination and its associated constructs. The authors conducted a review of peer-reviewed articles in healthcare, management, and psychology journals that contain survey items that could be used to measure the domains in the O&B framework. An initial search yielded 468 articles published from 1978 to 2014, 37 of which came from healthcare journals. From this set, 1,401 candidate survey items were extracted from 74 articles. Of these, 279 items were categorized into at least one O&B domain. Retained items were drawn from scales representing 51 constructs related to teamwork, roles, trust, coordination broadly, and ancillary constructs. Two constructs, physical proximity and plans and rules, were directly represented both in the O&B framework and as standalone constructs in the literature. The remaining constructs contributed items that indirectly assess components of the O&B framework domains. Despite decades of research on coordination, valid survey items for measuring the mechanisms and integrating conditions described by the O&B framework as leading to successful team coordination are scarce, and virtually nonexistent in healthcare, as measures of care team coordination.

Calculations of Financial Incentives for Providers in a Pay-for-Performance Program: Manual Review Versus Data From Structured Fields in Electronic Health Records.

BACKGROUND: Hospital report cards and financial incentives linked to performance require clinical data that are reliable, appropriate, timely, and cost-effective to process. Pay-for-performance plans are transitioning to automated electronic health record (EHR) data as an efficient method to generate data needed for these programs. OBJECTIVE: To determine how well data from automated processing of structured fields in the electronic health record (AP-EHR) reflect data from manual chart review and the impact of these data on performance rewards. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of performance measures used in a cluster randomized trial assessing the impact of financial incentives on guideline-recommended care for hypertension. SUBJECTS: A total of 2840 patients with hypertension assigned to participating physicians at 12 Veterans Affairs hospital-based outpatient clinics. Fifty-two physicians and 33 primary care personnel received incentive payments. MEASURES: Overall, positive and negative agreement indices and Cohen's kappa were calculated for assessments of guideline-recommended antihypertensive medication use, blood pressure (BP) control, and appropriate response to uncontrolled BP. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess how similar participants' calculated earnings were between the data sources. RESULTS: By manual chart review data, 72.3% of patients were considered to have received guideline-recommended antihypertensive medications compared with 65.0% by AP-EHR review (κ=0.51). Manual review indicated 69.5% of patients had controlled BP compared with 66.8% by AP-EHR review (κ=0.87). Compared with 52.2% of patients per the manual review, 39.8% received an appropriate response by AP-EHR review (κ=0.28). Participants' incentive payments calculated using the 2 methods were highly correlated (r≥0.98). Using the AP-EHR data to calculate earnings, participants' payment changes ranged from a decrease of $91.00 (-30.3%) to an increase of $18.20 (+7.4%) for medication use (interquartile range, -14.4% to 0%) and a decrease of $100.10 (-31.4%) to an increase of $36.40 (+15.4%) for BP control or appropriate response to uncontrolled BP (interquartile range, -11.9% to -6.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Pay-for-performance plans that use only EHR data should carefully consider the measures and the structure of the EHR before data collection and financial incentive disbursement. For this study, we feel that a 10% difference in the total amount of incentive earnings disbursed based on AP-EHR data compared with manual review is acceptable given the time and resources required to abstract data from medical records.

Publishing protocols for partnered research.

Published scientific protocols are advocated as a means of controlling bias in research reporting. Indeed, many journals require a study protocol with manuscript submission. However, publishing protocols of partnered research (PPR) can be challenging in light of the research model's dynamic nature, especially as no current reporting standards exist. Nevertheless, as these protocols become more prevalent, a priori documentation of methods in partnered research studies becomes increasingly important. Using as illustration a suite of studies aimed at improving coordination and communication in the primary care setting, we sought to identify challenges in publishing PPR relative to traditional designs, present alternative solutions to PPR publication, and propose an initial checklist of content to be included in protocols of partnered research. Challenges to publishing PPR include reporting details of research components intended to be co-created with operational partners, changes to sampling and entry strategy, and alignment of scientific and operational goals. Proposed solutions include emulating reporting standards of qualitative research, participatory action research, and adaptive trial designs, as well as embracing technological tools that facilitate publishing adaptive protocols, with version histories that are able to be updated as major protocol changes occur. Finally, we present a proposed checklist of reporting elements for partnered research protocols.

Proxy use of patient portals on behalf of children: Federally Qualified Health Centers as a case study.

Objective: This study examined the proxy use of patient portals for children in a large Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) network in Texas. Methods: We used de-identified individual-level data of patients, 0-18 years, who had 1+ visits between December 2018 and November 2020. Logistic regression was used to examine patient-, clinic-, and geographic-level factors associated with portal usage by an assumed proxy (i.e. parent or guardian). Results: The proxy portal usage rate increased from 28% in the pre-pandemic months (November 2018-February 2020) to 34% in the pandemic months (March-Nov 2020). Compared to patients 0-5 years, patients aged 6 to 18 years had lower odds of portal usage (6-10 OR: 0.77, p < 0.001; 11-14 OR: 0.62, p < 0.001; 15-18 OR: 0.51, p < 0.001). Minoritized groups had significantly lower odds of portal usage when compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts (non-Hispanic Black OR: 0.78, p < 0.001; Hispanic OR 0.63, p < 0.001; Asian OR: 0.69, p < 0.001). Having one chronic condition was associated with portal usage (OR: 1.57, p < 0.001); however, there were no significant differences in portal usage between those with none or multiple chronic conditions. Portal usage also varied by service lines, with obstetrics and gynecology (OR: 1.84, p < 0.001) and behavioral health (OR 1.82, p < 0.001) having the highest odds of usage when compared to pediatrics. Having a telemedicine visit was the strongest predictor of portal usage (OR: 2.30, p < 0.001), while residence in zip codes with poor broadband internet access was associated with lower odds of portal usage (OR: 0.97, p < 0.001). Conclusion: While others have reported portal usage rates as high as 64% in pediatric settings, our analysis suggests proxy portal usage rates of 30% in pediatric FQHC settings, with race/ethnicity, age group, and chronic disease status being significant drivers of portal non-usage. These findings highlight the need for appropriate and responsive health information technology approaches for vulnerable populations receiving care in low-resource settings.

Variations in definitions of mortality have little influence on neonatal intensive care unit performance ratings.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the influence of varying mortality time frames on performance rankings among regional neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in a large state. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a cross-sectional data analysis of very low birth weight infants receiving care at 24 level 3 NICUs. We tested the effect of 4 definitions of mortality: (1) death between admission and end of birth hospitalization or up to 366 days; (2) death between 12 hours of age and the end of birth hospitalization or up to 366 days; (3) death between admission and 28 days; and (4) death between 12 hours of age and 28 days. NICUs were ranked by quantifying their deviation from risk-adjusted expected mortality and dividing them into 3 tiers: top 6, bottom 6, and in between. RESULTS: There was wide interinstitutional variation in risk-adjusted mortality for each definition (observed minus expected z-score range, -6.08 to 3.75). However, mortality-based NICU rankings and classification into performance tiers were very similar for all institutions in each of our time frames. Among all 4 definitions, NICU rank correlations were high (>0.91). Few NICUs changed relative to a neighboring tier with changes in definitions, and none changed by more than one tier. CONCLUSION: The time frame used to ascertain mortality had little effect on comparative NICU performance.

Effects of individual physician-level and practice-level financial incentives on hypertension care: a randomized trial.

IMPORTANCE: Pay for performance is intended to align incentives to promote high-quality care, but results have been contradictory. OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of explicit financial incentives to reward guideline-recommended hypertension care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cluster randomized trial of 12 Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics with 5 performance periods and a 12-month washout that enrolled 83 primary care physicians and 42 nonphysician personnel (eg, nurses, pharmacists). INTERVENTIONS: Physician-level (individual) incentives, practice-level incentives, both, or none. Intervention participants received up to 5 payments every 4 months; all participants could access feedback reports. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Among a random sample, number of patients achieving guideline-recommended blood pressure thresholds or receiving an appropriate response to uncontrolled blood pressure, number of patients prescribed guideline-recommended medications, and number who developed hypotension. RESULTS: Mean (SD) total payments over the study were $4270 ($459), $2672 ($153), and $1648 ($248) for the combined, individual, and practice-level interventions, respectively. The unadjusted baseline and final percentages and the adjusted absolute change over the study in patients meeting the combined blood pressure/appropriate response measure were 75% to 84% and 8.84% (95% CI, 4.20% to 11.80%) for the individual group, 80% to 85% and 3.70% (95% CI, 0.24% to 7.68%) for the practice-level group, 79% to 88% and 5.54% (95% CI, 1.92% to 9.52%) for the combined group, and 86% to 86% and 0.47% (95% CI, -3.12% to 4.04%) for the control group. The adjusted absolute estimated difference in the change between the proportion of patients with blood pressure control/appropriate response for individual incentive and control groups was 8.36% (95% CI, 2.40% to 13.00%; P=.005). The other incentive groups did not show a significant change compared with controls for this outcome. For medications, the unadjusted baseline and final percentages and the adjusted absolute change were 61% to 73% and 9.07% (95% CI, 4.52% to 13.44%), 56% to 65% and 4.98% (95% CI, 0.64% to 10.08%), 65% to 80% and 7.26% (95% CI, 2.92% to 12.48%), and 63% to 72% and 4.35% (95% CI, -0.28% to 9.28%), respectively. These changes in the use of guideline-recommended medications were not significant in any of the incentive groups compared with controls, nor was the incidence of hypotension. The effect of the incentive was not sustained after a washout. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Individual financial incentives, but not practice-level or combined incentives, resulted in greater blood pressure control or appropriate response to uncontrolled blood pressure; none of the incentives resulted in greater use of guideline-recommended medications or increased incidence of hypotension compared with controls. Further research is needed on the factors that contributed to these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00302718.

Rethinking access to care: A spatial-economic analysis of the potential impact of pharmacy closures in the United States.

Data chronicling the geo-locations of all 61,589 pharmacies in the U.S. (from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) Open Data interface, updated on April 2018) across 215,836 census block groups were combined with Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) information, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Social Vulnerability Index (CDC-SVI). Geospatial techniques were applied to calculate the distance between the center of each census block and the nearest pharmacy. We then modeled the expected additional travel distance if the nearest pharmacy to the center of a census block closed and estimated additional travel costs, CO2 emissions, and lost labor productivity costs associated with the additional travel. Our findings revealed that MUA residents have almost two times greater travel distances to pharmacies than non-MUAs (4,269 m (2.65 mi) vs. 2,388 m (1.48 mi)), and this disparity is exaggerated with pharmacy closures (107% increase in travel distance in MUAs vs. 75% increase in travel distance in non-MUAs). Similarly, individuals living in MUAs experience significantly greater average annual economic costs than non-MUAs ($34,834 ± $668 vs. $22,720 ± $326). Our findings suggest the need for additional regulations to ensure populations are not disproportionately affected by these closures and that there is a significant throughput with community stakeholders before any pharmacy decides to close.

Ascertainment of Minimal Clinically Important Differences in the Diabetes Distress Scale-17: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The Diabetes Distress Scale-17 (DDS-17) is a common measure of diabetes distress. Despite its popularity, there are no agreed-on minimal clinically important difference (MCID) values for the DDS-17. Objective: To establish a distribution-based metric for MCID in the DDS-17 and its 4 subscale scores (interpersonal distress, physician distress, regimen distress, and emotional distress). Design, Setting, and Participants: This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial used baseline and postintervention data from a hybrid (implementation-effectiveness) trial evaluating Empowering Patients in Chronic Care (EPICC) vs an enhanced form of usual care (EUC). Participants included adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (glycated hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] level >8.0%) who received primary care during the prior year in participating Department of Veterans Affairs clinics across Illinois, Indiana, and Texas. Data collection was completed in November 2018, and data analysis was completed in June 2023. Interventions: Participants in EPICC attended 6 group sessions led by health care professionals based on collaborative goal-setting theory. EUC included diabetes education. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was distribution-based MCID values for the total DDS-17 and 4 DDS-17 subscales, calculated using the standard error of measurement. Baseline to postintervention changes in DDS-17 and its 4 subscale scores were grouped into 3 categories: improved, no change, and worsened. Multilevel logistic and linear regression models examined associations between treatment group and MCID change categories and whether improvement in HbA1c varied in association with MCID category. Results: A total of 248 individuals with complete DDS-17 data were included (mean [SD] age, 67.4 [8.3] years; 235 [94.76%] men), with 123 participants in the EPICC group and 125 participants in the EUC group. The MCID value for DDS-17 was 0.25 and MCID values for the 4 distress subscales were 0.38 for emotional and interpersonal distress and 0.39 for physician and regimen distress. Compared with EUC, more EPICC participants were in the MCID improvement category on DDS-17 (63 participants [51.22%] vs 40 participants [32.00%]; P = .003) and fewer EPICC participants were in the worsened category (20 participants [16.26%] vs 39 participants [31.20%]; P = .008). There was no direct association of DDS-17 MCID improvement (ß = -0.25; 95% CI, -0.59 to 0.10; P = .17) or worsening (ß = 0.18; 95% CI, -0.22 to 0.59; P = .38) with HbA1c levels among all participants. Conclusions and Relevance: In this secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial, an MCID improvement or worsening of more than 0.25 on the DDS-17 was quantitatively significant and patients in the EPICC group were more likely to experience improvement than those in the EUC group. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01876485.

Evaluating Predictors of Participation in Telephone-Based Social-Connectedness Interventions for Older Adults: A Dual Machine-Learning and Regression Approach.

Social isolation is a well-documented contributor to poor mental and physical health, and interventions promoting social connectedness have been associated with various health benefits. This study examined predictors of participation in a telephone-based social connectedness intervention for socially isolated older adults. Data were obtained from a social-connectedness intervention that paired college students with Houston-area, community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older and enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. We combined machine learning and regression techniques to identify significant predictors of program participation. The following machine-learning methods were implemented: (1) k-nearest neighbors, (2) decision tree and ensembles of decision trees, (3) gradient-boosted decision tree, and (4) random forest. The primary outcome was a binary flag indicating participation in the telephone-based social-connectedness intervention. The most predictive variables in the ML models, with scores corresponding to the 90th percentile or greater, were included in the regression analysis. The predictive ability of each model showed high discriminative power, with test accuracies greater than 95%. Our findings suggest that telephone-based social-connectedness interventions appeal to individuals with disabilities, depression, arthritis, and higher risk scores. scores. Recognizing features that predict participation in social-connectedness programs is the first step to increasing reach and fostering patient engagement.

Examining Black and Hispanic physicians and other healthcare providers' attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

OBJECTIVES: Recognizing that the voice delivering the message is as important as the information being shared, we examined vaccine perceptions and willingness to encourage patients to obtain COVID-19 vaccinations among Black and Hispanic healthcare providers. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, online survey of Black and Hispanic healthcare providers who were members of the National Medical Association (NMA), National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), and National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA) between January 11 - March 3, 2021, shortly after emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Three multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with the willingness to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: The analytic sample consisted of 542 fully completed surveys. Pharmacists reported intent to take the vaccine (75.0% "as soon as you can" vs 91.4% for MD/DOs; p<0.001) and encouraged patients to get vaccinated (78.6% vs 91.0% for MD/DOs; p = 0.01). Providers in a suburban practice location were less likely to recommend vaccines to patients (OR=0.43, 95%CI: 0.22-0.87) and personal family (OR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.22-0.92) compared to those practicing in urban areas. Providers over age 45 were also more likely to report intent to take the vaccine themselves as soon as it was available (OR=3.72, 95%CI: 1.30-10.64). CONCLUSIONS: This is likely the first cross-sectional study in the United States demonstrating the substantial vaccine confidence among Black and Hispanic healthcare providers who serve minoritized communities that have borne the greatest risk of adverse COVID-related outcomes.

The Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Social Connectedness and Psychological Distress in U.S. Adults with Chronic Diseases.

Lockdown measures enacted in 2020 to control the spread of COVID-19 led to increases in the prevalence of mental health problems. Due to their high-risk status, individuals with chronic diseases may be at increased risk and disproportionately adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigators examined associations between having a high-risk chronic condition, social connectedness, and general distress and COVID-19-specific distress among U.S. adults during the COVID-19 lockdown. Baseline measures of a longitudinal survey collected at the beginning of the pandemic (April to June 2020) were analyzed to identify factors associated with loss of social connectedness from pre- to post-lockdown. The associations between social connectedness and both general and COVID-19-specific psychological distress were adjusted for certain high-risk chronic illnesses and interaction effects. The sample available for analysis included 1354 subjects (262 high-risk chronic diseases and 1092 without chronic illness). Those reporting the loss of social connectedness were younger (median = 39 vs. 42) and more likely to be unemployed because of the pandemic (19.4% vs. 11.0%). Adjustment for interaction demonstrated a stronger negative association between social connectedness change and the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 for those with high-risk illness(es) (change in connectedness*chronic illness OR = 0.88, 95%CI: 0.79-0.98, p = 0.020). These findings inform our understanding of the distribution and intersection of responses to public health lockdown orders in the U.S. and build further evidence of the importance of social connectedness on psychological distress.

Examining longitudinal disparities in COVID-19 prevalence in the U.S.: a county level growth rate perspective.

Background: The objectives of the present study are to understand the longitudinal variability in COVID-19 reported cases at the county level and to associate the observed rates of infection with the adoption and lifting of stay-home orders.Materials and Methods: The study uses the trajectory of the pandemic in a county and controls for social and economic risk factors, physical environment, and health behaviors to elucidate the social determinants contributing to the observed rates of infection.Results and conclusion: Results indicated that counties with higher percentages of young individuals, racial and ethnic minorities and, higher population densities experienced greater difficulty suppressing transmission.Except for Education and the Gini Index, all factors were influential on the rate of COVID-19 spread before and after stay-home orders. However, after lifting the orders, six of the factors were not influential on the rate of spread; these included: African-Americans, Population Density, Single Parent Households, Average Daily PM2.5, HIV Prevalence Rate, and Home Ownership. It was concluded that different factors from the ones controlling the initial spread of COVID-19 are at play after stay-home orders are lifted.KEY MESSAGESObserved rates of COVID-19 infection at the County level in the U.S. are not directly associated with adoption and lifting of stay-home orders.Disadvantages in sociodemographic determinants negatively influence the rate of COVID-19 spread.Counties with more young individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and higher population densities have greater difficulty suppressing transmission.

Engaging the Houston Community in Research: An Early Case Study of a Community Engagement Core in the University of Houston's HEALTH Center for Addictions Research and Cancer Prevention.

Objective: The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities-funded U54 Research Center at the University of Houston addresses disparate racial/ethnic health outcomes related to cancer and substance abuse. Of its 4 cores, the Community Engagement Core involves the impacted community in affiliated research. Strategies include implementing community advisory boards, assisting with study design and execution, maintaining a social media presence, and publishing health-related videos for the community. We examine the early effectiveness of these strategies. Methods: Data collection included surveying investigators and community advisory board members and monitoring traffic to videos and social media posts. Results: On a Likert scale survey of investigators (4 = "agree" and 5 = "strongly agree"), the mean rating for a prompt expressing satisfaction with services received was 4.67 (SD = 0.52; N = 6). On a Likert scale survey of community advisory board members, the mean rating for a prompt expressing belief that feedback was taken seriously was 5.00 (SD = 0.00; N = 9). Conclusions: The Community Engagement Core is building trusting relationships between researchers and community members. We discuss lessons learned that may inform both our growth and others' efforts to implement community-engaged research.

Assessment of Unmet Health-Related Social Needs Among Patients With Mental Illness Enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

Importance: A large body of literature has found associations between unmet health-related social needs (HRSNs) and adverse mental health outcomes. A comparative analysis of the risks associated with HRSNs among patients with varying severity of mental illness and an assessment of how these risks compare with those of individuals without mental illness are needed. Objective: To examine the prevalence and risks of HRSNs among patients with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI), patients with mental health diagnoses but no serious and persistent mental illness (non-SPMI), and patients with both SPMI and non-SPMI compared with individuals without mental illness. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Accountable Health Communities HRSN Screening Tool surveys, which target a nationally representative sample of Medicare Advantage members of a large payer (Humana Inc). The surveys were conducted between October 16, 2019, and February 29, 2020. Of the initial 329 008 eligible Medicare Advantage enrollees, 70 273 responded to the survey (21.4% response rate). Of those, 56 081 respondents (79.8%) had complete survey responses and were included in the final analytic sample. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes of interest included 7 HRSNs (financial strain, food insecurity, housing instability, housing quality, severe loneliness, transportation problems, and utility affordability) based on responses to the survey. The major independent variable was the presence of mental illness up to 12 months preceding the date of survey completion. Codes indicating mental illness listed as the primary, principal, or secondary diagnoses of a patient's inpatient or outpatient medical claims data were identified, and participants were grouped into 4 cohorts: SPMI, non-SPMI, SPMI plus non-SPMI, and no mental illness. Results: Among 56 081 older adults, the mean (SD) age was 71.31 (8.59) years; 32 717 participants (58.3%) were female, and 43 498 (77.6%) were White. A total of 21 644 participants (38.6%) had at least 1 mental illness diagnosis in the past year, 30 262 (54.0%) had an HRSN, and 14 163 (25.3%) had both mental illness and an HRSN. Across all specific HRSNs, the odds of experiencing the respective HRSN was most substantial for those with SPMI plus non-SPMI vs those with only non-SPMI or SPMI. The HRSN with the largest risk differences among the study cohorts was severe loneliness; compared with the cohort without mental illness, the non-SPMI cohort had 2.07 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.84-2.32; P < .001), the SPMI cohort had 3.35 times higher odds (95% CI, 3.03-3.71; P < .001), and the SPMI plus non-SPMI cohort had 5.13 times higher odds (95% CI, 4.68-5.61; P < .001) of severe loneliness. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, the increased risk of having HRSNs associated with SPMI, alone or in combination with non-SPMI, emphasizes the need for more targeted interventions to address social needs in this vulnerable population.

Evaluating a contact tracing course: How universities can develop the public health workforce.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the participants of a university-based COVID-19 contact tracing course and determine whether the course changed knowledge, attitudes, and intention to participate in contact tracing. PARTICIPANTS: Faculty, staff, and students were eligible. METHODS: Surveys evaluated the impact of the course on participant intentions to engage in contact tracing. Logistic regression identified characteristics associated with increased likelihood of participating in contact tracing. RESULTS: Nearly 800 individuals participated, of whom 26.2% identified as Hispanic/Latino and 14.0% as Black. Nearly half (48.8%) planned to conduct contact tracing. While attitudes did not change, knowledge improved (67.9% vs. 93.8% scores on assessments; p < 0.001). Younger participants and Black individuals were more more likely to be confident that they would participate in contact tracing. CONCLUSIONS: Course completion was associated with increased knowledge. Participants were racially and ethnically diverse, highlighting how universities can partner with health departments to develop workforces that reflect local communities.