Community Health Centers Research Articles

Analisis Pelaksanaan Rujukan Pasien Rawat Jalan Peserta BPJS Kesehatan di Puskesmas Mataram

The referral system is a healthcare management system that carries out the transfer of mutually accountable responsibilities for a specific medical case or health problem either vertically, meaning from a less capable unit to a more capable unit, or horizontally, meaning among units of similar capabilities. The referral system regulates the flow of where someone with a particular health problem should seek examination for their health issues. The purpose of this research is to analyze the Implementation of Outpatient Referral for Participants of the Health Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) at Mataram Community Health Center. The method used in this research employs a qualitative descriptive approach to gain an overview of the analysis of outpatient referral implementation for BPJS Kesehatan participants at Mataram Community Health Center. Descriptive means that the data collected are in the form of words, images, and not numerical values. The findings of the research indicate that the implementation of outpatient referral at the Community Health Center shows that it has not fully run smoothly. Patient knowledge varies, with some understanding and others not understanding. The facilities and infrastructure are still lacking, some diseases diagnosed under code 144 are still referred, many referrals are initiated by the patients themselves, and there are outpatient referrals from outside healthcare facilities.

Mpox now a global emergency: a reality versus myths

The global landscape of infectious diseases significantly transformed after the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the growing concerns, mpox had emerged as a serious infectious illness that needed immediate and urgent action. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a health emergency. The rise in mpox cases has sparked a flurry of arguments and debates among healthcare experts and the general public. This spike of attention, however, has resulted in a proliferation of myths and misconceptions about the condition. In response to this critical moment in global public health, the authors seek to clarify falsehoods while shedding light on the significant difficulties that mpox poses to the healthcare community and society.

Barriers to primary care among immigrants and refugees in Peterborough, Ontario: a qualitative study of provider perspectives

BackgroundCanada’s immigrants and refugees have often settled in large Canadian cities, but this is changing with rising costs of living and rural settlement initiatives. However, little consideration is made regarding systemic changes needed to accommodate this distribution, particularly in healthcare in medium-sized cities or smaller communities. For most Canadians, primary care is an entry point into the healthcare system but immigrants and refugees face unique barriers to accessing care compared to the general Canadian population. This project aimed to better understand the barriers to accessing primary care among newcomers in Peterborough, Ontario from the perspective of newcomer service providers.MethodologyParticipants were recruited from community organizations identified by the local settlement agency, the New Canadians Centre, as having regular interactions with newcomer clients including clinics, not-for-profit organizations, and volunteer groups. Four focus groups were completed, each with three participants (n=12). A coding grid was deductively developed to guide thematic analysis by adapting Levesque et al.’s conceptual framework defining access to healthcare with five specific dimensions: approachability, acceptability, availability and accommodation, affordability, and appropriateness.ResultsParticipants identified lack of awareness of the healthcare system, stigma, competing priorities, and direct costs as some of the barriers for newcomers. Participants highlighted barriers unique to Peterborough including proximity to services, social isolation, and a shortage of family physicians. The results also highlighted strengths in the community such as its maternal-child health programming.ConclusionThe results provide a glimpse of the challenges to accessing primary care among newcomers in medium-sized communities and identify opportunities to prepare for changing settlement patterns.

Tuberculosis care provided by private practitioners in an urban setting in Indonesia: Findings from a standardized patient study.

In Indonesia, government-owned Community Health Centers (CHCs) spearhead tuberculosis (TB) care at the primary level, but a substantial proportion of individuals with pulmonary TB also seek care from Private Practitioners (PPs). However, little is known about PPs' practice in managing patients with TB-associated symptoms. To avoid bias associated with self-administered surveys, we used standardized patients (SPs) to evaluate PPs' adherence to the national TB guidelines. Four clinical scenarios of individuals presenting complaints suggestive of TB, accompanied by different sputum smear results or TB treatment histories were developed. We assigned 12 trained SPs to PPs practicing in 30 CHC catchment areas in Bandung city, Indonesia. For comparison, two scenarios were also presented to the CHCs. A total of 341 successful SP visits were made to 225 private general practitioners (GPs), 29 private specialists, and 30 CHCs. When laboratory results were not available, adherence to the recommended course of action, i.e., sputum examination, was low among private GPs (31%) and private specialists (20%), while it was requested in 87% of visits to the CHCs. PPs preferred chest X-ray (CXR) in all scenarios, with requests made in 66% of visits to private GPs and 84% of visits to private specialists (vs. 8% CHCs). Prescriptions of incorrect TB drug regimens were reported from 7% and 13% of visits to private GPs and specialists, respectively, versus none of the CHCs. Indonesian PPs have a clear preference for CXR over microbiological testing for triaging presumptive TB patients, and inappropriate prescription of TB drugs is not uncommon. These findings warrant actions to increase awareness among PPs about the importance of microbiological testing and of administering appropriate TB drug regimens. SP studies can be used to assess the impact of these interventions on providers' adherence to guidelines.

The Effect of Outpatient Health Services on Patient Satisfaction at Puskesmas Indra Jaya, Indra Jaya District, Aceh Jaya Regency

The quality of health services is defined as a condition that describes the level of perfection of the appearance of a health service product provided comprehensively. The dissatisfaction felt by patients when receiving services causes the quality of the health center to be poor. This research aims to analyze the influence of outpatient health services on patient satisfaction at the Indra Jaya Health Center, Aceh Jaya Regency. This type of research is an analytical survey with a cross-sectional approach using primary data with questionnaires and secondary data from Community Health Center reports. The population in this study were all outpatients who visited the Indra Jaya Health Center with a sample size of 95 people determined using the accidental sampling method. Analysis was carried out using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis. The results of the logistic regression test show that the variables responsiveness (p=0.025), reliability (p=0.050), guarantee (p=0.150), concern (p=0.042), and physical evidence (p=0.073) influence patient satisfaction. The most influential variable is a concern with an Exp (B) value of 4.781. This research concludes that there is a positive influence between responsiveness and caring on patient satisfaction, while reliability, guarantee, and physical evidence do not have a significant influence. Therefore, efforts are needed to improve the quality of outpatient services by increasing attention to patients and providing good responses in responding to patient complaints.

Social Determinants of Health in a Kansas Community Health Center.

This study explored the connection between social determinants and patient self-rated health at Health Ministries Clinic (HMC) in a rural Kansas community. Community health centers, like HMC, strive to deliver comprehensive care that addresses patients' social needs. The authors employed a convenience sampling method to survey HMC patients with appointments from September to December 2018. The authors analyzed the data using Chi-square tests and descriptive statistics in RStudio, considering p <0.05 as significant. Among 200 patient responses, education, income, employment, and insurance status were negatively correlated with self-rated health. Notably, 86.2% of college or graduate school graduates reported positive health ratings, compared to 40% of those who did not finish high school (χ2(12, N = 185) = 25.75, p = 0.012). Lower income individuals (income <$34,000 per year) consistently rated their health poorer than their higher income counterparts (χ2(12, N = 174) = 23.96, p = 0.021). Patients without insurance or with public insurance (Medicaid/ CHIP) perceived their health as worse than those on private health insurance and Medicare (χ2(12, N = 137) = 35.67, p <0.001). Our findings suggest that low educational attainment, income, and lack of health insurance are associated with barriers to healthcare, resulting in poor health outcomes and chronic disease among those with lower socioeconomic status. This underscores the strong association between social determinants and self-rated health among HMC patients. These results can be used by other clinics to assess the needs of their patient population and enhance community health initiatives.

Development and Validation of a Predictive Model for Early Identification of Cognitive Impairment Risk in Community-Based Hypertensive Patients.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for the development of mild cognitive dysfunction in hypertensive patients in the community and to develop a risk prediction model. Method: The data used in this study were obtained from two sources: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). A total of 1121 participants from CHARLS were randomly allocated into a training set and a validation set, following a 70:30 ratio. Meanwhile, an additional 4016 participants from CLHLS were employed for external validation of the model. The patients in this study were divided into two groups: those with mild cognitive impairment and those without. General information, employment status, pension, health insurance, and presence of depressive symptoms were compared between the two groups. LASSO regression analysis was employed to identify the most predictive variables for the model, utilizing 14-fold cross-validation. The risk prediction model for cognitive impairment in hypertensive populations was developed using generalized linear models. The model's discriminatory power was evaluated through the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curves. Results: In the modeling group, eight variables such as gender, age, residence, education, alcohol use, depression, employment status, and health insurance were ultimately selected from an initial pool of 21 potential predictors to construct the risk prediction model. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the training, internal, and external validation sets were 0.777, 0.785, and 0.782, respectively. All exceeded the threshold of 0.7, suggesting that the model effectively predicts the incidence of mild cognitive dysfunction in community-based hypertensive patients. A risk prediction model was developed using a generalized linear model in conjunction with Lasso regression. The model's performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Hosmer-Lemeshow test values yielded p = .346 and p = .626, both of which exceeded the 0.05 threshold. Calibration curves demonstrated a significant agreement between the nomogram model and observed outcomes, serving as an effective tool for evaluating the model's predictive performance. Discussion: The predictive model developed in this study serves as a promising and efficient tool for evaluating cognitive impairment in hypertensive patients, aiding community healthcare workers in identifying at-risk populations.

Identifying Challenges and Solutions for Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Rural Youth: Insights from Adult Community Members.

Semi-structured, key informant interviews were conducted by telephone with adult community members, including parents, teachers, and healthcare providers. Participants answered questions related to barriers to mental healthcare access that confront youth and approaches to improving access. Detailed, de-identified field notes were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Limited resources and stigma were the two primary barriers to accessing mental healthcare that youth encounter in the community. Limited resources included lack of services and transportation, inconsistent funding and mental health programming, and workforce shortages. Stigma associated with seeking mental healthcare was of particular concern for youth with diverse identities who experience additional stigma. Improving access to mental healthcare for rural youth will require building a strong mental health workforce and championing efforts to reduce stigma associated with help-seeking.

The Role of Recreational Activities in Enhancing Quality of Life among the Elderly

Purpose: The general aim of this study was to explore the role of recreational activities in enhancing the quality of life among the elderly. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of recreational activities in enhancing the quality of life among the elderly. Preliminary empirical review revealed that regular participation in recreational activities was crucial for improving various aspects of well-being for older adults. Physical activities improved physical health and mobility, social activities reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation, and cognitive and creative activities stimulated the brain and enhanced psychological well-being. The study identified gaps in understanding and access to recreational activities for the elderly, highlighting the need for more research and inclusive programming. Overall, the findings underscored the importance of tailored recreational programs in promoting a better quality of life for elderly individuals. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Theory of Planned Behavior, Activity Theory and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory may be used to anchor future studies on recreational activities on the quality of life among the elderly. The study made significant contributions to theory, practice, and policy in gerontology and public health. It provided empirical support for existing theories, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, while offering actionable recommendations for healthcare providers, community organizations, and policymakers. By validating theoretical frameworks, offering practical insights, and informing policy initiatives, the study advanced understanding of how recreational interventions can promote well-being and quality of life in aging populations. Through continued research, practice, and policy efforts, stakeholders could work collaboratively to create supportive environments

Organizational culture and turnover intention among primary care providers: a multilevel study in four large cities in China

ABSTRACT Background Primary health care plays an important role in providing populations with access to health care. However, it is currently facing unprecedented workforce shortages and high turnover worldwide. Objective This study examined the relationship between organizational culture and turnover intention among primary care providers in China. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered in four large cities in China, Tianjin, Jinan, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, comprising 38 community health centers and 399 primary care providers. Organizational culture was measured using the Competing Value Framework model, which is divided into four culture types: group, development, hierarchy, and rational culture. Turnover intention was measured using one item assessing participants’ intention to leave their current position in the following year. We compared the turnover intention among different organizational culture types using a Chi-square test, while the hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between organizational culture and turnover intention. Results The study found that 32% of primary care providers indicated an intention to leave. Primary care providers working in a hierarchical culture reported higher turnover intention (43.18%) compared with those in other cultures (p < 0.05). Hierarchical culture was a predictor of turnover intention (OR = 3.453, p < 0.001), whereas rational culture had a negative effect on turnover intention (OR = 0.319, p < 0.05). Conclusions Our findings inform organizational management strategies to retain a healthy workforce in primary health care.

ECHO Autism Washington: Autism Diagnostic Evaluations in Primary Care.

ECHO (Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Autism is a telementoring learning model to increase community capacity for autism-related health care. Seventy-seven pediatric providers (mostly primary care, seeing exclusively Medicaid patient populations) enrolled in 1 year of ECHO Autism Washington. Analysis of self-report surveys showed a significant increase in autism diagnoses made by ECHO providers after 1 year, F(1, 65) = 7.52, P = .008. Providers who attended more sessions reported making more diagnoses, F(2, 613.26), P = .045. Of note, autism diagnoses were not externally validated. The total number of reported barriers reduced, F(2, 61) = 13.5), P < .001, and confidence ratings increased F(2, 60) = 24.21, P < .001. The average number of diagnostic referrals from ECHO providers to the state's largest autism specialty clinic significantly reduced, t(43) = 4.23, P < .001, with significantly fewer diagnostic referrals made during and after ECHO training compared with a comparison group of 28 non-ECHO providers, t(58.77) = -3.36, P < .001. Overall, 1 year of ECHO Autism Washington participation led to significant changes in autism diagnostic practices.

Association between ethnicity, language and metformin prescriptions in U.S. community health center patients with diabetes

BackgroundMetformin treatment is a recommended first-line medication for patients with type 2 diabetes. Latino patients are subject to factors that may modify their level of diabetes care, including medication prescription. We evaluated the odds of and times to metformin prescription among non-Latino whites, English-preferring Latinos, and Spanish-preferring Latinos with diabetes. MethodsWe constructed a retrospective cohort of 154,368 adult patients from 835 community health centers (CHCs) across 20 states who were diagnosed with diabetes during the study. Patients were from non-Latino white, English-preferring Latino, and Spanish-preferring Latino ethnic/language groups. We modeled adjusted odds of metformin prescription and adjusted hazards (time-to-event) of metformin prescription after diabetes diagnosis and high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c > 9) test results. ResultsEnglish-preferring Latinos had similar odds of metformin prescription (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.01 (95% CI = 0.93, 1.09)), slightly lower time to metformin prescription after diabetes diagnosis (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.06(95% CI = 1.04, 1.09)), and similar time to metformin prescription after a high HbA1c result (HR = 1.04 (0.99, 1.09)) compared to non-Latino whites. Spanish-preferring Latinos had higher odds of metformin prescription (OR) = 1.42 (95% CI = 1.33, 1.52), and less time to prescription after diabetes diagnosis (HR = 1.18 (1.15, 1.20)) and after a high HbA1c result (HR = 1.15 (1.11, 1.20)). ConclusionsOur analysis of metformin prescription patterns among non-Latino whites, English-preferring Latinos, and Spanish-preferring Latinos did not suggest a lower or slower tendency to prescribe metformin in Latino patients. Understanding disparities in diabetes diagnosis may require further investigation of medication adherence barriers, diet and exercise counseling, and multi-level influences on diabetes outcomes in Latino patients.

Examining How the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model Improves Health Equity for Underserved Communities and Safety Net Hospitals in New York State.

Safety net hospitals (SNHs) are essential to our healthcare ecosystem, providing quality healthcare to underserved communities. These institutions offer specialized services and acute medical care to populations facing structural or systemic healthcare barriers. However, for decades, the NYS Medicaid program reimbursed hospitals less than the cost of care, resulting in several independent SNHs becoming financially distressed, with many facing closure. Recently, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Service Innovation Center (CMSI) introduced the State All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model, which aims to support the financial needs of providers while also addressing the complex medical and social circumstances of underserved communities. This article will explore how the AHEAD model can be utilized as an alternative payment method for SNHs in New York State (NYS) to improve healthcare for underserved communities.

Preliminary analysis of the disability landscape on Roatán, Honduras

Understanding the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs) is vital to improving targeted healthcare and resources. The project seeks to assess the prevalence of disabilities, resources used, and care and treatment needs for PWDs on Roatán, Honduras. There is little to no prior research about disabilities on the island of Roatán, and few disability studies available in the country of Honduras. We surveyed 581 community members on the island of Roatán over a period of 6 weeks, on questions surrounding the disability status of themselves and their family members, and resources used by PWDs. Interviews were conducted with physicians, promotoras (community health promoters), and staff at the local Rehabilitation Clinic to assess the social experiences and resource needs of PWDs on the island. Of the 613 subjects obtained from our surveys, 258 (42%) had one or more disabilities. The most common disabilities were vision impairment, mobility impairment, and diabetes. 44.98% reported that the PWD did not visit any medical care facility to receive treatment. We found that there was a lack of disability-specific resources on Roatán, and no consistent definition of disability among community members and healthcare providers. Barriers to care include discrimination; caretaker burden; lack of medications, assistive devices, and specialists; and transportation. Our research highlights the need for more education on disabilities within communities, as well as increasing the amount and depth of disability-specific resources accessible on the island. This study was conducted at the request of Clinica Esperanza to determine how it could better support PWDs on Roatán, and the potential benefit of developing a day home for PWDs.

SÍFILIS NA POPULAÇÃO VULNERÁVEL: ESTRATÉGIAS DE INTERVENÇÃO E INCLUSÃO

This article explores intervention and inclusion strategies for syphilis control in vulnerable populations, employing a bibliographic and quantitative methodological approach. Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection of significant global concern, disproportionately affects marginalized groups due to socioeconomic factors and barriers to accessing healthcare services. Studies indicate that implementing health education programs and promoting regular testing are crucial to reducing syphilis incidence in these populations (Smith, 2020). Additionally, community initiatives focused on increasing awareness and access to treatment have proven effective in addressing this public health issue (Johnson &amp; Miller, 2019). Quantitative data reinforce the need for an integrated and inclusive approach involving healthcare professionals, community organizations, and public policies, as essential for syphilis control in vulnerable populations.

Demographics of cancer screening in Providence’s homeless population.

1585 Background: Adults experiencing homelessness have a higher incidence and mortality from cancer. It is estimated that almost 60% of homeless people in the US are from racial and ethnic minorities. Therefore, cancer mortality among the homeless may be an important disparity. In recent years homelessness has increased in Providence RI due to high rents and end of covid subsidies. The objective of this project was to learn about the demographics of the homeless population in Providence, focusing on risk factors for cancer and barriers to screening, to acquire the necessary information to develop interventions to improve cancer screening in the unhoused population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of homeless individuals in Providence, RI. Survey data was obtained at homeless shelters, on the street, at soup kitchens and at other community events supporting the homeless. The largest single source of participants was those attending the Matthewson Street Church Friendship Breakfast on Sunday mornings. Results: Data was obtained from 278 homeless individuals from September 2023 to December 2023. 70% were male, 30% female. Age ranges included 28 (10%) &lt; 40 years, 78 (28%) 40-49 years, 88 (32%) 50-59 years, 74 (27%) 60-69 years and 10 (4%) &gt; 70 years. Race/ethnicity included 56% White, 18% Black, 13% Hispanic/Latino, 2% Native American, 9% multiracial and 2% other. 51% were sleeping in a shelter, 29% were unsheltered (including outside, car or tent), 12% “couch surfing”, and 7% were recently housed. Most participants (92%) had health insurance, the majority being state Medicaid, and had PCP visits (59%), mostly to community health centers, within the last 12 months. 72% of individuals were current cigarette smokers and 45% currently used alcohol. Among women, only 32% were on schedule for mammogram and 61% were on schedule for cervical cancer screening. Colon cancer screening rate for individuals &gt; 45 years was 32%. Only 32% of males over 50 had prostate cancer screening. Barriers identified included needing to have other needs met such as food and housing, lack of transportation to healthcare facilities, and lack of awareness about the need to undergo screening. Conclusions: The most common age range of homelessness in Providence, ages 50-59, is when cancer screening should be ongoing. There is a higher incidence of homelessness among minorities. The homeless population have high risk factors for cancer but screening rates for breast, cervical, lung, prostate and colon cancer are well below national guidelines. This represents a health disparity. Given the proportion of participants with a PCP and health insurance, interventions to improve cancer screening in this population may be feasible. We plan to develop educational partnerships with community health centers during the next phase of this initiative to increase awareness and uptake of screening recommendations.

Irradiate the knowledge gap: Empowering residents for blood product selection at Albany Medical Center.

e23236 Background: Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (ta-GvHD) poses risks for immunocompromised patients. Indications for irradiated blood products include hematological malignancies and bone marrow transplant cases. In instances of severe acute pancytopenia, the initial contact at the emergency room (ER) is typically a nurse, followed by the ER physician. Patients referred from the local private practice, New York Oncology and Hematology (NYOH) office to our local hospital, Albany Medical Center (AMC), often bring comprehensive paper charts, but those coming directly from home frequently lack necessary documents, relying on the medical teams' expertise to ensure appropriate blood product selection. We aim to improve understanding of transfusion products and their indications. Methods: An initial pre-survey questionnaire was sent to internal medicine residents. Of the 33 responses received, 87.9% were aware of the need for irradiated blood products in hematological malignancies, 66.6% knew it was not required for solid tumors, and only 57.6% knew about the need for CAR-T patients. Additionally, only 15.2% knew where to find information on selecting irradiated blood products at AMC. The analysis highlighted a significant knowledge gap in transfusing irradiated blood products for hematological and oncological malignancies. In response, a user-friendly educational resource was created and displayed in residents' conference rooms during inpatient rotations, with plans for intermittent educational sessions over the next months. A comprehensive educational initiative addressed this aspect of patient care within the inpatient service, distributing detailed materials and discussions with the internal medicine residents at AMC. The focus was on emphasizing the critical requirement for irradiated blood products in specific clinical scenarios, particularly when managing patients with hematological malignancies and other conditions where irradiated blood is medically indicated. Results: A follow-up survey, conducted four months after distributing educational material on medicine floors, included responses from 27 internal medicine residents. Notably, 100% and 88.9% were knowledgeable about the necessity of irradiated blood products in hematological malignancies and bone marrow transplant recipients, respectively. Additionally, 24 out of 27 residents were aware that irradiated products are unnecessary for solid tumor malignancies in adult patients. All residents knew where to find information on blood product selection at AMC, and 92.6% found the education material helpful. Conclusions: Improved knowledge among residents underscores our commitment to patient care. We aim to extend education on irradiated blood product necessity beyond our residency program. Our long-term vision is to broaden this critical knowledge across the healthcare community at AMC.

Implementation of patient navigation services to improve colorectal cancer health literacy in a vulnerable community health center population.

e23208 Background: Under-served community populations face social and health inequities which contribute to sub-optimal colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates and excess mortality risk. Furthermore, these populations may not have the health literacy or food security necessary to mitigate the well-established nutrition-related risk of CRC. This quality improvement study aimed to improve CRC-related health literacy and dietary habits, with the additional goal of improving screening rates in our disadvantaged community health center population. Methods: This single-institutional study utilized the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model to implement patient navigation services and administer a cross-sectional survey evaluating nutrition-related CRC risk. Patients eligible for screening were contacted by patient outreach coordinators prior to scheduled primary care appointments, and the survey was administered. During patient visits, outreach coordinators met with them to provide 1:1 education addressing CRC prevention, screening and nutrition. Information on free or low-cost fresh food options was provided to help address barriers such as food insecurity. The outreach coordinators also liaised with physicians to assist with coordination to services. Results: Prior to the intervention 58% of survey respondents (25/43) were not aware of any foods or dietary habits that decreased the risk of colorectal cancer; 51% (22/43) were not aware of foods that increased the risk of colorectal cancer. Most respondents (54%) were in fact not at all worried about possibly developing CRC in their lifetimes (22/41), while 34% (14/41) were a little worried, and the remainder (12%) very or extremely worried. 97% of respondents (33/34) felt more knowledgeable about CRC screening and felt more confident about improving their nutrition to reduce CRC risk after receiving the educational intervention, while 94% of respondents (31/33) stated they would subsequently make dietary changes. Conclusions: Health literacy regarding colorectal cancer was low in this underserved community population. Implementation of a patient navigation intervention led to increased knowledge and confidence in modifying dietary risk factors. However, preliminary data review did not reveal significant change in CRC screening rates during the initial phase of the intervention. One of the initially identified barriers included system-level delays in colonoscopy access. During the Act phase of the PDSA model, patient navigation services will be further optimized by workflow adaptation based on the response of outreach coordinators and patient-reported barriers regarding stool-based testing. [Table: see text]

Patterns of Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment from 2010 to 2020: An Evolving Landscape in Stroke Management Following Thrombectomy Trials.

Population-based studies on stroke can help guide the care of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) by providing health care communities with information regarding the current usage of stroke treatments. It remains unclear how rapidly new techniques, particularly endovascular stroke treatment (EST), are being adopted and whether there is any disparity in their availability. Although studies using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) have been conducted, updated studies over a longer period may provide further insights. This study aimed to understand patterns of AIS treatment, discharge disposition, in-hospital mortality, and mean length of stay (LOS) for each modality from 2010 to 2020 using the NIS database. This retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using NIS data from 2010 to 2020. Patients were categorized into groups based on whether they received intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), EST, both rt-PA and EST (combined therapy), or supportive care alone. Demographic, socioeconomic, regional, insurance, and hospital data were also obtained. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients receiving each modality, whereas the secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, mean LOS, and discharge disposition. The usage rates increased (p < 0.001) in all groups between 2010 and 2020 (rt-PA: 5.09% to 8.39%, EST: 0.31% to 4.40%, and rt-PA+EST: 0.46% to 1.09%). The highest increase in usage was observed for EST, with a thirteen-fold increase. Mortality decreased from 2010 to 2020 in all groups (rt-PA: 8.45% to 3.54%, EST: 25.22% to 12.50%, and rt-PA+EST: 21.12% in 2010 to 9.30%) (p < 0.001). Combination therapy demonstrated the greatest improvement, with an 11.2% reduction in absolute mortality. Mean LOS was reduced for patients who received rt-PA (6.8 to 4.8 days), EST (9.3 to 8.9 days), and combined therapy (10.0 to 8.3 days) (p < 0.001) over the study period. The proportion of patients discharged to home increased for rt-PA (29.01% to 41.85%), EST (14.13% to 17.70%), and combined therapy (12.89% to 24.29%) (p < 0.001). Overall, stroke treatment usage was higher among the higher income groups, regardless of race. Higher usage was also observed for Whites in the West and Hispanic ethnicities in the South and West. Regardless of income or treatment method, utilization rates were lower for Black patients. Utilization rates were lower for Black patients with Medicare, Medicaid, or self-pay than for White patients. Our study demonstrated that endovascular stroke treatment continues to expand, leading to better outcomes for mortality, LOS, and home discharge. Despite these positive patterns, there are visible inequities across regions, income status, and races.

Contemporary management of patients with advanced melanoma: Utility of an online interactive decision support tool to assess concordance of healthcare professional treatment patterns with expert recommendations.

e13548 Background: The treatment landscape for patients with melanoma continues to evolve with approvals of novel therapeutic agents for advanced disease and new indications for therapy in earlier-stage disease. Using an online decision support tool, we compared practice patterns and treatment recommendations between community healthcare professionals (HCPs) and key opinion leaders (KOLs). Methods: The online decision support tool was developed with input from 5 KOLs who provided treatment recommendations for 151 hypothetical patients. Case scenarios covered a spectrum of stages (III, IV), central nervous system (CNS) metastases, BRAF mutation status, and treatment histories. HCPs entered specific patient criteria into the tool to define a case and their intended therapy choice and the tool then showed 5 KOL recommendations for that patient case. An analysis of KOL recommendations and HCP-selected therapy was performed. Results: Between August 2023 and January 2024, 156 patient cases were entered by 100 HCPs. HCP and KOL recommendations were concordant in 51% (80/156) of cases. The highest level of discord among HCPs and KOLs was 72% for patients with completely resected stage IIIA melanoma and no positive lymph nodes having a metastatic focus ≥1mm (n = 25) (Table). A lower level of discordance (31%, n = 35) was observed in therapy selection for patients with stage IIIA melanoma and ≥1 positive lymph node. For first-line therapy in patients with unresectable stage III or IV BRAF wild-type melanoma (n = 16), discordance was 50% between HCPs and KOLs. The level of discordance was higher for first-line therapy for patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma (68%, n = 19). For the management of patients with CNS metastases, 40% of HCP therapy selections were not aligned with KOLs (n = 40). More than one half (56%) of HCPs noted that the tool confirmed their treatment plan, and 21% intend to change practice to align with KOLs. Conclusions: This analysis identified areas of discordance in clinical practice between HCPs and KOLs for advanced melanoma that can guide further education and enhance communication of evolving evidence to HCPs. Our data suggest that use of the decision tool can confirm best practices with KOL recommendations and improve alignment of treatment choices with KOLs. [Table: see text]