Health Screening Research Articles

Empowering Medical Students: Unveiling the Benefits of Nutrition Seminars and Plant-Based Diets in Medical School Education

Background: Whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) dietary patterns can be used as a lifestyle modification to lower blood pressure and lose weight. This study aimed to observe the effects of WFPB dietary patterns and improve nutrition education in medical school. Methods: Forty-six medical students participated in the four-week Plant Plunge challenge, which consisted of a pre- and post-challenge health screening, weekly nutrition seminars, and the personal challenge to eat more WFPB. Afterward, an anonymous survey was sent to participants to analyze nutrition education quality in medical school. Results: The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test indicated statistically significant improvement in weight and blood pressure (BP) (N = 33). The median (interquartile range) difference in weight from pre- to post- was −.9 (−2.2, .0, P < .0461) pounds, whereas the differences in systolic and diastolic BP were −5.0 (−9.0, −.5, P < .049) and −7.0 (−11.0, −2.0, P < .0037) mmHg, respectively. Participants were significantly more likely to advocate for the integration of nutrition information into the medical school curriculum ( P = .0162). Conclusions: Short-term lifestyle modifications with WFPB dietary patterns help reduce weight and BP. Incorporating nutrition seminars in medical education may improve long-term patient outcomes.

Quantitative Ultrasound Spectroscopy for Screening Cylindrical Lithium‐Ion Batteries for Second‐Life Applications

AbstractDiagnosing lithium‐ion battery degradation is a crucial part of managing energy storage systems. Recent research has explored ultrasonic testing for non‐invasive health assessment as an alternative to traditional, time‐consuming, electrical‐only methods. Assessing the state of health is vital for determining quality at end of ‘first’ life, with retired batteries at 70–80 % health still holding value for secondlife applications. Over the coming years, tens of GWh of salvaged batteries will hit the market, requiring rapid noninvasive methods to classify retired batteries according to their state of health. This study uses a 64 – element ultrasonic array to obtain mid‐band quantitative ultrasound spectroscopy parameters – including mid‐band fit, spectral slope, and intercept – from circumferential waves around cylindrical batteries. Thirteen cylindrical cells were used to evaluate the methodology: three pristine and ten retired from the same source. The mid‐band fit showed the ability to track the state of charge and discriminate between the state of health levels in accelerated degradation experiments both with pristine batteries, and also with recovered secondlife batteries with unknown historical use. Linear‐array ultrasonic transducers, coupled with quantitative spectral parameters, show promise for future non‐destructive battery health screening methods, offering valuable insights for the emerging used battery market.

Potential mental health-related harms associated with the universal screening of anxiety and depressive symptoms in Australian secondary schools

BackgroundAnxiety and depressive disorders typically emerge in adolescence and can be chronic and disabling if not identified and treated early. School-based universal mental health screening may identify young people in need of mental health support and facilitate access to treatment. However, few studies have assessed the potential harms of this approach. This paper examines some of the potential mental health-related harms associated with the universal screening of anxiety and depression administered in Australian secondary schools.MethodsA total of 1802 adolescent students from 22 secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia, were cluster randomised (at the school level) to receive either an intensive screening procedure (intervention) or a light touch screening procedure (control). Participants in the intensive screening condition received supervised self-report web-based screening questionnaires for anxiety, depression and suicidality with the follow-up care matched to their symptom severity. Participants in the light touch condition received unsupervised web-based screening for anxiety and depression only, followed by generalised advice on help-seeking. No other care was provided in this condition. Study outcomes included the increased risk of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, decreased risk of help-seeking, increased risk of mental health stigma, determined from measures assessed at baseline, 6 weeks post-baseline, and 12 weeks post-baseline. Differences between groups were analysed using mixed effect models.ResultsParticipants in the intensive screening group were not adversely affected when compared to the light touch screening condition across a range of potential harms. Rather, participants in the intensive screening group were found to have a decreased risk of inhibited help-seeking behaviour compared to the light touch screening condition.ConclusionsThe intensive screening procedure did not appear to adversely impact adolescents’ mental health relative to the light touch procedure. Future studies should examine other school-based approaches that may be more effective and efficient than universal screening for reducing mental health burden among students.Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618001539224) https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375821.

Metabolic Profile and Long-Term Risk of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-Related Disorders

Biomarkers of lipid, apolipoprotein, and carbohydrate metabolism have been previously suggested to be associated with the risk for depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, but results are inconsistent. To examine whether the biomarkers of carbohydrate, lipid, and apolipoprotein metabolism are associated with the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. This population-based cohort study with longitudinal data collection assessed 211 200 participants from the Apolipoprotein-Related Mortality Risk (AMORIS) cohort who underwent occupational health screening between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1996, mainly in the Stockholm region in Sweden. Statistical analysis was performed during 2022 to 2023. Lipid, apolipoprotein, and carbohydrate biomarkers measured in blood. The associations between biomarker levels and the risk of developing depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders through the end of 2020 were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression models. In addition, nested case-control analyses were conducted within the cohort, including all incident cases of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, and up to 10 control individuals per case who were individually matched to the case by year of birth, sex, and year of enrollment to the AMORIS cohort, using incidence density sampling. Population trajectories were used to illustrate the temporal trends in biomarker levels for cases and controls. A total of 211 200 individuals (mean [SD] age at first biomarker measurement, 42.1 [12.6] years; 122 535 [58.0%] male; 188 895 [89.4%] born in Sweden) participated in the study. During a mean (SD) follow-up of 21.0 (6.7) years, a total of 16 256 individuals were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders. High levels of glucose (hazard ratio [HR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.20-1.41) and triglycerides (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.10-1.20) were associated with an increased subsequent risk of all tested psychiatric disorders, whereas high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.97) were associated with a reduced risk. These results were similar for male and female participants as well as for all tested disorders. The nested case-control analyses demonstrated that patients with depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders had higher levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol during the 20 years preceding diagnosis, as well as higher levels of apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein B during the 10 years preceding diagnosis, compared with control participants. In this cohort study of more than 200 000 participants, high levels of glucose and triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein were associated with future risk of depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. These findings may support closer follow-up of individuals with metabolic dysregulations for the prevention and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.

Sexual and reproductive health screening and counseling in adolescent and young adult transplant recipients.

Adolescents and young adults with and without chronic illnesses partake in risk-taking behavior. Clinicians in transplant clinics should be aware of the prevalence of risk-taking behavior in their adolescent and young adult solid organ transplant patients in order to provide complete care. Creating an environment where teens and young adults feel comfortable discussing risky behavior is important and includes creating a privacy policy and increasing comfort of the healthcare provider in asking sensitive questions. This review is intended to help the providers in the transplant clinic screen for and counsel about risk-taking behaviors with their adolescent and young adult patients, specifically around sexual and reproductive health.

Growth trajectories of children born preterm and full term with low birth weight to preschool ages: A nationwide study.

Preterm (PT) and full term with low birth weight (FT-LBW) children are at a high-risk of poor growth outcomes. To investigate the growth trajectories of PT and FT-LBW children from birth to preschool ages. This study included 1,150,508 infants (PT, 41,454; FT-LBW, 38,250) who underwent the first three rounds (4-6, 9-12, and 18-24 months) of the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children (NHSPIC). Growth measurements were obtained from the NHSPIC database and converted into Z-scores. Growth data at 2, 4, and 6 years old were measured as outcome variables. The impact of being born small on poor growth outcomes was investigated using a generalized estimating equation and Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis. The median birth weights of the PT, FT-LBW, and full term (FT) groups were 2.3, 2.4, and 3.2 kg, respectively. The incidence of short stature (height Z-score < -2 standard deviation score [SDS]) and failure to thrive (FTT) (body mass index (BMI) Z-score < -2 SDS) was the highest in the FT-LBW group, followed by the PT and FT groups. At 4 years old, the incidence rates were 6.0% vs. 5.2% vs. 1.9% for short stature and 4.6% vs. 3.9% vs. 1.7% for FTT. The β estimate of height outcome was lower in both the PT (-0.326 SDS) and FT-LBW (-0.456 SDS) groups. The FT-LBW group was consistently shorter and lighter throughout the preschool period than the PT group, highlighting the significance of growth monitoring in high-risk populations.

Digital screening for mental health in pregnancy and postpartum: A systematic review.

This systematic review aimed to determine if digital screening for mental health in pregnancy and postpartum is acceptable, feasible and more effective than standard care (paper-and pen-based screening or no screening). The second aim was to identify barriers and enablers to implementing digital screening in pregnancy and postpartum. OVID MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, Joanna Briggs Database and All EMB reviews incorporating Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (OVID) were systematically searched for articles that evaluated digital screening for mental health in pregnancy and postpartum between 2000 and 2021. Qualitative articles were deductively mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). A total of 34 articles were included in the analysis, including qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies. Digital screening was deemed acceptable, feasible and effective. TDF domains for common barriers included environmental context and resources, skills, social/professional role and identity and beliefs about consequences. TDF domains for common enablers included knowledge, social influences, emotion and behavioural regulation. When planning to implement digital screening, consideration should be made to have adequate training, education and manageable workload for healthcare professionals (HCP's). Organisational resources and support are important, as well as the choice of the appropriate digital screening assessment and application setting for women. Theory-informed recommendations are provided for both healthcare professionals and women to inform future clinical practice.

261 Providing Equity in Immunizations and Research

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Disparities persist among minority and marginalized populations in immunizations and research. The Clinical Research Vehicle Team aimed to bring research to our community’s doorstep, building generalizability of research outcomes. Our mission adapted due to the pandemic to include increasing COVID-19 vaccinations and health education. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Community Engagement Events are planned when event organizers submit a request, then the proposal is discussed by the Clinical Research Vehicle (CRV) Team and UF HealthStreet. We go to underserved communities throughout Florida, food distributions, churches, community centers, rural areas, etc. At these events we offer services at no cost, including: COVID-19 and flu vaccines, as well as health screenings. We provide health education to individuals and refer them to UF HealthStreet for community resources, as appropriate. Research events are planned when researchers submit a request for the CRV, then the request is discussed by the CRV Team. The studies covered topics from COVID-19 research to the development of a diverse health database. Our fleet consists of two Community Health Vehicles and the CRV. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: As Community Engagement Events are ongoing, the presented numbers are reflective of the data available at the time of submission. Our impact includes administering 1,606+ COVID vaccines, conducting 1,081+ health screenings, collecting data from 944 screenings, providing 265 Flu vaccines, supporting 267+ community health events, and serving 25+ communities. The Clinical Research Vehicle facilitated 6 IRB-approved studies, administration of monoclonal antibody infusions, extended the capabilities of the Clinical Research Center, and enabled clinical trials aimed for novel treatments for COVID-19 positive participants. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Championing this initiative has shown an impact on vaccination rates and health education in communities. Experience and knowledge gained by our team throughout the pandemic while engaging with community members provided a platform from which to build generalizability of research outcomes and support translational science.

Physical Activity and the incidence of sepsis: A 10-year observational study among 4 million adults

BackgroundAs the group at high risk for sepsis is increasing with the aging of the population, physical activity (PA), which has beneficial effects on various diseases, needs to be considered as a personalized prevention strategy for sepsis without direct anti-sepsis drug. PurposeTo examine the association between the amount of PA (based on intensity, duration, and frequency) and the incidence rates of sepsis and mortality after sepsis. MethodsThis was a large-scale, retrospective, longitudinal cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service and the biennial general health screening program. The amount of PA self-reported at the time of the health screening was categorized as non-PA, mild (<500 metabolic equivalents [METs]-Min/Week), moderate (500–1000), severe (1000–1500), and extreme (≥1500). The multivariable regression model was adjusted for age, sex, income, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and chronic diseases. ResultsFrom 4,234,415 individuals who underwent a health screening in 2009, 3,929,165 subjects were selected after exclusion for wash-out period and a 1-year lag period, and then observed for the event of sepsis or all-cause death until December 2020. During a median 10.3 years of follow-up, 83,011 incidents of sepsis were detected. The moderate-PA group showed the lowest incidence (1.56/1000 person-years) and risk for sepsis, with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.72–0.75, P < 0.001) compared with the non-PA group. The occurrence of sepsis among people aged ≥65 years and ex-smokers were significantly lower in the moderate-PA group (aHR; 0.77, 95% CI; 0.74–0.79; and 0.68, 0.64–0.71, respectively, Ps < 0.001). The long-term all-cause mortality after sepsis was significantly lower in the PA group than in the non-PA group (overall P = 0.003). ConclusionsPhysical activity is associated with a lower risk of sepsis, especially in elderly people who have the highest incidence of sepsis. The protective effects of aerobic PA on sepsis might need to be incorporated with other interventions in sepsis guidelines through the accumulation of future studies.

286 Partnering and engaging in Indiana Communities through listening sessions and data sharing: successes of Connection IN Health

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Participants will be able to identify how partnering with state health departments for a CTSA initiative assists in meeting shared goals by building infrastructure and sharing resources and list key components of a successful county engagement process that can be replicated. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Connections IN Health is a collaborative project with the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Indiana Department of Health, Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, and community partners. We address chronic disease in Indiana with coalition-based engagement at the grassroots level, and partnering to provide technical assistance, resources, connections and evidence-based strategies to address the health challenges. Our methods of county engagement include surveying the broad community, conducting listening sessions with key community stakeholders, compiling, analyzing and sharing data, collaborating with existing local coalitions, assessing community readiness and suggesting evidence-based practices to implement. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: As a result of county engagement, local coalitions have current, local data to drive their efforts in improving local health rankings and outcomes. Community partners in eight counties have selected and implemented evidence-based strategies to manage and/or prevent diabetes, cardiovascular disease and/or stroke. Some examples include: starting a community garden with cooking classes in a food desert to provide fresh produce and nutrition/cooking knowledge, creating a mobile kitchen on hand for organizations to use to provide education and cooking skills, providing a passport for wellness at existing community events with food samples and health screenings and offering evidence-based educational programming such as Dining with Diabetes and Be Heart Smart. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Moving county health coalitions to evidence-based programming that has the greatest likelihood for success is a critical translational sciences challenge. Our rigorous and well defined approach yields significant improvement in local health coalition activities, sustaining their activities through long-term trusted relationships.

Perceptions of mental health screening and referral to treatment in National Dental-Practice Based Research Network practices: A qualitative study.

Dental practices can have additional positive impacts on public health by implementing mental health screening and referral to treatment in dental care workflows. In this study, we examined how dental practices identify and address adult patient mental health concerns, attitudes about implementing mental health screening and referral, and potential barriers and facilitators to treatment. We conducted semi-structured focus groups with 17 dentists, 10 dental hygienists, and 5 dental assistants/office staff in the South-Central region of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. We identified five main themes from dental practitioners and office staff responses. Practitioners and office staff: (1) discover patient mental health concerns through record review, patient/caregiver disclosure, and patient observation; (2) respond to patients' mental health concerns by making the patient more comfortable, documenting the concern in the patient's chart, and directly addressing the mental health concern; (3) want a systematic process for mental health screening and referral to treatment in their dental office; (4) recognize potential barriers in implementing health screening and referral to treatment processes; (5) desire training on mental health matters. An overarching theme emerged: developing a trusting relationship with patients. Participants noted the importance of implementing systematic procedures for mental health screening and referral to services into dental practices, while also recognizing the potential barriers for integrating such processes. They also expressed a desire for quality training and resources that can support better care for patients with mental health concerns.

IJCM_349A: Uncovering the hidden burden: a mixed-methods study on the implementation of depression screening among persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in an urban primary care setting

Background: Diabetes is linked with depression, but screening rates for depression are low, indicating a need for periodic screening among those with diabetes Objective: The study aims to determine depression prevalence and associated factors in persons with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in an urban primary care setting of Karnataka, as well as implementation challenges in depression screening for persons with T2DM as perceived by healthcare providers Methodology: We carried out a mixed-methods study over a period of six months at an Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Bengaluru. Depression screening was carried out in 110 persons with T2DM using Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Key Informant Interviews were carried out among various health care providers of the UPHC. Data was captured using EpiCollect Version 5.0. Univariate logistic regression was carried out to find the factors associated with depression. Results: Of the 110 participants, 60 (54.5%) screened positive for depression. Duration of diabetes (95% CI=0.203,0.943; P=0.035); presence of comorbidities (Odds Ratio=3.226; 95% CI=1.362,7.638; P=0.008), presence of complications (Odds Ratio=3.000; 95% CI=1.341,6.713; P=0.008) were found to be significantly associated with depression. The key facilitators for screening were willingness to implement screening, empathetic attitude, and awareness of mental health whereas the challenges included lack of training in mental health assessment and patient reluctance to adhere to treatment due to stigma. Conclusion: More than half the study participants screened positive for depression, with significant associations found between depression and duration of diabetes, comorbidities, and complications. Several challenges in implementing depression screening for T2DM in primary care settings were noted.

Social Determinants Among Pregnant Clients With Perinatal Depression, Anxiety, Or Serious Mental Illness.

To characterize co-occurring social determinants of health for clients experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) or serious mental illness (SMI) in a diverse population receiving prenatal care in a safety-net health system, we conducted a latent class analysis, using data from a social determinants screener in pregnancy for the health system's clients during 2017-20. The sample included clients with positive screens for depression or anxiety or SMI diagnoses. Prenatal clients with a positive screen for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders or SMI comprised 13-30percent of classes, characterized by more than two co-occurring social determinants (for example, co-occurring socioeconomic and interpersonal factors). The study findings highlight the salience of social determinants among prenatal patients experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorder and SMI and suggest the necessity of consistent screening for both social determinants and perinatal mental health. Policies to address social determinants within and beyond health care settings are critical.

High-Throughput Transcriptomics of Nontumorigenic Breast Cells Exposed to Environmentally Relevant Chemicals.

There is a suite of chemicals, including metals, pesticides, and personal care product compounds, which are commonly detected at high levels in US Center for Disease Control's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) chemical biomarker screens. Whether these chemicals influence development of breast cancer is not well understood. The objectives were to perform an unbiased concentration-dependent assessment of these chemicals, to quantify differences in cancer-specific genes and pathways, to describe if these differences occur at human population-relevant concentrations, and to specifically test for differences in markers of stemness and cellular plasticity. We treated nontumorigenic mammary epithelial cells, MCF10A, with 21 chemicals at four concentrations (, , , and ) for 48 h. We conducted RNA-sequencing for these 408 samples, adapting the plexWell plate-based RNA-sequencing method to analyze differences in gene expression. We calculated gene and biological pathway-specific benchmark concentrations (BMCs) using BMDExpress3, identifying differentially expressed genes and generating the best fit benchmark concentration models for each chemical across all genes. We identified enriched biological processes and pathways for each chemical and tested whether chemical exposures change predicted cell type distributions. We contextualized benchmark concentrations relative to human population biomarker concentrations in NHANES. We detected chemical concentration-dependent differences in gene expression for thousands of genes. Enrichment and cell type distribution analyses showed benchmark concentration responses correlated with differences in breast cancer-related pathways, including induction of basal-like characteristics for some chemicals, including arsenic, lead, copper, and methyl paraben. Comparison of benchmark data to NHANES chemical biomarker (urine or blood) concentrations indicated an overlap between exposure levels and levels sufficient to cause a gene expression response. These analyses revealed that many of these 21 chemicals resulted in differences in genes and pathways involved in breast cancer in vitro at human exposure-relevant concentrations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12886.

270 Four Pillars of Community Health and Research Engagement: The UT Southwestern CTSA Program’s Innovative Approach to Putting the Community Health Science Model into Practice

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Goals: Engage in collaborative approaches that target health disparities, especially among communities experiencing poverty or ethnic/racial minorities. Develop and sustain effective community-academic partnerships that foster trust through bidirectional communication and shared leadership leading to improved translational research. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The Community Health Science model was developed at UTSW over the past 20 years in efforts to integrate practices across 3 component areas – clinical practice, population health, and community organizations – into a single collaborative effort to improve health and reduce disparities. As part of the CTSA Program’s translational science efforts, we have extended this model to promote community engagement in research as an additional strategy needed to achieve health equity. Our Office of Community Health &amp; Research Engagement operates 9 programs that each fit within one or more of 4 overarching conceptual pillars - Education/Resources, Collaboration/Partnership, Outreach/Service, Priorities/Perspectives - serving to bridge the community-academic divide and build strong, trusting relationships. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The implementation of our model has resulted in measurable outcomes. To date, we have hosted 23 HealthStreet community events resulting in 464 health screenings, 203 health needs assessments completed, and 123 individuals joining our Community Research Registry allowing for future contact to participate in research. Our Community Health Coalition, comprised of 32 organizations, provides a forum for co-learning between researchers and stakeholders. We have awarded 9 grants ($175,800) for community-engaged projects. Our Community Advisory Panel has participated in 8 sessions with research teams. A total of 13 projects utilized the Spanish Language Resource, for a total of 30,617 translated words. Finally, we have hosted 9 Community Engagement Grand Rounds lectures, which included a total of 559 attendees. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our model strengthens our capacity to build trust with communities and facilitate sustained community-academic partnerships. By prioritizing community engagement in research, we improve health equity by understanding community perspectives and increasing diversity in trials. We hope our model can be disseminated and scaled for greater impact.

The mental health burden of food allergies: Insights from patients and their caregivers from the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Patient Registry

BackgroundFood allergies impose a large psychosocial burden, including mental, emotional, and social aspects, on both patients and their caregivers. Patients, caregivers, and their families often experience anxiety, isolation, and fear around food allergies. ObjectiveTo assess the real-world mental health burden of food allergies, using the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Patient Registry (NCT04653324). MethodsSelf-reported data from patients with food allergies, and their caregivers, were analyzed from the FARE Food Allergy History and Mental Health Concerns surveys. Odds ratios were also calculated as a measure of association between patient food allergy characteristics and the likelihood of having mental health concerns or a formal mental health diagnosis. ResultsThe FARE Patient Registry included 1680 patients/caregivers. Anxiety (54%) and panic (32%) were the most common emotions that patients reported as a result of eating the food that produced an allergic reaction. About two-thirds of patients reported mental health concerns related to food allergies (62%), including anxiety after an allergic reaction, anxiety about living with food allergies, and concerns about food avoidance. Caregivers also experienced fear for the safety of their children, and often sought mental health care to cope with worry related to caring for patients with food allergies. The likelihood of having food allergy-related mental health concerns was increased for patients experiencing more than 1 reaction per year (OR 1.68–1.90) and was lowered for patients having a formal mental health diagnosis (OR 0.43). Caregivers filling out the FARE survey for pediatric patients (OR 4.03) and experiencing food allergy-related mental health concerns (OR 2.36) were both significant predictors for having a formal mental health diagnosis. ConclusionOur study highlights a continuing unmet need for mental health screening and support as part of the management of patients with food allergies.

Center-based childcare access to health screenings and developmental assessments in US children from birth to five

Center-based childcare access to health screenings and developmental assessments in US children from birth to five

IJCM_354A: Mental health screening of workers of a tertiary care neuropsychiatry hospital of Delhi

Background: Employee mental health has a significant impact on productivity at work. People who work in healthcare environments are known to be at an increased risk of developing mental health issues. Objective: To assess the psychological distress in housekeeping and sanitation workers of IHBAS hospital Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the housekeeping and sanitation workers of the IHBAS hospital, a tertiary care Neuropsychiatry hospital and Institute. The socio-demographic data of the workers was collected. Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K10) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale -21 (DASS-21) were used to assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress among workers. The data was entered and analysed in SPSS 21. Results: A total of 598 workers were screened, of which 50.7% were males and 49.3% were females .63.5% of the workers were in the age group of 31 to 50 years,24.4% were between 18-30 years of age and 12% were more than 50 years of age. The output of K10 scale for psychological distress showed that only 0.2% were likely to have a mild disorder. The analysis of DASS-21 yielded on depression subscale that 0.5% had mild depression, and 0.2% each had moderate and extremely severe depression. On the anxiety subscale, 0.5% had moderate anxiety, 0.2% each had mild and extremely severe anxiety and stress subscale yielded that 0.5% had mild stress, and 0.2% had moderate stress Conclusion: Even though the percentage of workers with mental health problems was very low based on screening with K10 and DASSS-21, it is still worthwhile to screen for and appropriately address mental health issues among hospital employees as part of the occupational health program

IJCM_331A: Helping beyond the Helpline – Experience from a Unique Model for Mental Health Care among Frontline workers during COVID – 19 Pandemic in Andhra Pradesh

Background: Psychological issues among Health Care Workers (HCWs) in COVID-19 stem from the fact that normal people are being exposed to extraordinary situations. Facing this critical situation, it is essential to ensure that these personnel are identified early and offered appropriate intervention. Hence, AIIMS Mangalagiri partnering with UNICEF started a project to reach out to all frontline workers in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Objectives: To set up a Psycho-Social Counselling (PSC) system for healthcare &amp; other front-line workers in the state of Andhra Pradesh to handle stress due to COVID–19 To conduct capacity-building programs for health care &amp; other front-line workers to prevent psycho-social conditions arising due to COVID–19 Methodology: A simple Mental Health Screening Questionnaire (MHSQ) was developed and validated in the local language. After getting prior approvals, a Google form link of the MHSQ was sent via email, SMS, and WhatsApp to every frontline worker in the state. Consenting participants with scores above 6 were contacted personally by the psychologists for further detailed evaluation. A helpline number for counseling was publicized and psychologists conducted sessions on mental health awareness and coping strategies in various institutes across the state. Results: About 8,217 respondents attempted the MHSQ out of which detailed mental health evaluation (GAD-7, PHQ-9, CAGE, AUDIT, and PSQI) was done for 392 respondents. The most common issues identified were Anxiety (45%), Insomnia (42%), Depression (12%), and Substance Abuse (2%). Also, as a part of the mental health capacity-building campaign around 4,500 healthcare workers like nurses, Anganwadi teachers, and ANMs were trained offline across the state, along with the District Mental Health team. Conclusion: Mental health can have a significant impact on the competence of frontline workers. In addition to existing interventions available, confidential mental health intervention and service provision are the need of the hour.

Assessing a pharmacist provided mental health screening service in a rural community to address anxiety and depression

BackgroundThe current state of the mental health crisis has been a topic of discussion around the nation, with those in rural communities being at a particularly higher risk. Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to screen patients for mental health disorders and provide education and patient monitoring following medication changes by prescribers. ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to assess mental health screening outcomes provided by rural community pharmacists. MethodsThis retrospective evaluation of a pilot project describes a behavioral health service. Eligible patients were 18 years of age or older, taking one or more mental health medications and covered by the specific Medicaid health plan. Participating pharmacies were those that had a significant patient population participating with that plan, as well as credentialed and trained pharmacists. Pharmacists performed telehealth visits with eligible patients where they confirmed their mental health diagnosis and medications. Based on patient confirmed diagnosis, a Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7) or Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) test was administered. The pharmacists then made recommendations to the patients or their prescribers and created a plan with the patient for implementation based on their score.Follow-up calls were conducted to readminister the appropriate test to identify changes in mental health scores. ResultsThere were 61 patients who participated in the services across 4 pharmacies. Mean GAD-7 scores were 8.1 at initial appointment and 6.4 at follow-up (n = 24). Mean PHQ-9 scores were 11.2 initially and 10 at follow-up (n = 37). ConclusionThis implementation project supports the creation of additional mental health services in the community pharmacy setting to reinforce and encourage follow-up provider visits in areas where there are mental health provider shortages and may possibly improve patient outcomes.