Management Of Health Conditions Research Articles

First call, home: perception and practice around health among South Asian migrants in Melbourne, Australia.

The socio-cultural context of populations has a significant effect on health outcomes across every stage of life. In Australia, South Asian migrants have a comparatively higher incidence of chronic disease and less use of health services. Often overlooked are community views of health, cultural traits and belief systems. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence health perception and practice of South Asian migrants. The study used a mixed method approach with both a survey and interviews. A total of 62 participants between the age of 18 and 64 years were surveyed and 14 participants completed interviews. Data were analysed descriptively and thematically. South Asians share a common perception and practice around health and illness. This paper highlights two key findings. First, these groups take a broad view of health encompassing physical, mental, emotional, social and economic aspects of life. Second, these cultural groups do not seek medical help as their first choice, but have a high level of trust in family for providing health advice and share a belief in the effectiveness of home remedies for managing health conditions. Participants shared their expectation that the Australian health system should consider their socio-cultural construct to make services culturally safe and engaging to enhance service utilisation.

Clinical documentation of patient-reported medical cannabis use in primary care: Toward scalable extraction using natural language processing methods

Background: Most states have legalized medical cannabis, yet little is known about how medical cannabis use is documented in patients’ electronic health records (EHRs). We used natural language processing (NLP) to calculate the prevalence of clinician-documented medical cannabis use among adults in an integrated health system in Washington State where medical and recreational use are legal. Methods: We analyzed EHRs of patients ≥18 years old screened for past-year cannabis use (November 1, 2017–October 31, 2018), to identify clinician-documented medical cannabis use. We defined medical use as any documentation of cannabis that was recommended by a clinician or described by the clinician or patient as intended to manage health conditions or symptoms. We developed and applied an NLP system that included NLP-assisted manual review to identify such documentation in encounter notes. Results: Medical cannabis use was documented for 16,684 (5.6%) of 299,597 outpatient encounters with routine screening for cannabis use among 203,489 patients seeing 1,274 clinicians. The validated NLP system identified 54% of documentation and NLP-assisted manual review the remainder. Language documenting reasons for cannabis use included 125 terms indicating medical use, 28 terms indicating non-medical use and 41 ambiguous terms. Implicit documentation of medical use (e.g., “edible THC nightly for lumbar pain”) was more common than explicit (e.g., “continues medical cannabis use”). Conclusions: Clinicians use diverse and often ambiguous language to document patients’ reasons for cannabis use. Automating extraction of documentation about patients’ cannabis use could facilitate clinical decision support and epidemiological investigation but will require large amounts of gold standard training data.

Stigma and quality of life among people diagnosed with mental disorders: a Narrative Review.

The anti-psychiatric movements that emerged in the early 1960s led to the appearance of stigma in psychiatry. The misunderstanding of the concept of mental disorder, the negative way in which associated hospitalization was perceived, the inclination to treat patients through psychological therapies, and the criticism of pharmacological treatment led to the discrediting of psychiatry. The current paper aims to review the available literature regarding the impact of stigma on the quality of life of people diagnosed with mental disorders. A narrative review of relevant literature published between 1999 and 2021 was conducted. The authors analysed studies found on PubMed and the Web of Science electronic databases. The search terms combined two overlapping areas with keywords such as "stigma" and "mental disorders". A descriptive analysis was employed to synthesize the obtained data. Stigma continues to be an important challenge to the management of health conditions in people with mental disorders. A lack of comprehension may give the impression that all psychiatric patients are aggressive and are unable to function adequately. Such stigmatizing beliefs and habits have proven to be very difficult to change. Due to the stigmatization and repulsive attitudes in society, patients are reluctant to be linked to any form of mental disorder or to be seen as having any contact with mental health professionals. This undermines the beneficial effects of treatment, resulting in a poor quality of life and diminished socio-occupational functioning.

Motivation to Improve Mental Wellbeing via Community Physical Activity Initiatives and the Associated Impacts-A Cross-Sectional Survey of UK parkrun Participants.

Participation in regular physical activity is a well-established strategy to support good mental wellbeing in adults with, and without, mental health conditions. The physical activity initiative parkrun is a free, weekly, timed, running and walking event which is attended by people from the local community of all abilities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mental wellbeing of UK parkrun participants along with their motives for taking part and the impact of participation. Mental health conditions were self-reported in 2.5% of 60,000 respondents to an online survey of parkrunners, with the most prevalent being depression and anxiety. Those with mental health conditions were more motivated than those without to first participate in parkrun to manage their health conditions and improve their mental health. Those with mental health conditions were equally motivated to improve their physical health when compared to those without, and reported similar levels of improvement. Mental wellbeing scores for those with mental health conditions were close to the normal range, suggesting that engagement in parkrun may have had a role in limiting the effect of their illness. Community initiatives could replicate parkrun’s model, and use the potential for both mental and physical health improvement, as well as health condition management, as a motivation for participation.

Exploring prevention and management of secondary health conditions in people with spinal cord injury in South Africa

Background/Aims Preventative care for people with spinal cord injury is neglected, even though secondary health conditions are prevalent among this group. There is limited information on preventative care for secondary health conditions among people with spinal cord injury. This study aimed to explore how people with spinal cord injury prevent and manage secondary health conditions. Methods A total of 17 individuals with spinal cord injury attending an outpatients clinic at a public rehabilitation hospital were interviewed face to face. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic content analysis. Results The participants used different strategies to prevent and manage secondary health conditions, such as medication, assistive devices, self-management, resilience coping strategies and therapeutic approaches. The participants found prevention of secondary health conditions ‘challenging’ and some of the strategies were ineffective. Conclusions Although many strategies are used by people with spinal cord injury to prevent and manage secondary health conditions, the experience is difficult. To minimise the occurrence and the consequence of secondary health conditions among people with spinal cord injury, health professionals must promote and support preventative care for secondary health conditions.

Effectiveness and experiences of the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Model in developing competencies among healthcare professionals: a mixed methods systematic review protocol

BackgroundThe Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Model of continuing tele-education is an innovative guided-practice model aiming at amplifying healthcare professionals’ competencies in the management of chronic and complex health conditions. While data on the impact of the ECHO model is increasingly available in the literature, what influences the model effectiveness remains unclear. Therefore, the overarching aim of this systematic review is to identify, appraise, and synthesize the available quantitative (QUAN) and qualitative (QUAL) evidence regarding the ECHO Model effectiveness and the experiences/views of ECHO’s participants about what influences the development of competencies in healthcare professionals.MethodsThe proposed systematic review was inspired by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for Mixed Methods Systematic Reviews (MMSR) and will follow a convergent segregated approach. A systematic search will be undertaken using QUAN, QUAL and mixed methods (MM) studies of ECHO-affiliated programs identified in six databases. A publication date filter will be applied to find the articles published from 2003 onwards. Sources of unpublished studies and gray literature will be searched as well. Retrieved citations will independently be screened by two reviewers. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion until a consensus is reached or by including a third reviewer. Studies meeting the predefined inclusion criteria will be assessed on methodological quality and the data will be extracted using standardized data extraction forms. Separate QUAN and QUAL synthesis will be performed, and findings will be integrated using a matrix approach for the purpose of comparison and complementarity.DiscussionThis MMSR will fulfill important gaps in the current literature on the ECHO Model as the first to provide estimates on its effectiveness and consider simultaneously the experiences/views of ECHO’s participants. As each replication of the ECHO Model greatly varies depending on the context, topic, and targeted professionals, a better understanding of what influences the model effectiveness in developing healthcare professionals’ competencies is crucial to inform future implementation.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42020197579

Ethnic Inequalities in Healthcare Use and Care Quality among People with Multiple Long-Term Health Conditions Living in the United Kingdom: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

Indicative evidence suggests that the prevalence of multiple long-term conditions (i.e., conditions that cannot be cured but can be managed with medication and other treatments) may be higher in people from minoritised ethnic groups when compared to people from the White majority population. Some studies also suggest that there are ethnic inequalities in healthcare use and care quality among people with multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs). The aims of this review are to (1) identify and describe the literature that reports on ethnicity and healthcare use and care quality among people with MLTCs in the UK and (2) examine how healthcare use and/or care quality for people with MLTCs compares across ethnic groups. We registered the protocol on PROSPERO (CRD42020220702). We searched the following databases up to December 2020: ASSIA, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science core collection. Reference lists of key articles were also hand-searched for relevant studies. The outcomes of interest were patterns of healthcare use and care quality among people with MLTCs for at least one minoritised ethnic group, compared to the White majority population in the UK. Two reviewers, L.B. and B.H., screened and extracted data from a random sample of studies (10%). B.H. independently screened and extracted data from the remaining studies. Of the 718 studies identified, 14 were eligible for inclusion. There was evidence indicating ethnic inequalities in disease management and emergency admissions among people with MLTCs in the five studies that counted more than two long-term conditions. Compared to their White counterparts, Black and Asian children and young people had higher rates of emergency admissions. Black and South Asian people were found to have suboptimal disease management compared to other ethnic groups. The findings suggest that for some minoritised ethnic group people with MLTCs there may be inadequate initiatives for managing health conditions and/or a need for enhanced strategies to reduce ethnic inequalities in healthcare. However, the few studies identified focused on a variety of conditions across different domains of healthcare use, and many of these studies used broad ethnic group categories. As such, further research focusing on MLTCs and using expanded ethnic categories in data collection is needed.

Inequality in early childhood chronic health conditions requiring hospitalisation: A data linkage study of health service utilisation and costs.

The cost of socioeconomic inequality in health service use among Australian children with chronic health conditions is poorly understood. To quantify the cost of socioeconomic inequality in health service use among Australian children with chronic health conditions. Cohort study using a whole-of-population linked administrative data for all births in Queensland, Australia, between July 2015 and July 2018. Socioeconomic status was defined by an areas-based measure, grouping children into quintiles from most disadvantaged (Q1) to least disadvantaged (Q5) based on their postcode at birth. Study outcomes included health service utilisation (inpatient, emergency department, outpatient, general practitioner, specialist, pathology and diagnostic imaging services) and healthcare costs. Of the 238,600 children included in the analysis, 10.4% had at least one chronic health condition. Children with chronic health conditions in Q1had higher rates of inpatient (6.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.4, 6.7), emergency department (7.2, 95% CI 7.0, 7.5) and outpatient (20.3, 95% CI 19.4, 21.3) service use compared to children with chronic health conditions in Q5. They also had lower rates of general practitioner (37.5, 95% CI 36.7, 38.4), specialist (8.9, 95% CI 8.5, 9.3), pathology (10.7, 95% CI 10.2, 11.3), and diagnostic imaging (4.3, 95% CI 4.2,4.5) service use. Children with any chronic health condition in Q1 incurred lower median out-of-pocket fees than children in Q5 ($0 vs $741, respectively), lower median Medicare funding ($2710, vs $3408, respectively), and higher median public hospital funding ($31, 052 vs $23, 017, respectively). Children of most disadvantage are more likely to access public hospital provided services, which are accessible free of charge to patients. These children are less likely to access general practitioner, specialist, pathology and diagnostic imaging services; all of which are critical to the ongoing management of chronic health conditions, but often attract an out-of-pocket fee.

Exploring the awareness, attitudes, and actions (AAA) of UK adults at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

People at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 have experienced greater restrictions during the pandemic, yet there is a paucity of research exploring their lived experience. This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on people identified as at high risk of severe illness by UK Government, and in particular, the impact of the first lockdown on access to healthcare, medications and use of technological platforms. 1038 UK adults who identified as at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 in line with UK Government guidance or self-identified with acute or other chronic health conditions, completed the Awareness, Attitudes and Actions survey which explored the impact of COVID-19 on access to healthcare, management of long-term health condition, mental health, and health behaviours. Most participants reported feelings of vulnerability, anxiety and isolation, noticed that other people changed their behaviour towards them including a feeling of being stigmatised by people not categorised as high risk. Participants described the largely negative impact that the COVID-19 lockdown had on to health-related behaviours and access to healthcare, which had resulted in large declines in mental health and wellbeing. Participants also indicated disappointment at the UK Governments response and handling of the COVID-19 lockdown. This study provides novel evidence of the lived experience of the first COVID-19 lockdown for people identified as at high risk of severe illness. In the context of behavioural health interventions, the ubiquity of digital technologies and their adoption into day-to-day life translates into greater potential reach than traditional interventions, and consequently, greater potential for positive public health impact. Findings should be considered by policymakers and healthcare professionals to support people now and as we transition through the recovery phase with a particular emphasis on supporting mental health and changes to the management of long-term health conditions.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Primary Care Access for Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

Introduction: Primary care physicians are essential to cancer care. They frequently identify signs and symptoms leading to a diagnosis of cancer, and provide ongoing support and management of non-cancer health conditions during cancer treatment. Both primary care and cancer care have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, cancer-related patient encounters and cancer screening decreased over 40% and 80% respectively in January to April 2020 compared to 2019 (London et al. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2020). However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care access for cancer patients remain unclear.Methods: We undertook a population-based, retrospective cohort study using healthcare databases held at ICES in Ontario, Canada. Patients with a new lymphoid or myeloid malignancy diagnosed within the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, between July 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019 (COVID-19 cohort) were compared to patients diagnosed in years unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, between July 1, 2018 - September 30, 2018 and July 1, 2017 - September 30, 2017 (pre-pandemic cohort). Both groups were followed for 12 months after initial cancer diagnosis. In the COVID-19 cohort, this allowed for at least 4 months of follow-up data occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcome was number of in-person and virtual visits with a primary care physician. Secondary outcomes of interest included number of in-person and virtual visits with a hematologist, number of visits to the emergency department (ED), and number of unplanned hospitalizations. Outcomes, reported as crude rates per 1000 person-months, were compared between the COVID-19 and pre-pandemic cohorts using Poisson regression modelling.Results: We identified 2882 individuals diagnosed with a new lymphoid or myeloid malignancy during the defined COVID-19 timeframe and compared them to 5997 individuals diagnosed during the defined pre-pandemic timeframe. The crude rate of in-person primary care visits per 1000 person-months significantly decreased from 574.4 [95% CI 568.5 - 580.4] in the pre-pandemic cohort to 402.5 [395.3 - 409.7] in the COVID-19 cohort (p < 0.0001). Telemedicine visits to primary care significantly increased from 5.3 [4.8 - 5.9] to 173.0 [168.4 - 177.8] (p < 0.0001). The rate of combined in-person and telemedicine visits to primary care did not change from 579.8 [573.8 - 585.8] in the pre-pandemic cohort to 575.5 [566.9 - 584.2] in the COVID-19 cohort (p = 0.43). In-person visits to hematologists decreased from 504.1 [498.5 - 509.7] to 432.8 [425.3 - 440.3] (p < 0.0001), and telemedicine visits to hematologists increased from 6.6 [6.0 - 7.3] to 75.9 [72.8 - 79.1] (p < 0.0001). The rate of combined visits to hematologists did not change from 510.7 [505.1 - 516.4] to 508.7 [500.6 - 516.8] (p = 0.68). The rate of ED visits significantly decreased from 95.1 [92.7 - 97.6] in the pre-pandemic cohort to 84.7 [81.4 - 88.0] in the COVID-19 cohort (p < 0.0001). The rate of unplanned hospitalizations did not change from 64.8 [62.8 - 66.8] to 65.7 [62.9 - 68.7] (p = 0.60).Conclusions: Primary care visits for patients with hematologic malignancies did not significantly change during the pandemic, but there was a sizeable shift from in-person to telemedicine visits. Similar findings were seen for visits to hematologists. While the rate of visits to the ED decreased, potentially due to concern of being exposed to the COVID-19 virus, the shift in ambulatory practices did not seem to impact the rate of unplanned hospitalizations. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Integrating mental healthcare in primary care in Singapore

Management of mental health conditions can be both resource-intensive and costly. The rigour of obtaining appointments and the long waiting time at tertiary hospitals, coupled with the need to obtain leave from work form a significant financial and logistical burden on patients for the treatment of mental health conditions. The alternative—more flexible private practice appointments

Micronutrient composition, antioxidant properties, and mineral safety index of selected Nigerian cooked foods

The need to update the Nigerian food composition database (FCD) and provide information on dietary factors contributing to chronic diseases is essential to managing health conditions. This study is analytical. Standardized Nigerian cooked foods were analyzed for minerals, β-carotene, vitamins, phytate, and oxalate contents. Mineral, phytate-mineral interactions, and mineral toxicities in foods were evaluated. Results showed that okazi soup and akara & agidi had the highest potassium, sodium, and calcium (449.60 and 236.36; 1087.12 and 359.49; 568.55 and 481.05 mg/100 g respectively) contents. Miyan taushe, gbegiri, and groundnut soups had the highest β-carotene content when compared to others. The Sodium-potassium ratio of the foods exceeded standard values, while most soups including ogbono, ila alasepo, egusi, and gbegiri, had poor predicted bioavailability for iron, calcium, and zinc. Also, Akara & agidi, okazi, and groundnut soups contained excess doses of iron and sodium compared to the standard. These findings are useful to update Nigerian FCD.

Communication partner perspectives of aphasia self-management and the role of technology: an in-depth qualitative exploration

Purpose “Self-management” empowers individuals to take responsibility for their healthcare through skill-building, personal growth, and self-efficacy related to chronic health condition management. Self-management approaches may benefit people with aphasia (PwA); however, PwA are often excluded from stroke self-management research and there is no published research reporting on aphasia-specific self-management programs. Communication partners (CPs) are involved in the rehabilitation and day-to-day lives of PwA, thus giving them unique insights and knowledge of PwA needs. The present study aimed to investigate CP experiences and perspectives regarding aphasia self-management and to explore CP perceptions of the use of technology in aphasia self-management. Methods In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 14 CPs living in Australia. Interview data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Analysis revealed six core themes: (1) aphasia self-management is embedded into everyday life, (2) CPs provide comprehensive self-management support, (3) speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide tools and support to enable PwA to self-manage, (4) aphasia self-management can be enhanced by technological supports, (5) potential positive outcomes of aphasia self-management, and (6) factors influencing successful aphasia self-management. Conclusions Aphasia self-management programs should focus on individual needs, functional communication in daily life, and social interaction. PwA and CPs are central to these programs, assisted by SLPs. Technology should be explored to augment aphasia self-management. Implications for Rehabilitation Communication partners suggest that people with aphasia are already engaging in aspects of self-management and that more formal aphasia-specific self-management approaches may be beneficial. Dedicated aphasia self-management programs should be situated in daily life with a focus on functional communication, life participation, confidence, and independence. Communication partners, speech-language pathologists, and technology are key support sources for aphasia self-management. Further input should be sought from communication partners in the development of aphasia self-management programs.

Brief report: HIV-related healthcare stigma/discrimination and unmet needs among persons living with HIV in England and Wales

We characterized the prevalence of, and estimated associations between, (1) HIV-related healthcare stigma/discrimination and (2) unmet social, mental, and chronic condition healthcare needs among persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in England and Wales. We used data from Positive Voices 2017, a national, cross-sectional probability survey of PLHIV in England and Wales, in which N = 3,475 PLHIV provided complete data on demographic characteristics (control variables; age, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity), HIV-related healthcare stigma/discrimination (exposures; treated differently from other patients, care was refused/delayed, worried about being treated differently, avoided seeking needed care, all due to HIV status), and unmet needs (outcomes; unmet peer support, psychological care, management of chronic health conditions, and isolation help needs). Modified Poisson regression models with log links and robust variance estimators were used to produce prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for unadjusted and adjusted associations between demographic characteristics, HIV-related healthcare stigma/discrimination (individual items and total scale score), and unmet needs variables. Two in five participants (40%) endorsed at least one HIV-related healthcare stigma/discrimination item; and 474 (14%), 428 (12%), 459 (13%), and 501 (14%) reported an unmet peer support, psychological care, chronic health condition management, and isolation help need, respectively. Each HIV-related healthcare stigma/discrimination item and the summed scale score were significantly, positively associated with all four unmet needs variables in unadjusted and adjusted models. Trainings for all healthcare workers in HIV-competent, non-stigmatizing care, as well as the development of engagement and delivery approaches for psychosocial care for PLHIV, are needed.

Embracing Renovation and Innovation During the Pandemic: Application of Virtual Simulation Technology in Nurse Practitioner Education

During pandemics, physical interactivity in the delivery of teaching content are reduced and opportunities to gain clinical experience in healthcare settings are limited. Thus, pandemics may be viewed as tipping points in terms of willingness to embrace renovation and innovation, as using technology properly has the potential to assist educators and students to achieve learning goals and sustain teaching quality. Nursing education integrates knowledge and skills. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who need more-advanced interactive and clinical experience to cultivate the high levels of professionalism necessary to make health care decisions and manage health conditions appropriately. This article begins by introducing nurse practitioners (NPs) and current nurse practitioner education, and then describes the contents of simulation-based education and virtual simulation technology. In addition, steps and applications of simulation-based education in nurse practitioners are illustrated. Lastly, examples of virtual simulation technology applications in NP education are reported. The author hopes this article will encourage all nurses, including nursing students, first line registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nursing administrators, nursing faculty, and nurse officers, to work as a mutually supportive team and use integrated teaching-examine-application aligned with innovative technology to infuse new vitality into nursing education.

The impact of COVID-19 on primary health care delivery in Australia.

To validate the 'safe and effective staffing tool' and explore the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of Australian primary health care (PHC). A national survey was conducted from October to December 2020. The online survey was distributed via social media and professional organisations to PHC nurses. Three-hundred fifty-nine PHC nurses participated. A two-factor solution was found with factors named; 'Perception of quality of care provided' and 'Personal satisfaction with care delivered'. Cronbach's alpha demonstrated good internal consistency for the total scale (α=.915) and each subscale (α=.879/α=.864). Nearly three-quarters of participants (71.3%) were satisfied with the quality of care they delivered. Participants working in general practice, and those with more nursing experience had significantly higher scores in the factor 'perceptions of quality of care provided' and the total 'quality and satisfaction with care'. A lack of time, inadequate supervision and support, and performing non-nursing duties were reported to be impacting care quality. Most participants (80.5%) reported that COVID-19had impacted negatively on the detection and management of non-COVID related health conditions. The 'safe and effective staffing tool' is a valid and reliable measure of perceived quality of care and satisfaction with care delivered. Many PHC nurses perceive that there has been an overall reduction in the quality of care delivered due to COVID-19 and feel that there is a lack of adequate supervision and workplace support. Given the limited baseline data, further research is required to understand the extent that COVID-19 impacts these findings. However, this study demonstrates that strategies need to be implemented to support PHC nurses to provide high-quality care to optimise health outcomes and maintain nurse satisfaction. This is the first attempt to evaluate care quality in Australian PHC. Policymaking requires this evidence to drive changes to better support PHC nurses.

E-Mentoring to Address Youth Health: A Systematic Review.

Electronic mentoring (e-mentoring), the integration of digital technology in mentoring relationships, has recently grown in popularity; however, the effectiveness of e-mentoring in addressing youth health has not been synthesized to date. The current study synthesizes the literature on e-mentoring to affect the health and well-being of youth (10–24 years) through a systematic review and evidence quality assessment. A total of 833 records were identified, of which 14 met eligibility criteria (published in English since 1995, targeted youth health and/or youth with health issues, and communication was entirely digital or combined with in-person interaction). The results showed that the majority of health-focused e-mentoring studies were conducted with young people with existing health conditions rather than on the use of e-mentoring to promote overall health and wellness. The included programs focused largely on bringing mentoring to youth subpopulations that may be challenged by in-person models. Quality assessments of the included studies showed that the strength of the evidence is mediocre. The findings suggest that e-mentoring has the potential to reach youth with unique health concerns and to promote independent management of health conditions as youth transition to adulthood; however, more rigorous evaluation of e-mentoring programs with larger sample sizes is needed.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40894-021-00172-3.

Soft Skills and Psychosocial Counselling in COVID-19 Times: the Changing Tactics.

IntroductionAs the COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly griping the world, it starts effecting the psychosocial health of the patients, health care workers, frontline workers and their dependents. The entire landscape of existing patient psychological counselling and management needs to be changed to avoid fear and misinformation about COVID-19.Material and methodsIn this article, we have tried to summarize the rules, regulations and protocols in accordance with government guidelines along with practical implementation of counselling in management of psychological health condition of patients and frontline workers.ConclusionIf used wisely and as per recommendations, psychosocial counselling is a very useful tool in the present COVID-19 pandemic, to avoid spread of misinformation, fear and grief about the disease which creates mental health issue and anxiety among close contacts as well as health care workers.

Examining the Use of Web-Based Health Education and Information Among Ambulatory Care Clinic Diabetic Patients.

Web-based health education provides access to information and better coordination of care. Demographic and geographical factors may impact use and effectiveness of these services. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with use of web-based health education programs among diabetic patients at ambulatory clinics of a safety-net hospital. This was a retrospective chart review. Total sample size was 300. Patients who completed a web-based video were younger, Caucasian, living outside inner city core, users of patient portal, and more likely to complete annual diabetic eye examination. Web-based education may empower patients to manage health conditions and improve health outcomes. Health care organizations must consider barriers to use of these tools.

World Trade Center Health Program - United States, 2012-2020.

Problem/ConditionAfter the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, approximately 400,000 persons were exposed to toxic contaminants and other factors that increased their risk for certain physical and mental health conditions. Shortly thereafter, both federal and nonfederal funds were provided to support various postdisaster activities, including medical monitoring and treatment. In 2011, as authorized by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, the CDC World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program began providing medical screening, monitoring, and treatment of 9/11-related health conditions for WTC responders (i.e., persons who were involved in rescue, response, recovery, cleanup, and related support activities after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks) and affected WTC survivors (i.e., persons who were present in the dust or dust cloud on 9/11 or who worked, lived, or attended school, child care centers, or adult day care centers in the New York City disaster area).Reporting Period Covered2012–2020.Description of SystemThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services WTC Health Program is administered by the director of CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The WTC Health Program uses a multilayer administrative claims system to process members’ authorized program health benefits. Administrative claims data are primarily generated by clinical providers in New York and New Jersey at the Clinical Centers of Excellence and outside those states by clinical providers in the Nationwide Provider Network. This report describes WTC Health Program trends for selected indicators during 2012–2020.ResultsIn 2020, a total of 104,223 members were enrolled in the WTC Health Program, of which 73.4% (n = 76,543) were responders and 26.6% (n = 27,680) were survivors. WTC Health Program members are predominantly male (78.5%). The median age of members was 51 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 44−57) in 2012 and 59 years (IQR: 52−66) in 2020. During 2012−2020, enrollment and number of certifications of WTC-related health conditions increased among members, with the greatest changes observed among survivors. Overall, at enrollment, most WTC Health Program members lived in New York (71.7%), New Jersey (9.3%), and Florida (5.7%). In 2020, the total numbers of cancer and noncancer WTC-related certifications among members were 20,612 and 50,611, respectively. Skin cancer, male genital system cancers, and in situ neoplasms (e.g., skin and breast) are the most common WTC-related certified cancer conditions. The most commonly certified noncancer conditions are in the aerodigestive and mental health categories. The average number of WTC-related certified conditions per certified member is 2.7. In 2020, a total of 40,666 WTC Health Program members received annual monitoring and screening examinations (with an annual average per calendar year of 35,245). In 2020, the total number of WTC Health Program members who received treatment was 41,387 (with an annual average per calendar year of 32,458).InterpretationSince 2011, the WTC Health Program has provided health care for a limited number of 9/11-related health conditions both for responders and survivors of the terrorist attacks. Over the study period, program enrollment and WTC certification increased, particularly among survivors. As the members age, increased use of health services and costs within the WTC Health Program are expected; chronic diseases, comorbidities, and other health-related conditions unrelated to WTC exposures are more common in older populations, which might complicate the clinical management of WTC-related health conditions.Public Health ActionAnalysis of administrative claims data in the context of WTC research findings can better clarify the health care use patterns of WTC Health Program members. This information guides programmatic decision-making and might also help guide future disaster preparedness and response health care efforts. Strengthening the WTC Health Program health informatics infrastructure is warranted for timely programmatic and research decision-making.