Perceived Severity Of Illness Research Articles

Parental cancer: mediating and moderating roles of psychological inflexibility in the links between illness severity and parental quality of life and family outcomes

The challenges of parental cancer while caring for young offspring are often neglected by researchers and healthcare providers. Focusing on parents with cancer, this cross-sectional study examines the mediating and moderating roles of a malleable risk factor, psychological inflexibility, in the relationships between perceived illness severity and parental quality of life (QoL) and family outcomes. Psychological inflexibility was conceptualized using the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) framework. A total of 86 parents with cancer caring for young offspring (aged 11–24 years; M = 17.94, SD = 3.68) completed a survey that assessed psychological inflexibility, parental mental and physical health QoL, family outcomes (family functioning, parenting concerns, and openness to discuss cancer), socio-demographics, and illness variables. Mediation analyses indicated that higher perceived illness severity was associated with higher levels of psychological inflexibility, which in turn were related to higher detrimental impacts on parental QoL and family outcomes. Results of moderation analyses were non-significant. Findings highlight the detrimental impacts of illness severity on psychological inflexibility, suggesting that it is a psychosocial risk factor in parents dealing with cancer. ACT-based interventions which foster psychological flexibility are likely to enhance parental QoL and family outcomes.

Sepsis Huddles in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Late-onset Infection Recognition and Severity Assessment

To analyze relationships between provider-documented signs prompting sepsis evaluations, assessments of illness severity, and late-onset infection (LOI). Retrospective cohort study of all infants receiving a sepsis huddle in conjunction with a LOI evaluation. Participants were ≥3 days old and admitted to a level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from September 2018 through May 2021. Data were extracted from standardized sepsis huddle notes in the electronic health record, including clinical signs prompting LOI evaluations, illness severity assessments (from least to most severe: green, yellow, and red), and management plans. To analyze relationships of sepsis huddle characteristics with the detection of culture-confirmed LOI (bacteremia, urinary tract infection, or meningitis), we utilized diagnostic test statistics, area under the receiver-operator characteristic (AUROC) analyses, and multivariable logistic regression. We identified 1209 eligible sepsis huddles among 604 infants. There were 111 culture-confirmed LOI episodes (9% of all huddles). Twelve clinical signs of infection poorly distinguished infants with and without LOI, with sensitivity for each ranging from 2 to 36% and AUROC ranging 0.49-0.53. Multivariable logistic regression identified increasing odds of infection with higher perceived illness severity at the time of sepsis huddle, adjusted for gestational age and receipt of intensive care supports. Clinical signs prompting sepsis huddles were nonspecific and not predictive of concurrent LOI. Higher perceived illness severity was associated with presence of infection, despite some misclassification based on objective criteria. In level IV NICUs, antimicrobial stewardship through development of criteria for antibiotic non-initiation may be challenging, as presenting signs of LOI are similar among infants with and without confirmed infection.

Parent Perceptions of Telemedicine for Acute Pediatric Respiratory Tract Infections: Sequential Mixed Methods Study.

Since 2020, parents have had increasing opportunities to use telemedicine for their children, but how parents decide whether to use telemedicine for acute pediatric care relative to alternative sites of care is not clear. One of the most common reasons parents seek acute care for their children is for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). This study aims to examine parental expectations of care via telemedicine for pediatric ARTIs, contrasting expectations of care delivered via primary care telemedicine and direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine. We performed a sequential mixed methods analysis to examine how parents assess telemedicine for their children's acute care. We used ARTIs as a case study for examining parent perceptions of telemedicine. First, we analyzed semistructured interviews focused on parent responses about the use of telemedicine. Each factor discussed by parents was coded to reflect whether parents indicated it incentivized or disincentivized their preferences for telemedicine versus in-person care. Results were organized by a 7-dimension framework of parental health care seeking that was generated previously, which included dimensions related to care sites (expected access, affordability, clinical quality, and site quality) and dimensions related to child or family factors (perceived illness severity, perceived child susceptibility, and parent self-efficacy). Second, we analyzed responses to a national survey, which inquired about parental expectations of primary care telemedicine, commercial DTC telemedicine, and 3 in-person sites of care (primary care, urgent care, and emergency department) across 21 factors identified through prior qualitative work. To assess whether parents had different expectations of different telemedicine models, we compared survey responses for primary care telemedicine and commercial DTC telemedicine using weighted logistic regression. Interview participants (n=40) described factors affecting their perceptions of telemedicine as a care modality for pediatric ARTIs. Generally, factors aligned with access and affordability (eg, decreased wait time and lower out-of-pocket cost) were discussed as potential incentives for telemedicine use, while factors aligned with perceived illness severity, child susceptibility, and clinician quality (eg, trustworthiness) were discussed as potential disincentives for telemedicine use. In survey responses (n=1206), primary care and commercial DTC telemedicine were rated similarly on items related to expected accessibility and affordability. In contrast, on items related to expected quality of care, primary care telemedicine was viewed similarly to in-person primary care, while commercial DTC telemedicine was rated lower. For example, 69.7% (weighted; 842/1197) of respondents anticipated their children would be comfortable and cooperative with primary care telemedicine versus 49.7% (weighted; 584/1193) with commercial DTC telemedicine (P<.001). In a mixed methods analysis focused on telemedicine for ARTIs, parents expressed more concerns about telemedicine quality in commercial DTC models compared with primary care-based telemedicine. These results could help health systems better design telemedicine initiatives to support family-centered care.

Parent Care-Seeking Decisions for Pediatric Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in the United States: A Mental Models Approach.

To understand US parent health care-seekingdecisions in the context of multiple in-person and telehealth care options. As the health care landscape evolves, new research is needed to explain how parents now decide when and where to seek acute pediatric health care. We applied a mental models approach, focusing on the archetypal example of care-seeking for pediatric acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs), by first reviewing pediatric ARTI guidelines with 16 health care professionals to inform 40 subsequent semi-structured interviews with parents of young children in 2021. Interviews were qualitatively coded using thematic analysis, with code frequency and co-occurrence informing the final influence model of parent health care-seeking decisions. Parent interviewees identified 33 decisional factors which were synthesized into seven dimensions influencing care-seeking decisions: perceived illness severity, perceived child susceptibility, parental self-efficacy, expected accessibility of care, expected affordability of care, expected quality of clinician, and expected quality of site. The first three dimensions (perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, parental self-efficacy) influenced an initial decision about whether to seek care, while all seven factors influenced a subsequent decision about where to seek care (eg, in-person primary care, primary care-based telehealth, urgent care, direct-to-consumer telehealth). Uncertainty was present within many dimensions (eg, severity, access, quality) indicating potential targets to support parent decision-making processes and optimize care-seeking behaviors. A mental models approach identified dimensions influencing parent choice to seek care and choice of care site for children with ARTIs, suggesting targets to advance family-centered practice and policy.

677-P: Exploring the Impact of CGM on Perceived Control of Non-Intensive Insulin Treated Type 2 Diabetes—“I liked keeping my line with as few spikes as possible”

Background and Aims: Progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D) demands complex treatment modalities, which may impair patients’ confidence and psychological health. Technologies allowing improved understanding of the dynamic disease process may improve engagement with therapy. Methods: As part of a larger observational study, we previously reported findings highlighting the impact of using Dexcom G6 real-time CGM (rtCGM) with T2D adults (diverse therapies) and prediabetes over a 12-week period. We now explored qualitative data generated from a subsample of T2D participants (N=38) on non-intensive insulin therapy (Basal only=24%, No insulin=76%). Participants answered open-ended questions about their experiences using CGM including self-reported learnings and changes in behavior. Primary themes from qualitative data were derived using content analysis and confirmed with inter-coder reliability. Results: Overall, most participants (&amp;gt;90%) ended the study with high levels of perceived control (PC) of their diabetes. For further analysis, participants’ change in PC at study end were plotted based on low, medium, or high PC before CGM use. Interesting group differences emerged wherein fewer participants reporting medium PC at baseline reported high PC at study end (vs. others with low and high baseline PC). Qualitative themes around perceived illness severity, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy along with differences in demographics and glycemic metrics helped translate these meaningful findings. Conclusions: rtCGM use provided valuable improvements in participants’ engagement and understanding of their diabetes with potential for long-term clinical benefits. Future studies exploring relationships between perceived control of diabetes and progression of T2D may indicate potential areas for improved engagement with diabetes technology. Disclosure M.A.Crawford: Employee; Dexcom, Inc. C.Hicks: Employee; Dexcom, Inc. P.Genge: Employee; Dexcom, Inc. K.Greenawald: Employee; Dexcom, Inc. M.Tressler: Employee; Dexcom, Inc. D.R.Cherñavvsky: None. H.Singh: Employee; Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., Dexcom, Inc. Funding Dexcom, Inc.

Caregiver Quality of Life During Pediatric Influenza-Like Illness: A Cross-Sectional Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The objective of this study was to quantify the quality of life (QoL) of caregivers with children with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and to identify factors associated with worse QoL. This was a cross-sectional cohort study of caregivers in a pediatric emergency department with previously healthy young children with ILI. The primary outcome was caregiver QoL. Additional measures included health literacy, social support, and caregiver health status. Two hundred and eighty-one caregivers completed the study. And 41% reported overall QoL was worse during their child's illness. The median QoL score was 3.8 [3.1, 4.6] in a 7-point scale. Illness duration was associated with worse overall QoL score (0.128 worse for each additional day of illness). The median emotions domain score was 2.5 [1.5, 4.0], the worst of any domain. Caregivers who perceived worse illness severity had lower emotions domain scores (2.61 vs 6.00, P = .0269). Caregivers with adequate literacy had lower mean QoL scores (3.08 vs 4.44, P < .0001). Childhood illnesses worsen caregiver QoL. Factors associated with worse QoL were perception of illness severity and duration. Addressing caregiver QoL could mitigate the impact of childhood acute illnesses on caregiver wellbeing.

Handwashing adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study based on protection motivation theory

RationaleThe associations between the number of COVID-19 cases/deaths and subsequent uptake of protective behaviors may reflect cognitive and behavioral responses to threat-relevant information. ObjectiveApplying protection motivation theory (PMT), this study explored whether the number of total COVID-19 cases/deaths and general anxiety were associated with cross-situational handwashing adherence and whether these associations were mediated by PMT-specific self-regulatory cognitions (threat appraisal: perceived vulnerability, perceived illness severity; coping appraisal: self-efficacy, response efficacy, response costs). MethodThe study (#NCT04367337) was conducted in March–September 2020 among 1256 adults residing in 14 countries. Self-reports on baseline general anxiety levels, handwashing adherence across 12 situations, and PMT-related constructs were collected using an online survey at two points in time, four weeks apart. Values of COVID-19 cases and deaths were retrieved twice for each country (one week prior to the individual data collection). ResultsAcross countries and time, levels of adherence to handwashing guidelines were high. Path analysis indicated that smaller numbers of COVID-19 cases/deaths (Time 0; T0) were related to stronger self-efficacy (T1), which in turn was associated with higher handwashing adherence (T3). Lower general anxiety (T1) was related to better adherence (T3), with this effect mediated by higher response efficacy (T1, T3) and lower response cost (T3). However, higher general anxiety (T1) was related to better adherence via higher illness severity (T1, T3). General anxiety was unrelated to COVID-19 indicators. ConclusionsWe found a complex pattern of associations between the numbers of COVID-19 cases/deaths, general anxiety, PMT variables, and handwashing adherence at the early stages of the pandemic. Higher general anxiety may enable threat appraisal (perceived illness severity), but it may hinder coping appraisal (response efficacy and response costs). The indicators of the trajectory of the pandemic (i.e., the smaller number of COVID-19 cases) may be indirectly associated with higher handwashing adherence via stronger self-efficacy.

Hospital admissions and clinical implications in schizophrenia and bipolar patients

This study aims to understand the long-term outcomes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with a specific focus on hospital admissions and criteria for involuntary hospitalization. Conducted at the “Prof. Dr. Alexandru Obregia” Clinical Psychiatry Hospital, Bucharest, between September 2022 and January 2023, our research analyzed data from 93 patients diagnosed with either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. We employed descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), to examine differences in age, income, disease duration, hospital admissions, involuntary hospitalization days, and Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scores. Descriptive statistics revealed that patients with bipolar disorder were older and had slightly higher education levels than those with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia patients reported higher incomes. Both groups exhibited similar disease durations, indicative of chronic disease courses. ANOVA results showed significant differences in the number of hospital admissions between the two groups (p = 0.028 when equal variances were not assumed), with schizophrenia patients experiencing more frequent hospitalizations. However, there were no significant differences in involuntary hospitalization days. Interestingly, CGI scores suggested higher perceived illness severity in bipolar disorder, although the results did not reach conventional statistical significance (p = 0.056 when variances were not assumed).

Exploring the Role of Social Networks in Facilitating Health Service Access Among Low-Income Women in the Philippines: A Qualitative Study.

Despite efforts to implement universal health care coverage (UHC) in the Philippines, income poor households continue to face barriers to health care access and use. In light of recent UHC legislation, the aim of this study was to explore how gender and social networks shape health care access and use among women experiencing poverty in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women (n = 35) and health care providers (n = 15). Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to report demographic information. Interview data were analyzed thematically using a hybrid deductive-inductive approach and guided by the Patient-Centred Access to Health Care framework. Women’s decisions regarding health care access were influenced by their perceptions of illness severity, their trust in health care facilities, and their available financial resources. Experiences of health care use were shaped by interactions with health professionals, resource availability at facilities, health care costs, and health insurance acquisition. Women drew upon social networks throughout their lifespan for social and financial support to facilitate healthcare access and use. These findings indicate that social networks may be an important complement to formal supports (eg, UHC) in improving access to health care for women experiencing poverty in the Philippines.

Sociodemographic and clinical factors, visit expectations and driving factors for emergency department attendance for uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection

BackgroundUpper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) account for substantial non-urgent ED attendances. Hence, we explored the reasons for such attendances using a mixed-methods approach.MethodsWe interviewed adult patients with URTI who visited...

Individual Differences in Emotion Dysregulation and Social Anxiety Discriminate between High vs. Low Quality of Life in Patients with Mild Psoriasis.

A deeper understanding of how health-related quality of life relates to the clinical and individual characteristics of patients is essential for the delivery of patient-centered dermatological care. The current study aimed to examine the role of individual differences in emotion dysregulation and social anxiety in modulating quality of life in psoriatic patients. A total of 130 patients affected by psoriasis were consecutively enrolled in the study as they approached the Dermatology Unit of Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna. Clinical information gathered included illness severity, assessed with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Body Surface Area (BSA); illness onset; familiarity; and prescribed treatment. The patient-reported outcome measures were the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), measuring the patient’s quality of life; the Psoriasis Skin Appearance Bothersomeness scale (PSAB), measuring patient’s perception of illness severity; the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), assessing emotion dysregulation traits; and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), measuring anxiety about social interactions. Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis reported significantly lower quality of life compared to mildly affected patients. In addition, of the patients affected by mild psoriasis, those characterized by emotion dysregulation and social anxiety traits showed significantly lower levels of quality of life. Our findings suggest that individual differences in emotion dysregulation and social anxiety contribute to health-related quality of life in addition to illness severity. Therapeutic approaches that combine dermatological care with psychological support, especially focused on emotional regulation skills, may be useful to improve clinical outcomes in patients with psoriasis.

Field observations and survey evidence to assess predictors of mask wearing across different outdoor activities in an Argentine city during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We here studied some potential factors underlying variation in compliance with preventive behaviors against COVID‐19 by studying mask wearing during outdoor recreational activities in a midsize city of Argentina in 2020. The originality of present research relies on the complementation of observational (N = 15,507) and survey (N = 578) data and in assessing the determinants of and disposition to the same preventive behavior across activities. In Study 1, we did 8 weeks of unobtrusive systematic observation of mask wearing in outdoor recreational sites as a function of activity (walking, running, and cycling). In Study 2, we ran an online survey (concomitant with the last weeks of the observational study) to measure self‐reported mask use and relevant beliefs, including self‐ and other‐regarding motives. Behavioral observations showed that mask wearing declined over time for the three activities as predicted from a social dilemma perspective; nonetheless, compliance significantly differed across activities. Self‐reported mask use was predicted by the perceived risk of contagion for the self and for others, perceived comfort costs of wearing masks, and social norms, but not by perceived illness severity or mask effectiveness. We discuss some implications and limitations of present findings for the development of preventive strategies to reduce COVID‐19 transmission.

Perceptions of Illness Severity, Treatment Goals, and Life Expectancy: The ePISTLE Study

IntroductionA better understanding of factors influencing perceived life expectancy (PLE), interactions between patient prognostic beliefs, experiences of illness, and treatment behavior is urgently needed.MethodsCase-notes at 3 hemodialysis units were screened: patients with ≥20% 1-year mortality risk were included. Patients and their health care professionals (HCPs) were invited to complete a structured interview or mixed-methods questionnaire. Four hundred eleven patient notes were screened. Seventy-seven eligible patients were approached and 51 were included.ResultsPatients predicted significantly higher life expectancies than HCPs (P < 0.0001). Documented cognitive impairment, gender, or increasing age did not affect 1- or 5-year PLE. PLE influenced priorities of care: one-fifth of patients who estimated themselves to have >95% 1-year survival preferred “care focusing on relieving pain and discomfort,” compared with nearly three-quarters of those reporting a ≤50% chance of 1-year survival. Twenty of 51 (39%) patients believed transplantation was an option for them, despite only 4 being waitlisted at the time of the interview. Patients who thought they were transplant candidates were significantly more confident they would be alive at 1 and 5 years and to want resuscitation attempted. Cognitive impairment had no effect on perceived transplant candidacy. A high symptom burden was present and underrecognized by HCPs. High symptom burden was associated with significantly lower PLE at both 1 and 5 years, increased anxiety/depression scores, and treatment choices more likely to prioritize relief of suffering.ConclusionThere is a disparity between patient PLE and those of their HCPs. Severity of symptom burden and beliefs regarding PLE or transplant candidacy affect patient treatment preferences.

Psychiatric Problems in Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Depression and Anxiety

Depression, anxiety and tuberculosis are common conditions with significant public health implications. The connection among these conditions is syndemic: the incidence of one increases the chance of developing the other, with clusters of biological, social and psychological interaction. Therefore, it has become crucial to understand better the mechanisms liable for the physiological process related to these three conditions. The present review focuses specifically on shared social events (perception of illness severity, social stigma, poverty and social isolation) and biological pathways (central response of the immune system within the CNS, the activation of the HPA axis and the SNS) that may mechanistically elucidate the depression-anxiety-tuberculosis association and discuss interventions prospects and significant issues to be arranged by future clinical and research implications.

Exposure to a severe illness prototype, perceptions of severity, and coping responses

The aim of this experimental study was to examine the relationship of exposure to a lung cancer illness prototype to perceptions of illness severity, illness recognition, and coping responses. Two hundred and ten students were presented with Scenarios of a person suffering from lung cancer-related symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned in two groups: half were asked to think of themselves as the patient, and half of “someone else they know”. After each Scenario, participants were asked to respond to a set of questions regarding the perceived severity of symptoms, potential coping actions, and illness recognition. Repeated Measures MANOVAs, moderation analyses, correlations, and chi-square tests were used to analyse the data. According to the results, gradual exposure to more severe symptoms was related to increased perceived illness severity, increased possibility of using an active coping plan (e.g., care seeking), and more accurate illness recognition. Perceived illness severity was related to more active coping. Still, most participants inaccurately recognized an acute disorder in the majority of Scenarios. Participants in the other-person-group reported greater possibility of using active coping. The findings provide support to several of the Common Sense Model suggestions regarding the role of illness prototypes. They also indicate that illness prototypes are flexible, dynamic constructs that vary according to the specific aspects of the condition.

Characteristics and Outcomes Based on Perceived Illness Severity in SARS-CoV-2.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic is characterized by a global sense of uncertainty, partly driven by the paucity of real-life clinical data. This study assessed whether admission patient characteristics were associated with need for intensive care unit (ICU) care. The observational study included consecutive patients admitted to a large community teaching hospital with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 between March 6, 2020 and March 31, 2020. Comparisons were made based on the need for ICU admission. A total of 156 patients were admitted, 42 of whom (26.9%) required ICU admission and 114 (73.1%) did not. No difference in age (61.9 years vs 60.5 years, P = 0.67), race/ethnicity, or comorbidities were noted, except that patients requiring ICU care had lower serum albumin levels and lymphocyte counts and higher liver function tests, white blood cell count, and absolute neutrophil count on admission. The average time from admission to death was similar (10 days in an ICU subset vs 9.2 days in a non-ICU subset, P = 0.78), yet patients necessitating ICU care had longer hospital lengths of stay (10.2 vs 5.1 days, P = 0.0002). At the time of data extraction, 15 patients in the ICU had died, 7 were discharged from the hospital, and 20 were still admitted while 5 patients died in the non-ICU cohort with 97 discharged and 12 patients admitted. This is the largest study assessing clinical differences based on the need for ICU admission in inpatients with SARS-CoV-2. It found few major differences in clinical variables between subsets. Among patients admitted to the ICU, outcomes were generally poor.

Patterns of healthcare seeking among people reporting chronic conditions in rural sub-Saharan Africa: findings from a population-based study in Burkina Faso.

Non-communicable diseases are rapidly becoming one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, little is known about patterns of healthcare seeking among people with chronic conditions in these settings. We aimed to explore determinants of healthcare seeking among people who reported at least one chronic condition in rural Burkina Faso. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional population-based survey conducted across 24 districts on 52562 individuals from March to June 2017. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess factors associated with seeking care at a formal provider (facility-based care) or at an informal provider (home and traditional treatment) compared to no care. 1124 individuals (2% of all respondents) reported at least one chronic condition. Among those, 22.8% reported formal care use, 10.6% informal care use, and 66.6% no care. The presence of other household members reporting a chronic condition (RRR=0.57, 95%-CI [0.39, 0.82]) was negatively associated with seeking formal care. Wealthier households (RRR=2.14, 95%-CI [1.26, 3.64]), perceived illness severity (RRR=3.23, 95%-CI [2.22, 4.70]) and suffering from major chronic conditions (RRR=1.54, 95%-CI [1.13, 2.11]) were positively associated with seeking formal care. Only a minority of individuals with chronic conditions sought formal care, with important differences due to socio-economic status. Policies and interventions aimed at increasing the availability and affordability of services for early detection and management in peripheral settings should be prioritised.

Medicaid Expansion Reduced Emergency Department Visits by Low-income Adults Due to Barriers to Outpatient Care

Prior studies have found conflicting effects of Medicaid expansion on emergency department (ED) utilization but have not studied the reasons patients go to EDs. Examine the changes in reasons for ED use associated with Medicaid expansion. Difference-in-difference analysis. We included sample adults from the 2012 to 2017 National Health Interview Survey who were US citizens and reported a total family income below 138% federal poverty level (n=30,259). We examined changes in the proportion of study subjects reporting: (1) any ED visits; (2) ED visits due to perceived illness severity; (3) office not open; and (4) barriers to outpatient care, comparing expansion and nonexpansion states. Overall, 30.6% of low-income adults reported ED use in the past year, of which 74.1% reported illness acuity, 12.4% reported office not open, 9.5% reported access barriers, and 4.0% did not report any reason. Medicaid expansion was not associated with statistically significant changes in overall ED use [-2.2% (95% confidence interval-CI), -5.5% to 1.2%), P=0.21], ED visits due to perceived illness severity [0.5% (95% CI, -2.4% to 3.5%), P=0.73], or office not open [-0.9% (95% CI, -2.3% to 0.5%); P=0.22], but was associated with significant decrease in ED visits due to access barriers [-1.4% (95% CI, -2.6% to -0.2%), P=0.022]. Medicaid expansion was associated with a decrease in low-income adults who reported outpatient care barriers as reasons for ED visits. There were no significant changes in overall ED utilization, likely because the majority of respondent reported ED use due to concerns with illness severity or outpatient office was closed.

Perceptions of Illness Severity, Treatment Goals and Life Expectancy

Perceptions of Illness Severity, Treatment Goals and Life Expectancy

P.676 Are there regional differences in the impact of negative symptoms’ on perceptions of illness severity?

P.676 Are there regional differences in the impact of negative symptoms’ on perceptions of illness severity?