Phone-based Surveys Research Articles

Variations in the Association between Economic Distress and Anxiety by Availability of Emergency Cash Reserves: Findings from a Longitudinal Study

Objective: 1) to describe the extent that experience of economic distress is associated with incidence of anxiety, and; 2) modification of the mentioned association by availability of emergency cash reserves. Material and Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study using two phone-based surveys in the general population of Thailand in April and May, 2021. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and log-binomial regression analyses. Results: There were 1135 persons who met the inclusion criteria and participated in both surveys (non-participation at baseline=31.7%; loss-to-follow-up=420/1555=14.4%). The association between economic distress and anxiety was stronger among participants with no emergency cash reserves (Adjusted RR=2.05, 95% CI=0.86, 4.90) and more moderate among participants with emergency cash reserves (Adjusted RR=1.70, 95% CI=0.31, 9.43). Conclusion: The study results appeared to support our hypothesis despite lack of statistical significance. However, the lack of adjustment for other predictors of anxiety, and the lack of ability to generalize to other phases of the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of our study findings.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Mobile Phone-Based Surveys to Identify Mental Health Symptoms in Parents/Guardians of PICU Patients.

Parents experience psychologic distress during their child's admission to a PICU, but effective screening for parental mental health symptoms is not the standard of care. We aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile phone-based mental health survey for parents/guardians of PICU patients to facilitate their support by the PICU team. Post hoc analysis of a single-institution pilot study conducted in 2022. Mental health surveys were delivered by text message to parents/guardians of PICU patients over 1 month, beginning 3 days after their child's PICU admission. In-person interviews 1 month after hospital discharge were used to solicit participants' opinions on the survey platform and content. A quaternary U.S. academic medical center. Parents/guardians of PICU patients. None. Of the 53 participants who consented, 31 (58%) completed the study. Symptoms of acute stress (ASS) were the most common and most severe: 21 participants screened positive for ASS, and 20 of those that screened positive had "moderate" or "severe" symptoms. Among the 23 participants who screened positive for one mental health condition, 10 met the thresholds for all three. Scoring of the protocol's usability, acceptability, and feasibility showed a System Usability Scale equal to 82 of 100, an Acceptability of Intervention Measure score equal to 4.2 of 5, an Intervention Appropriateness Measure score equal to 4.5 of 5, and Feasibility of Intervention Measure score equal to 4.5 of 5. Mobile phone-based screening for parental mental health symptoms is acceptable and may offer the advantage of privacy and flexibility.

Abstract P206: Family Food Study: Findings From a Mixed Methods Pilot Study Examining Diet Among Chinese American Families in New York City

Introduction: Asian American youth experience a disproportionately high burden of diet-related diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Family support and co-participation are essential to maintaining a healthy diet during childhood/adolescence and may be particularly important for Asian American youth given the cultural emphasis on family. However, no studies, to our knowledge, have examined how the diets of Asian American youth correlate with those of their families. Objective: To determine the correlation in diets of Chinese American families and understand the mechanisms through which families influence youth's diets. Methods: We recruited 10 Chinese American families from New York City to participate in the Family Food study. Between June and July of 2023, we administered phone-based surveys to 1 parent and 2 children aged 10-17 years within each family. One child per family conducted a follow-up, phone-based interview on the social and environmental determinants of diet. Dietary intake was measured using the validated and culturally adapted 26-item Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated from linear mixed models with age and sex as fixed effects, family as a random effect, and either 1) predicted fruit and vegetable intake or 2) frequency of intake of each food/beverage group as the outcome. Rapid qualitative analysis was used to identify key themes from the youth interviews. Results: On average, youth were 13 years old, 55% were male, and 15% were born in China. All parents were female and born in China, and 30% of households were SNAP recipients. Predicted mean intake of fruits and vegetables was 2.8 (SD: 0.9) cups/day, and correlation in intake among family members was slight (ICC=0.10). Correlations in frequency of intake of food/beverage groups among family members ranged from 0.01 to 0.46 (i.e., virtually no similarity to fair), with the strongest correlations for 100% fruit juice (0.46), milk (0.35), cheese (0.35), and fried potatoes (0.35). Our qualitative analysis indicated that convenience and time were the most common determinants of dietary choices, particularly among high schoolers. Most junk foods youth consumed were American, while dinner was generally Chinese cuisine prepared by their mother or grandmother. This echoed quantitative findings that families ate dinner together most days (6.3 days/week), that 90% of mothers were the main person responsible for food preparation, and that 40% of mothers did not like or know how to prepare American foods. Conclusions: Among Chinese American families, intake of dairy items, high-sugar, and high-fat items tended to be the most strongly correlated. Future research should aim to replicate this work in a larger sample size and to better understand how convenience, time, and family meals shape diet- and health-related decisions.

Understanding COVID-19 vaccination behaviors and intentions in Ghana: A Behavioral Insights (BI) study.

Vaccine uptake is influenced by a variety of factors. Behavioral Insights (BI) can be used to address vaccine hesitancy to understand the factors that influence the decision to take or refuse a vaccine. This two-part study consisted of a survey designed to identify the influence of various drivers of people's COVID-19 vaccination status and their intention to take the vaccine in Ghana, as well as an experiment to test which of several behaviorally informed message frames had the greatest effect on vaccine acceptance. Data was collected from a total of 1494 participants; 1089 respondents (73%) reported already being vaccinated and 405 respondents (27%) reported not being vaccinated yet. The mobile phone-based surveys were conducted between December 2021 and January 2022 using Random Digit Dialing (RDD) to recruit study participants. Data analysis included regression models, relative weights analyses, and ANOVAs. The findings indicated that vaccine uptake in Ghana is influenced more by social factors (what others think) than by practical factors such as ease of vaccination. Respondents' perceptions of their family's and religious leaders' attitudes towards the vaccine were among the most influential drivers. Unexpectedly, healthcare providers' positive attitudes about the COVID-19 vaccine had a significant negative relationship with respondents' vaccination behavior. Vaccine intention was positively predicted by risk perception, ease of vaccination, and the degree to which respondents considered the vaccine effective. Perceptions of religious leaders' attitudes also significantly and positively predicted respondents' intention to get vaccinated. Although perceptions of religious leaders' views about the vaccine are an important driver of vaccine acceptance, results asking respondents to rank-order who influences them suggest that people may not be consciously aware-or do not want to admit-the degree to which they are affected by what religious leaders think. Message frames that included fear, altruism, social norms were all followed by positive responses toward the vaccine, as were messages with three distinct messengers: Ghana Health Services, a doctor, and religious leaders. What drives COVID-19 vaccine intentions does not necessarily drive behaviors. The results of this study can be used to develop appropriate COVID-19 vaccine uptake strategies targeting the most important drivers of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, using effective message frames.

The impact of COVID-19 on household income and participation in the agri-food value chain: Evidence from Ethiopia

The effects of COVID-19 have been highly heterogeneous, crucially depending on household livelihoods. In the context of households reliant on agri-food systems, the extent of these effects significantly depends on their position within the value chain. An assessment of the COVID-19 effects along the agri-food value chain and the identification of pivotal factors influencing these outcomes are key for designing appropriate responses and targeting the population most in need should a crisis akin to COVID-19 emerge in the future. Using a longitudinal dataset from Ethiopia, composed of a pre-COVID baseline and six follow-up phone-based surveys, this paper estimates the COVID-19-induced change in household income and job participation, tracing its evolution throughout seven months after the pandemic onset. Applying both longitudinal and cross-sectional econometric models, we show that the COVID-19 shock reduced both employment and income, with increasingly negative impacts over time. Despite initial resilience in the face of restrictive measures, farming eventually emerged as the most affected segment within the agri-food value chain over the medium term. Access to formal institutions such as insurance and credit services, formal contractual arrangements, and secured land ownership title played a key role in mitigating the likelihood of income loss.

Safety of Janssen Ad26.COV.S and Astra Zeneca AZD1222 COVID-19 Vaccines among Mobile Phone Users in Malawi: Findings from a National Mobile-Based Syndromic Surveillance Survey, July 2021 to December 2021

The safety profiles of the Ad26.COV2.S and AZD1222 COVID-19 vaccines have not been described in the general population in Malawi. We present self-reported adverse events (AE) following the receipt of these vaccines in Malawi as part of a national syndromic surveillance survey. We conducted phone-based syndromic surveillance surveys among adults (≥18 years) with verbal consent. We used secure tablets through random digit dialing to select mobile phone numbers and collected data electronically. Survey questions included whether the respondent had received the COVID-19 vaccines, whether they had experienced any AE following vaccination, and the severity of the AE. We used multivariable analysis to identify factors associated with self-reported AE post-COVID-19 vaccination. A total of 11,924 (36.0%) out of 33,150 respondents reported receiving at least one dose of either Ad26.COV2.S or AZD1222 between July–December 2021; of those, 65.1% were female. About 49.2% of the vaccine recipients reported at least one AE, 90.6% of which were mild, and 2.6% were severe. Higher education level and concern about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines were associated with AE self-report (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 2.63 [95% CI 1.96–3.53] and 1.44, [95% CI 1.30–1.61], respectively), while male gender and older age were associated with reduced likelihood of AE self-report (AORs 0.81, [95% CI 0.75–0.88], 0.62 [95% CI 0.50–0.77], respectively). Ad26.COV2.S and AZD1222 vaccines are well-tolerated, with primarily mild and few severe AE among adults living in Malawi. Self-reporting of AE following COVID-19 vaccination is associated with gender, age, education, and concern about the safety of the vaccines. Recognizing these associations is key when designing and implementing COVID-19 vaccination communication messages to increase vaccination coverage.

Representativeness of a mobile phone-based coverage evaluation survey following mass drug administration for soil-transmitted helminths: a comparison of participation between two cross-sectional surveys

ObjectivesWith increasing mobile phone subscriptions, phone-based surveys are gaining popularity with public health programmes. Despite advantages, systematic exclusion of participants may limit representativeness. Similar to control programmes for neglected tropical...

Developing digital tools for health surveys in low- and middle-income countries: Comparing findings of two mobile phone surveys with a nationally representative in-person survey in Bangladesh.

Non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factor data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are inadequate, mostly due to the cost and burden of collecting in-person population-level estimates. High-income countries regularly use phone-based surveys, and with increasing mobile phone subscription in developing countries, mobile phone surveys (MPS) could complement in-person surveys in LMICs. We compared the representativeness and prevalence estimates of two MPS (i.e., interactive voice response (IVR) and computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI)) with a nationally representative household survey in Bangladesh-the STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPs) 2018. This cross-sectional study included 18-69-year-old respondents. CATI and IVR recruitments were done by random digit dialing, while STEPs used multistage cluster sampling design. The prevalence of NCD risk factors related to tobacco, alcohol, diet, and hypertension was reported and compared by prevalence differences (PD) and prevalence ratios (PR). We included 2355 (57% males), 1942 (62% males), and 8185 (47% males) respondents in the CATI, IVR, and STEPs, respectively. CATI (28%) and IVR (52%) had a higher proportion of secondary/above-educated people than STEPs (13%). Most prevalence estimates differed by survey mode; however, CATI estimates were closer to STEPs than IVR. For instance, in CATI, IVR, and STEPs, respectively, the prevalence was 21.4%, 17.9%, and 23.5% for current smoking; and 1.6%, 2.2%, and 1.5% for alcohol drinking in past month. Compared to STEPs, the PD ranged from '-56.6% to 0.4%' in CATI and '-41.0% to 8.4%' in IVR; the PR ranged from '0.3 to 1.1' in CATI and '0.3 to 1.6' in IVR. There were some differences and some similarities in NCD indicators produced by MPS and STEPs with differences likely due to differences in socioeconomic characteristics between survey participants.

Availability and use of personal protective equipment in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Availability and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is of particular importance in Low and Middle-Income countries (LMICs) where disease outbreaks other than COVID-19 are frequent and health workers are scarce. This study assesses the availability of necessary PPE items during the COVID-19 pandemic at health facilities in seven LMICs. Data were collected using a rapid-cycle survey among 1554 health facilities in seven LMICs via phone-based surveys between August 2020 and December 2021. We gathered data on the availability of World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended PPE items and the use of items when examining patients suspected to be infected with COVID-19. We further investigated the implementation of service adaptation measures in a severe shortage of PPE. There were major deficiencies in PPE availability at health facilities. Almost 3 out of 10 health facilities reported a stock-out of medical masks on the survey day. Forty-six percent of facilities did not have respirator masks, and 16% did not have any gloves. We show that only 43% of health facilities had sufficient PPE to comply with WHO guidelines. Even when all items were available, healthcare workers treating COVID-19 suspected patients were reported to wear all the recommended equipment in only 61% of health facilities. We did not find a statistically significant difference in implementing service adaptation measures between facilities experiencing a severe shortage or not. After more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall availability of PPE remained low in our sample of low and middle-income countries. Although essential, the availability of PPE did not guarantee the proper use of the equipment. The lack of PPE availability and improper use of available PPE enable preventable COVID-19 transmission in health facilities, leading to greater morbidity and mortality and risking the continuity of service delivery by healthcare workers.

Vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from facility surveys across six countries.

Vaccine hesitancy remains a critical barrier in mitigating the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The willingness of health care workers (HCWs) to be vaccinated, and, in turn, recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for their patient population is an important strategy. This study aims to understand the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and the reasoning for vaccine hesitancy among facility-based health care workers (HCWs) in LMICs. We conducted nationally representative phone-based rapid-cycle surveys across facilities in six LMICs to better understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. We gathered data on vaccine uptake among facility managers, their perceptions of vaccine uptake and hesitancy among the HCWs operating in their facilities, and their perception of vaccine hesitancy among the patient population served by the facility. 1,148 unique public health facilities participated in the study, with vaccines being almost universally offered to facility-based respondents across five out of six countries. Among facility respondents who have been offered the vaccine, more than 9 in 10 survey respondents had already been vaccinated at the time of data collection. Vaccine uptake among other HCWs at the facility was similarly high. Over 90% of facilities in Bangladesh, Liberia, Malawi, and Nigeria reported that all or most staff had already received the COVID-19 vaccine when the survey was conducted. Concerns about side effects predominantly drive vaccine hesitancy in both HCWs and the patient population. Our findings indicate that the opportunity to get vaccinated in participating public facilities is almost universal. We find vaccine hesitancy among facility-based HCWs, as reported by respondents, to be very low. This suggests that a potentially effective effort to increase vaccine uptake equitably would be to channel promotional activities through health facilities and HCWs.However, reasons for hesitancy, even if limited, are far from uniform across countries, highlighting the need for audience-specific messaging.

Abstract 242: Association Of The Nearest Static AED With Treatment And Outcome Of OHCA In Forsyth County, North Carolina

Introduction: Over the last two decades, publicly accessible AEDs have become available in communities across the US, allowing bystanders to rapidly intervene during OHCA. The impact of static AEDs on rates of bystander AED application and OHCA outcomes is poorly understood. Methods: We created a static AED registry for Forsyth County, NC (mixed rural-urban county with population ~ 380,000 ) primarily through phone-based surveys of businesses. These data were linked to the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival and geocoded to calculate proximity between OHCA and nearest static AED. The AHA recommends that publicly accessible AEDs be placed to achieve bystander retrieval within 100 meters (m) of OHCA. Multivariable logistic regression modeling examined the relationship between AED proximity and survival to hospital discharge. Results: Included were 2078 patients >18 years old with OHCA between 2013-2019 and 573 businesses with at least one AED. There were 219 (10.5%), 190 (9.1%), 1669 (80.3%) OHCAs with an AED within <100m, 100-200m, and >200m, respectively. OHCA incidence was highest where static AEDs were closest. Static AEDs within 100m of OHCA were primarily at residential facilities (41.1%), health care clinics (26.5%), churches (9.1%), and schools (6.8%). Among OHCAs with nearest AED >200m, AEDs were primarily owned by schools (32.2%), healthcare facilities (15%), industrial facilities (10.6%), and churches (10.4%). Bystander CPR was highest for OHCAs in closest proximity to an AED (<100m: 61.2%; 100-200m: 51.6%; >200m: 39.5%, p<0.001). Bystander AED application was highest where static AEDs were closest to OHCA (28.3%, 14.2%, and 3.8% at <100m, 100-200m, and >200m, respectively, p<0.001). Among patients who were defibrillated, bystander defibrillation was 18.1%, 20%, and 3.9% (p<0.001). There was no difference for survival to hospital discharge (<100m: 15.1%; 100-200m: 15.3%; >200m: 13.1%, p=0.54), even after adjustment (aOR 1.002, 95% CI 0.995-1.008 per 10m decrease). Conclusion: Only 10% of OHCAs in Forsyth County were within 100 meters of a static AED. Bystander CPR and AED application were highest where static AEDs were <100m from OHCA. Despite this, there was no association between AED proximity and survival to hospital discharge.

Gendered time use during COVID-19 among adolescents and young adults in Nairobi, Kenya.

SummaryBackgroundGender disparities in time use contribute to poor outcomes in women. Large-scale disruptions can affect time use. The objectives of this study were to characterize time use across the pandemic by gender and to assess how gender associates with 2021-time use, overall and by 2020 economic dependency status.MethodsA prospective cohort of youth in Nairobi, Kenya, completed phone-based surveys in August-October 2020 and April-May 2021. Time use was characterized at both time points and 1,777 participants with complete time use data at both time points were included in the analysis. 2021-time use was regressed on gender and stratified by 2020 economic dependency status.FindingsAt both time points, significant gender differences in time use found young men with more time on paid work and less time on domestic work [1·6 h; 95% CI: 1·1, 2·2] and [-1·9 h; 95% CI: -1·1, -1·5], respectively; 2021. In adjusted models, the gender differential in unpaid domestic work were significant overall and at all levels of economic dependency (dependent, semi-dependent, independent). The gender differential in paid work was evident among semi-dependent and independent.InterpretationYoung women spent less time on paid work and more time on domestic duties than male counterparts, consistently across a six-month period during the pandemic, suggesting gendered time poverty. Resulting gendered gaps in earnings can contribute to women's longer-term economic vulnerability.FundingThis work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation [010481].

Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life and Physical Activity Among Older Adults in the First-Wave COVID-19 Outbreak: A Longitudinal Analysis.

The current study aimed to follow the effects of social/physical distancing strategies on health-related daily physical activity and quality of life among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventy-two older adults who were enrolled in a University-Community program in March 2020 (age = 66.8 ± 4.82 years, ♀59) answered five phone-based surveys up to 120 days after the COVID-19 outbreak (from April to August 2020). The Short Form 6D and international physical activity (short version) questionnaires were applied. A significant reduction was observed in daily physical activity levels, metabolic equivalent of task, and health-related quality of life scores as well as an increase in sitting time during the week and on weekend days (all p < .01). The authors noted differences in lifestyle conditions at the beginning of the social/physical distancing in the community assessed (p < .01). Health vulnerabilities among older adults have been emphasized during the COVID-19 outbreak, impacting daily physical activity and health-related quality of life.

Children's Daily Negative Affect Patterns and Food Consumption on Weekends: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the association between children's daily negative affect (NA) trajectories and unhealthy food consumption during weekends using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). DesignChildren answered mobile phone-based EMA surveys 7 times a day for 2 weekend days per wave, with each survey assessing current NA and past 2-hour consumption of fried foods (chips or fries), sweets (pastries or sweets), and sugary beverages (drank soda or energy drinks). SettingLos Angeles, California. ParticipantsThe sample consisted of 195 children (51% female; mean age, 9.65 years; SD, 0.93) from the Mothers and Their Children's Health cohort study. Main Outcomes MeasuresNegative affect trajectory (independent variable), unhealthy food consumption (dependent variable). AnalysisLatent growth mixture modeling classified NA trajectories across days and examined their association with unhealthy food consumption. ResultsThe latent growth mixture modeling identified 3 classes of daily NA trajectories: (1) stable low, (2) early increasing and late decreasing and (3) early decreasing and late increasing. Fried food consumption was higher on early increasing and late decreasing and early decreasing and late increasing NA trajectories than days with stable low NA. Conclusions and ImplicationsBy better understanding day-to-day variability in children's affect and eating, we can individually tailor obesity interventions to account for the emotional contexts in which unhealthy eating occurs.

Factors Associated with the Refusal of Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents for the Treatment of Hepatitis C in Taiwan.

Background and Objectives: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) are a safe and highly effective treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the uptake of DAA treatment remains a challenge. This study aims to examine the reasons for DAA refusal among HCV patients covered by the Taiwan National Health Insurance system. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study covered the period from January 2009 to December 2019 and was conducted at a single hepatitis treatment center in Taiwan. This study involved chart reviews and phone-based surveys to confirm treatment status and refusal causes. To confirm treatment status, subjects with HCV without treatment records were phone-contacted to confirm treatment status. Patients who did not receive treatment were invited back for treatment. If the patient refused, the reason for refusal was discussed. Results: A total of 3566 patients were confirmed with DAA treatment; 418 patients (179 patients who were lost to contact or refused the survey and 239 patients who completed the survey of DAA refusal) were included in the no-DAA-therapy group. Factors associated with receiving DAAs were hemoglobin levels, hepatitis B virus co-infection, and regular gastroenterology visits. Meanwhile, male sex, platelet levels, and primary care physician visits were associated with DAA refusal. The leading causes of treatment refusal were multiple comorbidities, low health literacy, restricted access to hospitals, nursing home residence, and old age. The rate of DAA refusal remains high (10%). Conclusions: The reasons for treatment refusal are multifactorial, and addressing them requires complex interventions.

Data Disaggregation for Inclusive Quality Education in Emergencies: The COVID-19 Experience in Ghana

The process of data analysis provides, undoubtedly, some of the major challenges facing organizations during the implementation of interventions in emergencies. The challenges are primarily due to the lack of direct access to beneficiaries and the rapidly evolving nature of emergencies. This paper outlines how Plan International's Making Ghanaian Girls Great! (MGCubed) project used phone-based surveys to assess the uptake of a Ghana Learning TV (GLTV) programme implemented in partnership with the government. Due to the emergency context and the need for real-time information to guide the implementation of this intervention, there was little time to undertake a major statistical analysis of survey data. This paper discusses how the MGCubed project adopted a simple data disaggregation method using a logic tree technique to gain valuable insights from the survey data. The method allowed for exploring the insights of the data set in real-time without requiring more complex and time-consuming analysis. All views expressed in this article are the author's and not of FCDO.

Can changes in social contact (frequency and mode) mitigate low mood before and during the COVID-19 pandemic? The I-CONECT project.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global outbreak allowed a natural experiment to observe how older adults changed social patterns and how it affected their emotional well-being. We studied the frequency and modes of social contact and their effects on older adults' mood before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Phone-based surveys were administered weekly before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited from Portland, Oregon, and Detroit, Michigan. Older adults ≥75 years old (n= 155, age=81.0 ± 4.5, 72.3% women) were included in a randomized controlled trial, the Internet-Based Conversational Engagement Clinical Trial (I-CONECT). Low mood was self-reported as feeling downhearted or blue for three or more days in the past week. Social contact was self-reported by the amount of time spent in interactions, with whom (family, friends, others), and via which modes (in-person, phone/video call, text/email/letter). A total of 5525 weeks of data were derived from 155 participants. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, average social interaction time spent in-person, on phone/video call, and via text/email/letter was 406, 141, and 68 min/week, respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, time spent in-person was reduced by 135 min/week, while time spent via phone/video call and writing increased by 33 and 26 mins/week, respectively. In-person family contact was associated with less low mood regardless of the pandemic (odds ratio=0.92, p < 0.05). There was a COVID-19 × text/email/letter with friends interaction (odds ratio=0.77, p=0.03), suggesting that during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase of 1 h of writing with friends per week was associated with a 23% decrease in the likelihood of experiencing low mood. The lost in-person time relating to COVID-19 restrictions tended to be partially compensated for with increased calls and writing time, although overall social interaction time decreased. During the COVID-19 pandemic, at least two types of social interactions (writing to friends and in-person family time) showed promise for mitigating low mood for older adults with limited social resources.

S828 IBD Patients’ COVID-19 Vaccine Intention Is Positively Associated With Annual Influenza Vaccination

Introduction: Despite significant breakthroughs in addressing the COVID-19 public health crisis, global vaccine hesitancy persists. As influenza is another acute respiratory illness with historically severe mortality and morbidity rates, we sought to investigate attitudes towards both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. In order to inform interventions in vaccine acceptance, our study aimed to assess the relationship between prior annual influenza vaccine receipt and COVID-19 vaccine intention among our IBD patient population. Methods: A retrospective chart review of electronic medical records was conducted of all IBD patients seen from 1/1/2016 to 1/31/2021 by gastroenterologists at an urban university medical center. Patient gender, age, race, IBD subtype, and treatment regimen were obtained. Phone-based surveys were conducted to determine patients’ perceptions of and intention to receive a COVID vaccine, and history of receiving an annual flu vaccine. Patients were excluded if they were unable to be contacted or there was missing demographic data. A confidential database was created using Microsoft Excel. Fischer exact tests were used with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. This study was approved by the university IRB. Results: 218 of 458 (47.6%) medical records were reviewed. 195 (89.5%) patients had already received at least one COVID vaccine dose (n=37) or planned to be vaccinated once made available (n=158). 82.1% of the patients stated they receive the influenza vaccine annually. Patients receiving annual flu vaccines were significantly more likely to have received or planned to receive COVID-19 vaccination as compared to patients not planning to be vaccinated (p< 0.001; OR: 8.3 [3.3, 21.6]). Otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in vaccine intention or receipt based on patient race, gender, IBD subtype, or biologic use. Conclusion: Our findings of increased willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in patients who regularly seek the influenza vaccine, and the converse, are consistent with existing literature. These patterns in vaccination behavior highlight the importance of learning from prior disease response models to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake. It is encouraging that existing disparities in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance may resolve over time as they have with the influenza vaccine through targeted health education interventions.

S829 Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Are Not Present Among IBD Patients at an Urban Tertiary Care Practice

Introduction: Vaccine hesitancy among minorities remains a prevalent phenomenon stemming from several factors including underrepresentation in vaccine trials, systemic discrimination, historical racial injustices, and limited targeted education. Furthermore, it is well-established that COVID-19 infection disproportionately impacts minority patients. In this study, we sought to evaluate disparities in COVID-19 vaccine intention among a diverse urban population in effort to promote equitable, optimal care for our inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient cohort. Methods: A retrospective chart review of electronic medical records was conducted of all IBD patients seen from 1/1/2016 to 1/31/2021 by gastroenterologists at an urban university medical center. Patient gender, age, race, IBD subtype, and treatment regimen information were obtained. Phone-based surveys were conducted to determine patients’ intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Patients were excluded if unable to contact or there was missing demographic data. A confidential database was created using Microsoft Excel Fischer exact tests were used with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. This study was approved by the university IRB. Results: 218 of 458 (47.6%) medical records were reviewed. 123 (56.4%) identified as White, 75 (34.4%) as Black, and 20 (9.2%) as Asian, Hispanic, or other. 195 (89.4%) received or intended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 112 (57.4%) Whites, 66 (33.8%) Blacks, and 17 (8.7%) Asian, Hispanics or other racial identity received or intended to receive COVID-19 vaccine. There was no significant difference (p=0.630) in vaccine intention in IBD patients based upon race. Conclusion: While the literature indicates several stark racial differences in COVID-19 vaccine perceptions, this study did not reveal any disparities in vaccine receipt nor intention among our diverse, urban IBD patient cohort. Our findings contradict the accepted concept that minority patients, particularly Black patients, tend to reject COVID-19 vaccination. It is possible that regardless of race, patients with chronic immune dysregulation, as in IBD, are more accepting of vaccination as a protective measure. However, these results emphasize the need to identify factors that encourage vaccination practices to guide development of interventions that increase widespread vaccine acceptance.

S827 Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine Intention Among IBD Patients in an Urban University Tertiary Care Practice

Introduction: Widespread administration of COVID-19 vaccination can potentially limit the spread and devastation of infection in the United States. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19, there continues to be multifaceted hesitancy towards it. In this present study, we evaluated our inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient cohort’s acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine at an urban university medical center. Methods: A retrospective chart review using an electronic medical record was conducted of all IBD patients seen from 1/1/2016 to 1/31/2021 by gastroenterologists at an urban, tertiary care, university medical center. Patient gender, age, race, IBD subtype, and medication regimen were obtained. Phone-based surveys were conducted to determine patients’ acceptance of COVID vaccine. Patients were excluded if they were unable to be contacted or there was missing demographic data. A confidential database was created using Microsoft Excel. Fischer exact tests were used with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. This study was approved by the university IRB. Results: 218 of 458 (47.6%) medical records were reviewed. There were 127 (58.3%) women, 91 (41.7%) men, with mean age of 44.4 years. 123 (56.4%) had ulcerative colitis, 93 (42.7%) Crohn’s disease, 2 (0.9%) with indeterminate colitis. 91 (41.7%) were on biologic therapy. 195 (89.4%) of our IBD patient cohort received or intended to receive the COVID vaccine. There was no significant difference in the rate of vaccine acceptance based upon age (p=0.212), gender (p=1.000), IBD type (p=0.150) or medication regimen (p=0.623). Conclusion: The findings of this study are reassuring in demonstrating similar intention of vaccine receipt across age, gender, disease subtype, and treatment regimen in IBD patients. It is also important to highlight that vaccination intent is significantly higher among IBD patient cohort than the general US population (defined as roughly 50% in December 2020). While this study is limited due to size, the rate of patient vaccine acceptance is encouraging since guidelines strongly support vaccination of IBD patients regardless of medication regimen. Further research is warranted to determine whether significant correlations exist between demographic groups and vaccine concerns.