Care Program Research Articles

The effect of clinical pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care services on medication adherence, clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with stroke: a randomised controlled trial.

Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pharmaceutical care services play a significant role in managing the risk factors associated with stroke. This study aimed to examine the effects of a one-year pharmaceutical care programme on medication adherence, quality of life and clinical outcomes of patients with stroke. This study was conducted as a randomised controlled trial at the neurology clinic of a university hospital in Türkiye. Patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or usual care group (IG vs UCG). A simple randomization method using computer-based random numbers was used to assign participants in a 1:1 ratio. The IG received pharmaceutical care including medication reconciliation, medication review and patient education in addition to routine health services. The medication adherence, quality of life and clinical parameters of the patients were evaluated at the beginning and the end of the 12th month. This study included 193 patients (89 and 104 patients in the IG and the UCG, respectively; mean age: 60.1years), of whom 67.4% were male. At the one-year follow-up evaluation, the percentage of adherent patients (86.5% vs 47.1%, p < 0.001) and the total Stroke-Specific Quality of Life score (184.9 vs 166.0, p < 0.001) were higher in the IG than in the UCG. The stroke recurrence rate at the one-year follow-up (2.2% vs 10.6%, p = 0.044) was lower in the IG than in the UCG. Pharmaceutical care services improved the medication adherence, quality of life and clinical outcomes of patients with stroke. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06129318; Study Registration Date: 13 November 2023.

Desirability in Real-World Blended Care for Psychosis: Insights from the Development and Pilot Study of Digital NAVIGATE

&lt;p&gt;Blended care, a psychosocial intervention merging face-to-face therapy with digital tools, holds significant potential for enhancing psychosis treatment outcomes by extending access and increasing patient engagement with therapeutic materials. Recent blended care interventions for psychosis were solely developed within controlled research conditions, and an attempt to transition one of these interventions into real-world practice yielded inadequate engagement and effectiveness. This suggests that the development context of blended care may significantly impact its implementation potential. This study represents the first attempt to both develop and research a blended care intervention in a real-world setting, directly addressing the specific challenges and unmet needs within NAVIGATE, a coordinated speciality care program for individuals who have experienced a first-episode psychosis. Both clients and practitioners agreed on the potential benefits of integrating digital tools into NAVIGATE, and clients expressed a willingness to adopt them once available. However, when the digital program became available, clients' actual desire to incorporate it into their usual care was unexpectedly low. We observed a strong correlation between clients' expressed desire to use Digital NAVIGATE before engaging with it and their subsequent engagement with the digital tools. These findings highlight a distinction between clients’ attitudes towards digital tools adaptation before being offered to use them, and their actual intention and desire to utilize such tools during the treatment they receive. These findings underscore the need to reassess current frameworks for developing and implementing digital mental health tools, particularly within existing mental health programs.&lt;/p&gt;

Intervention for the Management of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms to Reduce Caregiver Stress: Protocol for the Mindful and Self-Compassion Care Intervention for Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia.

Stress related to Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) is common, particularly among those who care for persons with challenging behaviors and personality or mood changes. Mindfulness and self-compassion programs are efficacious for managing stress. The skills of mindfulness and self-compassion, however, must be integrated with behavioral management skills in order to effectively improve caregiver stress. In this study, we aimed to describe the development of the Mindful and Self-Compassionate Care (MASC) program, the first program that combines mindfulness and self-compassion with behavioral management skills to decrease caregiver stress, and its evaluation in the Supporting Our Caregivers in ADRD Learning (SOCIAL) study. Using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stage model, we describe 3 phases of work encompassing NIH Stages 1A and 1B. In phase 1, we conducted 5 focus groups (N=28) of stressed individuals caring for persons with ADRD and challenging behaviors. Rapid data analysis informed the development of a 6-week online intervention. Phase 2 (NIH stage 1A) includes an open pilot (N>10) with optional exit interviews. Phase 3 (NIH stage 1B) is a feasibility randomized controlled trial of the intervention versus the Health Education Program control. Primary outcomes focus on feasibility with secondary outcomes encompassing acceptability, credibility, fidelity, and signals of preliminary efficacy. Phase 1 follows traditional recommendations for qualitative analyses (at the point of thematic saturation) which was achieved after 5 focus groups (N=28). For the phase 2 open pilot, up to 12 participants will be recruited. For the phase 3 feasibility study, recruitment of 80 caregivers will allow the assessment of feasibility benchmarks. Data for phase 1 included 5 focus groups. In phases 2 and 3, data collection will occur through REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture; Vanderbilt University) surveys and an optional qualitative exit interview. Analyses will include hybrid inductive-deductive analyses for qualitative data and assessment of changes in our intervention targets and outcomes using t tests and correlation analyses. In phase 1, caregivers reported interest in a brief, online stress management program. Participants held misconceptions about mindfulness and self-compassion, but after detailed explanation thoughts, these skills could be helpful when directly linked to implementation during caregiving routines. Phases 2 and 3 will be completed by the end of 2025. We describe the protocol for the Supporting Our Caregivers in ADRD Learning study, as well as the development and feasibility testing of the Mindful and Self-Compassionate Care intervention. Future work will include a fully powered efficacy-effectiveness randomized controlled trial. ClinicalTrials NCT05847153; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05847153; and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06276023; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06276023. DERR1-10.2196/58356.

Determinants of Low Coverage of the Free Surgical Care Programme for Trachomatous Trichiasis in Rural Guinea in 2022.

This study aimed to describe the experiences of healthcare personnel and patients in the organization of free surgical campaigns and care for trachomatous trichiasis in the health district of Siguiri in Guinea, including challenges experienced in providing surgical care. This was an explanatory qualitative study conducted in 2022 in the health district of Siguiri. A total of 20 participants were interviewed including patients (n = 7; 35%), community health workers (n = 4; 20%), health services managers, and healthcare providers (n = 8; 40%). Two main data collection technics were used: documentary review and in-depth individual interviews. All interviews were transcribed and manually coded using an Excel extraction spreadsheet. Data were analysed using inductive and deductive approaches. The results showed several organizational, structural, and community challenges that underlined the low surgical coverage of trachomatous trichiasis in the health district of Siguiri. Organizational challenges included the low involvement of local actors in planning activities, the limited timeframe of the campaigns, and the lack of logistics for activities supervision and patients' transportation to surgery sites. Structural challenges included the inadequacy of health centres to provide surgical services, poor health infrastructures, and sanitation conditions in some areas. Individual challenges included remoteness of surgical sites and costs associated with services provision including medicines. Community challenges included fear of surgery and the coincidence of the campaigns with agricultural and mining activities. The results of the study call on the national neglected tropical disease program and its partners to adopt and promote micro-planning of trachomatous trichiasis surgical activities, with the effective participation of local stakeholders in endemic health districts. They should also envision integrating the management of surgical treatment including costs associated with care (transportation, food, rehabilitation support for patients who have undergone surgery) and complications of surgical procedures for an expansion of the trachomatous trichiasis free surgical care coverage in endemic health districts in Guinea.

Implementing a Medicines at Transitions Intervention (MaTI) for patients with heart failure: a process evaluation of the Improving the Safety and Continuity Of Medicines management at Transitions of care (ISCOMAT) cluster randomised controlled trial

BackgroundHeart failure is a major global health challenge incurring a high rate of mortality, morbidity and hospitalisation. Effective medicines management at the time of hospital discharge into the community could reduce poor outcomes for people with heart failure. Within the Improving the Safety and Continuity Of Medicines management at Transitions of care (ISCOMAT) programme, the Medicines at Transitions Intervention (MaTI) was co-designed to improve such transitions, with a cluster randomised controlled trial to test effectiveness. The MaTI includes a patient toolkit and transfer of discharge medicines information to community pharmacy. This paper aims to determine the degree to which the intervention was delivered, and identify barriers and facilitators experienced by staff for the successful implementation of the intervention.MethodsThe study was conducted in six purposively selected intervention sites. A mixed-methods design was employed using hospital staff interviews, structured and unstructured ward observations, and routine trial data about adherence to the MaTI. A parallel mixed analysis was applied. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using the Framework method. Data were synthesised, triangulated and mapped to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).ResultsWith limited routines of communication between ward staff and community pharmacy, hospital staff found implementing community pharmacy-related steps of the intervention challenging. Staff time was depleted by attempts to bridge system barriers, sometimes leading to steps not being delivered. Whilst the introduction of the patient toolkit was often completed and valued as important patient education and a helpful way to explain medicines, the medicines discharge log within it was not, as this was seen as a duplication of existing systems. Within the CFIR the most applicable constructs were identified as ‘intervention complexity’ and ‘cosmopolitanism’ based on how well hospitals were networked with community pharmacies, and the availability of hospital resources to facilitate this.ConclusionThe MaTI was generally successfully implemented, particularly the introduction of the toolkit. However, implementation involving community pharmacy was more challenging and more effective communication systems are needed to support wider implementation.Trial registration11/04/2018 ISRCTN66212970. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN66212970.

Impact of care coordination on service utilisation for children with medically complex cerebral palsy.

Complex care programmes for children with medically complex cerebral palsy (CP) exist; however, evidence for their impact is limited. This study (i) explored the impact of The Royal Children's Hospital Complex Care Hub (CCH) on hospital service utilisation rates over a 3-year period for children with medically complex CP compared with those eligible but received routine care, and (ii) compared health, disability and socio-demographic characteristics of children and their families in both groups. Electronic medical record data from 78 children (mean age 9.43 years, females n = 37) with medically complex CP who accessed CCH services, and 92 (mean age 10.86 years, females, n = 39) who received routine care were included. Multivariable regression was used to analyse service utilisation: number of emergency department (ED) presentations, length/number of inpatient and intensive care unit admissions and number/type of hospital appointments. Critical health-care needs, functioning/disability profile and child/family demographics for each group were compared. More children in the CCH group had a mixed motor type (73.1% vs. 15.2%), were classified within Gross Motor Function Classification System level V (76.9% vs. 34.8%), had respiratory, nutrition and social support needs and epilepsy. Children receiving CCH services had higher service utilisation rates; ED presentations (rate ratio (RR) = 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09-3.01), inpatient admissions (RR = 2.77, 95% CI: 2.01-3.83), outpatient encounters (RR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.31-2.18) and telephone encounters (RR = 6.05, 95% CI: 4.56-8.02). Children with medically complex CP accessing a complex care service have higher service utilisation rates yet have more complex clinical presentations and higher support needs.

A Behavioral Change-Based Mobile Intervention for Promoting Regular Physical Activity in Medical Rehabilitation Maintenance of Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: Controlled Trial.

Cardiac rehabilitation is known to reduce coronary artery disease (CAD) severity and symptoms, but adoption of a healthy postrehabilitation lifestyle remains challenging. Innovative eHealth solutions could help, but behavioral change-based eHealth maintenance programs for patients with CAD are scarce. RehaPlus+ aims to improve postrehabilitation outcomes with a personalized eHealth intervention built on behavioral change concepts emphasizing healthy lifestyle changes, especially regular physical activity (PA). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the personalized eHealth program RehaPlus+ for promoting regular PA against usual care. A total of 169 patients with CAD who had undergone stent implantation or bypass surgery were recruited after completing center-based phase II rehabilitation. They were then divided, without blinding, into 2 groups using a quasi-experimental approach: a case manager-assisted 24-week eHealth program (RehaPlus+; n=84) and a conventional physician-assisted outpatient program (usual care; n=85). The study was designed as a noninferiority trial. RehaPlus+ participants received motivational messages twice weekly for 6 months, and the usual care group engaged in a 6-month outpatient program (twenty-four 90-minute strength and endurance training sessions). The primary outcomes, evaluated using the self-assessed Bewegungs- und Sportaktivität questionnaire, were regular PA (≥150 min/wk) and weekly activities of daily living (ADLs) 6 months after rehabilitation. Secondary outcomes involved PA during work and floors climbed weekly (measured by Bewegungs- und Sportaktivität questionnaire), psychological well-being (assessed by the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index), cardiac self-efficacy, health-related quality of life (measured by the 36-Item Short Form Survey), and work ability (using the Work Ability Index). Data of 105 patients (RehaPlus+: n=44, 41.9%; usual care: n=61, 58.1%; male patients: n=80, 76.2%; female patients: n=25, 23.8%; mean age 56.0, SD 7.3 years) were available at the 6-month follow-up. At 6 months after discharge from phase II cardiac rehabilitation, the RehaPlus+ group exhibited 182 (SD 208) minutes per week of PA and the usual care group exhibited 119 (SD 175) minutes per week of PA (P=.15), with no interaction effect (P=.12). The RehaPlus+ group showed an ADL level of 443 (SD 538) minutes per week compared to the usual care group with 308 (SD 412) minutes per week at the 6-month follow-up, with no interaction effect (P=.84). The differences observed in PA and ADL levels between the RehaPlus+ and usual care groups were within the predefined 1-sided noninferiority margin, indicating that the RehaPlus+ intervention is not inferior to usual care based on these outcomes. There were no differences between the groups for all secondary outcomes (P>.05). RehaPlus+ is not inferior to the usual care program, as both groups improved PA and ADLs to a similar extent. These findings emphasize the potential of eHealth interventions to assist in maintaining healthy lifestyles after rehabilitation. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06162793; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06162793.

Improvement of quality of life on breast cancer-related lymphedema patients through a postmastectomy care program in Mexico: a prospective study.

To assess whether health-related quality of life (HRQOL) improved through a postmastectomy care program focused on breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) protection/awareness. Postoperative breast cancer patients were enrolled prospectively (February-2018 to September-2019) at Nursing and Obstetrics Faculty, Durango, Mexico. Sociodemographic/clinical characteristics, arm measurements, and HRQOL evaluation with Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer were collected at baseline and after six follow-up assessments between six-to-twelve-month postmastectomy. Lymphedema was verified through circometry. Descriptive analysis and McNemar-Bowker test were used to evaluate paired differences in HRQOL. Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess sociodemographic/clinical characteristics of BCRL using Pearson's chi-squared or Fisher exact test along with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). All tests were two-sided with P-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. One-hundred-two patients developed BCRL (incidence 66.2%, n = 154). All dimensions of HRQOL improved after the postmastectomy care program (P < 0.05). The subgroup analysis indicated that elementary academic degree (OR = 2.40, 95%CI: 1.01-5.69), laborer (OR = 9.85, 95%CI: 3.30-29.3), and total mastectomy (OR = 4.23, 95%CI: 1.20-14.9) were more associated with BCRL (P < 0.05). Conversely, high school academic degree (OR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.22-0.94), married status (OR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.21-0.86), housewife (OR = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.12-0.61), professional occupation (OR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.01-0.64), and having no comorbidities (OR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.15-0.63) were less associated with BCRL (P < 0.05). Although HRQOL improved through the postmastectomy care program, our findings suggest that lower education, working as a laborer, and total mastectomy may be more associated with BCRL. Continuing research may uncover liabilities among BCRL patients within limited-resources settings.

Vision impairment and blindness in individuals aged 60 years and older in Latin America and the Caribbean.

To determine the prevalence and causes of vision loss and calculate the effective cataract surgery coverage (eCSC) in adults aged 60 years and older in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020. The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Vision Atlas and the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness databases were used as data source. The collected data were used to estimate the prevalence and causes of vision loss in people aged 60 years and older, and to determine the eCSC. The overall prevalence of moderate to severe vision impairment (MSVI) and blindness in Latin America and the Caribbean were 14.14% and 2.94%, respectively. Tropical Latin America was the subregion with the highest prevalence of blindness (3.89%) while Southern Latin America had the lowest (0.96%). For both MSVI and blindness, cataract was the main cause of vision loss. The eCSC rates showed great variation, ranging from 4.0% in Guatemala to 75.2% in Suriname. The prevalence of vision loss in adults aged 60 years and older in Latin America and the Caribbean was higher than previous estimates on younger groups. Cataract was the main cause of blindness, and the eCSC indicates that the outcomes from cataract surgery should be improved. Specific actions associated with improving access, integrating eye assessment with primary care programs, expanding the use of telemedicine, and improving data quality should be taken by public health authorities aiming to address vision loss in this group.

Unpacking the care-related quality of life effect of England's publicly funded adult social care. A panel data analysis.

Adult Social Care (ASC) is the publicly-funded long-term care program in England that provides support with activities of daily living to people experiencing mental and/or physical challenges. Existing evidence suggests that ASC expenditure improves service users' care-related quality of life (CRQoL). However, less is known about the channels through which this effect exists and the effect on outcomes other than CRQoL. We fill this gap by analyzing survey data on ASC service users who received long-term support from 2014/15 to 2019/20 using panel data instrumental variable methods. We find that the beneficial impact of ASC expenditure on the CRQoL of both new and existing users is mostly driven by users aged 18-64 without any learning disability and users with no learning disability aged 65 or older receiving community-based ASC. Moreover, control over daily life, occupation, and social participation are the CRQoL domains that are improved the most. We also find that ASC expenditure has a beneficial effect on several other outcomes beyond CRQoL for both new and existing users including user satisfaction and experience, the ability to carry out activities of daily living independently, whether their home is designed around needs, accessibility to local places, general health, and mental health through reduced anxiety and depression. Greater ASC expenditure, however, does not address the need for other forms of support such as unpaid informal and privately-funded care.

6920 Engagement and Mood assessments in Emerging Adults Attending a Multi-disciplinary Diabetes Transition Clinic

Abstract Disclosure: G.P. Thota: None. S. Glaros: None. S. Dixon: None. S.T. Chung: None. Introduction &amp; Objective: Transitioning to adult diabetes care can be challenging and associated with interruption in care, worsening glycemic control, and social stress. However, most studies have been conducted in emerging adults (YA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and contemporary data in multi-disciplinary clinics designed with supportive resources, especially for YA with youth-onset type 2 diabetes (Y2D) is lacking. Our objectives were to assess mood and engagement in psychology therapy services within a structured multidisciplinary diabetes clinic. Methods: This was a single-center observational analysis of YA (18-30y) attending a research diabetes transition clinic supported by clinical coordinators, social navigators, a certified diabetes educator, and a nutritionist between January 2021 and December 2023. All YA were offered free transportation to and from visits. Clinical coordinators communicated regularly for appointment reminders. Mood was assessed with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) at each visit and Endocrine Society Transition Readiness Form at initial visit. In January 2023, all YA were given the option to meet with a clinical psychologist during the diabetes visit. Student t-test were used to compare groups using STATA v.18. Results: In 62 YA (73% Y2D, 10% T1D, 17% other) aged 20.2±2.7y, BMI:37.3±9.6 kg/m2, all engaged in nutrition counseling and 52% (32/62) utilized transportation services. A diagnosed psychiatric disorder was present in 16% (10/62). At initial visit, PHQ-9 scores were 6.1±6.3, n=62 and39% (24/62) had score &amp;gt;8 (moderate depression). Within the last 2 weeks, 13% (10/62) reported suicidal ideation. GAD-7 scores were 6.0±6.3 and 54% had anxiety that interfered with activities of daily living. Psychology services were accepted in 61% (38/62) with higher initial GAD-7 scores in those who saw psychologist (8.2±6.8 vs. 4.1±5.3, P=0.02) but no difference in PHQ-9 scores (7.2±6.6 vs. 5.1±5.9, P=0.2). Most YA (81%) reported adequate diabetes knowledge while 25% YA reported diabetes-related challenges including feeling burned out, not knowing how to navigate specialty diabetes care, challenges with medication insurance, transportation, and insurance coverage. Conclusion: Approximately 50% of emerging adults with diabetes reported moderate depression and anxiety scores and were interested in engaging in psychology services. Transition diabetes care programs should focus on increasing access to routine integrated mental health services and social support.Such an initiative could potentially ameliorate psychological stressors associated with diabetes management during the transition to adult care. Presentation: 6/1/2024

7341 Establishing a Multidisciplinary Care Program for patients with Klinefelter Syndrome and other Aneuploidy X and Y Variations

Abstract Disclosure: C.J. Romero: None. N.R. Malhotra: None. A. Norris-Brilliant: None. C. Mintz: None. Objectives: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is one of the most common genetic aneuploidies denoted by a XXY karyotype and affects up to 1 in 600 patients. Most patients are not diagnosed until adolescent years or adulthood. KS is one of the leading causes of male infertility and testosterone insufficiency. KS is also associated with developmental delays, particularly speech and language delay. Advances in genetics screenings has led to early identification of KS and other aneuploidy X and Y variations, access to neurodevelopmental screening and fertility preservation resources during adolescence and young adulthood. We believe a multidisciplinary program for KS can provide the necessary resources for patients and families at any age from infancy to young adulthood. Methods: A group of faculty from the divisions of pediatric endocrinology, genetics, urology and psychiatry assembled in 2023 to establish a multidisciplinary clinic (MDC) to provide comprehensive care to patients/parents; this ranged from prenatal diagnosis to young adulthood. Two major challenges of care are access to neuro-psychological evaluations and fertility preservation options. Testosterone supplementation requires appropriate referral to endocrinology and timing of treatment remains controversial. Our goals include: expertise guidance and planning after prenatal diagnosis or later in age; access to cost effective neuro-psychological testing during early childhood years; urological consultation beginning in early puberty to educate and prepare patients for choices of surgical and non-surgical options of fertility preservation. Results: Our current center cares for 12 patents ranging from ages 3 months to 21 years. Of this cohort, 3 (25%) of the patients had initial consultations with the parents during pregnancy. 7 (58%) of the patients were of pubertal age that one would consider testosterone replacement, but only 3 (43%) were taking testosterone. Only 1 patient of school age reported neuro-psychological evaluation that was completed at a different institution. No patients received testosterone supplementation during year one of life. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary team can offer simultaneous assessment, anticipatory guidance and management for KS patients and their families. It is a comprehensive resource to our community. Prenatal genetic screenings bring awareness to this diagnosis and therefore timely education toward understanding the lifelong management of KS. Identifying developmental delays early in childhood will help with scholastic success. Monitoring of pubertal development will ensure appropriate pubertal progression in addition to education and management of fertility preservation. Undoubtedly future urological advances will assist patients more effectively. We believe our model provides the access to resources that allow our patients and family to successfully thrive. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Psychophysiological evaluation of life-cycle disorder restoration using VR soundscape

The emotional restorativeness of soundscapes, akin to the healing effects of natural green spaces, can induce recovery from life-cycle emotional and cognitive-related disorders. A digital therapy program that supplements medication was developed through soundscape experiences in a multi-user VR environment and evaluated psychophysiologically. Initially, the program provided natural environment-based role-playing for the treatment of children with ADHD and utilized soundscape audio-visual content for adolescents and soundwalk content as a physical activity program for emotional care and cognitive function improvement in patients with cognitive disorders. The effectiveness of the digital therapeutic under development was verified through clinical symptom assessment tools and changes in psychological and physiological responses.

Performance of health and wellness centre in providing primary care services in Chhattisgarh, India

IntroductionPrimary health care has regained its importance in global policy making. In 2018, the Government of India initiated the Ayushman Bharat - Comprehensive Primary Health Care (AB-CPHC) programme. It was based on upgrading the existing primary health facilities into Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs). The current study aimed to assess the readiness and performance of HWCs in providing comprehensive primary health care services in India’s Chhattisgarh state.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional health facility assessment with a state-representative sample of 404 HWCs. A standardized health facility survey tool was used to collect information on essential inputs and service outputs of HWCs. The expected population healthcare needs were estimated using secondary sources. The performance of HWCs was assessed by comparing the volume of services provided against the expected population need for outpatient care.ResultsOn an average, 358 outpatients including 128 non-communicable disease (NCD) patients were treated monthly at an HWC. HWCs were able to cover 31% of the total population’s health need for outpatient care, 26% for hypertension, and 21% for diabetes care. In addition to services for reproductive and child health, HWCs provided services for common acute ailments (cold, cough, fever, aches and pains); infections of skin, eye, ear, and reproductive tract, and minor injuries. HWCs were also contributing significantly to national disease control programmes. Acute ailments followed by NCDs and communicable diseases had the largest share among services provided. The key gaps were in coverage of mental illnesses and chronic respiratory diseases. Most of the HWCs showed adequate readiness for the availability of required human resources, supplies, and infrastructure.ConclusionHWCs were able to provide a comprehensive range of primary care services and able to cater to a sizable portion of the rural population’s acute and chronic health care needs. The performance was made possible by the adequate availability of medicines, staff, training programmes and tele-consultation linkages. If HWCs in other states are able to reach a similar level of performance, the initiative will prove to be a game changer for equitable primary care in India.

A chronic hepatitis B identification and surveillance program improves care in an integrated health plan.

Optimal management of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) requires surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and identification of antiviral-therapy candidates, but few dedicated CHB-surveillance models have been described. Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) developed a systematic CHB surveillance-and-management program in 2012. We report the results of the program's performance over the initial 8-year period. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with CHB meeting guideline criteria for HCC surveillance. Eligible patients were invited into the KPNC Liver Care Program (LCP), wherein patients receive reminders to obtain semiannual laboratory and imaging surveillance, which are reviewed by nurse practitioners. Treatment-eligible patients are provided antiviral medications. Since its inception, 14,630 patients met study criteria and 9,373 (64.1%) enrolled in the LCP. Adherence to imaging recommendations was higher in the LCP-managed group (41.5% of patients in the LCP received ≥80% of recommended imaging compared to 10.9% among patients not enrolled (risk ratio = 3.8; p<.001)). Approximately 63% of treatment-eligible patients in both groups received medication, though full-adherence rates were higher in patients managed in the LCP (72.3% vs 63.4%, respectively, p<.001). Among the 197 patients who developed HCC, recommended surveillance imaging was performed more frequently among LCP-managed patients (71.4% vs. 53.8%, respectively, p<.05) who were also significantly more likely to be diagnosed at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage 0/A (95.9% vs. 74.6%; p<.001). In this integrated healthcare system, a systematic program for surveilling and managing patients with CHB appeared beneficial for both process and clinical endpoints.

Process Evaluation of a Pilot Physical Activity and Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum Implemented in a Summer Care Program for Child and Adolescent Girls

Process Evaluation of a Pilot Physical Activity and Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum Implemented in a Summer Care Program for Child and Adolescent Girls

Quelle réponse au trouble somatique fonctionnel : la filière ACSEPT

BackgroundFunctional somatic disorder (FSD) is a prevalent disorder that can be severely disabling for the patient and is associated with major health costs. There are few formalized care programs for these disorders in the country, and their management encounters various difficulties, both in the diagnosis and its announcement and the treatment. Cognitive-behavioural and emotional therapy (CBT) is the standard on psychiatry care, and its efficacy has been demonstrated through several randomised controlled studies on the intensity of physical and psychological symptoms. InterventionAt Lille's University Hospital Center, we have established the “ACSEPT” care pathway for TSF management which consists of a psychiatric consultation followed by an individual referral, including a treatment using repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or the integration of a CBT-based psychoeducation group. This group had the particularity of caring for all patients presenting FSD regardless of the associated physical symptoms. Educating medical professionals and conducting FSD research were other goals of ACSEPT. Discussion/conclusionACSEPT allows an improvement in the care offered to these patients with a defined orientation and interdisciplinary, early, organized cares that are repeatable. Our goal is to study the effectiveness of these different interventions in subsequent studies, to continue the development of ACSEPT and to be able to distribute this intervention at the regional level to establish a clear care program allowing early management of these patients.

Navigating Uncertainty: Adapting Guidance for Mental Health During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency & the Crucial Role of Bi-directional Feedback.

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, state and local mental health authorities rapidly developed and disseminated guidance to community mental health agencies. While tailored communication is effective to reach target audiences under usual circumstances, strategies to facilitate the implementation of guidance amidst a rapidly evolving public health emergency are not well understood. This project sought to understand factors informing decision-making about adaptations to guidance, and strategies used to disseminate and facilitate guidance implementation among system-level community partners in OnTrackNY Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs for early psychosis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with New York State Office of Mental Health (NYS OMH) state and local mental health authorities including state leaders (n = 3) and NYS OMH field office directors (n = 4), OnTrackNY program directors (n = 4), and leadership and trainers of an intermediary organization, OnTrack Central (n = 12). Interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Code reports relevant to guidance decision-making and dissemination were reviewed to identify emerging themes. For state and local mental health authorities, decision-making was influenced by changing COVID-19 risk levels, need for alignment between federal and local guidance, and balancing support for workforce capacity and mental health service continuity. For OnTrackNY program directors, decision-making was influenced by internal infrastructure and processes (e.g., program autonomy), availability of resources (e.g., technology), and perspective on managing risk and uncertainty (e.g., COVID-19, regulatory waiver expiration). For OnTrack Central, decision-making focused on balancing CSC model fidelity with OnTrackNY team capacity and resources. Dissemination of guidance consisted of mass and targeted strategies. Information flow was bidirectional such that top-down dissemination of guidance (e.g., from state mental health authorities to providers) was informed and refined with bottom-up feedback (e.g., from providers to state leadership) through surveys and professional forums (e.g., COVID-19 town halls, provider learning collaboratives). Unlike a planned approach to disseminate new policies, public health emergencies create variable landscapes that may warrant a deeper understanding of how guidance may be adapted to fit rapidly evolving community partner needs. Findings may inform efforts to identify processes that contribute to adaptation and dissemination of guidance for mental health during future public health emergencies.

Chemsex and its impact on gay and bisexual men who have sex with men: Findings from an online survey in Belgium.

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of sexualized drug use, or chemsex, in a wide group of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in Belgium. It examined which drugs gbMSM used before and during sex, the frequency with which they used it, whether they experienced non-consensual sex, and evaluated the impact of chemsex on the health and professional and social lives of respondents. We conducted an online survey among Belgian gbMSM. Five specific questions on chemsex were included in the survey. These questions assessed whether gbMSM engaged in chemsex. If they did, they were asked to provide information on which drugs they had used and how often. We asked whether their and their partners' boundaries had been respected and whether and how engaging in chemsex had affected a range of life domains. Of 836 respondents, 258 (30.9%) self-reported having had sex under the influence of substances ("chemsex") in the previous 6 months. Of these, 227 (88%) were considered chemsex users according to the definition used for the analysis. Poppers (73%), gamma-hydroxybutyrate/gamma-butyrolactone (GHB/GBL; 69%) and cathinones (68%) were the most commonly reported substances. Almost half of respondents (45%) engaging in chemsex were high on drugs during at least half of their sexual encounters. Nearly 1 in 10 (9%) reported that boundaries had not been respected, suggesting non-consensual sexual activities. The 82 respondents experiencing negative impacts from their chemsex use reported that mental health (65%), physical health (40%) and sexual health (38%) were most impacted. Our findings provide a snapshot of the current chemsex situation in Belgium. The frequency of chemsex is concerning because several health, professional and social aspects are impacted. Almost 1 in 10 respondents using chemsex reported that chemsex impacted consent around sex, requiring additional efforts to eradicate these non-consensual sexual experiences. Therefore, larger scale research focusing on respected boundaries and consent during chemsex and the frequency of drug use for sex seems required. Additionally, sensitisation, as well as care and support programmes are critical.

German Parents and Educators of Two to Four-Year-Old Children as Informants for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Screeners are used in early intervention and early childhood education and care programs to identify children's potential need for further evaluation and diagnostics. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief behavioral screening instrument that can be completed by both parents and educators to assess the social and emotional traits of children. However, multiple informants' reports vary. In this study, the extent to which parents' (n = 241) and educators' (n = 157) differ and agree in their assessments of children aged 3.5 years on average, was examined. T-tests were used to examine differences between informants and correlations within a multitrait-multimethod matrix (MTMM) in their agreement. Results showed moderate to high levels of rater agreement ranging from r = .35 and r = .53 on the five subscales of the SDQ. We found that hyperactivity, peer relationship problems, and prosocial behavior vary due to meaningful reasons, e.g., the home vs. pre-school setting, and the informant's relationship towards the child. Hyperactivity seems to be relatively consistent across settings. Methodological variations might explain differences in emotional symptoms and conduct problems. Considering ratings from multiple informants outlines a more comprehensive view of children's behavior and should be preferred over single-informant research designs.