Suicidal Ideation Persists Among Individuals Engaged in HIV Care in the Era of Antiretroviral Therapy

Little research has focused on suicidality in the era of successful antiretroviral therapy among those engaged in HIV care. We performed a study of 648 clinic patients who completed a psychological and behavioral annual assessment in 2012. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), suicidal ideation was measured by the last item of the scale. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire (GAD-7). HIV biomedical markers were abstracted from medical records. Suicidal ideation was reported among 13% (n = 81) of the sample. Individuals endorsing suicidality were more likely to have unsuppressed viral loads, moderate to severe anxiety symptoms and consider themselves to be homeless (p < 0.01 for all). After adjusting for confounders, homeless individuals and those endorsing moderate to severe anxiety symptoms had higher odds of reporting suicidality. Results suggest basic needs must be met to complement HIV management efforts. Furthermore, better understanding of how psychological distress symptoms are expressed and how to manage them may better inform barriers to HIV management.

Investigating a tuberculosis cluster among Filipino health care workers in a low-incidence country

SETTING

Nearly 8% of adult tuberculosis (TB) cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (EW&NI) occur among health care workers (HCWs), the majority of whom are from high TB incidence countries.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if a TB cluster containing multiple HCWs was due to nosocomial transmission.

METHODS

A cluster of TB cases notified in EW&NI from 2009 to 2014, with indistinguishable 24-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) profiles, was identified through routine national cluster review. Cases were investigated to identify epidemiological links, and occupational health (OH) information was collected for HCW cases. To further discriminate strains, typing of eight additional loci was conducted.

RESULTS

Of the 53 cases identified, 22 were HCWs. The majority (n = 43), including 21 HCWs, were born in the Philippines. Additional typing split the cluster into three subclusters and seven unique strains. No epidemiological links were identified beyond one household and a common residential area. HCWs in this cluster received no or inadequate OH assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

The MIRU-VNTR profile of this cluster probably reflects common endemic strains circulating in the Philippines, with reactivation occurring in the UK. Furthermore, 32-locus typing showed that 24-locus MIRU-VNTR failed to distinguish strain diversity. The lack of OH assessment indicates that latent tuberculous infection could have been identified and treated, thereby preventing active cases from occurring.

Diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert® MTB/RIF cycle threshold level to predict smear positivity: a meta-analysis

SETTING

Xpert® MTB/RIF is the most widely used molecular assay for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The number of polymerase chain reaction cycles after which detectable product is generated (cycle threshold value, CT) correlates with the bacillary burden.OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between Xpert CT values and smear status through a systematic review and individual-level data meta-analysis.

DESIGN

Studies on the association between CT values and smear status were included in a descriptive systematic review. Authors of studies including smear, culture and Xpert results were asked for individual-level data, and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated.

RESULTS

Of 918 citations, 10 were included in the descriptive systematic review. Fifteen data sets from studies potentially relevant for individual-level data meta-analysis provided individual-level data (7511 samples from 4447 patients); 1212 patients had positive Xpert results for at least one respiratory sample (1859 samples overall). ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 (95%CI 0.82-0.87). Cut-off CT values of 27.7 and 31.8 yielded sensitivities of 85% (95%CI 83-87) and 95% (95%CI 94-96) and specificities of 67% (95%CI 66-77) and 35% (95%CI 30-41) for smear-positive samples.

CONCLUSION

Xpert CT values and smear status were strongly associated. However, diagnostic accuracy at set cut-off CT values of 27.7 or 31.8 would not replace smear microscopy. How CT values compare with smear microscopy in predicting infectiousness remains to be seen.

The Manitoba Youth Justice Program: empowering and supporting youth with FASD in conflict with the law

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) describes a constellation of physical, cognitive, neurologic, and behavioral impairments resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol. FASD is recognized as being one of the most common causes of preventable brain injury in children. There had long been concerns that some youth in conflict with the law may be affected with FASD given repetitive patterns of offending and apparent lack of understanding of the consequences of their actions. In 2004, funding was received from Justice Canada for a pilot project with a cross-departmental steering committee working together to determine a best way of working across systems to provide FASD assessments to these youth. It was recognized that provision of timely FASD assessments would allow the court to provide more meaningful sentences taking into account the youth's strengths and challenges and enhance the changes of decreased recidivism and increased changes of rehabilitation. This paper describes the basic science around FASD and its diagnosis, provides a history of the FASD Youth Justice Program, and reports on legal issues, structure, statistics, accomplishments, and ongoing future challenges.

Better Respiratory Education and Treatment Help Empower (BREATHE) study: Methodology and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial testing a transitional care program to improve patient-centered care delivery among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

BACKGROUND

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of hospitalizations. Interventional studies focusing on the hospital-to-home transition for COPD patients are few. In the BREATHE (Better Respiratory Education and Treatment Help Empower) study, we developed and tested a patient and family-centered transitional care program that helps prepare hospitalized COPD patients and their family caregivers to manage COPD at home.

METHODS

In the study's initial phase, we co-developed the BREATHE transitional care program with COPD patients, family-caregivers, and stakeholders. The program offers tailored services to address individual patients' needs and priorities at the hospital and for 3months post discharge. We tested the program in a single-blinded RCT with 240 COPD patients who were randomized to receive the program or 'usual care'. Program participants were offered the opportunity to invite a family caregiver, if available, to enroll with them into the study. The primary outcomes were the combined number of COPD-related hospitalizations and Emergency Department (ED) visits per participant at 6months post discharge, and the change in health-related quality of life over the 6months study period. Other measures include 'all cause' hospitalizations and ED visits; patient activation; self-efficacy; and, self-care behaviors.

DISCUSSION

Unlike 1month transitional care programs that focus on patients' post-acute care needs, the BREATHE program helps hospitalized COPD patients manage the post discharge period as well as prepare them for long term self-management of COPD. If proven effective, this program may offer a timely solution for hospitals in their attempts to reduce COPD rehospitalizations.

Point-of-care testing to promote cardiovascular disease risk assessment: A proof of concept study

Updated cholesterol guidelines emphasize multivariable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk estimation to guide treatment decision-making in primary prevention. This study tested the preliminary feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of point-of-care testing (POCT) and quantitative CVD risk assessment in high-risk adults to increase guideline-recommended statin use in primary prevention. Participants were aged 40-75 years, without CVD or diabetes mellitus, and potentially-eligible for consideration of statins based on estimated 10-year CVD risk from last-measured risk factor levels in the electronic health record. We performed POCT to facilitate quantitative CVD risk assessment with the Pooled Cohort Equations immediately before a scheduled primary care provider (PCP) visit. Outcomes were: physician documentation of a CVD risk discussion and statin prescription on the study date. We also assessed acceptability of the intervention through structured questionnaire. We recruited 18 participants (8 from an academic practice and 10 from a federally-qualified health clinic). After the intervention, 83% of participants discussed CVD risk with their PCP, 47% received a statin recommendation from their PCP, and 29% received a new statin prescription during the PCP visit. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. This study demonstrates that in initial testing pre-visit POCT and quantitative CVD risk assessment appears to be a feasible and acceptable intervention that may promote guideline-recommended statin initiation in primary prevention. Future research with an adequately powered trial is warranted to determine the effectiveness of this approach in clinical practice.

Mailed outreach and facilitated test ordering to promote cholesterol screening in community health centers: A randomized trial

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES

Lipid screening is central to cardiovascular risk assessment. We sought to determine whether a simple mailed outreach message and facilitated test ordering increase cholesterol screening among federally qualified community health center patients with no recent cholesterol screening test performed.

METHODS

Using a patient-randomized controlled trial, we examined the effects of delivering a simple mailed outreach intervention promoting cholesterol testing and facilitated test ordering (without requiring an office visit). Participants were adult patients 50 to 75 years old, with no diagnosed cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and no cholesterol test within 5 years who had received care from community health centers in Illinois and Arizona. The intervention took place in 2014 and was powered to detect a 10% increase in screening due to the intervention.

RESULTS

Participants' (n = 480) mean age was 57.5 years, 51.0% were male, and 43.8% were smokers. There was no significant difference between groups in the primary study outcome-completion of total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol tests or complete lipid panel within 3 months; 32 participants (13.3%) in intervention group versus 26 (10.8%) in control group met the primary outcome, with absolute difference of 2.5 percentage points (95% confidence interval -6.6 to 11.6).

CONCLUSIONS

This outreach intervention promoting cholesterol screening was ineffective. Interventions that attempt to minimize barriers to cholesterol screening on multiple fronts and that are more compelling to patients are needed.

Development and evaluation of a patient education video promoting pneumococcal vaccination

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop and refine a patient education video about pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination (PPSV23) and to assess patient perceptions regarding video content and receipt of video during a clinic visit.

METHODS

Focus groups were conducted to obtain patient feedback on a brief video focusing on personal susceptibility to pneumonia and highlighting the importance of both childhood and adult vaccines. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with patients ages 65 and 66 who were shown the revised video at an office visit. We assessed attitudes toward the video and perceptions about its presentation at the point of care. Participants responded to open-ended items as well as Likert-type items with responses from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

RESULTS

Focus group participants (n=26) had positive reactions to the video, but suggested reducing the intensity of messages about pneumonia severity. Participants (n=73) shown the revised video during a clinic visit perceived it to be easy to understand (M=4.83, SD=0.58) and informative (M=4.8, SD=0.75).

CONCLUSION

Target audience feedback helped refine a video promoting PPSV23 vaccination; the video was well received by patients.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This video may be an effective educational tool to increase rates of PPSV23 vaccination.

Community health center patients' response to and beliefs about outreach promoting clinical preventive services

We sought community health center (CHC) patients' feedback regarding an outreach intervention promoting primary prevention of cardiovascular disease to patients at increased risk. We performed a telephone survey that assessed whether patients recalled receiving the intervention, what actions occurred in response to the intervention, and patient attitudes regarding receipt of preventive service messages from their CHC. Participants (n = 80) were 89% male, and 59% were black. Among the 88% of respondents who reported a healthcare visit, 84% reported a discussion about cholesterol or heart disease risk with their provider, of these 44% reported a statin was recommended and 89% reported currently taking it. Participants reported high acceptability of receiving preventive service messages, but were less likely to agree that they wanted to receive preventive service messages via text or email compared to other modes of contact. Our results show that outreach programs to promote indicated preventive services were viewed positively by this patient group. We also identified areas where the CVD prevention program may have lost effectiveness.

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Health center patients usually had clinic visits following preventive CVD outreach.

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Patient-identified barriers to making a visit or taking medication were infrequent.

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Cholesterol-lowering medication was recommended less than half of the time.

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Health center outreach promoting preventive care services was viewed favorably.

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Text or email messages were less preferred than phone, mail or in-person outreach.

Understanding continuous professional development participation and choice of mid-career general dental practitioners

OBJECTIVE

Participating in continuing professional development (CPD) activities is a requirement for dental practitioners to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Understanding the ways dental practitioners engage with professional development and the impact on practice is not fully known (Eaton et al. 2011, http://www.gdc-uk.org/Aboutus/policy/Documents/Impact%20Of%20CPD%20In%20Dentistry.pdf). The aim of this study was to gain insights into the ways that dentists reflect on their professional development and what may be influencing their choices.

METHOD

Empirical qualitative data were collected by semi-structured interviewing of five mid-career dentists. Using grounded theory, the data were analysed for themes about CPD choice and participation.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified as influences to dentists' choices of CPD with pragmatic considerations of how new learning could benefit their patients and their practices. Dental practitioners were influenced by the requirements of external regulatory bodies which they did not consider to necessarily improve practice.

CONCLUSION

Dentists working in primary care in the UK are undertaking CPD which is influenced by the pragmatic requirements of running a small business and to meet regulatory requirements. In this sample, dentists are not critically reflecting on their education needs when choosing their CPD activity. Protected learning time and organisational feedback and support are recommended as a way to promote more meaningful reflection on learning and to improve professional development.