Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare use, delayed care, and management of diabetes mellitus in older adults in California

COVID-19 Pandemic as an Equalizer of the Health Returns of Educational Attainment for Black and White Americans

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 pandemic has immensely impacted the social and personal lives of individuals around the globe. Marginalized-related diminished returns (MDRs) theory suggests that educational attainment shows a weaker protective effect for health and behavioral outcomes for Black individuals compared to White individuals. Previous studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated diminished returns of educational attainment for Black individuals compared to White individuals.

OBJECTIVES

The study has three objectives: First, to test the association between educational attainment and cigarette smoking, e-cigarette vaping, presence of chronic medical conditions (CMC), self-rated health (SRH), depressive symptoms, and obesity; second, to explore racial differences in these associations in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic; and third, to compare the interaction of race and return of educational attainment pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This study utilized data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2020. Total sample included 1313 adult American; among them, 77.4% (n = 1017) were non-Hispanic White, and 22.6% (n = 296) were non-Hispanic Black. Educational attainment was the independent variable operationalized as years of education. The main outcomes were cigarette smoking, e-cigarette vaping, CMC, SRH, depressive symptoms, and obesity. Age, gender, and baseline physical health were covariates. Race/ethnicity was an effect modifier.

RESULTS

Educational attainment was significantly associated with lower CMC, SRH, depressive symptoms, obesity, cigarette smoking, and e-cigarette vaping. Educational attainment did not show a significant interaction with race on any of our outcomes, suggesting that the health returns of education is similar between non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black individuals.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 may have operated as an equalizer of the returns of educational attainment. This observation may be because White may have more to lose; Black communities may be more resilient or have economic and social policies that buffered unemployment and poverty regardless of historical anti-Black oppression.

Assessing the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of a Pilot Hepatitis C Screening Program at Food Distribution Sites in Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma

Compared with other racial and ethnic groups in the United States, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people experience the highest incidence of acute hepatitis c (HCV). Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) implemented a pilot health screening program from January through May 2019 to assess whether conducting HCV and other preventive health screenings at food distribution sites is a feasible, acceptable, and effective strategy to increase health screening among underserved community members. Data were collected among 340 eligible participants. Most (76%) participants reported being very comfortable receiving health screenings at food distribution sites and that getting screened at food distribution sites is very easy (75.4%). Most (92.1%, n = 313) participants received HCV screening, with 11 (3.5%) individuals testing positive for HCV antibodies. Of the 11 HCV seropositive individuals, six were confirmed to have active HCV infection of which four initiated treatment. Most (55.7%) participants exhibited a body mass index in the obese range, 33.1% exhibited high hemoglobin A1C (> 6.0), 24.5% exhibited high (> 200) cholesterol, 44.6% exhibited high blood pressure ( > = 140/90), and 54.8% did not have a current primary care provider. This project demonstrated that conducting HCV and other health screenings at food distribution sites within Cherokee Nation was an effective strategy to engage AI/AN people in preventive health screenings. Future programs are needed to scale-up preventive health screenings outside of traditional medical facilities as these types of screenings may help to decrease the HCV disparities among AI/AN people.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inequalities in preventive health screenings: Trends and implications for U.S. population health

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted population well-being in the United States, exacerbating existing racial and socioeconomic inequalities in health and mortality. Importantly, as the pandemic disrupted the provision of vital preventive health screenings for cardiometabolic diseases and cancers, more research is needed to understand whether this disruption had an unequal impact across racialized and socioeconomic lines. We draw on the 2019 and 2021 National Health Interview Survey to explore whether the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to racialized and schooling inequalities in the reception of preventive screenings for cardiometabolic diseases and cancers. We find striking evidence that Asian Americans, and to a lesser extent Hispanic and Black Americans, reported decreased reception of many types of cardiometabolic and cancer screenings in 2021 relative to 2019. Moreover, we find that across schooling groups, those with a bachelor's degree or higher experienced the greatest decline in screening reception for most cardiometabolic diseases and cancers, and those with less than a high school degree experienced the greatest decline in screening reception for diabetes. Findings have important implications for health inequalities and U.S. population health in the coming decades. Research and health policy attention should be directed toward ensuring that preventive health care is a key priority for public health, particularly among socially marginalized groups who may be at increased risk of delayed diagnosis for screenable diseases.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Use and Access Associated With Loss of Medicaid Supplemental Insurance Eligibility Above the Federal Poverty Level

Importance

Medicaid supplemental insurance covers most cost sharing in Medicare. Among low-income Medicare beneficiaries, the loss of Medicaid eligibility above this program's income eligibility threshold (100% of federal poverty level [FPL]) may exacerbate racial and ethnic disparities in Medicare beneficiaries' ability to afford care.

Objective

To examine whether exceeding the income threshold for Medicaid, which results in an abrupt loss of Medicaid eligibility, is associated with greater racial and ethnic disparities in access to and use of care.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study used a regression discontinuity design to assess differences in access to and use of care associated with exceeding the income threshold for Medicaid eligibility. We analyzed Medicare beneficiaries with incomes 0% to 200% of FPL from the 2008 to 2018 biennial waves of the Health and Retirement Study linked to Medicare administrative data. To identify racial and ethnic disparities associated with the loss of Medicaid eligibility, we compared discontinuities in outcomes among Black and Hispanic beneficiaries (n = 2885) and White beneficiaries (n = 5259). Analyses were conducted between January 1, 2022, and October 1, 2022.

Main outcome measures

Patient-reported difficulty accessing care due to cost and outpatient service use, medication fills, and hospitalizations measured from Medicare administrative data.

Results

This cross-sectional study included 8144 participants (38 805 person-years), who when weighted represented 151 282 957 person-years in the community-dwelling population of Medicare beneficiaries aged 50 years and older and incomes less than 200% FPL. In the weighted sample, the mean (SD) age was 75.4 (9.4) years, 66.1% of beneficiaries were women, 14.8% were non-Hispanic Black, 13.6% were Hispanic, and 71.6% were White. Findings suggest that exceeding the Medicaid eligibility threshold was associated with a 43.8 percentage point (pp) (95% CI, 37.8-49.8) lower probability of Medicaid enrollment among Black and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries and a 31.0 pp (95% CI, 25.4-36.6) lower probability of Medicaid enrollment among White beneficiaries. Among Black and Hispanic beneficiaries, exceeding the threshold was associated with increased cost-related barriers to care (discontinuity: 5.7 pp; 95% CI, 2.0-9.4), lower outpatient use (-6.3 services per person-year; 95% CI, -10.4 to -2.2), and fewer medication fills (-6.9 fills per person-year; 95% CI, -11.4 to -2.5), but it was not associated with a statistically significant discontinuity in hospitalizations. Discontinuities in these outcomes were smaller or nonsignificant among White beneficiaries. Consequently, exceeding the threshold was associated with widened disparities, including greater reductions in outpatient service use (disparity: -6.2 services per person-year; 95% CI, -11.7 to -0.6; P = .03) and medication fills (disparity: -7.2 fills per person-year; 95% CI, -13.4 to -1.0; P = .02) among Black and Hispanic vs White beneficiaries.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cross-sectional study found that loss of eligibility for Medicaid supplemental insurance above the federal poverty level, which increases cost sharing in Medicare, was associated with increased racial and ethnic health care disparities among low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Expanding eligibility for Medicaid supplemental insurance may narrow these disparities.

Prevalence and management of type 2 diabetes among Chinese Americans

AIMS

: This study examines: (a) the prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese Americans (CAs); (b) the influence of acculturative status (i.e. generational status and linguistic fluency) on T2DM prevalence; (c) and differences in diabetes management between CAs and Non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs).

METHODS

: We used 2011-2018 data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) to analyze the prevalence rate and management of diabetes among the CAs. Chi-squares, linear regressions, and logistic regressions were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

: After controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health behaviors, there were no significant differences in the T2DM prevalence rate between CAs overall or of varying acculturative statuses compared with NHWs. However, there were differences in diabetes management, with first-generation CAs being less likely to exam glucose daily, have medical care plans developed by medical providers, or have confidence in controlling diabetes compared to NHWs. CAs with limited English proficiency (LEP) were less likely to perform self-monitoring of blood glucose or have confidence in managing their diabetes care compared to NHWs. Finally, non-first generation CAs were also more likely to take diabetes medication compared to NHWs.

CONCLUSIONS

: Although the prevalence rate of T2DM was found to be similar between CAs and NHWs, significant differences were found in diabetes care and management. Specifically, those who were less acculturated (e.g. first generation and those with LEP) were less likely to actively manage and have confidence in managing their T2DM. These results highlight the importance of targeting immigrants with LEP in prevention and intervention efforts.

Ensuring Equitable Care in Diabetes Management Among Patients of Health Resources & Services Administration-Funded Health Centers in the United States

AIM

To explore whether there are racial/ethnic differences in diabetes management and outcomes among adult health center (HC) patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the 2014 Health Center Patient Survey, a national sample of HC patients. We examined indicators of diabetes monitoring (A1C testing, annual foot/eye doctor visits, and cholesterol checks) and care management (specialist referrals, individual treatment plan, and receipt of calls/appointments/home visits). We also examined diabetes-specific outcomes (blood glucose levels, diabetes-related emergency department [ED] visits/hospitalizations, and diabetes self-management confidence) and general outcomes (number of doctor visits, ED visits, and hospitalizations). We used multilevel logistic regression models to examine racial/ethnic disparities by the above indicators.

RESULTS

We found racial/ethnic parity in A1C testing, eye doctor visits, and diabetes-specific outcomes. However, Hispanics/Latinos (odds ratio [OR] 0.26), non-Hispanic African Americans (OR 0.25), and Asians (OR 0.11) were less likely to receive a cholesterol check than Whites. Non-Hispanic African Americans (OR 0.43) were less likely to have frequent doctor visits, while Hispanic/Latino patients (OR 0.45) were less likely to receive an individual treatment plan.

CONCLUSION

HCs largely provide equitable diabetes care but have room for improvement in some indicators. Tailored efforts such as culturally competent care and health education for some racial/ethnic groups may be needed to improve diabetes management and outcomes.

Racial Disparities in Diabetes-Related Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations Among Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE

Black and Hispanic individuals with diabetes receive less recommended diabetes care after cancer diagnosis than non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). We sought to determine whether racial/ethnic minorities with diabetes and cancer were at increased risk of diabetes-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations compared with NHW.

METHODS

Using SEER cancer registry data linked to Medicare claims from 2006 to 2014, we included Medicare beneficiaries age 66+ years diagnosed with incident nonmetastatic breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer between 2007 and 2012 who had diabetes. Our primary outcome was any diabetes-related ED visit or hospitalization 366-731 days after cancer diagnosis. Using Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models, we examined whether risk of ED visits or hospitalizations was higher for racial/ethnic minorities compared with NHW.

RESULTS

We included 40,059 beneficiaries with mean age 75.5 years (standard deviation 6.3), 45.6% were women, and 28.9% were non-White. Overall, 825 (2.1%) had an ED visit and 3,324 (8.3%) had a hospitalization related to diabetes in the 366-731 days after cancer diagnosis. Compared with NHW, Black individuals were more likely to have ED visits (2.9% v 2.0%; P < .0001) and hospitalizations (11.7% v 7.8%; P < .0001). Adjusting for potential confounders, Black (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.35) individuals had a higher risk of any ED visit or hospitalization compared with NHW.

CONCLUSION

Black individuals with diabetes and cancer were at increased risk for diabetes-related ED visits and hospitalizations in the second year after cancer diagnosis compared with NHW even after accounting for confounders.

Patient-Provider Communication Quality, 2002-2016: A Population-based Study of Trends and Racial Differences

BACKGROUND

Effective patient-provider communication (PPC) can improve clinical outcomes and therapeutic alliance. While PPC may have improved over time due to the implementation of various policies for patient-centered care, its nationwide trend remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine trends in PPC quality among US adults and whether trends vary with race-ethnicity.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A repeated cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

We examine noninstitutionalized civilian adults who made 1 or more health care visits in the last 12 months and self-completed the mail-back questionnaire in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2002-2016.

MEASURES

Outcomes include 4 top-box measures, each representing the odds of patients reporting that their providers always (vs. never, sometimes, usually) used a given communication behavior in the past 12 months regarding listening carefully, explaining things understandably, showing respect, and spending enough time. A linear mean composite score (the average of ordinal responses for the behaviors above) is also examined as an outcome. Exposures include time period and race-ethnicity.

RESULTS

Among 124,158 adults (181,864 observations), the quality of PPC increases monotonically between 2002 and 2016 for all outcomes. Between the first and last periods, the odds of high-quality PPC increase by 37% [95% confidence interval (CI)=32%-43%] for listen, 25% (95% CI=20%-30%) for explain, 41% (95% CI=35%-47%) for respect, and 37% (95% CI=31%-43%) for time. The composite score increases by 3.24 (95% CI=2.87-3.60) points. While increasing trends are found among all racial groups, differences exist at each period. Asians report the lowest quality throughout the study period for all outcomes, while Blacks report the highest quality. Although racial differences narrow over time, most changes are not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that providers are increasingly likely to use patient-centered communication strategies. While racial differences have narrowed, Asians report the lowest quality throughout the study period, warranting future research.

Unmet healthcare needs among midlife adults with mental distress and multiple chronic conditions

BACKGROUND

Limited attention has focused on midlife health. Yet, this is a time of great change, including onset of chronic conditions and changes in mental health.

OBJECTIVE

To examine unmet healthcare needs among midlife adults (50-64 years) in the US with severe psychological distress (SPD) and/or multiple chronic conditions (MCC).

METHODS

Nationally representative data for midlife adults (50-64 years) from NHIS 2014-2018 were examined (n = 39,329). Multimorbidity status: no MCC/SPD, MCC alone, SPD alone, or both. We used logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of delayed or foregone care by multimorbidity status.

RESULTS

Nearly 40% of midlife adults had MCC, SPD, or SPD/MCC. SPD with or without MCC had higher prevalence of social disadvantage, fair/poor health, activity limitations, and delayed/foregone healthcare. Compared to those with neither, adults with SPD/MCC were more likely to delay care due to limited office hours (AOR = 4.2, 95% CI 3.1-5.5) and had nearly three to four times higher odds of delays for all other reasons. Those with SPD/MCC had higher odds of needing but not getting mental healthcare (AOR = 6.4, 95% CI 4.5-9.1), prescriptions (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI 3.9-5.9), or follow-up care (AOR = 5.0, 95% CI 3.7-6.6), and three to four times higher odds of all other types of foregone care.

CONCLUSIONS

Midlife adults with SPD/MCC have substantial unmet healthcare needs. Midlife is a critical time to manage both chronic conditions and mental illness. Coordinated efforts by policymakers and healthcare systems are crucial to address complex healthcare needs of this population at a critical stage of the life-course.

"Making Sense of a Disease That Makes No Sense": Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Among Caregivers and Providers Within Alaska Native Communities

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

With the rate of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) increasing among Alaska Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people, the Alaska Native Health system is ill-prepared to meet the challenges associated with the growing population at risk of ADRD. The high cost of care, inadequate training of health care providers, and lack of supportive services for caregivers are especially concerning.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Interviews were conducted with 22 AN caregivers for ANs with ADRD and 12 ANs and non-Native health care providers in communities across Alaska. Interviews lasted approximately 60 min and were transcribed verbatim. We employed directed content analysis to examine the major agreements and disagreements between the participants' understandings of ADRD in each of the domains of Kleinman's Explanatory Model of Illness.

RESULTS

Caregivers and health care providers expressed concerns about the lack of understanding, resources, and awareness of ADRD among ANs in rural and urban communities. Both caregivers and providers recognized the need to obtain an early diagnosis, blend Western and traditional medicines, promote lifestyle and dietary changes, and foster training for caregivers. Health care providers acknowledged their limited exposure to AN understanding of ADRD and wish to receive culturally relevant training to better serve AN.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

As the older AN adult population grows, the need for culturally responsive training and support services will continue to increase. We recommend establishing rural outreach and support groups for caregivers, developing an understanding of how ANs view ADRD to train and educate health care providers, and implement screening early for memory loss during routine medical examinations.

Factors Associated With Avoiding Health Care Among Community-Dwelling Medicare Beneficiaries With Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction

Health care avoidance by Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes can result in adverse health and economic outcomes. The objective of this study was to describe factors associated with choices to avoid health care among Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

We used a survey-weighted logistic model and the nationally representative 2016 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey to analyze data on 1,782 Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 with type 2 diabetes, to examine associations between Medicare beneficiaries’ decisions to avoid health care and multiple factors (eg, dissatisfaction with information given by providers, health problems that should have been discussed with providers but were not, worry about health more than other people their age).

Results

Of our study sample, 26.1% reported they avoid health care. Five factors were associated with avoiding health care: delaying care (vs not) because of costs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.06; P = .005); having health problems that should have been discussed with providers but were not (vs having discussions) (aOR = 1.50; P = .04); worrying (vs not) about health more than other people their age (aOR = 2.13; P < .001); self-reporting “other” minority race (vs non-Hispanic White) (aOR = 2.01; P = .006); and education levels. Participants with less than a high school diploma (aOR = 1.95; P = .001) and participants with a high school diploma only (aOR = 1.49; P = .049) were more likely than participants with an education beyond high school to report avoiding health care.

Conclusion

Approximately 1 in 4 Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes avoid health care. We found inequities in care-seeking behavior by race/ethnicity and education level. Health care perceptions and lack of appropriate discussion of health care concerns with health care providers are also associated with this behavior. Clinical interventions (eg, improved patient–provider communication) and educational outreach are needed to decrease the numbers of Medicare beneficiaries who avoid health care.

County-Level Socioeconomic Disparities in Use of Medical Services for Management of Infections by Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes-United States, 2012

OBJECTIVE

To assess county-level socioeconomic disparities in medical service usage for infections among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes (MBWDs) who had fee-for-service health insurance claims during 2012.

DESIGN

We used Medicare claims data to calculate percentage of MBWDs with infections.

SETTING

Medicare beneficiaries.

PARTICIPANTS

We estimated the percentage of MBWDs who used medical services for each of 3 groups of infections by sex and quintiles of the prevalence of social factors in the person's county of residence: anatomic site-specific infections; pathogen-specific infections; and HHST infections (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Using quintiles of county-specific socioeconomic determinants, we calculated absolute and relative disparities in each group of infections for male and female MBWDs. We also used regression-based summary measures to estimate the overall average absolute and relative disparities for each infection group.

RESULTS

Of the 4.5 million male MBWDs, 15.8%, 25.3%, and 2.7% had 1 or more site-specific, pathogen-specific, and HHST infections, respectively. Results were similar for females (n = 5.2 million). The percentage of MBWDs with 1 or more infections in each group increased as social disadvantage in the MBWDs' county of residence increased. Absolute and relative county-level socioeconomic disparities in receipt of medical services for 1 or more infections (site- or pathogen-specific) were 12.9 or less percentage points and 65.5% or less, respectively. For HHST infections, percentage of MBWDs having 1 or more HHST infections for persons residing in the highest quintile (Q5) was 3- to 4-fold higher (P < .001) than persons residing in the lowest quintile (Q1).

CONCLUSIONS

Infection burden among MBWDs is generally associated with county-level contextual socioeconomic disadvantage, and the extent of health disparities varies by infection category, socioeconomic factor, and quintiles of socioeconomic disadvantage. The findings imply ongoing need for efforts to identify effective interventions for reducing county-level social disparities in infections among patients with diabetes.

The Potential Impact of Social Genomics on Wound Healing

Significance: Human skin wounds carry an immense epidemiologic and financial burden, and their impact will continue to grow with an aging population and rising incidence of comorbid conditions known to affect wound healing. To comprehensively address this growing clinical issue, physicians should also be aware of how conditions of the human social environment may affect wound healing. Here we provide a review of the emerging field of social genomics and its potential impact on the wound healing. Recent Advances: Multiple studies using human and animal models have correlated social influences and their contributing effects to acute and chronic stress with delays in wound healing. Furthermore, observations between nongenetic factors such as nutrition, socioeconomic, and educational status have also shown to have a direct or indirect impact on clinical outcomes of wound healing. Critical Issues: Nutrition, financial burden, socioeconomic and education status, and acute and chronic stress are variables that have either direct (epigenetic) or indirect impact on wound healing and patients' quality of life. Wound care is costly and remains a challenge placing economic burden on patients. Furthermore, poor clinical outcomes and complications including loss of mobility and disability may lead to job loss, further contributing to socioeconomic related stress. Thus, the economic burden and inadequate wound healing are intertwined, making each other worse. Future Directions: Although some evidence regarding the specific changes in genetic pathways imparted by conditions of the social environment exists, further studies are warranted to identify potential mechanisms, interventions, and prevention approaches.

Culturally-tailored interventions for chronic disease self-management among Chinese Americans: a systematic review

Objectives: Literature review evaluating the effectiveness and cultural surface and deep structures of interventions designed to improve Chinese Americans' chronic disease self-management.Method: PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Health Source databases were searched for research conducted from 1990 to 2016 on self-management interventions for Chinese Americans with chronic disease.Results: Ten articles comprised eight interventions, which each addressed a dimension of cultural surface structure, all providing linguistically appropriate messages delivered via bilingual staff. Five interventions also addressed cultural deep structure dimensions by providing culturally congruent counsellors or educators, or incorporating Chinese cultural values and social customs. Six interventions resulted in significant improvements in major outcome variables. Participants also reported high satisfaction and retention rates were high.Conclusion: Culturally-tailored interventions that incorporate surface and deep structural elements of culture are sensitive and generally effective for Chinese Americans to improve access to health care, disease awareness, social environment, and participants' ability to practice self-management skills.

A Diabetes Screening and Education Program for Chinese American Food Service Employees Delivered in Chinese

Asian Americans have a higher prevalence of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with White Americans. A two-phase evidence-based project developed specifically for Chinese American employees at an urban catering company worksite was led by a registered nurse/certified diabetes educator. The purpose of this project was to (a) identify Chinese employees at risk for T2DM, and (b) develop and implement a customized diabetes prevention program in Chinese. In Phase 1, Chinese employees were screened for T2DM risk factors using a Chinese version of the Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment Questionnaire (CANRISK). Thirty-five people, who represented 58% of the Chinese employees, were screened; two were newly diagnosed with T2DM, and two were newly diagnosed with prediabetes based on the screening scores, nonfasting blood glucose, and hemoglobin (Hb) A1c tests. In Phase 2, 23 Chinese employees were interviewed and their remarks were used to modify the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Six Chinese employees participated and completed the DPP. Risk scores, nonfasting blood glucose, and HbA1c were obtained and pre- and postprogram data were compared. Upon completion of the program, participants showed an average reduction of nonfasting blood glucose of 30 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L), and a reduction of HbA1c by 0.32 points (3 mmol/mol). This evidence-based project emphasizes the importance of screening for diabetes in the worksite setting and using linguistically sensitive materials.

Racial/ethnic differences in healthcare use among patients with uncontrolled and controlled diabetes

OBJECTIVES

To examine racial/ethnic differences in healthcare use among patients classified as having controlled and uncontrolled diabetes.

DESIGN

Data from the Carolinas HealthCare System electronic data warehouse were used. Glycemic control was defined as glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) < 8% (64 mmol/mol) in 2012 (n = 9996). Patients with HbA1c ≥ 8% (64 mmol/mol) in 2012 were classified as uncontrolled (n = 2576). Race and ethnicity were jointly classified as non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White or Other. Separate mixed effects negative binomial models estimated the independent effect of race/ethnicity on the number of emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations and physician office visits in 2013, in each patient group, adjusting for significant confounding variables.

RESULTS

Rates of diabetes-related ED visits were two to three times higher for non-Hispanic Blacks compared to non-Hispanic Whites (uncontrolled rate ratio [RR]: 3.41 95% CI: 1.41-8.22; controlled RR: 2.95; 95% CI: 1.78-4.91). Similar differences were observed for all-cause ED visits (uncontrolled RR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.50-2.24; controlled RR: 2.45, 95% CI: 2.17-2.77). Non-Hispanic Blacks with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes also had lower rates of all-cause physician office visits when compared to non-Hispanic Whites (uncontrolled RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.77-0.91; controlled RR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.78-0.84).

CONCLUSION

Notable racial/ethnic disparities exist in the use of emergency services and physician offices for diabetes care. Strategies such as patient education and care delivery changes that address healthcare access issues in racial/ethnic minorities should be considered to offer better diabetes management and address diabetes disparities.

Psychological Distress and Access to Care Among Midlife Women

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine unmet health care needs among midlife women (ages 50-64 years) in the United States by level of psychological distress. Method: Using data for a nationally representative sample of midlife women (N = 8,838) from the 2015-2016 National Health Interview Survey, we estimated odds ratios of reasons for delayed care and types of care foregone by level of psychological distress-none, moderate (moderate psychological distress [MPD], and severe (severe psychological distress [SPD]). Findings: More than one in five midlife women had MPD (15.3%) or SPD (5.2%). Women with MPD or SPD had 2 to 5 times higher odds of delayed and 2 to 20 times higher odds of foregone care. Conclusions: Midlife women with psychological distress have poorer health than those with no distress, yet they are less likely to get needed health care. There is a missed window of opportunity to address mental health needs and manage comorbid chronic conditions to facilitate healthy aging.

Patient-centered medical home care access among adults with chronic conditions: National Estimates from the medical expenditure panel survey

BACKGROUND

The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model is a coordinated-care model that has served as a means to improve several chronic disease outcomes and reduce management costs. However, access to PCMH has not been explored among adults suffering from chronic conditions in the United States. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the changes in receiving PCMH among adults suffering from chronic conditions that occurred from 2010 through 2015 and to identify predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with receiving a PCMH.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted for adults with chronic conditions, using data from the 2010-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS). Most common chronic conditions in the United States were identified by using the most recent data published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The definition established by the AHRQ was used as the basis to determine whether respondents had access to PCMH. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to detect the association between the different variables and access to PCMH care.

RESULTS

A total of 20,403 patients with chronic conditions were identified, representing 213.7 million U.S. lives. Approximately 19.7% of the patients were categorized as the PCMH group at baseline who met all the PCMH criteria defined in this paper. Overall, the percentage of adults with chronic conditions who received a PCMH decreased from 22.3% in 2010 to 17.8% in 2015. The multivariate analyses revealed that several subgroups, including individuals aged 66 and older, separated, insured by public insurance or uninsured, from low-income families, residing in the South or the West, and with poor health, were less likely to have access to PCMH.

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed strong insufficiencies in access to a PCMH between 2010 and 2015, potentially driven by many factors. Thus, more resources and efforts need to be devoted to reducing the barriers to PCMH care which may improve the overall health of Americans with chronic conditions.

Prevalence of insulin glargine vial use beyond 28 days in a Medicaid population

OBJECTIVES

Insulin glargine, one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for diabetes, has a 28-day limit on the use of a 10-mL (1000 units) multiple-dose vial once the bottle is punctured. If patients who are using smaller doses or are not adherent continue to use insulin glargine beyond the 28-day window, it can result in questionable stability and sterility of the product. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of patients who used each insulin glargine vial for more than 28 days, the mean number of days the vial was used after 28 days, the reason for the extended use, and whether that use had any association with diabetes control and injection site infection.

METHODS

The study was conducted in 2 phases. Phase I was a retrospective database analysis of insulin glargine 10-mL vial use by the adult Medicaid population with type 2 diabetes served by Molina Healthcare to determine the proportion of patients who used each vial beyond 28 days. Phase II was a cross-sectional telephone interview to identify the reasons for the extended use.

RESULTS

Of the 269 patients identified, 81% used it for more than 28 days, with a mean of 43 days. Of the interviewed patients, 60% did not discard the vials after 28 days because of a lack of awareness. Patients who were aware of the 28-day limit were informed by a pharmacist or diabetes educator.

CONCLUSION

A large proportion of Medicaid patients were found to use insulin glargine past the recommended 28-day limit. More work is needed with a larger sample size to determine whether reasons besides lack of awareness affect the use of insulin glargine beyond its expiration and the role of pharmacists and diabetes educators in improving adherence to disposing of the drug after 28 days.

Development of a Participatory Capacity-Building Program for Congregational Health Leaders in African American Churches in the US South

African Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes and colorectal cancer. Although studies have shown the effectiveness of spiritually based health interventions delivered by community health workers to African Americans, few have described the development of the capacity-building component. This article describes this process. The development of the Healthy Congregations Healthy Communities Program (HCHC) was guided through a community-based participatory research lens and included: 1) establishment of a community coalition; 2) identification by coalition members of churches as the best venues for health promotion strategies among African Americans; 3) recruitment of churches; 4) development of a training manual; 5) recruitment and training of congregational health leaders (CHLs); and 6) "Passing of the torch" from the coalition to the CHLs who implemented the intervention in their congregations. We trained 35 CHLs to promote awareness about diabetes and colorectal cancer using a culturally relevant, spiritually based curriculum. Pre- and post-test paired t-tests showed significant increases in CHLs' knowledge of wellness (P<.001), colorectal cancer (P<.002), nutrition (P<.004), and lifestyle changes (P<.005). The community-academic partnership was successful in developing a culturally relevant, spiritually based capacity-building program for African American CHLs to implement health promotion strategies in their congregations and communities.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Care during the Early Years of Affordable Care Act Implementation in California

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Following the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance expansions, this study asks: did racial/ethnic group disparities in access to care remain? And specifically, did Latinos experience worse access to care after the ACA expansions compared to other racial/ethnic groups?

METHODS

Dataset: 2015 California Health Interview Survey (n=21,034; N=29,083,000). Participants: Adults, ages 18 and older, in California. Analyses: Bivariate chi-square tests and logistic multivariate regressions, including stratification by insurance.

RESULTS

Bivariate tests showed associations between racial/ethnic group and access to care. Latinos had lowest rates of having a usual source of care among uninsured (49.5%) and job-based coverage (85.2%). One-fifth of uninsured non-Latino whites (21%) report foregoing needed care. In the multivariate models, non-Latino whites had significantly higher odds of having a usual source of care (OR=1.32; p<0.05), but also of foregoing needed care (OR=1.43; p<0.05), than Latinos. Asian Americans had significantly lower odds of visiting a doctor in the past year (OR=0.65; p<0.05) than Latino adults.

CONCLUSION

Following the ACA, disparities among racial/ethnic groups have become more complex. While Latino adults still have lower rates of having a usual source of care, Asian American adults have low rates of visiting a doctor, and non-Latino whites have high rates of foregoing needed care. Further research into the causes of difficulties in accessing care is needed, as health insurance expansions did not create health equity in solving access to care problems.

Trajectories of Glycemic Change in a National Cohort of Adults With Previously Controlled Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Individualized diabetes management would benefit from prospectively identifying well-controlled patients at risk of losing glycemic control.

OBJECTIVES

To identify patterns of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) change among patients with stable controlled diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Cohort study using OptumLabs Data Warehouse, 2001-2013. We develop and apply a machine learning framework that uses a Bayesian estimation of the mixture of generalized linear mixed effect models to discover glycemic trajectories, and a random forest feature contribution method to identify patient characteristics predictive of their future glycemic trajectories.

SUBJECTS

The study cohort consisted of 27,005 US adults with type 2 diabetes, age 18 years and older, and stable index HbA1c <7.0%.

MEASURES

HbA1c values during 24 months of observation.

RESULTS

We compared models with k=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 trajectories and baseline variables including patient age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidities, medications, and HbA1c. The k=3 model had the best fit, reflecting 3 distinct trajectories of glycemic change: (T1) rapidly deteriorating HbA1c among 302 (1.1%) youngest (mean, 55.2 y) patients with lowest mean baseline HbA1c, 6.05%; (T2) gradually deteriorating HbA1c among 902 (3.3%) patients (mean, 56.5 y) with highest mean baseline HbA1c, 6.53%; and (T3) stable glycemic control among 25,800 (95.5%) oldest (mean, 58.5 y) patients with mean baseline HbA1c 6.21%. After 24 months, HbA1c rose to 8.75% in T1 and 8.40% in T2, but remained stable at 6.56% in T3.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with controlled type 2 diabetes follow 3 distinct trajectories of glycemic control. This novel application of advanced analytic methods can facilitate individualized and population diabetes care by proactively identifying high risk patients.

Disparities in the prevalence of comorbidities among US adults by state Medicaid expansion status

INTRODUCTION

About 92% of US older adults have at least one chronic disease or medical condition and 77% have at least two. Low-income and uninsured adults in particular experience a higher burden of comorbidities, and the Medicaid expansion provision of the Affordable Care Act was designed to improve access to healthcare in this population group. However, a significant number of US states have declined expansion. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of low-income and uninsured adults in expanded versus non-expanded states, and evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities in both groups.

METHODS

Data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) dataset was analyzed, and Medicaid expansion status was assessed from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services report on State Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Standards. Next, age adjusted mean number of comorbidities between expanded and non-expanded states was compared, with adjustment for socio-demographic differences.

RESULTS

Expanded states had a higher proportion of adults with income of at least $50,000 per year (39.6% vs. 35.5%, p<0.01) and a lower proportion of individuals with no health insurance coverage (15.2% vs. 20.3%, p<0.01) compared with non-expanded states. Among the uninsured, there was a higher proportion of obese (31.6% vs. 26.9%, p<001), and higher average number of comorbidities (1.62 vs. 1.52, p<0.01) in non-expanded states compared to expanded states. Overall, the prevalence of comorbidities was higher among BRFSS participants in states that did not expand Medicaid compared with those in expanded states.

CONCLUSION

States without Medicaid expansion have a greater proportion of poor, uninsured adults with more chronic diseases and conditions.

Health Care Access, Utilization, and Management in Adult Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese with Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Asians are often pooled together when evaluating disparities in health care indicators (access, utilization, and management), though substantial variation may exist across different Asian ethnicities.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare health care indicators among Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and non-Hispanic white (NHW) adults with cardiovascular disease and hypertension (CVD/HTN).

METHODS

We analyzed health care indicators using multivariable logistic regression in a sample of Asians and NHWs with CVD/HTN from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

RESULTS

Koreans had the lowest utilization of emergency room (ER) or inpatient hospital services; Vietnamese had the lowest access to a personal doctor; Chinese had the lowest adjusted odds of having seen a doctor in the prior 12 months; and all Asians received fewer written heart disease care plans compared to NHWs. Even when utilization of ER for heart disease appeared to be similar, lack of access to a doctor was a more common reason noted by Asians versus NHWs. However, a lower proportion of Asians reported delays in receiving prescription or care. Accounting for differences across groups did not diminish these disparities.

CONCLUSION

Health care indicators varied by race and across Asian ethnicities even after controlling for sociodemographic factors, insurance coverage, and health status. Future studies should consider oversampling other Asian ethnicities and assessing more in depth the potential impact of ethnicity-related factors on disparities in health care indicators.

Ascertainment of outpatient visits by patients with diabetes: The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS)

AIMS

To estimate and evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of providers' diagnosis codes and medication lists to identify outpatient visits by patients with diabetes.

METHODS

We used data from the 2006 to 2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of providers' diagnoses and medication lists to identify patients with diabetes, using the checkbox for diabetes as the gold standard. We then examined differences in sensitivity by patients' characteristics using multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The checkbox identified 12,647 outpatient visits by adults with diabetes among the 70,352 visits used for this analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of providers' diagnoses or listed diabetes medications were 72.3% (95% CI: 70.8% to 73.8%) and 99.2% (99.1% to 99.4%), respectively. Diabetic patients ≥75 years of age, women, non-Hispanics, and those with private insurance or Medicare were more likely to be missed by providers' diagnoses and medication lists. Diabetic patients who had more diagnosis codes and medications recorded, had glucose or hemoglobin A1c measured, or made office- rather than hospital-outpatient visits were less likely to be missed.

CONCLUSIONS

Providers' diagnosis codes and medication lists fail to identify approximately one quarter of outpatient visits by patients with diabetes.

Improving Hospital Reporting of Patient Race and Ethnicity--Approaches to Data Auditing

OBJECTIVE

To investigate new metrics to improve the reporting of patient race and ethnicity (R/E) by hospitals.

DATA SOURCES

California Patient Discharge Database (PDD) and birth registry, 2008-2009, Healthcare and Cost Utilization Project's State Inpatient Database, 2008-2011, cancer registry 2000-2008, and 2010 US Census Summary File 2.

STUDY DESIGN

We examined agreement between hospital reported R/E versus self-report among mothers delivering babies and a cancer cohort in California. Metrics were created to measure root mean squared differences (RMSD) by hospital between reported R/E distribution and R/E estimates using R/E distribution within each patient's zip code of residence. RMSD comparisons were made to corresponding "gold standard" facility-level measures within the maternal cohort for California and six comparison states.

DATA COLLECTION

Maternal birth hospitalization (linked to the state birth registry) and cancer cohort records linked to preceding and subsequent hospitalizations. Hospital discharges were linked to the corresponding Census zip code tabulation area using patient zip code.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Overall agreement between the PDD and the gold standard for the maternal cohort was 86 percent for the combined R/E measure and 71 percent for race alone. The RMSD measure is modestly correlated with the summary level gold standard measure for R/E (r = 0.44). The RMSD metric revealed general improvement in data agreement and completeness across states. "Other" and "unknown" categories were inconsistently applied within inpatient databases.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparison between reported R/E and R/E estimates using zip code level data may be a reasonable first approach to evaluate and track hospital R/E reporting. Further work should focus on using more granular geocoded data for estimates and tracking data to improve hospital collection of R/E data.

A Systematic Review of Interventions Addressing Adherence to Anti-Diabetic Medications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes--Components of Interventions

Background

Poor adherence to anti-diabetic medications contributes to suboptimal glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A range of interventions have been developed to promote anti-diabetic medication adherence. However, there has been very little focus on the characteristics of these interventions and how effectively they address factors that predict non-adherence. In this systematic review we assessed the characteristics of interventions that aimed to promote adherence to anti-diabetic medications.

Method

Using appropriate search terms in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), PUBmed, and PsychINFO (years 2000–2013), we identified 52 studies which met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Forty-nine studies consisted of patient-level interventions, two provider-level interventions, and one consisted of both. Interventions were classified as educational (n = 7), behavioural (n = 3), affective, economic (n = 3) or multifaceted (a combination of the above; n = 40). One study consisted of two interventions. The review found that multifaceted interventions, addressing several non-adherence factors, were comparatively more effective in improving medication adherence and glycaemic target in patients with T2D than single strategies. However, interventions with similar components and those addressing similar non-adherence factors demonstrated mixed results, making it difficult to conclude on effective intervention strategies to promote adherence. Educational strategies have remained the most popular intervention strategy, followed by behavioural, with affective components becoming more common in recent years. Most of the interventions addressed patient-related (n = 35), condition-related (n = 31), and therapy-related (n = 20) factors as defined by the World Health Organization, while fewer addressed health care system (n = 5) and socio-economic-related factors (n = 13).

Conclusion

There is a noticeable shift in the literature from using single to multifaceted intervention strategies addressing a range of factors impacting adherence to medications. However, research limitations, such as limited use of standardized methods and tools to measure adherence, lack of individually tailored adherence promoting strategies and variability in the interventions developed, reduce the ability to generalize the findings of the studies reviewed. Furthermore, this review highlights the need to develop multifaceted interventions which can be tailored to the individual patient’s needs over the duration of their diabetes management.

Cancer-Directed Therapy and Hospice Care for Metastatic Cancer in American Indians and Alaska Natives

BACKGROUND

Little has been reported regarding patterns of oncologic care in American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Observed worse survival has been attributed to later-stage presentation. We aimed to evaluate racial differences in cancer-directed therapy and hospice care utilization in AI/ANs and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) with metastatic cancer.

METHODS

The linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare claims database was accessed for AI/AN and NHW metastatic-cancer cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2007. Utilization of cancer-directed therapy (surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy) and/or hospice services was compared between AI/ANs and NHWs. Minimally adjusted (age, sex, diagnosis year) and fully-adjusted (also Klabunde comorbidity score, sociodemographic factors) regression models were used to estimate odds (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) for receipt of care.

RESULTS

AI/ANs were younger, more likely to reside in the West, be unmarried, have lower income, and live in a nonurban setting than NHWs. Fewer AI/ANs received any cancer-directed therapy (57% vs. 61% NHWs) within 3 months of diagnosis; sociodemographic factors accounted for much of this difference [fully-adjusted HR, 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.83-1.08]. We noted differences in hospice utilization between AI/ANs (52%) and NHWs (61%). A significant difference in hospice utilization remained after adjustment for sociodemographics (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.61-0.99).

CONCLUSION

Observed absolute differences in care for AI/ANs and NHWs with metastatic cancer were largely accounted for by adjusting for socioeconomics, comorbidities, and demographic factors. A significant association between race and hospice utilization was noted.

IMPACT

Efforts to improve metastatic-cancer care should focus on socioeconomic barriers and investigate the observed disparity in receipt of hospice services.

Disparities in diabetes management in Asian Americans in New York City compared with other racial/ethnic minority groups

We examined diabetes management practices among Hispanics, Blacks, and 3 Asian American subgroups in New York City. Compared with Blacks and Hispanics, all 3 Asian American subgroups had lower average rates of diabetes management practices. Compared with Blacks, Chinese and Koreans were significantly less likely to participate in all diabetes management behaviors and practices, whereas Asian Indians were significantly less likely to perform feet checks or undergo an eye examination. Results demonstrated the need for health care provider interventions and training to support diabetes management among Asian Americans.

A systematic review of interventions addressing adherence to anti-diabetic medications in patients with type 2 diabetes--impact on adherence

Background

The global prevalence of diabetes is increasing. Medications are a recommended strategy to control hyperglycaemia. However, patient adherence can be variable, impacting health outcomes. A range of interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes have focused on improving treatment adherence. This review evaluates the impact of these interventions on adherence to anti-diabetic medications and focuses on the methods and tools used to measure adherence.

Method

Medline, Embase, CINAHL, IPA, PUBmed, and PsychINFO were searched for relevant articles published in 2000–2013, using appropriate search terms.

Results

Fifty two studies addressing adherence to anti-diabetic medications in patients with type 2 diabetes met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Each study was assessed for research design, method(s) used for measuring medication adherence, and impact of intervention on medication adherence and glycaemic control. Fourteen studies were published in 2000–2009 and 38 in 2010–2013. Twenty two interventions led to improvements in adherence to anti-diabetic medications, while only nine improved both medication adherence and glycaemic control. A single strategy could not be identified which would be guaranteed to improve anti-diabetic medication adherence consistently. Nonetheless, most interventions were successful in influencing one or more of the outcomes assessed, indicating the usefulness of these interventions under certain circumstances. Self-report, particularly the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire was the most commonly used tool to assess medication adherence, although other self-report tools were used in more recent studies. Overall, there was a slight increase in the number of studies that employed multiple methods to assess medication adherence in studies conducted after 2008.

Conclusion

The diversity of interventions and adherence measurements prevented a meta-analysis of the impact of interventions on adherence to therapy, highlighting the need for more consistency in methods in the area of adherence research. Whilst effective interventions were identified, it is not possible to conclude on an effective intervention that can be generalised to all patients with type 2 diabetes.

Is the Chronic Care Model Integrated Into Research Examining Culturally Competent Interventions for Ethnically Diverse Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? A Review

The chronic care model (CCM) concerns both the medical and the cultural and linguistic needs of patients through the inclusion of cultural competence in the delivery system design. This literature review attempted to@@ identify the domains of the CCM culturally competent (CC) interventions that the adults from ethnic minorities suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus report. We identified the CCM and the CC components in the relevant studies published between 2005 and 2014. Thirty-two studies were included. Thirty-one articles focused on self-management and 20 on community resources. Twenty-three interventions integrated cultural norms from the patients’ backgrounds. CC interventions reported the CCM at the individual level but need to address the organizational level more effectively. The scope of CC interventions should be expanded to transform health care organizations and systems.

Health literacy issues in the care of Chinese American immigrants with diabetes: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate why first-generation Chinese immigrants with diabetes have difficulty obtaining, processing and understanding diabetes related information despite the existence of translated materials and translators.

DESIGN

This qualitative study employed purposive sampling. Six focus groups and two individual interviews were conducted. Each group discussion lasted approximately 90 min and was guided by semistructured and open-ended questions.

SETTING

Data were collected in two community health centres and one elderly retirement village in Los Angeles, California.

PARTICIPANTS

29 Chinese immigrants aged ≥45 years and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 1 year.

RESULTS

Eight key themes were found to potentially affect Chinese immigrants' capacity to obtain, communicate, process and understand diabetes related health information and consequently alter their decision making in self-care. Among the themes, three major categories emerged: cultural factors, structural barriers, and personal barriers.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the importance of cultural sensitivity when working with first-generation Chinese immigrants with diabetes. Implications for health professionals, local community centres and other potential service providers are discussed.

Barriers to health care among people with disabilities who are members of underserved racial/ethnic groups: a scoping review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Understanding barriers to health care access experienced by people with disabilities who are members of underserved racial/ethnic groups is key to developing interventions to improve access.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a scoping review of the literature to examine the published literature on barriers to health care access for people with disabilities who are members of underserved racial/ethnic groups.

DATA SOURCES

Articles cited in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL between the year 2000 and June 19, 2013. In addition, table of contents of 4 journals and the reference lists of the included article were reviewed for potentially relevant titles.

STUDY SELECTION AND EXTRACTION

Studies examining barriers to health care access among adults aged 18-64 with disabilities who are members of an underserved racial/ethnic group were included. Two reviewers screened abstracts, screened each full-text article and extracted data, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus.

RESULTS

Ten studies were identified that met all inclusion criteria. The most frequently described barriers were uninsurance, language, low education level, and no usual source of care. Barriers to health care access related to race or ethnicity (6 studies) and disability (1 study) were observed less often than those related to socioeconomic status or health care systems factors (9 studies).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reflect a critical gap in the literature. Greater attention is needed to subgroup differences including race, ethnicity, and culture within the population of people with disabilities.

The prevalence of medical conditions among U.S. Chinese community-dwelling older adults

BACKGROUND

The burden of medical conditions is increasing among U.S. older adults, yet we have very limited knowledge about medical conditions among Chinese older adults in the United States. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of medical conditions and its sociodemographic and health-related correlates within the context of a population-based cohort study of U.S. Chinese older adults.

METHOD

Using a community-based participatory research approach, community-dwelling Chinese older adults aged 60 years and older in the Greater Chicago area were interviewed between 2011 and 2013.

RESULTS

Of the 3,159 participants interviewed, 58.9% were female and the mean age was 72.8 years. In total, 84.3% of older adults had one or more medical condition, 24.6% reported two conditions, 19.5% had three conditions, and 17.0% reported four or more conditions. A sizeable percentage of older adults had never been screened for dyslipidemia (24.4%) or had never been screened for diabetes mellitus (35.7%).For those who reported high cholesterol, 73.0% were taking medications when compared with 76.1% of those who reported having diabetes and 88.3% of those who reported having high blood pressure. Various sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were correlated with medical conditions.

CONCLUSION

Medical conditions were common among U.S. Chinese older adults, yet screening and treatment rates were fairly low. Future longitudinal studies should be conducted to better understand the risk and protective factors associated with medical conditions.

The relation between diabetes self-efficacy and psychological distress among older adults: do racial and ethnic differences exist?

OBJECTIVE

This study examined racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between diabetes self-efficacy and psychological distress among older adults with diabetes mellitus.

METHOD

Adults aged 60 or older with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (N = 3,067) were drawn from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

After controlling for covariates, African Americans and those with higher levels of diabetes self-efficacy tended to have lower levels of psychological distress. Significant interactions were found in the Hispanic/Latino and Asian groups: The effect of diabetes self-efficacy on psychological distress was greater for Hispanics/Latinos and Asians than non-Hispanic Whites.

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest that diabetes self-efficacy is associated with psychological distress among older diabetic patients and that race/ethnicity moderates the relationship between diabetes self-efficacy and psychological distress. Increasing diabetes self-efficacy will help racial/ethnic minority older patients with diabetes to improve psychological well-being at a greater level.

Association of vascular risk factors with cognition in a multiethnic sample

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and cognitive performance in a multiethnic sample of older adults.

METHOD

We used longitudinal data from the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project. A composite score including smoking, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and central obesity represented CVRFs. Multiple group parallel process multivariate random effects regression models were used to model cognitive functioning and examine the contribution of CVRFs to baseline performance and change in general cognitive processing, memory, and executive functioning.

RESULTS

Presence of each CVRF was associated with a 0.1 SD lower score in general cognitive processing, memory, and executive functioning in black and Hispanic participants relative to whites. Baseline CVRFs were associated with poorer baseline cognitive performances among black women and Hispanic men. CVRF increase was related to baseline cognitive performance only among Hispanics. CVRFs were not related to cognitive decline. After adjustment for medications, CVRFs were not associated with cognition in Hispanic participants.

DISCUSSION

CVRFs are associated with poorer cognitive functioning, but not cognitive decline, among minority older adults. These relationships vary by gender and medication use. Consideration of unique racial, ethnic, and cultural factors is needed when examining relationships between CVRFs and cognition.

Does a 2.5-year self-management education and support intervention change patterns of healthcare use in African-American adults with type 2 diabetes?

AIMS

To investigate the impact of a 2.5-year diabetes self-management education and support intervention on healthcare use and to examine factors associated with patterns of healthcare use.

METHODS

We recruited 60 African-American adults with type 2 diabetes who completed a 2.5-year empowerment-based diabetes self-management education and support intervention. Primary healthcare use outcomes included acute care visits, non-acute care visits and days lost to disability. Acute care was a composite score calculated from the frequency of urgent care visits, emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Non-acute care measured the frequency of scheduled outpatient visits. To examine change in patterns of healthcare use, we compared the frequency of healthcare visits over the 6-month period preceding the intervention with that in the last 6 months of the intervention.

RESULTS

No significant changes in patterns of healthcare use were found for acute care, non-acute care or days lost to disability. Multiple regression models found higher levels of depression (P = 0.001) to be associated with a greater number of non-acute healthcare visits, and found longer duration of diabetes (P = 0.019) and lower levels of diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.025) to be associated with fewer days lost to disability.

CONCLUSIONS

Participation in a long-term diabetes self-management education and support intervention had no impact on healthcare use in our sample of African-American subjects.

What makes a difference to patients?

To make a difference to patients who increasingly suffer multiple chronic conditions, in a healthcare system that is capable of providing excellent care but is often ineffective and at cross-purposes in its application, means being prepared to take a different approach not only to the delivery of patient care, but to the education of physicians and other healthcare professionals. The model we must now practice and teach is one that emphasizes collaboration and prevention, quality and efficiency. Changes in practice recommended by the 2001 US Institute of Medicine report are being implemented system-wide, following the enactment of the US Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This paper discusses the evolving needs of patients with chronic psychiatric illness, and the psychiatrist's role in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape as a care provider, an interdisciplinary role model, and educator. In an aging population in which multi-morbidity is the norm, episodic, crisis-driven care is prohibitively expensive and does not serve patients well. Yet we still teach that model of care. The medications we prescribe for psychiatric illness, particularly antipsychotics, can cause and/or aggravate some of the commonest chronic medical illnesses; psychiatric educators must address the management of these complications. The management of chronic psychiatric illness in multi-morbid patients demands that we practice and teach a 'whole patient' approach to care, preferably delivered as part of a patient-centred team. The Affordable Care Act has mandated and created opportunities for new models designed to facilitate this, and a paradigm shift is needed in medical education. Clinicians must become adept at identifying underlying and contributing factors and collaborating with the patient, other providers, and the patient's family and significant others. Psychiatric formulation and patient care rely on these principles; we must now teach their application to other specialties, disciplines and professions.