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Paradise RK, Bazzi AR, Clarke J, Desmarais J, Hoyos-Cespedes A, Nurani A, O'Malley SE, Taylor S, Walley AY, Dooley D, Kimmel SD. Multilevel Factors Impacting Substance Use Treatment Access, Engagement, and Racial Equity Among Opioid Overdose Survivors in Boston, MA. J Gen Intern Med 2024:10.1007/s11606-024-08918-0. [PMID: 38997532 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-08918-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are well-documented racial/ethnic inequities in drug-related overdoses and access to evidence-based opioid use services nationally and in Boston, MA. OBJECTIVE To qualitatively explore the drivers of racial/ethnic inequities in access to opioid use disorder treatment and services in Boston. DESIGN Semi-structured qualitative interviews. PARTICIPANTS Using purposive sampling, researchers recruited 59 opioid overdose survivors in Boston who self-identified as Black, Hispanic or Latino/a/x, and/or White. APPROACH Interviewers administered a socio-demographic and drug use survey, and used a semi-structured interview guide to explore experiences with and perspectives on substance use treatment and services. KEY RESULTS Participants' racial/ethnic identities were distributed across three subgroups: non-Hispanic Black (n = 18; 31%), non-Hispanic White (n = 18; 31%), and Latino/a/x (n = 23; 39%). Qualitative analysis identified multiple themes that were organized into four social-ecological levels after analysis. At the individual level, some participants emphasized the importance of personal responsibility and individual motivation in determining access to services. Participants expressed a range of perspectives about using medication for opioid use disorder treatment; Black and Latino/a/x participants were more likely than White participants to have critical perspectives. At the interpersonal level, experiences of bias, stigma, and racism from staff in healthcare and treatment settings were common. At the program/process level, participants described challenges connecting to services following overdose and barriers within specific programs, with Black and Latino/a/x participants experiencing particular gaps. At the systems level, the limited availability of housing, employment, and mental health care negatively impacted treatment access and engagement. CONCLUSION A racism lens was used during data interpretation to apply the themes at a broader population level. Through this lens, the identified barriers can be understood to have a disproportionate impact on people of color. Findings call for programmatic and policy solutions that address racism, break down stigma, and ensure equitable access to evidence-based services and social supports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjani K Paradise
- Institute for Community Health, Malden, MA, USA.
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Angela R Bazzi
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alexander Y Walley
- Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Simeon D Kimmel
- Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Lillie HM. Healthcare Providers' Resilience Communication: A New Type of Patient-Centered Communication. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38982683 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2024.2376610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Patient-centered communication (PCC) is considered a key component of quality healthcare, with reported levels of PCC rising over the last decade. However, engagement with patient emotions and uncertainty have been slower to rise, and healthcare providers at times use PCC behaviors to manipulate patients. Healthcare providers' use of the communication theory of resilience's (CTR) processes could benefit patients. A cross-sectional survey in the United States (N = 486) tested associations between CTR processes and patient satisfaction and perceived physical and mental health. All five core CTR processes were positively correlated with patient outcomes. When controlling for traditional PCC behaviors: (a) crafting normalcy, identity anchors, and alternative logics were positively related to patient satisfaction, (b) no processes were related to perceived mental health, and (c) communication networks, alternative logics, and productive action were positively related to perceived physical health. Condition severity moderated three associations. At moderate-high severity, crafting normalcy and communication networks were positively related to perceived mental health, and crafting normalcy was positively related to perceived physical health. Findings extend CTR into the patient-provider relationship and demonstrate the practical potential of CTR processes for improving patient outcomes. The study also forwards a measure of healthcare provider resilience communication (HPRC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen M Lillie
- Department of Communication Studies, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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Arrivillaga MR, Gold M, Rivera EP, Juárez JG. Incorporating an intersectional gender approach to improve access to maternal and child health screening services. Int J Equity Health 2024; 23:32. [PMID: 38378594 PMCID: PMC10880357 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02109-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has promoted initiatives that aim at the elimination of mother-to-child transmitted diseases for over two decades. Although Guatemala has assumed the commitment to improve access and coverage of reproductive and perinatal services, the goals have not yet been reached. Often, the implementation of these efforts is hampered by complexities rooted in social, cultural, and environmental intersections. The objective of this work is to share our experience applying gender intersectionality as a methodological and analytical tool in a participatory research project that aims to improve access to maternal and child health screening services. The study shows the novel strategy that incorporates intersectionality contributing to evidence on how it can be applied to strengthen public health efforts around the implementation of the EMTCT Plus (Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Chagas disease) framework, in the mostly rural municipality of Comapa, in Guatemala. METHODS We applied a participatory methodology, integrating theoretical and methodological frameworks to have an intersectional understanding of health services delivered by both, midwives, and the public health institution, for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Chagas. The data was collected by conducting interviews, focus groups, workshops, and reviewing laboratory databases, guided by five strategies from a cultural appropriateness framework. RESULTS The intersectional analysis shed light on the synergies and gaps of the current efforts and protocols implemented by both the midwives and the Ministry of Health. The services offered for the four diseases were often delivered independently from each other, and a comprehensive educational and communication material strategy was absent. However, our findings will be used to inform consistent, locally relevant, and culturally appropriate educational content for the local population, also following the national policy guidelines. CONCLUSIONS Using intersectionality as a method and as an analytical tool allowed us to understand the (1) interrelation of diverse social, cultural, and environmental determinants which influence the delivery of health services, as well as (2) the dynamics between the traditional and institutional health systems. (3) Community engagement and the participation of different stakeholders in a consultative process have been fundamental for the conceptual and methodological tenets of this research. (4) Finally, giving a more prominent role to midwives can strengthen sustainability and cultural appropriateness, which is complementary to the delivery of institutional health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Rivera Arrivillaga
- Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Av. 11-95 Zona 15 VH III, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
| | - Marina Gold
- Fundación Mundo Sano, Recaredo, 3. Puerta Garaje, 28002, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Elizabeth Pellecer Rivera
- Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Av. 11-95 Zona 15 VH III, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469-5755, USA
| | - Jose Guillermo Juárez
- Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Av. 11-95 Zona 15 VH III, Guatemala City, Guatemala
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Hoang TMH, Lee BA, Hsieh WJ, Lukacena KM, Tabb KM. Experiences of racial Trauma among perinatal women of color in seeking healthcare services. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2023; 84:60-66. [PMID: 37393649 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2023.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the experiences of perinatal Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) women in healthcare interactions. METHODS We conducted eight virtual focus groups with perinatal BIPOC women across the USA from November 2021 to March 2022. A semi-structured interview protocol was used, and focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Our team used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the qualitative data and describe our findings. RESULTS Three latent themes emerged related to racial trauma in healthcare interactions: (1) observations and experiences of anti-Black bias, (2) experiences of dismissal of pain and withholding of care, particularly among Black and Latinx patients, and (3) common race-based traumatic experiences across all BIPOC women, including a consistent lack of bodily autonomy and deferral to White people for decision-making. Recommendations from participants included more transparent communication and greater empathic care for all patients, with calls to specifically address anti-Black bias in healthcare treatment. CONCLUSION The study's findings suggest that perinatal healthcare needs to reduce mental stress and exposure to racial trauma for perinatal BIPOC women. This study offers a discussion of implications for future training for healthcare providers and implications for addressing systemic racial disparities in perinatal mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuyet-Mai H Hoang
- School of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA.
| | - B Andi Lee
- Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - Wan-Jung Hsieh
- Department of Social Work at the National, Taiwan University, USA
| | - Kaylee Marie Lukacena
- Center for Social and Behavioral Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - Karen M Tabb
- School of Social Work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA
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Sunkwa-Mills G, Senah K, Tersbøl BP. Infection prevention and control in neonatal units: An ethnographic study of social and clinical interactions among healthcare providers and mothers in Ghana. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283647. [PMID: 37418459 PMCID: PMC10328309 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Infection prevention and control (IPC) remains an important strategy for preventing HAIs and improving the quality of care in hospital wards. The social environment and interactions in hospital wards are important in the quest to improve IPC. This study explored care practices and the interactions between healthcare providers and mothers in the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in two Ghanaian hospitals and discusses the relevance for IPC. METHODOLOGY This study draws on data from an ethnographic study using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions involving 43 healthcare providers and 72 mothers, and participant observations in the wards between September 2017 and June 2019. The qualitative data were analysed thematically using NVivo 12 to facilitate coding. FINDINGS Mothers of hospitalized babies faced various challenges in coping with the hospital environment. Mothers received sparse information about their babies' medical conditions and felt intimidated in the contact with providers. Mothers strategically positioned themselves as learners, guardians, and peers to enable them to navigate the clinical and social environment of the wards. Mothers feared that persistent requests for information might result in their being labelled "difficult mothers" or might impact the care provided to their babies. Healthcare providers also shifted between various positionings as professionals, caregivers, and gatekeepers, with the tendency to exercise power and maintain control over activities on the ward. CONCLUSION The socio-cultural environment of the wards, with the patterns of interaction and power, reduces priority to IPC as a form of care. Effective promotion and maintenance of hygiene practices require cooperation, and that healthcare providers and mothers find common grounds from which to leverage mutual support and respect, and through this enhance care for mothers and babies, and develop stronger motivation for promoting IPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gifty Sunkwa-Mills
- Ghana Health Service, Central Region, Kasoa, Ghana
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kodjo Senah
- Department of Sociology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Britt Pinkowski Tersbøl
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Hoang TMH, Wong A. Exploring the Application of Intersectionality as a Path toward Equity in Perinatal Health: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:685. [PMID: 36613005 PMCID: PMC9819722 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To conduct a scoping review to determine how past studies have applied the theory of intersectionality, a critical feminist research paradigm, to understand the physical health and mental health outcomes of perinatal people as a step toward addressing maternal health disparities and injustice. The study includes a review of existing research on maternal physical and mental health outcomes, presents the strengths and limitations of existing studies, and provides recommendations on best practices in applying intersectionality in research to address systemic issues and improve outcomes for the perinatal population. METHODS We conducted an extensive literature search across four search engines, yielding 28 publications using the intersectionality framework that focused on the outcomes of perinatal people, with a total sample of 9,856,042 participants. We examined how these studies applied intersectionality and evaluated them based on three areas: conceptualization, research method, and interpretation/findings. RESULTS Our findings indicate that maternal health researchers have provided good descriptions of the interaction of systemic inequalities and have used analysis that allows for the examination of interlocking and mutually reinforcing social positions or systems. We find that improvement is needed in the areas of conceptualization, reflexivity, and understanding of power structure. Recommendations are provided in the form of a checklist to guide future research toward an impactful approach to addressing perinatal health disparities. RELEVANCE Our scoping review has implications for improving applied health research to address perinatal health disparities, mortality, and morbidity. Recommendations are given along with references to other tools, and a guidance checklist is provided to support scholars in creating an impactful approach to applying intersectionality in the goal of addressing maternal health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuyet-Mai H. Hoang
- School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Ainslee Wong
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
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Hoang TMH, Hsieh WJ, Lee BA, Lukacena KM, Tabb KM. Navigating Pregnancy and the Healthcare System during COVID-19: A Qualitative Study with Perinatal Women of Color. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13698. [PMID: 36294278 PMCID: PMC9602964 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To address health disparities in the perinatal period (i.e., during pregnancy and through one year after birth) by exploring the intersectional experiences of perinatal Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) women during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, participants were asked if and how COVID-19 had impacted their experiences of receiving healthcare, whether they had faced any challenges during this time, how they had navigated these challenges, and what recommendations they had for improving perinatal healthcare. METHODS Between November 2021 and March 2022 our team conducted eight virtual focus groups comprising perinatal BIPOC women. A semi-structured interview protocol was used, and interviews were voice recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS Three major themes common in BIPOC perinatal healthcare experiences during COVID-19 were generated through engaging in reflexive thematic analysis: (1) an overwhelming lack of support from providers, (2) experiences of blame and shame, and (3) difficulties navigating institutional policies that were unclear or ever-changing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations from participants included greater empathic communication from providers in the face of uncertainty during COVID-19, greater access to information and guidance for caring for themselves and their babies, and an overall request for greater compassion while navigating an exciting and busy time. RELEVANCE These findings have implications for trauma-informed and inclusive perinatal care that can reduce the impacts of systemic inequalities for perinatal BIPOC women. This study offers a discussion of implications for future training for maternal health providers and implications for community-based programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuyet-Mai H. Hoang
- School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Wan-Jung Hsieh
- Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - B. Andi Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Kaylee Marie Lukacena
- Center for Social and Behavioral Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Karen M. Tabb
- School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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George EK, Shorten A, Lyons KS, Edmonds JK. Factors influencing birth setting decision making in the United States: An integrative review. Birth 2022; 49:403-419. [PMID: 35441421 DOI: 10.1111/birt.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The United States has the highest perinatal morbidity and mortality (M&M) rates among all high-resource countries in the world. Birth settings (birth center, home, or hospital) influence clinical outcomes, experience of care, and health care costs. Increasing use of low-intervention birth settings can reduce perinatal M&M. This integrative review evaluated factors influencing birth setting decision making among women and birthing people in the United States. METHODS A search strategy was implemented within the CINAHL, PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guided the review, and the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model was used to evaluate methodological quality and appraisal of the evidence. The Whittemore and Knafl integrative review framework informed the extraction and analysis of the data and generation of findings. RESULTS We identified 23 articles that met inclusion criteria. Four analytical themes were generated that described factors that influence birth setting decision making in the United States: "Birth Setting Safety vs. Risk," "Influence of Media, Family, and Friends on Birth Setting Awareness," "Presence or Absence of Choice and Control," and "Access to Options." DISCUSSION Supporting women and birthing people to make informed decisions by providing information about birth setting options and variations in models of care by birth setting is a critical patient-centered strategy to ensure equitable access to low-intervention birth settings. Policies that expand affordable health insurance to cover midwifery care in all birth settings are needed to enable people to make informed choices about birth location that align with their values, individual pregnancy characteristics, and preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin K George
- William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Allison Shorten
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Karen S Lyons
- William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joyce K Edmonds
- William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
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Barger MK. Systematic Reviews to Inform Practice, July/August 2022. J Midwifery Womens Health 2022; 67:515-520. [PMID: 35851548 DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mary K Barger
- Midwifery researcher and consultant, San Diego, California
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Huschke S. 'The System is Not Set up for the Benefit of Women': Women's Experiences of Decision-Making During Pregnancy and Birth in Ireland. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:330-344. [PMID: 34852686 PMCID: PMC8727824 DOI: 10.1177/10497323211055461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In this article, I draw on in-depth qualitative interviews with 23 women, conducted in 2019/2020, focusing on their involvement in decision-making during pregnancy and birth. The study is located in Ireland, where comparably progressive national policies regarding informed choice in labour and birth clash with the day-to-day reality of a heavily medicalised, paternalistic maternity care system. I represent the subjective experiences of a diverse group of women through in-depth interview excerpts. In my analysis, I move beyond describing what is happening in the Irish maternity system to discussing why this is happening - relating the findings of the research to the international literature on authoritative knowledge, technocratic hospital cultures and risk-based discourses around birth. In the last section of the article, I offer concrete, empirically grounded and innovative recommendations how to enhance women's involvement in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Huschke
- Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Research Unit (School of Medicine) and Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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