1
|
Pailler S, Dolan ED, Slater MR, Gayle JM, Lesnikowski SM, DeClementi C. Owner-reported long-term outcomes, quality of life, and longevity after hospital discharge following surgical treatment of pyometra in bitches and queens. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022; 260:S57-S63. [PMID: 35290207 DOI: 10.2460/javma.20.12.0714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigate long-term complications, survival times, general health and quality of life (QoL) outcomes, and longevity in female dogs and cats (bitches and queens, respectively) following hospital discharge after ovariohysterectomy (OHE) for pyometra. ANIMALS 306 pet-owner-completed surveys and corresponding medical records for 234 bitches and 72 queens treated with OHE for pyometra at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019. PROCEDURES A telephone and online survey was conducted to gather data about pet owners' perception of pet health and QoL following OHE for pyometra, and potential associations between survey results and medical record data were evaluated. Median survival time at a given age at OHE for pyometra was calculated with the use of maximum likelihood estimation of a survival-time regression model. RESULTS 72 of the 121 (60%) eligible owners of queens and 234 of the 390 (60%) eligible owners of bitches completed the survey. Most owners reported that at the time of the survey, their pet's health and QoL were better or the same as before pyometra. Reported health and QoL outcomes were similar for pets > 8 versus ≤ 8 years of age. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Our findings indicated that bitches and queens undergoing OHE for pyometra at older ages and without other severe health issues can expect to live their full life span. Veterinarians in private practice could expect similar outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Pailler
- Department of Strategy and Research, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, NY
| | - Emily D Dolan
- Department of Strategy and Research, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, NY
| | - Margaret R Slater
- Department of Strategy and Research, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, NY
| | - J'mai M Gayle
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Sylvia M Lesnikowski
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Hospital, New York, NY
| | - Camille DeClementi
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Hospital, New York, NY
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dolan ED, Doyle E, Tran HR, Slater MR. Pre-mortem risk factors for mortality in kittens less than 8 weeks old at a dedicated kitten nursery. J Feline Med Surg 2020; 23:730-737. [PMID: 33252306 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x20974960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Kittens have unique requirements for care in a shelter setting given their higher susceptibility to infectious disease and socialization needs. Significant time and resources are necessary to care for this vulnerable population and dedicated kitten nurseries are one way to meet the requirements of kittens too young for neutering and rehoming. However, young kittens remain at a higher risk of dying relative to adult cats, even in specialized settings. Efforts to investigate kitten mortality have focused on post-mortem findings and little is known about pre-mortem clinical signs that may be associated with death. The purpose of this study was to elucidate predictors of mortality in underage kittens. METHODS The medical records of kittens aged <8 weeks reared in a kitten nursery in New York City during 2017 were examined. The data collected included signalment (estimated age and weight at intake, sex), physical findings (body condition score [BCS]), clinical signs (weight loss, anorexia, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection [URI]), diagnoses (panleukopenia, trauma), how early in the feline breeding season the kitten entered (April-November), and whether the kitten had died or was euthanized. The data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard modeling with 1353 kittens to identify factors associated with any death or euthanasia. RESULTS Elevated risk of dying was found for kittens in the lightest weight group (13 times greater), diagnosed with panleukopenia (13 times greater), exhibiting weight loss (>9 times greater), diagnosed with URI (almost four times greater), exhibiting anorexia (three times greater), identified with a low BCS at intake (two times greater) and experiencing diarrhea (almost two times greater). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings identify clinical signs and diagnoses that can serve as prognostic indicators for underage kitten survival in a shelter/rescue setting and can aid in enhancing protocols for monitoring, intervention and euthanasia decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily D Dolan
- Strategy and Research, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erin Doyle
- Shelter Medicine Services, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Margaret R Slater
- Strategy and Research, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Doyle E, Gupta M, Spindel M, Dolan ED, Slater MR, Janeczko S. Impact of the Timing of Spay-Neuter Related to Transport on Disease Rates in Relocated Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E630. [PMID: 32268616 PMCID: PMC7222758 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Companion animal relocation programs are an important method to address geographic and resource disparities in pet overpopulation through transport from areas with high homeless pet populations to areas with high adopter demand. Despite mitigation by following best practices, a potential risk of animal relocation is increased disease incidence related to infectious disease spread and the effects of stress during transport. Surgical sterilization may compound disease risk due to the impact of surgical stress on disease susceptibility and the potential for disease exposure from other patients. Our study aimed to provide information about disease and surgical complication incidence as relates to the timing of surgical sterilization in relocated dogs. A population of 431 dogs relocated to a shelter in Washington State was monitored for disease while at the destination shelter and immediately post-adoption. No increased disease incidence was identified for dogs altered within two weeks of transport at the destination shelter compared with those altered within two weeks prior to transport at the source shelter. Because of disparities addressed by relocation programs, surgical sterilization of relocated companion animals is typically best performed at the destination shelter. Our study indicates that disease incidence is not increased by spay-neuter at the destination shelter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin Doyle
- Shelter Medicine Services, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), New York, NY 10128, USA;
| | - Maya Gupta
- Strategy and Research, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), New York, NY 10128, USA; (M.G.); (E.D.D.); (M.R.S.)
| | | | - Emily D. Dolan
- Strategy and Research, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), New York, NY 10128, USA; (M.G.); (E.D.D.); (M.R.S.)
| | - Margaret R. Slater
- Strategy and Research, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), New York, NY 10128, USA; (M.G.); (E.D.D.); (M.R.S.)
| | - Stephanie Janeczko
- Shelter Medicine Services, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), New York, NY 10128, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mohan-Gibbons H, Dolan ED, Reid P, Slater MR, Mulligan H, Weiss E. The Impact of Excluding Food Guarding from a Standardized Behavioral Canine Assessment in Animal Shelters. Animals (Basel) 2018; 8:ani8020027. [PMID: 29419746 PMCID: PMC5836035 DOI: 10.3390/ani8020027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Revised: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Recent research has called into question the value of the food guarding assessment as a predictive tool for determining the safety of shelter dogs. This study examined the effect of eliminating the food guarding assessment in nine U.S. animal shelters. It was found that when the food guarding assessment was removed, bites or other injuries to staff or adopters did not increase. However, dogs exhibiting food guarding behavior were less likely to be adopted, had a longer shelter stay, and were more likely to be euthanized than dogs in the general population. Based on previous research and this study’s findings, the authors recommend that shelters discontinue the food guarding assessment. Abstract Many shelters euthanize or restrict adoptions for dogs that exhibit food guarding while in the animal shelter. However, previous research showed that only half the dogs exhibiting food guarding during an assessment food guard in the home. So, dogs are often misidentified as future food guarders during shelter assessments. We examined the impact of shelters omitting food guarding assessments. Nine shelters conducted a two-month baseline period of assessing for food guarding followed by a two-month investigative period during which they omitted the food guarding assessment. Dogs that guarded their food during a standardized assessment were less likely to be adopted, had a longer shelter stay, and were more likely to be euthanized. When the shelters stopped assessing for food guarding, there was no significant difference in the rate of returns of food guarding dogs, even though more dogs were adopted because fewer were identified with food guarding behavior. Additionally, the number of injuries to staff, volunteers, and adopters was low (104 incidents from a total of 14,180 dogs) and did not change when the food guarding assessment was omitted. These results support a recommendation that shelters discontinue the food guarding assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather Mohan-Gibbons
- Strategy, Research and Development, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), New York, NY 10018, USA.
| | - Emily D Dolan
- Strategy, Research and Development, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), New York, NY 10018, USA.
| | - Pamela Reid
- Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team, Anti-Cruelty Group, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), New York, NY 10018, USA.
| | - Margaret R Slater
- Strategy, Research and Development, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), New York, NY 10018, USA.
| | - Hugh Mulligan
- Strategy, Research and Development, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), New York, NY 10018, USA.
| | - Emily Weiss
- Equine Welfare, Anti-Cruelty Group, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), New York, NY 10018, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Weiss E, Dolan ED, Mohan-Gibbons H, Gramann S, Slater MR. Estimating the Availability of Potential Homes for Unwanted Horses in the United States. Animals (Basel) 2017; 7:ani7070053. [PMID: 28726730 PMCID: PMC5532568 DOI: 10.3390/ani7070053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary There are approximately 200,000 unwanted horses annually in the United States. Many are shipped to slaughter, enter rescue facilities, or are held on federal lands. This study aimed to estimate a potential number of available homes for unwanted horses in order to examine broadly the viability of pursuing re-homing policies as an option for the thousands of unwanted horses in the U.S. The results of this survey suggest there could be an estimated 1.2 million homes who have both the perceived resources and desire to house an unwanted horse. This number exceeds the approximately 200,000 unwanted horses living each year in the United States. These data suggest that efforts to reduce unwanted horses could involve matching such horses with adoptive homes and enhancing opportunities to keep horses in the homes they already have. Abstract There are approximately 200,000 unwanted horses annually in the United States. This study aimed to better understand the potential homes for horses that need to be re-homed. Using an independent survey company through an Omnibus telephone (land and cell) survey, we interviewed a nationally projectable sample of 3036 adults (using both landline and cellular phone numbers) to learn of their interest and capacity to adopt a horse. Potential adopters with interest in horses with medical and/or behavioral problems and self-assessed perceived capacity to adopt, constituted 0.92% of the total sample. Extrapolating the results of this survey using U.S. Census data, suggests there could be an estimated 1.25 million households who have both the self-reported and perceived resources and desire to house an unwanted horse. This number exceeds the estimated number of unwanted horses living each year in the United States. This study points to opportunities and need to increase communication and support between individuals and organizations that have unwanted horses to facilitate re-homing with people in their community willing to adopt them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Weiss
- Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA ®), New York, NY 10128, USA.
| | - Emily D Dolan
- Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA ®), New York, NY 10128, USA.
| | - Heather Mohan-Gibbons
- Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA ®), New York, NY 10128, USA.
| | - Shannon Gramann
- Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA ®), New York, NY 10128, USA.
| | - Margaret R Slater
- Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA ®), New York, NY 10128, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Spay/neuter (S/N) programs aim to reduce shelter intake and euthanasia. However, there is little published evidence of a causal effect between S/N programs and shelter intake or euthanasia. To uncover any ancillary effects of S/N, this study examined the impact of S/N door-to-door outreach on welfare-related outcomes and attitudes around S/N in underserved areas of New York City. There was no significant difference between a group receiving intensive outreach and a comparison group on whether they had rehomed a companion animal in the last year. There was a significantly higher level of saturation of S/N in the intensive-outreach area. A significantly higher percentage of those in the intensive-outreach group reported knowing at least 1 way to get help for their companion animals and that the caregiver-defined general well being of nonhuman animals in their neighborhood was better during the previous year. These data suggest that intensive S/N outreach has an impact on the level of saturation of S/N, the perceived efficacy of caregivers to find help if needed, and the perception that animal welfare is being improved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily D Dolan
- a Research and Development, Community Outreach , American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , New York , New York
| | - Emily Weiss
- a Research and Development, Community Outreach , American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , New York , New York
| | - Margaret R Slater
- a Research and Development, Community Outreach , American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , New York , New York
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dolan ED, Scotto J, Slater M, Weiss E. Risk Factors for Dog Relinquishment to a Los Angeles Municipal Animal Shelter. Animals (Basel) 2015; 5:1311-28. [PMID: 26690483 PMCID: PMC4693217 DOI: 10.3390/ani5040413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Low income has been reported to be a risk factor for dog relinquishment to shelters in the U.S. The majority of people with lower incomes, however, do not relinquish. Risk factors for relinquishment in a low socioeconomic region of Los Angeles were examined. Cost was associated with relinquishment, and most people were not aware of available assistance. Those who relinquished reported emotional attachment to the dog and higher perceived stress than a comparison group. The majority of reasons for relinquishment were likely solvable with assistance, highlighting an opportunity to provide community-specific alternatives to relinquishment. Abstract Dog relinquishment is a large component of shelter intake in the United States. Research has shown traits of the dog are associated with relinquishment as well as general characteristics of those relinquishing. Low income is often cited as a risk factor for relinquishment. The majority of people with lower incomes, however, do not relinquish. A group of people accessing a shelter in a low socioeconomic region of Los Angeles to relinquish their dogs was surveyed. This study examined risk factors for relinquishment, controlling for household income, compared to a group utilizing low cost spay/neuter services. A total of 76.9% of those relinquishing noted cost as a reason for relinquishment. Of participants in the relinquishment group, 80.7% reported not being aware of any services available to them. Most notable in the findings was that the odds of relinquishment were generally higher as the amount of perceived stress in the home in the past three months increased. The majority of people in both groups reported being emotionally attached to the dog. In this sample from a South Los Angeles community, the majority of reasons for relinquishment were likely solvable with assistance. These findings highlight an opportunity to assess community needs and provide community specific alternatives to relinquishment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily D Dolan
- Shelter Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 307 NE Thornton Place #510, Seattle, WA 98125, USA.
| | - Jamie Scotto
- Shelter Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 520 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018, USA.
| | - Margaret Slater
- Shelter Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 50 Stone Ridge Drive, Florence, MA 01062, USA.
| | - Emily Weiss
- Shelter Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 3201 SW Winding Way, Palm City, FL 34990, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
McGregor BA, Dolan ED, Murphy KM, Sannes TS, Highland KB, Albano DL, Ward AA, Charbonneau AM, Redman MW, Ceballos RM. Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management for Healthy Women at Risk for Breast Cancer: a Novel Application of a Proven Intervention. Ann Behav Med 2015; 49:873-84. [PMID: 26290001 PMCID: PMC4739817 DOI: 10.1007/s12160-015-9726-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women at risk for breast cancer report elevated psychological distress, which has been adversely associated with cancer-relevant behaviors and biology. PURPOSE The present study sought to examine the effects of a 10-week cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) group intervention on distress among women with a family history of breast cancer. METHODS Participants were randomly assigned to CBSM (N = 82) or a wait-list comparison group (N = 76). Baseline to postintervention effects of CBSM on depressive symptoms and perceived stress were examined using hierarchical regression. RESULTS CBSM participants reported significantly lower posttreatment depressive symptoms (β = -0.17, p < 0.05) and perceived stress (β = -0.23, p < 0.05) than wait-list comparison participants. Additionally, greater relaxation practice predicted lower distress. CONCLUSIONS Group-based CBSM intervention is feasible and can reduce psychological distress among women with a family history of breast cancer. The present findings represent an encouraging avenue for the future application of CBSM. ( Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT00121160).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie A McGregor
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, M3-B232, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
- Department of Health Services, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Emily D Dolan
- Shelter Research and Development, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karly M Murphy
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, M3-B232, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Timothy S Sannes
- Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | - Denise L Albano
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, M3-B232, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Alison A Ward
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, M3-B232, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Anna M Charbonneau
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, M3-B232, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Mary W Redman
- Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, M3-B232, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Rachel M Ceballos
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, M3-B232, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Health Services, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Dolan ED, Mohr D, Lempa M, Joos S, Fihn SD, Nelson KM, Helfrich CD. Using a single item to measure burnout in primary care staff: a psychometric evaluation. J Gen Intern Med 2015; 30:582-7. [PMID: 25451989 PMCID: PMC4395610 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-014-3112-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 303] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Burnout affects nearly half of all U.S. nurses and physicians, and has been linked to poor outcomes such as worse patient safety. The most common measure of burnout is the well-validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). However, the MBI is proprietary and carries licensing fees, posing challenges to routine or repeated assessment. OBJECTIVE To compare a non-proprietary, single-item burnout measure to a single item from the MBI Emotional Exhaustion (MBI:EE) subscale that has been validated as a standalone burnout measure. DESIGN Cross-sectional online survey. PARTICIPANTS A sample of primary care providers (PCPs), registered nurses, clinical associates (e.g., licensed practical nurses (LPNs), medical technicians), and administrative clerks in the Veterans Health Administration surveyed in 2012. MAIN METHODS We compared a validated one-item version of the MBI:EE and a non-proprietary single-item burnout measure used in the Physician Work Life Study. We calculated kappa statistics, sensitivity and specificity, positive predictive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV), and area under the receiver operator curve (AUC). We conducted analyses stratified by occupation to determine the stability of the correlation between the two measures. KEY RESULTS We analyzed responses from 5,404 participants, including 1,769 providers and 1,380 registered nurses. The prevalence of burnout was 36.7% as measured on the single MBI:EE item and 38.5% as measured on the non-proprietary single-item measure. Relative to the MBI:EE, the non-proprietary single-item measure had a correlation of 0.79, sensitivity of 83.2%, specificity of 87.4%, and AUC of 0.93 (se = 0.004). Results were similar when stratified by respondent occupation. CONCLUSIONS A non-proprietary single-item measure served as a reliable substitute for the MBI:EE across occupations. Because it is non-proprietary and easy to interpret, it has logistical advantages over the one-item MBI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily D. Dolan
- />VA Puget Sound Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA USA
| | - David Mohr
- />Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA
- />Department of Health Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Michele Lempa
- />Philadelphia VA Medical Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Sandra Joos
- />Portland VA Medical Center, VISN 20 PACT Demonstration Laboratory, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Portland, OR USA
- />Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Stephan D. Fihn
- />Office of Analytics and Business Intelligence, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA USA
- />Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Karin M. Nelson
- />VA Puget Sound Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA USA
- />Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Christian D. Helfrich
- />VA Puget Sound Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA USA
- />Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA USA
- />VA Ischemic Heart Disease Quality Enhancement Research Initiative Seattle Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, 1100 Olive Way, Suite 1400, Seattle, WA 98101 USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Garner MJ, McGregor BA, Murphy KM, Koenig AL, Dolan ED, Albano D. Optimism and depression: a new look at social support as a mediator among women at risk for breast cancer. Psychooncology 2015; 24:1708-13. [PMID: 25782608 DOI: 10.1002/pon.3782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Breast cancer risk is a chronic stressor associated with depression. Optimism is associated with lower levels of depression among breast cancer survivors. However, to our knowledge, no studies have explored the relationship between optimism and depression among women at risk for breast cancer. We hypothesized that women at risk for breast cancer who have higher levels of optimism would report lower levels of depression and that social support would mediate this relationship. METHOD Participants (N = 199) with elevated distress were recruited from the community and completed self-report measures of depression, optimism, and social support. Participants were grouped based on their family history of breast cancer. Path analysis was used to examine the cross-sectional relationship between optimism, social support, and depressive symptoms in each group. RESULTS Results indicated that the variance in depressive symptoms was partially explained through direct paths from optimism and social support among women with a family history of breast cancer. The indirect path from optimism to depressive symptoms via social support was significant (β = -.053; 90% CI = -.099 to -.011, p = .037) in this group. However, among individuals without a family history of breast cancer, the indirect path from optimism to depressive symptoms via social support was not significant. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that social support partially mediates the relationship between optimism and depression among women at risk for breast cancer. Social support may be an important intervention target to reduce depression among women at risk for breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Garner
- Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, USA.,Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Karly M Murphy
- Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, USA.,Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alex L Koenig
- Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Emily D Dolan
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Denise Albano
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Helfrich CD, Dolan ED, Fihn SD, Rodriguez HP, Meredith LS, Rosland AM, Lempa M, Wakefield BJ, Joos S, Lawler LH, Harvey HB, Stark R, Schectman G, Nelson KM. Association of medical home team-based care functions and perceived improvements in patient-centered care at VHA primary care clinics. Healthc (Amst) 2014; 2:238-44. [PMID: 26250630 DOI: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Team-based care is central to the patient-centered medical home (PCMH), but most PCMH evaluations measure team structure exclusively. We assessed team-based care in terms of team structure, process and effectiveness, and the association with improvements in teams׳ abilities to deliver patient-centered care. MATERIAL AND METHODS We fielded a cross-sectional survey among 913 VA primary care clinics implementing a PCMH model in 2012. The dependent variable was clinic-level respondent-reported improvements in delivery of patient-centered care. Independent variables included three sets of measures: (1) team structure, (2) team process, and (3) team effectiveness. We adjusted for clinic workload and patient comorbidity. RESULTS 4819 surveys were returned (25% estimated response rate). The highest ratings were for team structure (median of 89% of respondents being assigned to a teamlet, i.e., a PCP working with the same clinical associate, nurse care manager and clerk) and lowest for team process (median of 10% of respondents reporting the lowest level of stress/chaos). In multivariable regression, perceived improvements in patient-centered care were most strongly associated with participatory decision making (β=32, P<0.0001) and history of change in the clinic (β=18, P=0008) (both team processes). A stressful/chaotic clinic environment was associated with higher barriers to patient centered care (β=0.16-0.34, P=<0.0001), and lower improvements in patient-centered care (β=-0.19, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Team process and effectiveness measures, often omitted from PCMH evaluations, had stronger associations with perceived improvements in patient-centered care than team structure measures. IMPLICATIONS Team process and effectiveness measures may facilitate synthesis of evaluation findings and help identify positive outlier clinics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian D Helfrich
- VA Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Emily D Dolan
- VA Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephan D Fihn
- Office of Analytics and Business Intelligence, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hector P Rodriguez
- Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lisa S Meredith
- RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA; Veterans Health Administration Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, CA, USA
| | - Ann-Marie Rosland
- VA Ann Arbor Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, USA
| | - Michele Lempa
- Philadelphia VA Medical Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bonnie J Wakefield
- VA Iowa City Health Services Research & Development Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Sandra Joos
- Portland VA Medical Center, VISN 20 PACT Demonstration Laboratory, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lauren H Lawler
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Henry B Harvey
- Office of Analytics and Business Intelligence, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Richard Stark
- VA Office of Clinical Operations, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Karin M Nelson
- VA Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Molina Y, Ceballos RM, Dolan ED, Albano D, McGregor BA. Perceived breast cancer risk and breast cancer worry among women with a family history of breast cancer: a new perspective on coping as a mediator. Psychooncology 2014; 24:113-6. [PMID: 24986795 DOI: 10.1002/pon.3587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Revised: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yamile Molina
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Illinois-Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Helfrich CD, Dolan ED, Simonetti J, Reid RJ, Joos S, Wakefield BJ, Schectman G, Stark R, Fihn SD, Harvey HB, Nelson K. Elements of team-based care in a patient-centered medical home are associated with lower burnout among VA primary care employees. J Gen Intern Med 2014; 29 Suppl 2:S659-66. [PMID: 24715396 PMCID: PMC4070238 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-013-2702-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A high proportion of the US primary care workforce reports burnout, which is associated with negative consequences for clinicians and patients. Many protective factors from burnout are characteristics of patient-centered medical home (PCMH) models, though even positive organizational transformation is often stressful. The existing literature on the effects of PCMH on burnout is limited, with most findings based on small-scale demonstration projects with data collected only among physicians, and the results are mixed. OBJECTIVE To determine if components of PCMH related to team-based care were associated with lower burnout among primary care team members participating in a national medical home transformation, the VA Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). DESIGN Web-based, cross-sectional survey and administrative data from May 2012. PARTICIPANTS A total of 4,539 VA primary care personnel from 588 VA primary care clinics. MAIN MEASURES The dependent variable was burnout, and the independent variables were measures of team-based care: team functioning, time spent in huddles, team staffing, delegation of clinical responsibilities, working to top of competency, and collective self-efficacy. We also included administrative measures of workload and patient comorbidity. KEY RESULTS Overall, 39 % of respondents reported burnout. Participatory decision making (OR 0.65, 95 % CI 0.57, 0.74) and having a fully staffed PACT (OR 0.79, 95 % CI 0.68, 0.93) were associated with lower burnout, while being assigned to a PACT (OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.11, 1.93), spending time on work someone with less training could do (OR 1.29, 95 % CI 1.07, 1.57) and a stressful, fast-moving work environment (OR 4.33, 95 % CI 3.78, 4.96) were associated with higher burnout. Longer tenure and occupation were also correlated with burnout. CONCLUSIONS Lower burnout may be achieved by medical home models that are appropriately staffed, emphasize participatory decision making, and increase the proportion of time team members spend working to the top of their competency level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian D Helfrich
- VA Puget Sound Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Weiss E, Dolan ED, Garrison L, Hong J, Slater M. Should Dogs and Cats be Given as Gifts? Animals (Basel) 2013; 3:995-1001. [PMID: 26479748 PMCID: PMC4494363 DOI: 10.3390/ani3040995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Policies that state pets should not be adopted as gifts are prevalent at animal welfare organizations, despite the fact that this belief is unfounded. Denying adopters who intend to give the animals as gifts may unnecessarily impede the overarching goal of increasing adoptions of pets from our nations’ shelter system. We found that receiving a dog or cat as a gift was not associated with impact on self-perceived love/attachment, or whether the dog or cat was still in the home. These results suggest there is no increased risk of relinquishment for dogs and cats received as a gift. Abstract Policies that state dogs and cats should not be adopted as gifts are prevalent at animal welfare organizations, despite the fact that this belief is unfounded. Denying adopters who intend to give the animals as gifts may unnecessarily impede the overarching goal of increasing the rate of live-releases of dogs and cats from our nations’ shelter system. The results of this brief survey show that receiving a dog or cat as a gift was neither significantly associated with impact on self-perceived love/attachment, nor was it associated with whether or not respondents still had the dog or cat in the home. The results from this survey add to a growing body of literature that suggests there is no increased risk of relinquishment for dogs and cats received as a gift.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Weiss
- Shelter Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), 3201 SW Winding Way, Palm City, FL 34990, USA.
| | - Emily D Dolan
- Shelter Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), P.O. Box 821075, Kenmore, WA 98028, USA.
| | - Laurie Garrison
- Shelter Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), P.O. Box 408, Little Silver, NJ 07739, USA.
| | - Julie Hong
- Research and Analytics, Media & Communications, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), 520 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA.
| | - Margaret Slater
- Shelter Research and Development, Community Outreach, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®), 50 Stone Ridge Drive, Florence, MA 01062, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Rosland AM, Nelson K, Sun H, Dolan ED, Maynard C, Bryson C, Stark R, Shear JM, Kerr E, Fihn SD, Schectman G. The patient-centered medical home in the Veterans Health Administration. Am J Manag Care 2013; 19:e263-e272. [PMID: 23919446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated US health system to implement the patient-centered medical home. The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) initiative (implemented 2010-2014) aims to achieve team based care, improved access, and care management for more than 5 million primary care patients nationwide. OBJECTIVES To describe PACT and evaluate interim changes in PACT-related care processes. STUDY DESIGN Data from the VHA Corporate Data Warehouse were obtained from April 2009 (pre- PACT) to September 2012. All patients assigned to a primary care provider (PCP) at all VHA facilities were included. METHODS Nonparametric tests of trend across time points. RESULTS VHA increased primary care staff levels from April 2010 to December 2011 (2.3 to 3.0 staff per PCP full-time equivalent). In-person PCP visit rates slightly decreased from April 2009 to April 2012 (53 to 43 per 100 patients per calendar quarter; P < .01), while in-person nurse encounter rates remained steady. Large increases were seen in phone encounters (2.7 to 28.8 per 100 patients per quarter; P < .01), enhanced personal health record use (3% to 13% of patients enrolled), and electronic messaging to providers (0.01% to 2.3% of patients per quarter). Post hospitalization follow-up improved (6.6% to 61% of VA hospital discharges), but home telemonitoring (0.8% to 1.4% of patients) and group visits (0.2 to 0.65 per 100 patients per quarter; P < .01) grew slowly. CONCLUSIONS Thirty months into PACT, primary care staff levels and phone and electronic encounters have greatly increased; other changes have been positive but slower.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Marie Rosland
- VA Ann Arbor Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
McGregor BA, Syrjala KL, Dolan ED, Langer SL, Redman M. The effect of pre-transplant distress on immune reconstitution among adult autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation patients. Brain Behav Immun 2013; 30 Suppl:S142-8. [PMID: 22910186 PMCID: PMC3549315 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Revised: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a common treatment for hematological malignancy. Delayed immune reconstitution following HCT is a major impediment to recovery with patients being most vulnerable during the first month after transplant. HCT is a highly stressful process. Because psychological distress has been associated with down regulation of immune function we examined the effect of pre-transplant distress on white blood cell (WBC) count among 70 adult autologous HCT patients during the first 3 weeks after transplant. The participants were on average 38 years old; 93% Caucasian, non-Hispanic and 55% male. Pre-transplant distress was measured 2-14 days before admission using the Cancer and Treatment Distress (CTXD) scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) anxiety and depression subscales. WBC count was measured during initial immune recovery on days 5 through 22 post-transplant. Linear mixed model regression analyses controlling for gender and treatment-related variables revealed a significant effect of the mean pre-transplant SCL Anxiety-Depression score on WBC recovery. We found no significant effect of pre-transplant CTXD on WBC recovery. In general, higher levels of pre-treatment anxiety and depression were associated with slower WBC recovery. Psychological modulation of WBC recovery during HCT suggests a unique mechanism by which psychological distress can exert influence over the immune system. Given that WBC recovery is essential to survival for HCT patients, these data provide a rationale for treating anxiety and depression in HCT patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie A. McGregor
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Karen L. Syrjala
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Emily D. Dolan
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| | - Shelby L. Langer
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center,University of Washington School of Social Work
| | - Mary Redman
- Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
McGregor BA, Albano DL, Dolan ED, Ceballos RM. Abstract PR-07: Stress management improves prevention relevant outcomes among women at risk for breast cancer. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2011. [DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.prev-11-pr-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Many psychosocial intervention studies have focused on treating cancer survivors, but less attention has been focused on those at risk for cancer. Women with a family history of breast cancer can't control their familial risk for cancer, but there are a number of risk-related factors they can control. These include immune function, body weight, diet, and physical activity. Psychological distress modulates all of these. If psychological distress is associated with poor immune function, poor diet, decreased physical activity, and increased BMI, reducing psychological distress should be associated with improved immune function, improved diet, increased physical activity, and lower BMI. We randomized 104 women (mean age 43 (SD=10.7), 87% white, mean education 17 years (SD 2.3)) with a family history of breast cancer who were also reporting elevated levels of distress to receive a cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention or wait list control. CBSM women reported decreased distress, improved antibody response to Hepatitis A vaccine, decreased fat consumption, increased fiber consumption, increased leisure time physical activity, and a slight decrease in BMI over the 7 month course of the study that was significant when compared to the increased BMI among the waitlist control group women (all p's<.05). Cognitive behavioral stress management modulates outcomes important for cancer risk reduction among stressed women at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history. Cognitive behavioral stress management should be considered when counseling high risk women about managing their breast cancer risk.
Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):PR-07.
Collapse
|
18
|
Zaromb FM, Howard MW, Dolan ED, Sirotin YB, Tully M, Wingfield A, Kahana MJ. Temporal associations and prior-list intrusions in free recall. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 2006; 32:792-804. [PMID: 16822147 DOI: 10.1037/0278-7393.32.4.792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
When asked to recall the words from a just-presented target list, subjects occasionally recall words that were not on the list. These intrusions either appeared on earlier lists (prior-list intrusions, or PLIs) or had not appeared over the course of the experiment (extra-list intrusions). The authors examined the factors that elicit PLIs in free recall. A reanalysis of earlier studies revealed that PLIs tend to come from semantic associates as well as from recently studied lists, with the rate of PLIs decreasing sharply with list recency. The authors report 3 new experiments in which some items in a given list also appeared on earlier lists. Although repetition enhanced recall of list items, subjects were significantly more likely to make PLIs following the recall of repeated items, suggesting that temporal associations formed in earlier lists can induce recall errors. The authors interpret this finding as evidence for the interacting roles of associative and contextual retrieval processes in recall. Although contextual information helps to focus recall on words in the target list, it does not form an impermeable boundary between current- and prior-list experiences.
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
Two experiments compared episodic word-list recall of young and older adults. In Experiment 1, using standard free-recall procedures, older adults recalled significantly fewer correct items and made significantly more intrusions (recall of items that had not appeared on the target list) than younger adults. In Experiment 2, we introduced a new method, called externalized free recall, in which participants were asked to recall any items that came to mind during the recall period but to indicate with an immediate key press those items they could identify as intrusions. Both age groups generated a large number of intrusions, but older adults were significantly less likely than young adults to identify these as nonlist items. Results suggest that an editing deficit may be a contributor to age differences in episodic recall and that externalized free recall may be a useful tool for testing computationally explicit models of episodic recall.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Kahana
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 3401 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|