Publications by authors named "A M Ashcraft"
Results of a Human Papillomavirus Self-Collection Educational Intervention for Health Care Providers in Appalachia.
Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle)
January 2025
Objective: There is an increasing interest in human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection as a strategy for women not up-to-date with cervical cancer screening. We report the findings of an HPV self-collection educational intervention for health care providers and staff.
Materials And Methods: As part of the Health Outcomes through Motivation and Education () , health care providers from 10 health care systems in Appalachian regions of four states attended online sessions during 2021-2023.
Article Synopsis
- A study evaluated a mail-based HPV self-collection program aimed at increasing cervical cancer screening among underscreened women in Appalachia from 2021 to 2022.
- Participants received either an HPV self-collection kit with potential follow-up support or a reminder for clinic-based screenings.
- Results showed a significant increase in screening rates (14.9% vs. 5.0%) for those receiving the self-collection kit, indicating its effectiveness as a strategy for improving cervical cancer screening in this population.
Article Synopsis
- Healthcare providers play a crucial role in supporting smoking cessation efforts in primary care, yet only a portion of smokers show readiness to quit.
- Among surveyed Appalachian primary care patients, 34.1% were current smokers, with 29.2% indicating readiness to quit within 6 months.
- Despite a high percentage of providers inquiring about smoking and advising patients to quit, there is a gap in delivering comprehensive cessation support, highlighting the need for more intensive treatment strategies in these settings.
There is a rare subset of patients with a genetically abnormal hemoglobin structure initially discovered in the Volga region of Europe known as Volga anemia. Key features of this condition include compromised delivery of oxygen to peripheral tissues and altered red blood cells that have a higher likelihood of being broken down or hemolyzed, which can lead to significant hemolytic anemia. Methylene blue is a dye that acts as a reducing agent of oxygen and is commonly used in toxic states that lead to methemoglobin build-up.
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