Healthcare Resource Utilization After Surgical Treatment of Cancer: Value of Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Background: As the US healthcare system moves towards value-based care, hospitals have increased efforts to improve quality and reduce unnecessary resource use. Surgery is one of the most resource-intensive areas of healthcare and we aim to compare health resource utilization between open and minimally invasive cancer procedures.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cancer patients who underwent colon resection, rectal resection, lobectomy, or radical nephrectomy within the Premier hospital database between 2014 and 2019.

Impact of type of minimally invasive approach on open conversions across ten common procedures in different specialties.

Background: Conversion rates during minimally invasive surgery are generally examined in the limited scope of a particular procedure. However, for a hospital or payor, the cumulative impact of conversions during commonly performed procedures could have a much larger negative effect than what is appreciated by individual surgeons. The aim of this study is to assess open conversion rates during minimally invasive surgery (MIS) across common procedures using laparoscopic/thoracoscopic (LAP/VATS) and robotic-assisted (RAS) approaches.

Beyond Gender Identity Disorder Diagnoses Codes: An Examination of Additional Methods to Identify Transgender Individuals in Administrative Databases.

Background: Large administrative databases often do not capture gender identity data, limiting researchers' ability to identify transgender people and complicating the study of this population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop methods for identifying transgender people in a large, national dataset for insured adults.

Research Design: This was a retrospective analysis of administrative claims data.

Reliability and Validity of a Brief Self-Report Adherence Measure among People with HIV Experiencing Homelessness and Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders.

The study examines the reliability and validity of a 3-item self-report adherence measure among people with HIV (PWH) experiencing homelessness, substance use, and mental health disorders. 336 participants were included from nine sites across the US between September 2013 and February 2017. We assessed the validity of a self-report scale for adherence to antiretroviral therapy by comparing it with viral load (VL) abstracted from medical records at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months.

Longitudinal Determinants of Housing Stability Among People Living With HIV/AIDS Experiencing Homelessness.

To examine patterns of and factors associated with housing stability over time among people living with HIV (PLWH) experiencing homelessness with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders enrolled in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) intervention. Between September 2013 and February 2017, we ascertained housing trajectories among PLWH in 9 sites in the United States by conducting interviews at baseline, 6, and 12 months after and dichotomized them as improved consistently versus did not improve consistently. We identified covariates affecting housing stability using the socioecological model.

Mobile Multidisciplinary HIV Medical Care for Hard-to-Reach Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in San Francisco.

The San Francisco, California-based HIV Homeless-Health Outreach Mobile Engagement (HHOME) program aims to improve health and housing outcomes for multiply diagnosed people experiencing chronic homelessness whom the HIV care system has failed to reach. From 2014 to 2017, HHOME's mobile multidisciplinary team served 106 clients. Viral suppression increased from 23.

The Role of Patient Navigators in Building a Medical Home for Multiply Diagnosed HIV-Positive Homeless Populations.

Context: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) who are most at risk for falling out of HIV primary care and detectable viral loads include homeless and unstably housed individuals and those codiagnosed with behavioral health disorders. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a model that promotes provision of comprehensive, patient-centered, accessible, coordinated, and quality care for patients. This initiative provided patient navigation to HIV-positive homeless and unstably housed individuals codiagnosed with a mental health or substance use disorder as a means to create an adapted PCMH to meet the specific needs of this population.

Potential youth exposure to alcohol advertising on the internet: A study of internet versions of popular television programs.

Background: No previous paper has examined alcohol advertising on the internet versions of television programs popular among underage youth.

Objectives: To assess the volume of alcohol advertising on web sites of television networks which stream television programs popular among youth.

Methods: Multiple viewers analyzed the product advertising appearing on 12 television programs that are available in full episode format on the internet.