Publications by authors named "Becky R Ford"

Introduction: To guide improvements in treatment for pregnant persons with substance use disorders within the criminal legal system, treatment programs must first determine the primary substances of concern for this population. The objective of this study is to compare trends in specific substance use upon admission to treatment in pregnancy, based upon whether referrals originated from the criminal legal system or from another referral source.

Methods: This research accessed data on perinatal substance use (1995-2021) and referral sources from the Treatment Episode Data Set-Admissions (TEDS-A).

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Article Synopsis
  • Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) face higher risks of complications and mortality compared to the general population, leading to the exploration of innovative solutions like digital storytelling to promote healthier behaviors.
  • A multicenter, randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of a 12-minute digital storytelling intervention on glycemic control in Hispanic patients with poorly controlled T2D, compared to a control group receiving traditional education materials.
  • The study involved 451 participants, with results showing changes in hemoglobin A1c levels over three months, alongside assessments of the intervention's acceptability and narrative quality through participant questionnaires.
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People experiencing homelessness balance competing priorities resulting in reduced capacity to meet the care demands of chronic conditions, including Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Arts-based performances present an avenue to expose others to these challenges. This article describes the process of incorporating qualitative research findings in a community-based participatory theater production to expose audiences to the day-to-day realities of living with T2DM while simultaneously experiencing homelessness.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The D-HOMES program was developed using a community-engaged approach, incorporating feedback from both patients with type 2 diabetes and healthcare providers to tailor a behavioral intervention specific to the needs of PEH.
  • * Initial trials of D-HOMES showed that while the program was generally acceptable, participants who were more stably housed reported higher satisfaction and engagement, indicating a need for further adaptation to better support those experiencing homelessness.
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Background: Hispanic/Latino adults are disproportionately impacted by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The Stories for Change (S4C) Diabetes digital storytelling intervention promotes T2D self-management among Hispanic/Latino people. We describe the S4C protocol and participant baseline characteristics.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize the material, health (general and diabetes-specific), and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes who did not experience COVID-19 infection.

Methods: This cross-sectional and longitudinal study used surveys within a clinical trial of 79 Hispanic adult clinic patients with type 2 diabetes. Cross-sectional measures included the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, items from the Coronavirus Impact Scale, and the Pandemic Impacts Inventory.

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Importance: Tobacco use prevalence among individuals involved in the criminal-legal system is 125% higher than that of the general population and leads to high levels of smoking-related morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To examine the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary clinical outcomes of a smoking cessation intervention for individuals who are incarcerated.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This pilot randomized clinical trial was conducted from January 2019 to May 2020.

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Background: Earlier and more severe onset of chronic health conditions contributes to the increased risk of premature death among adults experiencing homelessness. Trimorbidity, a subset of multimorbidity representing overlap of physical health, mental health, and substance use conditions, disproportionately impacts adults experiencing homelessness. We know of no longitudinal data comparing trimorbidity trends among adults experiencing homelessness.

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Background: Adults experiencing homelessness have higher rates of disease and premature morbidity compared to the general population. Tobacco use is a primary contributing factor to these disparities; however, less is known regarding e-cigarette use patterns among adults experiencing homelessness and whether e-cigarettes are used in a manner that is narrowing or widening health disparities. This study aimed to describe the 1) prevalence and trends in e-cigarette use, 2) correlates of e-cigarettes use, and 3) rates of chronic health conditions by product use pattern in a community-based sample of adults experiencing homelessness.

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Objective: To examine trends in polysubstance use among adults in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) and estimate associations between polysubstance use patterns and receipt of medications for OUD (MOUD).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional longitudinal analysis of treatment admissions for opioid use from 1992 to 2017 using the Treatment Episodes Data Set-Admissions (N = 9,440,157). We used multiple logistic regression to examine co-use patterns and estimate associations between receipt of MOUD and polysubstance use categories (opioid only, any methamphetamine, any cocaine, any alcohol, any benzodiazepine).

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Background: Criminal justice involvement is common among pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Medications for OUD improve pregnancy-related outcomes, but trends in treatment data among justice-involved pregnant women are limited. We sought to examine trends in medications for OUD among pregnant women referred to treatment by criminal justice agencies and other sources before and after the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion.

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