Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in a Reproductive Health Setting: A Quality Improvement Project.

Introduction: Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a practice gap in treatment at Planned Parenthood of Illinois. This project evaluated a clinical practice alert and evidence-based patient education script to determine if the intervention increased the number of appointments to discuss or initiate PrEP in patients at risk for acquiring HIV.

Method: From October to December 2018, a clinical practice alert and evidence-based patient education script were implemented at one Planned Parenthood of Illinois health center.

Obligatory exercise and coping in treatment-seeking women with poor body image.

Purpose: Obligatory exercise is characterized by continued exercise despite negative consequences, and intense negative affect when unable to exercise. Research suggests psychosocial differences between individuals that exercise in an obligatory manner and those that do not. It also has been speculated that obligatory exercise may serve coping and affect regulation functions, yet these factors have not been routinely examined in community women with poor body image.

Assessing Implicit Cognition Among Patients Lost to Follow-up for HIV Care: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: While a growing body of research indicates that implicit cognitive processes play an important role in a range of health behaviors, the assessment of these impulsive, associative mental processes among patients living with HIV has received little attention. This preliminary study explored how multidimensional scaling (MDS) could be used to assess implicit cognitive processes among patients lost to follow-up for HIV care and develop interventions to improve their engagement.

Method: The sample consisted of 33 patients who were identified as lost to follow up for HIV care at two urban hospitals.

Expectations and outcomes with gastric bypass surgery.

Background: Bariatric surgery is widely accepted as the effective treatment option for morbid obesity. However, the extant literature does not provide mental health clinicians with consistent guidance for evaluating candidates for surgery, nor for preparing patients for postsurgical adjustment. Among both bariatric clinicians and patients, there are commonly endorsed expectations about who will do well postoperatively and what the psychosocial impact of the surgery and weight loss will be.

Different strokes for different folks: why overweight men do not seek weight loss treatment.

Despite health risks associated with male-pattern obesity, few men utilize weight management programs. Strikingly missing from the literature are studies that ask, "Why?" Seventy-two overweight males were surveyed regarding what might motivate them to seek treatment, and which treatment characteristics might appeal to them. Respondents indicated that health problems and the desire to improve appearance are primary motivators.