A Qualitative Study of Facilitators, Barriers, and Gender Disparities in Academic Neurology.

Background And Objectives: To understand the challenges and facilitators of a successful academic neurology research career broadly and to identify gender-based disparities specifically.

Methods: In 2019, participants self-identifying as researchers, preregistered for the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, ≥7 years out of residency, and authors of ≥1 AAN meeting abstract submission (2006-2009) were selected to participate in the qualitative study (purposeful sampling strategy). To increase diversity, 15 participants were invited by members involved in the AAN until interviews were complete.

Parental Perspectives on Communication from Health Care Providers following a Newborn Diagnosis of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Secondary Analysis of a Qualitative Study.

The study objective was to identify communication messages that parents of children diagnosed with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection reported as essential and helpful. We performed a secondary analysis of focus groups and interviews conducted with 41 parents of children with cCMV who had enrolled in a long-term follow-up cCMV study at an academic medical center. Three groups of parents who had children with cCMV participated in the study: parents with children symptomatic at birth, parents with children asymptomatic at birth who later developed sensorineural hearing loss, and parents with children asymptomatic at birth who remained asymptomatic into adulthood.

Antiseizure Medication Withdrawal Practice Patterns: A Survey Among Members of the American Academy of Neurology and EpiCARE.

Background And Objectives: To describe neurologist practice patterns, challenges, and decision support needs pertaining to withdrawal of antiseizure medications (ASMs) in patients with well-controlled epilepsy.

Methods: We sent an electronic survey to (1) US and (2) European physician members of the American Academy of Neurology and (3) members of EpiCARE, a European Reference Network for rare and complex epilepsies. Analyses included frequencies and percentages, and we showed distributions through histograms and violin plots.

Self-reported factors contributing to delay in ALS diagnosis among primary care providers in a large Ohio-based US healthcare network.

Objective: This study's primary objective is to identify self-reported factors that contribute to diagnostic delay in ALS among Primary Care Providers (PCPs).

Methods: A de novo email-based survey was deployed to Ohio-based PCPs in the Cleveland Clinic Health System.

Results: Of the 77 PCP participants [including 30 Advance Practice Providers (APPs)] only: (a) 18% of physicians, and 3% of APPs were very confident or confident with recognizing signs and symptoms of ALS, (b) 13% of physicians, and 21% of APP s felt very confident or confident with distinguishing between a neurologic cause of dysfunction from other possible causes, and (c) 23% of physicians, and 11% of APPs felt very confident or confident with distinguishing between upper and lower motor neuron signs.

Understanding How to Strengthen the Neurology Pipeline With Insights From Undergraduate Neuroscience Students.

Despite increased neuroscience interest at the undergraduate level, a significant shortage of neurologists in the United States exists. To better understand how to generate more interest in neurology, specifically at the undergraduate level, we conducted an anonymous cross-sectional online survey comprising 1,085 undergraduates in either neuroscience courses or majoring/minoring in neuroscience from across the United States to better understand their clinical neurology experiences and perspectives. The survey quantitatively and qualitatively assessed students' clinical neurology exposure inside and outside of the classroom, research experiences, and career goals.

Family Perceptions of Newborn Cytomegalovirus Screening: A Qualitative Study.

Objectives: We sought to understand long-term retrospective parental perceptions of the utility of newborn screening in a context where many affected children never develop sequelae but where intensive support services and ongoing healthcare were provided.

Study Design: Qualitative study.

Methods: Focus groups and interviews among parents (N = 41) of children with congenital CMV who had been enrolled in a long-term follow-up study at a large medical college for a mean of 22 years following diagnosis.

COVID-19 Exposure During Neurology Practice: Results of American Academy of Neurology Survey.

Background: To determine the exposure risk for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) during neurology practice. Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are increasingly being recognized mandating high level of participation by neurologists.

Methods: An American Academy of Neurology survey inquiring about various aspects of COVID-19 exposure was sent to a random sample of 800 active American Academy of Neurology members who work in the United States.

Patient Stakeholder Versus Physician Preferences Regarding Amyloid PET Testing.

Background: Patient and caregiver perspectives on amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) use are largely unexplored, particularly as compared with clinician views.

Methods: We surveyed clinicians, patients, caregivers, and dementia advocates on topics relating to an evidence-based guideline on amyloid PET use. Topic importance was rated on a 9-point scale.

Age and sex differences in burnout, career satisfaction, and well-being in US neurologists.

Objective: To examine age and sex differences in burnout, career satisfaction, and well-being in US neurologists.

Methods: Quantitative and qualitative analyses of men's (n = 1,091) and women's (n = 580) responses to a 2016 survey of US neurologists.

Results: Emotional exhaustion in neurologists initially increased with age, then started to decrease as neurologists got older.

Qualitative study of burnout, career satisfaction, and well-being among US neurologists in 2016.

Objective: To understand the experience and identify drivers and mitigating factors of burnout and well-being among US neurologists.

Methods: Inductive data analysis was applied to free text comments (n = 676) from the 2016 American Academy of Neurology survey of burnout, career satisfaction, and well-being.

Results: Respondents providing comments were significantly more likely to be older, owners/partners of their practice, solo practitioners, and compensated by production than those not commenting.

Naturalistic study of guideline implementation tool use via evaluation of website access and physician survey.

Background: Clinical guidelines support decision-making at the point-of-care but the onus is often on individual users such as physicians to implement them. Research shows that the inclusion of implementation tools in or with guidelines (GItools) is associated with guideline use. However, there is little research on which GItools best support implementation by individual physicians.

The Impact of Social Media on Dissemination and Implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Longitudinal Observational Study.

Background: Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are statements that provide recommendations to optimize patient care for a specific clinical problem or question. Merely reading a guideline rarely leads to implementation of recommendations. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has a formal process of guideline development and dissemination.

The potential influence of masculine identity on health-improving behavior in midlife and older African American men.

Objective: To gain a greater understanding of masculinity and its potential influence on health-improving behavior in midlife and older African American (AA) men.

Methods: Forty-nine AA men aged 45-88 years completed in-depth interviews to ascertain their perspectives on masculinity, how masculine identity in this population might be influenced by age and physical activity level, or how it might impact health. Taped interviews were transcribed and organized for analysis with common themes identified by multiple researchers.

African American men's perspectives on promoting physical activity: "We're not that difficult to figure out!".

African American men report poorer health than do White men and have significantly greater odds for developing chronic diseases partly because of limited physical activity. Understanding how to encourage healthy behaviors among African American men will be critical in the development of effective physical activity messages and programs. Guided by principles of cultural sensitivity and social marketing, this research examined middle-aged and older African American men's recommended strategies for promoting physical activity to African American men of their age.

Factors related to physical activity and recommended intervention strategies as told by midlife and older African American men.

Objective: Few interventions have targeted preventive health behaviors of midlife and older African American (AA) men. This study derived pertinent information with personal interviews to develop a tailored physical activity (PA) intervention for AA men -45 years of age.

Methods: Participants were 49 AA men aged 45-88 years.

Sustainability of evidence-based community-based physical activity programs for older adults: lessons from Active for Life.

Program sustainability in community and healthcare settings is critical to realizing the translation of research into practice. The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation and assessment of an intervention to increase organizational maintenance of evidence-based physical activity programs and the factors that impede or facilitate sustainability. All organizations implemented a sustainability action plan that included identifying factors related to sustainability, examining resources available, identifying program modifications to enhance sustainability, and long-term action planning.

Exploring the feasibility of a physical activity intervention for midlife African American men.

Background: This study tested the initial efficacy of implementing a physical activity (PA) behavior change intervention for midlife African American (AA) men.

Methods: Intervention components were based on information gathered during formative research preceding the intervention. Eligible participants were underactive AA men ages 45-66 years.

Understanding the challenges encountered and adaptations made by community organizations in translation of evidence-based behavior change physical activity interventions: a qualitative study.

Purpose: Designing programs for mid-life to older adults whose sedentary behaviors are associated with increased health risks is crucial. The U.S.

Results from the Active for Life process evaluation: program delivery fidelity and adaptations.

Active for Life((R)) (AFL) was a large (n = 8159) translational initiative to increase physical activity (PA) in midlife and older adults. Translational research calls for a shift in emphasis from just understanding what works (efficacy) to also understanding how it works in more 'real world' settings. This article describes the process evaluation design and findings, discuss how these findings were used to better understand the translational process and provide a set of process evaluation recommendations with community-based translational research.

Predictors of increased physical activity in the Active for Life program.

Introduction: Targeting of evidence-based programs can be improved by knowing who benefits least and most. We examined pretest predictors of increased physical activity among participants enrolled in Active for Life.

Methods: Participants (N = 1,963) from 9 community-based organizations took part in a 6-month telephone-based or a 20-week group-based behavioral physical activity program and completed a pretest survey; 1,335 participants returned posttest surveys.

Results of the first year of active for life: translation of 2 evidence-based physical activity programs for older adults into community settings.

Objectives: Translating efficacious interventions into practice within community settings is a major public health challenge. We evaluated the effects of 2 evidence-based physical activity interventions on self-reported physical activity and related outcomes in midlife and older adults.

Methods: Four community-based organizations implemented Active Choices, a 6-month, telephone-based program, and 5 implemented Active Living Every Day, a 20-week, group-based program.

Medical student and senior participants' perceptions of a mentoring program designed to enhance geriatric medical education.

In 2000, the Senior Mentor Program was implemented as an innovative, instructional method in the University of South Carolina's medical school curriculum designed to enhance and strengthen student training in geriatrics. This study qualitatively analyzed second- year medical students' and senior participants' perceptions of and attitudes towards the Senior Mentor Program as an effective learning modality. A total of 36 second-year students from two consecutive classes (2002-2003) and 42 senior mentors at USC's School of Medicine participated in five and seven separate focus group interviews, respectively.