Publications by authors named "Dustin Gibson"

Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluates the potential of using mobile phone surveys for respiratory syndromic surveillance in Colombia during a public health emergency, focusing on COVID-19 detection and management.
  • Two pilot programs utilized interactive voice response technology to collect data on demographics, respiratory symptoms, past COVID-19 exposure, and vaccination status from respondents aged 18 and older.
  • Participation rates were above 80%, indicating strong engagement, although contact rates were low (1%-2%), and results showed that younger, female, and highly educated individuals were more likely to participate.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The alveolar epithelium has a protective layer called the glycocalyx, which gets damaged during conditions like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and influenza A infection, leading to increased lung injury by making the alveolar-capillary barrier more permeable.
  • - In the study, researchers tested the impact of a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor called Ilomastat (ILO) on glycocalyx shedding and lung injury in mouse models infected with influenza A, measuring various indicators over several days.
  • - Results showed that IAV infection caused significant glycocalyx shedding, but treatment with ILO reduced the shedding by 36% and lung injury by 40%, while also lowering the viral load
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The burden of hypertension is increasing in many low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh, and a large proportion of Bangladeshi people seek healthcare from unqualified medical practitioners, such as paramedics, village doctors, and drug store salesmen; however, there has been limited investigation regarding diagnosis and care provided by qualified doctors. This study investigated the factors associated with hypertension diagnosis by qualified doctors (i.e.

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In light of the suboptimal noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factor surveillance efforts, the study's main objectives were to: (i) characterize the epidemiological profile of NCD risk factors; (ii) estimate the prevalence of hypertension; and (iii) identify factors associated with hypertension in a peri-urban and rural Ugandan population. A population-based cross-sectional survey of adults was conducted at the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance System site in eastern Uganda. After describing sociodemographic characteristics, the prevalence of NCD risk factors and hypertension was reported.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study highlights an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries, specifically in Eastern Uganda.
  • It reveals significant differences in NCD burden and risk factors based on sex, location, wealth, and education, with men showing higher tobacco and alcohol use, while women show higher rates of obesity.
  • Peri-urban residents exhibited worse health outcomes compared to rural residents, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention programs addressing these disparities.
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We investigated the feasibility of an interactive voice response (IVR) survey in Tanzania and compared its prevalence estimates for tobacco use to the estimates of the 'Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2018'. IVR participants were enrolled by random digit dialing. Quota sampling was employed to achieve the required sample sizes of age-sex strata: sex (male/female) and age (18-29-, 30-44-, 45-59-, and ≥60-year-olds).

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Most low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh, are currently undergoing epidemiologic and demographic transitions with an increasing burden of hypertension, diabetes, and overweight/obesity. Inadequate physical activity is a risk factor for these conditions and work-related activities contribute to most of the physical activities in Bangladesh. We investigated the association of the sedentary nature of occupation with hypertension, diabetes, and overweight/obesity in Bangladesh.

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Background: Uptake of mobile phone surveys (MPS) is increasing in many low- and middle-income countries, particularly within the context of data collection on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) behavioural risk factors. One barrier to collecting representative data through MPS is capturing data from older participants.Respondent driven sampling (RDS) consists of chain-referral strategies where existing study subjects recruit follow-up participants purposively based on predefined eligibility criteria.

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Non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factor data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are inadequate, mostly due to the cost and burden of collecting in-person population-level estimates. High-income countries regularly use phone-based surveys, and with increasing mobile phone subscription in developing countries, mobile phone surveys (MPS) could complement in-person surveys in LMICs. We compared the representativeness and prevalence estimates of two MPS (i.

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Objectives: As mobile phone ownership becomes more widespread in low-income and middle-income countries, mobile phone surveys (MPSs) present an opportunity to collect data on health more cost-effectively. However, selectivity and coverage biases in MPS are concerns, and there is limited information about the population-level representativeness of these surveys compared with household surveys. This study aims at comparing the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents of an MPS on non-communicable disease risk factors to a household survey in Colombia.

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Introduction: Although interactive voice response (IVR) is a promising mobile phone survey (MPS) method for public health data collection in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), participation rates for this method remain lower than traditional methods. This study tested whether using different introductory messages increases the participation rates of IVR surveys in two LMICs, Bangladesh and Uganda.

Methods: We conducted two randomized, controlled micro-trials using fully-automated random digit dialing to test the impact of (1) the gender of the speaker recording the survey (i.

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Background: Mobile phone surveys provide a novel opportunity to collect population-based estimates of public health risk factors; however, nonresponse and low participation challenge the goal of collecting unbiased survey estimates.

Objective: This study compares the performance of computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) and interactive voice response (IVR) survey modalities for noncommunicable disease risk factors in Bangladesh and Tanzania.

Methods: This study used secondary data from a randomized crossover trial.

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Introduction: Automated mobile phone surveys (MPS) can be used to collect public health data of various types to inform health policy and programs globally. One challenge in administering MPS is identification of an appropriate and effective participant consent process. This study investigated the impact of different survey consent approaches on participant disposition (response characteristics and understanding of the purpose of the survey) within the context of an MPS that measured noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors across Colombia and Uganda.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, news and social media outlets have played a major role in dissemination of information. This analysis aimed to study the association between trust in social and traditional media and experiences of mental distress among a representative sample of US adults. Data for this study came from National Pandemic Pulse, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey that sampled participants on the Dynata platform.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to poor health due to a decrease in healthcare utilization and those with mental health problems may be impacted. For this analysis, data came from a cross-sectional, nationally representative December 2020 survey. Logistic regression analyses examined associations between (1) mental distress and delayed medical visits, (2) mental distress and missed prescription refills, controlling for sociodemographics, pre-existing chronic conditions, and access to health insurance.

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Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous states in the United States instituted measures to close schools or shift them to virtual platforms. Understanding parents' preferences for sending their children back to school, and their experiences with distance learning is critical for informing school reopening guidelines. This study characterizes parents' plans to return their children to school, and examines the challenges associated with school closures during the 2020-2021 academic year.

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Introduction: Concerns about SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in health care settings have resulted in changes in prenatal care and birth plans, such as shifts to in-person visits and increased Cesarean delivery. These changes may affect quality of care and limit opportunities for clinicians to counsel pregnant individuals, who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, about prevention and vaccination.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of United States adults on changes in prenatal care, COVID-19 vaccine willingness, and reasons for unwillingness to receive a vaccine.

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Background: Increased mobile phone penetration allows the interviewing of respondents using interactive voice response surveys in low- and middle-income countries. However, there has been little investigation of the best type of incentive to obtain data from a representative sample in these countries.

Objective: We assessed the effect of different airtime incentives options on cooperation and response rates of an interactive voice response survey in Bangladesh and Uganda.

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Background: The C-Score, which is an individual health score, is based on a predictive model validated in the UK and US populations. It was designed to serve as an individualized point-in-time health assessment tool that could be integrated into clinical counseling or consumer-facing digital health tools to encourage lifestyle modifications that reduce the risk of premature death.

Objective: Our study aimed to conduct an external validation of the C-Score in the US population and expand the original score to improve its predictive capabilities in the US population.

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To describe food insecurity in the United States in December 2020 and examine associations with underuse of medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. We fielded a nationally representative Web-based survey in December 2020 (n = 8318). Multivariable logistic regression models and predicted probabilities were used to evaluate factors associated with food insecurity and compare the likelihood of delaying or forgoing medical care because of cost concerns by food security status.

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Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 has disproportionately affected disadvantaged communities across the USA. Risk perceptions for social interactions and essential activities during the COVID-19 pandemic may vary by sociodemographic factors.

Methods: We conducted a nationally representative online survey of 1592 adults in the USA to understand risk perceptions related to transmission of COVID-19 for social (eg, visiting friends) and essential activities (eg, medical visits or returning to work).

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Early COVID-19 pandemic data showed a spike in both food insecurity and poor mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and mental health outcomes nine months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A national survey of adults 18 years and older was administered in December 2020 (N = 8,355).

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While father engagement in infant care is widely advocated and research demonstrates that it contributes to improved outcomes, few approaches engage fathers, especially racial/ethnic minority underserved fathers, during maternity care. This study protocol describes the text4FATHER's feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy trial from mid-pregnancy through two months postnatal age.

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Background: This is the first study to examine the costs of conducting a mobile phone survey (MPS) through interactive voice response (IVR) to collect information on risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCD) in three low- and middle-income countries (LMIC); Bangladesh, Colombia, and Uganda.

Methods: This is a micro-costing study conducted from the perspective of the payer/funder with a 1-year horizon. The study evaluates the fixed costs and variable costs of implementing one nationally representative MPS for NCD risk factors of the adult population.

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Objective: To characterise developmental milestones among young children living in rural communities in Uganda.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in rural eastern Uganda.

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