The Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study: Design and Baseline Characteristics of a Minority Cohort.

The Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study (MRCIS) is an ongoing prospective cohort study examining health disparities associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among medically underserved populations. This report describes procedures implemented to establish the MRCIS cohort and examines the factors associated with the molecular and serological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection status at participant enrollment. Participants were recruited from 5 geographically dispersed federally qualified health centers between November 2020 and April 2021.

Health-care Worker Engagement in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Associations with Confidence in Making Health-care Recommendations: Evidence from the Louisiana Community Engagement Alliance.

Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been numerous demands on primary care practices and providers affecting work engagement and burnout, which can affect health-care delivery and patient outcomes. We determined potentially modifiable factors associated with work engagement among employees of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) throughout Louisiana. Resilient coping, spirituality, and social support were associated with being engaged at work.

COVID-19 vaccination likelihood among federally qualified health center patients: Lessons learned for future health crises.

Background: To prepare for rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine in fall 2020, there was an urgent need to understand barriers to ensuring equitable access and addressing vaccine skepticism and resistance. This study aimed to understand the association between trusted sources of COVID-19 information and likelihood of vaccination during that time, focusing on lessons learned to prepare for future public health crises.

Methods: From December 2020-March 2021, we surveyed a probability-based, cross-sectional sample of 955 patients across seven federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) serving predominantly low-income, Black and White populations in southeastern Louisiana.

Demographic Determinants and Geographical Variability of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Underserved Communities: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths disproportionately affect underserved and minority populations, emphasizing that vaccine hesitancy can be an especially important public health risk factor in these populations.

Objective: This study aims to characterize COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in underserved diverse populations.

Methods: The Minority and Rural Coronavirus Insights Study (MRCIS) recruited a convenience sample of adults (age≥18, N=3735) from federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in California, the Midwest (Illinois/Ohio), Florida, and Louisiana and collected baseline data in November 2020-April 2021.

Experiences and Beliefs of Low-Income Patients With Hypertension in Louisiana and Mississippi During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disproportionately affects individuals with hypertension and health disparities. Methods and Results We assessed the experiences and beliefs of low-income and minority patients with hypertension during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N=587) from the IMPACTS-BP (Implementation of Multifaceted Patient-Centered Treatment Strategies for Intensive Blood Pressure Control) study completed a telephone survey in May and June of 2020.

Implementation of Multifaceted Patient-Centered Treatment Strategies for Intensive Blood Pressure Control (IMPACTS): Rationale and design of a cluster-randomized trial.

Background: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) reported that intensive blood pressure (BP) treatment reduced cardiovascular disease and mortality compared to standard BP treatment in hypertension patients. The next important question is how to implement more intensive BP treatment in real-world clinical practice. We designed an effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial to simultaneously test the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention for intensive BP treatment and its feasibility, fidelity, and sustainability in underserved hypertension patients.

Closing the Loop on Electronic Referrals: A Quality Improvement Initiative Using the Care Coordination Model.

Primary care providers refer nearly one-third of their patients to specialty care services. Despite provider recommendations, approximately 1 in 4 referrals are never completed. Incomplete referral rates are higher among vulnerable and medically underserved individuals.

Repeat Annual Colorectal Cancer Screening in Rural Community Clinics: A Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate Outreach Strategies to Sustain Screening.

Purpose: The majority of colorectal cancer (CRC) research using the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) has studied short-term screening results in predominantly urban areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 outreach strategies embedded in a health literacy intervention on repeat CRC screening in rural community clinics.

Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in 4 rural clinics in Louisiana.