Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Access to Transportation Among Persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Lack of access to reliable transportation is a barrier to utilizing healthcare and other resources related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Little research has evaluated race/ethnicity-based differences in access to reliable transportation among persons with T2DM.

Purpose: To examine whether access to reliable transportation for persons with T2DM differed by race/ethnicity.

Food Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms Among Persons With Diabetes in the United States: Findings From the 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine whether food insecurity increases risk for depressive symptoms among adults with diabetes. Food insecurity is associated with depression in the general population. However, minimal research has examined this relationship among persons with diabetes.

Vision Loss and Substance Misuse: A Systematic Review.

The number of people in the U.S. affected by sensory disabilities and/or substance use has continued to increase, but the relationship between them has yet to be fully understood.

Depression as a mediator of the association between vision and/or hearing loss and recent substance use: NHANES 2013-2018.

Background: Previous research has demonstrated a significant association between vision and/or hearing loss and lifetime substance use.

Objective: The objective of this analysis was to assess whether depression mediates the association between vision and/or hearing loss and recent substance use (RSU).

Methods: Data from 9408 NHANES 2013-2018 participants were used for a survey-weighted analysis to assess whether the indirect effect (IE) of disability status (neither, vision loss only, hearing loss only, both) on the outcome RSU (past 30-day use of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin) was mediated by recent (past 2 weeks) depression (Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 items score; none = 0-4, mild or greater = 5+), adjusting for confounders.

Depression and Cost-Related Health Care Utilization Among Persons with Diabetes.

The presence of depression among people with diabetes can substantially increase health care costs and reduce health care utilization. This study aimed at further elucidating the factors underlying the relationship between depressive disorders and health care utilization among people with diabetes. Data were obtained from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the sample was limited to people with diabetes ( = 22,642).

Intimate partner violence and child loss: an evaluation of 7 sub-Saharan African countries.

Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and child loss disproportionately affect women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Little research has examined the relationship between IPV and child loss in SSA.

Methods: We used data from Demographic Health Surveys in 7 countries in SSA (Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Zambia, and Rwanda).

Antenatal care and adherence to intermittent preventive treatment for malaria during pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Gambia: an examination of Demographic and Health Survey data 2019-2020.

Background: Malaria during pregnancy is a major contributor to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in Gambia. The World Health Organization recommends that women adhere to intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP-IPTp) provided through antenatal care (ANC) to prevent adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine predictors of SP-IPTp adherence among women in Gambia.

Adherence patterns to oral hypoglycemic agents among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: To examine patterns of adherence to oral hypoglycemic agents among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to assess whether these patterns were associated with baseline intervention allocation, sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical indicators.

Methods: Adherence patterns were examined by Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) caps at baseline and 12 weeks. Participants (n = 72) were randomly allocated to a Patient Prioritized Planning (PPP) intervention or a control group.

Food insecurity and medication restricting behavior among persons with diabetes in the United States.

Background: Medication restricting behaviours are common among persons with diabetes increasing risk for poor health outcomes. Persons with diabetes are more likely to experience food insecurity than persons without diabetes.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between food insecurity and medication restricting behaviour among persons with diabetes in the United States.

Vision and hearing loss associated with lifetime drug use: NHANES 2013-2018.

Background: One in four American adults has a disability. Individuals with disabilities are more likely to have mental health issues and use substances and are less likely to attend substance use rehabilitation compared to individuals without disabilities. However, most research about substance use and substance use rehabilitation does not focus specifically on sensory disabilities.

Severity of Lifetime Physical Intimate Partner Violence and Controlling Behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Evidence suggests women in sub-Saharan Africa may be more likely to experience intimate partner violence (IPV) than women anywhere else in the world. Data was obtained from women (n = 29,444) who completed the Demographic Health Survey's (DHS) domestic violence module in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa countries between 2011 and 2015. Women who reported controlling behavior by a spouse/partner were more likely to have experienced less severe lifetime physical violence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.

Neighborhood Disadvantage Is Associated with Lower Quality Sleep and More Variability in Sleep Duration among Urban Adolescents.

Differential social and contextual environments may contribute to adolescent sleep disparities, yet most prior studies are limited to self-reported sleep data and have not been conducted at a national level, limiting the variation in neighborhood contexts. This study examined the association between neighborhood disadvantage and objective measures of adolescent sleep. A racially and geographically diverse sample of American adolescents (N = 682) wore wrist-worn accelerometers, "actigraphs," for ≥ 5 nights.

Food Security and Medication Adherence in Young and Middle-Aged Adults with Diabetes.

Medication nonadherence in individuals with diabetes can lead to adverse health outcomes. Young and middle-aged adults are more likely to have low food security than other age groups. However, little research has focused on the relationship between food security and medication adherence in this population.

Let Go and Let God: A Study of Religiosity and Depressive Symptoms in the Black Church.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dimensions of religiosity (organizational, non-organizational, subjective) and depressive symptoms in the Black church. Surveys were administered to attendees of four churches in the northeastern U.S.

Cardiovascular Disease and Medication Adherence Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in an Underserved Community.

Optimal management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM) is impeded by widespread nonadherence to efficacious medication regimens. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among persons with Type 2 DM. In this work we evaluated the relationship between CVD and medication adherence to antihypertensives, oral hypoglycemic agents, and antidepressants among patients with Type 2 DM.

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health issue that increases risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Data was obtained from women (n = 32,409) who completed the Demographic Health Survey's (DHS) domestic violence module in 7 countries in sub-Saharan Africa between 2011 and 2015. DHS questions assessed lifetime physical, emotional and sexual IPV, cumulative exposure to IPV as well as the presence of a STI in the past 12 months.

Adherence to Antidepressants in Underserved Communities: A Comparison of Electronic Monitoring and Self-report Measures.

Nonadherence to antidepressants is widespread and poses a significant barrier to optimal management and treatment of depression in community settings. The objective of this study was to compare self-reported and electronic monitoring of adherence to antidepressants and to examine the relationship of these measures with depressive symptoms in a medically underserved community. Adherence to antidepressants was measured in 38 primary care patients from the West Philadelphia area using self-report and electronic monitoring (Medication Event Monitoring System caps).

Constructing a measure of health literacy in Sub-Saharan African countries.

We sought to develop and evaluate a health literacy measure in a multi-national study and to examine demographic characteristics associated with health literacy. Data were obtained from Demographic Health Surveys conducted between 2006-15 in 14 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Surveys were the same in all countries but translated to local languages as appropriate.

Controlling Behavior and Lifetime Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Violence in sub-Saharan Africa.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), commonly accompanied by controlling behavior, is a serious public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Data from women ( = 37,115) aged 15 to 49 years who completed the Demographic Health Survey's (DHS) domestic violence module in eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC], Côte d'Ivoire, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Zambia) between 2011 and 2015 were obtained. DHS questions assessed lifetime physical, emotional, and sexual violence (ever vs.

Patient Satisfaction and Perceived Quality of Care Among Younger Medicare Beneficiaries According to Activity Limitation Stages.

Objective: To examine the association between activity limitation stages and patient satisfaction and perceived quality of medical care among younger Medicare beneficiaries.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) for calendar years 2001-2011.

A Risk Scoring System for the Prediction of Functional Deterioration, Institutionalization, and Mortality Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Objective: We sought to develop a risk scoring system for predicting functional deterioration, institutionalization, and mortality. Identifying predictors of poor health outcomes informs clinical decision-making, service provision, and policy development to address the needs of persons at greatest risk for poor health outcomes.

Design: This is a cohort study with 21,257 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries 65 yrs and older who participated in the 2001-2008 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.

Health care access and quality for persons with disability: Patient and provider recommendations.

Background: Significant disparities in health care access and quality persist between persons with disabilities (PWD) and persons without disabilities (PWOD). Little research has examined recommendations of patients and providers to improve health care for PWD.

Objective: We sought to explore patient and health care provider recommendations to improve health care access and quality for PWD through focus groups in the physical world in a community center and in the virtual world in an online community.

Incorporating Patients' Social Determinants of Health into Hypertension and Depression Care: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

The objective of this study was to carry out a randomized controlled pilot trial to test the effectiveness of an integrated intervention for hypertension and depression incorporating patients' social determinants of health (enhanced intervention) versus an integrated intervention alone (basic intervention). In all, 54 patients were randomized. An electronic monitor was used to measure blood pressure, and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) assessed depressive symptoms.

Disability Stages and Trouble Getting Needed Health Care Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether activity limitation stages were associated with patient-reported trouble getting needed health care among Medicare beneficiaries.

Design: This was a population-based study (n = 35,912) of Medicare beneficiaries who participated in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey for years 2001-2010. Beneficiaries were classified into an activity limitation stage from 0 (no limitation) to IV (complete) derived from self-reported or proxy-reported difficulty performing activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.