Publications by authors named "J M Grubber"
Purpose: AIM-Back is an embedded pragmatic clinical trial (ePCT) with cluster randomization designed to increase access and compare the effectiveness of two different non-pharmacological care pathways for low back pain (LBP) delivered within the Veteran Administration Health Care System (VAHCS). This manuscript describes baseline characteristics of AIM-Back participants as well as the representativeness of those referred to the AIM-Back program by sex, age, race, and ethnicity, relative to Veterans with low back pain at participating clinics.
Participants: To be eligible for AIM-Back, Veterans were referred to the randomized pathway at their clinic by trained primary care providers (Referral cohort).
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the impact of the iHI-FIVES caregiver training program on the number of days Veterans spend away from home and the well-being of their family caregivers.
- Involvement included 898 Veterans from 8 medical centers, comparing data from before and after implementing the program through a randomized trial.
- Results indicated a 42% reduction in Veteran days not at home after joining iHI-FIVES, but no significant changes were found in caregiver well-being over the same period.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a team collaboration strategy called CONNECT in improving the implementation of a caregiver training program for veterans, known as iHI-FIVES.
- It involved a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial across eight VA medical centers, comparing the outcomes of sites using CONNECT plus technical support (REP) against those using REP alone.
- Findings showed high training fidelity (88%), but better reach (22% vs. 14%) and fidelity (95% vs. 80%) at non-CONNECT sites, indicating that CONNECT did not significantly enhance team functioning or program reach.
Article Synopsis
- Family caregivers, who assist loved ones with daily living activities, often face challenges like stress and isolation, heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A study analyzed survey data from 422 caregivers, examining their experiences of loneliness before and during the pandemic using logistic regression and qualitative content analysis.
- The results showed no significant difference in loneliness levels between the two periods, with caregivers reporting coping skills developed through caregiving that helped them manage pandemic-related challenges.
Objective: The co-occurrence of unhealthy alcohol use and opioid misuse is high and associated with increased rates of overdose, emergency health care utilization, and death. The current study examined whether receipt of an alcohol-related brief intervention is associated with reduced risk of negative downstream opioid-related outcomes.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all VISN-6 Veterans Affairs (VA) patients with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) screening results (N=492,748) from 2014 to 2019.