Considering Communication Theory in Health Education and Behavior: Applying the Integrated Model of Advice-Giving in Friendship Sex Talks.

Background: Individuals may find it challenging and discomforting to communicate about sex because they may lack the skills and efficacy necessary to communicate their sexual desires. When individuals do have opportunities to have such discussions about sex in open and comfortable settings, they may seek informational support (i.e.

The impact of COVID-19-related anti-Asian discrimination on sexual communication and relationships among Asian individuals in the United States.

Asian individuals in the United States have experienced heightened racial discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may reduce positive relationship processes and damage intimate relationships, including their sexual behaviors and quality. Guided by the chilling effect and Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction, this study explores how COVID-19-related anti-Asian discrimination moderates the relationships between sexual relationship power, sexual self-disclosure, and sexual satisfaction. Results ( = 294 partnered Asian adults) showed that as racial discrimination increased, the positive relationship between sexual relationship power and sexual self-disclosure decreased.

Stoicism and Verbal Aggression in Serial Arguments: The Roles of Perceived Power, Perceived Resolvability, and Frequency of Arguments.

Impelled by a desire to control, suppress, and deny emotional response, stoic individuals may act out their pent-up emotions on relational partners by provoking conflict and/or engaging in partner-directed violent and aggressive behaviors. However, little is known regarding what factors can push stoics over the edge from remaining quiet or avoiding revealing frustrations to initiating aggressive behavior. This relationship between stoicism and aggression is important to consider in serial arguments, where the repetitive nature of a conflict may become increasingly difficult for stoics to manage internally.

Drivers of treatment patterns in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia stopping ibrutinib or idelalisib therapies.

Novel therapies including kinase inhibitors (KI) have led to high and durable response in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), however, some patients stop therapy. This study evaluates reasons for treatment changes among CLL patients who stopped KI in real-world practice. Sixty-nine US oncologists/hematologists provided patient-level data abstracted from charts of CLL adult patients who initiated a KI and later (1) switched to another anti-neoplastic regimen (Switched cohort), (2) discontinued the KI and remained untreated (Discontinued cohort), or (3) restarted the same KI after an interruption of ≥60 days (Restarted cohort).

Predicting Acute Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: With increasing health care costs that have outpaced those of other industries, payers of health care are moving from a fee-for-service payment model to one in which reimbursement is tied to outcomes. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease where this payment model has been implemented by some payers, and COPD exacerbations are a quality metric that is used. Under an outcomes-based payment model, it is important for health systems to be able to identify patients at risk for poor outcomes so that they can target interventions to improve outcomes.

African American Women's Language Use in Response to Male Partners' Condom Negotiation Tactics.

African American women are vulnerable for sexual health risk; thus, condom use is essential. Guided by research linking goals to communicative content, this study explored women's use of I-, you-, we-, and hedging language during condom negotiation. Female participants ( = 193) engaged in a condom negotiation role play with male confederates, where language use measures were coded.

Risk of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Events in COPD Patients Treated With Long-Acting β-Agonist Combined With a Long-Acting Muscarinic or Inhaled Corticosteroid.

Background: The recent approval of several fixed-dose combination long-acting β-agonist (LABA) and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) products has increased the use of dual bronchodilators in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Understanding the comparative safety of this combination is important for informing treatment decisions.

Objective: To compare the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (CCV) events associated with LABA/LAMA compared with a combination of LABA and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).

Comparative Effectiveness of Long-Acting Beta -Agonist Combined with a Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist or Inhaled Corticosteroid in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Introduction: Several dual bronchodilator fixed-dose inhaler medications were recently approved for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These products combine a long-acting β -agonist (LABA) and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). In clinical trials, the separate mechanisms of the bronchodilators resulted in improved lung function.

Incorporating Communication into the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Condom Use Among African American Women.

The present research extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate how communication-related variables influence condom use intention and behavior among African American women. According to the TPB, attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy are associated with behavioral intent, which predicts behavior. For women, it was argued that condom negotiation self-efficacy was more important than condom use self-efficacy in predicting consistent condom use.

Cost-effectiveness of direct-acting antiviral regimen ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b in Japan.

Objective: This study compared the cost-effectiveness of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b (GT1b) therapy ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (OBV/PTV/r) vs daclatasvir + asunaprevir (DCV/ASV) and no treatment in patients without cirrhosis. Cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) that compared OBV/PTV/r against DCV/ASV and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) in Y93H mutation-negative, GT1b patients with and without cirrhosis were also included.

Methods: A health state transition model was developed to capture the natural history of HCV.

Economic evaluation of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir for the treatment of chronic genotype 1 hepatitis c virus infection.

Objectives: To estimate clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir ± ribavirin (OMB/PTV/r + DSV ± RBV) compared with treatment regimens including pegylated interferon (PegIFN) for patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: An Excel spreadsheet Markov model tracking progression through stages of liver disease was developed. Costs and patient utilities for liver disease stages were taken from published studies.

Do As I Say: Using Communication Role-Plays to Assess Sexual Assertiveness Following an Intervention.

Sexual risk reduction interventions are often ineffective for women who drink alcohol. The present study examines whether an alcohol-related sexual risk reduction intervention successfully trains women to increase assertive communication behaviors and decrease aggressive communication behaviors. Women demonstrated their communication skills during interactive role-plays with male role-play partners.

Sexual Risk Among African American Women: Psychological Factors and the Mediating Role of Social Skills.

Prior research demonstrates a positive association between mental health problems and sexual risk for African American women. Using the social skills deficit hypothesis, we proposed that social skills mediate this relationship. African American women (n = 557, M age = 20.

Association Between Cognitive Function and Health Care Costs 3 Months and 6 Months After Initiating Antidepressant Medication for Depressive Disorders.

Background: Major depressive disorder is one of the most common and disabling mental health disorders and is associated with substantial costs in terms of direct health care utilization and workplace productivity. Cognitive dysfunction, which alone substantially increases health care costs, is commonly associated with major depressive disorder. However, the health care costs of cognitive dysfunction in the context of depressive disorder are unknown.

Liver-specific case fatality due to chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a systematic review.

Despite reports that mortality is increasing, overall case fatality due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) is thought to be low. Given the variability in published rates, we aimed to synthesize estimates of liver-specific case fatality and all-cause mortality in chronic HCV according to follow-up duration, sustained viral response (SVR) to treatment, and liver disease severity. A systematic review was conducted of studies published in English from 2003 to 2013, reporting liver-specific case fatality estimates from HCV-infected samples.

Costs and absence of HCV-infected employees by disease stage.

Objectives: Quantify the costs and absenteeism associated with stages of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of the HCMS integrated database from multiple geographically diverse, US-based employers with employee information on medical, prescription, and absenteeism claims.

Methods: Employee data were extracted from July 2001-March 2013.

Patient health utility, work productivity, and lifestyle impairment in chronic hepatitis C patients in France.

Background: France has a high prevalence of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Clinical consequences of HCV are well-recognized, while health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and productivity impacts remain less understood. This study evaluates how HCV disease severity and HCV treatment outcomes impact HRQoL and productivity among patients in France.

Differences in sexual risk behaviors between lower and higher frequency alcohol-using African-American adolescent females.

Background: To examine differences between lower and higher frequency alcohol users in sexual behaviors and psychosocial correlates of risk for HIV among young African-American females.

Methods: Data were collected from sexually active African-American females aged 15-20 years, seeking services at a STD clinic in Atlanta, GA, to assess sexual behavior, correlates of risk, and a non-disease biological marker of unprotected vaginal sex.

Results: Number of drinking occasions was significantly related to three of four psychosocial correlates and with all self-reporting sexual behavior measures.

Systematic review of appropriate cognitive assessment instruments used in clinical trials of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Cognitive dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a symptom in mental conditions including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BPD). Despite the many available cognitive assessment instruments, consensus is lacking on their appropriate use in clinical trials. We conducted a systematic literature review in Embase, PubMed/Medline and PsychINFO to identify appropriate cognitive function instruments for use in clinical trials of schizophrenia, MDD, and BPD.

Difference of perceptions and evaluation of cognitive dysfunction in major depressive disorder patients across psychiatrists internationally.

Background: Many studies have suggested that major depressive disorder (MDD) is often associated with cognitive dysfunction. Despite this, guidance addressing assessment of cognitive dysfunction in MDD is lacking. The aim of this study was to examine psychiatrists' perceptions and evaluation of cognitive dysfunction in routine practice in MDD patients across different countries.

Routine clinical assessment of cognitive functioning in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder.

As more evidence points to the association of cognitive dysfunction with mental health disorders, the assessment of cognitive function in routine clinical care of these disorders is increasingly important. Despite this, it remains unknown how cognitive function is measured in routine clinical practice. The objective of this study was to assess psychiatrists' awareness of cognitive dysfunction in mental health disorders and their methods of cognitive assessment.

Economic evaluation of the impact of medication errors reported by U.S. clinical pharmacists.

Objective: Medication errors defined as "any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm" have been highlighted as a top national priority in a report issued by the Institute of Medicine. However, little information is available on precise costs of medication errors. This study estimated the cost of medication errors reported by clinical pharmacists using a modified societal perspective.

Evaluating change using patient-reported outcome measures in knee replacement: the complementary nature of the EQ-5D index and VAS scores.

Purpose: Using the UK National Health Service's Patient Reported Outcome Measures data, we examined the magnitude of changes and relationship among the EQ-5D index, EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS), and Oxford Knee Score (OKS) in patients undergoing knee replacement.

Methods: Patients undergoing knee replacements in 2009-2011 completed the EQ-5D and OKS before and after surgery. Responsiveness was compared using the standardized response mean (SRM).

Parental competence and maltreatment: the curvilinear influence of plan complexity.

A parent's ability to plan for child behavior problems was proposed to influence the relationship between parental competence and attitudes/beliefs about parenting behaviors. One hundred and one parents from three community sites completed questionnaires measuring parental competence, plan complexity, and attitudes/beliefs about parenting. Results indicated that plan complexity significantly influenced the relationship between parental competence and judgments about corporal punishment.

Retracted publications in the drug literature.

Recent studies have suggested an increase in the number of retracted scientific publications. It is unclear how broadly the issue of misleading and fraudulent publications pertains to retractions of drug therapy studies. Therefore, we sought to determine the trends and factors associated with retracted publications in drug therapy literature.