Interdisciplinary Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Patient Care: An Introduction and Critique of the Biopsychosocial Model of Disease Experience in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a debilitating autoimmune disease, affects approximately 78 million people globally. RA is often managed solely by rheumatology providers, but an interdisciplinary approach to RA may be the key to improving health equity and outcomes. An interdisciplinary model is an important step towards this goal.

Translation of a Successful Behavioral Intervention to a Digital Therapeutic Self-Management System for Older Adults.

Feature at a Glance: Nonadherence to hypertension medications is associated with negative health outcomes, which is of particular importance for older adults because of the high prevalence of hypertension in this population. To promote medication adherence among this group, we translated a behavioral intervention that improved adherence by 36% into a digital therapeutic self-management system. Design strategies included interviewing older adults, conducting usability evaluations after each iteration, and engaging a team of experts from nursing, cognitive psychology, pharmacy, human factors in aging, and software development.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Cognitive Function, Illness Perceptions, and Immunosuppression Medication Adherence After Heart Transplantation.

Background: There are few studies that examine relationships between cognitive function, illness perceptions, and medication adherence after heart transplantation, limiting the development of effective adherence-promoting interventions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe relationships between cognitive function, illness perceptions, and medication adherence among heart transplant recipients.

Methods: A cross-sectional, observational design was used.

The Impact of Resilience and Perceived Autonomy Support on Medication Adherence Among Rural Older Adults With Hypertension.

Background: Adherence to antihypertension medications has been explored in previous studies; however, these studies generally focus on individuals who reside in urban areas. Improved understanding is needed regarding rural older adults who are self-managing medications for hypertension and the motivational factors that may influence adherence.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine medication adherence among rural older adults with hypertension and the association with motivational factors as defined in self-determination theory, including quality of motivation (autonomous vs controlled), perceived competence, perceived autonomy support, and basic psychological needs satisfaction.

Health literacy, illness perception, depression, and self-management among African Americans with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes significant morbidity and mortality. Compared with non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans are more likely to suffer and die from T2DM.

Purpose: This study examines the associations between health literacy, illness perception, depression, working memory, executive function, and self-management among African Americans (18-65 years) with T2DM.

Diet quality and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

This study examined associations between diet quality and disease activity in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Perceived stress was also compared to diet and disease activity. In a cross-sectional design, 50 adults with RA were recruited.

Impact of Childhood Leukemia Treatment on Attention Measured by the Continuous Performance Test Factor Structure.

Objectives: To describe the impact of central nervous system-directed treatment on attention and its relation to academic outcomes in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors.

Sample & Setting: 51 children diagnosed with ALL at two pediatric oncology treatment centers in the southwestern United States.

Methods & Variables: A prospective, longitudinal design measured attention after a child was in remission, two years after the start of treatment, and at the end of treatment.

Antidepressant adherence in United States active duty Army Soldiers: A small descriptive study.

While much is known about depression and antidepressant adherence associations with illness perceptions, medication beliefs, social support, and stigma in the general population, there is a dearth of knowledge among United States active duty Army Soldiers. The study objective was to explore antidepressant adherence and correlations between antidepressant adherence and illness perceptions, medication beliefs, social support, stigma and select demographic variables among Army Soldiers with depression. Results indicated age and gender were significantly correlated with and predictive of adherence.

Well-being, Self-transcendence, and Resilience of Parental Caregivers of Children in Active Cancer Treatment: Where Do We Go From Here?

Background: Childhood cancer profoundly impacts the well-being of many parental caregivers in the United States yearly. Empirical evidence is extensive for negative well-being and scarce for positive well-being in this population.

Objective: Study aims were to (1) describe resilience, self-transcendence, and positive (general well-being) and negative well-being (depression and anxiety); (2) examine if caregiver-related personal factors (resilience and/or demographic characteristics) and/or child-related contextual factors (child's cancer and/or demographic characteristics) are associated with well-being; and (3) test if self-transcendence mediates the relationship between resilience and well-being.

User Insights for Design of an Antihypertensive Medication Management Application.

Hypertension is the most common chronic disease affecting older adults (65+) in the United States. Unfortunately, many struggle to adhere to their antihypertensive medications as only about half diagnosed with the disease have it controlled. Therefore, there is a need for designing supportive medication management systems to aid this population with their antihypertensive medications, especially using increasingly adopted technologies such as smartphones.

Changes in Oxidant Defense, Apoptosis, and Cognitive Abilities During Treatment for Childhood Leukemia.

Aggressive central nervous system (CNS)-directed treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most prevalent cancer among children and adolescents, prevents metastasis of leukemia cells into the brain. Up to 60% of survivors experience cognitive problems, but knowledge about risk factors for and mechanisms of neurologic injury is lacking. Objectives of the present study were to (1) quantify changes in oxidant defense and apoptosis over the course of ALL therapy and (2) elucidate risk factors for long-term cognitive problems.

Exploring the intersection of executive function and medication adherence in school-age children with asthma.

Unlabelled: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. For children with persistent asthma, asthma control is largely related to controller medication adherence. With increasing calls for children to be involved in their own asthma management, there is a gap in our knowledge about the executive functioning of children with asthma.

Association of Asthma Illness Representations and Reported Controller Medication Adherence Among School-Aged Children and Their Parents.

This study examined the relationship between asthma illness representations and reported controller medication adherence of school-aged children (6-11 years) with persistent asthma and their parents. Thirty-four parent-child dyads independently reported on asthma controller medication adherence and asthma illness representations. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to test parent and child illness representation domain variables as predictors of reported medication adherence.

Declines Noted in Cognitive Processes and Association With Achievement Among Children With Leukemia.

Purpose/objectives: To assess change in specific cognitive processes during treatment with chemotherapy only among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 
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Design: A prospective, repeated measures design.

The association of physical activity, cognitive processes and automobile driving ability in older adults: A review of the literature.

As the number of older adults in the United States grows, the number of automobile drivers over the age of 65 will also increase. Several cognitive processes necessary for automobile driving are vulnerable to age-related decline. These include declines in executive function, working memory, attention, and speed of information processing.

Reformulating the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation: Toward Parent-Child Shared Regulation.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood with nearly 7 million children affected in the United States. Nonadherence to controller medication is a substantial issue that results in higher pediatric asthma disease morbidity. The common sense model of self-regulation is a useful theoretical framework to understand chronic disease self-management in adults, but has not been used in the context of pediatric chronic disease.

Parent and child asthma illness representations: a systematic review.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to synthesize the current literature on parent and child asthma illness representations and their consequent impact on parent-child asthma shared management.

Data Sources: This systematic review was conducted in concordance with the PRISMA statement. An electronic search of five computerized databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane, and EMBASE) was conducted using the following key words: asthma, illness representation, and child.

Oxidative Stress, Motor Abilities, and Behavioral Adjustment in Children Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Purpose/objectives: To examine associations among oxidative stress, fine and visual-motor abilities, and behavioral adjustment in children receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
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Design: A prospective, repeated-measures design
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Setting: Two pediatric oncology settings in the southwestern United States.

Neurocognitive Predictors of Academic Outcomes Among Childhood Leukemia Survivors.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common pediatric cancer, and survival approaches 90%. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors are more likely than healthy peers or siblings to experience academic underachievement, yet little is known about neurocognitive predictors of academic outcomes.

Objectives: Objectives were to compare neurocognitive abilities to age-adjusted standardized norms, examine change over time in neurocognitive abilities, and establish neurocognitive predictors of academic outcomes.

Symptom self-management strategies in patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Aims And Objectives: To explore the association between symptoms, symptom distress and symptom self-management and to identify effective strategies of symptom self-management in men with non-metastatic prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy.

Background: Men receiving treatments for localised prostate cancer experience symptoms of urinary incontinence, urinary obstruction/irritation, bowel difficulties and sexual dysfunction. Understanding patients' symptom experiences and identifying strategies that they use to manage these symptoms are imperative for symptom management planning.

A multifaceted prospective memory intervention to improve medication adherence: design of a randomized control trial.

Adherence to prescribed antihypertensive agents is critical because control of elevated blood pressure is the single most important way to prevent stroke and other end organ damage. Unfortunately, nonadherence remains a significant problem. Previous interventions designed to improve adherence have demonstrated only small benefits of strategies that target single facets such as understanding medication directions.

Associations between working memory, health literacy, and recall of the signs of stroke among older adults.

Stroke remains a major cause of mortality and disability among older adults. Although early treatment after stroke is known to reduce both mortality and disability, the first step in seeking early treatment is dependent on the rapid recognition of the signs of stroke. Recall of the signs of stroke may be dependent on factors that exist before the stroke itself.

Recruitment of Older Adults: Success May Be in the Details.

Purpose: Describe recruitment strategies used in a randomized clinical trial of a behavioral prospective memory intervention to improve medication adherence for older adults taking antihypertensive medication.

Results: Recruitment strategies represent 4 themes: accessing an appropriate population, communication and trust-building, providing comfort and security, and expressing gratitude. Recruitment activities resulted in 276 participants with a mean age of 76.

Family caregiving of older Chinese people with dementia: testing a model.

Background: The process of taking care of older people with dementia at home is complex and influenced by cultural factors, necessitating a better understanding of the interrelationships of factors within the context of culture.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the proposed Dementia Caregiving Model, specifying how caregiving appraisal, coping, perceived social support, and familism influence the impact of caregiving stressors on the psychological health of caregivers.

Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design with a convenience sample (n = 96) from three outpatient clinics of hospitals in China was used.

Biomarkers for cognitive aging part I: telomere length, blood pressure and cognition among individuals with hypertension.

Chronological age is used as a marker for age-associated changes in cognitive function. However, there is great interindividual variability in cognitive ability among people of the same age. Physiological age rather than chronological age should be more closely associated with age-related cognitive changes because these changes are not universal and are likely dependent on several factors in addition to the number of years lived.