Population-Level Disparities in Exposure to COVID-19 Mitigation Policies, April 2020-April 2021.

Context: Studies have found that COVID-19 stay-at-home orders (SHOs) and face mask policies (FMPs) were associated with reduced COVID-19 transmission and deaths. But it is unknown whether exposure to these policies varied by sociodemographic characteristics across the US population.

Objective: The goal of this study was to quantify and characterize the sociodemographic characteristics and geographic distribution of populations exposed to evidence-based COVID-19 mitigation policies.

The Role of Mock Reviewing Sessions in the National Research Mentoring Network Strategic Empowerment Tailored for Health Equity Investigators: A Randomized Controlled Study.

The National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) Strategic Empowerment Tailored for Health Equity Investigators (SETH) study evaluates the value of adding Developmental Network to Coaching in the career advancement of diverse Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs). Focused NIH-formatted Mock Reviewing Sessions (MRS) prior to the submission of grants can significantly enhance the scientific merits of an ESI's grant application. We evaluated the most prevalent design, analysis-related factors, and the likelihood of grant submissions and awards associated with going through MRS, using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and logistic regression methods.

Individual and Institutional Factors Contribute to Research Capacity Building for Early-Stage Investigators from Groups Underrepresented in Biomedical Research: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis.

Background: Enhancement of diversity within the U.S. research workforce is a recognized need and priority at a national level.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Research Career Advancement of Health Equity Scholars from Diverse Backgrounds.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly taxed scientific research and seems to have exacerbated existing inequities within the research field, particularly for early-stage investigators (ESIs). This study examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on traditionally underrepresented ESIs enrolled in an NIH-supported study evaluating the effectiveness of developmental networks, grant writing coaching, and mentoring on research career advancement. The survey consisted of 24 closed-ended (quantitative) and 4 open-ended questions (qualitative) linked to a participant's ability to meet grant submission deadlines, research and professional development disruptions, stress level, career transition level, self-efficacy and management of scholarly tasks, and familial responsibilities.

American College of Preventive Medicine: Addressing the Opioid Epidemic Through a Prevention Framework.

The opioid epidemic has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Health systems, policymakers, payers, and public health have enacted numerous strategies to reduce the harms of opioids, including opioid use disorder (OUD).

Randomized Controlled Study to Test the Effectiveness of Developmental Network Coaching in the Career Advancement of Diverse Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs): Implementation Challenges and Lessons Learned.

Adding developmental networks (DN) to grant-writing coaching can significantly enhance ESIs' research careers. Herein, we present study design, ESIs' characteristics and encountered challenges/lessons learned and their resolutions when deploying/implementing (a) NCR algorithm(s), (b) recruitment/retention and (c) implementing DN intervention. Nested Cluster Randomization (NCR) design governs this study implementation.

Racial and ethnic disparities in H1N1 vaccine uptake in Medicaid: Lessons learned for a COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Background: Racial and ethnic minorities in the US have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk for disparities in COVID-19 vaccinations. The H1N1 flu vaccine experience provides lessons learned to address and prevent racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccinations. We aim to identify racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in H1N1 vaccinations among Medicaid enrollees to inform equitable COVID-19 vaccination policies and strategies.

Variation in Reporting of the Race and Ethnicity of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Across US States: April 12, 2020, and November 9, 2020.

Despite growing evidence that COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting communities of color, state-reported racial/ethnic data are insufficient to measure the true impact.We found that between April 12, 2020, and November 9, 2020, the number of US states reporting COVID-19 confirmed cases by race and ethnicity increased from 25 to 50 and 15 to 46, respectively. However, the percentage of confirmed cases reported with missing race remained high at both time points (29% on April 12; 23% on November 9).

Population-Level Disparities in COVID-19: Measuring the Independent Association of the Proportion of Black Population on COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in US Counties.

Context: There is a need to understand population race and ethnicity disparities in the context of sociodemographic risk factors in the US experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: Determine the association between county-level proportion of non-Hispanic Black (NHB) on county COVID-19 case and death rates and observe how this association was influenced by county sociodemographic and health care infrastructure characteristics.

Design And Setting: This was an ecologic analysis of US counties as of September 20, 2020, that employed stepwise construction of linear and negative binomial regression models.

Percentage of Black Population and Primary Care Shortage Areas Associated with Higher COVID-19 Case and Death Rates in Georgia Counties.

Objectives: We hypothesized that the proportion of Black individuals in a county would be associated with higher rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and deaths, even after accounting for other high-risk socioecologic factors such as poverty, population density, and household crowding, and uninsured rates. We also expected that counties designated as primary care health professional shortage areas (PCHPSAs) would be associated with higher COVID-19 death rates, and the lack of primary care access would exacerbate racial disparities in death rates. We undertook this study to test these hypotheses and discern the independent effects of racial composition, socioecologic characteristics, and healthcare system factors on COVID-19 cases and deaths in Georgia counties.

Predictors of genetic beliefs toward cancer risk perceptions among adults in the United States: Implications for prevention or early detection.

The objective of this study is to assess predictors of genetic beliefs toward cancer risk perceptions among adults, aged 18 years and over, in the United States (US). Data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Health Information National Trends Survey 2014 (HINTS) 4 Cycle 4. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess factors associated with an individual's beliefs about genetic and cancer risk perceptions.

The association between health care coverage and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes over a 10-year period.

Persons without health care coverage have poorer health outcomes. We investigated the association between health care coverage and trends in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes pre- and post-Affordable Care Act (ACA) periods. Using data from 3,824,678 surveyed adults in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey from 2007 - 2016, we calculated the yearly prevalence of CVD and diabetes.

Use of consumer wearable devices to promote physical activity among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors: a review of health intervention studies.

Purpose: A growing amount of research has successfully incorporated Fitbit devices and other wearable activity trackers into technology-oriented lifestyle interventions to increase physical activity among cancer survivors.

Methods: The present review of this literature is based upon bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL and relevant search terms. Articles published in English from January 1, 2009, through October 16, 2019, were considered.

A review of home-based physical activity interventions for breast cancer survivors.

As breast cancer relative survival continues to increase, many breast cancer patients face many issues, including recurrence of cancer and cancer-related side effects that impact several aspects of their quality of life. With breast cancer patients living longer, there is more of a concern for negative breast cancer outcomes. Although physical activity is an affordable and relatively convenient way to improve breast cancer outcomes, only about one-third of breast cancer survivors engage in the recommended level of physical activity.

Home-based physical activity interventions for breast cancer patients receiving primary therapy: a systematic review.

Purpose: Breast cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer in women in the US, so it is important to provide these women with good therapies. However, there are adverse effects to these therapies. Physical activity plays an important role in alleviating these adverse effects of breast cancer therapy.

Do Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Plans Improve Health Outcomes?

Although they have been widely studied, important questions remain about the impact of breast cancer survivorship care plans on improving health outcomes. The goal of this article was to review published studies on the impact of cancer survivorship care plans on health outcomes and health care delivery among breast cancer survivors. A total of 111 article citations were identified in PubMed and non-duplicates in CINAHL.

A Review of Web Portal Use by Oncology Patients.

Background: Patient portals and other Internet-based technologies have been increasingly used to improve cancer care coordination. Patient portals may introduce special considerations in oncology populations where longitudinal outpatient care is often more intensive than in most other specialties.

Methods: This article, which is based upon bibliographic searches in PubMed, reviews the literature on web portal use by cancer patients.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems or E-cigarettes: American College of Preventive Medicine's Practice Statement.

Introduction: E-cigarettes or or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have rapidly gained popularity in the U.S. Controversy exists about the safety and efficacy of ENDS.

A review of cancer outcomes among persons dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.

The fragmentation and lack of coordination of health care may result in less efficient and more costly care and lead to poorer outcomes. There has been increasing interest in examining cancer outcomes among persons who are dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. Previous studies have identified disparities in the quality of cancer treatment according to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and source of health insurance.

Patterns of Internet-based health information seeking in adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Background: To assess where, when, and why survivors of childhood cancer seek health information.

Procedure: Data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) cohort (n = 1386) and Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 2385) were analyzed to determine the health information seeking strategies of childhood cancer survivors. Descriptive frequencies, χ analyses, t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression models were used.

Cyclized 9,11-secosterol enol-ethers from the gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia americana.

Chemical investigation of the MeOH extract from the gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia americana afforded two rare sterols, ameristerenol A (1) and B (2), both 9,11-secosterols possesses a seven-membered cyclic enol-ether in ring C, and ameristerol A (3) is the first example of a naturally occurring 9,11-secosterol containing a gorgosterol side chain with a C-24(28) double bond. Ameristerenol A (1) was converted to the sterol derivatives 4-6 to provide additional chemical diversity and comparison for biological screening. The structures of compounds 1-6, along with three related known analogues 7-9, were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with literature data.

Reducing Disparities by way of a Cancer Disparities Research Training Program.

Background: For minority populations, there is a continuing disparity in the burden of death and illness from cancer. Research to address this disparity should be conducted by investigators who can best understand and address the needs of culturally diverse communities. However, minorities are under-represented in health-related research.

The need for culturally-tailored smartphone applications for weight control.

Background: Approximately 35% of U.S. adults are obese, and this rate is expected to increase by almost 50% by 2030.

Counties eliminating racial disparities in colorectal cancer mortality.

Background: Although colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rates are declining, racial-ethnic disparities in CRC mortality nationally are widening. Herein, the authors attempted to identify county-level variations in this pattern, and to characterize counties with improving disparity trends.

Methods: The authors examined 20-year trends in US county-level black-white disparities in CRC age-adjusted mortality rates during the study period between 1989 and 2010.