Experiences of Family Communication and Cascade Genetic Testing for Hereditary Cancer in Medically Underserved Populations-A Qualitative Study.

Unlabelled: We sought to explore the intrafamilial communication and cascade genetic testing (CGT) experiences of patients with hereditary cancer from diverse, medically underserved populations and their relatives. Participants included patients receiving oncology care at an urban, safety net hospital in Texas or comprehensive cancer center in Alabama and their first-degree relatives. In-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were completed wherein patients shared their experiences with genetic counseling (GC), genetic testing (GT), and communicating their results to relatives.

Nurse Faculty Administrators' Experiences of Communication, Cooperation, Coordination, and Collaboration During Educational Disruption.

Aim: The primary purposes of the study were to describe nurse faculty administrators' experiences of rapid transition and disruption in nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The disruption and shift to remote learning for nursing education programs posed challenges for these administrators.

Method: A descriptive survey methodology with a convenience sample was used with the Four Cs of Disaster Partnering framework.

Approaches to Serving Rural Older Adults in State Plans on Aging: A Policy Content Evaluation.

Every state is required to submit a State Plan on Aging describing how it will use resources from the Older Americans Act (OAA), including a section specific to serving rural older adults. This paper describes a policy content evaluation of all 50 State Plans on Aging, focusing on Section 307(a)(10), which describes how states will serve rural older adults. We identified the most common and innovative approaches to using OAA funds to serve rural older adults across states.

Barriers and facilitators affecting presentation in women with early versus advanced stage cervical cancer.

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the barriers and facilitators associated with patient presentation for early stage (ES) versus advanced stage (AS) cervical cancer (CC).

Methods: A mixed-method approach was used to collect quantitative (i.e.

An Interactive Voice Response System to Increase Physical Activity and Prevent Cancer in the Rural Alabama Black Belt: Design and Usability Study.

Background: Increased physical activity (PA) levels are associated with reduced risk and improved survival for several cancers; however, most Americans engage in less than the recommended levels of PA. Using interactive voice response (IVR) systems to provide personalized health education and counseling may represent a high-reach, low-cost strategy for addressing physical inactivity and cancer disparities in disproportionately burdened rural regions. However, there has been a paucity of research conducted in this area to date.

Comparing the COVID-19 Responses in Cuba and the United States.

The purpose of this analytic essay is to contrast the COVID-19 responses in Cuba and the United States, and to understand the differences in outcomes between the 2 nations. With fundamental differences in health systems structure and organization, as well as in political philosophy and culture, it is not surprising that there are major differences in outcomes. The more coordinated, comprehensive response to COVID-19 in Cuba has resulted in significantly better outcomes compared with the United States.

Design and Rationale for the Deep South Interactive Voice Response System-Supported Active Lifestyle Study: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The rates of physical inactivity and related cancer incidence and mortality are disproportionately high in the Deep South region in the United States, a rural, medically underserved region with a large African American population compared with the rest of the nation. Given this region's lower rates of literacy and internet access, interactive voice response (IVR) system-automated telephone-based interventions have the potential to help overcome physical activity intervention barriers (literacy, internet access, costs, and transportation) but have yet to be extended to rural, underserved populations, such as in the Deep South. Thus, extensive formative research is being conducted to develop and beta test the Deep South IVR System-Supported Active Lifestyle intervention in preparation for dissemination in rural Alabama counties.

Precepting nurse practitioner students in the graduate nurse education demonstration: A cross-sectional analysis of the preceptor experience.

Background: The Graduate Nurse Education (GNE) Demonstration seeks to increase the number of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in clinical practice. With the overall increase in APRN programs and, particularly, enrollment in nurse practitioner (NP) programs, there is growing competition among students to secure quality clinical precepting experiences.

Purpose: This study describes NPs' and physicians' experiences with precepting APRN students within the Greater Philadelphia GNE Consortium.

A comparison of psychiatric diagnoses among HIV-infected prisoners receiving combination antiretroviral therapy and transitioning to the community.

Background: The criminal justice system (CJS), specifically prisons and jails, is ideally suited for uniform screening of psychiatric (PD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), who are concentrated in these settings. By accurately diagnosing PDs and SUDs in these controlled settings, treatment can be initiated and contribute to improved continuity of care upon release. In the context of PLWHA, it may also improve combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) adherence, and reduce HIV transmission risk behaviors.

The Autism Impact Measure (AIM): initial development of a new tool for treatment outcome measurement.

The current study describes the development and psychometric properties of a new measure targeting sensitivity to change of core autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms, the Autism Impact Measure (AIM). The AIM uses a 2-week recall period with items rated on two corresponding 5-point scales (frequency and impact). Psychometric properties were examined using a large sample (n = 440) of children with ASD enrolled in the Autism Treatment Network.

Developing cardiac and skeletal muscle share fast-skeletal myosin heavy chain and cardiac troponin-I expression.

Skeletal muscle derived stem cells (MDSCs) transplanted into injured myocardium can differentiate into fast skeletal muscle specific myosin heavy chain (sk-fMHC) and cardiac specific troponin-I (cTn-I) positive cells sustaining recipient myocardial function. We have recently found that MDSCs differentiate into a cardiomyocyte phenotype within a three-dimensional gel bioreactor. It is generally accepted that terminally differentiated myocardium or skeletal muscle only express cTn-I or sk-fMHC, respectively.

Neurotelemetry electrode application techniques compared.

The secure and efficient affixation of EEG electrodes is an integral part of performing neurotelemetry; however there are currently no recommendations for the ideal method of affixing the electrodes that has evidence-based support. The purpose of this study was to find and determine the best hook up method based on the required hook up time and number of repairs. One hundred neurotelemetry patients were randomly assigned to one of the following four electrode application methods: collodion-Ten20, collodion-Elefix, Hypafix-Ten20, or Hypafix-Elefix.

Implementing an MSN nursing program at a distance through an urban-rural partnership.

Recruiting, retaining, and educating advanced practice nurses is essential to meet the growing need for advanced practice nurses in rural and urban communities. Through the support of Health Resources and Services Administration funding, the urban school of nursing expanded its MSN program and implemented the graduate curriculum on its rural campus by utilizing emerging online and distance education technologies. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an overview of expanding an existing MSN program offered in an urban, traditional classroom setting to rural graduate nursing students via an online synchronous format.

Syphilis and cirrhosis: a lethal combination in a XIX century individual identified from the medical schools collection at the university of Coimbra (Portugal).

Syphilis is a chronic infection that is categorized by a three-stage progression. The tertiary stage may affect bones and produce distinctive skull lesions called caries sicca. This paper aims to present an unusual case of syphilis associated with a diagnosis of cirrhosis, which was recorded as the cause of death in a 28-year-old female in 1899.

Kids into health careers: a rural initiative.

Purpose: To describe a project that introduces middle school and high school students living in Pennsylvania's rural geographic regions to nursing careers through outreach extended to students regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

Method: The authors employed many strategies to inform students about careers in nursing. The methods included: working with guidance counselors, participating in community health fairs, taking part in school health career fairs, collaborating with Area Health Education Centers, serving on volunteer local education advisory boards, developing a health careers resource guide, and establishing a rural health advisory board.

Health literacy: implications for ambulatory care.

Health literacy is receiving national attention as the impact of inadequate health literacy on outcomes is increasingly recognized. Assessment tools exist for identifying patients with inadequate health literacy, but there are difficulties and controversies for use of these measures in clinical practice. Three screening questions for health literacy are typically effective, and "red flags" also help in identifying patients.

Nonpharmacologic care by heart failure experts.

Background: Nonpharmacologic clinical management practices have not been studied widely in heart failure (HF). The purpose of this survey was to describe the practices of self-identified experts in HF to identify: topics with uniformity of practice (> or =75% agreement) and topics with variability in practice (no uniformity and 2 or more choices endorsed by >/=10% of respondents).

Methods And Results: An online survey of members of the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) actively engaged in clinical practice was conducted in Fall 2004.

Increasing mammography screening among African American women in rural areas.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a church-based breast cancer screening education program on mammography attainment by African American women 40 years old and older in rural Alabama. The sample consisted of 192 women who volunteered to participate in the study through 13 African American churches in a rural, economically-depressed Alabama county. The design was quasi-experimental and had some features of community-based participatory research.

Efficacy of custom foot orthotics in improving pain and functional status in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a randomized trial.

Objective: . To compare the clinical efficacy of custom foot orthotics, prefabricated "off-the-shelf" shoe inserts, and supportive athletic shoes worn alone, on reducing pain and improving function for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: Children with JIA and foot pain (n = 40) were randomized to one of 3 groups receiving: (1) custom-made semirigid foot orthotics with shock absorbing posts (n = 15), (2) off-the-shelf flat neoprene shoe inserts (n = 12), or (3) supportive athletic shoes with a medial longitudinal arch support and shock absorbing soles worn alone (n = 13).

The role of changing childhood diets in the prehistoric evolution of food production: An isotopic assessment.

Earlier weaning has often been suggested as a cause for population growth after the evolution of food production. However, evidence for weaning-time reduction is largely circumstantial. Collagen stable nitrogen- and carbon-isotope ratios from juvenile and adult burials from four sites in eastern North America were measured to estimate weaning onsets and durations before and after the appearance of intensive food production.