Publications by authors named "Midhat Jafry"

Objectives: Adults with behavioral health needs exhibit elevated tobacco use rates. Tobacco-free workplace policies (TFWPs) at behavioral health treatment centers can effectively curb clients' tobacco use and secondhand smoke/vape exposure. However, there is little extant observational research about how total versus partial workplace tobacco use bans are associated with employee's perceptions of signage clarity, consistency of enforcement, and stakeholders' policy awareness in behavioral health centers.

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Background: Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation has been linked to adverse health outcomes, yet it is unclear whether neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH) measures affect overall survival in adolescent and young adult patients with cancer.

Methods: This study used a diverse cohort of adolescent and young adult patients with cancer (N = 10 261) seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Zip codes were linked to Area Deprivation Index (ADI) values, a validated neighborhood-level SDOH measure, with higher ADI values representing worse SDOH.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer, finding that this aspect has not been deeply explored previously.
  • It analyzed data from 3,497 cancer survivors using the Short-Form 12 Health Survey and discovered that HRQoL scores varied significantly based on factors like age, sex, and race/ethnicity.
  • Notably, poor physical and mental HRQoL scores at the time of diagnosis were linked to a higher risk of reduced overall survival in these survivors.
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Introduction: Evidence-based smoking cessation interventions are underused settings where behavioral health treatment is provided, contributing to smoking-related health disparities in this patient group. This study assessed the relationship of provider's beliefs about patients' smoking, perceptions of treatment capability, and knowledge of referral options and their use of the 5A's (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange) intervention for smoking cessation.

Methods: Surveys were collected from providers in healthcare settings in Texas where patients receive behavioral health care (N = 86; 9 federally qualified health centers, 16 Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs), 6 substance use treatment programs in LMHAs, and 55 stand-alone substance use treatment centers).

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Article Synopsis
  • People with substance-use disorders tend to smoke more than the general population, but they often don't get help for tobacco dependence while receiving treatment for their substance issues.
  • Treatment providers often mistakenly believe that addressing tobacco use during substance-use treatment could harm their clients' recovery, despite evidence showing it can actually support recovery.
  • A study involving 86 treatment providers in Texas highlighted the lack of addressing tobacco use in treatment, revealing misconceptions and a need for better education and resources to overcome these barriers.
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Rates of non-cigarette (colloquially, other) tobacco use is elevated among adults with behavioral health conditions. Little is known about whether behavioral health providers are using brief interventions, including the evidence-based 5As (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange) for other tobacco use, or what provider factors may be associated with use of these interventions. The current study redressed this gap.

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Roughly 70-80% of adults experiencing homelessness smoke cigarettes. Smoke-free living/workplace policies are an empirically-supported tobacco control intervention. However, homeless shelters may be reluctant to implement smoke-free policies due to fears of it discouraging current/potential shelter guests from taking refuge there.

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Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is defined as a multidimensional subjective assessment of one's physical and mental health. Homelessness is associated with numerous stressors that can reduce HRQoL. Social support is defined as the availability of individuals, or resources provided by individuals, to cope with stress.

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