Background: Factors affecting time to lung cancer care may occur at multiple levels of influence. Mixed-methods reviews provide an approach for collectively synthesizing both quantitative and qualitative data. Prior reviews on timeliness of lung cancer care have included only either quantitative or qualitative data, been agnostic of the multilevel nature of influencing factors, or focused on a single factor such as gender or socioeconomic inequalities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The cost of medically attended RSV LRI (lower respiratory infection) is critical in determining the economic value of new RSV immunoprophylaxes. However, most studies have focused on intermittent RSV encounters, not the episode of care that captures the entirety of RSV illness.
Methods: We created age- and condition-specific cohorts of children under 5 years of age using MarketScan® data (2015-2019).
Introduction: In administrative data, accurate timing of exposure relative to gestation is critical for determining the effect of potential teratogen exposure on pregnancy outcomes.
Objective: To develop an algorithm for identifying stillbirth episodes in the ICD-9-CM era using national Medicaid claims data (1999-2014).
Methods: Unique stillbirth episodes were identified from clusters of medical claims using a hierarchy that identified the encounter with the highest potential of including the actual stillbirth delivery and that delineated subsequent pregnancy episodes.
Background: Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis is recommended for high-risk infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends against immunoprophylaxis in the same season following a breakthrough hospitalization due to limited risk for a second hospitalization. Evidence in support of this recommendation is limited. We estimated population-based re-infection rates from 2011-2019 in children <5 years since RSV risk remains relatively high in this age group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: RSV-incidence estimates obtained from routinely-collected healthcare data (e.g., MarketScan) are commonly adjusted for under-reporting using test positivity reported in national Surveillance Systems (NREVSS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), over 12 million people die yearly from chronic diseases and this number is expected to increase if concerted actions are not taken. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the roles and impact of community pharmacists in chronic disease management support and the need for policymakers in LMICs to reposition community pharmacists appropriately for this extended role. Recent findings have shown that community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers to the members of the community.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: despite improved life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH), aging, comorbidities, and associated drug treatment increase the risk for drug therapy problems (DTPs). We assessed pharmacists´ identification and resolution of DTPs among PLWH.
Methods: a prospective study was conducted among PLWH aged ≥10 years (N=100) in a Nigerian HIV clinic.
Background: While evidence-based recommendations for the management pneumonia in under-5-year-olds at the community level with amoxicillin dispersible tablets (DT) were made by the World Health Organisation, initiatives to promote the integrated community case management (iCCM) of pneumonia through the proprietary and patent medicine vendors (PPMVs) have been poorly utilized in Nigeria, possibly due to low financial support and perceived benefit. This study provides costs, benefits and cost-effectiveness estimates and implications of promoting the iCCM through the PPMVs' education and support. The outcome of this study will help inform healthcare decisions in Nigeria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe aimed to identify subgroups within age, racial/ethnic, and transmission categories that drive increased risk for late HIV diagnosis (LHD).A 1996-2013 retrospective study of HIV-diagnosed individuals (N = 77,844) was conducted. The proportion of individuals with LHD (AIDS diagnosis within 365 days of HIV diagnosis) was determined, stratified by age, race/ethnicity, and transmission category.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEfavirenz- and protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimens remain viable options across the globe. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of efavirenz-based regimens relative to PI-based regimens. EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane, and clinicaltrials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Hypertension is a global public health burden. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have proven efficacy in the management of hypertension and related complications. The Internet has become a major source of health information for patients and healthcare professionals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this work, we use 2011-2013 Texas HIV surveillance data (N=2,175) and apply hierarchical linear and Cox regression modeling to characterize the association of gender and race/ethnicity with rate of immune recovery and determine whether immune recovery contributes to gender and racial/ethnic disparities in AIDS diagnosis and survival. The associations between gender and rate of immune recovery and between race/ethnicity and rate of immune recovery were not statistically significant ( > 0.05).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Multiple care quality indicators for HIV infection exist but few studies examine their impact on health outcomes. This study assessed which HIV care quality indicators were associated with healthcare resource utilization and costs.
Design: Retrospective analysis of Texas Medicaid claims data (01 January 2012 to 31 September 2016).
Background And Purpose: This study assessed pharmacy students' self-rated ability to provide cessation counseling for e-cigarette use and traditional cigarette smoking.
Educational Activity And Setting: A cross-sectional study was conducted in spring 2014 at The University of Texas at Austin. Participants included first through fourth year (P1-P4) doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students.
Objectives: Nonsmoking status and physical activity have, individually, been shown to be associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to assess whether the relationship between smoking status and HRQoL is modified or influenced by physical activity.
Methods: Data were extracted from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey dataset (N = 332680) in 2015.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities
October 2018
National studies show that Blacks with HIV have higher mortality rates compared to Whites. This study aimed to identify trends in Black racial disparities among Texas residents living with HIV. Using HIV surveillance data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, a cohort of HIV-diagnosed patients (N = 70,996) were identified and grouped according to year of diagnosis, 1996-1997 (T1), 1998-2006 (T2), 2007-2010 (T3), and 2011-2013 (T4).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: We aimed to assess pharmacy students' self-efficacy to provide cessation counseling for commercial cigarette and hookah tobacco use.
Methods: A cross-sectional study including PharmD students at a College of Pharmacy was conducted in Spring 2014. Confidence in counseling and perception of knowledge were self-rated and based on the Ask-Advise-Assess-Assist-Arrange follow-up (5A's) model and general tobacco cessation counseling skills.
Background: Through several initiatives, there are increasingly more people who have access to anti-retroviral therapy. Adherence to therapy is, however, necessary for successful management of disease.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe adherence rates and determine what patient-related factors are related to adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among adult patients in an HIV clinic located in Lagos, Nigeria.