Publications by authors named "Shaaranya Pillai"

Trust is a key component in delivering quality and respectful care within health care systems. However, a growing lack of confidence in health care, particularly among specific subgroups of the population in the United States, could further widen health disparities. In this essay, we explore one approach to building trust and reaching diverse communities to promote health: engaging community-based organizations (CBOs) as trusted community messengers.

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Though immigrants from Bangladesh are a fast-growing and under-resourced immigrant community in the United States, little has been studied about their overall health and social needs. Older immigrant adults from Bangladesh are at increased risk for adverse effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have existing risk factors for isolation including language barriers and more recent immigration. This study examined measures of health and connectedness amongst 297 South Asian adults in New York City who were 60 years or older using a phone-based survey instrument.

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Community-clinical linkage models (CCLM) have the potential to reduce health disparities, especially in underserved communities; however, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted their implementation. This paper explores the impact of the pandemic on the implementation of CCLM intervention led by community health workers (CHWs) to address diabetes disparities among South Asian patients in New York City. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), 22 stakeholders were interviewed: 7 primary care providers, 7 CHWs, 5 community-based organization (CBO) representatives, and 3 research staff.

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Background: There is growing concern of mental health issues among South Asian immigrant populations, although limited disaggregated data on determinants of these issues exists. The aim of this study was to examine factors associated with mental health outcomes among South Asian older adult immigrants living in New York City (NYC).

Methods: Data were sourced from a needs assessment among self-identified South Asians aged 60+ conducted by an NYC-based frontline agency and nonprofit organization.

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