Raising the HPV Vaccination Rate in Rural Northern New England Using Local Opinion Leaders.

The human papillomavirus is associated with a range of cancers. A vaccine introduced in 2006 has dramatically decreased the incidence of these cancers, but Americans still experience over 47,000 new cases of HPV-related cancers each year. The situation is worse in rural areas, where vaccination rates lag the national average, making HPV a significant health disparity issue.

Right cerebral motor areas that support accurate speech production following damage to cerebellar speech areas.

Specific regions of the cerebellum are activated when neurologically intact adults speak, and cerebellar damage can impair speech production early after stroke, but how the brain supports accurate speech production years after cerebellar damage remains unknown. We investigated this in patients with cerebellar lesions affecting regions that are normally recruited during speech production. Functional MRI activation in these patients, measured during various single word production tasks, was compared to that of neurologically intact controls, and patient controls with lesions that spared the cerebellar speech production regions.

United States Physician Preferences Regarding Healthcare Financing Options: A Multistate Survey.

Not much is currently known about United States (US) physicians' opinions about healthcare financing, specifically subsequent to the creation and implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A four state survey of practicing US based physicians' opinions about healthcare financing following ACA passage and implementation. Physician leaders practicing in the state of New York, Texas, Colorado and Mississippi were surveyed.

Regional Variation in Pharmacist Perception of the Financial Impact of Medicare Part D.

The objective of this study was to perform a nationwide investigation of the financial performance of community pharmacies in the United States since the inception of Medicare Part D. A nationwide, cross-sectional survey of pharmacists was conducted in 2013. The 43-item online survey collected information about demographics, financial implications of Part D on community pharmacy and patients, provision of Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services and opinions about Medicare Part D 2010 updates.

Patient centred medical home (PCMH) and patient-practitioner orientation: Is there a relationship?

Background: The patient-centred medical home (PCMH) and utilisation of a patient-centred care approach have been promoted as opportunities to improve healthcare quality while controlling expenditures.

Objectives: To determine the penetration of PCMH within physician practices, and to evaluate physician attitudes towards patient-practitioner orientation. The ultimate objective was to explore relationships between the patient-practitioner orientation of respondents and the presence of PCMH elements within their practice.

A Nationwide Study of Pharmacists' Perception of the Impact of Medicare Part D on the Pharmacist-Patient Relationship.

Background: Medicare Part D was implemented in 2006, introducing change to the community pharmacy marketplace, with profound disruption to independent pharmacy operations across the United States.

Aims: To understand pharmacist perceptions about Part D and their perceived obligation to address Part D issues on behalf of their beneficiaries.

Methods: A nationwide, cross-sectional survey of pharmacists was conducted between April and July 2013.

Psychosocial Influences on Fruit and Vegetable Intake Following a NYC Supermarket Discount.

Objective: To assess the effect of a 50% discount on fruits and vegetables (F&V) on the purchase and intake of F&V and on psychosocial determinants of F&V intake: self-efficacy (SE), stages of change (SOC), and perceived barriers (PB).

Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in local supermarkets over 16 weeks, including a 4-week baseline, 8-week discount intervention, and 4-week follow-up. Shoppers with overweight or obesity (BMI > 25) were randomized to receive a discount or no discount via their reward scan card after the baseline.

Psychiatric versus physical disabilities: A comparison of barriers and facilitators to employment.

Objective: Guided by the social model of disability (Nagi, 1965), this study aims to better identify barriers to and facilitators of employment for individuals with psychiatric disabilities and how these factors may differ for individuals with physical disabilities.

Method: Our analysis uses data from the Survey of Disability and Employment on 2,148 individuals with psychiatric disabilities, physical disabilities, or both who in 2014 applied for services from 1 of 3 state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies. We identify type of disability based on respondents' open-ended descriptions of their impairments.

What can pharmacists' do about the Medicare Part D Donut hole and reimbursement? A six-state survey.

Background: While Medicare Part D was signed into law in 2003 and initiated in 2006, there is a scarcity of information related to the implications of Part D on community pharmacies and subsequent effects.

Objective: To determine the financial implications of Part D on community pharmacy, to identify pharmacists' and beneficiaries concerns from the pharmacists' perspective and to determine the pharmacists' responses to these impactions and concerns.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of pharmacists practicing in six states (Maine, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania) was conducted online between June and December 2011.

Medicare Part D: Pharmacists and formularies--whose job is it to address copays?

Objective: To explore pharmacists' perceived responsibility to assist Part D patients in the community in managing their out-of-pocket (OOP) costs as well as pharmacists' overall experience with Medicare Part D.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Maine, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Prevalence of food insecurity and utilization of food assistance program: an exploratory survey of a Vermont middle school.

Background: Access to sufficient food--in terms of both quality and quantity--is especially critical for children. Undernourishment during childhood and adolescence can have health implications, both short and long term. The prevalence of food insecurity was assessed in a sample of Vermont school children, as well as the relationship between food insecurity, participation in school breakfast or lunch, exercise and body mass index (BMI), all with a goal to identify needs to improve effectiveness of current programs.

The effect of the Vermont Diabetes Information System on inpatient and emergency room use: results from a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of the Vermont Diabetes Information System (VDIS) on hospital and emergency room use DATA SOURCE: Statewide discharge database STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial of a decision support system for 7,412 adults with diabetes and their 64 primary care providers. DATA COLLECTION/ DATA EXTRACTION: Charges and dates for hospital admissions and emergency room care in Vermont during an average of 32 months of observation. Data from New York hospitals were not available.

Physicians' opinions about responsibility for patient out-of-pocket costs and formulary prescribing in two Midwestern states.

Background: Multi-tier copayment designs in pharmacy benefit plans are intended to steer patients and prescribers to preferred drug therapies that have lower out-of-pocket costs for patients.

Objective: To describe and assess physicians' prescribing experiences and opinions in a multi-tier, primarily 3-tier formulary environment in 2 Midwestern states.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of physicians practicing in either Minnesota or North Dakota.

Is there a successful business case for telepharmacy?

The purpose of this study was to assess the financial operation of a Single Business Unit (SBU), consisting of one central retail pharmacy and two remote retail telepharmacies. Analyses of income statements and balance sheets for three consecutive years (2002-2004) were conducted. Several items from these statements were compared to the industry average.

Use of maximum-dose simvastatin or atorvastatin in an ethnically diverse population.

Purpose: The use of maximum-dose simvastatin or atorvastatin in an ethnically diverse population was studied.

Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted at a publicly funded teaching institution whose predominant patient population consists of Hispanics and Asians. A computer-generated report was used to identify outpatients who received a prescription for maximum-dose simvastatin or atorvastatin between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2004.

A naturalistic evaluation of intramuscular ziprasidone versus intramuscular olanzapine for the management of acute agitation and aggression in children and adolescents.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of intramuscular ziprasidone versus intramuscular (i.m.) olanzapine in treating aggression in youth.