Association of social vulnerability factors with power outage burden in Washington state: 2018-2021.

Major power outages have risen over the last two decades, largely due to more extreme weather conditions. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the distribution of power outages and its relationship to social vulnerability and co-occurring hazards. We examined the associations between localized outages and social vulnerability factors (demographic characteristics), controlling for environmental factors (weather), in Washington State between 2018-2021.

Racial, ethnic, and rural disparities in distance to physicians among decedents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Washington State.

Introduction: Distance to physicians may explain some of the disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (AD/ADRD) outcomes.

Methods: We generated round trip distance between residences of decedents with AD/ADRD and the nearest neurologist and primary care physician in Washington State.

Results: The overall mean distance to the nearest neurologist and primary care physician was 17 and 4 miles, respectively.

Machine learning-driven identification of air toxic combinations associated with asthma symptoms among elementary school children in Spokane, Washington, USA.

Air toxics are atmospheric pollutants with hazardous effects on health and the environment. Although methodological constraints have limited the number of air toxics assessed for associations with health and disease, advances in machine learning (ML) enable the assessment of a much larger set of environmental exposures. We used ML methods to conduct a retrospective study to identify combinations of 109 air toxics associated with asthma symptoms among 269 elementary school students in Spokane, Washington.

Urban green and blue spaces and general and mental health among older adults in Washington state: Analysis of BRFSS data between 2011-2019.

A growing body of evidence highlights the significant effect of built environment features on mental and general health. This study examined the association between distance to and percentage of green and blue space measures and serious psychological distress, general health, and frequent mental distress among older adults living in urban ZIP codes in Washington state. Percentage of green space, particularly tree canopy and forest space, was significantly associated with better self-rated general health and reduced odds of serious psychological distress.

Disparities in access to opioid treatment programs and buprenorphine providers by race and ethnicity in the contiguous U.S.

Background: The burden of drug overdose mortality varies by race and ethnicity, with American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), Black, and White people experiencing the largest burden. We analyzed census block group data to evaluate differences in travel distance to opioid treatment programs (OTP) and buprenorphine providers by race and ethnicity.

Methods: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provided the addresses of OTPs and buprenorphine providers.

Budget Impact Tool for Implementing Contingency Management for Co-occurring Alcohol Use Disorders and Serious Mental Illness.

Objective: Contingency management (CM) is a behavioral intervention in which tangible incentives are provided to patients when they achieve a desired behavior (e.g., reducing or abstaining from alcohol use).

Opioid use and COVID-19: a secondary analysis of the impact of relaxation of methadone take-home dosing guidelines on use of illicit opioids.

An exemption to existing U.S. regulation of methadone maintenance therapy after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic permitted increased take-home doses beginning March 2020.

Geographic Disparities in the Availability of Mental Health Services in U.S. Public Schools.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine geographic variation in the availability of and barriers to school-based mental health services.

Methods: A weighted, nationally representative sample of U.S.

Disparities in years of potential life lost among racial and ethnic groups in Washington state.

Background: The disproportionate mortality burden racial and ethnic groups endure compared to their non-Hispanic white (NHW) counterparts is a widely known public health issue in the United States.

Methods: We examined disparities in premature mortality through a measure of years of potential life lost (YPLL) among racial and ethnic groups after accounting for individual and place-based risk factors. Data were nearly 400,000 geocoded death records from Washington state mortality records from 2011 to 2018.

Variations in national availability of waivered buprenorphine prescribers by racial and ethnic composition of zip codes.

Background: Opioid overdose remains a public health crisis in diverse communities. Between 2019 and 2020, there was an almost 40% increase in drug fatalities primarily due to opioid analogues of both stimulants and opioids. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD; e.

Yakima County Incidence Rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections From 2013 to 2018 in Urban-Rural and Area-Deprivation Continua.

Background: This study aimed to examine variations in the incidence rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs; i.e., chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) across the urban-rural and area-deprivation continua from January of 2013 to December of 2018 in Yakima County, Washington.

Deaths associated with opioids, race and ethnicity, and years of potential life lost in Washington State.

Introduction: This study examined disparities in years of potential life lost (YPLL) related to opioid use among racial and ethnic groups adjusting for individual- and neighborhood-level characteristics.

Methods: The study obtained data on 5265 geocoded death records associated with opioid use from the Washington State Department of Health. Death certificates included information on race and ethnicity, sex, marital status, and educational attainment.

Disparities in Access to Radiation Therapy by Race and Ethnicity in the United States With Focus on American Indian/Alaska Native People.

Objectives: Striking disparities in access to radiation therapy (RT) exist, especially among racial and ethnic-minority patients. We analyzed census block group data to evaluate differences in travel distance to RT as a function of race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and rurality.

Methods: The Directory of Radiotherapy Centers provided the addresses of facilities containing linear accelerators for RT.

Racial and socioeconomic inequities in breast cancer screening before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of two cohorts of women 50 years + .

Background: Routine screening mammography at two-year intervals is widely recommended for the prevention and early detection of breast cancer for women who are 50 years + . Racial and other sociodemographic inequities in routine cancer screening are well-documented, but less is known about how these long-standing inequities were impacted by the disruption in health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Early in the pandemic, cancer screening and other prevention services were suspended or delayed, and these disruptions may have had to disproportionate impact on some sociodemographic groups.

COVID-19 and inequities in colorectal and cervical cancer screening and diagnosis in Washington State.

Introduction: Studies have shown that cancer screenings dropped dramatically following the onset of the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this study, we examined differences in rates of cervical and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and diagnosis indicators before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology: We used retrospective data from a large healthcare system in Washington State.

Disparities in Access to Radiation Therapy Facilities Among American Indians/Alaska Natives and Hispanics in Washington State.

Purpose: Racial and ethnic minorities in the state of Washington experience higher cancer mortality relative to whites. We sought to characterize differences in travel distance to radiation therapy (RT) facilities in Washington by race and ethnicity with a special focus on non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Natives as a contributor to limited access and cancer disparities.

Methods And Materials: Geocoded mortality data from Washington Department of Health (2011-2018) were used to identify decedents with mortality related to all-causes, all cancers, and cancers likely requiring access to RT.

The impact of relaxation of methadone take-home protocols on treatment outcomes in the COVID-19 era.

Background: Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) allowed for an increase in methadone take-home doses for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in March 2020.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of the SAMSHA exemption on methadone adherence and OUD-related outcomes.

Methods: A convenience sample of 183 clients (58% female) were recruited from a methadone clinic in the fall of 2019 for a cross-sectional survey.

Promoting risk reduction among young adults with asthma during wildfire smoke: A feasibility study.

Objective(s): This study explored the feasibility, acceptability, preliminary impact, and functionality of two risk reduction mobile application (app) interventions on asthma outcomes as compared to a control arm during wildfire season.

Design: Three-arm, 8-week randomized clinical trial.

Sample: Sixty-seven young adults with asthma were enrolled.

Changes in methadone take-home dosing before and after COVID-19.

Introduction: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a federal exemption allowed stable and less stable patients greater take-home doses of methadone. We assessed the adoption of increased take-home medication during COVID-19 and whether increased take-home doses is associated with clients' characteristics.

Methodology: We completed a pre-post study of adults receiving methadone for OUD from an OTP in Spokane, Washington.

Disparities in Technology and Broadband Internet Access Across Rurality: Implications for Health and Education.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in using telehealth to increase access to health and mental health care has grown, and school transitions to remote learning have heightened awareness of broadband inequities. The purpose of this study was to examine access and barriers to technology and broadband Internet service ("broadband") among rural and urban youth. Washington State public school districts were surveyed about youth's access to technology (ie, a device adequate for online learning) and broadband availability in spring 2020.