Hispanic individuals' cervical cancer screening disparities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cervical cancer screening rates of Hispanic individuals compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) individuals in the United States, whether a responsive surge in catch-up screenings occurred as society adapted to pandemic changes, and to investigate the sociodemographic characteristics between the study populations.

Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the All of Us Research Program, which incorporates electronic health record data and survey data from a demographically, geographically, and medically diverse participant group, we assessed the annual cervical cancer screening rates during 2019-2021 by race/ethnicity among eligible individuals ages 21-64.

Results: Among 116,052 unique individuals (78,829 NHW and 37,223 Hispanic), Hispanic individuals had lower annual cervical cancer screening rates than NHWI across the three years studied.

Facilitators to cervical cancer screening in a minority, urban, underserved population.

Objectives: Cervical cancer has markedly declined due to widespread use of screening, but Hispanic women continue to bear a disproportionate amount of the cervical cancer burden due to under-screening. Previous studies have explored barriers to screening but have failed to identify targetable facilitators in this group. We aimed to assess facilitators to cervical cancer screening among a predominantly urban, Hispanic population who presented to a no-cost, community-based clinic.

Using Electronic Reminders to Improve Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccinations among Primary Care Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to delays in routine preventative primary care and declines in HPV immunization rates. Providers and healthcare organizations needed to explore new ways to engage individuals to resume preventive care behaviors. Thus, we evaluated the effectiveness of using customized electronic reminders with provider recommendations for HPV vaccination to increase HPV vaccinations among adolescents and young adults, ages 9-25.

Palliative Care Consultation in the Intensive Care Unit Reduces Hospital Costs: A Cost-Analysis.

Background: Palliative care aims to improve or maintain quality of life for patients with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases. Limited research shows that palliative care is associated with reduced intensive care unit length of stay and use of high-cost resources.

Methods: This was an observational, non-experimental comparison group study on all patients 18 years or older admitted to any intensive care unit (ICU) at Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center for 7 to 30 days from August 2013 to December 2015.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms in Adults Undergoing Covid-19 Testing.

Background And Objective: Understanding the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons receiving COVID-19 testing will help guide mental health interventions. We aimed to determine the association between sociodemographic factors and mental health symptoms at 8 weeks (baseline) after a COVID-19 test, and compare prevalence of mental health symptoms at baseline to those at 16-week follow-up.

Materials And Methods: Prospective cohort study of adults who received outpatient COVID-19 testing at primary care clinics.

Delirium Among Hospitalized Older Adults With Acute Heart Failure Exacerbation.

Background: Delirium among older adults hospitalized with acute heart failure is associated with increased mortality. However, studies concomitantly assessing the association of delirium with both clinical and economic outcomes in this population, such as mortality, hospital cost, or length of stay, are lacking.

Methods And Results: We conducted a retrospective observational study using National Inpatient Sample data from 2011 to 2014.

The evaluation of comprehensive medication management for chronic diseases in primary care clinics, a Texas delivery system reform incentive payment program.

Background: The Institute of Medicine reported that more than 1.5 million preventable adverse drug events occur annually in the United States. Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) is the medication review process to improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient adherence, reduce drug therapy problems and reduce health care costs.

Economic Evaluation of Tailored Web versus Tailored Telephone-Based Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening among Women.

Screening for colorectal cancer is cost-effective, but many U.S. women are nonadherent, and the cost-effectiveness of web-based tailored screening interventions is unknown.

Provider-Patient Discussions About Smoking and the Impact of Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines: NHIS 2011-2015.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines for treating tobacco use and lung cancer screening guidelines recommend smoking cessation counseling to current smokers by health care professionals.

Objective: Our objective was to determine the contemporary patterns of current smokers' discussions about smoking with their health care professionals in the USA.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We conducted an observational study of 30,132 current smokers (weighted sample 40,126,006) for the years 2011 to 2015 using data from the National Health Interview Survey.

Comparative Effectiveness of Computed Tomography- Versus Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Among Medicare Patients 65 Years of Age or Older With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) not eligible for surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a promising technique that reduces the risk of disease progression.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the trend of image guidance for RFA is moving toward the more expensive computed tomography (CT) technology and to determine the clinical benefits of CT guidance over the ultrasound (US) guidance.

Methods: A cohort of 463 patients was identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results and Medicare-linked database.

Association between melanoma and renal-cell carcinoma for sequential diagnoses: A single-center retrospective study.

Background: Melanoma and renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) are known to be immunological neoplasms. Previous studies have shown increased risks in patients with melanoma of developing RCC and in those with RCC of developing melanoma. However, data regarding immunocompromised status in these patients are lacking.

National Trends in Smoking Cessation Medication Prescriptions for Smokers With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the United States, 2007-2012.

Objectives: Smoking cessation decreases morbidity and mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation is highly effective. However, the optimal prescription rate of smoking cessation medications among smokers with COPD has not been systemically studied.

Budget Impact Analysis of Against Colorectal Cancer In Our Neighborhoods (ACCION): A Successful Community-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Program for a Medically Underserved Minority Population.

Objectives: Given the uncertain cost of delivering community-based cancer screening programs, we developed a Markov simulation model to project the budget impact of implementing a comprehensive colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention program compared with the status quo.

Methods: The study modeled the impacts on the costs of clinical services, materials, and staff expenditures for recruitment, education, fecal immunochemical testing (FIT), colonoscopy, follow-up, navigation, and initial treatment. We used data from the Against Colorectal Cancer In Our Neighborhoods comprehensive CRC prevention program implemented in El Paso, Texas, since 2012.

Estimating development cost of an interactive website based cancer screening promotion program.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the initial development costs for an innovative talk show format tailored intervention delivered via the interactive web, for increasing cancer screening in women 50-75 who were non-adherent to screening guidelines for colorectal cancer and/or breast cancer.

Methods: The cost of the intervention development was estimated from a societal perspective. Micro costing methods plus vendor contract costs were used to estimate cost.