Parent-Led Cognitive Behavioral Teletherapy for Anxiety in Autistic Youth: A Randomized Trial Comparing Two Levels of Therapist Support.

Parent-led cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficient, promising form of therapy that may be well suited for autistic youth with anxiety disorders, though to date it has been minimally tested. In this study, 87 autistic youth (7 to 13 years old) with anxiety disorders and their parents were randomized to two forms of parent-led CBT in which parents led their child through a guided CBT workbook across 12 weeks: one with low therapist contact (four 30-minute telehealth calls), and one with standard therapist contact (ten 60-minute telehealth calls). Anxiety, functional impairment, and autism features significantly declined across therapy, without differences between groups.

'More stressful than cancer': Treatment Experiences Lived During Hurricane Maria among Breast and Colorectal Cancer Patients in Puerto Rico.

Background: This study explored experiences in cancer care and disruption after Hurricanes Irma and Maria's aftermath in Puerto Rico (PR).

Methods: A total of three focus groups were conducted among breast and colorectal cancer patients diagnosed six months before the disaster.

Results: The most prevalent themes were (a) barriers related to their cancer treatment, (b) facilitators related to their cancer treatment, and (c) treatment experiences during the hurricane.

Economic Analyses of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Interventions: A Systematic Review.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric condition featuring patterns of obsessions, compulsions, and avoidant behaviors that are often time consuming and distressing to affected individuals. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention and/or serotonin reuptake inhibitors are first-line treatments for OCD, though other therapeutic interventions may serve as economically practical modalities under various circumstances. Exploring and understanding the cost effectiveness of all indicated OCD interventions are important to inform therapeutic decisions and provide quality patient-centered care at a cost that is not burdensome to the patient and/or healthcare system.

Stepped-Care Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Children on the Autism Spectrum with Co-occurring Anxiety.

This trial examined stepped-care cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) among 96 autistic youth with co-occurring anxiety. Step 1 included an open trial of parent-led, therapist-guided bibliotherapy. Step 2 was family-based CBT for those who did not respond to Step 1 or maintenance for those who did.

Years of life lost associated with COVID-19 deaths in the USA during the first 2 years of the pandemic.

Background: Prior estimates of the years of life lost (YLLs) in the USA associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were 1.2 million through 11 July 2020 and 3.9 million through 31 January 2021 (which roughly coincides with the first full year of the pandemic).

The relationship between abortion rates and economic fluctuations.

We analyze the relationship between abortions and economic fluctuation at the U.S. state level for the 1995-2016 period.

Stepped Care Versus Standard Care for Children After Trauma: A Randomized Non-Inferiority Clinical Trial.

Objective: Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based therapist-led treatment for children after trauma. Parents often experience barriers to treatment engagement, including cost. Stepped care TF-CBT (SC-TF-CBT) was developed as an alternative delivery system.

Economic Evaluation of Dupilumab Versus Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for the Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps.

Background: Dupilumab is a novel monoclonal antibody that recently received US Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has been the mainstay of treatment for patients refractory to initial medical therapy. Data comparing the cost-effectiveness of these treatments are scarce.

Intervention cost-effectiveness for pediatric anxiety and OCD: A systematic review and integrated database model.

Background: While multiple treatments for pediatric anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are efficacious, little is known about their cost-effectiveness. In response, we sought to provide relevant information through systematic review and cost-effectiveness simulation.

Methods: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of treatment for pediatric anxiety and OCD in two ways.

Excess Mortality Associated With COVID-19 by Demographic Group: Evidence From Florida and Ohio.

Objective: COVID-19 mortality varies across demographic groups at the national level, but little is known about potential differences in COVID-19 mortality across states. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of all-cause excess deaths associated with COVID-19 in Florida and Ohio overall and by sex, age, and race.

Methods: We calculated the number of weekly and cumulative excess deaths among adults aged ≥20 from March 15 through December 5, 2020, in Florida and Ohio as the observed number of deaths less the expected number of deaths, adjusted for population, secular trends, and seasonality.

Years of life lost associated with COVID-19 deaths in the USA during the first year of the pandemic.

Background: Years of Life Lost (YLLs) measure the shortfall in life expectancy due to a medical condition and have been used in multiple contexts. Previously it was estimated that there were 1.2 million YLLs associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths in the USA through 11 July 2020.

An evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration National Nursing Education Initiative.

Background: Since 1999, the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) National Nursing Education Initiative (NNEI) has provided 16,294 scholarships for registered nurses to attain baccalaureate and advanced nursing degrees.

Purpose: The goal of this evaluation was to determine factors that enhanced or hindered a scholarship recipient in the completion of their degree and service obligation.

Methods: A regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of degree completion for 10,043 participants in 162 VHA facilities.

Years of life lost associated with COVID-19 deaths in the United States.

Background: The mortality effects of COVID-19 are a critical aspect of the disease's impact. Years of life lost (YLLs) can provide greater insight than the number of deaths by conveying the shortfall in life expectancy and thus the age profile of the decedents.

Methods: We employed data regarding COVID-19 deaths in the USA by jurisdiction, gender and age group for the period 1 February 2020 through 11 July 2020.

Potential undercounting of overdose deaths caused by specific drugs in vital statistics data: An analysis of Florida.

Introduction: Due largely to ambiguous or incomplete information provided on death certificates, the widely cited Multiple Cause of Death (MCOD) data reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been shown to undercount the number of fatal overdoses caused by specific drugs.

Factors associated with the timing of abortions.

The timing of an abortion (often measured as gestational age) can have important effects on the woman's physical health and on the cost of the procedure. To the authors' knowledge, there has been only one national analysis of the factors associated with the gestational age at abortion, but it employed data from over 20 years ago. The state-specific studies that have explored abortion timing have typically examined the effects of a specific change in abortion regulations.

Emergency Department Visits by and Hospitalizations of Senior Diabetics in the Three Years Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

While prior studies have investigated health care utilization immediately following disasters, few have examined utilization beyond that period. We use individual-level U.S.

Long-term Effects of Disasters on Seniors With Diabetes: Evidence From Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Objective: To estimate the long-run mortality effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on seniors with diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of Medicare enrollment and claims data covering four states and ∼10 years. Affected individuals were identified by whether they lived in a county that suffered a high impact and were stratified by whether they moved to a different county following the storms.

Cost conscious care: preoperative evaluation by a cardiologist prior to low-risk procedures.

Background: Preoperative testing before low-risk procedures remains overutilised. Few studies have looked at factors leading to increased testing. We hypothesised that consultation to a cardiologist prior to a low-risk procedure leads to increased cardiac testing.

The relationship between foster care entries and high-dose opioid prescribing in California.

An important effect of the current opioid epidemic is on children whose parents are unable to provide appropriate care. We employ quarterly, county-level data for California for 2009-2016 to study the relationship between foster care entries and opioid misuse by their parents. Our linear regression analysis includes both county and time fixed effects and controls related to child removal risk.

Long-term Effects of Disasters on Health Care Utilization: Hurricane Katrina and Older Individuals with Diabetes.

Objective: While the short-term effects of disasters on health care utilization are well documented, less is known regarding potential longer-term effects. This study investigates the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the health care utilization of older individuals with diabetes.

Methods: We examined Medicare claims and enrollment data for the 2002-2004 and 2006-2008 time periods for older individuals with diabetes.

State-level variation in the relationship between child removals and opioid prescriptions.

Background: One of the most devastating impacts of the U.S. opioid crisis is the challenge it creates for dependent parents to care for their children, potentially leading to the child being removed from their home.

Hormonal Contraception, depression, and Academic Performance among females attending college in the United States.

Associations between Hormonal Contraception (HC) and Depression have been previously reported, and indicate increased risk to younger women. These relationships need be explored and expanded to include measures of impact on Academic Performance (AP). Data was acquired from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), administered from Fall 2008 to Spring 2015 across 370 schools nationwide.

Expenditure Reductions Associated with a Social Service Referral Program.

Recent health system innovations provide encouraging evidence that greater coordination of medical and social services can improve health outcomes and reduce health care expenditures. This study evaluated the savings associated with a managed care organization's call center-based social service referral program that aimed to assist participants address their social needs, such as homelessness, transportation barriers, and food insecurity. The program evaluation linked social service referral data with health care claims to analyze expenditures in 2 annual periods, before and after the first social service referral.