Evolving academic and research partnerships in global health: a capacity-building partnership to assess primary healthcare in the Philippines.

Building fair, equitable, and beneficial partnerships between institutions collaborating in research in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries (HIC) has become an integral part of research capacity building in global health in recent years. In this paper, we offer an example of an academic collaboration between the University of California Los Angeles, Center for Health Policy and Research (UCLA CHPR) and the University of Philippines, Manila, College of Public Health (UPM CPH) that sought to build an equitable partnership between research institutions. The partnership was built on a project to build capacity for research and produce data for policy action for the prevention and care of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through primary healthcare in the Philippines.

Providing Low-Income Women With a Manual Pump: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: Low-income, first-time mothers generally breastfeed exclusively and, overall, for a shorter average duration than high-income, multiparous mothers. A potential barrier to breastfeeding success is access to a breast pump for home use. In this pilot study, we estimated the effect of providing a manual breast pump during birth hospitalization for home use on any/exclusive breastfeeding and investigated participant attitudes about manual pumps and their breastfeeding experiences.

Considerations When Aggregating Data to Measure Performance Across Levels of the Health Care System.

Background: Measuring quality at varying levels of the health care system requires attribution, a process of determining the patients and services for which each level is responsible. However, it is important to ensure that attribution approaches are equitable; otherwise, individuals may be assigned differentially based upon social determinants of health.

Methods: First, we used Medicaid claims (2010-2018) from Michigan to assess the proportion of children with sickle cell anemia who had less than 12 months enrollment within a single Medicaid health plan and could therefore not be attributed to a specific health plan.

Trust and shared decision-making among individuals with multiple myeloma: A qualitative study.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer with complex treatment options. Trusting patient-clinician relationships are essential to promote effective shared decision-making that aligns best clinical practices with patient values and preferences. This study sought to shed light on the development of trust between MM patients and clinicians.

Bariatric surgery to aLleviate OCcurrence of Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalization-BLOC-AF.

Background: Obesity is associated with a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Weight reduction improves outcomes in patients known to have AF.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of heart failure (HF) or first-time AF hospitalization in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery (BAS) vs other abdominal surgeries.

Postpartum emergency department use among women with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: An emerging body of evidence underscores the often-intensive perinatal healthcare needs of women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, population-based research examining postpartum experiences of US women with IDD is sparse. We examined emergency department (ED) use in the postpartum period among Massachusetts mothers with IDD.

Association between Practice Participation in a Pediatric-focused Medical Home Learning Collaborative and Reduction of Preventable Emergency Department Visits by Publicly-insured Children in Massachusetts.

Introduction: This study evaluates the impact of practice participation in a pediatric patient-centered medical home learning collaborative on preventable emergency department (ED) visits among children in MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program).

Methods: Claims and enrollment data were extracted for child MassHealth members (aged 3-18) comprising 2 groups: members enrolled in a group of 13 child-serving practices that participated in an intensive, 29-month long patient-centered medical home learning collaborative (intervention group), and members enrolled in a group of 12 comparison practices with roughly similar panel size, type, and geographic location (comparison group). Preventable ED visits were identified using a modified version of the New York University ED algorithm.

Adaptive parenting strategies used by mothers with physical disabilities caring for infants and toddlers.

There is a paucity of information concerning adaptive parenting strategies utilised by mothers with physical disabilities, particularly during early motherhood. The purpose of this study is to describe the adaptive strategies used by mothers with physical disabilities during early motherhood. This qualitative study included semi-structured telephone interviews between January and March 2014 with US mothers with a range of physical disabilities who had a baby within the past 10 years (N = 25).

Blood Donation, Sexual Practices, and Self-Perceived Risk for HIV in the United States Among Young Adult Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Objectives: In the United States, all men who have sex with men (MSM) were banned from donating blood from 1985 through 2015. In 2016, the guideline was amended such that men who had sexual contact with other men within the previous 12 months could not donate blood. We aimed to identify blood donation practices and their relationship with HIV risk and testing among young adult MSM (YMSM) at risk for having HIV.

California Study of Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation:Re-hospitalization for Cardiac Events (CAABL-CE).

Background: Catheter ablation (ABL) for non-valvular (NV) atrial fibrillation (AF) improves rhythm control. Our aim was to compare re-hospitalization for heart failure (HF), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), or recurrent AF among patients with NVAF who underwent ABL versus controls.

Methods: From the Office of Statewide Planning and Development (OSHPD) database, we identified all patients who had at least one hospitalization for AF between 2005-2013.

Xylitol for the prevention of acute otitis media episodes in children aged 2-4 years: protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Xylitol (or 'birch sugar') is a naturally occurring sugar with antibacterial properties that has been used as a natural non-sugar sweetener in chewing gums, confectionery, toothpaste and medicines. In this preventative randomised trial, xylitol will be tested for the prevention of acute otitis media (AOM), a common and costly condition in young children. The primary outcome will be the incidence of AOM.

An Evaluation of a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Behavioral Health Medication Initiative Workgroup's Interventions on Medication Prescribing in a Population of Medicaid Patients.

Background: In response to concerns surrounding pediatric behavioral health medication prescribing, the Massachusetts Medicaid Pharmacy Program implemented a Pediatric Behavioral Health Medication Initiative (PBHMI), proactively requiring prior authorization for specific behavioral health medications and combination regimens. A multidisciplinary therapeutic class management (TCM) workgroup retrospectively reviews complex cases and conducts prescriber outreach to encourage evidence-based practices in Massachusetts.

Objective: To evaluate recommendation outcomes of telephonic peer-to-peer consultations conducted by the PBHMI TCM workgroup by assessing the percentage of accepted, modified accepted, or rejected recommendations, as well as prescriber satisfaction with consultation.

Effectiveness of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir and Predictors of Treatment Failure in Members with Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Medicaid Population.

Background: The primary goal of therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is eradication of HCV ribonucleic acid, which is predicted by achievement of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12). Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir was approved by the FDA in 2014 and 2015 as a once-daily regimen for the treatment of HCV genotype 1 and HCV genotypes 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Although its efficacy has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials, there is an unmet need for real-world effectiveness data and studies that assess the association of rates of SVR12 with specific clinical and demographic factors in the Medicaid population.

Antenatal Hospital Utilization Among Women at Risk for Disability.

Background: Little is known about the effect of potentially disabling health conditions on healthcare utilization during pregnancy. Using hospital discharge data, we identified women at risk for disability and evaluated antenatal hospital utilization, including emergency department (ED), observational stay (OS), and inpatient (IP) visits, by underlying health condition.

Materials And Methods: Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal data system linked 2007-2009 birth certificates to 2006-2009 discharges.

A 4-year randomized trial comparing three outreach interventions to promote screening mammograms.

As population health has become a focus of health care payers and providers, interest has grown in mail, phone, and other forms of outreach for improving population rates of cancer screening. Translational research is needed to compare the effectiveness and cost of low- and high-intensity behavioral outreach interventions for promoting cancer screening. The purpose of the article is to compare the effectiveness in promoting biannual mammograms of three interventions delivered over 4 years to a primary care population with a high baseline mammography adherence of 83.

A systematic review of community-based interventions to improve oral chronic disease medication regimen adherence among individuals with substance use disorder.

Background: Poor medication adherence has been shown to cause medical complications, death, and increased healthcare costs and may be of particular importance in patients with substance use disorder (SUD). Concerns regarding adherence in this population may influence a healthcare provider's decision to prescribe a medication requiring high adherence. Guidance defining best practices that promote adherence among individuals with SUD is lacking.

The Effectiveness of Internet- and Field-Based Methods to Recruit Young Adults Who Use Prescription Opioids Nonmedically.

Background: Nonmedical prescription opioid (NMPO) use is a problem among young adults, yet young NMPO users are a diverse population that has been challenging to engage in overdose prevention and harm reduction programs.

Objectives: This study compared the effectiveness and characteristics of persons recruited through two different sampling strategies to inform research and intervention efforts with young adult NMPO users.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Rhode Island Young Adult Prescription Drug Study (RAPiDS), which enrolled persons aged 18 to 29 who reported past 30-day NMPO use.

Differences in Caregiving Outcomes and Experiences by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether caregiving experiences and their health-related outcomes differ by sexual orientation and gender identity in a representative U.S. caregiver sample.

Breastfeeding Among Women With Physical Disabilities in the United States.

Background: The benefits of breastfeeding are well established, and breastfeeding is now widely practiced in the United States. Although increasing numbers of women with physical disabilities are having children, little information is available about breastfeeding practices among these women. Nonetheless, the children of women with physical disabilities should benefit from breastfeeding just as children of nondisabled mothers do.

Potential Healthcare Insurance and Provider Barriers to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Utilization Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Young adult men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM) continue to have among the highest incidence of HIV infection in the United States. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective and safe method of preventing HIV infection; however, despite US Food and Drug Administration approval, utilization remains low, in part, due to structural barriers, particularly access to healthcare. In this study, we used social media to recruit black, Hispanic, and white HIV-uninfected 18- to 24-year-old YMSM.

Body mass index (BMI), postoperative appearance satisfaction, and sexual function in breast cancer survivorship.

Purpose: We sought to explore the correlation between BMI and postoperative sexual function, body image, and breast-specific sensuality before and after breast cancer surgery.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of patients at least 1 year from surgery employed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and investigator-generated questions. Patients who underwent lumpectomy (L), mastectomy (M), and mastectomy with reconstruction (MR) were compared across three BMI groups: normal weight, overweight, and obese.

Massachusetts Medicaid members that smoked in 2008: Characteristics associated with smoking status in 2014.

The smoking rate among non-elderly Medicaid enrollees is more than double the rate for those privately insured; smoking-related conditions account for 15% of Medicaid expenditures. Under state health reform, Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth) made tobacco cessation treatment available beginning in 2006. We used surveys conducted in 2008 and 2014 to examine changes in smoking abstinence rates among MassHealth members identified as smokers and to identify factors associated with being a former smoker.

Discordance of voluntary HIV testing with HIV sexual risk-taking and self-perceived HIV infection risk among social media-using black, Hispanic, and white young-men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM).

Discordance between self-perceived HIV risk and actual risk-taking may impede efforts to promote HIV testing among young adult men-who-have-sex-with-men (YMSM) in the United States (US). Understanding the extent of, and reasons for, the discordance of HIV risk self-perception, HIV risk-taking and voluntary HIV testing among black, Hispanic and white YMSM could aid in the development of interventions to increase HIV testing among this higher HIV risk population. HIV-uninfected 18-24-year-old black, Hispanic, and white YMSM were recruited from across the US through multiple social media websites.

Evaluation of Progesterone Utilization and Birth Outcomes in a State Medicaid Plan.

Objectives: Progesterone (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection and vaginal progesterone) has been shown to reduce preterm birth (PTB) rates by a third among pregnant women at high risk. The purpose of this analysis is to report birth outcomes and medication adherence among Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth) members receiving progesterone, evaluate the association between member characteristics and birth outcomes and medication adherence, and compare cost of care with a prior preterm pregnancy.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used medical claims, pharmacy claims, and prior authorization (PA) request data for MassHealth members who had a PA submitted for progesterone between January 1, 2011, and March 31, 2015.

Access to and Satisfaction with Prenatal Care Among Pregnant Women with Physical Disabilities: Findings from a National Survey.

Background: Previous qualitative studies suggest that women with physical disabilities face disability-specific barriers and challenges related to prenatal care accessibility and quality. This study aims to examine the pregnancy and prenatal care experiences and needs of U.S.