Text2Connect: a health system approach to engage tobacco users in quitline cessation services via text messaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 292-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Krebs ◽  
Scott E Sherman ◽  
Hannah Wilson ◽  
Omar El-Shahawy ◽  
Lorien L Abroms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Message Framing ◽  
New York State ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Opting Out ◽  
Opt Out

Abstract Mobile technology has created the opportunity for health systems to provide low cost tobacco cessation assistance to patients. The goal of the present study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of an intervention (Text2Connect) that uses text messages to offer proactive connection to the New York State Smokers’ Quitline. The electronic health record at two urban health systems was queried for patients who were current smokers and who had an outpatient visit between March 2015 and February 2016. Smokers (N = 4000) were sent an informational letter. Those who did not opt out (N = 3719) were randomized to one of 6 message sequences in order to examine the effect of theoretically informed message frames on response rates. Participants were sent a series of text messages at baseline and at 1 month and were asked to reply in order to be contacted by the state quitline (QL). After removing 1403 nonworking numbers, texts were sent to 2316 patients, and 10.0% (205/2060) responded with a QL request. Almost one quarter (23.6%, 486/2060) replied STOP and 66.4% (1369/2060) never responded. QL request rates were significantly higher when response efficacy messages were not used (p < .001). There were no differences by message framing on STOP requests (p > .05). The Text2Connect intervention was well accepted with a minority opting out. A 10% QL response rate is noteworthy given that only 5–7 brief outreach text messages were used. Results indicate that simple self-efficacy-focused messaging is most effective at supporting response rates.

Opting Out in the Empire State: A Geographic Analysis of Opting Out in New York, Spring 2015 & 2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Kathryn P. Chapman ◽  
Lydia Ross ◽  
Sherman Dorn
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Geographically Weighted Regression ◽  
Child Poverty ◽  
New York State ◽  
District Level ◽  
Weighted Regression ◽  
York State ◽  
Opting Out ◽  
Opt Out

Background Recently, states have experienced widely varying participation in annual assessments, with the opt-out movement concentrated in New York State and Colorado. Geographic variation between and within states suggests that the diffusion of opting out is multilayered and an appropriate phenomenon to explore geographic dimensions of social movements in education. Purpose The study analyzes the geographic patterns of opting out from state assessments in school districts in New York State. Research Design We conducted linear regression and geographically weighted regression on district-level proportions of third- through eighth-grade students in local public school districts for 2015 and 2016 (n = 623), excluding New York City and charter schools. Independent variables included the district-level proportion of students with disabilities, identified as English Language Learners, and identified as White; census-based small-area child poverty estimates for the districts; and the geographic population density of the district. Linear regressions excluded racial and ethnic dummy variables to reduce collinearity problems, and geographically weighted regression limited geographically varying coefficients to child poverty and population density based on preliminary analyses. Findings The unweighted ordinary least squares (OLS) of district-level opting out in both spring 2015 and spring 2016 are weakly predictive as a whole (adjusted R2 < .20). In both years, population density was a statistically significant but low-magnitude predictor of change in opt-out behavior using OLS. The proportion of students with Individualized Education Plans was positively associated with opt-out behavior, and district-level child poverty was negatively associated with opt-out behavior. The proportion of White students was a statistically significant positive predictor of opt-out behavior in spring 2015 but not statistically significant for 2016, though with a coefficient in the same direction (positive). Analyzing the same data with geographically weighted regression more than doubled the adjusted R2 for each year and demonstrated that there were areas of New York State where the coefficients associated with child poverty and population density reversed direction, with suburban Long Island and the western upstate region as areas with a magnified negative association between district-level child poverty and opting-out percentages. Conclusions In the past five years, social networks have enabled the long-distance organizing of social and political movements in education, including opting-out and teacher walkouts. However, the long-distance transmission of ideas does not explain intrastate variations. In this study, geographically weighted regression revealed the local variations in relationships between opting-out and two key variables. Local networks still matter critically to social organizing around education.

Text Messaging as a Mental Health Treatment Intervention: A Corpus-Based Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Partch ◽  
Cass Dykeman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Treatment Session ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Emotional Tone

Mental health treatment providers seek high-impact and low-cost means of engaging clients in care. As such, text messaging is becoming more frequently utilized as a means of communication between provider and client. Research demonstrates that text message interventions increase treatment session attendance, decrease symptomology, and improve overall functioning. However, research is lacking related to the linguistic make up of provider communications. Text messages were collected from previously published articles related to the treatment of mental health disorders. A corpus of 39 mental health treatment text message interventions was composed totaling 286 words. Using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software, messages were analyzed for prevalence of terminology thought to enhance client engagement. Clout, demonstrating the writer’s confidence and expertise, and positive Emotional Tone were found to be at a high level within the corpus. Results demonstrated statistical significance for five linguistic variables. When compared with national blog norms derived from Twitter, Clout, Emotional Tone, and use of Biological terminology were found to be at higher rates than expected. Authenticity and Informal terminology were found at significantly lesser rates.

Management of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic in England and the state of New York: A comparative case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 71-89
Author(s):  
Amy Barber, BSc ◽  
Annaëlle Vinzent, BS ◽  
Imani Williams, BA
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
New York State ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Protective Equipment

Background: The COVID-19 crisis placed extraordinary demands on the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the beginning of 2020. These were coupled with shocks to the supply chain resulting from the disease. Many typically well-resourced health systems faced subsequent shortages of equipment and had to implement new strategies to manage their stocks. Stockpiles of protective equipment were held in both the United States and United Kingdom intended to prevent shortages. Method: Cross-comparative case study approach by applying Pettigrew and Whipp’s framework for change management. Setting: The health systems of England and New York state from January 2020 to the end of April 2020. Results: Both cases reacted slowly to their outbreaks and faced problems with supplying enough PPE to their health systems. Their stockpiles were not enough to prevent shortages, with many distribution problems resulting from inadequate governance mechanisms. No sustainable responses to supply disruptions were implemented during the study period in either case. Health systems planned interventions along each part of the supply chain from production and importing, to usage guidelines. Conclusion: Global supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions caused by international crises, and existing mitigation strategies have not been wholly successful. The existence of stockpiles is insufficient to preventing shortages of necessary equipment in clinical settings. Both the governance and quality of stockpiles, as well as distribution channels are important for preventing shortages. At the time of writing, it is not possible to judge the strength of strategies adopted in these cases.

The Opt-Out Movement in New York: A Grassroots Movement to Eliminate High-Stakes Testing and Promote Whole Child Public Schooling

2021 ◽  
Vol 123 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Zhe Chen ◽  
David Hursh ◽  
Bob Lingard
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Social Movements ◽  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Long Island ◽  
New York State ◽  
High Stakes Testing ◽  
Whole Child ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
York State ◽  
Opt Out

Purpose Over the last five years, approximately 50% of the students in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island and 20% across New York State have opted out of the yearly standardized tests for third through eighth grade. This article focuses on two grassroots organizations, New York State Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE) and Long Island Opt Out (LIOO), the two parents who have been central to the organizations’ success, and the strategies and tactics that the two organizations have adopted to achieve such a high opt-out rate in New York. Context Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), third through eighth grade public school students have been required to take yearly standardized tests. The most recent version of the exams focused on assessing students, their teachers, and schools based on the Common Core State Standards. Many educators and parents have argued that the standards and assessments negatively affect student learning. In response, educators, parents, teachers, and students have lobbied and publicly testified in an effort to reduce the length of the exams, if not eliminate them. However, the testimonies have had almost no impact on the policymakers. Consequently, some parents concluded that the only way to influence policymakers is to get enough students to opt out of the tests so that the scores were not valid and thus could no longer be used to compare students and teachers within and across schools for accountability purposes. Research Design This study is drawn from a qualitative research project in which we conducted interviews to understand how the opt-out movement developed and the strategies it adopted in relation to high-stakes testing in New York. The interviews with two parent leaders from NYSAPE and LIOO are the main data source for this article. Findings NYSAPE and LIOO can be characterized as real grassroots social movements in that all members have input in the goals and organizing strategies, and unpaid leaders emerge from the membership. Further, because the organizations lack permanent funding, they have to be innovative in using media. By motivating and empowering others and using social media such as Facebook and Twitter, they built a large network and a strong base so that they could influence policymakers and respond quickly at the local and state levels. Conclusion Their organizing strategies exemplified the participatory and grassroots nature of the new social movements as theorized by McAlevey. The opt-out movement is pushing back not only against high-stakes testing but also against the larger neoliberal construction of parents as simply consumers of schooling, rather than as active, informed citizens. The movement also supports whole-child schooling.

Should New York City Teachers Support Opt Out?: Two Views in the UFT

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
John C. Antush
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Standardized Testing ◽  
New York Times ◽  
The United States ◽  
Teacher Evaluations ◽  
Common Core State Standard ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Opting Out ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Union Local

New York State's Opt Out movement was described by the <em>New York Times</em> as "the vanguard of an anti-testing fervor that has spread across the country." The movement consists primarily of parents and students who fought against high-stakes Common Core State Standard (CCSS) tests by "opting out" of taking the exams.&hellip; [However,] this article is not about the massive parent and student-led "Opt Out Spring" of 2015. It is about how Opt Out threw into relief two different ways of thinking about unionism within New York City's UFT [United Federation of Teachers].&hellip; The leadership of&hellip;[the UFT,] the largest union local of any kind in the United States&hellip;. supported the CCSS and standardized testing, including the use of student test scores as part of teacher evaluations, and refused to support Opt Out.&hellip; Meanwhile, rank-and-file UFTers in the MORE-UFT (Movement of Rank and File Educators) caucus and other groups joined the city's Opt Out movement as part of the struggle against "ed deform."<p class="mrlink"><p class="mrpurchaselink"><a href="http://monthlyreview.org/index/volume-67-number-10" title="Vol. 67, No. 10: March 2016" target="_self">Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the <em>Monthly Review</em> website.</a></p>

scholarly journals Longitudinal study of use and cost of subacromial decompression surgery: the need for effective evaluation of surgical procedures to prevent overtreatment and wasted resources

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e030229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Jones ◽  
Andrew J Carr ◽  
David Beard ◽  
Myles-Jay Linton ◽  
Leila Rooshenas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Surgical Procedures ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
New York State ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Decompression Surgery ◽  
Subacromial Decompression ◽  
York State ◽  
Effective Evaluation

ObjectivesTo illustrate the need for better evaluation of surgical procedures, we investigated the use and cost of subacromial decompression in England over the last decade compared with other countries and explored how this related to the conduct and outcomes of randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials.DesignLongitudinal observational study using Hospital Episode Statistics linked to Payment by Results tariffs in England, 2007/2008 to 2016/2017.SettingHospital care in England; Finland; New York State, USA; Florida State, USA and Western Australia.ParticipantsPatients with subacromial shoulder pain.InterventionsSubacromial decompression.Main outcome measuresNational procedure rates, costs and variation between clinical commissioning groups in England.ResultsWithout robust clinical evidence, the use of subacromial decompression in England increased by 91% from 15 112 procedures (30 per 100 000 population) in 2007/2008, to 28 802 procedures (52 per 100 000 population) in 2016/2017, costing over £125 million per year. Rates of use of subacromial decompression are even higher internationally: Finland (131 per 100 000 in 2011), Florida State (130 per 100 000 in 2007), Western Australia (115 per 100 000 in 2013) and New York State (102 per 100 000 in 2006). Two randomised placebo-controlled trials have recently (2018) shown the procedure to be no more effective than placebo or conservative approaches. Health systems appear unable to avoid the rapid widespread use of procedures of unknown effectiveness, and methods for ceasing ineffective treatments are under-developed.ConclusionsWithout good evidence, nearly 30 000 subacromial decompression procedures have been commissioned each year in England, costing over £1 billion since 2007/2008. Even higher rates of procedures are carried out in countries with less regulated health systems. High quality randomised trials need to be initiated before widespread adoption of promising operative procedures to avoid overtreatment and wasted resources, and methods to prevent or desist the use of ineffective procedures need to be expedited.

White Privilege and Power in the NYS Opt-Out Movement

2021 ◽  
Vol 123 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Rosa L. Rivera-Mccutchen
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
White Privilege ◽  
New York State ◽  
High Stakes Testing ◽  
Critical Race ◽  
Race Theory ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
York State ◽  
Opt Out

Background Part of a special issue on the high-stakes testing opt-out movement, this article focuses its analysis on the movement within New York State, and examines white privilege and power within one specific organization, the NYS Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE). Specifically, I examine how the public-facing work of NYSAPE addressed (or ignored) race and/or racism in their efforts to resist high-stakes testing. I also ask, in what ways do their public stances affirm and reinforce white privilege and power? Purpose I explore the opt-out movement in New York State, and argue that it is a movement that has been largely dominated by white privilege and power. Employing critical race theory as analytical and methodological tools, I briefly examine the development and policy positions of NYSAPE, a coalition of grassroots parent, educator and community organizations. Research Design This qualitative case study focuses on NYSAPE and employs critical race theory as a methodological and analytical framework, with specific emphasis on whiteness as property (power) and interest convergence. Conclusions/Recommendations The paper aims to engage the opt-out movement in considering how its (in)actions are shaped by racism, a deeply entrenched element in our society, and pushes the movement to take a more liberatory stance for all children. Leaders within the opt-out movement, particularly in predominantly white and middle- to upper-class communities, have to examine their complicity in perpetuating racial inequities.

A UAV-based magnetic survey method to detect and identify orphaned oil and gas wells

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 447-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Nikulin ◽  
Timothy S. de Smet
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Magnetic Survey ◽  
Gas Wells ◽  
Oil And Gas Wells

Recent advances in autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, along with successful efforts to miniaturize total field magnetometers, offer a unique opportunity to test low-cost UAV-mounted systems for wide-area high-resolution magnetic surveys. Modern UAV platforms capable of flying at low altitudes and collecting dense aerial surveys, coupled with sensitive and compact instruments, allow identification of anthropogenic targets previously identifiable only in ground magnetometer surveys. We present results of a proof-of-concept study focused on developing and field testing a UAV-based magnetometer system to detect and identify abandoned and unmarked oil and gas wells in an area of historical hydrocarbon exploration and development in New York state. Our results indicate that magnetic anomalies associated with metal casing of vertical wells are pronounced considerably above background levels both at the surface and up to 50 m above-ground elevation. We determine that a detection altitude of 40 m is optimal to avoid any canopy interference while recording magnetic data at the highest signal-to-noise ratio. This methodology makes rapid detection and identification of unmarked wells possible and, in turn, allows for future sustainable development of these areas.

Resisting the neoliberal: parent activism in New York State against the corporate reform agenda in schooling

2019 ◽  
pp. 89-102
Author(s):  
David Hursh ◽  
Sarah McGinnis ◽  
Zhe Chen ◽  
Bob Lingard
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
High Stakes Testing ◽  
Democratic Citizenship ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
York State ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Opt Out ◽  
Corporate Reform ◽  
Political Success

Over the last two decades, parents and community members in New York have increasingly resisted the neoliberal corporate reform agenda in schooling, including rejecting high-stakes testing. The parent-led opt-out movement in New York State has successfully opted around 20% of eligible students out of the Common Core state standardized tests over the last three years. To understand how a parent-led grassroots movement has achieved such political success, this chapter focuses on the two most influential opt-out organizations in New York State, the New York State Allies for Public Education (NYSAPE) and Long Island Opt Out (LIOO). The chapter investigates how they used social media and horizontal grassroots organizing strategies to gain political success, along with vertical strategies pressuring the legislature and Board of Regents. Our research reveals that parents in New York are reclaiming their democratic citizenship role in influencing their children’s public schooling and rejecting the corporate reform agenda.

Using Theory to Drive Influenza Related Text Messaging Interventions

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-58
Author(s):  
Patricia Wiseman ◽  
Kathie Records
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Immunization Coverage ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Message Content ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Immunization Practice

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice recommends all children be vaccinated annually against Influenza. Given the increased use of technology as a strategy to increase immunization coverage, theory-based text messaging may result in higher vaccination rates than traditional vaccine reminders. This article describes the development of theory-based text messages for parents of 5 to 8-year-old children that can be implemented in primary care settings. The development of the text messages was guided by constructs from the Health Belief Model. A pilot study was conducted with community pediatric vaccine health care providers (n = 6), and parents of 5 to 8-year-old children (n = 8) to evaluate the text message content for clarity, internal consistency, and content validity. The evaluation results indicated that our intervention was successful in creating a low cost, theory-based educational intervention that garnered community investment and met the cultural relevance and literacy needs of the priority population.

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