scholarly journals Adapting to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a randomized controlled trial examining lifestyle behaviors on cognitive functioning in obese African American adults: Building Research in Diet and Cognition (BRIDGE)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Fitzgibbon ◽  
Lara Blumstein ◽  
Linda Schiffer ◽  
Mirjana Antonic ◽  
Andrew McLeod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
African American ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Building Research ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the research landscape for clinical trials, requiring thoughtful consideration regarding how to handle the risks and benefits of continuing them. Design. This brief report describes the experience of adapting the Building Research in Diet and Cognition (BRIDGE) study, a randomized clinical trial examining the effects of the Mediterranean Diet, with and without weight loss, on cognitive functioning in 185 older obese African American adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measurement. The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) developed an expedited amendment process for research shifting to remote data collection. For the Cohort 3, 14-month data collection period, we adapted our protocol to allow data collection via telephone and e-mail. We were unable to collect certain measures that required face-to face contact. Results. For measures that could be collected remotely, 14-month retention was similar for Cohort 3 and earlier cohorts: data were collected for 86.9% of cohort 3 (remote) and 87.9% of cohorts 1 and2 (face to face), p = .84. Conclusions. In order to preserve the integrity of our clinical trial and ensure the safety of our participants and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to carefully and efficiently adapt our data collection procedures. The procedures put in place allowed us to collect our primary outcomes and the majority of our secondary outcomes and will enable us to examine the role of dietary intake, with and without weight loss, on cognitive functioning in a vulnerable and high-risk population. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03129048

scholarly journals Adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic on Building Research in Diet and Cognition (BRIDGE) trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Fitzgibbon ◽  
Lara Blumstein ◽  
Linda Schiffer ◽  
Mirjana A. Antonic ◽  
Andrew McLeod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Building Research ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
The University

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the research landscape for clinical trials, requiring thoughtful consideration regarding how to handle the risks and benefits of continuing them. Design This brief report describes the experience of adapting the Building Research in Diet and Cognition (BRIDGE) study, a randomized clinical trial examining the effects of the Mediterranean diet, with and without weight loss, on cognitive functioning in 185 older obese African American adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measurement The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) developed an expedited amendment process for research shifting to remote data collection. We conducted the study in three consecutive groups. For group 3, 14-month data collection period, we adapted our protocol to allow data collection via telephone and e-mail. We were unable to collect certain measures that required face-to-face contact. Results For measures that could be collected remotely, 14-month retention was similar for group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2: data were collected for 86.9% of group 3 (remote) and 87.9% of groups 1 and 2 (face to face), p = .84. Conclusions In order to preserve the integrity of our clinical trial and ensure the safety of our participants and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to carefully and efficiently adapt our data collection procedures. The procedures put in place allowed us to collect our primary outcomes and the majority of our secondary outcomes and will enable us to examine the role of dietary intake, with and without weight loss, on cognitive functioning in a vulnerable and high-risk population. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT3129048. Registration Date: 4/17/2017.

scholarly journals Reflections on Online Focus Group Research With Low Socio-Economic Status African American Adults During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692110217
Author(s):  
Lorraine Lathen ◽  
Linnea Laestadius
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Online Focus Groups ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has sped the adoption of online data collection approaches among qualitative researchers. While videoconferencing software has been a tremendous resource for replicating key aspects of the face-to-face focus group environment, online approaches to data collection also face unique challenges. Prior work has offered insights on the value of face-to-face versus online focus groups and strategies for improving the online focus group experience for participants and moderators. However, little has been published on the unique needs of participants from low socio-economic status (SES) populations. In light of the digital divide and the ways in which COVID-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities, researchers must seriously reflect on the ways in which SES and online methods intersect. To address this gap, we present reflections on two online focus groups conducted with low SES African American adults during COVID-19 to offer recommendations on areas of concern and potential solutions for researchers to consider. Three areas stand out as particularly important for reflection: (1) participant privacy, (2) online connectivity, (3) support and time allocations. Greater attention to the impact of SES can help ensure improved opportunities for full and equitable participation, allowing the voices of those who have been marginalized to be heard more clearly.

scholarly journals Conducting Population Health Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts and Recommendations

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3320
Author(s):  
Amy R. Villarosa ◽  
Lucie M. Ramjan ◽  
Della Maneze ◽  
Ajesh George
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Recruitment Methods ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes, including restrictions on indoor gatherings and visitation to residential aged care facilities, hospitals and certain communities. Coupled with potential restrictions imposed by health services and academic institutions, these changes may significantly impact the conduct of population health research. However, the continuance of population health research is beneficial for the provision of health services and sometimes imperative. This paper discusses the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the conduct of population health research. This discussion unveils important ethical considerations, as well as potential impacts on recruitment methods, face-to-face data collection, data quality and validity. In addition, this paper explores potential recruitment and data collection methods that could replace face-to-face methods. The discussion is accompanied by reflections on the challenges experienced by the authors in their own research at an oral health service during the COVID-19 pandemic and alternative methods that were utilised in place of face-to-face methods. This paper concludes that, although COVID-19 presents challenges to the conduct of population health research, there is a range of alternative methods to face-to-face recruitment and data collection. These alternative methods should be considered in light of project aims to ensure data quality is not compromised.

scholarly journals Interaction of Neighborhood and Genetic Risk on Waist Circumference in African-American Adults: A Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler McDaniel ◽  
Dawn K Wilson ◽  
M Sandra Coulon ◽  
Allison M Sweeney ◽  
M Lee Van Horn
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Risk Model ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Buccal Swab ◽  
Metabolic Risk ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Understanding determinants of metabolic risk has become a national priority given the increasingly high prevalence rate of this condition among U.S. adults. Purpose This study’s aim was to assess the impact of gene-by-neighborhood social environment interactions on waist circumference (WC) as a primary marker of metabolic risk in underserved African-American adults. Based on a dual-risk model, it was hypothesized that those with the highest genetic risk and who experienced negative neighborhood environment conditions would demonstrate higher WC than those with fewer risk factors. Methods This study utilized a subsample of participants from the Positive Action for Today’s Health environmental intervention to improve access and safety for walking in higher-crime neighborhoods, who were willing to provide buccal swab samples for genotyping stress-related genetic pathways. Assessments were conducted with 228 African-American adults at baseline, 12, 18, and 24 months. Results Analyses indicated three significant gene-by-environment interactions on WC outcomes within the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) genetic pathway. Two interactions supported the dual-risk hypotheses, including the SNS genetic risk-by-neighborhood social life interaction (b = −0.11, t(618) = −2.02, p = .04), and SNS genetic risk-by-informal social control interaction (b = −0.51, t(618) = −1.95, p = .05) on WC outcomes. These interactions indicated that higher genetic risk and lower social-environmental supports were associated with higher WC. There was also one significant SNS genetic risk-by-neighborhood satisfaction interaction (b = 1.48, t(618) = 2.23, p = .02) on WC that was inconsistent with the dual-risk pattern. Conclusions Findings indicate that neighborhood and genetic factors dually influence metabolic risk and that these relations may be complex and warrant further study. Trial Registration NCT01025726.

scholarly journals Examining the Impact of Employment Status on Sleep Quality During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Low-Income Neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, PA

SLEEP ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D Baird ◽  
Tamara Dubowitz ◽  
Jonathan Cantor ◽  
Wendy M Troxel
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
American Adult ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Study Objectives African Americans have faced disproportionate socioeconomic and health consequences associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study examines employment and its association with sleep quality during the initial months of the pandemic in a low-income, predominantly African American adult sample. Methods In the early months of COVID-19 (March to May 2020), we administered a survey to an ongoing, longitudinal cohort of older adults to assess the impact of COVID-related changes in employment on self-reported sleep quality (N=460; 93.9% African American). Participants had prior sleep quality assessed in 2018 and a subset also had sleep quality assessed in 2013 and 2016. Primary analyses focused on the prevalence of poor sleep quality and changes in sleep quality between 2018 and 2020, according to employment status. Financial strain and prior income were assessed as moderators of the association between employment status and sleep quality. We plotted trend lines showing sleep quality from 2013 to 2020 in a subset (n=339) with all four waves of sleep data available. Results All participants experienced increases in poor sleep quality between 2018 and 2020, with no statistical differences between the employment groups. However, we found some evidence of moderation by financial strain and income. The trend analysis demonstrated increases in poor sleep quality primarily between 2018 and 2020. Conclusions Sleep quality worsened during the pandemic among low-income African American adults. Policies to support the financially vulnerable and marginalized populations could benefit sleep quality.

scholarly journals Housing Insecurity and the Emotional and Physical Health of African Americans

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 335-336
Author(s):  
Aarti Bhat ◽  
August Jenkins ◽  
David Almeida
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chronic Health Conditions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Housing insecurity—or limited and/or unreliable access to quality housing— is a potent on-going stressor that can adversely impact individual well-being. This study extends previous research by investigating the impact of housing insecurity on both the emotional and physical health of aging African American adults using the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher oversample of African Americans collected from 2012-2013 (N = 508; M age = 43.02; 57% women). Participants reported on their negative affect, number of chronic health conditions experienced in the last year, and experiences of housing insecurity since the 2008 recession (e.g., homelessness, threatened with foreclosure or eviction, lost home). Negative affect and chronic conditions, respectively, were regressed on housing insecurity, and the potential moderating effect of age was tested. Results showed that housing insecurity was associated with more negative affect (B = 0.05, SE = 0.03, p = .002) and chronic health conditions (B = 0.26, SE = 0.03, p < .001). Additionally, the association between housing insecurity and negative affect was moderated by age (B = -0.11, SE = 0.00, p = .019), such that the effect of housing insecurity on negative affect was stronger for younger adults than for older adults. These results suggest that experiences of insecure housing leave African American adults vulnerable to compromised emotional and physical health, however, the negative effects of housing insecurity may attenuate with age.

scholarly journals Social Relationships and Social Engagement Among African American Adults With a History of Incarceration

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 304-304
Author(s):  
Bridget Farmer ◽  
Jennifer Johnson ◽  
Rodlescia Sneed
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Formerly Incarcerated ◽  
African American Adults ◽  
History Of ◽  
Relationship Structure ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Strong social relationships and social engagement are crucial for both successful aging and successful community re-entry after incarceration. Here, we utilized a mixed methods approach to understand the impact of incarceration on social relationships and social engagement among formerly incarcerated community-dwelling African-American adults aged >50. Participants in the 2012 or 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study answered questions regarding prior incarceration, social relationships, and participation in social activities. Additionally, we utilized key informant interviews to further explore how incarceration might impact relationships and social engagement. This presentation will describe quantitative associations between prior incarceration and social relationship structure & function. Further, we will use our qualitative interview data to further explore possible explanations for our findings. Finally, we will describe how MCUAAAR Scientist/Faculty interactions facilitated this work.

scholarly journals The Impact of Timing of Exercise Initiation on Weight Loss: An 18‐Month Randomized Clinical Trial

Obesity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1828-1838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria A. Catenacci ◽  
Danielle M. Ostendorf ◽  
Zhaoxing Pan ◽  
Kristen Bing ◽  
Liza T. Wayland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
The Impact
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document