scholarly journals Initial SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting: Cross-sectional Study

JMIRx Med ◽  
10.2196/30176 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. e30176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Berk ◽  
Matthew Murphy ◽  
Kimberly Kane ◽  
Philip Chan ◽  
Josiah Rich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Educational Video ◽  
Health Educators ◽  
Correctional Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Correctional Setting ◽  
Additional Information

Background The largest outbreaks of COVID-19 in the United States have occurred in correctional facilities, and little is known about the feasibility and acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine campaigns among incarcerated people. Objective The aim of this study was to describe a statewide vaccination program among incarcerated people and staff working in a prison setting. Methods Between December 2020 and February 2021, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) offered the opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to all correctional staff and sentenced individuals. Two RIDOC public health educators provided education on the vaccine, answered questions, and obtained consent before the vaccine clinic day for the incarcerated group. All staff received information on signing up for vaccines and watched an educational video that was created by the medical director. Additional information regarding vaccine education and resources was sent via email to the entire RIDOC department. Results During this initial campaign, 76.4% (1106/1447) of sentenced individuals and 68.4% (1008/1474) of correctional staff accepted and received the vaccine. Four months after the first vaccine was offered, 77.7% (1124/1447) of the sentenced population and 69.6% (1026/1474) of staff were fully vaccinated. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility and efficiency of vaccine implementation in a carceral setting. Education and communication likely played an important role in mitigating vaccine refusals.

scholarly journals Initial SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting: Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Berk ◽  
Matthew Murphy ◽  
Kimberly Kane ◽  
Philip Chan ◽  
Josiah Rich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Educational Video ◽  
Health Educators ◽  
Correctional Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Correctional Setting ◽  
Additional Information

BACKGROUND The largest outbreaks of COVID-19 in the United States have occurred in correctional facilities, and little is known about the feasibility and acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine campaigns among incarcerated people. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe a statewide vaccination program among incarcerated people and staff working in a prison setting. METHODS Between December 2020 and February 2021, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) offered the opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to all correctional staff and sentenced individuals. Two RIDOC public health educators provided education on the vaccine, answered questions, and obtained consent before the vaccine clinic day for the incarcerated group. All staff received information on signing up for vaccines and watched an educational video that was created by the medical director. Additional information regarding vaccine education and resources was sent via email to the entire RIDOC department. RESULTS During this initial campaign, 76.4% (1106/1447) of sentenced individuals and 68.4% (1008/1474) of correctional staff accepted and received the vaccine. Four months after the first vaccine was offered, 77.7% (1124/1447) of the sentenced population and 69.6% (1026/1474) of staff were fully vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the feasibility and efficiency of vaccine implementation in a carceral setting. Education and communication likely played an important role in mitigating vaccine refusals.

scholarly journals Differences in Characteristics of Medicare Patients Treated by Ophthalmologists and Optometrists

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darby D. Miller ◽  
Michael W. Stewart ◽  
Joshua J. Gagne ◽  
Alan L. Wagner ◽  
Aaron Y. Lee
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Racially Diverse ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Clinical Complexity ◽  
Utilization Data ◽  
Diverse Groups

AbstractPurposeTo quantify differences in the age, gender, race, and clinical complexity of Medicare beneficiaries treated by ophthalmologists and optometrists in each of the United States.DesignCross-sectional study based on publicly accessible Medicare payment and utilization data from 2012 to 2017.MethodsFor each ophthalmic and optometric provider, demographic information of treated Medicare beneficiaries was obtained from the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the years 2012 to 2017. Clinical complexity was defined using Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) coding.ResultsFrom 2012 to 2017, ophthalmologists in every state treated significantly older beneficiaries, with the greatest difference (4.99 years in 2014) between provider groups seen in Rhode Island. In most states, there was no gender difference among patients treated by the providers, but in 46 states ophthalmologists saw significantly more racially diverse groups of beneficiaries. HCC risk score analysis demonstrated that ophthalmologists in all 50 states saw more medically complex beneficiaries and the differences were statistically significant in 47 states throughout all six years.ConclusionsAlthough there are regional variations in the characteristics of patients treated by ophthalmologists and optometrists, ophthalmologists throughout the United States manage older, more racially diverse, and more medically complex Medicare beneficiaries.

Differences between incarcerated and non-incarcerated patients who die in community hospitals highlight the need for palliative care services for seriously ill prisoners in correctional facilities and in community hospitals: A cross-sectional study

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Rothman ◽  
Shannon McConville ◽  
Renee Hsia ◽  
Lia Metzger ◽  
Cyrus Ahalt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Community Hospitals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Seriously Ill

Background: Incarcerated populations worldwide are aging dramatically; in the United States, prisoner mortality rates have reached an all-time high. Little is known about the incarcerated patients who die in community hospitals. Aim: Compare incarcerated and non-incarcerated hospital decedents in California. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting/participants: All state hospital decedents ( N = 370,831) from 2009 to 2013, decedent age over time examined with additional data (2001–2013). Results: Overall, 745 incarcerated and 370,086 non-incarcerated individuals died in California hospitals. Incarcerated decedents were more often male (93% vs 51%), Black (19% vs 8%) Latino (27% vs 19%), younger (55 vs 73 years), had shorter hospitalizations (13 vs 16 days), and fewer had an advance care plan (23% vs 36%, p < 0.05). Incarcerated decedents had higher rates of cancer, liver disease, HIV/AIDs, and mental health disorders. Cause of death was disproportionately missing for incarcerated decedents. The average age of incarcerated decedents rose between 2001 and 2013, while it remained stable for others. Conclusion: Palliative care services in correctional facilities should accommodate the needs of relatively young patients and those with mental illness. Given the simultaneous growth in the older prisoner population with the rising age of incarcerated hospital decedents, community hospital clinicians should be prepared to care for seriously ill, incarcerated patients. Significant epidemiologic differences between incarcerated and non-incarcerated decedents in this study suggest the importance of examining the differential palliative care needs of incarcerated patients in all communities.

Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Diet Perceptions of Medical Trainees Compared to Their Patients: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 155982762110415
Author(s):  
Kara F. Morton ◽  
Diana C. Pantalos ◽  
Craig Ziegler ◽  
Pradip D. Patel
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Medical Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Animal Products ◽  
Acceptable Solution ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Medical Trainees ◽  
Original Survey ◽  
Whole Foods

Purpose: To evaluate medical trainees’ and patients’ perceptions of the utility of a whole-foods, plant-based (WFPB) diet for chronic disease management. Methods: A cross-sectional study using two original survey tools was implemented. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from trainees and patients to evaluate perceived motivations and barriers to WFPB diet implementation. Results: Two hundred trainees and 52 patients responded to the surveys. Nearly half (48%) of patients were willing to try a WFPB diet, expressing a desire for additional information and help with its practical application. Over half (53%) of trainees were willing to recommend a WFPB diet to patients but expressed concern about its acceptability and feasibility. Patients perceived significantly more barriers related to personal enjoyment of animal products while trainees perceived more socioeconomic barriers. Conclusion: Poor diet has been identified as the United States’ leading risk factor for mortality from chronic diseases. Plant-predominant diets, such as a WFPB diet, are associated with improved health outcomes and may be an acceptable solution for many patients. WFPB dietary modification could be pursued with a motivational interviewing approach that targets patients’ individual goals. Medical providers should address their own assumptions regarding the dietary changes their patients are willing to make.

Does a Graduate Course in Fluency Disorders Make a Difference?

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn R. Klein ◽  
Barbara J. Amster
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Graduate Programs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fluency Disorders ◽  
Introductory Course ◽  
Communicative Disorders

Abstract A study by Yaruss and Quesal (2002), based on responses from 134 of 239 ASHA accredited graduate programs, indicated that approximately 25% of graduate programs in the United States allow students to earn their degree without having coursework in fluency disorders and 66% of programs allow students to graduate without clinical experience treating people who stutter (PWS). It is not surprising that many clinicians report discomfort in treating PWS. This cross-sectional study compares differences in beliefs about the cause of stuttering between freshman undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory course in communicative disorders and graduate students enrolled and in the final weeks of a graduate course in fluency disorders.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Health Care Workers in the United States

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Shekhar ◽  
Abu Baker Sheikh ◽  
Shubhra Upadhyay ◽  
Mriganka Singh ◽  
Saket Kottewar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Final Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vaccine Acceptance ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Vaccination Acceptance ◽  
Study Population ◽  
To Receive

Background: Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine will play a major role in combating the pandemic. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are among the first group to receive vaccination, so it is important to consider their attitudes about COVID-19 vaccination to better address barriers to widespread vaccination acceptance. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study to assess the attitude of HCWs toward COVID-19 vaccination. Data were collected between 7 October and 9 November 2020. We received 4080 responses out of which 3479 were complete responses and were included in the final analysis. Results: 36% of respondents were willing to take the vaccine as soon as it became available while 56% were not sure or would wait to review more data. Only 8% of HCWs do not plan to get vaccine. Vaccine acceptance increased with increasing age, education, and income level. A smaller percentage of female (31%), Black (19%), Lantinx (30%), and rural (26%) HCWs were willing to take the vaccine as soon as it became available than the overall study population. Direct medical care providers had higher vaccine acceptance (49%). Safety (69%), effectiveness (69%), and speed of development/approval (74%) were noted as the most common concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccination in our survey.

scholarly journals Influenza vaccination and the risk of COVID-19 infection and severe illness in older adults in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Huang ◽  
Shu-Wen Lin ◽  
Wang-Huei Sheng ◽  
Chi-Chuan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Health Database

AbstractThe coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic and led to nearly three million deaths globally. As of April 2021, there are still many countries that do not have COVID-19 vaccines. Before the COVID-19 vaccines were developed, some evidence suggested that an influenza vaccine may stimulate nonspecific immune responses that reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection or the severity of COVID-19 illness after infection. This study evaluated the association between influenza vaccination and the risk of COVID-19 infection. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study with data from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020 with the Claims data from Symphony Health database. The study population was adults age 65 years old or older who received influenza vaccination between September 1 and December 31 of 2019. The main outcomes and measures were odds of COVID-19 infection and severe COVID-19 illness after January 15, 2020. We found the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of COVID-19 infection risk between the influenza-vaccination group and no-influenza-vaccination group was 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75–0.77). Among COVID-19 patients, the aOR of developing severe COVID-19 illness was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.68–0.76) between the influenza-vaccination group and the no-influenza-vaccination group. When the influenza-vaccination group and the other-vaccination group were compared, the aOR of COVID-19 infection was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93–0.97), and the aOR of developing a severe COVID-19 illness was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.80–1.13). The influenza vaccine may marginally protect people from COVID-19 infection.

What Industry Wants: An Empirical Analysis of Health Informatics Job Postings

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 285-292
Author(s):  
Tara M. McLane ◽  
Robert Hoyt ◽  
Chad Hodge ◽  
Elizabeth Weinfurter ◽  
Erin E. Reardon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
Health Informatics ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Clinical Background ◽  
Job Postings

Abstract Objectives To describe the education, experience, skills, and knowledge required for health informatics jobs in the United States. Methods Health informatics job postings (n = 206) from Indeed.com on April 14, 2020 were analyzed in an empirical analysis, with the abstraction of attributes relating to requirements for average years and types of experience, minimum and desired education, licensure, certification, and informatics skills. Results A large percentage (76.2%) of posts were for clinical informaticians, with 62.1% of posts requiring a minimum of a bachelor's education. Registered nurse (RN) licensure was required for 40.8% of posts, and only 7.3% required formal education in health informatics. The average experience overall was 1.6 years (standard deviation = 2.2), with bachelor's and master's education levels increasing mean experience to 3.5 and 5.8 years, respectively. Electronic health record support, training, and other clinical systems were the most sought-after skills. Conclusion This cross-sectional study revealed the importance of a clinical background as an entree into health informatics positions, with RN licensure and clinical experience as common requirements. The finding that informatics-specific graduate education was rarely required may indicate that there is a lack of alignment between academia and industry, with practical experience preferred over specific curricular components. Clarity and shared understanding of terms across academia and industry are needed for defining and advancing the preparation for and practice of health informatics.

scholarly journals Self-Rated Health and Subjective Economic Status in Life Satisfaction among Older Chinese Immigrants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 342
Author(s):  
Bum Jung Kim ◽  
Lin Chen ◽  
Ling Xu ◽  
Yura Lee
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Chinese Immigrants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Older Chinese

This study examines the influence of self-rated health and subjective economic status on the life satisfaction of older Chinese immigrants in the United States. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 205 older Chinese immigrants aged 66 to 90 years living in Los Angeles and Honolulu. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis was employed to explore the independent effects of self-rated health and subjective economic status. The results demonstrated that self-rated health and subjective economic status were positively associated with life satisfaction. This cross-sectional study provides empirical evidence that self-rated health and subjective economic status are directly associated with subjective life satisfaction among older Chinese immigrants.

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