scholarly journals Promoting Collaborative Goal Setting for Cancer Prevention Among Primary Care Patients: Pilot Testing a New Application (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Resnick ◽  
Marilyn M. Schapira ◽  
Jazmine M. Smith ◽  
Allison Bautista ◽  
Chang Xu ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Many newly diagnosed cancers are associated with modifiable lifestyle behaviors, such as diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and maintaining a healthy weight. Despite this, primary care providers rarely discuss cancer prevention behaviors with their patients. OBJECTIVE To assess the usability, acceptability and engagement of the Healthier Together mobile application, which is designed to promote cancer prevention behaviors among Non-Hispanic Black primary care patients, utilizing social network and goal setting theories of behavior change. METHODS In an eight-week pilot study, we enrolled primary care patients (n=41) and provided these participants with a cancer prevention mobile application that allowed them to select, track, and share progress on cancer prevention goals with other users. We assessed application usability with the System Usability Scale (SUS). We assessed app acceptability by qualitatively analyzing open-ended responses about participants’ overall experience with the app. We assessed participant engagement by analyzing the built-in data capture, including how many times participants checked in (out of a maximum of eight) during the study. RESULTS Of 41 participants, the mean age was 51 (SD: 12) and 31 (76%) were women. App use data was captured for all participants and 34 (83%) completed the exit survey and interview. The mean SUS score was 87 (SD ±12; median 90; IQR 78-95). Analysis of open-ended responses revealed several key themes, with participants complementing the application’s ease of use and health behavior promoting features, while also commenting on the need for more feedback and social interactions through the application. On average, participants checked in 5.7 times (SD: 2.7) out of eight possible opportunities. Thirty-one participants (76%) checked in during at least 4 of the 8 weeks. Secondary analyses revealed that participants often accomplished their set goal (mean: 5.1, SD: 2.7) for each week. Qualitative analysis of comments participants left within the app after each weekly check-in revealed several themes on how the app assisted participants in behavioral change, highlighting that some participants built up exercise programs, ate healthier foods, lost a significant amount of weight, and stopped smoking during the study. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of a mobile cancer prevention goal setting application in a primary care setting was feasible with high usability, acceptability, and engagement from participants. User feedback revealed an influence on health behaviors. These findings suggest the promise of the HT application to facilitate behavioral change to reduce cancer risk among Non-Hispanic Black primary care patients.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Resnick ◽  
Matthew D Kearney ◽  
Jazmine M Smith ◽  
Allison Bautista ◽  
Liz Jones ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND There remains a need to engage at-risk primary care populations in cancer prevention behaviors, yet primary care physicians often lack the time or resources to discuss these behaviors with their patients. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to evaluate the content, usability, and acceptability of a mobile application that leverages insights from goal-setting and social networks literature to facilitate cancer prevention goal setting, tracking, and sharing between Non-Hispanic Black primary care patients and their social ties. METHODS We recruited participants from two primary care clinics in Philadelphia using non-probabilistic purposive sampling. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 5 to 7 participants over three weeks to solicit feedback on paper mock-ups of the application, iteratively adapting these mock-ups after each set of interviews. Thereafter, and informed by initial feedback, we created an electronic beta-version of the application and sought acceptability and usability feedback from a different set of participants. Then we conducted content analysis of all user responses to search for unifying themes on acceptability and usability of both the initial mock-ups and beta-version of the application. We further assessed application usability using questions derived from the System Usability Scale (SUS). RESULTS Thirty-three Non-Hispanic Black primary care patients participated in the study. The mean age was 49 (SD ± 13) and 79% identified as female. Semi-structured interviews revealed three primary generalizable insights from our target population: 1) the framing of each goal and its relevance to cancer impacted the likelihood the goal would be chosen; 2) participants thought that sharing health goals with others facilitates health behaviors; and 3) most participants found it motivating to see other users’ goal progress, while still collaborating with these users on their health goals. An overarching insight that permeated across each theme was the participants’ desire to customize and personalize the app. Usability testing revealed that 100% of participants found the application easy to use and 76% of participants reported they would like to use this application frequently. CONCLUSIONS Cancer prevention in the modern era must include options that are accessible to all, but this does not mean that all options must be universal. This study’s iterative process led to the development of a cancer prevention mobile application that Non-Hispanic Black primary care patients deemed usable and acceptable and yielded a number of noteworthy insights about what intended end-users value in setting and accomplishing health goals.


Author(s):  
Megan A McVay ◽  
William S Yancy ◽  
Gary G Bennett ◽  
Erica Levine ◽  
Seung-Hye Jung ◽  
...  

Abstract Evidence-based behavioral weight loss treatment is under-utilized. To increase initiation of treatment, we developed a single-session, online, primary care-based intervention (“mobilization tool”). We evaluated the mobilization tool's acceptability for primary care patients with obesity, trial design feasibility, and signal of an effect of the tool on treatment initiation. In this cluster randomized feasibility trial, primary care providers (PCPs) were randomized to a mobilization tool or comparator tool arm. Patients with obesity and a scheduled appointment with a randomized PCP were assigned to complete the mobilization or comparator tool prior to their appointment. The online mobilization tool asks patients to answer questions about a variety of weight-related topics and then provides automated, tailored feedback that addresses psychosocial determinants of weight loss treatment initiation. The comparator tool provided a nontailored description of treatments. All participants were offered free enrollment in behavioral weight loss treatments. Six PCPs were randomized. Sixty patients (57% female; 66% white; aged 55 ± 13 years) participated in this study of 296 contacted for eligibility evaluation (20.2%). Six-month follow-up assessments were completed by 65% (22/34) of the mobilization and 73% (19/26) of comparator tool participants. Participants completing the acceptability survey reported that the mobilization tool was usable, enjoyable, informative, and useful. Weight loss treatment was initiated by 59% (n = 19) of mobilization and 33% (n = 8) of comparator tool participants. The mobilization tool shows promise for increasing treatment initiation among primary care patients, which may increase population weight loss. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02708121.


Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472110085
Author(s):  
Landis R. Walsh ◽  
Laura C. Nuzzi ◽  
Amir H. Taghinia ◽  
Brian I. Labow

Background Although pediatric hand fractures are common and generally have good outcomes, they remain a considerable source of anxiety for non–hand surgeons, who are less familiar with these injuries. We hypothesized that this anxiety may manifest as inefficiency in referral patterns. Methods The records of pediatric patients with isolated, closed hand fractures without concurrent trauma seen at our institution by a hand surgeon between January 2017 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results There were 454 patients included; 62.1% were men, and the mean age was 9.6 years at initial encounter. Most patients (89.6%) were treated nonoperatively and incurred few complications (0.5%). Roughly half of all cases (n = 262) initially presented to an outside provider. Of these, 24.0% (n = 64 of 262) were evaluated by 2+ providers before a hand surgeon. Most commonly, these patients were referred from an outside emergency department (ED) to our ED before hand surgeon evaluation (n = 45 of 64). Forty-seven patients required surgery; however, none were performed urgently. Although a greater proportion of 7- to 11-year-old patients saw 2+ providers prior to a hand surgeon ( P = .007), fewer required surgery ( P < .001). Conclusions Pediatric closed hand fractures are mainly treated nonoperatively and nonemergently with generally excellent outcomes. Our data suggest that many patients continue to be referred through the ED or multiple EDs/providers for treatment. These inefficient referral patterns demonstrate the need for better education for ED and primary care providers, as well as better communication between these providers and local pediatric hand surgeons. Advancements in these areas are likely to improve efficiency of care and decrease costs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel M. Saman ◽  
Kayla M. Walton ◽  
Melissa L. Harry ◽  
Stephen E. Asche ◽  
Anjali R. Truitt ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States, with the burden expected to rise in the coming decades, increasing the need for effective cancer prevention and screening options. The United States Preventive Services Task Force has suggested that a shared decision-making process be used when clinicians and patients discuss cancer screening. The electronic medical record (EMR) often provides only reminders or alerts to primary care providers (PCPs) when screenings are due, a strategy with limited efficacy. Methods We administered a cross-sectional electronic survey to PCPs (n = 165, 53% response rate) at 36 Essentia Health primary care clinics participating in a large, National Cancer Institute-funded study on a cancer prevention clinical decision support (CDS) tool. The survey assessed PCP demographics, perceptions of the EMR’s ability to help assess and manage patients’ cancer risk, and experience and comfort level discussing cancer screening and prevention with patients. Results In these predominantly rural clinics, only 49% of PCPs thought the EMR was well integrated to help assess and manage cancer risk. Both advanced care practitioners and physicians agreed that cancer screening and informed discussion of cancer risks are important; however, only 53% reported their patients gave cancer screening a high priority relative to other health issues. Conclusions The impact of EMR-linked CDS delivered to both patients and PCPs may improve cancer screening, but only if it is easy to use and saves PCPs time.


2000 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 806-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward G. Fell ◽  
Russell E. Glasgow ◽  
Shawn Boles ◽  
H. Garth McKay

PURPOSE the purpose of this study was to evaluate the participation rates and factors associated with nonparticipation among primary care patients who were invited to join an Internet-based self-management research program. METHODS Primary care providers invited their patients with type 2 diabetes to participate in an Internet-based diabetes self-management support program. Research staff contacted these patients by phone to assess their eligibility and interest in participating. Reasons for declining were assessed and demographic/medical status information was collected. RESULTS Of the eligible patients, 60% participated in the program. No significant differences were found between participants and decliners in gender, insulin use, computer familiarity, or computer ownership. There were significant differences in age and years since diagnosis. Participants were slightly younger and had diabetes for a fewer number of years than nonparticipants. Nonparticipation was not related to computer or Internet issues. CONCLUSIONS Most older diabetes patients without previous Internet experience will-takepart in Internet-based self-managment support programs if barriers to participation are addressed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 233339281771741
Author(s):  
Maneesh Sharma ◽  
Chee Lee ◽  
Svetlana Kantorovich ◽  
Maria Tedtaotao ◽  
Gregory A. Smith ◽  
...  

Background: Opioid abuse in chronic pain patients is a major public health issue. Primary care providers are frequently the first to prescribe opioids to patients suffering from pain, yet do not always have the time or resources to adequately evaluate the risk of opioid use disorder (OUD). Purpose: This study seeks to determine the predictability of aberrant behavior to opioids using a comprehensive scoring algorithm (“profile”) incorporating phenotypic and, more uniquely, genotypic risk factors. Methods and Results: In a validation study with 452 participants diagnosed with OUD and 1237 controls, the algorithm successfully categorized patients at high and moderate risk of OUD with 91.8% sensitivity. Regardless of changes in the prevalence of OUD, sensitivity of the algorithm remained >90%. Conclusion: The algorithm correctly stratifies primary care patients into low-, moderate-, and high-risk categories to appropriately identify patients in need for additional guidance, monitoring, or treatment changes.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Tummala ◽  
Andrew de Jesus ◽  
Natasha Tillett ◽  
Jeffrey Nelson ◽  
Christine Lamey

INTRODUCTION: Palliative care continues to gain recognition among primary care providers, as patients suffering from chronic conditions may benefit from use of this growing service. OBJECTIVES: This single-institution quality improvement study investigates the clinical characteristics and socioeconomic status (SES) of palliative care patients and identifies predictors of palliative care utilization. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was used to compare clinical and SES parameters for three groups of patients: (1) palliative care patients who attended at least one visit since the inception of the University Clinical Health Palliative Care Clinic in Memphis, TN in October 2018 (n = 61), (2) palliative care patients who did not attend any appointments (n = 19), and (3) a randomized group of age-matched primary care patients seen by one provider from May 2018 to May 2019 (n = 36). A Poisson regression model with backward conditional variable selection was used to determine predictors of palliative care utilization. RESULTS: Patients across the three care groups did not differ in demographic parameters. Compared to palliative care-referred non-users and primary care patients, palliative care patients tended to have lower health risk (p < 0.001). Palliative care patients did not differ from primary care patients in socioeconomic status but did differ in comorbidity distribution, having a higher prevalence of cancer (𝜒2 = 14.648, df = 7, p = 0.041). Chance of 10-year survival did not differ across risk categories for palliative care patients but was significantly lower for very high-risk compared to moderate-risk primary care patients (30% vs. 78%, p = 0.019). Significant predictors of palliative care use and their corresponding incidence rate ratios (IRR) were hospital referral (IRR = 1.471; p = 0.039), higher number of prescribed medications (IRR = 1.045; p = 0.003), lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (IRR = 0.907; p = 0.003), and lower systolic blood pressure (IRR = 0.989; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who are expected to benefit from and of being high utilizers of palliative care may experience greater clinical benefit from earlier referral to this service.


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