scholarly journals Differential Association Between Actual and Perceived Obesity Between African-Americans and Whites in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 107-114
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Effect Modifier ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
National Trends

Background and aims: Although actual and perceived obesity are associated, some research has shown that this association may differ across racial and ethnic groups. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study tested racial differences regarding the association between actual and perceived obesity among American adults. Methods: The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5- Cycle 3) is a representative survey of American adults conducted in 2019. A total number of 3731 adults entered our analysis, including 3054 (81.9%) non-Hispanic Whites and 677 (18.1%) African-Americans (AAs). The independent variable was actual obesity, which was defined as a body mass index of equal or more than 30. The outcome was perceived as obesity. In addition, age, gender, marital status, education, and income were considered as control variables (confounders), and the race was the focal effect modifier. Finally, logistic regressions without and with interaction terms were utilized to analyze the data. Results: Overall, actual and perceived obesity were associated with individuals with obesity having higher odds of finding self as obese (odds ratio [OR]=25.82, 95% CI=18.58-35.89, P<0.001). Further, race showed a statistical interaction with actual on perceived obesity (OR=0.27, 95% CI=0.14-0.55, P< 0.001), indicating a weaker link between the two for AAs compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Race-stratified models also confirmed the same pattern with the actual and perceived obesity, showing a weaker association for AAs (OR=15.61, 95% CI=9.53-25.59, P<0.001) in comparison with nonHispanic Whites (OR=46.23, 95% CI=27.01-709.14, P<0.001). Conclusion: AAs compared to non-Hispanic Whites differed in the effect of their actual obesity on their perceived obesity. This may explain the looser association of obesity and depression in AAs as compared to Whites.

Perceived Stress is Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in African Americans with Mild Cognitive Impairment

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 843-853
Author(s):  
Antoine R. Trammell ◽  
Darius J. McDaniel ◽  
Malik Obideen ◽  
Maureen Okafor ◽  
Tiffany L. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: African Americans (AA) have a higher Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevalence and report more perceived stress than White Americans. The biological basis of the stress-AD link is unclear. This study investigates the connection between stress and AD biomarkers in a biracial cohort. Objective: Establish biomarker evidence for the observed association between stress and AD, especially in AA. Methods: A cross-sectional study (n = 364, 41.8% AA) administering cognitive tests and the perceived stress scale (PSS) questionnaire. A subset (n = 309) provided cerebrospinal fluid for measurement of Aβ42, Tau, Ptau, Tau/Aβ42 (TAR), and Ptau/Aβ42 (PTAR). Multivariate linear regression, including factors that confound racial differences in AD, was performed. Results: Higher PSS scores were associated with higher Ptau (β= 0.43, p = 0.01) and PTAR (β= 0.005, p = 0.03) in AA with impaired cognition (mild cognitive impairment). Conclusion: Higher PSS scores were associated with Tau-related AD biomarker indices in AA/MCI, suggesting a potential biological connection for stress with AD and its racial disparity.

scholarly journals National Trends in the Adoption of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy over 7 Years in the United States and Impact of Laparoscopic Approaches Stratified by Age

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anahita Dua ◽  
Abdul Aziz ◽  
Sapan S. Desai ◽  
Jason McMaster ◽  
SreyRam Kuy
Keyword(s):  
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Open Cholecystectomy ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Discharge Disposition ◽  
Open Versus ◽  
National Trends

Introduction. The aim of this study was to characterize national trends in adoption of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and determine differences in outcome based on type of surgery and patient age.Methods. Retrospective cross-sectional study of patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Trends in open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy by age group and year were analyzed. Differences in outcomes including in-hospital mortality, complications, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and cost are examined.Results. Between 1999 and 2006, 358,091 patients underwent cholecystectomy. In 1999, patients aged ≥80 years had the lowest rates of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, followed by those aged 65–79, 64–50, and 49–18 years (59.7%, 65.3%, 73.2%, and 83.5%, resp.,P<0.05). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was associated with improved clinical and economic outcomes across all age groups. Over the study period, there was a gradual increase in laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed among all age groups during each year, though elderly patients continued to lag significantly behind their younger counterparts in rates of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Conclusion. This is the largest study to report trends in adoption of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the US in patients stratified by age. Elderly patients are more likely to undergo open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with improved clinical outcomes.

scholarly journals Educational Attainment and Tobacco Harm Knowledge Among American Adults: Diminished Returns of African Americans and Hispanics

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
High Educational Attainment ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Educational

Background and aims: Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) refer to the smaller effects of educational attainment for ethnic minorities compared to the majority group. As a result of MDRs, research has documented more than expected tobacco use among Hispanics and African Americans (AAs) with high educational attainment. In theory, some of this increased risk may be due to lower tobacco harm knowledge. Accordingly, the present study compared ethnic groups for the association between educational attainment and tobacco harm knowledge among American adults in order to better understand a potential mechanism behind MDRs of educational attainment on tobacco use of Hispanics and AAs. Methods: The current cross-sectional study used baseline data of 27,405 adults, which were obtained from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (2013) study a nationally representative survey in the United States. The independent and dependent variables were educational attainment and tobacco harm knowledge, respectively. In addition, age, gender, employment, and poverty status were the covariates and ethnicity was the moderator. Finally, linear regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Educational attainment was inversely associated with tobacco harm knowledge in the pooled sample (b=0.11, 95% CI=0.09 - 0.13). Ethnicity showed a statistically significant interaction with educational attainment (b=-0.05, 95% CI=-0.10 - 0.00 for AAs and b=-0.14, 95% CI=-0.19 - -0.09 for Hispanics versus non-Hispanics), suggesting that the effect of educational attainment on tobacco harm knowledge was smaller for Hispanics and AAs compared to non-Hispanics and Whites. Conclusion: In general, although high educational attainment increases tobacco harm knowledge, highly educated Hispanics and AAs still report a disproportionately low level of tobacco harm knowledge. Eventually, the MDRs of educational attainment on tobacco harm knowledge may explain why highly educated Hispanics remain at high risk of tobacco use.

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.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Treatment of Chronic Pain

Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary E Morales ◽  
R Jason Yong
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Sociodemographic Profile

Abstract Objective To summarize the current literature on disparities in the treatment of chronic pain. Methods We focused on studies conducted in the United States and published from 2000 and onward. Studies of cross-sectional, longitudinal, and interventional designs were included. Results A review of the current literature revealed that an adverse association between non-White race and treatment of chronic pain is well supported. Studies have also shown that racial differences exist in the long-term monitoring for opioid misuse among patients suffering from chronic pain. In addition, a patient’s sociodemographic profile appears to influence the relationship between chronic pain and quality of life. Results from interventional studies were mixed. Conclusions Disparities exist within the treatment of chronic pain. Currently, it is unclear how to best combat these disparities. Further work is needed to understand why disparities exist and to identify points in patients’ treatment when they are most vulnerable to unequal care. Such work will help guide the development and implementation of effective interventions.

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.

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