Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Refining A Postpandemic Approach To Cancer Screening, Michael A. Thompson

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

In introducing Volume 8, Issue 4 of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews — a specially themed issue comprised of several works focused on improving cancer screening processes in clinical practice — JPCRR editor and hematologist/oncologist Michael Thompson reflects on the current state of various screening modalities and how the pandemic has already begun to shape ongoing research in this area. A delicate balance must be struck between avoiding overtesting or overdiagnosis and identifying the presence of malignant tumors early enough to allow for successful treatment.

Improving Cancer Screening Rates In Primary Care Via Practice Facilitation And Academic Detailing: A Multi-Pbrn Quality Improvement Project, Christopher P. Morley, Laura A. Schad, Laurene M. Tumiel-Berhalter, Laura A. Brady, Alexandrea Bentham, Karen Vitale, Amanda Norton, Gary Noronha, Carlos Swanger

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: In the United States, cancer screening rates are often below national targets. This project implemented practice facilitation and academic detailing aimed at increasing breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates in safety-net primary care practices.

Methods: Three practice-based research networks across western and central New York State partnered to provide quality improvement strategies on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. Pre/postintervention screening rates for all participating practices were collected annually, as were means across all practices over 7 years. Simple ordinary least squares linear regression was used to calculate the trend for each cancer type and test for statistical …

Integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes Into Clinical Genetic Testing For Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Rachele M. Hendricks-Sturrup, Robert Block, Christine Y. Lu

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and PRO measures (PROMs) are often used to help clinicians and researchers understand patients’ personal concerns, feelings, experiences, and perspectives following the implementation of an intervention. Notably, PROs and PROMs can inform health systems, health policy, and payers on the utility of clinical genetic testing based on each patient’s personal values, perspectives, and potential health behaviors subsequent to testing. In this topic synopsis, we discuss the underexplored role of and implications for PROs and PROMs following genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an autosomal dominant genetic disorder of cholesterol metabolism that can lead to highly premature fatal …

In Pursuit: A Mother’S Account Of Her Son’S Rare Disease Diagnosis Journey, Anne M. Jones

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

A personal account from a mother’s perspective on her undiagnosed son’s medical journey over almost 6 years toward a diagnosis of a rare genetic variant in mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 interacting protein 3 (MAPK8IP3) resulting in neurodevelopment disorder.

Increasing Breast, Cervical, And Colorectal Cancer Screenings: A Qualitative Assessment Of Barriers And Promoters In Safety-Net Practices, Laura A. Brady, Laurene M. Tumiel-Berhalter, Laura A. Schad, Alexandrea Bentham, Karen Vitale, Amanda Norton, Gary Noronha, Carlos Swanger, Christopher P. Morley

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates are suboptimal in underserved populations. A 7-year quality improvement (QI) project implemented academic detailing and practice facilitation in safety-net primary care practices to increase cancer screening rates. This manuscript assesses barriers and promoters.

Methods: Primary care practices providing care to underserved patients were recruited in New York cities Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. Enrollment totaled 31 practices, with 12 practices participating throughout. Annually, each practice received 6 months of practice facilitation support for development and implementation of evidence-based interventions to increase screening rates for the three cancer types. At the end of each …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Screening Rates For Colorectal, Breast, And Cervical Cancer: Practice Feedback From A Quality Improvement Project In Primary Care, Laura A. Schad, Laura A. Brady, Laurene M. Tumiel-Berhalter, Alexandrea Bentham, Karen Vitale, Amanda Norton, Gary Noronha, Carlos Swanger, Christopher P. Morley

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Three New York State practice-based research networks provided quality improvement strategies to improve screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal (BCC) cancers in safety-net primary care, over 7 years. In the final year (Y7), the United States experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BCC cancer screening rates was assessed qualitatively.

Methods: A total of 12 primary care practices participated in Y7 of the quality improvement project. BCC cancer screening rates at year beginning and end were assessed. Practice staff were asked about how COVID-19 impacted screening. Average pre/postintervention screening rates and qualitative thematic analysis …

Communication Skills Training: A Means To Promote Time-Efficient Patient-Centered Communication In Clinical Practice, Else Dalsgaard Iversen, Maiken Wolderslund, Poul-Erik Kofoed, Pål Gulbrandsen, Helle Poulsen, Søren Cold, Jette Ammentorp

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: We hypothesized that health care providers would behave in a more patient-centered manner after the implementation of communication skills training, without causing the consultation to last longer.

Methods: This study was part of the large-scale implementation of a communication skills training program called "Clear-Cut Communication With Patients" at Lillebaelt Hospital in Denmark. Audio recordings from real-life consultations were collected in a pre-post design, with health care providers' participation in communication skills training as the intervention. The training was based on the Calgary-Cambridge Guide, and audio recordings were rated using the Observation Scheme-12.

Results: Health care providers improved their communication …

Patient Perceptions Of Using Clinical Decision Support For Cancer Screening And Prevention: “I Wouldn’T Have Thought About Getting Screened Without It.”, Daniel M. Saman, Melissa L. Harry, Laura A. Freitag, Clayton I. Allen, Patrick J. O'Connor, Joann M. Sperl-Hillen, Joseph A. Bianco, Anjali R. Truitt, Heidi L. Ekstrom, Thomas E. Elliott

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: We sought to gain an understanding of cancer prevention and screening perspectives among patients exposed to a clinical decision support (CDS) tool because they were due or overdue for certain cancer screenings or prevention.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 37 adult patients due or overdue for cancer prevention services in 10 primary care clinics within the same health system. Data were thematically segmented and coded using qualitative content analysis.

Results: We identified three themes: 1) The CDS tool had more strengths than weaknesses, with areas for improvement; 2) Many facilitators and barriers to cancer prevention and screening …

Patient And Clinician Characteristics That Predict Breast Cancer Screening Behavior In 40–49-Year-Old Women, Sarina Schrager, Claudia Evaristo, Terry Little, Lori Dubenske, Elizabeth S. Burnside

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Guidelines recommend that clinicians practice shared decision-making (SDM) with women in their 40s to discuss breast cancer screening. Traditionally, SDM includes discussion of values and preferences to help determine a decision that is congruent with what the patient desires. We analyzed 54 women’s breast cancer screening decisions after a SDM conversation with their clinician. We looked at both patient and clinician characteristics that predicted whether or not a woman would get a screening mammogram. Women with a family history of breast cancer or who had a previous abnormal mammogram had higher rates of screening. Screening rates also varied widely between …

Patient-Centered Home Cancer Screening Attitudes During Covid-19 Pandemic, Christelle El Khoury, Elizabeth Haro, Martha Alves, Marie Claire O'Dwyer, Kate Meixner, Laura Crespo Albiac, J Nicoll Capizzano, Manasi Ramakrishnan, Cullen Salada, Sherri Sheinfeld Gorin, Masahito Jimbo, Ananda Sen, Diane M. Harper

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health care delivery of cancer screenings. The primary aim of our work was to evaluate the degree to which populations were accepting of home-based screenings for colorectal cancer (CRC) and cervical cancer (ie, primary human papillomavirus [HPV] testing). Three groups of adults having distinct health burdens that may affect acceptance of home-based cancer screening were identified through outpatient electronic medical records: those having survived a COVID-19 hospitalization; those having been positive for a non-COVID-19 respiratory illness; or those having type 2 diabetes. A total of 132 respondents (58% female) completed an online survey with hypothetical cases …

A Novel Code Team Leader Card To Improve Leader Identification, Palak Shah, Vinod Havalad

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Prompt and clear code team leader identification is vital in effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and pediatric trainees often have limited experience in these scenarios. This project sought to develop a tangible object that provided clear leader identification and assisted in code team management and simulated team training. A Code Team Leader Card (CTLC) was designed to provide clear leader identification while simultaneously providing a cognitive aid via integration of pediatric advanced life support (PALS) algorithms. Additionally, CTLC served to occupy the leader’s hands to limit their ability to intervene on procedural tasks. The CTLC was incorporated into pediatric resident simulation …

Conference Proceedings: Select Abstracts Presented At 2021 Advocate Aurora Health Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstracts published within this supplement were presented at the 47th annual Advocate Aurora Health Scientific Day, held virtually on May 26, 2021. This research symposium provides a forum for disseminating results from studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and other allied health professionals associated with Midwest-based health system Advocate Aurora Health, which publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews.

Determining The Perception And Willingness Of Primary Care Providers To Prescribe Advanced Diabetes Technologies, Alexander O’Donovan, Sean M. Oser, Jessica Parascando, Arthur Berg, Donald E. Nease Jr., Tamara K. Oser

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Advanced diabetes technologies have produced increasingly favorable outcomes compared to older treatments. Disparities in practice resources have led to a treatment disparity by clinical setting, where endocrinologists typically prescribe far more such technologies than primary care providers (PCPs). Fully automated artificial pancreas systems (APS), which combine technologies to deliver and adjust insulin dosing continuously in response to automatic and continuous glucose monitoring, may be more straightforward for PCPs to prescribe and manage, therefore extending their benefit to more patients. We aimed to assess willingness of PCPs to prescribe advanced diabetes technologies through a cross-sectional survey of PCPs from 4 geographically …

Does Exercise Prevent Gestational Diabetes Mellitus In Pregnant Women? A Clin-Iq, Olivia Lust, Tana Chongsuwat, Elizabeth Lanham, Ann F. Chou, Elizabeth Wickersham

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy has been on the rise globally, leading to increased prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A diagnosis of GDM often leads to pregnancy and infant-related complications. Regular exercise may have the potential to prevent GDM. However, evidence surrounding the utility of exercise during pregnancy as an effective risk reduction intervention has been mixed. This clinical inquiry examined the role of regular exercise during pregnancy in preventing GDM in both obese and normal-weight women and analyzed specific aspects of exercise that make it an effective preventive measure. The review of evidence included 3 meta-analyses, 3 systematic …

Covid-19 Deliveries: Maternal Features And Neonatal Outcomes, Viviana Zlochiver, Blair Tilkens, Ana Cristina Perez Moreno, Fatima Aziz, M. Fuad Jan

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Integrated, data-driven criteria are necessary to evaluate delivery outcomes in pregnancies affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzed maternal demographics, clinical characteristics, treatments, and delivery outcomes of 85 ethnically diverse, adult pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the time of delivery. Median maternal and gestational ages were 27 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 23–31) and 39 weeks (IQR: 37.3–40.0), respectively. Of the 85 SARS-CoV-2–positive participants, 67 (79%) had no COVID-19 symptoms at the time of routine COVID-19 admission testing, 14 (16%) reported mild COVID-19 symptoms, and 4 (5%) presented …

The Weight Of A Word, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Some words have more impact than others. In this From the Editor introduction to Volume 8, Issue 3, the editor-in-chief of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews highlights one word from each article that most strongly resonates. Recognizing such pivotal wording can help one absorb the takeaway messages from these works.

Loneliness In Primary Care Patients: Relationships With Body Mass Index And Health Care Utilization, Tamara K. Oser, Siddhartha Roy, Jessica Parascando, Rebecca Mullen, Julie Radico, Alexis Reedy-Cooper, Jennifer Moss

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Rates of loneliness and obesity have increased in recent decades. Loneliness and obesity independently have been found to be risk factors for negative physical and mental health outcomes. This study examined the rates and interrelationships of loneliness, body mass index (BMI), and health care utilization in a primary care setting.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adult patients presenting for outpatient care at 7 family medicine clinical practices in Pennsylvania was conducted. Survey questions included self-reported measures of loneliness, height/weight, number of health care visits, and potential confounders (eg, sociodemographic variables, health status). Bivariate and multivariable linear regression models were …

Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Patient-Centered Language Use In Journals Publishing Research Focused On Heart Failure, Vivian Pham, Benjamin Greiner, Ryan Ottwell, Matt Vassar, Micah L. Hartwell

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Detrimental effects of using non–patient-centered language (nPCL) have been reported for diabetes, mental illness, and obesity, and both the American Medical Association (AMA) and International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommend using patient-centered language in medical literature. Heart failure is a common yet stigmatized disease, and nPCL may further propagate stigma. This study analyzed current use of nPCL in journals focused on heart failure research and also examined whether the journals steer authors to adhere to AMA or ICMJE guidelines regarding nPCL.

Methods: Following systematic search of PubMed for heart failure-related articles published from May 1, 2018, to …

Comprehensive Review And Update Of Burning Eye Syndrome, Stephen Giacomazzi, Ivan Urits, Briggs Hoyt, Ashley Hubble, Elyse M. Cornett, Kyle Gress, Karina Charipova, Amnon A. Berger, Hisham Kassem, Alan D. Kaye, Omar Viswanath

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (“dry eye”) is a common (14%–30% of adults over age 48) though difficult to treat condition that causes both discomfort and disability with associated dryness, pain, and visual disturbances. Etiology is not clearly understood but is likely varied, with a subset of patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain referred to as “burning eye syndrome.” This review of existing literature summarizes the clinical presentation, natural history, pathophysiology, and treatment modalities of burning eye syndrome.

Chronicity of burning eye syndrome is likely secondary to increased nociception from the cornea, decrease in inhibitory signals, and nerve growth factor expression alterations. Treatment …

An Objective Structured Clinical Examination Case For Opioid Management: Standardized Patient Ratings Of Communication Skills As A Predictor Of Systems-Based Practice Scores, Heidi Kenaga, Tsveti Markova, R. Brent Stansfield, Sarwan Kumar, Pierre Morris

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The Wayne State University Office of Graduate Medical Education (WSUGME) uses an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) to assess its programs’ contribution to enhancing residents’ communication skills. In response to revisions in Michigan’s opioid-prescribing mandates in 2017, WSUGME developed a pain management case in collaboration with faculty and the Wayne State University School of Medicine to educate residents about these mandates while gauging their skills in Systems-Based Practice (SBP), an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Core Competency. This study examined whether resident OSCE performance predicted year-end milestones scores in SBP1 (coordinates patient care within various health care delivery settings), …

Business Cards As A Mechanism To Encourage Patient Feedback About Trainees, Marc Atzenhoefer, Jodie Ruffin, David Parewski, Nicole Deklotz, M. Fuad Jan, Ana Cristina Perez Moreno, Suhail Q. Allaqaband

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This project sought to evaluate if business card distribution improved the utility of Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys by serving as a feedback mechanism for trainees. Between fall 2018 and spring 2019, patient encounters for 6 cardiovascular disease fellows were tracked over two 60-day periods. Six weeks were allowed for HCAHPS surveys to be returned. Business cards were subsequently deployed and encounters similarly tracked. During the control-group monitoring period, 721 patient encounters were logged and 80 (11.1%) surveys were returned. Qualitative feedback, in the form of free-response comments, was provided in 41 (51.3%) surveys. Business …

Incidental Finding Of Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return Of The Left Upper Lobe, A Rare Anatomical Variation, Anika Dutta, Loren Zuiderveld

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is a rare congenital abnormality in which 1 to 3 of the pulmonary veins connect to the right atrium rather than the left atrium. In this synthesis of the literature on PAPVR of the left upper lobe, we attempt to illustrate this clinical entity using a case detected incidentally on chest computed tomography, explain the anatomical aspects of this anomaly, and summarize the reported incidence and etiology of left-sided PAPVR. Lastly, differential diagnoses, clinical relevance, and management of left-sided PAPVR are presented. The identification of this variant is important, as it may have serious …

The Experience Of Off Periods In Parkinson’S Disease: Descriptions, Triggers, And Alleviating Factors, Sneha Mantri, Madeline Lepore, Briana Edison, Margaret Daeschler, Catherine Kopil, Connie Marras, Lana Chahine

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Wearing off of Parkinson’s disease medication is common, but triggers and coping strategies for this transient phenomenon are poorly understood. We aimed to assess the lived experience of OFF periods for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Methods: Participants in the longitudinal Fox Insight study who endorsed OFF periods were invited to complete a survey consisting of both multiple-choice and free-text responses. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize multiple-choice responses, and free-text responses were classified into themes through iterative discussion by 3 movement disorders specialists.

Results: A total of 2110 participants (52.4% male) completed the survey. Tremor was the most common …

Abstracts From The 2021 Health Care Systems Research Network Annual Conference

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN) is comprised of 19 not-for-profit health systems with embedded research departments. The network’s annual conference serves as a forum for member institutions to highlight research findings, explore new collaborations, and share insights and opportunities. Abstracts accepted for oral and poster presentation at the 2021 HCSRN Conference are published in this supplement of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, the official scientific journal of the annual conference.

Prevalence Of Common Disease Conditions In A Large Cohort Of Individuals With Down Syndrome In The United States, Brian Chicoine, Anne Rivelli, Veronica Fitzpatrick, Laura Chicoine, Gengjie Jia, Andrey Rzhetsky

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Given the current life expectancy and number of individuals living with Down syndrome (DS), it is important to learn common occurrences of disease conditions across the developmental lifespan. This study analyzed data from a large cohort of individuals with DS in an effort to better understand these disease conditions, inform future screening practices, tailor medical care guidelines, and improve utilization of health care resources.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive study incorporated up to 28 years of data, compiled from 6078 individuals with DS and 30,326 controls matched on age and sex. Data were abstracted from electronic medical records within a …

Building Community-Engaged Multidisciplinary Partnerships To Improve Medication Management In Elderly Patients With Multiple Chronic Conditions, Ivy O. Poon, Felicia Skelton, Lena R. Bean, Dominique Guinn, Terica L. Jemerson, Ngozi D. Mbue, Creaque V. Charles, Uche Anadu Ndefo

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Many studies in preventing adverse drug events have been researcher-driven, yet few have engaged patients in the development of a project. This project aims to engage minority elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions in the development of research questions and strategies to improve medication safety.

Methods: Elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) who were prescribed 7 or more chronic medications were recruited through a university-based aging resource network in a historically African American community in Houston, Texas. Patients and a caregiver participated in a multidisciplinary workgroup comprised of a physician, pharmacists, a nurse, health educators, and a social worker. …

Supply, Demand, And Quality: A Three-Pronged Approach To Blood Product Management In Developing Countries, Kyle L. Gress, Karina Charipova, Ivan Urits, Omar Viswanath, Alan D. Kaye

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

While transfusion of blood and blood products is instinctively linked to the provision of emergent care, blood and blood products are also routinely used for the treatment of subacute and chronic conditions. Despite the efforts of the World Health Organization and others, developing countries are faced with a three-part problem when it comes to access to and delivery of transfusions: insufficient supply, excessive demand, and inadequate quality of available supply. Developing countries rely heavily on replacement and remunerated donors rather than voluntary nonremunerated donors due to concerns regarding donation- and transfusion-transmitted infection as well as local and cultural beliefs. While …

Assessing The Patient-Perceived Monetary Value Of Patient-Reported Outcome Improvement For Patients With Chronic Knee Conditions, Sarah B. Floyd, Alicia Oostdyk, Melanie Cozad, John M. Brooks, Paul Siffri, Brian Burnikel

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The high cost of orthopaedic care has attracted criticism in the current value-based health care environment. The objective of this work was to assess the properties of a willingness to pay (WTP)-based approach to estimate the monetary value that patients place on health improvements in chronic knee conditions following orthopaedic treatment.

Methods: A sample of patients with a chronic knee condition were surveyed between January and May of 2018 at a large orthopaedic practice. Each patient provided their WTP for restoration to ideal knee health and completed the Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation (SANE) to describe their baseline knee state. …

A Patient-Centered Study Examining Self-Identification Of Mental Health Challenges Among Female Military Officers, Rosellen Roche, Joel Manzi, Katelyn Bard

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Due to the expansion of leadership roles in the military for women, female military personnel now face stressors equal to, and yet unique from, their male counterparts. This pilot study surveyed 73 female U.S. Army officers regarding their experiences of leadership and mental wellness within the military. A mixed-methods survey was distributed via 2 private Facebook groups for female Army officers following an anonymized convenience sampling. This anonymous, patient-centered protocol was used to protect against known stigma surrounding disclosing mental health concerns in the military. Respondents were asked a series of questions including perceived mental health status and access to …

Innovations In U.S. Health Care Delivery To Reduce Disparities In Maternal Mortality Among African American And American Indian/Alaskan Native Women, Swapna Reddy, Nina Patel, Mary Saxon, Nina Amin, Rizwana Biviji

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Despite spending more on health care than any other country, the United States has the worst maternal mortality rate among all developed nations. African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native women have the worst outcomes by race, representing a stark health disparity within the country. Contributing factors disproportionately experienced by these minority populations include challenges of access to consistent and high-quality prenatal care, prevalence of underlying conditions, toxic stress due to systemic racism, and unconscious bias in health care. While many of these factors lie upstream in the lives of women, and seemingly beyond the scope of the clinical walls, the …