Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons^™

Use Of A Primary Care Dataset To Describe ‘The Real Picture’ Of Diabetes In Kimberley Aboriginal Communities, Caitlyn S. White, Kimberley Seear, Lorraine Anderson, Emma Griffiths

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Objective
Aboriginal communities are impacted by high rates of diabetes, however these are currently underestimated by national data sources used by policy and decision makers to inform allocation of health resources. We aimed to estimate diabetes prevalence and screening coverage using primary care electronic medical record data.

Methods
A cross-sectional audit was conducted using primary care data from Aboriginal regular Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) clinic attendees aged 15 years and over (n=1763) in five remote communities in the Kimberley region. Main outcome measures were overall diabetes prevalence; age-specific diabetes prevalence; prevalence of pre-diabetes; and screening rates among patients …

Ocular Syphilis: A Case Report And Public Health Discussion, Andrew L. Fine, Hope V. Daskalakis, Rutwik Pradeep Sharma M.D., Mirna Ogeilat M.D.

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Ocular Syphilis describes a localized manifestation of a systemic treponema pallidum infection. It most commonly presents with decreased visual acuity due to uveitis and can occur at any time throughout the disease course. This report describes a case of undiagnosed syphilis that was serendipitously diagnosed with blood product screening. This case highlights the need for better public education and outreach pertaining to sexually transmitted infections. This report will detail this patient's clinical course and discuss how healthcare providers can aid in early disease detection to improve both patient outcomes and overall public health.

Predictors Of Lung Cancer Screening Recommendation In Virginia Using The Community Health Assessment Survey, Aashish Batheja, Carrie Miller, Sunny Jung Kim, Bernard Fuemmeler F., Rajsh Balkrishnan

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to determine the factors that may influence the probability of being recommended a lung cancer screening by a health professional in Virginia.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Community Health Assessment Survey conducted by the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System and Cancer System in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Cancer Center. SAS software was used to conduct a logistic regression with the following variables: age, sex, race, current smoking status, cancer history, education level, income level, insurance, and rurality.

Results: Statistically significant positive predictors included being a current smoker (OR: 3.504, …

Structural Barriers To Health Care Access And Ipv Disclosure In First-Generation Latina Immigrants, Donna L. Schminkey, Deborah Elkins, Karen Jagiello, Sandra Annan, Jamie Robinson, Erika Metzler Sawin

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Background: This study aimed to describe the unique structural barriers faced by Latina women in rural areas of Virginia as they attempt to access the health care system, and, once they have gained access, to identify barriers to intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure.

Methods: Semi-structured in-depth individual interviews with first-generation Latina immigrants were conducted after initial purposeful convenience sampling and concomitant snowball recruiting. A thematic content analysis using a phenomenological approach was employed to interpret participants' experiences. Initial findings were validated through additional interviews.

Results: The overarching theme expressed by these women was their search for dignity. Emergent sub-themes related …

First-Stage Development Of The Pitjantjatjara Translation Of The World Health Organization’S Alcohol, Smoking And Substance Involvement Screening Test (Assist), Matthew Wr Stevens, Dom Barry, Sue Bertossa, Mark Thompson, Robert Ali

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Substance use is a leading contributor to global disease, illness and death. Compared with non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are at an increased risk of substance-related harms due to the experience of additional social, cultural, and economic factors. While preventive approaches, including screening and early interventions are promising, currently there are limited options available to healthcare workers that are culturally appropriate for use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. Therefore, the aim of this research was to translate and culturally adapt the World Health Organization endorsed, Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) into Pitjantjatjara. …

Review Of Cannabis Use Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People, Julia Butt, Mandy Wilson, Jocelyn Jones, Simon Lenton

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

The health effects of cannabis use may not always be seen as a high priority for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. However, the impact of cannabis use on physical and mental health can have significant consequences. It is known that the use of high potency cannabis has increased over the last two decades, with a corresponding increased risk to health. In particular, young people are at increased risk of experiencing harms to mental health. Physical harms to health include effects on the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, an increased risk of cancer, and in-utero effects from maternal use. The review …

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 …

Improving Healthcare Costs And Patient Outcomes Across Healthcare Professions, Hannah Lamb, Jourdan Ujlaki, Paige Torbet, Isabel Cwikla, Rebecca Worden, Michael Rush

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Healthcare professionals must be aware of the importance of preventive medicine and the responsibility they have in contributing to it. There are three levels of preventive medicine that a healthcare professional can provide based on the patient population that is receiving care and the goals of the particular service. Preventive medicine has the ability to improve both overall healthcare costs and have a positive impact on a patient's quality of life. All healthcare professionals have the potential to fulfill a role in each level of preventive medicine, and should understand the role of each member of the healthcare team, to …

Comparison Of Compliance With Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Aged 18 And Above In Arkansas And The United States, Sarah N. O'Connor, Jun Tao, L. Joseph Su

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Introduction: Cervical cancer preys on women without access to preventative screening. Any woman who has developed an invasive case of cervical cancer should be regarded as a failure of screening. Disparities in access to screening, triage, and treatment fuel an uneven distribution in the burden of cervical cancer within the United States; weighing unusually heavy on the Southern States like Arkansas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate demographic and behavioral risk factors for cervical cancer and identify potential barriers which may influence the likelihood of complying with current Pap test recommendations on a state level, in Arkansas, and …

Pap Utilization Survey In Nueva Vida, Nicaragua: Professional And Health Promotoras Partnership, Olushola O. Ogunleye, Bethesda J. O'Connell, Megan A. Quinn, Lea C. Florence, Kaitlyn Shirely

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women in developing countries and accounted for 84% of the global incidence of cervical cancer in 2012. Nicaragua is one country illustrating this disparity, with an annual cervical cancer mortality six times the U.S. rate. This may be explained by lack and poor utilization of effective screening programs, especially the Papanicolaou, or Pap, smear. This study resulted from a partnership formed by faculty and students from two U.S. universities and a Nicaraguan nonprofit organization to conduct projects to benefit a community in Nicaragua. To promote a free Pap smear program provided …

Vietnamese American Women’S Beliefs And Perceptions On Cervical Cancer, Cervical Cancer Screening, And Cancer Prevention Vaccines: A Community-Based Participatory Study, Connie Kim Yen Nguyen-Truong, Kim Quy Vo Nguyen, Thai Hien Nguyen, Tuong Vy Le, Anthony My Truong, Keara Rodela, Rachael Allan

Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal

Cervical cancer remains commonly diagnosed in Vietnamese American women. Despite efforts to increase cervical cancer screening among Vietnamese American women, participation rates are persistently lower than the national goal. The objective of this study is to explore beliefs of Vietnamese American women about cervical cancer, cervical cancer screening, and cancer prevention vaccines. A qualitative descriptive investigation captured group perceptions about meaning and beliefs of cervical cancer, screening, and cancer prevention vaccines, and participants’ stories using a community-based participatory research approach.

Forty Vietnamese American women were recruited from the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area into four focus groups. Using a process of …

Identifying And Targeting Age-Related Colorectal Cancer Screening Rate Disparities In Family Medicine Residency Clinics, Jonathan J. Blaza, Jasmine R. Wiley, Matthew Gill, Alonzo Jalan, Will Lehmann, Deborah Simpson, Jeffrey A. Stearns

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Health care systems continuously seek to improve patient care through population-level analysis of clinical quality metrics and patient characteristics to identify disparities in care. Nationally, disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates have been identified with lower screening rates reported for patients who are uninsured and/or lower socioeconomic status, African American/black, Asian, and non-English-speaking Hispanic patients. No age-related CRC screening rate disparities with associated interventions have been reported.

Purpose: Determine and address CRC screening disparities in care provided to eligible patients > 50 years old in two primary care residency clinics.

Methods: Retrospective analysis using REAL-G (race, ethnicity, age, preferred …

Identifying Disparities In Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates In Milwaukee-Based Academic And Nonacademic Clinics, Jasmine Wiley, Jonathan J. Blaza, Will Lehmann, Deborah Simpson, Jeffrey A. Stearns, Shelby L. Pischke, Tracy L. Greiten

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Triple Aim focuses on improving the patient’s experience of care, improving population health and reducing the per capita cost of health care. Health care systems and providers continuously seek to improve quality of care through understanding what percentage of their patients are achieving quality-of-care standards for various indicators, including immunizations, tobacco cessation, asthma and cancer screening. As health care moves toward reimbursing for value-based care, deepening our understanding of patient population characteristics within each of these conditions is vital to continuous quality improvement.

Purpose: To determine if there are race/ethnicity/age/preferred language (REAL) disparities in …