Journal of general internal medicine
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Healthcare delivery organizations are increasingly screening patients for social risks using tools that vary in content and length. ⋯ Patients reported high acceptability of both social risk assessment tools. While rates of positive screens for financial hardship were similar across the two measures, more patients indicated interest in assistance after answering questions about financial hardship on the CMS tool. This might be because the screening questions on the CMS tool help patients to appreciate the types of assistance related to financial hardship that may be available after screening. Future research should assess the validity and comparative validity of individual measures and measure sets. Tool selection should be based on setting and population served, screening goals, and resources available.
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Studies have shown that adults with a history of incarceration have elevated cardiovascular (CVD) risk. Research on racial/ethnic group differences in the association between incarceration and CVD risk factors of hypertension and hyperglycemia is limited. ⋯ Our findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that incarceration may be linked to chronic disease outcomes. Race/ethnic-specific results, while limited by small sample size, highlight the need for long-term studies on incarceration's influence among distinct US groups.
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Adherence to inhaled medications is key to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) control and management. ⋯ Suboptimal adherence to inhaled medications and many inhalation therapy errors were identified among COPD patients. Common use errors in inhaled medications, CAT score, and education background were predictive of and influenced adherence to inhaled medications. It is necessary to strengthen training in Chinese patients about inhaler use and follow-up intensively with patients throughout treatment, especially for patients with risk factors.
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Observational Study
Associations between Missed Colonoscopy Appointments and Multiple Prior Adherence Behaviors in an Integrated Healthcare System: An Observational Study.
Missed colonoscopy appointments delay screening and treatment for gastrointestinal disorders. Prior nonadherence with other care components may be associated with missed colonoscopy appointments. ⋯ Three prior adherence behaviors were independently associated with missed colonoscopy appointments. Studies to predict adherence should use multiple, complementary measures of prior adherence when available.
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Observational Study
Effects of Home-Based Primary Care on Hospital Use for High-Need Medicare Patients: an Observational Study.
High-need, high-cost Medicare patients can have difficulties accessing office-based primary care. Home-based primary care (HBPC) can reduce access barriers and allow a clinician to obtain valuable information not obtained during office visit, possibly leading to reductions in hospital use. ⋯ After high-need, high-cost patients started receiving HBPC, they did not experience fewer total hospitalizations or lower inpatient spending but may have had lower rates of potentially avoidable hospitalizations after 2 years.