The American journal of managed care
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The frontline treatment paradigm for patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has changed dramatically in the past decade amid efforts to tackle this leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligand PD-L1 are an important therapeutic option for patients whose tumors lack genetic alterations that dictate response to molecularly targeted therapies. ⋯ Presently, PD-L1 expression remains a key biomarker in this setting, in spite of its limitations. This article will evaluate the current and evolving clinical trends in the use of ICIs in the frontline management of metastatic NSCLC, as well as the challenges associated with PD-L1 expression analysis and biomarker implementation.
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To describe associations between patient factors and interest in and concerns about telehealth video visits among adults in midlife and older. ⋯ Interest in and concerns about telehealth vary along the lines of sociodemographic factors and experience using the internet for video communication. These findings have implications for the design of interventions and policies to promote equitable access to health care as it increasingly moves online.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Medicare Advantage-pharmacy partnership improves influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates.
To evaluate the impact of a collaborative effort of a Medicare Advantage and prescription drug (MAPD) plan and community pharmacies to improve vaccination rates for pneumonia and influenza. ⋯ A health plan-enabled, pharmacist-led intervention was effective in increasing the number of older adults receiving pneumococcal vaccination and individuals receiving influenza vaccination.
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Multicenter Study
Covishield India: demystifying myths through an early multicenter study.
Nationwide COVID-19 vaccination was initiated in India on January 16, 2021, in a phased manner with vaccines including Covishield. This vaccine was indigenously prepared by Serum Institute of India in line with the Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 vaccine developed at the University of Oxford. This is the first multicenter study to assess the safety of the indigenously prepared Covishield vaccine in India. ⋯ The absence of serious adverse effects in our study will help allay fears around vaccine acceptance and give a boost to the vaccination campaign worldwide.
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To assess what patient, family supporter, and call characteristics predicted whether patients completed automated and coach-provided calls in a telehealth diabetes intervention. ⋯ Patients of all ages completed telehealth calls at a high rate. Automated IVR calls were completed more often when urgent issues were identified to patients' providers, but less often if patients had high HbA1c or depression. Visit preparation call content should be tailored to patient education level. Family help with medications may identify patients needing additional support to engage with telehealth.