Browsing by Author "Goldstein, Karen M"
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Item Open Access Accelerating Implementation of Virtual Care in an Integrated Health Care System: Future Research and Operations Priorities.(Journal of general internal medicine, 2021-08) Lewinski, Allison A; Sullivan, Caitlin; Allen, Kelli D; Crowley, Matthew J; Gierisch, Jennifer M; Goldstein, Karen M; Gray, Kaileigh; Hastings, Susan N; Jackson, George L; McCant, Felicia; Shapiro, Abigail; Tucker, Matthew; Turvey, Carolyn; Zullig, Leah L; Bosworth, Hayden BBackground
Virtual care is critical to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) efforts to expand veterans' access to care. Health care policies such as the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability (CHOICE) Act and the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act impact how the VHA provides care. Research on ways to refine virtual care delivery models to meet the needs of veterans, clinicians, and VHA stakeholders is needed.Objective
Given the importance of virtual approaches for increasing access to high-quality VHA care, in December 2019, we convened a Think Tank, Accelerating Implementation of Virtual Care in VHA Practice, to consider challenges to virtual care research and practice across the VHA, discuss novel approaches to using and evaluating virtual care, assess perspectives on virtual care, and develop priorities to enhance virtual care in the VHA.Methods
We used a participatory approach to develop potential priorities for virtual care research and activities at the VHA. We refined these priorities through force-ranked prioritization and group discussion, and developed solutions for selected priorities.Results
Think Tank attendees (n = 18) consisted of VHA stakeholders, including operations partners (e.g., Office of Rural Health, Office of Nursing Services, Health Services Research and Development), clinicians (e.g., physicians, nurses, psychologists, physician assistants), and health services researchers. We identified an initial list of fifteen potential priorities and narrowed these down to four. The four priorities were (1) scaling evidence-based practices, (2) centralizing virtual care, (3) creating high-value care within the VHA with virtual care, and (4) identifying appropriate patients for virtual care.Conclusion
Our Think Tank took an important step in setting a partnered research agenda to optimize the use of virtual care within the VHA. We brought together research and operations stakeholders and identified possibilities, partnerships, and potential solutions for virtual care.Item Open Access Addressing Hypertension Outcomes Using Telehealth and Population Health Managers: Adaptations and Implementation Considerations.(Current hypertension reports, 2022-08) Drake, Connor; Lewinski, Allison A; Rader, Abigail; Schexnayder, Julie; Bosworth, Hayden B; Goldstein, Karen M; Gierisch, Jennifer; White-Clark, Courtney; McCant, Felicia; Zullig, Leah LPurpose of review
There is a growing evidence base describing population health approaches to improve blood pressure control. We reviewed emerging trends in hypertension population health management and present implementation considerations from an intervention called Team-supported, Electronic health record-leveraged, Active Management (TEAM). By doing so, we highlight the role of population health managers, practitioners who use population level data and to proactively engage at-risk patients, in improving blood pressure control.Recent findings
Within a population health paradigm, we discuss telehealth-delivered approaches to equitably improve hypertension care delivery. Additionally, we explore implementation considerations and complementary features of team-based, telehealth-delivered, population health management. By leveraging the unique role and expertise of a population health manager as core member of team-based telehealth, health systems can implement a cost-effective and scalable intervention that addresses multi-level barriers to hypertension care delivery. We describe the literature of telehealth-based population health management for patients with hypertension. Using the TEAM intervention as a case study, we then present implementation considerations and intervention adaptations to integrate a population health manager within the health care team and effectively manage hypertension for a defined patient population. We emphasize practical considerations to inform implementation, scaling, and sustainability. We highlight future research directions to advance the field and support translational efforts in diverse clinical and community contexts.Item Open Access Barriers and facilitators to implementation of epilepsy self-management programs: a systematic review using qualitative evidence synthesis methods.(Systematic reviews, 2020-04-25) Lewinski, Allison A; Shapiro, Abigail; Gierisch, Jennifer M; Goldstein, Karen M; Blalock, Dan V; Luedke, Matthew W; Gordon, Adelaide M; Bosworth, Hayden B; Drake, Connor; Lewis, Jeffrey D; Sinha, Saurabh R; Husain, Aatif M; Tran, Tung T; Van Noord, Megan G; Williams, John WBackground
Epilepsy affects nearly 50 million people worldwide. Self-management is critical for individuals with epilepsy in order to maintain optimal physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Implementing and adopting a self-management program requires considering many factors at the person, program, and systems levels. We conducted a systematic review of qualitative and mixed-methods studies to identify facilitators and barriers that impact implementation and adoption of self-management programs for adults with epilepsy.Methods
We used established systematic review methodologies for qualitative and mixed-methods studies. We included studies addressing facilitators (i.e., factors that aided) or barriers (i.e., factors that impeded) to implementation and adoption of self-management interventions for adults with epilepsy. We conducted a narrative thematic synthesis to identify facilitators and barriers.Results
The literature search identified 2700 citations; 13 studies met eligibility criteria. Our synthesis identified five themes that categorize facilitators and barriers to successful implementation epilepsy self-management: (1) relevance, intervention content that facilitates acquisition of self-management skills; (2) personalization, intervention components that account for the individual's social, physical, and environmental characteristics; (3) intervention components, components and dosing of the intervention; (4) technology considerations, considerations that account for individual's use, familiarity with, and ownership of technology; and (5) clinician interventionist, role and preparation of the individual who leads intervention. We identified facilitators in 11 of the 13 studies and barriers in 11 of the 13 studies and classified these by social-ecological level (i.e., patient/caregiver, program, site/system).Conclusion
Identification of facilitators and barriers at multiple levels provides insight into disease-specific factors that influence implementation and adoption of self-management programs for individuals with epilepsy. Our findings indicate that involving individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers in intervention development, and then tailoring intervention content during the intervention, can help ensure the content is relevant to intervention participants. Our findings also indicate the role of the clinician (i.e., the individual who provides self-management education) is important to intervention implementation, and key issues with clinicians were identified as barriers and opportunities for improvement. Overall, our findings have practical value for those seeking to implement and adopt self-management interventions for epilepsy and other chronic illnesses.Systematic review registration
PROSPERO registration number is CRD42018098604.Item Open Access Can Right-Sizing the Use of Virtual Care Improve Access to Equitable, Patient-Centered Care for Women Veterans?(Journal of general internal medicine, 2023-07) Goldstein, Karen M; Bosworth, Hayden B; Gierisch, Jennifer MItem Open Access Cardiometabolic Comorbidities in Cancer Survivors: JACC: CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review.(JACC. CardioOncology, 2022-06-21) Zullig, Leah L; Sung, Anthony D; Khouri, Michel G; Jazowski, Shelley; Shah, Nishant P; Sitlinger, Andrea; Blalock, Dan V; Whitney, Colette; Kikuchi, Robin; Bosworth, Hayden B; Crowley, Matthew J; Goldstein, Karen M; Klem, Igor; Oeffinger, Kevin C; Dent, SusanThere are nearly 17 million cancer survivors in the United States, including those who are currently receiving cancer therapy with curative intent and expected to be long-term survivors, as well as those with chronic cancers such as metastatic disease or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, who will receive cancer therapy for many years. Current clinical practice guidelines focus on lifestyle interventions, such as exercise and healthy eating habits, but generally do not address management strategies for clinicians or strategies to increase adherence to medications. We discuss 3 cardiometabolic comorbidities among cancer survivors and present the prevalence of comorbidities prior to a cancer diagnosis, treatment of comorbidities during cancer therapy, and management considerations of comorbidities in long-term cancer survivors or those on chronic cancer therapy. Approaches to support medication adherence and potential methods to enhance a team approach to optimize care of the individual with cancer across the continuum of disease are discussed.Item Open Access Changes in the Delivery of Veterans Affairs Cancer Care: Ensuring Delivery of Coordinated, Quality Cancer Care in a Time of Uncertainty.(Journal of oncology practice, 2017-11) Zullig, Leah L; Goldstein, Karen M; Bosworth, Hayden BItem Open Access Chronic disease management perspectives of colorectal cancer survivors using the Veterans Affairs healthcare system: a qualitative analysis.(BMC health services research, 2018-03) Zullig, Leah L; Goldstein, Karen M; Bosworth, Hayden B; Andrews, Sara M; Danus, Susanne; Jackson, George L; Provenzale, Dawn; Weinberger, Morris; Kelley, Michael J; Voils, Corrine IBackground
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. CRC survivors may have complex healthcare needs requiring care from both specialists and primary care. Our objective was to understand how CRC survivors perceive their survivorship care, especially management of their cardiovascular-related chronic diseases.Methods
We identified patients diagnosed with non-metastatic CRC between 10/1/2007 and 12/31/2015 at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in North Carolina or Virginia. In 2016, we conducted telephone-based, semi-structured interviews to assess survivors' experiences with cancer survivorship and changes in health priorities. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was reached. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded.Results
The 25 participants were, on average, 64 years old and approximately 4 years post-CRC diagnosis at the time of interview; most were white (60%), male (92%), and diagnosed with colon cancer (64%) as opposed to rectal cancer. CRC survivors reported: (1) a shift in focus from surviving cancer to reducing cardiovascular disease risk (e.g., by managing weight); (2) challenges with taking medications for CVD-related conditions; (3) new recognition of the importance of engaging with primary care providers.Conclusions
Experiences with cancer shapes how survivors view their health. Management of cardiovascular-related chronic disease is important to veteran CRC survivors. There is a need to deliver cardiovascular disease risk reduction programs tailored for CRC survivors.Item Open Access Consideration of Out-of-Office Blood Pressure Monitoring in Hypertension Management.(Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.), 2016-05) Goldstein, Karen M; Zullig, Leah L; Bosworth, Hayden B; Oddone, Eugene ZItem Open Access Countering clinical inertia in lipid management: Expert workshop summary.(American heart journal, 2018-12) Zullig, Leah L; Egbuonu-Davis, Lisa; Trasy, Anjali; Oshotse, Christiana; Goldstein, Karen M; Bosworth, Hayden BItem Open Access Effectiveness of Acute Care Remote Triage Systems: a Systematic Review.(Journal of general internal medicine, 2020-07) Boggan, Joel C; Shoup, John Paul; Whited, John D; Van Voorhees, Elizabeth; Gordon, Adelaide M; Rushton, Sharron; Lewinski, Allison A; Tabriz, Amir A; Adam, Soheir; Fulton, Jessica; Kosinski, Andrzej S; Van Noord, Megan G; Williams, John W; Goldstein, Karen M; Gierisch, Jennifer MBackground
Technology-based systems can facilitate remote decision-making to triage patients to the appropriate level of care. Despite technologic advances, the effects of implementation of these systems on patient and utilization outcomes are unclear. We evaluated the effects of remote triage systems on healthcare utilization, case resolution, and patient safety outcomes.Methods
English-language searches of MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and CINAHL were performed from inception until July 2018. Randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies of remote triage services that reported healthcare utilization, case resolution, and patient safety outcomes were included. Two reviewers assessed study and intervention characteristics independently for study quality, strength of evidence, and risk of bias.Results
The literature search identified 5026 articles, of which eight met eligibility criteria. Five randomized, two controlled before-and-after, and one interrupted time series study assessed 3 categories of remote triage services: mode of delivery, triage professional type, and system organizational level. No study evaluated any other delivery mode other than telephone and in-person. Meta-analyses were unable to be performed because of study design and outcome heterogeneity; therefore, we narratively synthesized data. Overall, most studies did not demonstrate a decrease in primary care (PC) or emergency department (ED) utilization, with some studies showing a significant increase. Evidence suggested local, practice-based triage systems have greater case resolution and refer fewer patients to PC or ED services than regional/national systems. No study identified statistically significant differences in safety outcomes.Conclusion
Our review found limited evidence that remote triage reduces the burden of PC or ED utilization. However, remote triage by telephone can produce a high rate of call resolution and appears to be safe. Further study of other remote triage modalities is needed to realize the promise of remote triage services in optimizing healthcare outcomes.Protocol registration
This study was registered and followed a published protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42019112262).Item Open Access Heart matters: Gender and racial differences cardiovascular disease risk factor control among veterans.(Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, 2014-09) Goldstein, Karen M; Melnyk, S Dee; Zullig, Leah L; Stechuchak, Karen M; Oddone, Eugene; Bastian, Lori A; Rakley, Susan; Olsen, Maren K; Bosworth, Hayden BBackground
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality for U.S. women. Racial minorities are a particularly vulnerable population. The increasing female veteran population has an higher prevalence of certain cardiovascular risk factors compared with non-veteran women; however, little is known about gender and racial differences in cardiovascular risk factor control among veterans.Methods
We used analysis of variance, adjusting for age, to compare gender and racial differences in three risk factors that predispose to CVD (diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia) in a cohort of high-risk veterans eligible for enrollment in a clinical trial, including 23,955 men and 1,010 women.Findings
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) values were higher in women veterans than men with age-adjusted estimated mean values of 111.7 versus 97.6 mg/dL (p < .01). Blood pressures (BPs) were higher among African-American than White female veterans with age-adjusted estimated mean systolic BPs of 136.3 versus 133.5 mmHg, respectively (p < .01), and diastolic BPs of 82.4 versus 78.9 mmHg (p < .01). African-American veterans with diabetes had worse BP, LDL values, and hemoglobin A1c levels, although the differences were only significant among men.Conclusions
Female veterans have higher LDL cholesterol levels than male veterans and African-American veterans have higher BP, LDL cholesterol, and A1c levels than Whites after adjusting for age. Further examination of CVD gender and racial disparities in this population may help to develop targeted treatments and strategies applicable to the general population.Item Open Access How can equitable video visit access be delivered in primary care? A qualitative study among rural primary care teams and patients(BMJ Open, 2022-08) Goldstein, Karen M; Perry, Kathleen R; Lewinski, Allison; Walsh, Conor; Shepherd-Banigan, Megan E; Bosworth, Hayden B; Weidenbacher, Hollis; Blalock, Dan V; Zullig, Leah LObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic sparked exponential growth in video visit use in primary care. The rapid shift to virtual from in-person care exacerbated digital access disparities across racial groups and rural populations. Moving forward, it is critical to understand when and how to incorporate video visits equitably into primary care. We sought to develop a novel clinical algorithm to guide primary care clinics on how and when to employ video visits as part of care delivery.DesignQualitative data collection: one team member conducted all patient semistructured interviews and led all focus groups with four other team members taking notes during groups.Setting3 rural primary care clinics in the USA.Participants24 black veterans living in rural areas and three primary care teams caring for black veterans living in rural areas.Primary and secondary outcome measuresFindings from semistructured interviews with patients and focus groups with primary care teams.ResultsKey issues around appropriate use of video visits for clinical teams included having adequate technical support, encouraging engagement during video visits and using video visits for appropriate clinical situations. Patients reported challenges with broadband access, inadequate equipment, concerns about the quality of video care, the importance of visit modality choice, and preferences for in-person care experience over virtual care. We developed an algorithm that requires input from both patients and their care team to assess fit for each clinical encounter.ConclusionsInformed matching of patients and clinical situations to the right visit modality, along with individual patient technology support could reduce virtual access disparities.Item Open Access Impact of Gender on Satisfaction and Confidence in Cholesterol Control Among Veterans at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease.(Journal of women's health (2002), 2017-07) Goldstein, Karen M; Stechuchak, Karen M; Zullig, Leah L; Oddone, Eugene Z; Olsen, Maren K; McCant, Felicia A; Bastian, Lori A; Batch, Bryan C; Bosworth, Hayden BBackground
Compared with men, women have poorer lipid control. Although potential causes of this disparity have been explored, it is unknown whether patient-centered factors such as satisfaction and confidence contribute. We evaluated (1) whether satisfaction with lipid control and confidence in ability to improve it vary by gender and (2) whether sociodemographic characteristics modify the association.Materials and methods
We evaluated baseline survey responses from the Cardiovascular Intervention Improvement Telemedicine Study, including self-rated satisfaction with cholesterol levels and confidence in controlling cholesterol. Participants had poorly controlled hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia.Results
A total of 428 veterans (15% women) participated. Compared with men, women had higher low-density lipoprotein values at 141.2 versus 121.7 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.05), higher health literacy, and were less likely to have someone to help track their medications (all p < 0.05). In an adjusted model, women were less satisfied with their cholesterol levels than men with estimated mean scores of 4.3 versus 5.6 on a 1-10 Likert scale (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in confidence by gender. Participants with support for tracking medications reported higher confidence levels than those without, estimated mean 7.8 versus 7.2 (p < 0.05).Conclusions
Women veterans at high risk for cardiovascular disease were less satisfied with their lipid control than men; however, confidence in ability to improve lipid levels was similar. Veterans without someone to help to track medications were less confident, and women were less likely to have this type of social support. Lack of social support for medication tracking may be a factor in lingering gender-based disparities in hyperlipidemia.Item Open Access Implementing a Population Health Management Intervention to Control Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors.(Journal of general internal medicine, 2020-06) Jazowski, Shelley A; Bosworth, Hayden B; Goldstein, Karen M; White-Clark, Courtney; McCant, Felicia; Gierisch, Jennifer M; Zullig, Leah LItem Open Access Improving cardiovascular outcomes by using team-supported, EHR-leveraged, active management: Disseminating a successful quality improvement project.(Contemporary clinical trials communications, 2021-03) Lewinski, Allison A; Bosworth, Hayden B; Goldstein, Karen M; Gierisch, Jennifer M; Jazowski, Shelley; McCant, Felicia; White-Clark, Courtney; Smith, Valerie A; Zullig, Leah LBackground
Uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) is common among Veterans. Rural Veterans are at risk for suboptimal care coordination as successful programs may be implemented at lower rates due to individual- and system-level factors. There is strong evidence to support the use of remotely delivered support and patient-generated data from home BP monitors and virtual BP visits to manage BP.Objective
The purpose of this project is to augment the current approach to addressing uncontrolled BP so that existing clinical staff can reach a larger patient population.Methods
Our project will address uncontrolled BP by leveraging team-based care, the Veteran's Health Administration Electronic Health Record, and patient-centered medical home data to address patient, provider, and system barriers to cardiovascular disease (CVD) preventive care. We will implement this project in cardiovascular disease practices in three rural Veterans Health Administration clinics. We will evaluate implementation processes as well as patient-level (e.g., clinical outcomes, referrals to specialty services) outcomes in a one-arm, pre-post design.Discussion
This manuscript describes our process in expanding the implementation of a successful project to improve BP control in high-risk, rural Veterans. Findings from our study will inform an understanding of both implementation and clinical effectiveness outcomes of a potentially scalable BP intervention in rural, community-based clinics. Appropriate management of Veterans with uncontrolled BP can reduce morbidity and mortality related to CVD. In turn, improvements in BP, can lead to improved quality metrics and potentially decrease costs for a healthcare system.Item Open Access Intensifying approaches to address clinical inertia among cardiovascular disease risk factors: A narrative review.(Patient education and counseling, 2022-12) Lewinski, Allison A; Jazowski, Shelley A; Goldstein, Karen M; Whitney, Colette; Bosworth, Hayden B; Zullig, Leah LObjective
Clinical inertia, the absence of treatment initiation or intensification for patients not achieving evidence-based therapeutic goals, is a primary contributor to poor clinical outcomes. Effectively combating clinical inertia requires coordinated action on the part of multiple representatives including patients, clinicians, health systems, and the pharmaceutical industry. Despite intervention attempts by these representatives, barriers to overcoming clinical inertia in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor control remain.Methods
We conducted a narrative literature review to identify individual-level and multifactorial interventions that have been successful in addressing clinical inertia.Results
Effective interventions included dynamic forms of patient and clinician education, monitoring of real-time patient data to facilitate shared decision-making, or a combination of these approaches. Based on findings, we describe three possible multi-level approaches to counter clinical inertia - a collaborative approach to clinician training, use of a population health manager, and use of electronic monitoring and reminder devices.Conclusion
To reduce clinical inertia and achieve optimal CVD risk factor control, interventions should consider the role of multiple representatives, be feasible for implementation in healthcare systems, and be flexible for an individual patient's adherence needs.Practice implications
Representatives (e.g., patients, clinicians, health systems, and the pharmaceutical industry) could consider approaches to identify and monitor non-adherence to address clinical inertia.Item Open Access Maternal chronic hypertension in women veterans.(Health services research, 2024-04) Harding, Ceshae C; Goldstein, Karen M; Goldstein, Sarah A; Wheeler, Sarahn M; Mitchell, Nia S; Copeland, Laurel AObjective
To describe the prevalence of maternal chronic hypertension (MCH), assess how frequently blood pressure is controlled before pregnancy among those with MCH, and explore management practices for antihypertensive medications (AHM) during the pre-pregnancy and pregnancy periods.Data sources, study setting, and study design
We conducted a descriptive observational study using data abstracted from the Veterans Health Administration (VA) inclusive of approximately 11 million Veterans utilizing the VA in fiscal years 2010-2019.Data collection/extraction methods
Veterans aged 18-50 were included if they had a diagnosis of chronic hypertension before a documented pregnancy in the VA EMR. We identified chronic hypertension and pregnancy with diagnosis codes and defined uncontrolled blood pressure as ≥140/90 mm Hg on at least one measurement in the year before pregnancy. Sensitivity models were conducted for individuals with at least two blood pressure measurements in the year prior to pregnancy. Multivariable logistic regression explored the association of covariates with recommended and non-recommended AHMs received 0-6 months before pregnancy and during pregnancy.Principal findings
In total, 8% (3767/46,178) of Veterans with a documented pregnancy in VA data had MCH. Among 2750 with MCH meeting inclusion criteria, 60% (n = 1626) had uncontrolled blood pressure on at least one BP reading and 31% (n = 846) had uncontrolled blood pressure on at least two BP readings in the year before pregnancy. For medications, 16% (n = 437) received a non-recommended AHM during pregnancy. Chronic kidney disease (OR = 3.2; 1.6-6.4) and diabetes (OR = 2.3; 1.7-3.0) were most strongly associated with use of a non-recommended AHM during pregnancy.Conclusions
Interventions are needed to decrease the prevalence of MCH, improve preconception blood pressure control, and ensure optimal pharmacologic antihypertensive management among Veterans of childbearing potential.Item Open Access Nonpharmacologic, nonherbal management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: an umbrella systematic review (protocol).(Syst Rev, 2016-04-07) Goldstein, Karen M; McDuffie, Jennifer R; Shepherd-Banigan, Megan; Befus, Deanna; Coeytaux, Remy R; Van Noord, Megan G; Goode, Adam P; Masilamani, Varsha; Adam, Soheir; Nagi, Avishek; Williams, John WBACKGROUND: Vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats are a common concern of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and are associated with a decreased quality of life. These symptoms can be effectively managed with hormone therapy, but safety concerns limit its use. Thus, understanding the effectiveness of nonpharmacologic therapies such as acupuncture or yoga is critical to managing these common symptoms in older women. Our review seeks to address the following question: In women with menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms, what are the effects on health-related quality of life, vasomotor symptoms, and adverse events of the following nonpharmacologic, nonherbal interventions as compared with any inactive control or active comparator: (a) acupuncture, (b) yoga, tai chi, and qigong, (c) structured exercise, and (d) meditation, mindfulness-based practices, and relaxation? METHODS: We describe a protocol for an umbrella review approach, supplemented by evaluating randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published after the most recent good-quality systematic review for each of the eligible interventions. Specific interventions were chosen based on current literature and with input from a technical expert panel and organizational stakeholders. We will conduct a thorough literature search and perform a quality assessment of potentially included systematic reviews and RCTs. DISCUSSION: Our umbrella review, supplemented by an additional search for eligible RCTs, aims to synthesize existing evidence on the use of nonpharmacologic, nonherbal interventions to manage bothersome vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42016029335.Item Open Access Optimizing the Equitable Deployment of Virtual Care for Women: Protocol for a Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Examining Patient and Provider Perspectives Supplemented with Primary Qualitative Data.(Health equity, 2023-01) Goldstein, Karen M; Patel, Dhara B; Van Loon, Katherine A; Shapiro, Abigail; Rushton, Sharron; Lewinski, Allison A; Lanford, Tiera J; Cantrell, Sarah; Zullig, Leah L; Wilson, Sarah M; Shepherd-Banigan, Megan; Alton Dailey, Susan; Sims, Catherine; Robinson, Cheryl; Chawla, Neetu; Bosworth, Hayden B; Hamilton, Alison; Naylor, Jennifer; Gierisch, Jennifer MIntroduction
Women experience numerous barriers to patient-centered health care (e.g., lack of continuity). Such barriers are amplified for women from marginalized communities. Virtual care may improve equitable access. We are conducting a partner-engaged, qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) of patients' and providers' experiences with virtual health care delivery for women.Methods
We use a best-fit framework approach informed by the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability framework and Public Health Critical Race Praxis. We will supplement published literature with qualitative interviews with women from underrepresented communities and their health care providers. We will engage patients and other contributors through multiple participatory methods.Results
Our search identified 5525 articles published from 2010 to 2022. Sixty were eligible, of which 42 focused on women and 24 on provider experiences. Data abstraction and analysis are ongoing.Discussion
This work offers four key innovations to advance health equity: (1) conceptual foundation rooted in an antiracist action-oriented praxis; (2) worked example of centering QES on marginalized communities; (3) supplementing QES with primary qualitative information with populations historically marginalized in the health care system; and (4) participatory approaches that foster longitudinal partnered engagement.Health equity implications
Our approach to exploring virtual health care for women demonstrates an antiracist praxis to inform knowledge generation. In doing so, we aim to generate findings that can guide health care systems in the equitable deployment of comprehensive virtual care for women.Item Open Access Patient-reported medication adherence barriers among patients with cardiovascular risk factors.(Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy, 2015-06) Zullig, Leah L; Stechuchak, Karen M; Goldstein, Karen M; Olsen, Maren K; McCant, Felicia M; Danus, Susanne; Crowley, Matthew J; Oddone, Eugene Z; Bosworth, Hayden BBackground
Many patients experience barriers that make it difficult to take cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related medications as prescribed. The Cardiovascular Intervention Improvement Telemedicine Study (CITIES) was a tailored behavioral pharmacist-administered and telephone-based intervention for reducing CVD risk.Objectives
To (a) describe patient-reported barriers to taking their medication as prescribed and (b) evaluate patient-level characteristics associated with reporting medication barriers.Methods
We recruited patients receiving care at primary care clinics affiliated with Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Eligible patients were diagnosed with hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia that were poorly controlled (blood pressure of > 150/100 mmHg and/or low-density lipoprotein value > 130 mg/dL). At the time of enrollment, patients completed an interview with 7 questions derived from a validated medication barriers measure. Patient characteristics and individual medication treatment barriers are described. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association between a medication barrier score and patient characteristics.Results
Most patients (n = 428) were married or living with their partners (57%) and were men (85%) who were diagnosed with hypertension and hyperlipidemia (64%). The most commonly reported barriers were having too much medication to take (31%) and forgetting whether medication was taken at a particular time (24%). In adjusted analysis, those who were not employed (1.32, 95% CI = 0.50-2.14) or did not have someone to help with tasks, if needed (1.66, 95% CI = 0.42-2.89), reported higher medication barrier scores. Compared with those diagnosed with hypertension and hyperlipidemia, those with only hypertension (0.91, 95% CI = 0.04-1.79) reported higher medication barrier scores.Conclusions
Barriers to medication adherence are common. Evaluating and addressing barriers may increase medication adherence.