Cell phone-delivered smoking cessation treatment has a positive impact on abstinence rates compared to a usual care approach. Future research should focus on strategies for sustaining the treatment effect in the long term.
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has markedly improved HIV disease management, and significantly reduced HIV/AIDS-associated morbidity and mortality. Although recent studies suggest a relationship between smoking and suboptimal adherence to ART, a more in-depth understanding of this relationship is needed. We conducted a secondary analysis using data from a randomized controlled smoking cessation trial to investigate the association of nonadherence to ART with potential demographic, psychosocial (perceived stress and depression), and substance use (nicotine dependence, illicit drug use, and alcohol use) variables among persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who smoke. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of participants (n = 326) was 45.9 years old (SD = 7.6). Additionally, the majority were male (72.1%), self-identified as black (76.7%), and reported sexual contact as the mode of HIV acquisition (70%). Unadjusted logistic regression analysis indicated that depression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00, 1.04), illicit drug use (OR = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.51, 3.79) and alcohol use (OR = 2.86; 95%CI = 1.79, 4.57) were associated with nonadherence. Adjusted logistic regression analysis indicated that nicotine dependence (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.25), illicit drug use (OR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.27, 3.49), alcohol use (OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.52, 4.12), and age (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.00, 1.07) were associated with nonadherence. Nicotine dependence, illicit drug use, and alcohol use are potentially formidable barriers to ART adherence among PLWHA who smoke. Future efforts should investigate the complex relationships among these variables to improve adherence particularly among populations confronted with multifaceted health challenges.
HIV-positive women are at elevated risk for developing cervical cancer. While emerging research suggests that gynecologic health care is underutilized by HIV-positive women, factors associated with adherence to Pap testing, especially among HIV-positive female smokers are not well known. We utilized baseline data from a smoking cessation trial and electronic medical records to assess Pap smear screening prevalence and the associated characteristics among the HIV-positive female participants (n=138). Forty-six percent of the women had at least 1 Pap test in the year following study enrollment. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age, African American race, hazardous drinking, increased number of cigarettes smoked per day, and smoking risk perception were associated with non-adherence to Pap smear screening. Cervical cancer screening was severely underutilized by women in this study. Findings underscore the importance of identifying predictors of non-adherence and addressing multiple risk factors and behavioral patterns among HIV-positive women who smoke.
CVD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, responsible for nearly a third of all deaths. In US, 85.6 million Americans are living with CVD, including 15.5 million with coronary heart disease (CHD). Heart disease (HD) specifically is responsible for approximately one in every seven American deaths, taking 370,213 lives per year. Perhaps even more striking than CHD’s mortality is its preventability. The CDC estimates that 34% of deaths caused by HD could potentially be prevented with modifiable risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle. By comparing the mortality of CVD and CHD in the US, Europe, and the United Kingdom (UK), we aim to gain a better understanding of the CVD burden and economic cost. Methods: We conducted a literature review of the most recent epidemiological data for US, Europe, and UK to compare mortality due to CVD and CHD between these three regions. Data sources for US include the AHA and CDC. Data for Europe was obtained from the European Society of Cardiology, following the World Health Organization’s definition of 53 states as the European region. The UK is included as it was considered independently in this study. Data for the UK was published by the British Heart Foundation. Results: The comparison of data shows that high mortality is evident in all represented countries and regions with a highest percent of CVD of total deaths in Europe as compared to US (45% vs 30.8%) and CHD (20% vs 14.2%). Very similar findings according annual mortality are evident comparing US to UK for CVD (30.8% vs 28%) and for CHD (14.2% vs 13%). The treatment for CVD is increasing over time, with prescriptions and operations costs around 6.8 billion in England, the majority spend on secondary care. CDC data in US show that Americans suffer 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes each year, which contributes more than $320 billion in annual healthcare costs and lost productivity. By 2030, this cost is projected to rise to $818 billion, while lost productivity costs to $275 billion. Conclusions: Although there is some variation between Europe as a group of 53 countries compared to the US and UK, it is clear that CVD has a major impact on mortality in all three regions studied. Improved prevention of CVD, including heart disease, has the potential to save lives around the globe and to reduce economic burden.
111 Background: A fundamental tenet of survivorship care is to identify and deliver a wide range of supportive care services. Survivors rely on clinicians to provide integrated care personalized to their own supportive care needs. Yet there is lack of evidence demonstrating which method is “best practice” when assessing survivor’s needs. The aim of our Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement project was to determine the best method to identify survivors’ supportive care needs and coordinate services. Methods: We used the appointment list of the Breast Survivorship Clinic to identify 114 adult survivors seen for their initial survivorship visit between January-March 2014. Survivors were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their needs related to: 1) energy-balance, 2) complementary medicine, 3) lymphedema, 4) psychosocial concerns, 5) sexual health, and 6) tobacco use. Survivors were randomly assigned into 3 groups to identify the best method to assess their health care needs: 1) Mail, 2) Secure Electronic Messaging, and 3) Navigation Visit with Health Educator (HE). Questionnaires for the mail and electronic messaging groups were distributed before being seen in the clinic. Navigation participants completed the questionnaire during the visit with HE. Descriptive statistics were used to describe and compare group characteristics. Results: A total of 114 patients were randomized to complete the assessment by either mail (N=28), secured electronic message (N=50), or during the navigation visit (N=36). The in-person, navigation visit had the highest completion rate (78%) compared to secured message (22%), and mail (7%). An overwhelming majority of survivors’ in the navigation group (93%) indicated they had needs in in at least one of the 6 domains. The top two needs across all groups were nutrition and physical activity. Conclusions: This evaluation suggests the use of a health navigator to guide the survivor through the needs assessment was the most successful way to assess needs of long-term breast cancer survivors. Enhanced navigation during a cancer survivor’s visit can be used to tailor integrative health services, which can improve their well-being and mental health outcomes.
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