This meta-analysis is the first study conducted in Asia to quantitatively review the effectiveness of depression interventions in the Asian workplace. We identified 19 controlled intervention studies with a total sample size of 3,325 subjects representing different industry sectors in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. Interventions were coded as Cognitive-Behavioral, Multimodal, Alternative, Organizational, and Strength-Based, which were delivered face-to-face or mediated by a computer or telephone. Overall, the results of a pooled mean effect size (Cohen's d) of 0.417 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.257, 0.576]) revealed a significant and moderate positive effect of workplace interventions on the alleviation of depressive symptoms within the Asian workforce. This effectiveness could justify the increasing organizational need for investing in enhancing workplace mental health, as promoted by the World Health Organization. Moreover, ancillary moderator analyses in this study identified several key factors to further enhance the effectiveness of workplace interventions. Specifically, in addition to conventional cognitive-behavioral interventions, alternative and novel interventions with indigenous components and mediated interventions with interactive elements were found to have practical significance in the Asian workplace.

Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the relationship between patient characteristics (internal psychological, external psychological, internal physical, external physical, and educational) and self-monitoring of blood glucose among noninsulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes in a local primary care setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, in which data were collected by a structured questionnaire. Correlational and multivariate multiple regression analyses were performed. Three hundred seventy-four noninsulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes were eligible and completed the questionnaire in August 2019. The response rate was 93.5%. The respondents’ self-reported self-monitoring of blood glucose adherence was the main outcome measure. Results: In predicting self-monitoring of blood glucose adherence, the current regression model accounted for 12.3% of the variance (Adjusted R2 = 0.123, p < 0.05), with internal psychological factors and educational factors being significant. External psychological factors, external physical factors, and internal physical factors were found to be statistically nonsignificant. Conclusion: The findings highlighted the facilitating role of internal psychological factors and educational factors in SMBG adherence in noninsulin-treated type 2 diabetic patients. Among these factors, the education aspect was relatively strongly associated with increased SMBG adherence. With adequate patient education on diabetes and SMBG, the increased literacy would possibly strengthen patients’ internal psychological factors and motivate them to uptake SMBG practice. Implications from the current findings suggested that further research on different SMBG parameters is warranted to fill the knowledge gap in structuring an individualized and targeted SMBG protocol for better diabetic care.

4 Background: People with cancer increasingly wish to discuss cancer care costs with clinicians. In our organization all price questions go to a central customer service line with limited capacity to address oncology-specific questions. We aimed to improve clinician access to treatment prices to assist them in responding to patient concerns about prices. Methods: We developed, launched, and evaluated a pilot tool and accompanying workflow for four oncology clinics in an integrated delivery system in WA. The online tool included a series of 50 printable worksheets for the most commonly ordered cancer treatment protocols accessible directly from the electronic health record. The worksheets included codes and prices for all drugs, supportive medications, tests, and professional services for one treatment cycle presented in patient-friendly language. We audited the accuracy of the cost information against patient bills. The worksheets did not provide patient-level cost-shares. We evaluated the resource’s launch, initial use, and acceptability through a convenience survey of initial users. Results: The project was successfully launched. Initial web traffic to price sheets exceeded the number of treatments being ordered during the launch period. A third of survey respondents (33%) reported using the cost sheets at least once a week. Reported most useful features were improved access to cost information, treatment protocol-based layout, and the service of previously unmet patient needs. Seventy percent (70%) reported that the resource had no impact on their workload. The mean value of the resource (1 lowest and 10 highest value) was 7.9 (value to patients); 7.8 (to oncology service line), 7.7 (to Group Health) and 6.5 (to own work or practice). Staff reporting of patient response was generally positive. Suggested improvements included provide patient-level cost share (63%) followed by expanding the project to include more protocols (33%). Conclusions: The pilot was feasible, built capacity to locate price data, and did not adversely impact staff workload. It addressed a clear need and demonstrated high potential overall value, especially its protocol-based format. The resource’s lack of personalized estimates of out-of-pocket charges was the biggest gap reported.

No abstract