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Objectives/Goals: This project (1) assesses provider behavior at the Galveston Secure Against the Fentanyl Epidemic (G-SAFE) Clinic in providing evidence-based care for underserved patients in our community and (2) implements evidence-based anti-stigma intervention in local health care. Methods/Study Population: The efficacy and impact of G-SAFE on healthcare utilization, health outcomes, and patient satisfaction will be determined. Evaluations assessing provider behavior will be made across at least 25 clinic patient visits, taking note of medical students, clinicians, and health providers’ interactions with patients related to decision-making, care plan creation, and communication. Health provider discussion groups will provide essential data in understanding the successful management of SUDs, management of safety and risk, and how best to pilot and assess interventions that promote greater trust-building and a harm-reduction approach to clinical care for patient empowerment and positive outcomes. Results/Anticipated Results: Observations in the clinic will be turned into interventions to improve diagnostics and therapeutics for SUD medical care and behavioral change. We will recruit 40 medical students (with/without exposure to UTMB’s free clinics) as well as 20 clinicians in the G-SAFE Clinic, Emergency Medicine, and Primary Care. Baseline stigma will be measured with the Medical Condition Regard Scale and the Drug and Drug Problems Questionnaire alongside measures of care approaches. The data collected and the educational intervention for medical students and clinicians will make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by SUDs and serve as a model for future interventions on a larger scale. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Health provider’s SUDs stigma undermines both care quality, patient empowerment, and recovery success. Addressing provider stigma is crucial for necessitating a shift toward collaborative, responsive, and creative clinical decision-making to tackle the ethical challenges posed by the opioid crisis.
Objectives/Goals: This study aimed to explore Puerto Rican adolescents’ mental health experiences, focusing on risk and protective factors, and cultural perspectives on mental health. Methods/Study Population: Three focus groups were conducted: two with 20 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years of both genders and one with five adults who work with adolescents. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results/Anticipated Results: The majority of participants in both groups of adolescents identified five key themes: social pressures, barriers to discussing mental health, the impact of social media, coping strategies, and institutional interventions. The adult focus group highlighted adolescent mental health problems, support systems, family and social factors, the church’s role, and recommended interventions. Discussion/Significance of Impact: The findings emphasize that social and familial pressures, mental health stigma, and social media significantly impact adolescent mental health. Coping strategies, such as sports, art, and nature, were also identified. These themes underscore the need for safe, supportive spaces, and targeted approaches to address youth mental health.
Objectives/Goals: • Investigate culturally-specific beliefs, caregiving approaches, care preferences, and unmet needs among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) care partners supporting persons living with dementia • Apply identified findings toward culturally-adapting caregiving resources for AANHPI dementia care partners Methods/Study Population: Qualitative data from the Better Together Dementia Care Study and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Dementia Caregiving Study were analyzed to investigate culturally-specific beliefs, caregiving approaches, preferences, and unmet needs of AANHPI dementia care partners. Both studies remotely conducted and recorded semi-structured interviews (1.5–2.5 hours), with care partners and providers though interview protocols were distinct. Transcripts were AI-generated, through Zoom or Trint, and analyzed using thematic content analysis by two coders. Apriori codes drawn from literature and inductively-identified codes were identified and coded. Preliminary findings informed sociocultural strategies used to adapt existing care partner resources for use in these groups. Results/Anticipated Results: Preliminary analysis of care partner (CP) interviews (N = 8; 4 romantic partners, 4 adult children), revealed differences in caregiving experiences and networks. CPs supporting care receivers (CR) who had emigrated away from extended family networks reported a lack of instrumental support. Most CR (7/8) had adult children, many of whom (6/8) provided some care, though half of CR-child relationships were distant or had past difficulties. Romantic partners were primary CPs while co-caregiving with children; Adult children served as primary CPs for unpartnered CRs (n = 4). Adapted CP resources integrated these findings, acknowledging the complexities of fulfilling traditional filial expectations in light of difficult past relationships. Formal services were framed as an extension of family-coordinated care. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Care partners of immigrants may have limited local family support and may benefit from formal services. Adult children may provide care, though this may be complicated by poor past relationship quality. AANHPI care partners may benefit from culturally-adapted resources which address these issues, though resource acceptability-testing is needed.
Objectives/Goals: This study’s objective was to explore how a personal cancer diagnosis impacts the social connectedness (i.e., quality, structure, and functions of social relationships) of adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS, patients diagnosed with cancer between 15 and 39 years old), to inform intervention development fostering social health. Methods/Study Population: In this qualitative study (part of larger study assessing AYACS’ psychosocial challenges), participants were 15–25 years old at the time of cancer diagnosis and within 6 years of cancer diagnosis. Participants (and consenting parents of participants 18 years old and older) had to have fluency in written and spoken English and access to a computer or smartphone. Qualitative interviewers utilized an interview guide to conduct individual participant interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data using a phenomenological approach to explore how a personal cancer diagnosis impacted social connectedness. Qualitative data related to social connectedness (corresponding to code “Relationships and Support”) are presented. Results/Anticipated Results: Three themes emerged through thematic analysis: (1) AYACS experience substantial heterogeneity related to social support needs; (2) AYACS leverage multiple relationships and resources when seeking support after a personal cancer diagnosis; (3) AYACS’ individual experiences were unique in that some noted positive changes, whereas others noted negative changes in relationships within social networks, specifically with peers. Discussion/Significance of Impact: AYACS experience various social support needs, and leverage multiple relationships when seeking social support. These translational findings create a foundation to develop AYACS social programming, foster peer relationships, and incorporate social science methods to aid intervention development to strengthen AYACS’ social connectedness.
Objectives/Goals: Summarize literature on parenting stress and treatment outcomes among postpartum women with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describe the causes of parenting stress identified by postpartum women who received medication for OUD (MOUD) and service providers. Discuss recommendations for parenting support services for postpartum women receiving MOUD in outpatient treatment settings. Methods/Study Population: We will conduct focus groups with postpartum women who received MOUD up to one-year after childbirth (2 groups; n = 10) and service providers (e.g., obstetrics, psychiatry, pediatrics, primary care; 2 groups; n = 10) to identify causes of and contributors to parenting stress to inform the adaptation of a parenting intervention for postpartum women receiving MOUD in an outpatient clinic setting. Participants will be recruited via flyers, email, and social media reach-outs, clinic staff and patient group meetings, and community-based outreach methods. Participants will be compensated for their participation. Focus groups will be audio-recorded and transcribed. Data will be analyzed via rapid analytic procedures using a summary template matrix. Results/Anticipated Results: We will use parenting-related stressors identified by mothers with substance use disorders in previous research to guide our interview questions. We expect to hear participants speak about their knowledge and experiences with stigma, guilt and shame, mental health symptoms, neonatal opioid withdrawal or neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), fear of being reported to child protective services, and difficulties with mother–infant bonding and attachment. We will also ask participants about structural barriers that are known to increase parenting stress, such as housing instability, financial strain, and availability and cost of childcare. We will also report on new themes that emerge from the data that are shown to increase stress, challenge sobriety, and hinder continued engagement in the treatment. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Discontinuation of MOUD in the postpartum period is high and can lead to opioid recurrence and overdose. Outpatient treatment programs who offer psychiatric and behavioral health care, and parenting programs that target contributors of early postpartum parenting stress could improve health and MOUD treatment outcomes for mothers with OUD.
Objectives/Goals: Using k-means clustering, we aimed to identify whether clusters characterized by greater exposure to minority stressors (e.g., experienced/anticipated discrimination) were associated with lower moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and higher sedentary behavior among sexual and gender minority (SGM; e.g., lesbian/gay, bisexual, transgender) adults. Methods/Study Population: SGM adults face higher risks of inadequate PA due to exposure to minority stressors, which may influence their willingness and ability to engage in PA. An online sample of SGM adults completed daily surveys about experienced and anticipated discrimination and wore wrist accelerometers for 28 days to objectively measure PA. We used k-means clustering to identify clusters based on reports of experienced and anticipated discrimination. We determined the optimal number of clusters using established partition criteria and ran linear regression models (adjusted for demographic factors) to examine the associations of minority stress clusters with MVPA and sedentary time. Results/Anticipated Results: Among 42 SGM adults (mean age 27.0±7.7 years) with 1133 person-days of accelerometry data, we identified four minority stress clusters: low anticipated/low experienced (LALE; reference group), low anticipated/high experienced (LAHE); high anticipated/low experienced (HALE), and high anticipated/high experienced discrimination (HAHE). Participants in the HALE cluster (n = 12) engaged in 202 fewer minutes of MVPA than those in the LALE cluster (n = 7). Participants in the LAHE cluster (n = 10) had 123 fewer minutes of vigorous PA than those in the LALE cluster. No differences were identified for sedentary time. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This is the first study to examine the association of minority stressors with objective PA among SGM adults. Participants in the HALE/LAHE clusters had lower PA than those with low levels of experienced and anticipated discrimination. Interventions to improve PA among SGM adults must target reduction of minority stressors.
Objectives/Goals: Community engagement in pediatric emergency medicine research is completed mostly when an exemption from informed consent (EFIC) is involved. A campaign was designed to engage the community surrounding an academic pediatric emergency department in an informal discussion on any pediatric acute care and research topics they felt were important. Methods/Study Population: A flyer inviting members of the community to a virtual session was circulated through social media and word of mouth. Five members of the community attended the first session, including one with healthcare expertise and another with clinical research experience. The participants were not asked any personal characteristic questions and were allowed to self-identify during the discussion, to maintain the informal nature of the session. Results/Anticipated Results: All the participants identified as women, and mothers to children ranging in age from 11 weeks to 14 years. The participants highlighted community engagement as pivotal for advancing children’s health. They stressed the inclusion of groups traditionally underrepresented in healthcare systems, including patients and families who rarely utilize acute services and whose children have no chronic medical conditions. Critical issues in emergency and urgent care for children were extensively discussed, with a focus on when acute medical treatment is necessary and determining appropriate healthcare settings – emergency departments, urgent care centers, or primary care offices. The participants unanimously supported research leading to practical solutions for improving children’s health outcomes. Discussion/Significance of Impact: A group of community caregivers can lead to an established collaborative effort to enhance children’s healthcare outcomes through community engagement, informed decision-making, and practical application of research findings to families and caregivers. A standing community meeting is planned based on the feedback from the first session.
Objectives/Goals: To describe the evaluation processes of screening services implemented in community pharmacies. Methods/Study Population: A systematic literature review will be conducted from the last 20 years in Ovid Medline, APA PsycINFO, Clinialtrials.gov, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts. Inclusion criteria are written in English, describes a clinical or health-related screening service in a community pharmacy, and evaluation of said health screening service is included. Approximately 950 articles have been initially identified. Two authors will screen each title, abstract, and full text for inclusion. Subsequent data extraction will occur including elements of 1) evaluation framework, 2) evaluation outcomes assessed, and 3) evaluation results. All elements of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist will be followed. Quality of articles will be assessed using the MMAT. Results/Anticipated Results: Results are expected to show limited evaluation of screening services in pharmacies. Clinical conditions included in the screening services are expected to vary greatly. High-quality evaluations will be noted as templates for future evaluation of screening services in community pharmacies. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This systematic review will describe the current literature on evaluation of health screening services in community pharmacies. This will give readers an overview of how evaluations are currently being carried out in this setting, as well as provide them with templates of high-quality evaluations for future evaluation of screening services.
Objectives/Goals: The Research Education and Community Health (REACH) coalition proposes to develop the infrastructure for continuous and comprehensive collection of community health data to drive programs, education, and funding priorities across municipal agencies, institutions, and nonprofit organizations in Galveston County. Methods/Study Population: The workgroup through REACH will organize and adopt a comprehensive community health needs assessment that 1) accumulates existing, readily available data for shared use (e.g., Center for Health Care Data at the UT School of Public Health, the Texas Department of State Health Services Center for Health Statistics, and Epic Cosmos, a data aggregation tool, used by UTMB and other health systems to improve patient care); 2) utilizes data collected throughout the community (i.e. non-profits, municipal agencies, and law enforcement); and 3) applies qualitative data from focus groups and/or key informant interviews, so we can hear directly from community members about what their needs are. By doing so, we hope all can benefit from having access to current and relevant data to drive our programs, education, and funding. Results/Anticipated Results: This Community Health Needs Assessment is being coordinated by a diverse workgroup including community organizations, researchers, and policy makers who will benefit from access to current and relevant data. The Galveston Youth Risk Student Survey, completed every three years and most recently in 2024, revealed lingering health and mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on County youth. This highlighted the need for community access to current, accurate, and ongoing data to drive programming, interventions, and education. The REACH Coalition, made up of 23 UTMB Centers and Institutes and 39 community organizations, is spearheading this effort as a part of its mission to facilitate collaborative research, service, and educational efforts. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Collected data will be used to establish and support ongoing, coordinated interventions in response to identified needs. Shared ownership of data and project implementation optimizes resources and reduces gaps and/or redundancy in community programming.
Objectives/Goals: Primary care physicians (PCPs) have limited awareness of assistive technology (AT) devices that can improve the daily functioning of older adults. This study aimed to assess the quality of the My Assistive Technology Guide (MATG), an informative web app, among PCPs and to describe their experiences using it. Methods/Study Population: In this pilot project, our team – comprising an established researcher, an undergraduate faculty member, and a graduate student – enrolled ten PCPs. In Phase I, the PCPs received training on how to use the MATG and were encouraged to utilize it for 30 days. At the end of this usage period, we implemented a concurrent parallel mixed-method design to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were gathered using the User Mobile Application Scale (uMARS), while qualitative data was obtained through interviews. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis. Results/Anticipated Results: The mean score for the subjective quality of the MATG was high, 4.1 ± 1.1. The information domain received the highest rating, with a mean score of 4.6 ± 0.51, while the engagement domain received the lowest rating, at 3.3 ± 1.5. Overall, subjective quality was rated moderately high (mean 3.9, interquartile range 1.2), with perceived impact rated the highest at 4.8 ± 0.4. PCPs reported increased awareness, knowledge, attitude, intention, and behaviors to learn about AT and to inform and recommend AT devices to older adults. In addition, PCPs provided suggestions to improve the MGAT and its integration into their medical practice. Discussion/Significance of Impact: The results demonstrated the high quality and utility of the MATG, indicating that it could serve as a valuable resource for PCPs in addressing functional disabilities among older adults. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of the MATG in enhancing older adults’ function in daily living activities.
Objectives/Goals: Chronic stress may accelerate biological aging yet is often overlooked in clinical settings. Many tools to assess stress exist, but a comprehensive measure of cumulative stress across the lifespan is unavailable. This study validates a novel measure of lifetime stress for use as a screening tool in clinical practice. Methods/Study Population: Patients (n > 220) enrolled in brain health research registry at the Washington University St. Louis Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center completed in-person surveys at baseline and after six months. Baseline measures included the everyday discrimination scale (EDS), total adverse experience (TAE), and demographics. Age and evaluating life course stress experience (ELSE) scores were measured six months later. Ongoing analysis includes age-adjusted correlations of ELSE scores with TAE and EDS scores. We will investigate the correlation with race and ethnicity and sex assigned at birth. We will explore the relationship between ELSE score and multidimensional intersectionality. Results/Anticipated Results: The sample was 87% Black or African American, 8% White, 4% Hispanic, 82% female, and 18% male, with a mean age of 66 ± 10 years. Age-adjusted relationships between patient characteristics and ELSE scores will be analyzed. Additionally, ELSE responses will be compared against age, EDS, and TAE measurements. Intersectionality between race-ethnicity, sex, and gender will be examined. We hypothesize ELSE scores will vary by demographic. Preliminary results indicate the ELSE scale correlates with established life stress measures, accounting for cumulative stress exposure across a lifespan independent of specific stressor topics. Discussion/Significance of Impact: The ELSE scale is a viable tool for clinical screening of chronic stress exposure over a lifespan. Its implementation will allow clinicians to identify patients at high risk for accelerated aging, facilitating targeted interventions and advancing equity in healthcare delivery.
Objectives/Goals: Research suggests that veterans identifying as Black, Hispanic/Latinx and multiracial may be at higher risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of the current study was to compare PTSD treatment outcomes across racial/ethnic veteran groups. Methods/Study Population: Data from 862 veterans who participated in a 2-week cognitive processing therapy (CPT)-based intensive PTSD treatment program were evaluated. Veterans were on average 45.2 years old and 53.8% identified as male. Overall, 64.4% identified as White, Non-Hispanic/ Latino; 17.9% identified as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), Non-Hispanic/Latino; and 17.7% identified as Hispanic/Latino. PTSD (PCL-5) and depression (PHQ-9) were collected at intake, completion, and at 3-month follow up. A Bayes factor approach was used to examine whether PTSD, and depression outcomes would be noninferior for BIPOC and Hispanic/Latino groups compared to White, Non-Hispanic veterans over time. Results/Anticipated Results: PTSD severity decreased for the White, BIPOC, and Hispanic/Latino groups from baseline to 3-month follow-up. The likelihood that BIPOC and Hispanic/Latino groups would have comparable PTSD outcomes was 1.81e+06 to 208.56 times greater than the likelihood that these groups would have worse outcomes than the White, Non-Hispanic veterans. Depression severity values on the PHQ-9 decreased for the White, BIPOC, and Hispanic/Latino groups from baseline to 3-month follow-up. The likelihood that BIPOC and Hispanic/Latino groups would have comparable depression outcomes at treatment completion approached infinity. At 3-month follow-up, likelihood was 1.42e+11 and 3.09e+05, respectively. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Results indicated that White, BIPOC, and Hispanic/ Latino groups experienced similarly large PTSD and depression symptom reductions. This study adds to the growing body of literature examining differences in clinical outcomes across racial/ ethnic groups for PTSD.
Objectives/Goals: To screen community members for prediabetes and diabetes in the grocery stores located in urban areas, identify gaps in healthcare access, promote healthy food, teach participants about diabetes prevention and management, and learn from them via interactive community-based educational sessions. Methods/Study Population: 303 Tops Friendly Market customers in urban Buffalo, NY participated in this program. Customers without a diabetes diagnosis took a CDC Prediabetes Risk Test (score >5 = prediabetes risk). Those with a previous diabetes diagnosis took a survey about their diabetes knowledge/management, healthcare access, and social determinants of health. Participants received a $5 voucher for fruit and vegetables. We conducted 5 educational sessions using an adult learning, participatory education approach. A $10 gift card was given for attendance. Participants shared questions/concerns and strategies to overcome barriers. We answered questions and collected information on barriers to diabetes care. Results/Anticipated Results: Seven-six participants (25%) had a diabetes diagnosis. Of these, 91% saw a doctor every 3 months, but 28% did not know the importance of HbA1c. 18% had trouble paying for medications, 15% had inadequate transportation. 227 took the Prediabetes Risk Test: 58% had a score >5, 47% had diabetes family history, 51% had hypertension, and 75% had a BMI that put them at risk for diabetes. 86% of those with a score5. 55 people (34 unique) participated in 5 sessions. We actively listened to diabetes perceptions, concerns, successes and barriers/facilitators to self-management, and discussed diabetes management strategies for heathier eating and lifestyle. Discussion/Significance of Impact: It is feasible to screen for health conditions in the supermarket setting, which can be an equalizer in enhancing access to healthcare. This study helped identify gaps in care and provided education. Importantly, people receiving this intervention lived in the poorest neighborhoods in Buffalo.
Objectives/Goals: Adults from minority groups report more severe and pervasive pain than those in majority groups, resulting in a disproportionate burden of pain. Whether race disparities in pain outcomes exist in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) is unknown. We examined the association of race with pain intensity, pain interference, and pain phenotypes in MS. Methods/Study Population: Ambulatory adults with medically documented MS completed a comprehensive survey battery including demographics and clinical data. Pain outcomes were assessed with four measures: Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pain intensity and pain interference short forms, the American College of Rheumatology Fibromyalgia Survey Criteria (a surrogate of degree of nociplastic pain), and the PainDETECT (a surrogate of neuropathic pain). Participants were categorized as either Black/African American or White based on their self-reported race. Four sets of unadjusted and adjusted (including sex, age, years since diagnosis, MS subtype and Patient Determined Disease Steps—PDDS score) linear regression models were built to examine the associations between race and pain outcomes. Results/Anticipated Results: A total of 258 participants (200 White and 58 Black), with a mean age of 51 ± 12 years, mostly female (77%), an average of 15 ± 10 years since diagnosis, a PDDS score ranging from 0 to 6, and mostly diagnosed with RRMS (79%), were included in the analyses. Unadjusted regression models indicated that pain intensity (β = 5.20; 95% CI 2.73 – 7.66, p < 0.001), pain interference (β = 5.17; 95% CI 2.29 – 8.06, p < 0.001), and nociplastic pain (β = 2.41; 95% CI 0.40 – 4.42, p = 0.019) were all higher for Black/African American participants compared to White participants. The differences remained statistically significant in adjusted models. No differences in neuropathic pain were observed between Black/African American and White participants in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Discussion/Significance of Impact: We highlight an increased burden of pain in Black/African American with MS compared with their White counterparts. The findings illuminate potential future targets of interventions to reduce disparities in the experience and impact of pain. A comprehensive examination of the role of social determinants in pain outcomes in MS is further warranted.
Objectives/Goals: Research mistrust is well documented. So is community engagement’s potential to foster trust. We share the community engaged development and implementation of informational sessions on research and the protections for participants, aiming at enhancing community members’ knowledge of research. Methods/Study Population: Drawing from a pool of community members who had participated in research projects with a community engaged (CE) research center, we established a four-member Research Partner Committee (RPC) to work with the Center’s research team (CE Team) in the co-creation of materials for an informational session covering two main topics: the fundamentals of biomedical research and of protections for research participants.. The RPC and CE Team also co-developed two sets of pre- and post-tests to evaluate knowledge acquisition at session implementation. Community partners assisted in recruiting their constituents to participate in the sessions and provided convenient sites for the presentations. Results/Anticipated Results: The CE Team and RPC met 7 times to co-create the research and protections presentations (e.g., research definition, importance, inclusion of diverse populations, reasons we have protections, Institutional Review Boards, and informed consent). They also co-developed a 7- and a 9- item pre-post test, respectively. Five informational sessions, implemented by the CE Team with RPC members as observers drew 49 participants (96% African American, 73% female). 55.1% and 75.5% of participants showed a positive change in knowledge after the research and the protections presentations, respectively. 91% agreed to be notified about future research studies at the center. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Engaging community members in dialogue around research and the reasons for mistrust in research encourages relationship development. This engagement equips community members with knowledge to join in conversations around medical studies and make informed decisions about participation in research.
Objectives/Goals: Rural disparities in chronic disease burden are well documented. However, the impact of individual socioeconomic status on these rural disparities in prevalence and control status of chronic diseases remains less understood. We aim to assess the association of prevalence and control status of chronic diseases among adults with rurality and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods/Study Population: The Expanded Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records linkage system identified prevalence of asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and mood disorder using ICD codes between 2014 and 2019 among adults in 27 Upper Midwest counties. Uncontrolled status was defined by presence of ED visit or hospitalization with corresponding ICD-9/10 codes. SES was measured by HOUSES index, a validated individual-level SES measure, and rural status was defined by primary Rural Urban Commuting Area codes of 4–10. Hierarchical logistic regression models were used to examine the association of rurality with prevalence and control status of the four chronic diseases, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and presence of general medical exam extracted by CPT codes (Model 1) and additionally SES measured by HOUSES (Model 2). Results/Anticipated Results: Among 455,802 adults, 42.8% were rural residents and 87.4% were Non-Hispanic White. Model 1 (without HOUSES) showed higher prevalence and lower control rates of chronic diseases in rural residents, except for asthma. In Model 2, accounting for SES, urban residents were more likely to have an uncontrolled mood disorder, hypertension, and diabetes, and there were no differences in prevalence of chronic diseases that existed between rural and urban residents. Lower SES measured by HOUSES was consistently and significantly associated with higher prevalence and uncontrolled status of chronic diseases (p-value Discussion/Significance of Impact: Patient’s SES explains rural disparities in prevalence (null association with rurality once SES is accounted) and changes the directionality of association for uncontrolled status in Upper Midwest, highlighting the importance of considering SES in rural disparities research.
Objectives/Goals: The goal of the RC2 Systems Marketing Analysis for Research Translation (SMART) special innovation program is to develop and test a structured approach for working with research teams and communities to accelerate the translation of clinical and community innovations to address health inequities by integrating social marketing with community-based system dynamics. Methods/Study Population: The SMART program is a consultancy service for CTS teams focused on selecting and tailoring implementation strategies for advancing equity. We use social marketing for understanding the alignment of practice innovation feature sets with community priorities for advancing health equity; and community-based system dynamics to understand and refine the dynamics of scaling up and sustaining the implementation of innovations with sufficient reach to address regional health inequities. The program is implemented as community-engaged group model-building workshops with research teams, with follow-up marketing analyses and computer simulation of implementation strategies of innovations and development of implementation roadmaps. We use developmental program evaluation to revise the SMART program. Results/Anticipated Results: Anticipated results from piloting the SMART innovation program with four research teams include (1) design matrices pre and post-workshop for each innovation; (2) system dynamics simulation models and analyses of implementation and scale-up of innovations; (3) analysis of the SMART program for highest impact, with priors for estimating subsequent SMART program performance; and (4) a revised SMART program based on results from the developmental program evaluation. Discussion/Significance of Impact: This work highlights the feasibility and benefits of combining methods that have been cited in implementation science for understanding the complexity of implementation to accelerate the translation of innovations into clinical and community settings for advancing health equity.
Objectives/Goals: Originally presented at TS24, we would like to discuss follow-up outcomes and preliminary findings“Building Empowerment Through Fitness” – objectives were designed to address the “whole women” in underserved segments of the population in impoverished and/or underprivileged communities with fewer opportunities and promote economic mobility. Methods/Study Population: A qualitative study design to understand unique cultural context and challenges faced by women residing in the Birmingham Housing Authority, regarding physical activity engagement, including sedentarism. The needs assessment approach examined barriers, support systems, and social networks. Semi-structured, pre, mid, and post program focus groups explored challenges and opportunities for health, such as diet and exercise, and are being analyzed by hand with a thematic analysis. The project framework used movement, home repair tools with a life-building/life repair curriculum to influence self-efficacy and program engagement. The study enrollment included 51 women over two cohorts in a 12-week project. Results/Anticipated Results: Preliminary are results showed the women did face heightened health risks due to sedentary lifestyles, educational gaps, and socioenvironmental barriers. We incorporated tool skills, healthy lifestyles, and social/emotional focus group to explore social/emotional perceptions, concerns, and needs. Although our results were on target, there were some unexpected outcomes related to family dynamics, literacy, housing stability, and peer support. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Women are more likely to be sedentary and have poor health. BeFit served as a solution to addressing problems related to economic mobility barriers, poor health, sedentariness, and low self-esteem/self-efficacy. Additionally, exercise/movement programs can be a powerful tool to address disparities and help prioritize health.
Objectives/Goals: 1. Build a network of stakeholders (WomenWise) empowered as a Community Advisory Board (CAB). 2. Expand knowledge about patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) and comparative effectiveness research (CER), specifically related to alcohol use in women. 3. Report facilitators, barriers, and CAB members’ experience with developing WomenWise. Methods/Study Population: Female stakeholders from nonprofit organizations (NPOs), persons and family members with lived experience with alcohol misuse, and health professionals were organized into a CAB (n = 17). CAB members receive education on PCOR/CER and sex-related disparities in alcohol treatment and create resources for large-scale community dissemination. Members will also host partnered learning sessions in their community alongside NPOs to teach the public about alcohol misuse in women and engage in PCOR/CER. Surveys and descriptive statistics assess CAB members’ understanding of educational material, engagement, and project feasibility. A Governance Council of co-investigators, collaborators, patient representatives, and a CAB chairperson oversee project progress and completion. Results/Anticipated Results: Two CAB meetings were completed thus far, with five meetings continuing into the next year. The first two CAB meetings were attended by 14/17 (82%) of members. After receiving education on Research Fundamentals, among those completing the survey (11/14), the knowledge assessments scores were very high. The Governance Council began planning the first large-scale community dissemination symposium to be held in Summer 2025, and three additional CAB meetings will be held before the ACTS conference poster presentation. We will share data on the process to initiate this capacity-building project, PCOR/CER education, stakeholder engagement and feedback, challenges and responses, and overall evaluation of the project’s feasibility and sustainability. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Historically, women have been unrepresented in alcohol misuse research, and studies rarely analyze sex and gender differences. WomenWise, a network of women stakeholders knowledgeable about these disparities and PCOR/CER, will lead efforts to educate community members about alcohol treatment disparities and engage them in future research.
Objectives/Goals: The role of everyday behaviors that may provide positive experiences that contribute to well-being in children is not well known. Hands-on tasks, collaboration, and cooking may help. Using validated PERMA measures, The Nourished Minds Project promotes well-being in underserved U.S. youth (grades 3–8) through nutrition and culinary education. Methods/Study Population: The study integrates an adapted PERMA Profiler into Common Threads’ classes to assess well-being in underserved children. The 49-item tool was reduced to 16-items, ensuring consistency (Cronbach alpha ≥0.7) and a 3rd-4th grade reading level. Participants from SNAP-eligible communities will be recruited from partner schools in nine U.S. cities. The intervention group will complete surveys before, during, and after the 10-week program, while a control group will take surveys without participating. Data will be collected via paper and digital formats, analyzed in R using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests. The study will assess PERMA constructs and conduct subgroup analyses, with observational data monitoring fidelity and engagement. Results/Anticipated Results: It is expected that integrating the adapted PERMA measure, alongside an updated PERMA-related cooking curriculum, within these programs will significantly enhance youth well-being across all five constructs. The adapted measure is anticipated to demonstrate validity in capturing meaningful changes in the psychological and emotional states of participating youth, with projected improvements in self-reported well-being across these areas over the course of the intervention as well post-intervention. Discussion/Significance of Impact: The adaptation of the PERMA Profiler for youth will serve as a vital tool to measure well-being in underserved communities. By linking culinary education to psychological flourishing, the Nourished Minds project can help inform future interventions aimed at enhancing youth well-being.