Faculty Bibliography

We aim to describe temporal eating patterns in a population of adults with overweight or obesity. In this cross-sectional analysis, data were combined from two separate pilot studies during which participants entered the timing of all eating occasions (>0 kcals) for 10-14 days. Data were aggregated to determine total eating occasions, local time of the first and last eating occasions, eating window, eating midpoint, and within-person variability of eating patterns. Eating patterns were compared between sexes, as well as between weekday and weekends. Participants (n = 85) had a median age of 56 ± 19 years, were mostly female (>70%), white (56.5%), and had a BMI of 31.8 ± 8.0 kg/m². The median eating window was 14 h 04 min [12 h 57 min-15 h 21 min], which was significantly shorter on the weekend compared to weekdays (p < 0.0001). Only 13.1% of participants had an eating window <12 h/d. Additionally, there was greater irregularity with the first eating occasion during the week when compared to the weekend (p = 0.0002). In conclusion, adults with overweight or obesity have prolonged eating windows (>14 h/d). Future trials should examine the contribution of a prolonged eating window on adiposity independent of energy intake.

OBJECTIVES:To describe challenges and lessons learned in conducting a remote behavioral weight loss trial. METHODS:The Personal Diet Study is an ongoing randomized clinical trial which aims to compare two mobile health (mHealth) weight loss approaches, standardized diet vs. personalized feedback, on glycemic response. Over a six-month period, participants attended dietitian-led group meetings via remote videoconferencing and were encouraged to self-monitor dietary intake using a smartphone app. Descriptive statistics were used to report adherence to counseling sessions and self-monitoring. Challenges were tracked during weekly project meetings. RESULTS:Challenges in connecting to and engaging in the videoconferencing sessions were noted. To address these issues, we provided a step-by-step user manual and video tutorials regarding use of WebEx, encouraged alternative means to join sessions, and sent reminder emails/texts about the WebEx sessions and asking participants to join sessions early. Self-monitoring app-related issue included inability to find specific foods in the app database. To overcome this, the study team incorporated commonly consumed foods as "favorites" in the app database, provided a manual and video tutorials regarding use of the app and checked the self-monitoring app dashboard weekly to identify nonadherent participants and intervened as appropriate. Among 135 participants included in the analysis, the median attendance rate for the 14 remote sessions was 85.7% (IQR: 64.3%-92.9%). CONCLUSIONS:Experience and lessons shared in this report may provide critical and timely guidance to other behavioral researchers and interventionists seeking to adapt behavioral counseling programs for remote delivery in the age of COVID-19.

Background/UNASSIGNED:People with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often struggle with uncertainty and fear when learning of and coping with their diagnosis. However, little is known about their experiences and perspectives, and those of their care partners, when seeking out and undergoing a diagnostic evaluation for their cognitive symptoms. Method/UNASSIGNED:This study is a secondary analysis of a focus group discussion that was initially conducted to learn the perspectives and experiences of participants and their care partners during a mock disclosure session of brain scan results. Participant's broader views on their experience of completing a cognitive evaluation resulting in an MCI diagnosis were evaluated in this study. Analysis used qualitative content methodology and line-by-line coding which generated categories and themes. Results/UNASSIGNED:The (1) "presence of a threat" and (2) attempts to "minimize the threat" emerged as overarching themes driving the process of seeking out a diagnostic evaluation for cognitive symptoms. Subthemes that highlight the complexity of the presence of a threat included the "fear of stigma," and the "emotional reactions" related to an MCI diagnosis. Three additional subthemes represented approaches that participants and their care partners used to minimize threat of MCI: "use of language" to minimize the threat; "information sharing and withholding"; and the "use of social support to legitimize personal experiences." Conclusion/UNASSIGNED:These findings add to the literature by elucidating the uncertainty, fears, and coping strategies that accompany a diagnostic evaluation of MCI.

BACKGROUND:In 2016, a short message service text messaging intervention to titrate insulin in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes was implemented at two health care facilities in New York City. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to conduct a qualitative evaluation assessing barriers to and the facilitators of the implementation of the Mobile Insulin Titration Intervention (MITI) program into usual care. METHODS:We conducted in-depth interviews with 36 patients enrolled in the MITI program and the staff involved in MITI (n=19) in the two health care systems. Interviews were transcribed and iteratively coded by two study investigators, both inductively and deductively using a codebook guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. RESULTS:Multiple facilitator themes emerged: (1) MITI had strong relative advantages to in-person titration, including its convenience and time-saving design, (2) the free cost of MITI was important to the patients, (3) MITI was easy to use and the patients were confident in their ability to use it, (4) MITI was compatible with the patients' home routines and clinic workflow, (5) the patients and staff perceived MITI to have value beyond insulin titration by reminding and motivating the patients to engage in healthy behaviors and providing a source of patient support, and (6) implementation in clinics was made easy by having a strong implementation climate, communication networks to spread information about MITI, and a strong program champion. The barriers identified included the following: (1) language limitations, (2) initial nurse concerns about the scope of practice changes required to deliver MITI, (3) initial provider knowledge gaps about the program, and (4) provider perceptions that MITI might not be appropriate for some patients (eg, older or not tech-savvy). There was also a theme that emerged during the patient and staff interviews of an unmet need for long-term additional diabetes management support among this population, specifically diet, nutrition, and exercise support. CONCLUSIONS:The patients and staff were overwhelmingly supportive of MITI and believed that it had many benefits and that it was compatible with the clinic workflow and patients' lives. Initial implementation efforts should address staff training and nurse concerns. Future research should explore options for integrating additional diabetes support for patients.

OBJECTIVE:This study was to assess the impact of baseline dietary self-efficacy on the effect of a dietary intervention to reduce sodium intake in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and to identify determinants of low dietary self-efficacy. METHODS:This is a post hoc analysis of the BalanceWise study, a randomized controlled trial that aimed to reduce dietary sodium intake in HD patients recruited from 17 dialysis centers in Pennsylvania. The main outcome measures include dietary self-efficacy and reported dietary sodium density. Analysis of variance with post hoc group-wise comparison was used to examine the effect of baseline dietary self-efficacy on changes in reported sodium density in the intervention and control groups at 8 and 16 weeks. Chi-square test, independent t tests, or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to identify determinants of low dietary self-efficacy. RESULTS:The interaction between dietary self-efficacy and the impact of the intervention on changes in reported dietary sodium density approached significance at 8 and 16 weeks (P interaction = 0.051 and 0.06, respectively). Younger age and perceived income inadequacy were significantly associated with low self-efficacy in patients undergoing HD. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The benefits of dietary interventions designed to improve self-efficacy may differ by the baseline self-efficacy status. This may be particularly important for HD patients who are younger and report inadequate income as they had lower dietary self-efficacy.

Objectives/UNASSIGNED:We compared self-monitoring adherence in participants randomized to two weight loss programs: a STANDARDIZED, one-size-fits-all, low-fat diet, or a diet PERSONALIZED to minimize the postprandial glycemic response. Methods/UNASSIGNED:Â =Â 20) received app feedback about intake of total calories plus a meal-specific predicted glycemic score. Total meal entries were measured at 1, 2 and 3 months. Self-monitoring adherence was defined as logging >50% of expected meals each month into the PNP app, assuming 3 meals/day. Session attendance was also measured. Repeated measures binomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess change in adherence due to treatment group, time (i.e., months), and the interaction between treatment and time, adjusting for age, gender and BMI. Results/UNASSIGNED:Â =Â 0.006). The proportion of attendance at videoconference sessions was similar between groups (STANDARDIZED: 77.1%; PERSONALIZED: 77.5%). Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:Two weight loss programs having similar calorie targets, behavioral approach, and contact schedule resulted in similar session attendance. However, adherence to self-monitoring was better when feedback was personalized. Funding Sources/UNASSIGNED:American Heart Association.

BACKGROUND:Smartphone apps promise to enhance the reach of evidence-based interventions (cognitive behavior therapy, contingency management and therapeutic education system) for populations with substance use disorders, with minimal disruption to health systems. However, further studies are needed to systematically evaluate smartphone apps targeting alcohol and illicit substances. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to evaluate the functionality, aesthetics, and quality of information of free or low-cost apps claiming to target alcohol, benzodiazepine, cocaine, crack/cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and heroin use using the validated Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and critical content analysis. METHODS:A systematic search of iTunes and Google Play app stores for free or low-cost apps facilitating recovery was conducted in March 2018 and yielded 904 apps using the keywords described in previous studies (eg, recovery, sobriety, sober, alcohol, and heroin). An interdisciplinary team of clinicians, behavioral informatics, and public health reviewers trained in substance use disorders conducted a descriptive analysis of 74 apps categorized as reducing use. In addition to the MARS scale, a descriptive analysis of relevant apps was conducted by the study team to assess for quality indicators emphasized by expert guidelines and review articles. RESULTS:Most apps (n=74) claimed to reduce use or promote abstinence and yielded an overall low median MARS score of 2.82 (0.55) and a wide range of scores (1.64, 4.20). Ratings were also low for engagement (2.75 (0.72)), functionality (3.64 (0.78)), aesthetics (3.03 (0.87)), information (2.82 (0.62)), and satisfaction (1.76 (0.67)) subdomains. Innovative design and content features elicited in the review included initial assessments of substance use following app download, tracking substance use, and related consequences (eg, cost or calorie intake), remote and proximate peer support per geospatial positioning, and allowing users and family members of individuals with substance use disorders to locate 12-step meetings, treatment programs, and mental health services. Few apps integrated evidence-based psychotherapeutic (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT] or motivational interviewing) and pharmacologic interventions (eg, naloxone or buprenorphine). CONCLUSIONS:Few commercially available apps yielded in our search integrated evidence-based interventions (eg, extended-release naltrexone, buprenorphine, naloxone, Self-Management and Recovery Training recovery, or CBT), and a concerning number of apps promoted harmful drinking and illicit substance use.

Limited access to resources and delayed detection of subtle cognitive changes may negatively impact the long-term cognitive health of rural-dwelling adults. This study explored perceived social determinants of health among older, rural-dwelling adults with early-stage cognitive impairment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with older, rural-dwelling adults with early-stage cognitive impairment and their care partners. Thematic content analysis was performed. Participants ( n = 9) were 73.7 ± 6.0 years of age with 14.2 ± 3.1 years of education; care partners ( n = 10) were 70.9 ± 7.4 years of age with 15.6 ± 2.3 years of education. Data analysis revealed six themes: Staying active, Eating well, Living with cognitive changes, Living rural, Connecting with neighbors and community, and Relying on children. Dyads' depictions of perceived social determinants of health focused on the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, description of relationships, and advantages of living in a rural area. Emergent themes may be used to promote adoption of self-management and prevention behaviors, particularly lifestyle changes.