Faculty Bibliography

Background: Substance use (SU) is common among ED patients, with 1 in 10 ED users having an alcohol or drug use disorder. ED patients also have high levels of social needs such as homelessness and food insecurity. Yet, little research has examined how such social determinants of health (SDOH) intersect with SU among ED patients. In this study, we compared the prevalence of several SDOH among ED patients who did and did not screen positive for unhealthy alcohol and drug use. Methods: We surveyed a random sample of ED patients at a NYC public hospital from Nov 2016-Sept 2017. Eligible patients were >=18 years old, medically/psychiatrically stable, not in prison/police custody, and spoke English or Spanish. RA shifts occurred during all days of the week and hours of the day. RAs administered a 20-40 minute survey with validated single-item screeners for unhealthy alcohol and drug use and questions on self-reported past year social needs from national surveys or prior studies. We compared prevalence of SDOH by SU screening status in bivariate analyses with chisquare tests. Results: About half of patients (52.0%) approached were ineligible, primarily because they were medically unfit, intoxicated, or in prison/police custody. 2,396 of 2,925 eligible patients participated (81.9%); 76 duplicate patient records were removed, leaving a final sample size of 2,321 patients. Nearly one-third (32.3%) screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use and 21.8% for any drug use. Regarding SDOH, rates among patients overall vs. those with unhealthy alcohol use vs. those with drug use were: 1) homelessness 13.8%, 18.7% (X2 p<0.01 for difference between those who did vs. did not screen positive), 25.8% (p<0.01); 2) housing instability 25.2%, 29.5% (p<0.01), 35.9% (p<0.01); 3) food insecurity 50.9%, 56.3% (p<0.01), 63.4% (p<0.01); 4) inability to meet essential expenses 40.8%, 45.9% (p<0.01), 52.7% (p<0.01); and 5) unemployment 43.3%, 45.1% (p=0.23), 55.1% (p<0.01). Conclusion: Rates of homelessness and other social needs were high among ED patients in this study, suggesting the importance of considering SDOH in emergency medicine practice. We add to prior literature by showing that these needs were even higher among patients who screened positive for SU. These findings are important, as patients' significant comorbid social needs may affect the success of ED-based efforts to address substance use

Background: Previous studies have shown that ED patients have significantly higher rates of food insecurity than the general population. However, little research has examined the impact of food insecurity on health or the health service use of ED patients. In this study, we examine the relationship between food insecurity and frequent ED use. We hypothesized that food insecurity would be independently associated with frequent ED use. Methods: We surveyed a random sample of ED patients at an urban, public hospital from Nov 2016-Sept 2017. To minimize sampling bias, research assistants (RAs) followed strict protocols for randomly approaching patients. Surveying occurred across all days and hours. Eligible patients were: >=18 years old, clinically stable, not arrested or incarcerated, spoke English or Spanish, and had not already participated. RAs administered a survey covering a wide range of health-related topics. Frequent ED use was defined as self-report of >=4 visits to any ED in the past year including the current visit. Food insecurity was defined as responding positively to any of 4 food insecurity questions from the USDA Food Security Module. We performed chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests for bivariate relationships and multivariable logistic regression to examine the independent association of food insecurity with frequent ED use while controlling for potential confounders. Results: 52% of approached were ineligible, mainly because they were medically unfit, intoxicated, or in prison/police custody. 2,396 of 2,924 eligible patients participated (81.9%). 31.0% reported frequent ED use and 50.9% reported food insecurity. Food insecurity rates were higher among frequent vs. non-frequent ED users (62.9% vs. 45.5%, p<001). Food insecurity remained a significant predictor of frequent ED use in multivariable analyses (OR 1.47, 95%CI 1.19-1.82). This relationship was partially mediated by self-reported overall health, cost-related medication nonadherence, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion: Food insecurity was common and was independently associated with frequent ED use in this study. We plan future longitudinal analyses to confirm and further explore this relationship. In the meantime, interventions and studies of frequent ED users should consider the potential role of food insecurity

BACKGROUND:Recruiting ethnically diverse Black participants to an innovative, community-based research study to reduce colorectal cancer screening disparities requires multipronged recruitment techniques. OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:This article describes active, passive, and snowball recruitment techniques, and challenges and lessons learned in recruiting a diverse sample of Black participants. METHODS:For each of the three recruitment techniques, data were collected on strategies, enrollment efficiency (participants enrolled/participants evaluated), and reasons for ineligibility. RESULTS:Five hundred sixty individuals were evaluated, and 330 individuals were enrolled. Active recruitment yielded the highest number of enrolled participants, followed by passive and snowball. Snowball recruitment was the most efficient technique, with enrollment efficiency of 72.4%, followed by passive (58.1%) and active (55.7%) techniques. There were significant differences in gender, education, country of origin, health insurance, and having a regular physician by recruitment technique (p < .05). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:Multipronged recruitment techniques should be employed to increase reach, diversity, and study participation rates among Blacks. Although each recruitment technique had a variable enrollment efficiency, the use of multipronged recruitment techniques can lead to successful enrollment of diverse Blacks into cancer prevention and control interventions.

OBJECTIVE:The extent to which diabetes (DM) practice guidelines, often based on evidence from high-income countries (HIC), can be implemented to improve outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is a critical challenge. We carried out a systematic review to compare type 2 DM guidelines in individual LMIC versus HIC over the past decade to identify aspects that could be improved to facilitate implementation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:Eligible guidelines were sought from online databases and websites of diabetes associations and ministries of health. Type 2 DM guidelines published between 2006 and 2016 with accessible full publications were included. Each of the 54 eligible guidelines was assessed for compliance with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) standards, coverage of the cardiovascular quadrangle (epidemiologic surveillance, prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation), translatability, and its target audiences. RESULTS:< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:A new approach to the contextualization, content development, and delivery of LMIC guidelines is needed to improve outcomes.

Background: Increasing numbers of patients with cancer present to emergency departments (EDs), but there is little information on their ED care. Our objective was to describe the epidemiology of patients with active cancer presenting to US EDs. Methods: Prospective observational study using a convenience sample of ED patients >=18 years of age with active cancer presenting to 18 sites of the Comprehensive ONcologic Emergencies Research Network (CONCERN). ED patient surveys and 30-day chart reviews were completed. Descriptive statistics are reported. Results: We enrolled 1,075 patients (n per ED range 18-71). Mean age was 62 years with 52% female, 12% African American, 3.1% Asian, and 7.2% Hispanic. Common cancer types were gastrointestinal (20%); leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma (18%); lung (13%); and breast (11%). Seventy-two percent (n=773) had received cancer therapy within the prior 30 days including 495 (46%) chemotherapy,108 (10%) radiation, and 85 (7.9%) surgery. Emergency severity index scores included 0.9% Level 1, 40% Level 2, and 51% Level 3. Symptoms at presentation included nausea (32%), shortness of breath (35%), chest pain (16%), and abdominal pain (32%). ED nausea medicine was administered to 260 (25%), including half of those complaining of (160/326, 49%). Fifteen percent (n=152) had fever a%o38.0AdegreeC in the ED or within the prior 24 hours and 27% received ED antibiotics (n=285). Pain was present in 56% (n=604) and was moderate in 17% (n=186) and severe in 31% (n=338). Forty-eight percent (n=519) had pain medications in the ED including 35% with opioids (n=381). Only 35% (n=66) of those with moderate and 69% (n=232) of those with severe pain received opioids in the ED. Twenty five percent of all patients (n=274) had a final ED pain score in the moderate or severe range. Fifty-seven percent (n=615) were admitted (including 10% to stepdown or intensive care units), 6.6% (n=70) were placed in an ED observation unit, 1.9% (n=20) died in the ED, and 32% (n=342) were discharged. Thirty-day mortality was 5.8% (n=62) and 30- day ED revisit rate was 27% (n=286). Conclusion: ED patients with active cancer present with a substantial symptom burden and are frequently undertreated in the ED. This is a high acuity population with high rates of admission, revisit, and mortality. Further study to improve processes of care for this population is warranted

Children and adolescents are affected in different ways by HIV/AIDS. Neurocognitive deficits are one of the most significant long term effects on HIV infected children and adolescents. Several factors are thought to influence cognitive outcomes and this include immune status, Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), education and social support. The aim of the study was to assess the neurocognitive function of HIV infected children and adolescents and correlate it with psychosocial factors. A cross sectional study was carried out involving a sample of 90 children living with HIV between 8 and 15 years (M = 11.38, SD = 2.06) attending Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC) at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Samples were selected by using purposive sample technique. Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition was used to assess cognitive function and psychosocial issues were assessed using HEADS-ED. Data was analyzed using SPSS v23 and independent T-tests, Pearson's correlation and linear regression were used. The prevalence of neurocognitive deficits among HIV positive children attending CCC at KNH was 60% with neurocognitive performance of 54 children being at least 2SD below the mean based on the KABC-II scores. There was no significant correlation between mental processing index and CD4 count (Pearson's rho =  -0.01, p = 0.39). There was no significant association between Mental Processing Index and viral load (p = 0.056) and early ARV initiation (0.27). Using the HEADS-ED, risks factors related to education (β =  -5.67, p = 0.02) and activities and peer support (β =  -9.1, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with poor neurocognitive performance. Neurocognitive deficits are prevalent among HIV positive children attending CCC-KNH. This extent of the deficits was not associated with low CD4 count, high viral load or early initiation in HIV care. However, poor school performance and problem with peers was associated with poor neurocognitive performance.

This study tests whether a parenting intervention for families of preschoolers at risk for conduct problems can prevent later risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Ninety-nine preschoolers at familial risk for conduct problems were randomly assigned to intervention or control conditions. Ten years later, 45 preschoolers and 43 of their siblings completed an assessment of their romantic relationships, including measures of physical and psychological IPV. The study focuses on the 54 females, including targets (n = 27) and siblings (n = 27) who participated in a 10-year follow-up (M age = 16.5, SD = 5.2, range = 10-28). Using an intent-to-treat (ITT) design, multivariate regressions suggest that females from families randomly assigned to intervention in early childhood scored lower than those in the control condition on perceptions of dating violence as normative, beliefs about IPV prevalence, exposure to IPV in their own peer group, and expected sanction behaviors for IPV perpetration and victimization. Findings suggest that early parenting intervention may reduce association of high-risk females with aggressive peers and partners in adolescence.

Concerns remain about the health of children conceived by infertility treatment. Studies to date have predominantly not identified substantial long-term health effects after accounting for plurality, which is reassuring given the increasing numbers of children conceived by infertility treatment worldwide. However, as technological advances in treatment arise, ongoing studies remain critical for monitoring health effects. To study whether the techniques used in infertility treatment cause health differences, however, remains challenging due to identification of an appropriate comparison group, heterogeneous treatment, and confounding by the underlying causes of infertility. In fact, the factors that are associated with underlying infertility, including parental obesity and other specific male and female factors, may be important independent factors to consider. This review will summarize key methodological considerations in studying children conceived by infertility treatment including the evidence of associations between underlying infertility factors and child health.

BACKGROUND:Non-disclosure of drug use on surveys is common and many drug users unknowingly ingest adulterant or replacement drugs, which leads to underreporting of use of these drugs. Biological testing can complement survey research, and hair-testing is an appealing method as many drugs are detectable for months post-use. We examined willingness to donate a hair sample to be tested among those surveyed in a population at high risk for consuming adulterated drugs-electronic dance music (EDM) party attendees. METHODS:We surveyed 933 adults entering EDM parties in New York City in 2017. Hair donation response rates and reasons for refusal were examined from this cross-sectional study. RESULTS:A third (n = 312; 33.4%) provided a hair sample. Lack of interest (21.0%), lack of time (19.8%), not wanting a lock of hair cut (17.7%), and disinterest in having hair cut in public (13.8%) were the main reported reasons for refusal. 4.7% refused because they could not receive results. Past-year drug users were more likely to fear identification than non-users (p<.001). Asian participants were at lower odds of providing a hair sample (aOR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.32-0.87), and those reporting past-year use of LSD (aOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.11-2.35), opioids (nonmedical; aOR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.25-2.99), and/or methamphetamine (aOR = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.36-8.62) were at higher odds of providing a sample than non-users of these drugs. CONCLUSIONS:Only a third of participants provided a hair sample and we found individual-level differences regarding willingness to provide a sample. Factors contributing to refusal should be considered to increase response rates and generalizability of results.