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The article highlights a randomized controlled trial on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among ethnically diverse, low-income patients in the U.S. Participants were randomised to receive usual care or a patient navigation-based intervention, wherein they were provided with an introductory letter from their primary care provider with educational material followed by telephone calls from a language-concordant navigator. It was found that patients who received navigation-based intervention were more likely to undergo CRC screening than control patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer screening rates are low among poor and disadvantaged patients. Patient navigation has been shown to increase breast and cervical cancer screening rates, but few studies have looked at the potential of patient navigation to increase colorectal cancer screening rates. Methods: The objective was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a patient navigator-based intervention to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in community health centers. Patients at the intervention health center who had not been screened for colorectal cancer and were designated as "appropriate for outreach" by their primary care providers received a letter from their provider about the need to be screened and a brochure about colorectal cancer screening. Patient navigators then called patients to discuss screening and to assist patients in obtaining screening. Patients at a demographically similar control health center received usual care. Results: Thirty-one percent of intervention patients were screened at six months, versus nine percent of control patients (p < .001). Conclusion: A patient navigator-based intervention, in combination with a letter from the patient's primary care provider, was associated with an increased rate of colorectal cancer screening at one health center as compared to a demographically similar control health center. Our study adds to an emerging literature supporting the use of patient navigators to increase colorectal cancer screening in diverse populations served by urban health centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies integration between pricing and coordinated inventory decisions for a two-echelon supply chain in a competitive environment. To the best of our knowledge, these problems have traditionally been solved separately. Therefore, we aim to support the decision-making process by following an integrated approach. First, we develop a novel mathematical model that coordinates inventory policies between one warehouse and N retailers and determines the selling price using multinomial logit (MNL) demand functions. Then, given the conditions of high nonlinearity in the resulting discrete-continuous problem, we implement three well-known metaheuristics to solve the integrated problem. Last, to quantify the impact of such integration, 180 instances are randomly generated, and the problem is solved using both sequential and integrated approaches. Computational experiments demonstrate the economic benefits of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical activity behavioral interventions to change individual-level drivers of activity, like motivation, attitudes, and self-efficacy, are often not sustained beyond the intervention period. Interventions at both environmental and individual levels might facilitate durable change. This community-based study seeks to test a multilevel, multicomponent intervention to increase moderate intensity physical activity among people with low incomes living in U.S. public housing developments, over a 2 year period. Methods: The study design is a prospective, cluster randomized controlled trial, with housing developments (n=12) as the units of randomization. In a four-group, factorial trial, we will compare an environmental intervention (E) alone (3 developments), an individual intervention (I) alone (3 developments), an environmental plus individual (E+I) intervention (3 developments), against an assessment only control group (3 developments). The environmental only intervention consists of community health workers leading walking groups and indoor activities, a walking advocacy program for residents, and provision of walking maps/signage. The individual only intervention consists of a 12-week automated telephone program to increase physical activity motivation and self-efficacy. All residents are invited to participate in the intervention activities being delivered at their development. The primary outcome is change in moderate intensity physical activity measured via an accelerometer-based device among an evaluation cohort (n=50 individuals at each of the 12 developments) from baseline to 24-month follow up. Mediation (e.g., neighborhood walkability, motivation) and moderation (e.g., neighborhood stress) of our interventions will be assessed. Lastly, we will interview key informants to assess factors from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains to inform future implementation. Discussion: We hypothesize participants living in developments in any of the three intervention groups (E only, I only, and E+I combined) will increase minutes of moderate intensity physical activity more than participants in control group developments. We expect delivery of an intervention package targeting environmental and social factors to become active, combined with the individual level intervention, will improve overall physical activity levels to recommended guidelines at the development level. If effective, this trial has the potential for implementation through other federal and state housing authorities. Trial registration: Clinical Trails.gov PRS Protocol Registration and Results System, NCT05147298. Registered 28 November 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interventions delivered by mobile devices (mHealth interventions) have the potential to increase access to weight management treatment in low-income populations. However, little prior research has examined effects of mHealth programming plus phone-based community health worker (CHW) support for weight management among public housing residents. For our intervention, we first interacted with a community advisory board to collect feedback on proposed intervention components. Transcripts from 5 advisory board meetings were coded and qualitative data was organized into themes. We used these data to inform our ongoing trial, in which public housing residents are randomized to one of three different groups: phone text messaging and digital self-weighing (mHealth only); mHealth intervention plus CHW behavioral phone counseling (mHealth+CHW); or assessment only to evaluate their differential effects on weight loss at 6- and 12-month follow-up. We will examine changes in diet and physical activity behaviors as well as potential mediating and moderating factors. Results of this trial could provide support for technology-based weight management interventions which may have greater potential for scalability and long-term dissemination than face-to-face programming. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04852042 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine the pooled effectiveness of multidiscipinary care teams (MCTs) in reducing major amputation rates in adults with diabetes.Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed, searching databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov thru October 2018. We included only before-after studies comparing amputation rates before and after the implementation of a MCT for the prevention of major amputation in adults with diabetes. Our primary outcome was relative risk of major amputation. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a fixed effects model.Results: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis, and eleven were included in a qualitative analysis. Exposure to a MCT resulted in a protective effect ranging from a RR of 0.44 [p-value < 0.00001 (95% CI 0.38, 0.51) I2 = 67%] to a RR of 0.61 [p-value < 0.0001, (95% CI 0.50, 0.75) I2 = 0%] after sensitivity analysis, and remained robust in qualitative analysis.Conclusions: Healthcare systems can expect a 39-56% amputation rate reduction after implementing an MCT amputation prevention program. These findings may justify the use of additional resources needed for program implementation by helping healthcare systems predict the anticipated benefit these teams have on "possible limbs saved".Funding: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. Although screening reduces colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, screening rates among U.S. adults remain less than optimal, especially among disadvantaged populations. This study examined the efficacy of patient navigation to increase colonoscopy screening. Study design RCT. Setting/participants A total of 843 low-income adults, primarily Hispanic and non-Hispanic blacks, aged 50–75 years referred for colonoscopy at Boston Medical Center were randomized into the intervention ( n =429) or control ( n =427) groups. Participants were enrolled between September 2012 and December 2014, with analysis following through 2015. Intervention Two bilingual lay navigators provided individualized education and support to reduce patient barriers and facilitate colonoscopy completion. The intervention was delivered largely by telephone. Main outcome measure Colonoscopy completion within 6 months of study enrollment. Results Colonoscopy completion was significantly higher for navigated patients (61.1%) than control group patients receiving usual care (53.2%, p =0.021). Based on regression analysis, the odds of completing a colonoscopy for navigated patients was one and a half times greater than for controls (95% CI=1.12, 2.03, p =0.007). There were no differences between navigated and control groups in regard to adequacy of bowel preparation (95.3% vs 97.3%, respectively). Conclusions Navigation significantly improved colonoscopy screening completion among a racially diverse, low-income population. Results contribute to mounting evidence demonstrating the efficacy of patient navigation in increasing colorectal cancer screening. Screening can be further enhanced when navigation is combined with other evidence-based practices implemented in healthcare systems and the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a patient navigation intervention. Forty-seven smokers from one safety-net hospital were randomized to either a control group, in which they received a smoking cessation brochure and a list of smoking cessation resources, or a navigation group, in which they received the smoking cessation brochure, a list of smoking cessation resources, and patient navigation. Follow-up data were obtained for 33 participants. Nine (47.4%) of 19 of navigation group participants had engaged in smoking cessation treatment by 3 months versus 6 (42.9%) of 14 control group participants (chi-squarep = ns). Patient navigation to promote engagement in smoking cessation treatment was feasible and acceptable to participants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Elderly minority patients are less likely to receive influenza vaccination and colorectal cancer screening than are other patients. Communication between primary care providers (PCPs) and patients may affect service receipt. Methods: Encounters between 7 PCPs and 18 elderly patients were observed and audiotaped at 2 community health centers. Three investigators coded transcribed audiotapes and field notes. We used qualitative analysis to identify specific potential barriers to completion of preventive services and to highlight examples of how physicians used patient-centered communication and other facilitation strategies to overcome those barriers. Results: Sharing of power and responsibility, the use of empathy, and treating the patient like a person were all important communication strategies which seemed to help address barriers to vaccination and colonoscopy. Other potential facilitators of receipt of influenza vaccine included (1) cultural competence, (2) PCP introduction of the discussion, (3) persistence of the PCP (revisiting the topic throughout the visit), (4) rapport and trust between the patient and PCP, and (5) PCP vaccination of the patient. PCP persistence as well as rapport and trust also appeared to facilitate receipt of colorectal cancer screening. Conclusion: Several communications strategies appeared to facilitate PCP communications with older patients to promote acceptance of flu vaccination and colorectal cancer screening. These strategies should be studied with larger samples to determine which are most predictive of compliance with prevention recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adding screening for health-related social needs to tobacco treatment interventions initiated during hospitalizations may improve intervention effectiveness among vulnerable populations. Our objective was to examine the effect the acceptability and feasibility of a intervention in which a patient navigator screens for and addresses social needs to increase receipt of smoking cessation medication among recently hospitalized smokers at a safety-net hospital.Methods: In a two-group randomized exploratory pilot study, we assigned hospitalized smokers to either the Enhanced Traditional Control (ETC) group (list of smoking cessation resources) or ETC + Patient Navigation (up to 10 h of navigation over a 3-month period, in which a navigator screens for and addresses health-related social needs). We assessed socio-demographics, smoking-related variables, and process data.Results: Of 171 individuals screened, 44 (26%) were enrolled. Participants (mean age = 54.9 years, 61.4% non-Hispanic black, 68.2% high school education or less) smoked a mean of 11.4 cigarettes/day. 20 participants received a prescription for a cessation medication, 42.9% in the ETC group and 47.8% in the ETC + Patient Navigation group. 11 participants (47.8%) in the ETC + Patient Navigation group received the minimum intervention dose (completion of the social needs screener and at least one counseling session). Barriers to navigation were participants' medical illness and difficulty connecting with participants.Conclusions: Although nearly half of hospitalized smokers receiving support from a patient navigator received a prescription for a smoking cessation medication, the percentage did not differ by study arm. Refinement of the protocol to coordinate with hospital-wide tobacco treatment and social needs screening initiatives is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. Although screening reduces colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, screening rates among U.S. adults remain less than optimal, especially among disadvantaged populations. This study examined the efficacy of patient navigation to increase colonoscopy screening.Study Design: RCT.Setting/participants: A total of 843 low-income adults, primarily Hispanic and non-Hispanic blacks, aged 50-75 years referred for colonoscopy at Boston Medical Center were randomized into the intervention (n=429) or control (n=427) groups. Participants were enrolled between September 2012 and December 2014, with analysis following through 2015.Intervention: Two bilingual lay navigators provided individualized education and support to reduce patient barriers and facilitate colonoscopy completion. The intervention was delivered largely by telephone.Main Outcome Measure: Colonoscopy completion within 6 months of study enrollment.Results: Colonoscopy completion was significantly higher for navigated patients (61.1%) than control group patients receiving usual care (53.2%, p=0.021). Based on regression analysis, the odds of completing a colonoscopy for navigated patients was one and a half times greater than for controls (95% CI=1.12, 2.03, p=0.007). There were no differences between navigated and control groups in regard to adequacy of bowel preparation (95.3% vs 97.3%, respectively).Conclusions: Navigation significantly improved colonoscopy screening completion among a racially diverse, low-income population. Results contribute to mounting evidence demonstrating the efficacy of patient navigation in increasing colorectal cancer screening. Screening can be further enhanced when navigation is combined with other evidence-based practices implemented in healthcare systems and the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]