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ObjectiveTo examine patient/caregiver preference for key attributes of treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).BackgroundIn the rapidly evolving SMA treatment landscape, it is critically important to understand how attributes of potential treatments may impact patient/caregiver choices.Design/methodsA discrete choice experiment survey was developed based on qualitative interviews. Patients with SMA (≥ 18 years) and caregivers of patients were recruited through a U.S. patient organization. Respondents made choices in each of 12 sets of hypothetical treatments. The relative importance of five treatment characteristics was compared (measured by regression coefficients [RC] of conditional logit models): (1) improvement or stabilization of motor function, (2) improvement or stabilization of breathing function, (3) indication for all ages or pediatric patients only, (4) route of administration [repeated intrathecal (IT) injections, one-time intravenous (IV) infusion, daily oral delivery] and (5) potential harm (mild, moderate, serious/life threatening).ResultsPatient ages ranged from less than 1 to 67 years (n = 101, 65 self-reported and 36 caregiver-reported) and 64 were female. Total SMA subtypes included: type 1 (n = 21), type 2 (n = 48), type 3 (n = 29), other (n = 3). Prior spinal surgery was reported in 47 patients. Nusinersen and onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi use were reported in 59 and 10 patients, respectively. Improvement in motor and breathing function was highly valued [RC: 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47–0.83 and RC: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.60–0.98, respectively]. Oral medication and one-time infusion were strongly preferred over repeated IT injections (RC: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.60–0.98 and RC: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.30–0.73, respectively). Patients least preferred an age-restricted label/approved use (≤ 2 years of age) (RC: − 1.28, 95% CI: − 1.47 to − 1.09). Cross-attributes trade-off decision suggested a lower willingness for a high-risk therapy despite additional efficacy gain. For some patients, there may be willingness to trade off additional gains in efficacy for a change in route of administration from repeated intrathecal administration to oral medication.ConclusionsImprovements in motor/breathing function, broad indication, oral or one-time infusion, and minimal risk were preferred treatment attributes. Treatment decisions should be made in clinical context and be tailored to patient needs.

AIM To compare the cardiovascular risks between users and non-users of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors based on electronic medical record data from a large integrated healthcare system in South Louisiana. MATERIALS AND METHODS Demographic, anthropometric, laboratory and medication prescription information for patients with type 2 diabetes who were new users of SGLT2 inhibitors, either as initial treatments or as add-on treatments, were obtained from electronic health records. Mediation analysis was performed to evaluate the association of use of SGLT2 inhibitors and changes of metabolic risk factors with the risk of incident ischaemic heart disease. RESULTS A total of 5338 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors were matched with 13 821 non-users. During a mean follow-up of 3.26 years, 2302 incident cases of ischaemic heart disease were defined. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, patients using SGLT2 inhibitors had a lower risk of incident ischaemic heart disease compared to patients not using SGLT2 inhibitors (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54-0.73). Patients using SGLT2 inhibitors also had a lower risk of incident ischaemic heart disease within 6 months (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.25-0.44), 12 months (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.32-0.49), 24 months (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.43-0.60) and 36 months (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.54-0.73), respectively. Reductions in systolic blood pressure partly mediated lowering risk of ischaemic heart disease among patients using SGLT2 inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS The real-world data in the present study show the contribution of SGLT2 inhibitors to reducing risk of ischaemic heart disease, and their benefits beyond glucose-lowering.

The objective of this qualitative study was to address existing gaps in the literature by gathering parent perspectives on both health and school readiness in regard to neighborhood context, specifically parents’ perceived level of neighborhood safety and support, on physical health and the behavioral and cognitive domains of school readiness. Focus groups were conducted with a total of 28 parents or caregivers whose children attended Early Head Start/Head Start Centers or who received Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services in New Orleans, Louisiana during fall 2015. Parents discussed concepts of school readiness, neighborhood, the intersection between the two, and parental stress, however, few expressed a clear connection between their concerns about safety, their own stress, and their child’s readiness for school. Disparities in both health and school readiness exist between both racial and socioeconomic groups in the United States, and this study offers a unique and enhanced understanding of the impact of non-academic factors on the well-being and development of young children.

Patients with diabetes have a 10-fold higher risk of lower-extremity amputation (LEA) than people without diabetes (1). LEA is associated with the greatest reduction in quality of life and the greatest increase in mortality and medical costs in all diabetes complications. Previous studies suggested that the mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level was associated with an increased LEA risk among patients with type 2 diabetes (2). However, emerging evidence indicates that long-term glycemic variability evaluated by clinical visit-to-visit HbA1c variability may be a better predictor of diabetes complications (3). So far, the definitions of long-term HbA1c variability are inconsistent. In most studies, standard deviation of serial HbA1c measurements (HbA1c SD) and the intrapersonal coefficient of variation of HbA1c (HbA1c CV) are often used to represent HbA1c variability. In the current study, we added a new marker—HbA1c variability score (HVS) (4)—which is more easily applied to clinical practice. We collected data from electronic health records for patients with type 2 diabetes between 2013 and 2019 in the Louisiana Experiment Assessing Diabetes outcomes (LEAD) cohort study (5). We excluded patients who had LEA diagnosis before entry and within 2 years after the first date of diabetes diagnosis, those with incomplete baseline data, those who did not have at least four HbA1c tests within 2 …

Background: Management of diabetes may be uniquely challenging for older individuals with multiple chronic conditions. Health systems and policymakers have attempted to reduce barriers to chronic care management (CCM) through incentives to provide non-face-to-face care. This qualitative study aimed to investigate and present views on non-face-to-face care management held by elderly patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions in order to contribute to improved programming for this population. Materials and methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients over the age of 64 who have been diagnosed with diabetes and at least one other chronic health condition. Interview recordings were transcribed and analyzed by experienced researchers using a thematic analytic approach, and an illustrative case study was developed. Results: Thirty individuals participated in this study. Participants were drawn from three health systems in south Louisiana, an area with high rates of morbidity and mortality related to chronic diseases. We identified themes related to lived experiences with diabetes and other medical conditions, perception of personal health status, perceived value of non-face-to-face programs, and support needs for future programming. Additionally, we present one case study describing in detail an individual patient's experience with non-face-to-face CCM. Conclusion: Health systems should consider intentionally recruiting participants who would benefit most from non-face-to-face care, including higher-need, less self-sufficient patients with resource constraints, while continuing to offer in-person services. Future research should examine whether tailoring non-face-to-face programming and support to address unique barriers can further enhance diabetes care at the population level.

Background and Purpose— Few studies have assessed the association of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol with stroke risk among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We aimed to investigate the association of HDL cholesterol with total and type-specific stroke risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods— We performed a retrospective cohort study of 27 113 blacks and 40 431 whites with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of different levels of HDL cholesterol with stroke risk. Results— During a mean follow-up period of 3.0 years, 8496 patients developed stroke (8048 ischemic and 448 hemorrhagic). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios across levels of HDL at baseline (P trend P trend P trend =0.021) for hemorrhagic stroke, respectively. When we used an updated mean value of HDL cholesterol, the inverse association of HDL cholesterol with stroke risk did not change. This inverse association was consistent among patients of different ages, races, sexes, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c levels, never and past or current smokers, and patients with and without using glucose-lowering, cholesterol-lowering, or antihypertensive agents. Conclusions— The present study found consistent inverse associations between HDL cholesterol and the risk of total, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are identified for admission to outpatient therapeutic programs using mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) or weight for height (WHZ). However, MUAC and WHZ do not identify the same children, and such observed differences might have programmatic implications of missed nutrition therapy if only MUAC is used to identify children with SAM. The objective of the study was to assess any difference in prevalence and degree of agreement between MUAC and WHZ in identifying SAM affected children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, among 17 districts, with 3 districts and 10 health centers with their clustered health posts selected randomly. A total of 2,040 children were recruited, and data were collected using a parent questionnaire then entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS v 20. A total of 1,980 respondents (97.1%) were interviewed, all of whom were female and rural residents. Children’s mean age in months was 23.2 (SD ± 9.7), and 54% were male children. The prevalence of SAM based on MUAC

AIM: To investigate the association between visit-to-visit HbA1c variability and the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 29 260 patients with at least four HbA1c measurements obtained within 2 years of their first diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Different HbA1c variability markers were calculated, including the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV) and adjusted SD. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of these HbA1c variability markers with incident cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 4.18 years, a total of 3746 incident cardiovascular disease cases were diagnosed. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular disease across the first, second, third and fourth quartiles of HbA1c SD values were 1.00, 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–1.42), 1.40 (95% CI 1.26–1.55) and 1.59 (95% CI 1.41–1.77) (P for trend

Even though current prescribing trends reveal that high-dose opioid prescribing and opioid prescribing in general has decreased, sustained efforts are needed to help providers adopt and maintain safe prescribing behaviors. The purpose of this four-year type 2 effectiveness-implementation hybrid stepped wedge cluster randomized trial is to: (1) compare the clinical and cost effectiveness of electronic medical record-based clinical decision support [EMR-CDS] versus additional integrated, collaborative behavioral health [EMR-CDS + BHI-CCM] for opioid management of patients with co-morbid chronic non-cancer pain with depression or anxiety; and (2) examine facilitators and barriers to implementing these interventions within 35 primary care clinics in a integrated delivery health system. The EMR-CDS alerts providers to employ opioid risk mitigation and safe prescribing practices at the point of care. The BHI-CCM consists of primary care embedded community health workers for case management; licensed clinical social workers for cognitive behavioral therapy, and a clinical pharmacist for medication management who provide care management via telemedicine (virtual video or audio only visits) under the guidance of a consulting psychiatrist. The primary outcome is reduction in the percentage of patients with average daily opioid dose ≥50 mg morphine equivalent. Secondary outcomes include changes in service utilization, patient reported outcomes and processes of care. The investigators anticipate that study results will elucidate the role of technology versus care team optimization in changing opioid prescribing behaviors. The investigators further anticipate that integrated mental/behavioral health care will increase value-based care and the efficiency with which guideline concordant care is delivered.

Chronic diseases impact 117 million adults in the United States and account for $3.3 trillion in health care spending. This qualitative study investigated experiences with reimbursement structure for non-face-to-face (NFF) chronic care management (CCM) through diverse health system approaches in primary care settings in Southeastern Louisiana. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 purposively selected key informants, and reflexive thematic analysis was utilized to explore findings. Variation in health system approaches for implementing and quality of NFF CCM programs were identified. Results included differences in health system motivation and methods for financial structuring and quality of third-party vendor and alternative models.

Aims: This study compares the cardiovascular benefits between SGLT2 inhibitors and other glucose-lowering drugs (oGLDs) based on electronic medical record data from a large integrated delivery health system in South Louisiana. Materials and Methods: Demographic, anthropometric, laboratory and medication prescription information for patients with type 2 diabetes who were new users of SGLT2 inhibitors either as initial treatments or as add-on treatments were obtained from electronic health records. Mediation analysis was performed in demonstrating the association of use of SGLT2 inhibitors and changes of metabolic risk factors with the risk of incident coronary heart disease. Results: A total of 5,338 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors were matched with 13,821 patients using oGLDs. During a mean follow up of 3.26 years, 2,303 incident cases of coronary heart disease were defined. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, patients using SGLT2 inhibitors had a lower risk of incident coronary heart disease compared to patients using oGLDs (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.72). Patients using SGLT2 inhibitors also had a lower risk of incident coronary heart disease within 6 months (HR 0.32; 95% CI 0.23-0.43), 12 months (HR 0.38; 95% CI0.31-0.48), 24 months (HR 0.49; 95% CI 0.41-0.59) and 36 months (HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.51-0.69), respectively. Reductions in systolic blood pressure attributed the lower risk of coronary heart disease among patients using SGLT2 inhibitors. Conclusions: Evidence from real world data indicated the contribution of SGLT2 inhibitors to reducing risk of coronary heart disease, as well as the benefits beyond glucose-lowering. Disclosure Y. Shen: None. J. Zhou: None. L. Shi: None. E. Nauman: None. P.T. Katzmarzyk: None. E.G. Price-Haywood: None. S. Chu: None. S. Yang: None. A.N. Bazzano: None. S. Nigam: None. G. Hu: None.

Maternal and under five-year-old mortality rates have reduced in the last two decades globally due to concerted effort, yet newborn deaths remain unacceptably prevalent. Behavior change is an important component of interventions to address newborn health problems in low-income countries. In Cambodia, maternal and newborn mortality has markedly decreased, and continued improvements will allow the country to achieve further reduction in newborn morbidity. The results of an implementation study of the Newborn Care and Infection Control Initiative using process evaluation are presented to provide insight into the trial implementation and context of the program that may have contributed to intervention results. The study utilized a mixed method process to explore the context, mechanisms, and implementation of intervention components: training of village health support group volunteers to provide home visits, training of midwives on infection prevention and control around the perinatal period, counseling on newborn care, and provision of training materials for counseling and intervention. Implementation was evaluated through quantitative and qualitative data collection including surveys, observation, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and visual media. Descriptive statistics summarized the quantitative data and thematic analysis was used to explore the qualitative data. The evaluation identified several factors that might have influenced the outcomes of the trial: continuity of health center staff communication, timing and ability to complete home visits, and training quality. Additional support for parents in the perinatal period, preferably provided at the community level, will contribute to further improvement in health outcomes for newborns in this area. Researchers in this context should consider mechanisms to improve the coordination of health facility staff counseling while providing support and resources to ensure home visits to families with newborns are made on time. Attention to staffing, training, and quality of newborn health interventions is critical in planning for the scaling-up of newborn health programming.

BackgroundCommunity-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) is an effective program to manage children with acute malnutrition, including both severe and moderate acute malnutrition. However, little is known about continued child nutritional status after discharge from community based management of acute malnutrition programs in Ethiopia.ObjectiveThe study aimed to identify factors associated with relapse of acute malnutrition among children 6-59 months after been discharged recovered from community based management program in South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA case-control study was conducted in three districts of South Gondar Zone by tracing children age 6-59 months who were reported as recovered from the community based management program. Sample size calculated for the first objective of assessing prevalence of severe acute malnutrition among children following discharge as recovery using Epi- Info version 7.1.3.3 StatCalc taking 95% CL, 17.8% post discharge relapse (Ashraf H, et al. (2012), 3% margin of error, design effect of 2 and adding 5% non-response rate was the largest sample size and used to this study. Children with Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) = 12.5cm served as controls. Data were collected from 10 November 2017 to 30 January 2018 using a survey questionnaire and families were asked to bring children to a health facility for anthropometric measurements, following which data were entered and analyzed. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to measure association between the risk factors and acute malnutrition.ResultsOverall, 1,273 participants were interviewed. The mean age in months of children was 23.1 (±9.1 SD) for cases and 23.1 (±8.9 SD) for controls. About 40% of the cases and 50% of the controls were female children. The factors associated with acute malnutrition were: male children (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.42-2.39), living in a food insecure household (AOR = 1.67, 95% CI:1.15-2.44), non-receipt of Vitamin A supplement (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.28-2.41), prelacteal feeding (AOR = 2.81 (95%CI, 1.57-5.05), distance to water source more than 15 walk (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI:1.32-2.71), less frequent self-reported hand washing (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI:1.05-1.75), mother not having consumed extra food during this pregnancy/lactation (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.03-1.78), and respondent age above 30 years (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI:1.10-1.87).ConclusionThe key factors contributing to relapse of acute malnutrition were related to childcare and feeding practices. Social and behavior change communication strategies targeting families at risk of undernutrition, along with improved food security and integrated programming are recommended to prevent relapse of acute malnutrition.

Background: Newborn mortality in Cambodia remains high, with sepsis and complications of delayed care-seeking important contributing factors. Intervention study objectives were to improve infection control behavior by staff in health centers, improve referral of sick newborns, increase recognition of danger signs, and prompt care-seeking at an appropriate health facility, and appropriate referral for sick newborns by mothers and families of newborn infants. Methods: The stepped-wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial took place in rural Cambodia from February 2015 to November 2016. Sixteen clusters consisted of public health center catchment areas serving the community. The intervention included health center staff training and home visits to mothers by community health volunteers within 24 hours of birth and on days 3 and 7 after delivery, including assessment of newborns for danger signs and counselling mothers. The trial participants included women who had recently delivered a newborn who were visited in their homes in the first week, as well as health center staff and community volunteers who were trained in newborn care. Women in their last trimester of pregnancy greater than 18 years of age were recruited and were blinded to their group assignment. Mothers and caregivers (2494) received counseling on handwashing practices, breastfeeding, newborn danger signs, and prompt, appropriate referral to facilities. Results: Health center staff in the intervention group had increased likelihood of hand washing at recommended key moments when compared with the control group, increased knowledge of danger signs, and higher recall of at least three hygiene messages. Of mother/caregiver participants at 14 days after delivery, women in the intervention group were much more likely to know at least three danger signs and to have received messages on care-seeking compared with controls. Conclusions: The intervention improved factors understood to be associated with newborn survival and health. Well-designed training, followed by regular supervision, enhanced the knowledge and self-reported behavior of health staff and health volunteers, as well as mothers&rsquo, own knowledge of newborn danger signs. However, further improvement in newborn care, including care-seeking for illness and handwashing among mothers and families, will require additional involvement from broader stakeholders in the community.

BackgroundCommunity-based management of acute malnutrition has been reported effective in terms of recovery rate, but recovered children may be at increased risk of developing acute malnutrition after returning to the same household (HH) environment.ObjectiveCompare the magnitude and factors associated with acute malnutrition among recovered and never treated children in South Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.MethodA comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in three districts of South Gondar Zone by tracing 720 recovered and an equal number of age matched children who were never treated for acute malnutrition. Parents were asked to bring children to health post for survey data collection, anthropometric measurements, and edema assessment. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire, entered in to EpiData and analyzed using SPSS v20. Anthropometric indices were generated according to the WHO’s 2006 Child Growth Standards using WHO Anthro software version 3.2.2. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was utilized. Values withP< 0.05 were considered statistically significant and Odds Ratio with 95% CI was used to measure strength of association.ResultA total of 1,440 parents were invited, of which 1,414 participated (98.2% response rate). Mean age in months of children (±SD) was 23.7 (±10.4) for recovered and 23.3 (±10.8) for comparison group. About 49% of recovered and 46% of comparison children were females. A significant difference was observed on magnitude of acute malnutrition between recovered (34.2% (95% CI [30.9–38.0]) and comparison groups (26.7% (95% CI [23.5–30.2]),P= 0.002. Factors associated with acute malnutrition among recovered were district of Ebnat (AOR = 3.7; 95% CI [1.9–7.2]), Tach-Gayint (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI [1.2–4.7]); male child (AOR = 1.4; 95% CI [1.0–2.0]); prelactal feeding (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI [1.3 –5.1]); not feeding colostrum (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI [1.1–2.3]); not consuming additional food during pregnancy/lactation (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI [1.1–2.3]); not given Vitamin A supplement (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI [1.4–3.2]); and safe child feces disposal practice (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI [1.2–2.5]) while district of Tach-Gayint (AOR = 2.5; 95% CI [1.3–4.8]); male child (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI [1.1–2.1]), not feeding colostrum (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI [1.2–2.5]), poor hand washing practice (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI [1.1–2.2]); food insecure HH (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI [1.1–2.4]), birth interval ConclusionRecovered children were more at risk of acute malnutrition than the comparison group. Nutrition programs should invest in improving nutrition counseling and education; as well as the hygienic practices to protect children against post-discharge relapse of acute malnutrition.

Postpartum care is a critical element for ensuring survival and health of mothers and newborns but is often inadequate in low- and middle-income countries due to barriers to access and resource constraints. Newly delivered mothers and their families often rely on traditional forms of postnatal care rooted in social and cultural customs or may blend modern and traditional forms of care. This ethnographic study sought to explore use of biomedical and traditional forms of postnatal care. Data were collected through unstructured observation and in-depth interviews with 15 mothers. Participants reported embracing traditional understandings of health and illness in the post-partum period centered on heating the body through diet, steaming, and other applications of heat, yet also seeking injections from private health care providers. Thematic analysis explored concepts related to transitioning forms of postnatal care, valuing of care through different lenses, and diverse sources of advice on postnatal care. Mothers also described concurrent use of both traditional medicine and biomedical postnatal care, and the importance of adhering to cultural traditions of postnatal care for future health. Maternal and newborn health are closely associated with postnatal care, so ensuring culturally appropriate and high-quality care must be an important priority for stakeholders including understand health practices that are evolving to include injections.

Alessandra N Bazzano,1 Christopher E Anderson,2 Chelsea Hylton,3 Jeanette Gustat2 1Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA; 2Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA; 3Project Peaceful Warriors, New Orleans, LA, USA Objective: To assess the impact of a yoga curriculum in an elementary school on student quality of life, and to assess teacher and staff perception of potential barriers to, and benefits of, introducing yoga and mindfulness into the classroom.Methods: A randomized controlled trial was utilized to assess the impact of a brief intervention on third-grade students who screened positive for symptoms of anxiety. Students were randomized to an intervention group of 20 students receiving small-group yoga/mindfulness activities for 8 weeks between October 2016 and February 2017, and a control group of 32 students receiving care as usual. The Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale-Peabody Treatment Progress Battery and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) served as outcomes. Teachers were invited to participate in two professional development sessions about introducing yoga and mindfulness into the classroom, and completed a survey following each of the sessions.Results: In generalized estimating equation models adjusted for time, the yoga-based intervention was associated with a 14.17 unit increase in student emotional PedsQL (p-value 0.001) and a 7.43 unit increase in psychosocial PedsQL (p-value 0.01). Results were not attenuated by adjustment. Teachers and staff reported using yoga more frequently in the classroom following the second of two professional development sessions (p-value

Over the last two decades, as the disciplinary boundaries for the application of design have dissolved, public health has emerged as one area within the social sector where design thinking and human-centred design have been applied more frequently. With that increased activity comes a need to understand how, why, for whom, and with what level of impact design thinking has been used. Many health projects receive public funding, and those that include design thinking approaches may thus be subject to evaluation more typically used in traditional biomedical research, with the potential for errors in translation between disciplines. The present paper considers the limitations and potential to further incorporate the two disciplinary approaches in order to improve progress in achieving health equity and improving population-level health outcomes.

Policies on breastfeeding and possible mother-to-child transmission of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) during the outbreak evolved depending on public health priorities and the evidence available at that particular time. To improve responses to future outbreaks, research on vertical transmission of EVD should be prioritized; infant and young child feeding experts should be integrated into the outbreak response; and a digital repository of national policies and associated messages should be created., Optimal breastfeeding is of vital importance to infant and child health and has been adopted by countries as a standard recommendation. However, in the context of an infectious disease outbreak, especially when the disease is poorly understood, policy makers must balance the benefits of breastfeeding against the risk of disease transmission through breastfeeding. During the 2014–2015 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Sierra Leone, the development of correct and consistent messaging about infant feeding and nutrition programming was considerably delayed by numerous challenges. These challenges included a lack of sufficient information about the risk of transmission through human milk, numerous stakeholders, limited communication between coordination pillars, inconsistent and evolving messages from various stakeholders, and the public's distrust of the health system and international actors. For improved response to future disease outbreaks, research on vertical transmission of EVD should be prioritized, infant and young child feeding experts should be integrated into outbreak response collaboration, and a digital repository of potential and appropriately tailored messages should be created.

This prospective cohort study examines the clinical effectiveness of electronic medical record clinical decision support (EMR CDS) for opioid prescribing.Data analysis included primary care patients with chronic opioid therapy for noncancer pain seen within an integrated health delivery system in Louisiana between January 2017 and October 2018. EMR CDS incorporated an opioid health maintenance tool to display the status of risk mitigation, and the medication order embedded the morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) calculator and a hyperlink to the Louisiana pharmacy drug monitoring program. Outcome measures included change in the average MEDD and rates of opioid risk mitigation, hospitalization, and emergency department use.Among 14 221 patients, 9% had prescriptions with an average MEDD ≥90 mg. There were no significant changes in MEDD after EMR CDS implementation. Increasing age, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, female sex, black non-Hispanic race, non-opioid pain medication co-prescriptions, and specialty referrals were associated with a lower odds of MEDD ≥90 (high-dose threshold). Medicare or self-pay, substance abuse history, and pain agreements were associated with increased odds of prescribing above this high-dose threshold. After incorporation of EMR CDS, patients had higher rates of urine drug screens (17% vs 7%) and naloxone prescriptions (3% vs 1%, all P.001). In addition, specialty referrals to physical or occupational therapy, orthopedics, neurology, and psychiatry or psychology increased in the postintervention period. Although emergency department use decreased (rate ratio 0.92; 95% confidence interval 0.89-0.95), hospitalization rates did not change.EMR CDS improved adherence to opioid risk mitigation strategies. Further research examining which practice redesign interventions effectively reduce high-dose opioid prescribing is needed.

Context Very few studies focused on the association between body mass index (BMI) and stroke risk among patients with diabetes. Objective We aimed to investigate the association between BMI and stroke risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. Design Demographic, anthropometric, laboratory, and medication information were extracted from the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network common data model. Participants We performed a retrospective cohort study of 67 086 patients with type 2 diabetes. Main Outcome Measures Incident stroke including both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were defined. Results During a mean follow up of 3.74 years. 8918 incident stroke events occurred. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios across different categories of BMI at baseline (18.5–24.9 [reference group], 25.0–29.9, 30.0–34.9, 35.0–39.9, and ≥40 kg/m2) were 1.00, 0.92, 0.85, 0.74, and 0.63 (Ptrend Conclusion The present study found an inverse association between BMI and the risk of total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic stroke among patients with type 2 diabetes. More clinical and molecular insights are still needed in explaining these findings.

Background and Purpose The association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and stroke risk along with its subtypes is rarely reported. We aimed to investigate the association between HbA1c and the risk of incident stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes based on real world data from three healthcare systems.Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of 27,113 African Americans and 40,431 whites with type 2 diabetes. Demographic, anthropometric, laboratory, and medication information were abstracted from the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network common data model. Incident stroke events including both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were defined.Results During a mean follow-up period of 3.79±1.68 years, 7,735 patients developed stroke (6,862 ischemic and 873 hemorrhagic). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios across levels of HbA1c at baseline (Ptrend Ptrend Ptrend=0.002) for hemorrhagic stroke. When we used an updated mean value of HbA1c, the U-shaped association of HbA1c with stroke risk did not change. This U-shaped association was consistent among patients of different subgroups. The U-shaped association was more pronounced among patients taking antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, and antihypertensive medications compared with those without these medications.Conclusions These data suggest that diabetes management may have to be individualized according to the guideline recommendations rather than intensively attempting to lower HbA1c.

Clinical findings regarding the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and stroke risk remain inconclusive, especially among patients with diabetes. We aimed to investigate the association between HbA1c and the risk of incident stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes using electronic medical record data from three large healthcare systems in Louisiana. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 27,113 African Americans and 40,431 whites with type 2 diabetes. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of different levels of HbA1c with stroke risk. During a mean follow-up period of 3.74 years, 8986 patients developed stroke (8438 ischemic and 548 hemorrhagic). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios across levels of HbA1c at baseline ( Disclosure Y. Shen: None. L. Shi: None. E. Nauman: None. P. Katzmarzyk: None. E.G. Price-Haywood: None. A.N. Bazzano: None. S. Nigam: None. G. Hu: None. Funding Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (NEN-1508-32257); National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U54GM104940 to G.H., P.K.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe potential factors contributing to neonatal mortality in Takeo, Cambodia through assessment of verbal autopsies collected following newborn deaths in the community. The mortality review was nested within a trial of a behavioral intervention to improve newborn survival, and was conducted after the close of the trial, within the study setting. The World Health Organization standardized definition of neonatal mortality was employed, and two pediatricians independently reviewed data collected from each event to assign a cause of death. Results: Thirteen newborn deaths of infants born in health facilities participating in a community based, behavioral intervention were reported during February 2015–November 2016. Ten deaths (76.92%) were early neonatal deaths, two (15.38%) were late neonatal deaths, and one was a stillbirth. Five out of 13 deaths (38.46%) occurred within the first day of life. The largest single contributor to mortality was neonatal sepsis; six of 13 deaths (46.15%) were attributed to some form of sepsis. Twenty-three percent of deaths were attributed to asphyxia. The study highlights the continuing need to improve quality of care and infection prevention and control, and to fully address causes of sepsis, in order to effectively reduce mortality in the newborn period.: The study highlights the continuing need to improve both intrapartum and postnatal quality of care and infection prevention and control, and to fully address causes of sepsis, in order to effectively reduce mortality in the newborn period.

Neonatal sepsis is the second most prevalent cause of neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries, and many countries lack epidemiologic data on the local causes of neonatal sepsis. During April 2015-November 2016, we prospectively collected 128 blood cultures from neonates admitted with clinical sepsis to the provincial hospital in Takeo, Cambodia, to describe the local epidemiology. Two percent (n = 3) of positive blood cultures identified were Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) and were presumed pathogens, whereas 10% (n = 13) of positive blood cultures identified were likely contaminants, consistent with findings in other published studies. No group B Streptococcus was identified in any positive cultures. The presence of GNB as the primary pathogens could help influence local treatment guidelines.

ObjectivesTo understand family and parent perspectives on newborn care provided at home to infants in the first 28 days of life, in order to inform behavioural interventions for improving care in low-income countries, where the majority of newborn deaths occur.DesignA comprehensive, qualitative systematic review was conducted. MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health databases were systematically searched for studies examining the views of parents and family members on newborn care at home. The search period included all studies published from 2006 to 2017. Studies using qualitative approaches or mixed-methods studies with substantial use of qualitative techniques in both the methods and analysis sections were included. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were extracted and evaluated using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme guidelines. Following the initial selection and appraisal, barriers and facilitators to recommended care practices across several domains were synthesised.ResultsOf 411 results retrieved, 37 met both inclusion and quality appraisal criteria for methodology and reporting. Geographical representation largely reflected that of newborn health outcomes globally, with the majority of studies conducted in the region of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Specific barriers and facilitators were identified among a range of domains including: cord care, drying and wrapping, thermal control, skin to skin contact, hygiene, breast feeding, care-seeking for illness, and low birthweight recognition. Cross cutting facilitators, common to all domains were evident and includeddelivery at a health facility, inclusion of female relatives in care counselling, lower healthcare costs, and exposure to newborn care behaviour change messaging in the community.ConclusionsWhen designing behavioural interventions to address newborn mortality at scale, policy-makers and practitioners must include barriers and facilitators important to families in low-income settings.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42016035674.

Despite the significant benefits of giving birth at a health facility to improve maternal and child health, the practice remains lower than expected in pastoralist communities of Ethiopia. Understanding the intentions of pregnant women to use health facilities for delivery predicts the adoption of the behavior, yet documented evidence of intention in the context of pastoralist populations remains scarce. The current study aimed to assess pregnant women&rsquo, s intentions to use a health facility for delivery in the Afar region of Ethiopia using the framework of the health belief model (HBM). A community-based, cross sectional survey was conducted from April 1 to April 30 2016 among 357 randomly sampled pregnant women using an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Data were entered into EpiData and exported to SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. Principal component factor analysis was done to extract relevant constructs of the model, and the reliability of items in each construct was assessed for acceptability. Multivariate logistic regressions were applied to identify predictors of pregnant women&rsquo, s intentions to give birth at a health facility. The odds ratio was reported, and statistical significance was declared at 95% CI and 0.05 p value. Three hundred fifty seven pregnant women participated in the study (104.6% response rate indicating above the minimum sample size required). Among the respondents, only 108 (30.3%) participants intended to use a health facility for the delivery for their current pregnancy. Higher household average monthly income [AOR = 1.23, 95% CI = (1.10 &minus, 2.90), antenatal clinic (ANC) attendance for their current pregnancy [AOR = 1.41, 95% CI = (1.31 &minus, 2.10), perceived susceptibility to delivery-related complications [AOR = 1.52, 95% CI = (1.30 &minus, 2.70), and perceived severity of the delivery complications [AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = (1.12 &minus, 2.31) were positively associated with pregnant women&rsquo, s intentions to deliver at a health facility. Intention was negatively associated with participants&rsquo, perceived barriers to accessing a health facility [AOR = 0.62, 95% CI = (0.36 &minus, 0.85). Conclusions: A low proportion of pregnant women in the sampled community intended to deliver at a health facility. Pastoralist communities may have special needs in this regard, with household income, antenatal care attendance, perceived risk of complications, and perceived barriers to accessing a health facility largely explaining the variance in intention. Community-based interventions providing counseling and messaging on danger signs in the perinatal period and emphasizing benefits of delivering at a facility are recommended, alongside improving access.

Background Psychoactive substance (PS) use is a public health concern among University students. Understanding the factors underlay the use helps to underpin effective preventive interventions. However, there is dearth of exploratory studies on the drivers of psychoactive substance use in Ethiopian universities. Here, we aimed to explore the drivers for psychoactive substance use among Mekelle University undergraduate students. Methods Exploratory qualitative study was conducted from April 1 to May 30, 2017. We conducted five focus group discussions (FGDs) and eleven in-depth interviews (IDIs) with students, proctors and bar owners. We also conducted three round interviews within two weeks interval with each of four key-informant researchers (KIR). Participants were selected purposively and the investigators conducted the discussions and the interviews using semi-structured guides. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and imported into qualitative data analysis software for coding and analysis. An inductive approach was applied to crystalize non-repetitive emerging themes overarching the drivers for psychoactive substance use among university students. Results The following themes emerged as drivers for psychoactive substance use among University students; (1)feeling helpless following detachment from family, (2) prior experience with substances, (3) socialization reasons, (4) low academic performance, (5) physical environment (explained by easy access to substance and limited recreational alternatives), and (6) sub-optimal organizational support. Conclusions Multiple drivers that range from individual to structural levels are involved in university student’s use of psychoactive substances, with socialization process at the center of the factors. Thus, the study appeals for a range of multifaceted interventions directed to the individual, interpersonal and organizational level factors. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13011-018-0190-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Introduction: Neonatal mortality has declined in Cambodia but remains a key contributor to under-five deaths. The aim of this study was to further understanding of potential factors contributing to high neonatal mortality rates in Cambodia through assessment of verbal autopsies collected following newborn deaths. The study team analyzed verbal autopsies of perinatal deaths in order to describe timing and causes of neonatal deaths, demographic data, and factors potentially related to mortality. Methods: The case series data derive from 13 verbal autopsy reports collected in rural southern Cambodia. The mortality review was nested within a trial of a behavioral intervention to improve newborn survival, and was conducted after the close of the trial. The study examined all neonatal deaths occurring to infants born at 16 health centers between in the study site of Takeo province. The World Health Organization standardized definition of neonatal mortality was employed, and two pediatricians independently reviewed data collected from each event to assign a cause of death. Results: Thirteen newborn deaths of infants born at a health facility were reported during the time period February 2015–November 2016. Ten out of the 13 deaths (76.92%) were early neonatal deaths, two (15.38%) were late neonatal deaths, and one was a stillbirth. Five out of 13 deaths (38.46%) occurred within the first day of life, indicating death was likely due to an intrapartum event. The largest single contributor to mortality was neonatal sepsis; six of 13 deaths (46.15%) were attributed to some form of sepsis. Twenty-three percent of the deaths were attributed to asphyxia. Other causes of death included stillbirth and prematurity. Eight deaths (61.54%) occurred within the control group of the larger intervention study. Conclusion: The study highlights the continuing need to improve both intrapartum and postnatal quality of care and infection prevention and control, and to fully address causes of sepsis, in order to effectively reduce mortality in the newborn period.

Objectives: The intervention study objectives were to improve infection control behavior by staff in health centers; improve referral of sick newborns, increase recognition of danger signs, and prompt care seeking at appropriate health facility; and appropriate referral for sick newborns by mothers and families of newborn infants Methods: The stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial in 16 Health Centers (HC) took place from February 2015 and November 2016. Each cluster was one HC its catchment area. Eligible HCs were those with greater than 20 birth deliveries per month. Eligible participants in each cluster included women in their last trimester of pregnancy who were healthy and able to participate in the intervention activities, such as home visits and data collection, could adhere to the study protocol, and were greater than 18 years of age. Participants enrolled in the study who met all inclusion criteria were blinded to their group assignment and interviewed by the study during the last trimester of her pregnancy (enrollment), the 14th day after delivery, and on the 28th day after delivery. The study team was not blinded to group assignment. At the HCs, the intervention included training on hand washing, infection prevention control, newborn danger signs, breastfeeding, and newborn care. Health workers were trained to conduct home visits within 24 hours of birth and on days 3 and 7 after delivery, including assessment of newborns for danger signs, counselling mothers at home visits, and use of equipment (e.g. thermometers). At home visits, mothers and caregivers received counseling on hygiene and handwashing practices, breastfeeding, newborn danger signs, and prompt, appropriate referral to facilities. Results: HC staff in the intervention group had 14.6 times (7.73-31.47; p

Early childhood and the pre-school stage of development constitute a dynamic period for acquisition of social-emotional competencies. Yoga and mindfulness practices (YMP) have become increasingly used in schools for social emotional learning, but less is known about their utility in early childhood settings. A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines was undertaken to explore the effect of YMP on social emotional function among preschool-aged children (3–5 years). The review resulted in identification of 1115 records, of which 80 full text articles were screened, with final inclusion of 16 studies. Included studies evaluated the effect of YMP on social-emotional functioning, and identified the potential for YMP to improve regulatory skills such as behavioral self-regulation and executive function. Among studies reviewed, 13 reported improvements in these domains, but quality appraisal indicated significant variability in risk of bias across studies, and heterogeneity of outcome measurements hindered comparison. Programs appeared to produce better results when implemented for at least 6 weeks and among children who had lower baseline social-emotional functioning. YMP constitute a promising strategy for social emotional development in early childhood settings, but additional rigorously designed studies are needed to expand understanding of how and why these programs are effective.

Improving nutrition for young children remains an urgent priority globally. Ethiopia has made great strides over the last two decades in improving health and nutrition for children. The task of scaling improved nutrition services now turns to addressing progress on the regional level. This research sought to highlight regional disparities identified in scaling nutrition services for child nutrition in Ethiopia, by identifying variations in early breastfeeding and child feeding practices and associated socio-demographic characteristics by geographic area in four regions of the country. The cross-sectional study data derived from an evaluation of nutrition services and programming and included 1299 participants, of whom 50% reported practicing recommended early breastfeeding practices. This varied from less than 8% in one zone of Afar region to 84% in a zone of Tigray, with differences also noted by socio-demographic characteristics. Among the total sample, 70% of respondents met the recommendation for minimum number of feedings per day, and 16% met the recommendation for dietary diversity. Less than 8% of families in the service population in Northwestern Tigray zone met the dietary diversity recommendation compared to 36% in South Wollo, Amhara region. Utilizing regional and zonal data will allow for government and other agencies involved in improving nutrition and health outcomes to appropriately provide services and programs for families and children over the life course., Dietary diversity; Nutritional adequacy; Lactation; Breast feeding; Child feeding; Malnutrition.

Background Despite potential for benefit, mindfulness remains an emergent area in perinatal mental health care, and evidence of smartphone-based mindfulness training for perinatal depression is especially limited. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone-based mindfulness training intervention during pregnancy on perinatal depression and other mental health problems with a randomized controlled design. Methods Pregnant adult women who were potentially at risk of perinatal depression were recruited from an obstetrics clinic and randomized to a self-guided 8-week smartphone-based mindfulness training during pregnancy group or attention control group. Mental health indicators were surveyed over five time points through the postpartum period by online self-assessment. The assessor who collected the follow-up data was blind to the assignment. The primary outcome was depression as measured by symptoms, and secondary outcomes were anxiety, stress, affect, sleep, fatigue, memory, and fear. Results A total of 168 participants were randomly allocated to the mindfulness training (n=84) or attention control (n=84) group. The overall dropout rate was 34.5%, and 52.4% of the participants completed the intervention. Mindfulness training participants reported significant improvement of depression (group × time interaction χ24=16.2, P=.003) and secondary outcomes (χ24=13.1, P=.01 for anxiety; χ24=8.4, P=.04 for positive affect) compared to attention control group participants. Medium between-group effect sizes were found on depression and positive affect at postintervention, and on anxiety in late pregnancy (Cohen d=0.47, –0.49, and 0.46, respectively). Mindfulness training participants reported a decreased risk of positive depressive symptom (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS] score>9) compared to attention control participants postintervention (odds ratio [OR] 0.391, 95% CI 0.164-0.930) and significantly higher depression symptom remission with different EPDS reduction scores from preintervention to postintervention (OR 3.471-27.986). Parity did not show a significant moderating effect; however, for nulliparous women, mindfulness training participants had significantly improved depression symptoms compared to nulliparous attention control group participants (group × time interaction χ24=18.1, P=.001). Conclusions Smartphone-based mindfulness training is an effective intervention in improving maternal perinatal depression for those who are potentially at risk of perinatal depression in early pregnancy. Nulliparous women are a promising subgroup who may benefit more from mindfulness training. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900028521; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=33474

Alessandra N Bazzano,1 Lisa Littrell,1 Amelia Brandt,1 Shelley Thibeau,2 Kamala Thriemer,3 Katherine P Theall1 1Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 2Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA; 3MLT EpiConsult, Jingili, NT, Australia Background: Exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to 6 months is widely recommended, yet breastfeeding rates are relatively low in the US. The most common reason women stop breastfeeding early is a perceived insufficiency of milk. Galactagogues are herbal and pharmaceutical products that can help increase milk supply; however, data on their efficacy and safety is limited. Lactation consultants, obstetricians, and other health providers are an important point of contact for breastfeeding women experiencing challenges with lactation. This study explored providers’ perceptions, experiences, and practices in relation to galactagogue recommendation. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of English-speaking health providers in the US who counsel breastfeeding women and their infants. Results: More than 70% of respondents reported to recommend galactagogues. The most frequently recommended galactagogue was fenugreek with respondents indicating that they recommend it either ‘always’ (8.5%) or ‘most of the time’ (14.9%) and ‘sometimes’ (46.8%). More than 80% of the respondents indicated that galactagogues were useful for their clients and only one-third reported side effects. Reasons for refraining from recommending galactagogues were insufficient evidence of its efficacy and safety. Respondents reported a wide variety of sources of information used for their own education about galactagogues. Discussion: Despite little evidence regarding safety and efficacy, some galactagogues are widely recommended and often perceived to be useful. However, concerns about their efficacy and safety remain. In order to assure both providers and users about safety and efficacy, more robust studies as well as better pharmacovigilance systems are needed. Keywords: lactation, human milk, nutrition, clinical decision making, lactogenesis

Alessandra N Bazzano,1 Lisa Littrell,1 Stephen Lambert,2 Cody Roi2 1Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 2Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA, USA Background: Recent evidence has indicated a potential role of vitamin D3 in a range of neuropsychiatric outcomes, as well as on cognitive function, but conflicting data have left that role uncertain. Understanding potential associations of vitamin D status with psychiatric illness will allow clinicians to better assess therapeutic options. Few studies have examined vitamin D status among a racially diverse group of psychiatric patients who have been hospitalized, and none has done so in the southern US where socioeconomic inequality is high.Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records from 113 patients hospitalized for psychiatric illness were retrieved and analyzed. Vitamin D status in this population was estimated, along with any patterns of association between deficiency and risk factors.Results: The vast majority of patients hospitalized for psychiatric illness in this biracial, low-income sample had either insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels. African-American patients had lower levels of vitamin D than Caucasian patients.Discussion: Our findings demonstrate that hospitalized psychiatric patients are at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency and in particular low-income, African-American populations. These results suggest that vitamin D should be assessed and therapy considered at the initiation of psychiatric hospitalizations. Keywords: vitamin D, psychiatric diagnosis, cognitive function, neuropsychological function

Balms and oils containing terpenic compounds, such as camphor, menthol and eucalyptus, are potentially toxic, and numerous reports of adverse events stemming from their use in infants and young children have been published. During qualitative research on newborn practices in rural Cambodia, these products were found to be commonly applied to the skin of newborns and infants and available in most households. Parents and caregivers of infants in Cambodia and other settings where use of camphor- and menthol-containing products are common should be educated on the risks of these to prevent child morbidity and potential mortality.

The burden of illness related to diabetes and its complications is exceedingly high and growing globally. Systematic approaches to managing chronic care are needed to address the complex nature of the disease, taking into account health system structures. This study presents data collected from interviews with physicians, health system administrators, and other healthcare staff about chronic care management for elderly people with diabetes co-morbid with other chronic conditions in light of new programs intended to reduce barriers by incentivizing care encounters that take place through telephone and electronic communications (non-face-to-face care). Results indicate that health system personnel view non-face-to-face care as potentially providing value for patients and addressing systemic needs, yet challenging to implement in practice. Barriers and facilitators to this approach for managing diabetes and chronic care management for its complications are presented, with consideration to different types of health systems, and recommendations are provided for implementation.