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Introduction: Before the COVID-19 public health emergency, few genetics providers used telehealth. As a response to this, many genetics providers began conducting telehealth care, referred to as telegenetics, usually with guidance from their institutions but without specific guidance related to the uniqueness of genetic services. Objectives: The Telegenetics Workgroup of the National Coordinating Center for Regional Genetics Networks convened a panel of experts in the fields of telemedicine, genetics, and genomics to review the existing literature on telegenetics and synthesize best operating practices for medical geneticists, genetic counselors, and metabolic dietitians providing telegenetics services. Methods: The group searched PubMed using the terms "telegenetics," "telemedicine + genetics," and "telehealth + genetics." The group also reviewed the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center's telegenetics webliography. Websites were searched, including the American Telemedicine Association's website, Center for Connected Health Policy, and National Telehealth Resource Center for position statements, standards documents, and guidelines. The group met frequently by videoconference and discussed the literature, and using expert consensus, the group determined best practices in providing telegenetics services. Results: These telegenetics best practices cover important aspects of telegenetics services, including, but not limited to, ongoing delivery of telegenetics services, use of special technology, legal and regulatory requirements, and considerations regarding special settings and circumstances in which telegenetics may be conducted. Conclusions: Recognizing the growing use of telegenetics and a future in which telegenetics continues to be part of the regular practice of genetics, this guide informs genetics providers of best practices for delivering telegenetics services to patients.

Purpose: This study of current conditions in medical genetics practice is designed to inform public policy development and present possible solutions for improving access to genetic services., Methods: Using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Member Directory, membership directories from regional collaborative partners, listservs from national partners, and social media, a 16-question survey was electronically distributed in 2015., Results: The responses of 924 genetics professionals and related providers present a snapshot of current practice and an assessment of workforce needs. More than 92% of the respondents (837/910) are involved in clinical care. Among geneticists, 60% spend more than 51% of their time in clinical care. Geneticists reported an average of 10.2 new patients per week and 7.8 follow-up visits per week. More than 62% of geneticists said that their practices were nearly full; 9.4% said that they were not taking new patients. The survey identified more than 100 geneticists and 200 genetic counselor job vacancies. Fewer than 18% of respondents reported use of telemedicine., Conclusion: When compared with previously published workforce studies, these data show that wait times and average new patient caseloads have increased, while the number of geneticists has not.

The evolution of digital health is entwined with federal regulation and policy. Whether considering what is or is not a medical device, the reimbursement for digital medical technologies, or physician services under Medicare or Medicaid related to remote patient monitoring or telehealth, the rules and policies governing digital health have not been easy to distinguish. In the face of rapid innovation, it has been difficult to fit these products and services into existing regulations of the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, particularly when these frameworks never contemplated what communications technologies can do today. Instead, rules have been misapplied, and in some cases, they have hampered the use of these technologies, depressing the proliferation of associated services. However, regulations have begun to change. We discuss the policy and regulatory changes that have begun to evolve and where they should continue to head.

We propose a set of common factors in evidence-based interventions (EBI) for HIV prevention, which cut across theoretical models of behavior change. Three existing literatures support this agenda: (1) Common factors in psychotherapy; (2) core elements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention EBIs; and (3) component analyses of EBI. To stimulate discussion among prevention researchers, we propose a set of common factors at the highest level of abstraction that describe what all effective programs do: (1) establish a framework to understand behavior change; (2) convey issue-specific and population-specific information necessary for healthy actions; (3) build cognitive, affective, and behavioral self-management skills; (4) address environmental barriers to implementing health behaviors; and (5) provide tools to develop ongoing social and community support for healthy actions. A focus on common factors will enhance research on new HIV prevention interventions, encourage collaboration among researchers, provide guidelines for adapting EBI, and simplify and speed the adoption of EBI for providers.

Dissemination of evidence-based HIV prevention programs for adolescents will be increased if community interventionists are able to distinguish core, essential program elements from optional, discretionary ones. We selected five successful adolescent HIV prevention programs, used a qualitative coding method to identify common processes described in the procedural manuals, and then compared the programs. Nineteen common processes were categorized as structural features, group management strategies, competence building, and addressing developmental challenges of adolescence. All programs shared the same structural features (goal-setting and session agendas), used an active engagement style of group management, and built cognitive competence. Programs varied in attention to developmental challenges, emphasis on behavioral and emotional competence, and group management methods. This qualitative analysis demonstrated that successful HIV programs contain processes not articulated in their developers' theoretical models. By moving from the concrete specifics of branded interventions to identification of core, common processes, we are consistent with the progress of "common factors" research in psychotherapy.

Although health information is important to the prevention of much illness, the health information needs of Puerto Rican women remain unaddressed, according to the results of this phenomenological study. Through audiotaped interviews, 21 women evaluated various sources of health information. Analysis of the data revealed which health information sources they considered trustworthy and nontrustworthy. Health care providers were found to be one of the least helpful sources, as personal interactions were often hurried and inattentive to women's needs. Yet, the women were able to present a vivid portrait of a culturally sensitive community environment conducive to the presentation of health information. Implications include the importance of including cultural values in any health information setting, as well as the importance of building cultural bridges between health educators and Puerto Rican women. More research is needed to examine community efforts to enhance health information sources for this population of women.

This study sought to delineate patterns of smokeless tobacco use among college students in the United States. A national sample (N = 5,894) of approximately equal numbers of men and women from 72 colleges and universities participated in the study. Eight percent of the college students in the Northeast used smokeless tobacco, whereas 15% in the South Central United States were using it. Seventeen percent of the American Indian, 14% of Mexican-American, 12% of white, and 4% of black students reported they had dipped or chewed. Smokeless tobacco users were more likely to have family and friends who also used smokeless tobacco. Almost two thirds (63%) of current users plan to continue to dip or chew. More than half (57%) the users consumed less than two cans or pouches per week. Smokeless tobacco is a serious problem in American colleges and universities. Unless prevention and cessation efforts target this group, the problem will continue to increase and ultimately could result in an oral cancer epidemic.