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Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee are among the most common chronic conditions, resulting in substantial pain and functional limitations. Adequate management of OA requires a combination of medical and behavioral strategies. However, some recommended therapies are under-utilized in clinical settings, and the majority of patients with hip and knee OA are overweight and physically inactive. Consequently, interventions at the provider-level and patient-level both have potential for improving outcomes. This manuscript describes two ongoing randomized clinical trials being conducted in two different health care systems, examining patient-based and provider-based interventions for managing hip and knee OA in primary care. Methods / Design One study is being conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system and will compare a Combined Patient and Provider intervention relative to usual care among n = 300 patients (10 from each of 30 primary care providers). Another study is being conducted within the Duke Primary Care Research Consortium and will compare Patient Only, Provider Only, and Combined (Patient + Provider) interventions relative to usual care among n = 560 patients across 10 clinics. Participants in these studies have clinical and / or radiographic evidence of hip or knee osteoarthritis, are overweight, and do not meet current physical activity guidelines. The 12-month, telephone-based patient intervention focuses on physical activity, weight management, and cognitive behavioral pain management. The provider intervention involves provision of patient-specific recommendations for care (e.g., referral to physical therapy, knee brace, joint injection), based on evidence-based guidelines. Outcomes are collected at baseline, 6-months, and 12-months. The primary outcome is the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (self-reported pain, stiffness, and function), and secondary outcomes are the Short Physical Performance Test Protocol (objective physical function) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (depressive symptoms). Cost effectiveness of the interventions will also be assessed. Discussion Results of these two studies will further our understanding of the most effective strategies for improving hip and knee OA outcomes in primary care settings. Trial registration NCT01130740 (VA); NCT 01435109 (NIH)

Abstract Background Almost 50% of Americans have elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The behaviors required to lower LDL-C levels may be difficult to adhere to if they are inconsistent with spouses' health practices, and, alternatively, may be enhanced by enlisting support from the spouse. This trial extends previous trials by requiring spouse enrollment, teaching spouses how to provide emotional and instrumental support, allowing patients to decide which component of the intervention they would like to receive, and having patients determine their own goals and action plans. Methods Veteran outpatients with above-goal LDL-C (N = 250) and their spouses are randomized, as a couple, to receive printed education materials only or the materials plus an 11-month, nurse-delivered, telephone-based intervention. The intervention contains four modules: medication adherence, diet, exercise, and patient-physician communication. Patients decide which modules they complete and in which order; modules may be repeated or omitted. Telephone calls are to patients and spouses separately and occur monthly. During each patient telephone call, patients' progress is reviewed, and patients create goals and action plans for the upcoming month. During spouse telephone calls, which occur within one week of patient calls, spouses are informed of patients' goals and action plans and devise strategies to increase emotional and instrumental support. The primary outcome is patients' LDL-C, measured at baseline, 6 months, and 11 months. Linear mixed models will be used to test the primary hypothesis that an 11-month, telephone-based patient-spouse intervention will result in a greater reduction in LDL-C as compared to printed education materials. Various process measures, including social support, self-efficacy, medication adherence, dietary behavior, and exercise, are also assessed to explain any change, or lack thereof, in LDL-C. Discussion Given the social context in which self-management occurs, interventions that teach spouses to provide instrumental and emotional support may help patients initiate and adhere to behaviors that lower their LDL-C levels. Moreover, allowing patients to retain autonomy by deciding which behaviors they would like to change and how may improve adherence and clinical outcomes. Trial Registration The ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT00321789.

Diabetes distress (DD) is a negative psychosocial response to living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We sought insight into Veterans' experiences with DD in the context of T2DM self-management. The four domains in the Diabetes Distress Scale (i.e. regimen, emotional, interpersonal, healthcare provider) informed the interview guide and analysis (structural coding using thematic analysis). The mean age of the cohort (n = 36) was 59.1 years (SD 10.4); 8.3% of patients were female and 63.9% were Black or Mixed Race; mean A1C was 8.8% (SD 2.0); and mean DDS score was 2.4 (SD 1.1), indicating moderate distress. Veterans described DD and challenges to T2DM self-management across the four domains in the Diabetes Distress Scale. We found that (1) Veterans' challenges with their T2DM self-management routines influenced DD and (2) Veterans experienced DD across a wide range of domains, indicating that clinical interventions should take a "whole-person" approach. Trial Registration: NCT04587336 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThis clinical demonstration trial compared the effectiveness of the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Prevention Program (VA-DPP) with an evidence-based usual care weight management program (MOVE!®) in the Veterans Health Administration health system.DesignProspective, pragmatic, non-randomized comparative effectiveness study of two behavioral weight management interventions.Setting/participantsObese/overweight Veterans with prediabetes were recruited from three geographically diverse VA sites between 2012 and 2014.InterventionVA-DPP included 22 group-based intensive lifestyle change sessions.Main outcome measuresWeight change at 6 and 12 months, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at 12 months, and VA health expenditure changes at 15 months were assessed using VA electronic health record and claims data. Between- and within-group comparisons for weight and HbA1c were done using linear mixed-effects models controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, baseline outcome values, and site. Analyses were conducted in 2015-2016.ResultsA total of 387 participants enrolled (273 VA-DPP, 114 MOVE!). More VA-DPP participants completed at least one (73.3% VA-DPP vs 57.5% MOVE! p=0.002); four (57.5% VA-DPP vs 42.5% MOVE!, p=0.007); and eight or more sessions (42.5% VA-DPP vs 31% MOVE!, p=0.035). Weight loss from baseline was significant at both 6 (p

Background: Seriously ill patients rely on spiritual and existential beliefs to support coping and approach crucial treatment and healthcare decisions. Yet, we lack gold standard, validated approaches to gathering information on those spiritual beliefs. Therefore, we developed I‐SPIRIT, a spiritual needs and beliefs inventory for those with serious illness (IIR‐10‐050). Methods: In prior work to develop measure content, we interviewed a total of 74 participants: 20 patients (veterans with Stage IV cancer, CHF, COPD, ESRD), 19 caregivers, 14 chaplains, 10 social workers, 12 nurses, and 5 physicians. Using directed content analyses, we identified over 50 attributes of spiritual experience comprising five domains: overall importance of spirituality; affiliations and practices; impact on decisions; spiritual needs; and spiritual resources. We then translated these attributes into individual items with Likert response scales. In the quantitative validation of I‐SPIRIT, we administered the instrument and a battery of comparison measures to 249 seriously ill veterans. The comparison measures captured general spiritual well‐being, religious coping, and emotional functioning. Convergent and discriminant validity was examined with the FACIT‐sp (faith, meaning, and purpose), BMMRS (religious/spirituality), POMS and PHQ‐8 (emotional function), and FACT‐G (quality of life). We administered the I‐SPIRIT a week later, for test–retest reliability. Results: Psychometric analyses yielded a final I‐SPIRIT Tool including 30 items. Results demonstrated reliability and validity and yielded a tool with three main components: Spiritual Beliefs (seven items); Spiritual Needs (nine items); and Spiritual Resources (14 items). The Spiritual Beliefs items include key practices and affiliations, and impact of beliefs on healthcare. Higher levels of Spiritual Needs were associated with higher anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The I‐Spirit measures relevance of spirituality, spiritual needs and spiritual resources and demonstrates validity, reliability, and acceptability for patients with serious illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Veterans Affairs or VA health care system is in the process of significantly expanding home health care (HOC) nationwide. We describe VA HHC use in 2003 for all VA HHC users from 2002; we examine whether VA utilization across a broad spectrum of services differed for a sample of VA HHC users and their propensity-score-matched controls. We also consider crossover between the VA and Medicare. Design and Methods: This is a retrospective study using propensity score and stratified analysis to control for selection bias on observable characteristics. We examined the full cohort of 2002 VA HHC users (n = 24,169) and a 2:1 sample of age- and race-based nonusers (n = 53,356). Utilization measures included VA and Medicare outpatient, inpatient, nursing home, and hospice use, as well as VA home-based primary care, respite care, and adult day health care. Results: VA HHC users had a higher absolute probability of outpatient use by around 3%, of inpatient use by 12%, and nursing home use by 6% than their propensity-score-matched controls. Implications: Veterans who used HHC services had a higher rate of VA service use in the subsequent year than controls did, even after we adjusted for differences in observed health status, eligibility advantages, and supplemental insurance status. High utilization for VA home health users spilled over into high Medicare utilization.

This study evaluated spouse health behavior outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of a spouse-assisted lifestyle intervention to reduce patient low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and improve patient health behaviors. Participants were 251 spouses of patients from the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center randomized to intervention or usual care. The intervention comprised 9 monthly telephone calls to patients and spouses. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 and 11 months. At 11 months, there were no differences in spouse outcomes between intervention and usual care groups for moderate intensity physical activity (i.e., frequency, duration) or dietary intake (i.e., total calories, total fat, percentage of calories from total fat, saturated fat, percentage of calories from saturated fat, cholesterol, fiber). To improve spouse outcomes, couple interventions may need to include spouse behavior change goals and reciprocal support between patients and spouses and consider the need for improvement in spouse outcomes. Keywords Spouse * Couple * Dietary intake * Physical activity * Intervention * Social support, Introduction Couple interventions (i.e., both patient and partner are active participants) for chronic illness have significant small effects on some patient outcomes and in some cases are more efficacious than [...]