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ImportancePrenatal cannabis use is associated with health risks for mothers and their children. Prior research suggests that rates of prenatal cannabis use in Northern California increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is unknown whether increases varied with the local cannabis retail and policy environment.ObjectiveTo test whether pandemic-related increases in prenatal cannabis use were greater among pregnant individuals with greater retail availability of cannabis around their homes or among those living in jurisdictions that allowed storefront retailers.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA cross-sectional, population-based time series study used data from pregnancies in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California health care system screened for cannabis use before (January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020) and during (April 1 to December 31, 2020) the early COVID-19 pandemic. Proximity to the nearest retailer and number of retailers within a 15-minute drive from one’s home and local cannabis storefront retailer policy (banned vs permitted) were calculated. Interrupted time series models were fit using multiplicative and additive Poisson regression, adjusting for age and race and ethnicity.ExposuresThe COVID-19 pandemic.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPrenatal cannabis use based on universal urine toxicology tests conducted during early pregnancy at entrance to prenatal care.ResultsThe sample (n = 99 127 pregnancies) included 26.2% Asian or Pacific Islander, 6.8% Black, 27.6% Hispanic, 34.4% non-Hispanic White, and 4.9% other, unknown, or multiracial individuals, with a mean (SD) age of 30.8 (5.3) years. Prenatal cannabis use before (6.8%) and during (8.2%) the pandemic was associated with closer proximity to a retailer, greater retailer density, and residing in a jurisdiction that permitted vs banned retailers. There was a greater absolute increase in cannabis use from before to during the pandemic among those within a 10-minute drive (P = .02). Otherwise, relative and absolute rates increased similarly across categories of cannabis retailer proximity/density and local policy (interaction P > .05).Conclusions and RelevancePrenatal cannabis use was more common among individuals living in areas with greater retail availability of cannabis. Although relative rates increased similarly during the pandemic regardless of local cannabis retail and policy environment, there was a larger absolute increase associated with living closer to a storefront cannabis retailer. Continued monitoring of local cannabis policy, the retail environment, and prenatal cannabis use is needed.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between pregnancy intentions and substance use in early pregnancy among pregnant women receiving prenatal care in a large, integrated healthcare system. METHODS The sample comprised 29,787 Kaiser Permanente Northern California pregnant women (12.1% aged

Background and aimsCannabis use is increasingly common among pregnant individuals and might be a risk factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We aimed to test whether prenatal cannabis use is associated with increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.DesignThis is a retrospective cohort study.SettingThe study was conducted in California, USA.ParticipantsA total of 58 114 pregnancies (with outcomes from 5 March 2020 to 30 September 2021) among 57 287 unique pregnant women aged 14-54 years who were screened for prenatal substance use, enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) (a health-care system) and had not tested positive for COVID-19 prior to pregnancy onset.MeasurementsWe utilized data from the KPNC electronic health record. Cannabis use status (current, recently quit and non-user) was based on universal screenings during prenatal care (including urine toxicology testing and self-reported use on a self-administered questionnaire). SARS-CoV-2 infection [based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests] was estimated in time-to-event analyses using Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusting for covariates. Secondary analyses examined differences in (a) SARS-CoV-2 testing rates and (b) SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among those tested.FindingsWe observed 348 810 person-months of follow-up time in our cohort with 41 064 SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests and 6% (n = 2414) of tests being positive. At the start of follow-up, 7% of pregnant individuals had current use, 12% had recently quit and 81% did not use cannabis. Adjusting for covariates, current use was associated with lower rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49-0.74 than non-use. Those who had recently quit did not differ from non-cannabis users in infection rates (aHR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.86-1.08). Sensitivity analyses among patients who received a SARS-CoV-2 test also found lower odds of infection associated with current versus no cannabis use (aOR = 0.76, CI = 0.61-0.93).ConclusionsCurrent cannabis use appears to be associated with a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant individuals.

ImportanceAs rates of prenatal cannabis use increase and cannabis legalization spreads across the US, studies are needed to understand the potential impacts of legalization from the perspectives of pregnant individuals who use cannabis.ObjectiveTo characterize pregnant individuals’ perspectives on legalization of cannabis for adult use in California (effective in 2018) in relation to prenatal cannabis use behaviors and beliefs.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis qualitative study was conducted in Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large health care system with universal screening for self-reported cannabis use at entrance to prenatal care. Eighteen semistructured focus groups were conducted from November 17 to December 17, 2021, using a secure video conferencing platform with Black and White pregnant participants who self-reported cannabis use during early pregnancy. Data were analyzed from March to June 2022.Main Outcomes and MeasuresVideo-recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify major themes and subthemes.ResultsAmong 53 participants (mean [SD] age, 30.3 [5.2] years), 23 (43%) identified as non-Hispanic Black and 30 (57%) identified as non-Hispanic White; 16 participants (30%) reported continued cannabis use at the time of recruitment. Major themes regarding the perceived impact of legalization included easier access (via retailers and delivery), greater acceptance (including reduced stigma and more discussions about prenatal cannabis use with health care practitioners), and trust in cannabis retailers (including safety and effectiveness of diverse products sold and perceptions of cannabis retailer employees as knowledgeable, nonjudgmental, and caring). Responses were mixed about whether retailer marketing and advertising were associated with prenatal cannabis use and whether legalization resulted in reduced concerns about Child Protective Services involvement.Conclusion and RelevanceThe findings of this qualitative study suggest pregnant individuals perceive cannabis legalization as having reduced barriers to prenatal cannabis use and that legalization has created challenges and opportunities for supporting the health of pregnant individuals. The results of this qualitative study highlight key areas that can be further explored in future educational materials, public health campaigns, and policy adaptations to address increasing rates of prenatal cannabis use.

Background Cross-sectional studies indicate an elevated prevalence of prenatal marijuana use in women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP). However, it is unknown whether differences in marijuana use by NVP status have persisted over time as marijuana becomes more acceptable and accessible and prenatal use increases overall. We compared trends in prenatal marijuana use by NVP status in the first trimester of pregnancy using data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s (KPNC) large healthcare system. Methods The sample comprised KPNC pregnant women aged ≥12 who completed a self-administered questionnaire on marijuana use and a urine toxicology test for cannabis during standard prenatal care from 2009 to 2016. The annual prevalence of marijuana use via self-report or toxicology by NVP status was estimated using Poisson regression with a log link function, adjusting for sociodemographics and parity. We tested for linear trends and differences in trends by NVP. Results Of 220,510 pregnancies, 38,831 (17.6%) had an NVP diagnosis. Prenatal marijuana use was elevated each year among women with NVP. The adjusted prevalence of use increased significantly from 2009 to 2016 at an annual rate of 1.086 (95%CI = 1.069–1.104) among women with NVP, from 6.5% (95%CI = 5.7%–7.2%) to 11.1% (95%CI = 0.2%–12.0%), and 1.069 (95%CI = 1.059–1.080) among women without NVP, from 3.4% (95%CI = 3.2%–3.7%) to 5.8% (95%CI = 5.5%–6.1%). Trends did not vary by NVP status. Discussion The prevalence of prenatal marijuana use has remained elevated over time among women with NVP. Clinicians should ask pregnant patients about their reasons for marijuana use and treat NVP with evidence-based interventions.

COVID-19 morbidity is highest in Black and Latino older adults. These racial and ethnic groups initially had lower vaccination uptake than others, and rates in Black adults continue to lag.To evaluate the effect of outreach via electronic secure messages and mailings from primary care physicians (PCPs) on COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Black and Latino older adults and to compare the effects of culturally tailored and standard PCP messages.This randomized clinical trial was conducted from March 29 to May 20, 2021, with follow-up surveys through July 31, 2021. Latino and Black individuals aged 65 years and older from 4 Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) service areas were included. Data were analyzed from May 27, 2021, to September 28, 2021.Individuals who had not received COVID-19 vaccination after previous outreach were randomized to electronic secure message and/or mail outreach from their PCP, similar outreach with additional culturally tailored content, or usual care. Outreach groups were sent a secure message or letter in their PCP's name, followed by a postcard to those still unvaccinated after 4 weeks.The primary outcome was time to receipt of COVID-19 vaccination during the 8 weeks after initial study outreach. KPNC data were supplemented with state data from external sources. Intervention effects were evaluated via proportional hazards regression.Of 8287 included individuals (mean [SD] age, 72.6 [7.0] years; 4665 [56.3%] women), 2434 (29.4%) were Black, 3782 (45.6%) were Latino and preferred English-language communications, and 2071 (25.0%) were Latino and preferred Spanish-language communications; 2847 participants (34.4%) had a neighborhood deprivation index at the 75th percentile or higher. A total of 2767 participants were randomized to culturally tailored PCP outreach, 2747 participants were randomized to standard PCP outreach, and 2773 participants were randomized to usual care. Culturally tailored PCP outreach led to higher COVID-19 vaccination rates during follow-up compared with usual care (664 participants [24.0%] vs 603 participants [21.7%]; adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.22; 95% CI, 1.09-1.37), as did standard PCP outreach (635 participants [23.1%]; aHR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04-1.31). Individuals who were Black (aHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06-1.33), had high neighborhood deprivation (aHR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.33), and had medium to high comorbidity scores (aHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.09-1.31) were more likely to be vaccinated during follow-up.This randomized clinical trial found that PCP outreach using electronic and mailed messages increased COVID-19 vaccination rates among Black and Latino older adults.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05096026.

Rates of prenatal cannabis use are increasing alongside perceptions that cannabis is a harmless therapeutic for pregnancy-related ailments, while rates of prenatal use of alcohol and tobacco are decreasing. It is important to examine whether cannabis use during pregnancy is increasing similarly among patients with and patients without co-occurring substance use.To examine trends in cannabis polysubstance use during pregnancy and to test differences in cannabis use over time among pregnant individuals who use only cannabis vs those who use cannabis and other substances.This cross-sectional time-series study used data from 367 138 pregnancies among 281 590 unique pregnant patients universally screened for prenatal substance use as part of standard care in Kaiser Permanente Northern California from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018. Statistical analysis was performed from October 5, 2021, to April 18, 2022.Time (calendar year).Use of substances during early pregnancy was assessed via universal screening with a self-administered questionnaire (for cannabis, alcohol, stimulants, and nicotine) and/or positive results of a urine toxicology test (for cannabis, alcohol, stimulants, and pharmaceutical opioids), and data were extracted from the electronic health record.The study sample of 367 138 pregnancies from 281 590 unique pregnant patients (median gestation at time of screening, 8.6 weeks [IQR, 7.3-10.6 weeks]) was 25.9% Asian or Pacific Islander, 6.6% Black, 25.8% Hispanic, 38.0% non-Hispanic White, and 3.6% other race or ethnicity; 1.1% were aged 11 to 17 years, 14.9% were aged 18 to 24 years, 61.9% were aged 25 to 34 years, and 22.1% were aged 35 years or older; and the median neighborhood household income was $70 455 (IQR, $51 563-$92 625). From 2009 to 2018, adjusted rates of use of only cannabis during pregnancy (no other substances) increased substantially from 2.39% (95% CI, 2.20%-2.58%) in 2009 to 6.30% (95% CI, 6.00%-6.60%) in 2018, increasing at an annual relative rate of 1.11 (95% CI, 1.10-1.12). The rate of use of cannabis and 1 other substance also increased (annual relative rate, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.03-1.05]), but not as rapidly (P .001 for difference), while the rate of use of cannabis and 2 or more other substances decreased slightly (annual relative rate, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.96-0.99]). Adjusted rates of prenatal use of cannabis and alcohol (1.04 [95% CI, 1.03-1.06]) and cannabis and stimulants (1.03 [95% CI, 1.01-1.06]) increased over time, while rates of prenatal use of cannabis and nicotine (0.97 [95% CI, 0.96-0.98]) decreased.In this cross-sectional time-series study, rates of prenatal cannabis use during early pregnancy increased significantly more rapidly among patients without co-occurring substance use, which could reflect increased acceptability of cannabis and decreased perceptions of cannabis-related harms. Furthermore, increased rates of use of cannabis with alcohol and stimulants warrant continued monitoring.

INTRODUCTION: Screening and referral for substance use are essential components of prenatal care. However, little is known about barriers to participation in substance use interventions that are integrated within prenatal care. METHODS: Our study examines demographic and clinical correlates of participation in an initial assessment and counseling intervention integrated into prenatal care in a large healthcare system. The sample comprised Kaiser Permanente Northern California pregnant women with a live birth in 2014 or 2015 who screened positive for prenatal substance use via a self-reported questionnaire and/or urine toxicology test given as part of standard prenatal care (at ~8 weeks gestation). RESULTS: Of the 11,843 women who screened positive for prenatal substance use (median age =30 years; 42% white; 38% screened positive for alcohol only, 20% for cannabis only, 5% nicotine only, 17% other drugs only, and 19% ≥2 substance categories), 9,836 (83%) completed the initial substance use assessment and counseling intervention. Results from multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that younger age, lower income, single marital status, and a positive urine toxicology test predicted higher odds of participation, while other/unknown race/ethnicity, greater parity, receiving the screening later in pregnancy, and screening positive for alcohol only or other drugs only predicted lower odds of participation (all Ps

OBJECTIVE: To examine trends and correlates of frequency of self-reported alcohol and nicotine use among pregnant women. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 363,240 pregnancies from 2009–2017 screened for self-reported substance use at their first prenatal visit in Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Poisson regression with a log link function was used to estimate the annual prevalences of self-reported daily, weekly, and ≤monthly alcohol and nicotine use, adjusting for socio-demographics. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of any self-reported prenatal alcohol or nicotine use among those who self-reported use in the year prior to pregnancy, by frequency of pre-pregnancy substance use and socio-demographics. RESULTS: The sample was 64% non-White [mean (SD) age=30.1 (5.6)]. From 2009 to 2017, alcohol use before pregnancy increased from 63.4% to 65.9% (trend p-value=.008), and prenatal alcohol use decreased from 11.6% to 8.8% (trend p-value

Background Most clinical and epidemiologic estimates of prenatal cannabis use are based on self-report, and the validity of self-reported cannabis use has not been examined in a large, representative population of pregnant women. We determined the validity of self-reported prenatal cannabis use and predictors of nondisclosure using data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California's (KPNC) healthcare system with universal prenatal cannabis screening during prenatal care. Methods Validation study using data from 281,025 pregnancies in KPNC among females aged ≥11 years who completed a self-administered questionnaire on prenatal cannabis use and a cannabis urine toxicology test from 2009 to 2017. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of self-reported prenatal cannabis use using urine toxicology testing as the criterion standard, and sensitivity of urine toxicology testing using self-reported use as the criterion standard. We compared sociodemographics of those who disclosed versus did not disclose prenatal cannabis use. Results Urine toxicology testing identified more instances of prenatal cannabis use than self-report (4.9% vs 2.5%). Sensitivity of self-reported use was low (33.9%). Sensitivity of the toxicology test was higher (65.8%), with greater detection of self-reported daily (83.9%) and weekly (77.4%) than monthly or less use (54.1%). Older women, those of Hispanic race/ethnicity, and those with lower median neighborhood incomes were most likely to be misclassified as not using cannabis by self-reported screening. Conclusions Given that many women choose not to disclose prenatal cannabis use, clinicians should educate all prenatal patients about the potential risks and advise them to quit cannabis use during pregnancy.

Importance As the overall prevalence of prenatal cannabis use rises, it is vital to also monitor trends in the frequency of cannabis use in the period leading up to and during pregnancy because more frequent use may confer greater health risks for mothers and their children. Objective To examine trends in the frequency of self-reported cannabis use among pregnant women in the year before and during pregnancy. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional study using data from 367 403 pregnancies among 276 991 women 11 years or older who completed a self-administered questionnaire on cannabis use during standard prenatal care in Kaiser Permanente Northern California from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2017. The annual prevalence of self-reported daily, weekly, and monthly cannabis use among women before and during pregnancy was estimated using Poisson regression with a log link function, adjusting for sociodemographics. Data analyses were conducted from February to May 2019. Exposures Calendar year. Main Outcomes and Measures Self-reported frequency of cannabis use in the year before pregnancy and during pregnancy assessed as part of standard prenatal care (at approximately 8 weeks’ gestation). Results Among the overall sample of 367 403 pregnancies among 276 991 women, 35.9% of the women self-reported white race/ethnicity; 28.0%, Hispanic; 16.6%, Asian; 6.0%, African American; and 13.5%, other. In the sample, 1.2% of the women were aged 11 to 17 years; 15.3%, 18 to 24 years; 61.4%, 25 to 34 years; and 22.0%, older than 34 years. Median (interquartile range) neighborhood household income was $70 472 ($51 583-$92 643). From 2009 to 2017, the adjusted prevalence of cannabis use in the year before pregnancy increased from 6.80% (95% CI, 6.42%-7.18%) to 12.50% (95% CI, 12.01%-12.99%), and the adjusted prevalence of cannabis use during pregnancy increased from 1.95% (95% CI, 1.78%-2.13%) to 3.38% (95% CI, 3.15%-3.60%). Annual relative rates of change in self-reported daily cannabis use (1.115; 95% CI, 1.103-1.128), weekly cannabis use (1.083; 95% CI, 1.071-1.095), and monthly or less cannabis use (1.050; 95% CI, 1.043-1.057) in the year before pregnancy increased significantly, with daily use increasing most rapidly (from 1.17% to 3.05%). Similarly, annual relative rates of change in self-reported daily cannabis use (1.110; 95% CI, 1.089-1.132), weekly cannabis use (1.075; 95% CI, 1.059-1.092) and monthly or less cannabis use (1.044; 95% CI, 1.032-1.057) during pregnancy increased significantly from 2009 to 2017, with daily use increasing most rapidly (from 0.28% to 0.69%). Conclusions and Relevance Results of this study demonstrate that frequency of cannabis use in the year before pregnancy and during pregnancy has increased in recent years among pregnant women in Northern California, potentially associated with increasing acceptance of cannabis use and decreasing perceptions of cannabis-associated harms.

Objective To evaluate the impact of a population-based telephonic wellness coaching program on weight loss. Methods Individual-level segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series data comparing the BMI trajectories in the 12 months before versus the 12 months after initiating coaching among a cohort of Kaiser Permanente Northern California members (n = 954) participating in The Permanente Medical Group Wellness Coaching program in 2011. The control group was a 20:1 propensity-score matched control group (n = 19,080) matched with coaching participants based on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Results Wellness coaching participants had a significant upward trend in BMI in the 12 months before their first wellness coaching session and a significant downward trend in BMI in the 12 months after their first session equivalent to a clinically significant reduction of greater than one unit of baseline BMI (P < 0.01 for both). The control group did not have statistically significant decreases in BMI during the post-period. Conclusions Wellness coaching has a positive impact on BMI reduction that is both statistically and clinically significant. Future research and quality improvement efforts should focus on disseminating wellness coaching for weight loss in patients with diabetes and those at risk for developing the disease.

Purpose. Many Americans continue to smoke, increasing their risk of disease and premature death. Both telephone-based counseling and in-person tobacco cessation classes may improve access for smokers seeking convenient support to quit. Little research has assessed whether such programs are effective in real-world clinical populations. Design. Retrospective cohort study comparing wellness coaching participants with two groups of controls. Setting. Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large integrated health care delivery system. Subjects. Two hundred forty-one patients who participated in telephonic tobacco cessation coaching from January 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012, and two control groups: propensity-score–matched controls, and controls who participated in a tobacco cessation class during the same period. Wellness coaching participants received an average of two motivational interviewing–based coaching sessions that engaged the patient, evoked their reason to consider quitting, and helped them establish a quit plan. Measures. Self-reported quitting of tobacco and fills of tobacco cessation medications within 12 months of follow-up. Analysis. Logistic regressions adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and primary language. Results. After adjusting for confounders, tobacco quit rates were higher among coaching participants vs. matched controls (31% vs. 23%, p < .001) and comparable to those of class attendees (31% vs. 29%, p = .28). Coaching participants and class attendees filled tobacco-cessation prescriptions at a higher rate (47% for both) than matched controls (6%, p < .001). Conclusion. Telephonic wellness coaching was as effective as in-person classes and was associated with higher rates of quitting compared to no treatment. The telephonic modality may increase convenience and scalability for health care systems looking to reduce tobacco use and improve health.

OBJECTIVE:: To assess the level of risk for adolescents and women who seek emergency contraception through various clinical routes and the opportunities for improved care provision. METHODS:: This study looked at a retrospective cohort to assess contraception and other reproductive health outcomes among adolescents and women aged 15-44 years who accessed oral levonorgestrel emergency contraception through an office visit or the call center at Kaiser Permanente Northern California from 2010 to 2011. RESULTS:: Of 21421 prescriptions 14531 (67.8%) were accessed through the call center. In the subsequent 12 months 12127 (56.6%) adolescents and women had short-acting contraception (pills patches rings depot medroxyprogesterone) dispensed and 2264 (10.6%) initiated very effective contraception (intrauterine contraception implants sterilization). Initiation of very effective contraception was similar for adolescents and women who accessed it through the call center-1569 (10.8%) and office visits-695 (10.1%) (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.02 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93-1.13). In the subsequent 6 months 2056 (9.6%) adolescents and women became pregnant. Adolescents and women who accessed emergency contraception through the call center were less likely to become pregnant within 3 months of accessing emergency contraception than woman who accessed it through office visits (adjusted OR 0.82 95% CI 0.72-0.94); however they were more likely to become pregnant within 4-6 months (adjusted OR 1.37 95% CI 1.16-1.60). Among adolescents and women who were tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea 689 (7.8%) and 928 (7.9%) were positive in the 12 months before and after accessing emergency contraception respectively. CONCLUSION:: Protocols to routinely address unmet needs for contraception at every call for emergency contraception and all office visits including visits with primary care providers should be investigated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: II.

Marijuana use during pregnancy is increasing, and any adverse effect on mothers and babies remains unclear. In a cohort of pregnant women in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California health system ...

Importance The increasing use of electronic communications has enhanced access to physicians for patients and clinical staff. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have anecdotally identified electronic inbox management as a new source of work-related stress. Objectives To describe PCPs’ experiences managing their electronic inboxes and to characterize the array of management strategies developed by individual physicians and practice groups. Design, Setting, and Participants This qualitative study was conducted in 8 medical centers of a large group practice with more than 4 million patients in diverse settings and a mature electronic health record. The group encourages patients to use portal secure messaging to enhance access to their physicians and the care experience. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 internists and family medicine physicians identified via snowball sampling. Interviews were conducted July through November 2018. Data analysis was conducted between November 2018 and April 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Audio recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify major themes and subthemes. Results The 24 participants (12 women [50.0%]; mean [SD] age, 45.5 [6.5] years), including 9 department chiefs and 15 PCPs, had a mean (SD) of 16.8 (7.8) years since medical school graduation. Participants described substantial changes in medical practice due to electronic communication, including perceived patient expectations to receive rapid responses to portal secure messages. They described portal secure messaging as useful for building relationships with patients, but also reported that electronic message management has created new stressors, including erosion of work-life boundaries and anxiety associated with unlimited inbox volume. Individual PCPs used a diverse array of strategies, including multitasking during and outside work and delegating to medical assistants. Chiefs described group-level strategies, including reserving clinic time for inbox management, coverage systems for vacation and sick days, physician-to-physician training, and interdisciplinary teams to share messaging work. Conclusions and Relevance Individual physicians and local practice groups have developed a wide array of strategies for electronic inbox management. The volume of electronic messages and PCPs’ perceptions that patients expect rapid responses have created new stressors in primary care practice. Medical groups and health systems can support PCPs by facilitating knowledge transfer among physicians about inbox management strategies and further developing team structures for inbox coverage.

To conduct a cost-benefit analysis of Early Start, an integrated prenatal intervention program for stopping substance use in pregnancy.A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 49,261 women who had completed prenatal substance abuse screening questionnaires at obstetric clinics and who had undergone urine toxicology screening tests. Four study groups were compared: women screened and assessed positive and followed by Early Start (screened-assessed-followed, n=2,032), women screened and assessed positive without follow-up (screened-assessed, n=1,181), women screened positive only (screened-positive-only, n=149), women in the control group who screened negative (control, n=45,899). Costs associated with maternal health care (prenatal through 1 year postpartum), neonatal birth hospitalization care, and pediatric health care (through 1 year) were adjusted to 2009 dollars. Mean costs were calculated and adjusted for age, race, education, income, marital status, and amount of prenatal care.Screened-positive-only group adjusted mean maternal total costs ($10,869) were significantly higher than screened-assessed-followed, screened-assessed, and control groups ($9,430; $9,230; $8,282; all P.001). Screened-positive-only group adjusted mean infant total costs ($16,943) were significantly higher than screened-assessed-followed, screened-assessed, and control groups ($11,214; $11,304; $10,416; all P.001). Screened-positive-only group adjusted mean overall total costs ($27,812) were significantly higher than screened-assessed-followed, screened-assessed, and control groups ($20,644; $20,534; $18,698; all P.001). Early Start implementation costs were $670,600 annually. Cost-benefit analysis showed that the net cost benefit averaged $5,946,741 per year.Early Start is a cost-beneficial intervention for substance use in pregnancy that improves maternal-infant outcomes and leads to lower overall costs by an amount significantly greater than the costs of the program.

This observational study of a health care system population assessed whether prenatal marijuana use is elevated among women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy who underwent universal screening for marijuana use.

Introduction Health coaching can improve lifestyle behaviors known to prevent or manage chronic conditions. Little is known about effective ways to encourage health and wellness coaching among people who might benefit. The purpose of this randomized encouragement trial was to assess the relative success of 3 outreach methods (secured email message, telephone message, and mailed letter) on the use of wellness coaching by people with prediabetes. Methods A total of 14,584 Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) patients with diagnosed prediabetes (fasting plasma glucose, 110–125mg/dL) were randomly assigned to be contacted via 1 of 4 intervention arms from January through May 2013. The uptake rate (making an appointment at the Wellness Coaching Center [WCC]) was assessed, and the association between uptake rate and patient characteristics was examined via multivariable logistic regression. Results The overall uptake rate across intervention arms was 1.9%. Secured email message had the highest uptake rate (3.0%), followed by letters and telephone messages (P < .05 for all pairwise comparisons). No participants in the usual-care arm (ie, no outreach) made an appointment with the WCC. For each year of increased age, the estimated odds of the uptake increased by 1.02 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01–1.04). Women were nearly twice as likely to make an appointment at the WCC as men (OR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.40–2.51). Conclusion Our results suggest that the WCC can recruit and encourage KPNC members with prediabetes to participate in the WCC. Future research should focus on increasing participation rates in health coaching among patients who may benefit.

Introduction Health coaching can improve lifestyle behaviors known to prevent or manage chronic conditions such as diabetes. However, little is known about the patient experience with telephonic coaching programs in real-world care settings. We examined patient satisfaction, patient’s perceived success in achieving program goals, and the patient-level correlates of these outcomes in a voluntary telephonic coaching program at a large integrated health care delivery system in northern California. Methods Kaiser Permanente Northern California patients who participated in a telephonic coaching program in 2011 were sent a cross-sectional survey about their satisfaction with health coaching and perceived success with program goals. We examined associations with patient characteristics. Results The survey response rate was 34%; analyses were based on the 32% who completed the survey. Of those who had completed 2 or more sessions (n = 232 [52%]), most reported being satisfied (70%) or neutral (20%) with the program, and 71% would recommend health coaching. Healthy weight, healthful eating, and physical activity were the most common topics discussed (88%). Adjusting for demographic characteristics, 73% of those who had 2 or more sessions reported that health coaching helped achieve their weight-related goal. Outcomes were positively correlated with patient activation but not consistently correlated with patient demographic characteristics. Conclusion Levels of satisfaction and perceived success with telephonic health coaching provided by a health plan were high and positively correlated with the number of sessions completed and patient activation. Voluntary telephonic health coaching programs should promote retention and assess patients’ activation levels.

Untreated perinatal substance abuse is associated with serious adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Historically, many barriers have prevented pregnant women from seeking treatment. Early Start (ES) breaks new ground by sidestepping these barriers with a fully integrated service delivery model. ES is the largest HMO-based prenatal substance-abuse program in the United States targeting all pregnant women seen at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) prenatal clinics, currently screening more than 39,000 women each year. The program is based on the premise that substance abuse is a treatable disease and addresses it in a nonjudgmental, accepting manner. A substance-abuse counselor is located in each obstetrics clinic providing accessible one-to-one counseling to pregnant women screened at risk for alcohol, tobacco, or drug use as part of the routine prenatal care package offered to all patients. A 2006 ES study, sponsored by the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, evaluated program effectiveness in terms of its impact on neonatal and maternal outcomes. Preliminary results that included 49,986 KPNC patients indicate that compared with pregnant women whose results on screening for substance use were positive but who were untreated, ES-treated women had significantly lower rates on a number of outcome measures. The originality and transferability of ES has led to both local and national recognition. Universal screening of all pregnant women with access to an integrated model of substance-abuse treatment should be the standard of care for every prenatal patient because of the significant benefits for mothers and their babies.

Early Start1 is a nationally recognized program designed and implemented in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Region for early intervention and treatment of substance abuse in pregnant women. Begun in 1990 as a pilot program with Institutional Review Board approval, Early Start is now implemented in more than 90% of KPNC prenatal clinics. In this way arose the key component of Early Start: making available a licensed substance abuse specialist in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department for women to see in conjunction with their routine prenatal visits. Development of the Early Start Program mirrors earlier, more traditional, and holistic ways of caring for women's health. The pioneers of Early Start faced the difficult task of convincing their colleagues and garnering funding to provide innovative specialty care for a marginalized, stigmatized group of women: those who are at risk for using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during pregnancy. The visionaries observed that most pregnant woman who were referred from prenatal care to external substance abuse programs for treatment did not seek services. The innovation of Early Start was that it embraced an approach used by the earliest of medicine women—the “wise women” or shamans—who made themselves directly accessible to women. In this way arose the key component of Early Start: making available a licensed substance abuse specialist in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department for women to see in conjunction with their routine prenatal visits. This model of accessibility provided a welcoming environment that reduced barriers, fear, and stigma and empowered women through listening, building relationships, and supporting them in their personal wisdom, strength, and self-determination toward reclaiming their own health. This vision and innovation form only part of the story. The founders of Early Start were required to use influence and advocacy to legitimize their vision and to procure sufficient funding to study the benefits of this unique model. The founders were met with many challenges, opposition, and predictions of failure. Fifteen years later, the program serves more than 25,000 women each year and exists in almost every prenatal clinic in KPNC. As in the traditional “medicine wheel” of many native cultures, four strong elements have worked together in a fluid circle of reciprocity to bring the Early Start program to its full maturity: vision, innovation, influence, and research. The Early Start journey is a microcosm of the journey taken by women to reclaim their health choices and to fulfill their long-standing desire to receive balanced, personalized, evidenced-based care from practitioners who understand women's unique needs.