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Objectives: To identify patient characteristics, health concerns, and barriers to care based on overweight or obesity. Methods: A 50-question anonymous survey was administered to patients. Data were compared by body mass index (BMI). Results: Among 3976 distributed surveys, 899 were returned and 682 were analyzed. Most respondents were women (60%), White (94%), and married/partnered (65%) and had some college education (80%). Younger and unmarried persons had higher BMI (P <.001). Concern for quality of life (P <.001) and importance of lifestyle changes (P =.006) increased with BMI, but confidence in making changes decreased as BMI increased (P <.001). Perceived good health decreased with increasing BMI (P <.001), whereas depression and other comorbid conditions increased. Self-esteem decreased and stigma increased with higher BMI (both P <.001). Weight discussions with clinicians (P <.001) and belief that clinicians should be involved in weight management (P =.002) increased with BMI, yet self-perception of being judged by clinicians also increased (P <.001). As BMI increased, delays in seeking health care increased (P <.001). Conclusions: This survey study highlights perceived health concerns and barriers to care among persons with overweight and obesity. With higher BMI, self-esteem decreased, and stigma, self-perception of poor health, perception of being judged by clinicians, and delay in seeking medical care increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanic adults have the highest obesity prevalence in the United States, but little is known about weight-related social network influences. A community-based sample of 610 Hispanic participants completed height/weight and a survey. The proportion of overweight or obese (OW/OB) network members was higher for OW/OB respondents compared to normal weight respondents. Participants with high weight loss intentions reported more positive social norms for weight control, social support, and social cohesion. If most or all of OW/OB participant's social contacts were trying to lose weight, the odds that they were likely to try to lose weight was four times higher than other participants. The relationship between weight loss intentions and number of social contacts trying to lose weight was strongly mediated by social norms for weight control and social support. These results suggest that social contacts and functional network characteristics may impact weight status and weight control intentions among Hispanic adults., Author(s): Mark L. Wieland [sup.1] [sup.6] , Jane W. Njeru [sup.1] [sup.6] , Janet M. Okamoto [sup.2] , Paul J. Novotny [sup.3] , Margaret K. Breen-Lyles [sup.2] , Miriam Goodson [...]

Introduction: Telehealth service provision has accelerated during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As the pandemic continues, clinical practices have discovered ways to resume operations. Opportunities exist to understand patient preferences for telehealth clinical services and to tailor offerings to different demographic groups. Methods: We conducted a survey of patients receiving telehealth services through our outpatient practice to understand the types of healthcare services for which patients report preferences for telehealth. Results: We received 551 survey responses (response rate = 20.8%; 551/2650). More than half of patients indicated being 'very likely' to use telehealth services to refill medication(s) (67.3%), prepare for an upcoming visit (66.1%), review test results (60.3%), or receive education (54.2%). Males had lower odds of preferring telehealth services for reviewing test results (odds ratio (OR) = 0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34–0.94) or mental health issues (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.38–0.77). Respondents who received a video visit were significantly more likely than those who received a telephone visit to report preferences for using telehealth for education, care plan discussions, long-term health issues, and mental health. Discussion: Patient preferences for telehealth services vary by services provided and respondent demographics. Experience with telehealth increases the likelihood for future use of these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For AIDS prevention programmes, finding the right time and the right place in which to impart the right message is critical. This ethnographic study asks if the traditional seclusion period [...]

Introduction: Latino populations, particularly those living in rural areas, experience a disproportionately high prevalence and poorer outcomes of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this study was to test the acceptability and perceived effectiveness of a group-based, facilitated digital storytelling intervention for T2DM self-management among rural Latino patients. Method: Twenty Latino adults with T2DM participated in facilitated storytelling discussions at two primary clinics. Participants viewed a 12-minute T2DM self-management digital storytelling intervention, followed by a facilitated group discussion. Surveys, observations, and focus groups were used to assess for acceptability and perceived effectiveness of the intervention through descriptive and qualitative analysis, informed by narrative and social cognitive theory. Results: All participants found the intervention interesting and useful and reported improvement in confidence, motivation, and behavioral intentions for T2DM self-management. Themes mapped closely with narrative theory models, further suggestive of the behavior change potential. Discussion: Facilitated discussions may add value to viewing of digital stories and represent a scalable approach to provide culturally congruent health care for Latino patients with diabetes in rural settings. Within the paradigm of group-based diabetes educational programs, this lends itself well to critical transcultural nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community engagement is important for reaching vulnerable populations in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A risk communication framework was implemented by a community-engaged research (CEnR) partnership in Southeast Minnesota to address COVID-19 prevention, testing, and socioeconomic impacts. Bidirectional communication between Communication Leaders and community members within their social networks was used by the partnership to refine messages, leverage resources, and advise policy makers. Over 14 days, messages were delivered by 24 Communication Leaders in 6 languages across 9 electronic platforms to 9882 individuals within their networks. CEnR partnerships may effectively implement crisis and emergency risk communication to vulnerable populations in a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]