Telemonitoring for Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: A Systematic Review

Background Telemonitoring, the use of communication technology to remotely monitor health status, is an appealing strategy for improving disease management. Methods and Results We searched Medline databases, bibliographies, and spoke with experts to review the evidence on telemonitoring in heart failure patients. Interventions included: telephone-based symptom monitoring (n = 5), automated monitoring of signs and symptoms (n = 1), and automated physiologic monitoring (n = 1). Two studies directly compared effectiveness of 2 or more forms of telemonitoring. Study quality and intervention type varied considerably. Six studies suggested reduction in all-cause and heart failure hospitalizations (14% to 55% and 29% to 43%, respectively) or mortality (40% to 56%) with telemonitoring. Of the 3 negative studies, 2 enrolled low-risk patients and patients with access to high quality care, whereas 1 enrolled a very high-risk Hispanic population. Studies comparing forms of telemonitoring demonstrated similar effectiveness. However, intervention costs were higher with more complex programs ($8383 per patient per year) versus less complex programs ($1695 per patient per year). Conclusion The evidence base for telemonitoring in heart failure is currently quite limited. Based on the available data, telemonitoring may be an effective strategy for disease management in high-risk heart failure patients

Determinants of racial/ethnic colorectal cancer screening disparities.

BACKGROUND: The contributions of demographic, socioeconomic, access, language, and nativity factors to racial/ethnic colorectal cancer (CRC) screening disparities are uncertain. METHODS: Using linked data from 22 973 respondents to the 2001-2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and the 2000-2004 National Health Interview Survey, we modeled disparities in CRC screening (fecal occult blood testing [FOBT], endoscopy, and combined FOBT and endoscopy) between non-Hispanic whites and Asians, blacks, and Hispanics, sequentially adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, clinical and access variables, and race/ethnicity-related variables (language spoken at home and nativity). RESULTS: With demographic adjustment, minorities reported less CRC screening (all measures) than non-Hispanic whites. Disparities were largest for combined screening in Asians (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.49) and Hispanics (AOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.39-0.48) and for endoscopic screening in Asians (AOR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.33-0.50) and Hispanics (AOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.38-0.48). With full adjustment, all Hispanic/non-Hispanic white disparities and black/non-Hispanic white FOBT disparities were eliminated, whereas Asian/non-Hispanic white disparities remained significant (FOBT: AOR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.52-1.00]; endoscopic screening: AOR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.49-0.81]; and combined screening: AOR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.52-0.84]). CONCLUSIONS: Determinants of racial/ethnic CRC screening disparities vary among minority groups, suggesting the need for different interventions to mitigate those disparities. Whereas socioeconomic, access, and language barriers seem to drive the CRC screening disparities experienced by blacks and Hispanics, additional factors may exacerbate the disparities experienced by Asians

Age-Related Disparities in Cancer Screening: Analysis of 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data

PURPOSE Although few studies have explored age-related health care disparities, some researchers have asserted such disparities uniformly disfavor the elderly and are largely attributable to ageism in the health care system. We compared age-related patterns of screening for colorectal cancer with those for breast and prostate cancer in persons aged 50 years and older. METHODS We analyzed data for all adults aged 50 years and older (N = 88,213) in the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a nationally representative, telephone-administered survey of personal health behaviors. Main outcome measures were adjusted prevalence by 5-year age-groups of colorectal cancer screening using fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy for men and women; rates of mammography screening for women; and rates of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for men. RESULTS After adjustment for race/ethnicity, education level, income, health insurance, and self-rated health, predicted reported colorectal cancer screening (all modalities) increased significantly from when patients reached age 50 years until 70 to 74 years (66.0%, standard error [SE] 0.8%), remained constant until age 80 years, and then declined. The age-related gain in colorectal cancer screening was confined to whites among patients older than 60 years. Reported PSA screening increased until age 75 to 79 years (79.3%, SE 1.1%) and then declined, whereas reported mammography screening peaked at age 55 to 59 years (83.3%, SE 1.2%) and then declined. CONCLUSIONS Significant age-related disparities appear to exist for both evidence-based and non–evidence-based cancer-screening interventions. The issue of age-related disparities in cancer screening is complex, with the direction of disparity favoring the elderly for some services yet disfavoring them for others

The TLC Model of Palliative Care in the Elderly: Preliminary Application in the Assisted Living Setting

Substantial shortfalls in the quality of palliative care of the elderly can be attributed to 5 fundamental flaws in the way end-of-life care is currently delivered. First, palliative care is viewed as a terminal event rather than a longitudinal process, resulting in a reactive approach and unnecessary preterminal distress in elderly patients suffering from chronic, slowly progressive illnesses. Second, palliative care is defined in terms of a false dichotomy between symptomatic and disease-focused treatment, which distracts attention from the proper focus of healing illness. Third, the decision about whether the focus of care should be palliative is not negotiated among patients, family members, and providers. Fourth, patient autonomy in making treatment choices is accorded undue prominence relative to more salient patient choices, such as coming to terms with their place in the trajectory of chronic illness. Fifth, palliative care is a parallel system rather than an integrated primary care process. A new theoretical framework—the TLC model—addresses these flaws in the provision of palliative care for elderly persons. In this model, optimal palliative care is envisioned as timely and team oriented, longitudinal, collaborative and comprehensive. The model is informed by the chronic illness care, shared decision making, and comprehensive geriatric assessment research literature, as well as previous palliative care research. Preliminary results of an intervention for elderly assisted living residents based on the TLC model support its promise as a framework for optimizing palliative care of elders

The palliative care in assisted living (PCAL) pilot study: Successes, shortfalls, and methodological implications

Troubling deficits exist in palliative care (PC) of older adults under the prevailing terminal care -oriented model. We previously described a PC model - TLC - that provides a blueprint for remedying these shortfalls. In this model, PC is envisioned as Timely and Team-oriented, Longitudinal, and Collaborative and Comprehensive. We present results of the Palliative Care in Assisted Living pilot, comparing two TLC model-based, facility delivered interventions for improving the PC of elderly assisted living residents in Sacramento, California, a growing and under-researched population. The less intensive intervention involved one assessment followed by a PC improvement recommendation letter to the resident, family member, primary provider, and facility staff, while the more intensive intervention involved assessments and letters every three months. Primary outcomes were SF-36 Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component scores and recommendation adherence. Eighty-one subjects enrolled (mean age 85), 58 in the more and 23 in the less intensive group. A loved one attended 56% of baseline assessments. Most subjects expressed a preference for maintaining current quality of life over prolonging life at reduced quality. None were eligible for hospice care. A total of 418 recommendations (mean 5.1 per subject) were generated concerning symptoms, mood, functional impairments, and advance directives. We found no significant differences in recommendation adherence between more (42%) and less (44%) intensive groups, and no significant changes in PCS and MCS scores within or between groups. However, a loved one\u27s attendance of the baseline assessment was associated with improved PCS scores (p=0.04). Our pilot study had methodological limitations that could account for the lack of significant outcome effects. In this context, and given the myriad unmet PC needs we detected, interventions based on the TLC model might allow delivery of timely PC to assisted living residents not eligible for hospice care. Further studies exploring the TLC model appear warranted. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved