15 research outputs found
The social and behavioral influences (SBI) study: study design and rationale for studying the effects of race and activation on cancer pain management
Background
Racial disparities exist in the care provided to advanced cancer patients. This article describes an investigation designed to advance the science of healthcare disparities by isolating the effects of patient race and patient activation on physician behavior using novel standardized patient (SP) methodology. Methods/design
The Social and Behavioral Influences (SBI) Study is a National Cancer Institute sponsored trial conducted in Western New York State, Northern/Central Indiana, and lower Michigan. The trial uses an incomplete randomized block design, randomizing physicians to see patients who are either black or white and who are âtypicalâ or âactivatedâ (e.g., ask questions, express opinions, ask for clarification, etc.). The study will enroll 91 physicians. Discussion
The SBI study addresses important gaps in our knowledge about racial disparities and methods to reduce them in patients with advanced cancer by using standardized patient methodology. This study is innovative in aims, design, and methodology and will point the way to interventions that can reduce racial disparities and discrimination and draw links between implicit attitudes and physician behaviors
Factors influencing T-cell turnover in HIV-1âseropositive patients
HIV-1 disease is associated with pathological effects on T-cell production, destruction, and distribution. Using the deuterated (2H) glucose method for endogenous labeling, we have analyzed host factors that influence T-cell turnover in HIV-1âuninfected and âinfected humans. In untreated HIV-1 disease, the average half life of circulating T cells was diminished without compensatory increases in cell production. Within 12 weeks of the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the absolute production rates of circulating T cells increased, and normal half-lives and production rates were restored by 12â36 months. Interpatient heterogeneity in the absolute degree of turnover correlated with the relative proportion of naive- and memory/effector-phenotype T cells in each of the CD4+ and CD8+ populations. The half-lives of naive-phenotype T cells ranged from 116â365 days (fractional replacement rates of 0.19â0.60% per day), whereas memory/effector-phenotype T cells persisted with half-lives from 22â79 days (fractional replacement rates of 0.87â3.14% per day). Naive-phenotype T cells were more abundant, and the half-life of total T cells was prolonged in individuals with abundant thymic tissue, as assessed by computed tomography. Such interpatient variation in T-cell kinetics may be reflective of differences in functional immune reconstitution after treatment for HIV-1 disease. This article may have been published online in advance of the print edition. The date of publication is available from the JCI website, http://www.jci.org. J. Clin. Invest. 105:R1âR8 (2000)
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Promoting End-of-Life Discussions in Advanced Cancer: Effects of Patient Coaching and Question Prompt Lists
Purpose To build on results of a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a combined patient-oncologist intervention to improve communication in advanced cancer, we conducted a post hoc analysis of the patient intervention component, a previsit patient coaching session that used a question prompt list (QPL). We hypothesized that intervention-group participants would bring up more QPL-related topics, particularly prognosis-related topics, during the subsequent oncologist visit. Patients and Methods This cluster RCT with 170 patients who had advanced nonhematologic cancer (and their caregivers) recruited from practices of 24 participating oncologists in western New York. Intervention-group oncologists (n = 12) received individualized communication training; up to 10 of their patients (n = 84) received a previsit individualized communication coaching session that incorporated a QPL. Control-group oncologists (n = 12) and patients (n = 86) received no interventions. Topics of interest identified by patients during the coaching session were summarized from coaching notes; one office visit after the coaching session was audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by using linear regression modeling for group differences. Results Compared with controls, more than twice as many intervention-group participants brought up QPL-related topics during their office visits (70.2% v 32.6%; P < .001). Patients in the intervention group were nearly three times more likely to ask about prognosis (16.7% v 5.8%; P =.03). Of 262 topics of interest identified during coaching, 158 (60.3%) were QPL related; 20 (12.7%) addressed prognosis. Overall, patients in the intervention group brought up 82.4% of topics of interest during the office visit. Conclusion A combined coaching and QPL intervention was effective to help patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers identify and bring up topics of concern, including prognosis, during their subsequent oncologist visits. Considering that most patients are misinformed about prognosis, more intensive steps are needed to better promote such discussions
Environmental Tobacco Smoke as a Source of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Settled Household Dust
Environmental tobacco smoke is a major contributor to
indoor air
pollution. Dust and surfaces may remain contaminated long after active
smoking has ceased (called âthirdhandâ smoke). Polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known carcinogenic components of
tobacco smoke found in settled house dust (SHD). We investigated whether
tobacco smoke is a source of PAHs in SHD. House dust was collected
from 132 homes in urban areas of Southern California. Total PAHs were
significantly higher in smoker homes than nonsmoker homes (by concentration:
990 ng/g vs 756 ng/g, <i>p</i> = 0.025; by loading: 1650
ng/m<sup>2</sup> vs 796 ng/m<sup>2</sup>, <i>p</i> = 0.012).
We also found significant linear correlations between nicotine and
total PAH levels in SHD (concentration, <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.105; loading, <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.385). Dust
collected per square meter (g/m<sup>2</sup>) was significantly greater
in smoker homes and might dilute PAH concentration in SHD inconsistently.
Therefore, dust PAH loading (ng PAH/m<sup>2</sup>) is a better indicator
of PAH content in SHD. House dust PAH loadings in the bedroom and
living room in the same home were significantly correlated (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.468, <i>p</i> < 0.001) suggesting
PAHs are distributed by tobacco smoke throughout a home. In conclusion,
tobacco smoke is a source of PAHs in SHD, and tobacco smoke generated
PAHs are a component of thirdhand smoke
The social and behavioral influences (SBI) study: study design and rationale for studying the effects of race and activation on cancer pain management
Abstract Background Racial disparities exist in the care provided to advanced cancer patients. This article describes an investigation designed to advance the science of healthcare disparities by isolating the effects of patient race and patient activation on physician behavior using novel standardized patient (SP) methodology. Methods/design The Social and Behavioral Influences (SBI) Study is a National Cancer Institute sponsored trial conducted in Western New York State, Northern/Central Indiana, and lower Michigan. The trial uses an incomplete randomized block design, randomizing physicians to see patients who are either black or white and who are âtypicalâ or âactivatedâ (e.g., ask questions, express opinions, ask for clarification, etc.). The study will enroll 91 physicians. Discussion The SBI study addresses important gaps in our knowledge about racial disparities and methods to reduce them in patients with advanced cancer by using standardized patient methodology. This study is innovative in aims, design, and methodology and will point the way to interventions that can reduce racial disparities and discrimination and draw links between implicit attitudes and physician behaviors. Trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ , #NCT01501006, November 30, 2011
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The social and behavioral influences (SBI) study: study design and rationale for studying the effects of race and activation on cancer pain management.
BackgroundRacial disparities exist in the care provided to advanced cancer patients. This article describes an investigation designed to advance the science of healthcare disparities by isolating the effects of patient race and patient activation on physician behavior using novel standardized patient (SP) methodology.Methods/designThe Social and Behavioral Influences (SBI) Study is a National Cancer Institute sponsored trial conducted in Western New York State, Northern/Central Indiana, and lower Michigan. The trial uses an incomplete randomized block design, randomizing physicians to see patients who are either black or white and who are "typical" or "activated" (e.g., ask questions, express opinions, ask for clarification, etc.). The study will enroll 91 physicians.DiscussionThe SBI study addresses important gaps in our knowledge about racial disparities and methods to reduce them in patients with advanced cancer by using standardized patient methodology. This study is innovative in aims, design, and methodology and will point the way to interventions that can reduce racial disparities and discrimination and draw links between implicit attitudes and physician behaviors.Trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ , #NCT01501006, November 30, 2011
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The Influence of Patient Race and Activation on Pain Management in Advanced Lung Cancer: a Randomized Field Experiment
BackgroundPain management racial disparities exist, yet it is unclear whether disparities exist in pain management in advanced cancer.ObjectiveTo examine the effect of race on physicians' pain assessment and treatment in advanced lung cancer and the moderating effect of patient activation.DesignRandomized field experiment. Physicians consented to see two unannounced standardized patients (SPs) over 18 months. SPs portrayed 4 identical roles-a 62-year-old man with advanced lung cancer and uncontrolled pain-differing by race (black or white) and role (activated or typical). Activated SPs asked questions, interrupted when necessary, made requests, and expressed opinions.ParticipantsNinety-six primary care physicians (PCPs) and oncologists from small cities, and suburban and rural areas of New York, Indiana, and Michigan. Physicians' mean age was 52 years (SDâ=â27.17), 59% male, and 64% white.Main measuresOpioids prescribed (or not), total daily opioid doses (in oral morphine equivalents), guideline-concordant pain management, and pain assessment.Key resultsSPs completed 181 covertly audio-recorded visits that had complete data for the model covariates. Physicians detected SPs in 15% of visits. Physicians prescribed opioids in 71% of visits; 38% received guideline-concordant doses. Neither race nor activation was associated with total opioid dose or guideline-concordant pain management, and there were no interaction effects (pâ>â0.05). Activation, but not race, was associated with improved pain assessment (áș, 0.46, 95% CI 0.18, 0.74). In post hoc analyses, oncologists (but not PCPs) were less likely to prescribe opioids to black SPs (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07, 0.81).ConclusionsNeither race nor activation was associated with opioid prescribing; activation was associated with better pain assessment. In post hoc analyses, oncologists were less likely to prescribe opioids to black male SPs than white male SPs; PCPs had no racial disparities. In general, physicians may be under-prescribing opioids for cancer pain.Trial registrationNCT01501006