Predictors of Hepatitis C Testing Intention Among African American Baby Boomers

Baby Boomers (BBs) are responsible for three-quarters of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the United States; however, HCV testing is distinctly underused by them. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of HCV testing and to evaluate predictors of HCV testing intention among African– American BBs. The study was guided by the Health Belief Model and theory of reasoned action frameworks. Of the 137 participants included in the study, 44.8% had at least a college education; 13.9% received prior to 1992 blood transfusion. Findings related to HCV testing showed that 32.1% of the participants intended to test for HCV within 6 months and 43.8% had received a previous HCV test. Significant predictors of HCV testing intention within 6 months included having a blood transfusion prior to 1992 [odds ratio (OR) = 8.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.02–33.61], perceptions of benefits (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.13–2.18), severity (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.17–1.65), and subjective norms (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12–1.79). These predictors of HCV testing intention can be used to develop future HCV testing initiatives for African–American BBs

Predictors of hepatitis C testing intention among African American Baby Boomers

Baby Boomers (BBs) are responsible for three-quarters of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the United States; however, HCV testing is distinctly underused by them. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of HCV testing and to evaluate predictors of HCV testing intention among African–American BBs. The study was guided by the Health Belief Model and theory of reasoned action frameworks. Of the 137 participants included in the study, 44.8% had at least a college education; 13.9% received prior to 1992 blood transfusion. Findings related to HCV testing showed that 32.1% of the participants intended to test for HCV within 6 months and 43.8% had received a previous HCV test. Significant predictors of HCV testing intention within 6 months included having a blood transfusion prior to 1992 [odds ratio (OR) = 8.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.02–33.61], perceptions of benefits (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.13–2.18), severity (OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.17–1.65), and subjective norms (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12–1.79). These predictors of HCV testing intention can be used to develop future HCV testing initiatives for African–American BBs

An evaluation of hepatitis C knowledge and correlations with health belief model constructs among African American “baby boomers”

Summary: Background: Baby boomers (people born between 1945 and 1965) are responsible for three-quarters of Hepatitis C (HCV) infections in the US; however, HCV testing is distinctly underused by them. Aim: To assess the status, predictors, and correlates of HCV knowledge among African-American baby boomers (AABBs) in Washington, DC. Methods: A cross-sectional survey among persons aged 46–69 was conducted using audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI). Data on HCV knowledge, socio-demographics, prior history of HCV testing, health-related characteristics, HCV vulnerability and HCV treatment perceptions were collected. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study population. Pearson correlations were used to examine linear associations between HCV knowledge and Health Belief Model constructs related to HCV. Linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictors of knowledge. Results: Out of the 137 participants, about sixty percent (60.6%) were females, mean age 59 ± 6.40; 44.8% had at least a college education. The average knowledge score was low (48.7%). HCV knowledge was significantly correlated with constructs of perceived severity and perceived benefits. Age (β = −0.10; p = 0.003), and level of education (β = 0.93, p = 0.027) were significant predictors. Conclusions: Overall, respondents have a low level of knowledge. The lower level of education and older age were significant predictors of inadequate HCV knowledge. Thus, HCV education among these people may be a vital component in reducing the gaps in HCV knowledge. Keywords: Baby boomer, Health Belief Model, Hepatitis C, Knowledg

Pharmacogenomics and Opioid Use Disorder: Clinical Decision Support in an African American Cohort

Opioid use disorder (OUD) constitutes a significant public health burden as opioid overdose deaths have continued to rise in the United States. Although treatment modalities are available to manage OUD, some patients experience challenges achieving their OUD management goals. Some of these challenges may be attributable to inherited genetic variations, or polymorphisms, on the genes that code for proteins impacting the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of medications used in OUD management. Clinical pharmacogenomics testing can elucidate these polymorphisms; however, a lack of real-world evidence for the use of pharmacogenomics in OUD management complicates the implementation process. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 113 patients undergoing buprenorphine-based OUD management in Northeast Washington D.C. to determine if clinical pharmacogenomics testing for CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 would impact treatment outcomes. Data were collected from the electronic medical record (EMR) from December 30, 2015 to December 31, 2016. Study outcomes were based on presence of withdrawal symptoms, instances of unauthorized substances in urine drug tests (UDTs), and sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone (SBN) dose with standard-of-care (SOC) dosing versus pharmacogenomics (PGx)-based dosing. Pearson correlation tests, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and one-way ANOVA tests were used. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to assess predictors of withdrawal symptomatology. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to assess time to first withdrawal. Our research suggests that patients with at least one copy of the CYP3A4*1B allele exhibit an accelerated rate of metabolism compared to the wild-type allele CYP3A4*1

The Economic Impact of Herpes Zoster Vaccine Disparities in Elderly United States Blacks

There are persistent disparities with regard to receipt of herpes zoster vaccine among elderly blacks, but no data is available regarding the public health or economic impact of these disparities. A decision tree was constructed with multiple Markov nodes in order to estimate the preventable cases of herpes zoster occurring among elderly blacks due to disparities in receipt of herpes zoster vaccine and to quantify the economic costs associated with these disparities. The model was constructed to examine the number of herpes zoster cases occurring among elderly blacks from the age of 60 to 84 over a 20 year period and also calculated costs due to herpes zoster complications and lost productivity. Achievement of health equity would prevent over 34,500 cases of herpes zoster from occurring in the future and avert over $180 million in lost productivity and treatment costs as a result of these cases of herpes zoster. These results help to show that thousands of cases of herpes zoster could be prevented if blacks were vaccinated at the same frequency as whites and help to show the benefit of implementing viable strategies to achieving this goal

Pharmacogenomics-guided policy in opioid use disorder (OUD) management: An ethnically-diverse case-based approach

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is characterized by a problematic pattern of opioid use leading to clinically-significant impairment or distress. Opioid agonist treatment is an integral component of OUD management, and buprenorphine is often utilized in OUD management due to strong clinical evidence for efficacy. However, interindividual genetic differences in buprenorphine metabolism may result in variable treatment response, leaving some patients undertreated and at increased risk for relapse. Clinical pharmacogenomics studies the effect that inherited genetic variations have on drug response. Our objective is to demonstrate the impact of pharmacogenetic testing on OUD management outcomes. We analyzed a patient who reported discomfort at daily buprenorphine dose of 24 mg, which was a mandated daily maximum by the pharmacy benefits manager. Regular urine screenings were conducted to detect the presence of unauthorized substances, and pharmacogenetic testing was used to determine the appropriate dose of buprenorphine for OUD management. At the 24 mg buprenorphine daily dose, the patient had multiple relapses with unauthorized substances. Pharmacogenetic testing revealed that the patient exhibited a cytochrome P450 3A4 ultrarapid metabolizer phenotype, which necessitated a higher than recommended daily dose of buprenorphine (32 mg) for adequate OUD management. The patient exhibited a reduction in the number of relapses on the pharmacogenetic-based dose recommendation compared to standard dosing. Pharmacogenomic testing as clinical decision support helped to individualize OUD management. Collaboration by key stakeholders is essential to establishing pharmacogenetic testing as standard of care in OUD management