Effectiveness of a barber-based intervention for improving hypertension control in black men: the BARBER-1 study: a cluster randomized trial

"People Gather Here for Open Conversations, and Health Should Be in Our Open Conversations": Promoters of Black Men's Engagement in Diabetes Screenings at Local Barbershops

Local barbershops, often racialized safe spaces, have long been used as sites of health interventions targeting Black American men. Here, we present findings from a barbershop intervention held in the Southeast where Black men were (1) approached using recruitment strategies informed by a community advisory board, (2) screened for type 2 diabetes, and interviewed to understand their levels of medical trust, motivation for testing in the barbershop, as well as the utility of barbershops in health promotion programming. The community advisory board consisted of five Black men from the city understudy. The intervention sample included 27 participants: 20 males and 7 females. Several men insisted on testing after their female spouses and two local women approached testers and were not denied access to screening. Themes that emerged for medical trust ranged from yes to no. Themes that emerged for motivation to screen included to know status (codes: for self, for loved ones), financial motivation (codes: free testing, incentives), risk (codes: family, race specific), referral (codes: other community member, barbershop), and convenience. Themes that emerged for the utility of barbershops in health interventions included access to people, trustworthy setting, location, and yes, they are useful with no explanation. Results show that barbershop interventions make a dynamic way to engage community members who otherwise may not trust medicine as a social structure. Results also show that future scholars and interventionists should consider gender dynamics, social class, and engaging community members as best practices in engaging Black men.

A qualitative analysis of post-hoc interviews with multilevel participants of a randomized controlled trial of a community-based intervention

INTRODUCTION

Community-based health interventions often demonstrate efficacy in clinical trial settings but fail to be implemented in the real-world. We sought to identify the key operational and contextual elements of the Los Angeles Barbershop Blood Pressure Study (LABBPS), an objectively successful community-based health intervention primed for real-world implementation. LABBPS was a cluster randomized control trial that paired the barbers of Black-owned barbershops with clinical pharmacists to manage uncontrolled hypertension in Black male patrons, demonstrating a substantial 21.6 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure. Despite this success, the LABBPS intervention has not expanded beyond the original clinical trial setting. The aim of this study was to determine the facilitating and limiting factors to expansion of the LABBPS intervention.

METHODS

We undertook a qualitative assessment of semi-structured interviews with study participants performed after trial completion. Interviews included a total of 31 participants including 20 (6%) of the 319 LABBPS program participants ("patrons"), 10 (19%) barbers, and one (50%) clinical pharmacist. The semi-structured interviews were focused on perceptions of the medical system, study intervention, and influence of social factors on health.

RESULTS

Several common themes emerged from thematic analysis of interview responses including: importance of care provided in a convenient and safe environment, individual responsibility for health and health-related behaviors, and engagement of trusted community members. In particular, patrons reported that receiving the intervention from their barber in a familiar environment positively influenced the formation of relationships with clinical pharmacists around shared efforts to improve medication adherence and healthy habits. All interviewee groups identified the trust diad, comprising the familiar environment and respected community member, as instrumental in increasing health-related behaviors to a degree not usually achieved by traditional healthcare providers.

DISCUSSION

In conclusion, participants of an objectively successful community-based intervention trial consistently identified key features that could facilitate wider implementation and efficacy: social trust relationships, soliciting insights of trust bearers, and consistent engagement in a familiar community setting. These findings can help to inform the design and operations of future community-based studies and programs aiming to achieve a broad and sustainable impact.

Assessing organizational readiness for the Clean Cuts and Sharp Minds Collective: a barbershop health promotion network

BACKGROUND

Black men have among the lowest life expectancy in the United States. Alarmingly, these men are underrepresented in health promotion efforts. There are well-documented barriers to recruiting and retaining Black men in health promotion efforts, such as exclusionary research practices - many researchers may be hesitant to reach Black men in culturally unique spaces, such as barbershops. Despite these practices, qualitative research among Black men unanimously find that Black men are interested in health promotion efforts. The Clean Cuts and Sharp Minds Collective (CCSMC) was designed to bridge this gap. The objectives of the CCSMC are to train barbers to be lay advocates for their clients, train barbers to be research partners, and serve as a nexus between barbers interested in health promotion at their shops and researchers interested in implementing such efforts. The present study sought to assess the organizational readiness of barbershops in South Carolina (SC) to participate in the CCSMC.

METHODS

Barbers in SC were invited to complete a modified version of the Readiness Thinking Tool to assess organizational readiness to participate in the CCSMC.

RESULTS

Thirty-six (36; mean age = 41.12; 94.4% identified as Black; 91.7% identified as male) barbers completed the organizational readiness assessment. Results indicated that there was a high level of motivation, innovation-specific capacity, and general capacity within barbershops to participate in the CCSMC. Additionally, many barbers indicated that there would be widespread support to join the CCSMC.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from the present study highlight exciting opportunities and future directions for barbershop-academic partnerships. Such partnerships have the potential to promote health equity among, and in partnership with, Black men.

Cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality among adults aged 25-64 years in the USA

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Declines in cardiovascular mortality have stagnated in the USA since 2011. There is growing concern that these patterns reflect worsening cardiovascular health in younger adults. However, little is known about how the burden of acute cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality has changed in this population. Changes in cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality among adults aged 25-64 years were evaluated, overall and by community-level income.

METHODS

Using the National Inpatient Sample, age-standardized annual hospitalization and in-hospital mortality rates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure, and ischaemic stroke were determined among adults aged 25-64 years. Quasi-Poisson and quasi-binominal regression models were fitted to compare outcomes between individuals residing in low- and higher-income communities.

RESULTS

Between 2008 and 2019, age-standardized hospitalization rates for AMI increased among younger adults from 155.0 (95% confidence interval: 154.6, 155.4) per 100 000 to 160.7 (160.3, 161.1) per 100 000 (absolute change +5.7 [5.0, 6.3], P < .001). Heart failure hospitalizations also increased (165.3 [164.8, 165.7] to 225.3 [224.8, 225.8], absolute change +60.0 (59.3, 60.6), P < .001), as ischaemic stroke hospitalizations (76.3 [76.1, 76.7] to 108.1 [107.8, 108.5], absolute change +31.7 (31.2, 32.2), P < .001). Across all conditions, hospitalizations rates were significantly higher among younger adults residing in low-income compared with higher-income communities, and disparities did not narrow between groups. In-hospital mortality decreased for all conditions over the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

There was an alarming increase in cardiovascular hospitalizations among younger adults in the USA from 2008 to 2019, and disparities between those residing in low- and higher-income communities did not narrow.

Therapy and guideline adherence at a multidisciplinary hypertension clinic: A prospective, observational study

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is highly prevalent and remains one of the most frequent and preventable causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yet, suboptimal blood pressure control is common. Hypertension clinics might play an important role in improving target attainment, by targeting drug therapy adherence, improving guideline compliance and by involving pharmacists.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to characterize patient drug therapy adherence, prescriber guideline compliance and pharmacist interventions at the hypertension clinic.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed at the hypertension clinic of a large, academic hospital. Adult Dutch-speaking patients were eligible for inclusion. Following data were collected: patient demographics, medication use, patient adherence to prescribed antihypertensive drug therapies according to the BAASIS tool and prescriber compliance to the 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) hypertension guidelines.

RESULTS

A cohort of 108 patients was included with 51.9% male and aged 65 (IQR: 52-75) years. In total, 104 patients took at least 1 antihypertensive drug and 46 patients (44.2%) were classified as non-adherent with regard to their antihypertensive treatment; 82 patients (78.8%) had suboptimal blood pressure control. Compliance with the ESC guidelines was 66.3% prior to the consultation at the clinic and significantly increased to 77.9% thereafter (p = 0.0015). The clinical pharmacist performed a medication review for 27 patients with a total of 44 recommendations and an acceptance rate of 59.1%.

CONCLUSION

A visit to the multidisciplinary hypertension clinic improved prescriber guideline compliance and the use of single pill combinations. Involvement of a clinical pharmacist could be beneficial to further improve patient drug therapy adherence and guideline compliance.

Belonging, endurance, and resistance: Black placemaking theory in primary care

Black-Americans continue to experience pervasive health disparities. Factors contributing to increased disease risk include a general mistrust of biomedical institutions among Black Americans. The purpose of this focus group study was to identify, among Black patients who regularly seek care from a primary provider, salient themes regarding barriers to 1) receiving quality primary care; and 2) adhering to medical recommendations. We examined transcripts of eight focus groups held remotely with 29 Black patients (aged 30-60 years) who had established primary care providers. Using grounded theory and an inductive thematic analysis of the transcripts, we identified three themes (belonging, endurance, and resistance) consistent with Black placemaking theory. Our findings suggest that reducing health disparities for Black Americans will require clinical initiatives that emphasize: 1) attention to social influences on health behavior and to features of medical institutions that mark them as White spaces (belonging); 2) recognition of, as well as sensitivity to, community awareness of the systemic and interpersonal barriers to health and safety that many Black adults endure; and 3) reframing avoidant (resistant) behaviors as protective strategies among Black patients. Examining primary care in this way-through the lens of Black placemaking theory-reveals how culturally meaningful approaches to harnessing the specialized knowledge and resilience that clearly exists among many Black communities can improve health care delivery.

Improving Stroke Risk Factor Management Focusing on Health Disparities and Knowledge Gaps

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States and worldwide, necessitating comprehensive efforts to optimize stroke risk factor management. Health disparities in stroke incidence, prevalence, and risk factor management persist among various race/ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic populations and negatively impact stroke outcomes. This review highlights existing literature and guidelines for stroke risk factor management, emphasizing health disparities among certain populations. Moreover, stroke risk factors for special groups, including the young, the very elderly, and pregnant/peripartum women are outlined. Strategies for stroke risk factor improvement at every level of the health care system are discussed, from the individual patient to providers, health care systems, and policymakers. Improving stroke risk factor management in the context of the social determinants of health, and with the goal of eliminating inequities and disparities in stroke prevention strategies, are critical steps to reducing the burden of stroke and equitably improving public health.

Preferences and Perspectives of Black Male Barbershop Patrons on Receiving Health Care in Nontraditional Settings

Introduction

Non-Hispanic Black men experience a disproportionate rate of morbidity and mortality from hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions in the United States. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of community-based health outreach in settings not traditionally utilized for health care. Understanding how potential future participants view health care services in nontraditional settings is a necessary step to ascertain the success of these interventions in the real world. Our study objective was to explore the preferences of Black male barbershop patrons regarding health care-provided services in these nontraditional settings.

Methods

We recruited patrons of a Black-owned barbershop in the San Francisco Bay Area. Study participants were asked to complete a survey assessing individual attitudes and preferences toward the idea of receiving health care services in traditional and nontraditional settings.

Results

Among non-Hispanic Black males (n=17), 81% agreed or strongly agreed that they would prefer to receive health care in traditional clinics. Receiving care at the pharmacy (56% agreed or strongly agreed) and the patient's own home (53% agreed or strongly agreed) were the next most preferred locations. A minority of participants agreed or strongly agreed that they preferred to receive health care in nontraditional settings: 47% for barbershops, 19% for churches, and 6% for grocery stores.

Discussion

Participants expressed preference for traditional over nontraditional settings, despite listing barriers that may be addressed, in part, by nontraditional settings. One potential reason for this is simply a lack of familiarity. Establishing and normalizing nontraditional clinical settings may allow for enhanced acceptance within Black communities, ultimately increasing health care access.

Diabetic Kidney Disease Prevention Care Model Development

More than one-third of people with diabetes develop diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which substantially increases risks of kidney failure, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypoglycemia, death, and other adverse health outcomes. A multifaceted approach incorporating self-management education, lifestyle optimization, pharmacological intervention, CVD prevention, and psychosocial support is crucial to mitigate the onset and progression of DKD. The American Diabetes Association convened an expert panel to develop the DKD Prevention Model presented herein. This model addresses prevention and treatment, including screening guidelines, diagnostic tools, and management approaches; comprehensive, holistic interventions; well-defined roles for interdisciplinary health care professionals; community engagement; and future directions for research and policy.

Perceptions of the Healthcare System Among Black Men with Previously Undiagnosed Diabetes and Prediabetes

OBJECTIVE

Given the significant disparities in diabetes burden and access to care, this study uses qualitative interviews of Black men having HbA1c levels consistent with previously undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes to understand their perceptions of the healthcare system.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We recruited Black men from Black-owned barbershops in Brooklyn, NY, who were screened using point-of-care HbA1c tests. Among those with HbA1c levels within prediabetes or diabetes thresholds, qualitative interviews were conducted to uncover prevalent themes related to their overall health status, health behaviors, utilization of healthcare services, and experiences with the healthcare system. We used a theoretical framework from the William and Mohammed medical mistrust model to guide our qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

Fifty-two Black men without a prior history of diabetes and an HbA1c reading at or above 5.7% were interviewed. Many participants stated that their health was in good condition. Some participants expressed being surprised by their abnormal HbA1c reading because it was not previously mentioned by their healthcare providers. Furthermore, many of our participants shared recent examples of negative interactions with physicians when describing their experiences with the healthcare system. Finally, several participants cited a preference for incorporating non-pharmaceutical options in their diabetes management plans.

CONCLUSION

To help alleviate the disparity in diabetes burden among Black men, healthcare providers should take a more active role in recognizing and addressing their own implicit biases, engage in understanding the specific healthcare needs and expectations of each patient, and consider emphasizing non-medication approaches to improve glycemic control.

"We've Got to Bring Information to Where People Are Comfortable": Community-Based Advance Care Planning with the Black Community

BACKGROUND

People identifying as Black/African American are less likely to engage in advance care planning (ACP) compared to their White peers, despite the association of ACP with improved patient and caregiver outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

Assess facilitators/barriers to ACP in the San Francisco (SF) Black community and co-design/implement/test community-based ACP pilot events.

DESIGN

Community-based participatory research, including qualitative research, intervention development, and implementation.

PARTICIPANTS

In partnership with the SF Palliative Care Workgroup (which includes health system, city, and community-based organizations), we formed an African American Advisory Committee (n = 13). We conducted 6 focus groups with Black older adults (age ≥ 55), caregivers, and community leaders (n = 29). The Advisory Committee then selected 5 community-based organizations through a widespread request for proposal. These community-based organizations designed and implemented community-based pilot events to support ACP engagement.

MAIN MEASURES

Two authors analyzed recorded focus group transcripts using thematic analysis. We assessed pre- vs post-event readiness to engage in ACP (validated ACP Engagement Survey; 1-4 scale, 4 = most ready) using Wilcoxon signed rank tests and assessed event acceptability with open-ended questions.

KEY RESULTS

Themes included the importance of ACP to the Black community (sub-themes: strengthens families; preserves dignity, particularly for sexual/gender minorities; is tied to financial planning) and facilitators for increasing ACP engagement (sub-themes: culturally relevant materials; events in trusted community spaces including Black-owned businesses). A total of 114 participants attended 5 events; 74% identified as Black, and 16% as sexual/gender minorities. Readiness to engage in ACP was similar pre- vs post-events; 98% would recommend the events to others.

CONCLUSIONS

Community-based ACP events designed and led by and for the Black community are highly acceptable. Novel insights underscored the importance of financial planning as part of ACP and the role of Black-owned businesses as trusted spaces for ACP-related discussions.

Strategies to Assess the Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Long-Term Clinically Important Outcomes among Patients with Symptomatic Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although CPAP improves symptoms (e.g., daytime sleepiness), there is a lack of high-quality evidence that CPAP prevents many long-term outcomes, including cognitive impairment, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Observational studies suggest that patients with symptoms may be particularly likely to experience these preventive benefits with CPAP, but ethical and practical concerns limited the participation of such patients in prior long-term randomized trials. As a result, there is uncertainty about the full benefits of CPAP, and resolving this uncertainty is a key priority for the field. This workshop assembled clinicians, researchers, ethicists, and patients to identify strategies to understand the causal effects of CPAP on long-term clinically important outcomes among patients with symptomatic OSA. Quasi-experimental designs can provide valuable information and are less time and resource intensive than trials. Under specific conditions and assumptions, quasi-experimental studies may be able to provide causal estimates of CPAP's effectiveness from generalizable observational cohorts. However, randomized trials represent the most reliable approach to understanding the causal effects of CPAP among patients with symptoms. Randomized trials of CPAP can ethically include patients with symptomatic OSA, as long as there is outcome-specific equipoise, adequate informed consent, and a plan to maximize safety while minimizing harm (e.g., monitoring for pathologic sleepiness). Furthermore, multiple strategies exist to ensure the generalizability and practicality of future randomized trials of CPAP. These strategies include reducing the burden of trial procedures, improving patient-centeredness, and engaging historically excluded and underserved populations.

AddREssing Social Determinants TO pRevent hypErtension (The RESTORE Network): Overview of the Health Equity Research Network to Prevent Hypertension

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association funded a Health Equity Research Network on the prevention of hypertension, the RESTORE Network, as part of its commitment to achieving health equity in all communities. This article provides an overview of the RESTORE Network.

METHODS

The RESTORE Network includes five independent, randomized trials testing approaches to implement non-pharmacological interventions that have been proven to lower blood pressure (BP). The trials are community-based, taking place in churches in rural Alabama, mobile health units in Michigan, barbershops in New York, community health centers in Maryland, and food deserts in Massachusetts. Each trial employs a hybrid effectiveness-implementation research design to test scalable and sustainable strategies that mitigate social determinants of health (SDOH) that contribute to hypertension in Black communities. The primary outcome in each trial is change in systolic BP. The RESTORE Network Coordinating Center has five cores: BP measurement, statistics, intervention, community engagement, and training that support the trials. Standardized protocols, data elements and analysis plans were adopted in each trial to facilitate cross-trial comparisons of the implementation strategies, and application of a standard costing instrument for health economic evaluations, scale up, and policy analysis. Herein, we discuss future RESTORE Network research plans and policy outreach activities designed to advance health equity by preventing hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

The RESTORE Network was designed to promote health equity in the US by testing effective and sustainable implementation strategies focused on addressing SDOH to prevent hypertension among Black adults.

Black men's awareness of peripheral artery disease and acceptability of screening in barbershops: a qualitative analysis

INTRODUCTION

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) disproportionately burdens Black Americans, particularly Black men. Despite the significant prevalence and high rate of associated morbidity and mortality, awareness of and treatment initiation for PAD remains low in this demographic group. Given the well-established social cohesion among barbershops frequently attended by Black men, barbershops may be ideal settings for health screening and education to improve awareness, early detection, and treatment initiation of PAD among Black men.

METHODS

A qualitative study involving 1:1 participant interviews in Cleveland, Ohio assessed perspectives of Black men about barbershop-based screening and education about PAD. Inductive thematic analysis was performed to derive themes directly from the data to reflect perceived PAD awareness and acceptability of screening in a barbershop setting.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight African American/Black, non-Hispanic men completed a qualitative interview for this analysis. Mean age was 59.3 ± 11.2 years and 93% of participants resided in socioeconomically disadvantaged zip codes. Several themes emerged indicating increased awareness of PAD and acceptability of barbershop-based screenings for PAD, advocacy for systemic changes to improve the health of the community, and a desire among participants to increase knowledge about cardiovascular disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants were overwhelmingly accepting of PAD screenings and reported increased awareness of PAD and propensity to seek healthcare due to engagement in the study. Participants provided insight into barriers and facilitators of health and healthcare-seeking behavior, as well as into the community and the barbershop as an institution. Additional research is needed to explore the perspectives of additional stakeholders and to translate community-based screenings into treatment initiation.

"You Can Change the World With a Haircut": Evaluating the Feasibility of a Barber-led Intervention for Men of Black and Ethnic Minority Heritage to Manage High Blood Pressure

BACKGROUND

People of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) heritage have a higher-than-average incidence of, and mortality from hypertension and stroke. Therefore, it is important to identify new settings for engaging people at risk of high blood pressure (BP).

AIM

This feasibility study aimed to evaluate if barbers in a London borough can support and educate men of BAME heritage to manage their BP. Following UK Medical Research Council guidance, the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) framework was used to guide study objectives and feasibility outcomes.

METHODS

We collaborated with 8 barbers who were part of an existing BAME barber network. Barbers were trained online (1.5 h) and face-to-face (3 h) to provide BP healthcare advice and take customers BP readings. Qualitative field notes were collected to assess how best to recruit and train barbers, and to understand how to maintain motivation and retention of barbers. BP readings were recorded between June 2021 and March 2022.

RESULTS

Both online and face-to-face training were effective, however, greater focus on how to start conversations about BP with clients was needed. We found that motivation, incentivization and regular contact with barbers were important for recruitment, retention, and sustained BP measurement. Obtaining BP readings was challenging due to client concerns about recording their data and the impracticalities of recording results. We captured 236 BP recordings, of which 39 (16.53%) were over 140/90 mmHg; of these, 5 were over 180/100 mmHg.

CONCLUSION

The combined data showed that educating barbers to take BP readings and deliver healthcare advice about BP is a viable intervention for rollout in a large-scale study. It has demonstrated the need to identify strategies to motivate barbers for sustained recruitment and retention, as well as further efforts to build trust among customers for long-term BP surveillance.

Use of Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring to Improve Hypertension Equity

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To evaluate how self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring interventions impact hypertension equity.

RECENT FINDINGS

While a growing number of studies have recruited participants from safety-net settings, racial/ethnic minority groups, rural areas, or lower socio-economic backgrounds, few have reported on clinical outcomes with many choosing to evaluate only patient-reported outcomes (e.g., satisfaction, engagement). The studies with clinical outcomes demonstrate that SMBP monitoring (a) can be successfully adopted by historically excluded patient populations and safety-net settings and (b) improves outcomes when paired with clinical support. There are few studies that explicitly evaluate how SMBP monitoring impacts hypertension disparities and among rural, low-income, and some racial/ethnic minority populations. Researchers need to design SMBP monitoring studies that include disparity reduction outcomes and recruit from broader populations that experience worse hypertension outcomes. In addition to assessing effectiveness, studies must also evaluate how to mitigate multi-level barriers to real-world implementation of SMBP monitoring programs.

Findings of a Novel Barbershop-Based Peripheral Artery Disease Screening Program for Black Men

Background Peripheral artery disease (PAD) increases the risk of cardiovascular events and limb events including amputations. PAD is twice as prevalent in Black compared with non-Hispanic White individuals, especially among men. Screening for PAD using the ankle-brachial index in community settings, such as the barbershop, could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. Methods and Results A pilot study was conducted at 2 barbershops in Cleveland, OH from June to December 2020 to assess the feasibility of screening for PAD in the barbershop setting and the effect of an educational intervention on PAD awareness. After screening with both automated and Doppler ankle-brachial index, PAD was identified in 5/31 (16.1%) of participants. Baseline systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and random blood glucose were higher in participants who screened positive for PAD (P<0.001). PAD awareness was low overall. There was a significant improvement in PAD awareness assessment scores obtained at the initial and exit visits (9.93±4.23 to 12.50±4.41, P=0.004). An association was found between PAD awareness at baseline and highest education level achieved: compared with those with some college/associate's degree or higher, non-high school graduates scored lower on PAD awareness (P=0.022), as did those who only had a high school diploma or tests of General Educational Development (P=0.049). Conclusions In a pilot study, barbershop-based screening for PAD among Black men revealed a higher than expected PAD prevalence and low PAD awareness. An educational video was effective at increasing PAD awareness. Ankle-brachial index screening and educational outreach in the barbershop may be a feasible and effective tool to diagnose PAD and reduce PAD disparities among Black men at highest risk.

Relationship Among Diabetes Distress, Health Literacy, Diabetes Education, Patient-Provider Communication and Diabetes Self-Care

OBJECTIVES

Mechanisms underlying relationships among patients' health literacy, diabetes distress, diabetes education, and provider counseling for self-care of chronic conditions are unclear. This study tested these relationships using SEM with adult patients with comorbid diabetes and hypertension in rural WV.

METHODS

Ninety-one participants of a 12-week self-management program reported on diabetes self-care (diet, exercise, blood glucose (BG) monitoring) and related provider counseling.

RESULTS

Based on patient report, providers' recommendations included following a low-fat diet, eating fruits/ vegetables, limiting sweets, a daily low-level of exercise and/or exercise ≥20 minutes three times/week, and BG monitoring. Provider recommendations were shown to be associated with patients' self-care behaviors (r=0.22, p<0.05). Multiple factors directly influenced provider recommendations: diabetes distress, health literacy, and family history of diabetes. A positive association was also noted between prior diabetes education and provider recommendations and diabetes self-care (r=0.44, p<0.001). A negative association was noted between diabetes distress and self-care, but a positive effect on provider recommendations was found. The model demonstrated good fit [CFI=0.94, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) =0.05].

CONCLUSIONS

To enhance diabetes self-care, providers should consistently provide education on self-care behaviors as well as partner with them to address diabetes distress.

Evaluation of health-promoting self-care behaviors in hypertensive patients with concomitant chronic kidney disease in primary care

Aim:

This study was to investigate the relationships among health behaviors and quality of life (QOL) and to test a proposed model among people with hypertension and concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care. In addition, the mediation effect of modifiable risk factors between self-care health behaviors and QOL was examined.

Methods:

This study was prospective, conducted in the centers of primary medical care in the period from January 2018 to January 2020. In total, 170 patients diagnosed with hypertension and CKD at least 12 months previously were included in this study. The following parameters were measured: self-efficacy, self-care health behaviors with the subscales of health responsibility, exercise, consumption of a healthy diet, stress management, and smoking cessation; modifiable risk score; and QOL (assessed using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey instrument).

Results:

Self-efficacy had a significantly positive direct effect on self-care health behaviors, with a standardized regression coefficient of 0.87 (P = 0.007), a negative indirect effect on risk factors, with a standardized regression coefficient of 0.11 (P = 0.006), and a positive indirect effect on QOL, with a standardized regression coefficient of 0.62 (P = 0.008). Self-care health behaviors had a significantly positive direct effect on QOL, with a standardized regression coefficient of 0.72 (P = 0.012); there was also an indirect effect of 0.053 (P = 0.004). The direct effect of risk factors on QOL was significant, with a standardized regression coefficient of 0.44 (P = 0.018). The direct effect of self-care health behaviors on QOL was 0.77 (P = 0.008), which has been reduced to 0.72 (P = 0.012). The reduced effect of 0.05 was significant (P = 0.004), confirming the mediating role of modified risk factors.

Conclusions:

This study indicates health-promoting behaviors in hypertensive patients with CKD have a potential impact on their QOL in primary care. Primary care physicians should focus on motivation strategies to encourage individuals to perform self-care health-promoting behaviors associated with the improved QOL, in order to achieve better outcomes in risk factor management.

A Framework for Inspiring COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence in African American and Latino Communities

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted racial and ethnic minority communities, particularly African American and Latino communities. The impacts of social determinants of health, structural racism, misinformation, and mistrust have contributed to a decreased COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Effective methods of addressing and combatting these barriers are essential. Accurate and targeted messaging delivered by trusted voices from community-based organizations, government health systems and organizations, and healthcare and academic systems is imperative. Outreach and communication should be culturally sensitive, provided in the preferred language of the community, flexible, and tailored for in-person and virtual outlets. This communication must also increase trust, combat misinformation, and inspire COVID-19 vaccine confidence. In this manuscript, we outline a framework for inspiring COVID-19 vaccine confidence in African American and Latino communities. These methods of targeted outreach should be considered and implemented for urgent and nonurgent community public health efforts beyond the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., monkeypox) and as a framework to inspire vaccine confidence in those living in racial and ethnic minority communities globally.

Factors influencing treatment adherence in hypertension and HIV management in South Africa: A comparative literature review

BACKGROUND

Hypertension (HTN) is the most significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in South Africa (SA), with one in three people over the age of 25 suffering from HTN. Whilst human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) are the leading causes of death in South Africa, CVD is in the top 10 causes of death, demonstrating the importance of detecting and controlling blood pressure early on. This study aimed to review adherence factors to antihypertensive medication and antiretroviral therapy (ART) and evaluate the resulting factors influencing adherence discrepancies within the South African population.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was carried out. PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane and Embase were searched for English publications between 2000 and 2021.

RESULTS

A total of 50 articles covering quantitative and qualitative studies were included. Many studies identified poor adherence levels to antihypertensive treatment, reaching a substandard adherence rate of 41.9%, whilst most studies on the HIV-positive population reported good levels of adherence, with adherence rates of more than 90%. Being of the male gender, advanced age, low socioeconomic status and a low level of education were associated with unsatisfactory adherence rates in both groups. Within the HIV group, more participants had better knowledge concerning the extent of their disease and its required treatments.

CONCLUSION

The results present substandard adherence levels to antihypertensives compared with antiretroviral (ARV) adherence, despite the influence of more non-adherence factors in the HIV group. The authors recommend better adherence counselling for patients with HTN during every clinic visit, regular healthcare worker training and the implementation of ART adherence programmes in patients with hypertension.

Team-based strategies to prevent heart failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The burden of heart failure (HF) in the United States and worldwide is projected to rise. Prevention of HF can curb the burden of this chronic syndrome, but current approaches are limited. This review discusses team-based strategies aimed to prevent HF.

RECENT FINDINGS

Individuals at high risk for developing HF can be identified using HF risk scores, biomarkers, and cardiac imaging. Electronic medical records (EMR) can integrate clinical data to estimate HF risk and identify individuals who may benefit most from preventive therapies. Team-based interventions can lead to enhanced adherence to medications, optimization of medical management, and control of risk factors. Multifaceted interventions involve EMR-based strategies, pharmacist- and nurse-led initiatives, involvement of community personnel, polypills, and digital solutions.

SUMMARY

Team-based strategies aimed to prevent HF incorporate a broad group of personnel and tools. Despite implementation challenges, existing resources can be efficiently utilized to facilitate team-based approaches to potentially reduce the burden of HF.

Advancing Equity in Blood Pressure Control: A Response to the Surgeon General's Call-to-Action

Hypertension is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although controlling blood pressure reduces cardiovascular and stroke mortality and target organ damage, poor blood pressure control remains a clinical and public health challenge. Furthermore, racial and ethnic disparities in the outcomes of hypertension are well documented. In October of 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Control Hypertension. The Call to Action emphasized, among other priorities, the need to eliminate disparities in the treatment and control of high blood pressure and to address social determinants as root causes of inequities in blood pressure control and treatment. In support of the goals set in the Call to Action, this review summarizes contemporary research on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in hypertension and blood pressure control; describes interventions and policies that have improved blood pressure control in minoritized populations by addressing the social determinants of health; and proposes next steps for achieving equity in hypertension and blood pressure control.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Acute Care Use for Pediatric Asthma

PURPOSE

Previous work has shown that asthma-related emergency department (ED) use is greatest among Black and Latine populations, but it is unknown whether health care use for exacerbations differs across settings (outpatient, ED, inpatient) and correlates with use of routine outpatient services. We aimed to measure disparities by race, ethnicity, and language in pediatric acute asthma care using data from US primary care community health centers.

METHODS

In an observational study using electronic health records from community health centers in 18 states, we compared non-Hispanic Black, English-preferring Latine, Spanish-preferring Latine, and non-Hispanic White children aged 3 to 17 years on visits for clinic-coded asthma exacerbations (2012-2018). We further evaluated asthma-related ED use and inpatient admissions in a subsample of Oregon-Medicaid recipients. Covariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and rate ratios (RRs) were derived using logistic or negative binomial regression analysis with generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

Among 41,276 children with asthma, Spanish-preferring Latine children had higher odds of clinic visits for asthma exacerbation than non-Hispanic White peers (OR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.18). Among the subsample of 6,555 children insured under Oregon-Medicaid, non-Hispanic Black children had higher odds and rates of asthma-related ED use than non-Hispanic White peers (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.04-1.89 and RR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.09-2.04, respectively). We observed no differences between groups in asthma-related inpatient admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to show that patterns of clinic and ED acute-care use differ for non-Hispanic Black and Spanish-preferring Latine children when compared with non-Hispanic White peers. Non-Hispanic Black children had lower use of clinics, whereas Spanish-preferring Latine children had higher use, including for acute exacerbations. These patterns of clinic use were accompanied by higher ED use among Black children. Ensuring adequate care in clinics may be important in mitigating disparities in asthma outcomes.VISUAL ABSTRACT.

Targeting versus Tailoring Educational Videos for Encouraging Deceased Organ Donor Registration in Black-Owned Barbershops

In the U.S., black men are at highest risk for requiring kidney transplants but are among those least likely to register for organ donation. Prior outreach used videos culturally targeted for Black communities, yet registration rates remain insufficient to meet demand. Therefore, we assessed whether generic versus videos culturally targeted or personally tailored based on prior organ donation beliefs differentially increase organ donor registration. In a randomized controlled trial, 1,353 participants in Black-owned barbershops viewed generic, targeted, or tailored videos about organ donation. Logistic regression models assessed the relative impact of videos on: 1) immediate organ donor registration, 2) taking brochures, and 3) change in organ donation willingness stage of change from baseline. Randomization yielded approximately equal groups related to demographics and baseline willingness and beliefs. Neither targeted nor tailored videos differentially affected registration compared with the generic video, but participants in targeted and tailored groups were more likely to take brochures. Targeted (OR = 1.74) and tailored (OR = 1.57) videos were associated with incremental increases in organ donation willingness stage of change compared to the generic video. Distributing culturally targeted and individually tailored videos increased organ donor willingness stage of change among Black men in Black-owned barbershops but was insufficient for encouraging registration.Abbreviations: CI - confidence interval; DMV - Department of Motor Vehicles; BOBs - Black-owned barbershops; ODBI - organ donation belief index; ODWS - organ donation willingness stage of change; OR - odds ratio.

Incorporating African American Veterans' Success Stories for Hypertension Management: Developing a Behavioral Support Texting Protocol

Background

Peer narratives engage listeners through personally relevant content and have been shown to promote lifestyle change and effective self-management among patients with hypertension. Incorporating key quotations from these stories into follow-up text messages is a novel way to continue the conversation, providing reinforcement of health behaviors in the patients’ daily lives.

Objective

In our previous work, we developed and tested videos in which African American Veterans shared stories of challenges and success strategies related to hypertension self-management. This study aims to describe our process for developing a text-messaging protocol intended for use after viewing videos that incorporate the voices of these Veterans.

Methods

We used a multistep process, transforming video-recorded story excerpts from 5 Veterans into 160-character texts. We then integrated these into comprehensive 6-month texting protocols. We began with an iterative review of story transcripts to identify vernacular features and key self-management concepts emphasized by each storyteller. We worked with 2 Veteran consultants who guided our narrative text message development in substantive ways, as we sought to craft culturally sensitive content for texts. Informed by Veteran input on timing and integration, supplementary educational and 2-way interactive assessment text messages were also developed.

Results

Within the Veterans Affairs texting system Annie, we programmed five 6-month text-messaging protocols that included cycles of 3 text message types: narrative messages, nonnarrative educational messages, and 2-way interactive messages assessing self-efficacy and behavior related to hypertension self-management. Each protocol corresponds to a single Veteran storyteller, allowing Veterans to choose the story that most resonates with their own life experiences.

Conclusions

We crafted a culturally sensitive text-messaging protocol using narrative content referenced in Veteran stories to support effective hypertension self-management. Integrating narrative content into a mobile health texting intervention provides a low-cost way to support longitudinal behavior change. A randomized trial is underway to test its impact on the lifestyle changes and blood pressure of African American Veterans.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03970590; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03970590

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/29423

Improving Recruitment, Retention, and Cultural Saliency of Health Promotion Efforts Targeting African American Men: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

When health promotion efforts intend to include African American men, they experience challenges with recruitment and retention, in addition to limited cultural saliency-interventions that do not align the cultural preferences and experiences of the target population produce less effective results.

PURPOSE

This scoping review provides an understanding of (a) how health promotion efforts among African American men are developed and implemented, in addition to the (b) main outcomes, (c) retention rates, and (d) methodological rigor of those efforts.

METHODS

The following databases were used: PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), PsycINFO (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science (Clarivate), and ProQuest. Included studies were restricted to those: (a) conducted among African American men and (b) reported the effects of a health promotion intervention. Interventions using single-group pre-post study, post-test-only study, non-randomized controlled trial, and randomized controlled trial (RCT) study designs were included.

RESULTS

The results indicate that varying degrees of customization in the design and implementation of health promotion efforts targeting African American can improve recruitment, retention, and health-related outcomes. Results draw attention to the need for community input when designing and implementing efforts targeting these men.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that opportunities exist to innovate health promotion efforts among African American men, such as the intentional incorporation of the community's values, perspectives, and preferences in the effort (i.e., cultural saliency) and explicitly indicating how the efforts were culturally tailored to improve saliency. Opportunities also exist to innovate health promotion efforts among African American men based on literature-derived best practices.

Health promotion interventions for African Americans delivered in U.S. barbershops and hair salons- a systematic review

BACKGROUND

African American adults suffer disproportionately from obesity-related chronic diseases, particularly at younger ages. In order to close the gap in these health disparities, efforts to develop and test culturally appropriate interventions are critical.

METHODS

A PRISMA-guided systematic review was conducted to identify and critically evaluate health promotion interventions for African Americans delivered in barbershops and hair salons. Subject headings and keywords used to search for synonyms of 'barbershops,' 'hair salons,' and 'African Americans' identified all relevant articles (from inception onwards) from six databases: Academic Search Ultimate, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science (Science Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation Index). Experimental and quasi-experimental studies for adult (> 18 years) African Americans delivered in barbershops and hair salons that evaluated interventions focused on risk reduction/management of obesity-related chronic disease: cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes were included. Analyses were conducted in 2020.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies met criteria for inclusion. Ten studies hosted interventions in a barbershop setting while four took place in hair salons. There was substantial variability among interventions and outcomes with cancer the most commonly studied disease state (n = 7; 50%), followed by hypertension (n = 5; 35.7%). Most reported outcomes were focused on behavior change (n = 10) with only four studies reporting clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Health promotion interventions delivered in barbershops/hair salons show promise for meeting cancer screening recommendations and managing hypertension in African Americans. More studies are needed that focus on diabetes and obesity and utilize the hair salon as a site for intervention delivery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020159050 .

State of the Nation's Cardiovascular Health and Targeting Health Equity in the United States: A Narrative Review

Importance

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US. The burden of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority groups, who now compose almost 40% of the US population in aggregate. As part of the 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) Strategic Impact Goal, the AHA established 7 cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics (also known as Life's Simple 7) with the goal to improve the CVH of all individuals in the US by 20% by 2020. National estimates of CVH are important to track and monitor at the population level but may mask important differences across and within racial/ethnic minority groups. It is critical to understand how CVH may differ between racial/ethnic minority groups and consider how these differences in CVH may contribute to disparities in cardiovascular disease burden and overall longevity.

Observations

This narrative review summarizes the available literature on individual CVH metrics and composite CVH scores across different race/ethnic minority groups (specifically Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and non-Hispanic Black individuals) in the US. Disparities in CVH persist among racial/ethnic groups, but key gaps in knowledge exist, in part, owing to underrepresentation of these racial/ethnic groups in research or misrepresentation of CVH because of aggregation of race/ethnicity subgroups. A comprehensive, multilevel approach is needed to target health equity and should include (1) access to high-quality health care, (2) community-engaged approaches to adapt disruptive health care delivery innovations, (3) equitable economic investment in the social and built environment, and (4) increasing funding for research in racial/ethnic minority populations.

Conclusions and Relevance

Significant differences in CVH exist within racial/ethnic groups. Given the rapid growth of diverse, minority populations in the US, focused investigation is needed to identify strategies to optimize CVH. Opportunities exist to address inequities in CVH and to successfully achieve both the interim (AHA 2024) and longer-term (AHA 2030) Impact Goals in the coming years.

Men's health literacy: a review and recommendations

Although men's health promotion efforts have attracted programmatic and evaluative research, conspicuously absent are gendered insights to men's health literacy. The current scoping review article shares the findings drawn from 12 published articles addressing men's health literacy in a range of health and illness contexts. Evident was consensus that approaches tailored to men's everyday language and delivered in familiar community-based spaces were central to advancing men's health literacy, and, by extension, the effectiveness of men's health promotion programs. However, most men's health literacy studies focussed on medical knowledge of disease contexts including prostate and colon cancers, while diversity was evident regards conceptual frameworks and/or methods and measures for evaluating men's health literacy. Despite evidence that low levels of health literacy fuel stigma and men's reticence for health help-seeking, and that tailoring programs to health literacy levels is requisite to effective men's health promotion efforts, the field of men's health literacy remains underdeveloped. Based on the scoping review findings, recommendations for future research include integrating men's health literacy research as a needs analysis to more effectively design and evaluate targeted men's health promotion programs.

Peer-to-peer health promotion interventions among African American men: a scoping review protocol

BACKGROUND

Health promotion efforts among African American men have been met with significant challenges and have produced limited results. Interventions that do not align with the values, perspectives, and preferences of African American men often produce less effective results. Research among African American men has provided compelling evidence that these men prefer informal networks of health support. Recent successful health promotion efforts among these men have benefited from peer-to-peer models of implementation. To date, no known scoping or systematic review of peer-to-peer health promotion interventions among African American men has been conducted. The goal of this scoping review is to understand the extent of, design, implementation, and use of peer-to-peer interventions to promote health, improve quality of life, and prevent disease among African American men.

METHODS

A review of the literature will be performed in PubMED, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science. The development of this protocol was guided by the work of Arksey and O'Malley and the PICOS statement. Reporting will be guided by the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Eligible studies include those testing the effects of a peer-to-peer health promotion intervention targeting African American men. A comparison group will not be required. For the purposes of the current review, "peers" will be limited to other African American men. An initial screening of the titles and abstracts of potentially eligible studies will be completed by two independent reviewers. The full text of records that appear to meet the eligibility criteria will be accessed and further screened. Data will then be extracted and collected using a custom Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Extracted data will include authors' name and publication year, target health issue(s), design of the intervention, components of the intervention, peer-led components of the intervention, peer role, length and type of training for peer leaders, intervention duration, frequency of the intervention, study design and number of participants, and main outcomes. Finally, results will be presented in table format and summarized in text format.

DISCUSSION

Results will have implications for the design, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion interventions among African American men.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020198664.

Clinical Trials Without Clinical Sites

Clinical trials conducted at clinical sites are limited to enrolling people who live nearby and are able to attend visits at clinics. Some types of clinical trials can be performed without clinical sites, which enables people to participate regardless of proximity to a clinical site or limitations that make visits difficult. Trials at clinical sites involve face-to-face relationships with in-person collection of informed consent, examinations, data, and specimens. In contrast, without clinical sites, informed consent and data are obtained online, limited examinations can be performed by telemedicine or visiting research nurses, biospecimens can be collected by visiting nurses or local laboratories, and treatments can be sent to homes or administered by nurses in participants' homes. Trials without clinical sites require internet access and must adapt to the lack of face-to-face interactions with study staff, with communication conducted by email, telephone, or video. Many trials cannot be performed entirely without clinical sites because they require examinations, tests, or treatments that must be given at a clinical site. However, some of the methods required for trials without sites, such as online data collection, follow-up visits by telemedicine or research nurses, and delivery of treatments to home, could reduce the need for visits to clinical sites and reduce the burden of participating in a clinical trial. When feasible, conducting clinical trials without clinical sites has the potential to expand participation and the generalizability of their results.

Evolving the Preconception Health Framework: A Call for Reproductive and Sexual Health Equity

Over the past decade, increasing attention has been paid to intervening in individuals' health in the "preconception" period as an approach to optimizing pregnancy outcomes. Increasing attention to the structural and social determinants of health and to the need to prioritize reproductive autonomy has underscored the need to evolve the preconception health framework to center race equity and to engage with the historical and social context in which reproduction and reproductive health care occur. In this commentary, we describe the results of a meeting with a multidisciplinary group of maternal and child health experts, reproductive health researchers and practitioners, and Reproductive Justice leaders to define a new approach for clinical and public health systems to engage with the health of nonpregnant people. We describe a novel "Reproductive and Sexual Health Equity" framework, defined as an approach to comprehensively meet people's reproductive and sexual health needs, with explicit attention to structural influences on health and health care and grounded in a desire to achieve the highest level of health for all people and address inequities in health outcomes. Principles of the framework include centering the needs of and redistributing power to communities, having clinical and public health systems acknowledge historical and ongoing harms related to reproductive and sexual health, and addressing root causes of inequities. We conclude with a call to action for a multisectoral effort centered in equity to advance reproductive and sexual health across the reproductive life course.

Health Promotion Awareness in Barbershops and Salons: An International Cross-Sectional Survey in Japan and Thailand

Aging societies are a worldwide concern, as people are living longer than ever before. The success of the "barbershop project" in improving community health in the USA suggests that the aging issue can be tackled using this method even in Asia. Nevertheless, the health promotion awareness of barbers/stylists has barely been reported in Asia. This study aimed to identify the health promotion awareness of barbers and stylists in Japan and Thailand. An international cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and December 2017. Questionnaire contents included the "current status of existing health-promotion-related services," "awareness of contribution to maintaining people's health," and "awareness of collaboration with health care professionals." Participants were 99 Japanese and 101 Thai shop owners. In Japan, more health-promotion-related services were already provided through shops, and health care awareness was higher than in Thailand. In both countries, some shops were willing to collaborate with health care professionals. In Japan, "barbers/stylists have consultation opportunities with health care professionals," "health-related leaflets are provided," "development of therapy/care," and "barbershops/salons become a bridge between communities and hospitals" were mentioned as ideas for collaboration. In conclusion, barbers/stylists are highly interested in health due to the direct connection between beauty and health. Collaboration between barbershops/salons and health care professionals is possible, especially in Japan due to its super-aging society. Further development of the barbershop/salon project is needed.

Deconstructing the Complexities of Advance Care Planning Outcomes: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go? A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Advance care planning (ACP) has shown benefit in some, but not all, studies. It is important to understand the utility of ACP. We conducted a scoping review to identify promising interventions and outcomes.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

MEASUREMENTS

We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science for ACP randomized controlled trials from January 1, 2010, to March 3, 2020. We used standardized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses methods to chart study characteristics, including a standardized ACP Outcome Framework: Process (e.g., readiness), Action (e.g., communication), Quality of Care (e.g., satisfaction), Health Status (e.g., anxiety), and Healthcare Utilization. Differences between arms of P < .05 were deemed positive.

RESULTS

Of 1,464 articles, 69 met eligibility; 94% were rated high quality. There were variable definitions, age criteria (≥18 to ≥80 years), diseases (e.g., dementia and cancer), and settings (e.g., outpatient and inpatient). Interventions included facilitated discussions (42%), video only (20%), interactive, multimedia (17%), written only (12%), and clinician training (9%). For written only, 75% of primary outcomes were positive, as were 69% for multimedia programs; 67% for facilitated discussions, 59% for video only, and 57% for clinician training. Overall, 72% of Process and 86% of Action outcomes were positive. For Quality of Care, 88% of outcomes were positive for patient-surrogate/clinician congruence, 100% for patients/surrogate/clinician satisfaction with communication, and 75% for surrogate satisfaction with patients' care, but not for goal concordance. For Health Status outcomes, 100% were positive for reducing surrogate/clinician distress, but not for patient quality of life. Healthcare Utilization data were mixed.

CONCLUSION

ACP is complex, and trial characteristics were heterogeneous. Outcomes for all ACP interventions were predominantly positive, as were Process and Action outcomes. Although some Quality of Care and Health Status outcomes were mixed, increased patient/surrogate satisfaction with communication and care and decreased surrogate/clinician distress were positive. Further research is needed to appropriately tailor interventions and outcomes for local contexts, set appropriate expectations of ACP outcomes, and standardize across studies.

The Thin Man is His Clothing: Dressing Masculine to be Masculine

Body image research focuses almost exclusively on women or overweight and obesity or both. Yet, body image concerns among thin men are common and can result, at least in part, from mixed messages in society around how men qua men should dress and behave in order to look good and feel good. Stand-alone interventions to meet these different messages tend to provide men with little therapeutic relief. This conceptual paper draws on literature from the medical humanities; gender and body image studies; the social psychology of clothing; and the author's own lived experience to address this contemporary problem. The paper embraces visual culture as a resource that can frame discussion of how two sets of 'performativity' might reduce male anxiety about thinness. First, thin men could choose repeatedly to wear masculine-looking clothing, which could create their masculinity as a personal aesthetic that strengthens the confidence to harness masculine traits in healthy ways. Secondly, health and allied health service providers could promote and reinforce such dress behavior by offering advice that integrates aesthetic and functional aspects of clothing. Empirical studies are needed to test this dual model of performativity.

A Review of Hypertension Management in Black Male Patients

Hypertension affects approximately 85 million Americans, or almost 1 in 3 adults. Black men have disproportionately higher rates of hypertension and are more likely to experience complications of hypertension, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. In addition, hypertensive black men are less likely to achieve optimal blood pressure (BP) than women and persons of other races. In light of this, we performed a literature search for articles published from January 1, 1966, to December 31, 2018, using terms including hypertension, blood pressure, black male, and African American male. Studies were selected for inclusion according to their relevance regarding hypertensive management in black men. Subsequent findings indicated that targeted identification (ie, barbershops), medication management, and close follow-up resulted in greater control of BP. Also, a reduction of systolic blood pressure greater than 20 mm Hg occurred with the use of pharmacists following algorithms specifically for the management of hypertension in black men. Continued emphasis to identify strategies to improve control of BP and outcomes in this population is needed.

Frontiers of Upstream Stroke Prevention and Reduced Stroke Inequity Through Predicting, Preventing, and Managing Hypertension and Atrial Fibrillation: A Call to Action From the Value in Healthcare Initiative's Predict & Prevent Learning Collaborative

Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. While age-adjusted stroke mortality was falling, it has leveled off in recent years due in part to advances in medical technology, health care options, and population health interventions. In addition to adverse trends in stroke-related morbidity and mortality across the broader population, there are sociodemographic inequities in stroke risk. These challenges can be addressed by focusing on predicting and preventing modifiable upstream risk factors associated with stroke, but there is a need to develop a practical framework that health care organizations can use to accomplish this task across diverse settings. Accordingly, this article describes the efforts and vision of the multi-stakeholder Predict & Prevent Learning Collaborative of the Value in Healthcare Initiative, a collaboration of the American Heart Association and the Robert J. Margolis, MD, Center for Health Policy at Duke University. This article presents a framework of a potential upstream stroke prevention program with evidence-based implementation strategies for predicting, preventing, and managing stroke risk factors. It is meant to complement existing primary stroke prevention guidelines by identifying frontier strategies that can address gaps in knowledge or implementation. After considering a variety of upstream medical or behavioral risk factors, the group identified 2 risk factors with substantial direct links to stroke for focusing the framework: hypertension and atrial fibrillation. This article also highlights barriers to implementing program components into clinical practice and presents implementation strategies to overcome those barriers. A particular focus was identifying those strategies that could be implemented across many settings, especially lower-resource practices and community-based enterprises representing broad social, economic, and geographic diversity. The practical framework is designed to provide clinicians and health systems with effective upstream stroke prevention strategies that encourage scalability while allowing customization for their local context.

Nocturia as an Unrecognized Symptom of Uncontrolled Hypertension in Black Men Aged 35 to 49 Years

Background

Hypertension is assumed to be asymptomatic. Yet, clinically significant nocturia (≥2 nightly voids) constitutes a putative symptom of uncontrolled hypertension. Black men with hypertension may be prone to nocturia because of blunted nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping, diuretic drug use for hypertension, and comorbidity that predisposes to nocturia. Here, we test the hypothesis that nocturia is a common and potentially reversible symptom of uncontrolled hypertension in black men.

Methods and Results

We determined the strength of association between nocturia (≥2 nightly voids) and high BP (≥135/85 mm Hg) by conducting in‐person health interviews and measuring BP with an automated monitor in a large community‐based sample of black men in their barbershops. Because nocturia is prevalent and steeply age‐dependent after age 50 years, we studied men aged 35 to 49 years. Among 1673 black men (mean age, 43±4 years [SD]), those with hypertension were 56% more likely than men with normotension to have nocturia after adjustment for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea (adjusted odds ratio, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.25–1.94 [P<0.0001]). Nocturia prevalence varied by hypertension status, ranging from 24% in men with normotension to 49% in men whose hypertension was medically treated but uncontrolled. Men with untreated hypertension were 39% more likely than men with normotension to report nocturia (P=0.02), whereas men whose hypertension was treated and controlled were no more likely than men with normotension to report nocturia (P=0.69).

Conclusions

Uncontrolled hypertension was an independent determinant of clinically important nocturia in a large cross‐sectional community‐based study of non‐Hispanic black men aged 35 to 49 years.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unqiue identifier: NCT 02321618.

Sustainability of blood pressure reduction in black barbershops

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The prevalence of hypertension (HTN) among non-Hispanic blacks increased from 41 to 55% with the release of the new 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines - the highest among any racial group. Non-Hispanic black men have less physician interaction and lower blood pressure (BP) treatment and control rates when compared with their female counterparts, necessitating community outreach. Here, we review the Los Angeles Barbershop Blood Pressure Study (LABBPS) which demonstrated a community-based approach involving pharmacists, physicians, and barbers could improve BP control rates among black men.

RECENT FINDINGS

LABBPS was a cluster-randomized trial that evaluated both the efficacy and sustainability of a pharmacist-led HTN management program in which barbers promoted follow-up with pharmacists who prescribed antihypertensive therapy under collaborative practice agreements with intervention participant's primary care providers. After 6 months researchers observed a 21 mmHg greater fall in SBP among intervention group participants when compared with the control group participants who received 'usual care.' The 6-month extension phase of the study showed that the impressive BP reduction achieved was sustained with less pharmacist contact.

SUMMARY

Multidisciplinary, community-based approaches to HTN management can be effective and are necessary to tackle the current disparity seen in BP control rates. The model developed in LABBPS represents one such approach.

Hypertension and Drug Adherence in the Elderly

Hypertension is highly prevalent after the age of 65 years affecting more than 60% of individuals in developed countries. Today, there is sufficient evidence from clinical trials that treating elderly subjects with hypertension with antihypertensive medications has a positive benefit/risk ratio even in very elderly patients (>80 years). In recent years, partial or total non-adherence has been recognized as major issues in the long-term management of hypertension in all age categories. However, whether non-adherence is more frequent in hypertensive patients older than 65 years or not is still a matter of debate and the common belief is that adherence is lower in older than in younger patients. Are clinical data supporting this belief? In this brief review, we discuss the topic of drug adherence in elderly in the context of the medical treatment of hypertension. Studies show that drug adherence is actually better in patients aged 65 to 80 years when compared to younger hypertensive patients (<50 years). However, in very old patients (>80 years) the prevalence of non-adherence does increase. In this patients' group, there are specific risk factors for non-adherence such as cognitive ability, depression, and health believes, in addition to classical risk factors for non-adherence. One important aspect in the elderly is the prescription of potentially inappropriate medications that will interfere with the adherence to necessary treatments. In this context, an interesting new concept was developed few years ago, i.e., the process of deprescribing. Thus, today, in addition to conventional guidelines recommendations (use of single pill combinations, individualization of treatments), the evaluation of cognitive abilities, the regular assessment of potentially inappropriate medications, and the process of deprescribing appear to be three new additional steps to improve drug adherence in the elderly and thereby ameliorate the global management of hypertension.

ThriveNYC: Delivering on Mental Health

Promoting population mental health and meeting the burdens of mental illness is a priority public health challenge of the 21st century. But too little attention has been placed on how to design and sustain the scope of strategies and commitments that credibly live up to the full breadth of that challenge. ThriveNYC is an effort by New York City to fill that gap, through a public health approach backed by investment in resources and leadership. ThriveNYC can by example help mobilize a larger community of investigators and policymakers to consider how to meet this challenge, to get to consensus on key elements for effective action and implementation, to reimagine who and what the mental health "system" includes, and, in doing so, to strengthen the social contract that underlies well-being.

Community-Based Hemoglobin A1C Testing in Barbershops to Identify Black Men With Undiagnosed Diabetes

This cross-sectional study evaluates the use of hemoglobin A_1c testing at barbershops owned by black individuals for timely diagnosis of diabetes among black men and suggests appropriate methods for care.