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Cunningham-Erves J, Davis M, Stewart EC, Alexander L, Moss J, Barre I, Parham I, Mayo-Gamble T, Davis J. COVID-19 risk communication gaps, needs, and strategies related to pandemic preparedness plans among vulnerable, Black American subgroups: A qualitative study. J Natl Med Assoc 2024; 116:45-55. [PMID: 38151424 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Improving current and future risk communication plans is critical to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to prepare for future pandemics. Minority groups, particularly African Americans, have been limited in engagement to prepare these plans which has been demonstrated to be disadvantageous. We report findings from a qualitative study that describes gaps, needs, and strategies to improve communication among vulnerable, Black American subgroups during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Sixty-two Black Americans in uniquely, vulnerable subgroups participated in qualitative, semi-structured interviews from May to September 2020. Thematic analyses were used to identify themes. RESULTS Participants were 16 essential workers, 16 parents, 15 young adults, and 15 individuals with underlying medical conditions. Emerging themes were: (1) Poor communication and miscommunication fueled fear and confusion; (2) Information sources and channels: How do I choose one?; (3) Communication needs were simple yet complex; (4) All information sources are not trusted information sources; (5) Preferred yet trusted channels and types of information; and (6) Dissemination of COVID Research: Why and How. Subgroups varied in information sources and processes for choosing the source, communication needs, and channels and types of information needed. They shared why they did and did not trust certain sources along with the importance of COVID research dissemination to promote informed decision-making throughout the pandemic. DISCUSSION This study found that Black American subgroups had diverse, yet trusted and non-trusted messages, messengers, and strategies for communication and wanted research results disseminated. We describe multi-level stakeholders and strategies to help improve risk communication for pandemics, and potentially preparedness and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Cunningham-Erves
- Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr., Blvd Nashville, TN 37208, United States of America; Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Ave Suite 700, Nashville, TN 37203. United States of America.
| | - Megan Davis
- School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center 1211 Medical Center Drive Nashville, TN, 37232, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth C Stewart
- Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr., Blvd Nashville, TN 37208, United States of America
| | - Leah Alexander
- Division of Public Health Practice, Meharry Medical College 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr., Blvd Nashville, TN 37208, United States of America
| | - Jamal Moss
- School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr., Blvd Nashville, TN 37208, United States of America
| | - Iman Barre
- School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr., Blvd Nashville, TN 37208, United States of America
| | - Imari Parham
- School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr., Blvd Nashville, TN 37208, United States of America
| | - Tilicia Mayo-Gamble
- Jiann-Ping. Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University 1332 Southern Drive Statesboro, GA, 30458, United States of America
| | - Jamaine Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, Meharry Medical College 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr., Blvd Nashville, TN 37208, United States of America
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Cunningham-Erves J, Smalls M, Stewart EC, Edwards K, Hull PC, Dempsey AF, Wilkins CH. Correction to: Communication Interactions, Needs, and Preferences During Clinical Encounters of African American Parent-Child Dyads. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023:10.1007/s40615-023-01845-6. [PMID: 37902944 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01845-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Cunningham-Erves
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37208-3599, USA.
| | - Meredith Smalls
- Meharry Vanderbilt Alliance, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Biomedical Building, Nashville, TN, 37208, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Stewart
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37208-3599, USA
| | - Kathryn Edwards
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2200 Children's Way, Suite 2404, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Pamela C Hull
- Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Amanda F Dempsey
- Adult & Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Merck and Company, Wales, PA, 19454, USA
| | - Consuelo H Wilkins
- Office of Health Equity, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1121 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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Cunningham-Erves J, Smalls M, Stewart EC, Edwards K, Hull PC, Dempsey AF, Wilkins CH. Communication Interactions, Needs, and Preferences During Clinical Encounters of African American Parent-Child Dyads. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023:10.1007/s40615-023-01754-8. [PMID: 37603225 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01754-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates remain suboptimal among African American adolescents. Although provider recommendations during clinical encounters are believed to be highly effective in increasing uptake and series completion, little has been reported about parent-child perspectives on the counseling received during these encounters. Among African American parent-child dyads, we sought to explore and compare interactions, needs, and preferences during clinical encounters by child's HPV vaccination status. We applied a qualitative, phenomenological study design to conduct semi-structured interviews with African American parent-child dyads representing children who were unvaccinated (n = 10), had initiated but not completed (n = 11), or had completed the HPV vaccine series (n = 9). Using iterative, inductive-deductive thematic analysis, five themes were generated: (1) parents' attitudes varied about the HPV vaccine but were mostly positive for vaccines in general; (2) patient-parent-provider clinical encounters from the parent perspective; (3) patient-parent-provider clinical encounters from the child perspective; (4) methods of distribution of supplemental HPV information; and (5) communication desired on HPV vaccination by parents and children. Parents stating they received a provider's recommendation increased by vaccination status (unvaccinated: 6 out of 10; initiated: 7 out of 11; completed: 9 out of 9). Most parents and children were not satisfied with provider communication on the HPV vaccine and used supplemental materials to inform decision-making. Ongoing communication on the HPV vaccine was requested even post-vaccination of the child. During clinical encounters, children and parental messaging needs are similar yet dissimilar. We offer communication strategies and messaging that can be used for African American parent-child dyads by child HPV vaccination status during a clinical encounter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Cunningham-Erves
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37208-3599, USA.
| | - Meredith Smalls
- Meharry Vanderbilt Alliance, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Biomedical Building, Nashville, TN, 37208, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Stewart
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, TN, 37208-3599, USA
| | - Kathryn Edwards
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2200 Children's Way, Suite 2404, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Pamela C Hull
- Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Amanda F Dempsey
- Adult & Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science (ACCORDS), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Merck and Company, Wales, PA, 19454, USA
| | - Consuelo H Wilkins
- Office of Health Equity, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1121 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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Cunningham-Erves J, George W, Stewart EC, Footman A, Davis J, Sanderson M, Smalls M, Morris P, Clarkson K, Lee O, Brandt HM. COVID-19 Vaccination: Comparison of Attitudes, Decision-Making Processes, and Communication among Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Black Americans. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:3481. [PMID: 36834175 PMCID: PMC9960928 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 vaccination rates remain suboptimal among Black Americans who disproportionately experience higher hospitalization and death rates than White Americans. METHODS We conducted a multi-method (interviews and surveys) study among 30 Black Americans (n = 16 vaccinated, n = 14 unvaccinated) to explore factors related to vaccination hesitancy, decision-making processes, and communication related to uptake. Participants were recruited by using community-driven approaches, including partner collaborations. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data, and descriptive and bivariate analysis was used for quantitative data. RESULTS Of those unvaccinated, 79% (n = 11) stated they were delaying and 21% (n = 3) were declining vaccination indefinitely. When asked about the likelihood of vaccine initiation in 6 months and 12 months, 29% (n = 4) and 36% (n = 5), respectively, stated that they would receive the vaccine. The following themes emerged: (1) COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy exists on a continuum; (2) varied decision-making processes for COVID-19 vaccination; (3) motivators among vaccinated individuals; (4) barriers among unvaccinated individuals; (5) retrieving and navigating vaccine information within the COVID-19 infodemic; and (6) parent perspectives on child vaccination. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that vaccinated and unvaccinated participants had similar and dissimilar perspectives in decision-making processes and vaccine concerns as shown in the Decision-making Processes for the COVID-19 vaccination (DePC) model. Based on these findings, future studies should further explore how factors influencing decision-making can lead to divergent outcomes for COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Cunningham-Erves
- Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Whitney George
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN 27232, USA
| | - Elizabeth C. Stewart
- Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Alison Footman
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jamaine Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Maureen Sanderson
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Meredith Smalls
- Meharry Vanderbilt Alliance, 1903 Meharry Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Phillip Morris
- Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Kristin Clarkson
- Congregational Health & Education Network, 1818 Albion St, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
| | - Omaran Lee
- Centers for Wellbeing, P.O. Box 330191, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
| | - Heather M. Brandt
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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Pittman AL, Stewart EC. Task-Dependent Effects of Signal Audibility for Processing Speech: Comparing Performance With NAL-NL2 and DSL v5 Hearing Aid Prescriptions at Threshold and at Suprathreshold Levels in 9- to 17-Year-Olds With Hearing Loss. Trends Hear 2023; 27:23312165231177509. [PMID: 37254534 DOI: 10.1177/23312165231177509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hearing aid fitting formulas intended for the pediatric population can differ by 6 to 25 dB in prescribed output across frequency leading to large variations in aided audibility. Children perceive these differences and have expressed preferences that favor more audibility for quiet speech and less audibility for noisy speech. In this study, the effect of variations in audibility consistent with hearing aid fittings for children was examined. Sixteen children and adolescents (9-17 years) with mild-to-moderate hearing loss participated. Hearing aids programed to National Acoustic Laboratories or Desired Sensation Level v5.0a targets were fitted to each participant. Also, separate programs with and without a low-level adaptive gain feature were provided with each prescription. Speech reception threshold (SRT) was measured as well as performance for four suprathreshold auditory tasks that increased in cognitive demand. These tasks were word recognition, nonword detection, multiword recall, and rapid word learning. A significant effect of fitting formula, but not low-level or adaptive gain, was observed for SRT. Significant effects of presentation level, fitting formula, and low-level gain were observed for word recognition. The effect of presentation level was significant for nonword detection, multiword recall, and rapid word learning but no other main effects or interactions were significant. Finally, word recognition and nonword detection increased significantly with audibility while multiword recall and word learning did not. The results suggest that audibility assists with the initial perception of auditory input but plays a smaller role in memory formation and learning.
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Griffith DM, Jaeger EC, Semlow AR, Ellison JM, Bergner EM, Stewart EC. Individually Tailoring Messages to Promote African American Men's Health. Health Commun 2022; 37:1147-1156. [PMID: 33899604 PMCID: PMC8542646 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1913837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we describe our approach to individualizing messages to promote the health of middle-aged and older heterosexual, cisgender African American men. After arguing the importance of being population specific, we describe the process we use to increase the salience of health messages for this population by operationalizing the identity concepts of centrality and contextualization. We also present a measure of African American manhood and discuss how manhood is congruent with qualitative research that describes how African American men view their values, identities, goals, and aspirations in ways that can be utilized to create more meaningful and impactful messages to promote and maintain health behaviors. Our tailoring strategy uses an intersectional approach that considers how the centrality of racial identity and manhood and the salience of religiosity, spirituality, and role strains may help to increase the impact of health messages. We highlight the need to consider how the context of health behavior and the meaning ascribed to certain behaviors are gendered, not only from a man's perspective, but also how his social networks, behavioral context, and the dynamic sociopolitical climate may consider gendered ideals in ways that shape behavior. We close by discussing the need to apply this approach to other populations of men, women, and those who are non-gender binary because this strategy builds from the population of interest and incorporates factors that they deem central and salient to their identities and behaviors. These factors are important to consider in interventions using health messages to pursue health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek M. Griffith
- Center for Research on Men’s Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Department of Medicine Health & Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | | | - Andrea R. Semlow
- Center for Research on Men’s Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | | | - Erin M. Bergner
- Center for Research on Men’s Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
| | - Elizabeth C. Stewart
- Center for Research on Men’s Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
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Stewart EC, Sims BL, Spicer YN, Paul MJ. Becoming—A Journey to Wellness: Engaging HBCU Students in Developing a Theory-Based YouTube Healthy Lifestyle Intervention. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2022; 33:499-505. [DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2022.0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether long-term musical training enhances the ability to perceive and learn new auditory information. Listeners with extensive musical experience were expected to detect, learn, and retain novel words more effectively than participants without musical training. Advantages of musical training were expected to be greater for words learned in multitalker babble compared to quiet. Method Participants consisted of 20 young adult musicians and 20 age-matched nonmusicians, all with normal hearing. In addition to completing word recognition and nonword detection tasks, each participant learned 10 novel words in a rapid word-learning paradigm. All tasks were completed in quiet and in multitalker babble. Next-day retention of the learned words was examined in isolation (recall) and in the context of continuous discourse (detection). Performance was compared across groups and listening conditions. Results Performance was significantly poorer in babble than in quiet on word recognition and nonword detection, but not on word learning, learned-word recall, or learned-word detection. No differences were observed between groups (musicians vs. nonmusicians) on any of the tasks. Conclusions For young normal-hearing adults, auditory experience resulting from long-term music training did not enhance their learning of new auditory information in either favorable (quiet) or unfavorable (babble) listening conditions. This suggests that the formation of semantic and musical representations in memory may be supported by the same underlying auditory processes, such that musical training is simply an extension of an auditory expertise that both musicians and nonmusicians possess.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea L Pittman
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe
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Baker C, Chinaka O, Stewart EC. The time is now: why we must identify and address health disparities in sport and recreation injury. Inj Epidemiol 2021; 8:25. [PMID: 34120655 PMCID: PMC8200301 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-021-00320-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social and structural determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which individuals are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. These drivers of health are integral in contextualizing the understanding and prevention of sport and recreation injury (SRI), and recognizing their impact is necessary to provide a complete and accurate picture of health and health outcomes related to injury. MAIN: Reducing disparities and achieving equity in sports and recreation is possible in part by improving data collection methodologies and utilization. Often, many SDOH have considerable effect on SRI. Although SRI epidemiology frequently examines differences by sex, there is limited inclusion of factors such as socioeconomic status, housing, gender, and food security, in sport specific data sources or in analysis of sport recreation and injury using other sources (e.g. administrative data). The ongoing dual epidemics in the United States - racism and COVID-19 - have emphasized the importance of having and utilizing SDOH data to reduce the burden of injury and disproportionate effects on our diverse population. CONCLUSION Moving forward, to address disparities in SRI, SDOH must be included as a part of research priorities, health related goals, and policies. This difference can be made in developing consistency in data collection and utilization. This will provide an accurate picture of the intersections and interdisciplinary changes required to design the best approach to problems to develop solutions. Future data collection and utilization should prioritize SDOH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Baker
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Oziomachukwu Chinaka
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Griffith DM, Sharma G, Holliday CS, Enyia OK, Valliere M, Semlow AR, Stewart EC, Blumenthal RS. Men and COVID-19: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Understanding Sex Differences in Mortality and Recommendations for Practice and Policy Interventions. Prev Chronic Dis 2020; 17:E63. [PMID: 32678061 DOI: 10.5888/pcd17.200247(2020)] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Data suggest that more men than women are dying of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide, but it is unclear why. A biopsychosocial approach is critical for understanding the disproportionate death rate among men. Biological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors may put men at disproportionate risk of death. We propose a stepwise approach to clinical, public health, and policy interventions to reduce COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality among men. We also review what health professionals and policy makers can do, and are doing, to address the unique COVID-19-associated needs of men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek M Griffith
- Center for Research on Men's Health, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Pl, PMB# 401814, Nashville, TN 37240-1814.
| | - Garima Sharma
- Ciccarone Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Okechuku K Enyia
- The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC
| | | | - Andrea R Semlow
- Center for Research on Men's Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Elizabeth C Stewart
- Center for Research on Men's Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Roger Scott Blumenthal
- Ciccarone Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Griffith DM, Sharma G, Holliday CS, Enyia OK, Valliere M, Semlow AR, Stewart EC, Blumenthal RS. Men and COVID-19: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Understanding Sex Differences in Mortality and Recommendations for Practice and Policy Interventions. Prev Chronic Dis 2020; 17:E63. [PMID: 32678061 PMCID: PMC7380297 DOI: 10.5888/pcd17.200247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Data suggest that more men than women are dying of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide, but it is unclear why. A biopsychosocial approach is critical for understanding the disproportionate death rate among men. Biological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors may put men at disproportionate risk of death. We propose a stepwise approach to clinical, public health, and policy interventions to reduce COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality among men. We also review what health professionals and policy makers can do, and are doing, to address the unique COVID-19-associated needs of men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek M Griffith
- Center for Research on Men's Health, Vanderbilt University, 2301 Vanderbilt Pl, PMB# 401814, Nashville, TN 37240-1814.
| | - Garima Sharma
- Ciccarone Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Okechuku K Enyia
- The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC
| | | | - Andrea R Semlow
- Center for Research on Men's Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Elizabeth C Stewart
- Center for Research on Men's Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.,Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Roger Scott Blumenthal
- Ciccarone Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Abstract
Two amplification features were examined using auditory tasks that varied in stimulus familiarity. It was expected that the benefits of certain amplification features would increase as the familiarity with the stimuli decreased. A total of 20 children and 15 adults with normal hearing as well as 21 children and 17 adults with mild to severe hearing loss participated. Three models of ear-level devices were selected based on the quality of the high-frequency amplification or the digital noise reduction (DNR) they provided. The devices were fitted to each participant and used during testing only. Participants completed three tasks: (a) word recognition, (b) repetition and lexical decision of real and nonsense words, and (c) novel word learning. Performance improved significantly with amplification for both the children and the adults with hearing loss. Performance improved further with wideband amplification for the children more than for the adults. In steady-state noise and multitalker babble, performance decreased for both groups with little to no benefit from amplification or from the use of DNR. When compared with the listeners with normal hearing, significantly poorer performance was observed for both the children and adults with hearing loss on all tasks with few exceptions. Finally, analysis of across-task performance confirmed the hypothesis that benefit increased as the familiarity of the stimuli decreased for wideband amplification but not for DNR. However, users who prefer DNR for listening comfort are not likely to jeopardize their ability to detect and learn new information when using this feature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Pittman
- 1 Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Stewart
- 1 Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Amanda P Willman
- 1 Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Ian S Odgear
- 1 Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Pittman AL, Stewart EC, Odgear IS, Willman AP. Detecting and Learning New Words: The Impact of Advancing Age and Hearing Loss. Am J Audiol 2017; 26:318-327. [PMID: 28834533 DOI: 10.1044/2017_aja-17-0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Lexical acquisition was examined in children and adults to determine if the skills needed to detect and learn new words are retained in the adult years. In addition to advancing age, the effects of hearing loss were also examined. METHOD Measures of word recognition, detection of nonsense words within sentences, and novel word learning were obtained in quiet for 20 children with normal hearing and 21 with hearing loss (8-12 years) as well as for 15 adults with normal hearing and 17 with hearing loss (58-79 years). Listeners with hearing loss were tested with and without high-frequency acoustic energy to identify the type of amplification (narrowband, wideband, or frequency lowering) that yielded optimal performance. RESULTS No differences were observed between the adults and children with normal hearing except for the adults' better nonsense word detection. The poorest performance was observed for the listeners with hearing loss in the unaided condition. Performance improved significantly with amplification to levels at or near that of their counterparts with normal hearing. With amplification, the adults performed as well as the children on all tasks except for word recognition. CONCLUSIONS Adults retain the skills necessary for lexical acquisition regardless of hearing status. However, uncorrected hearing loss nearly eliminates these skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L. Pittman
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe
| | | | - Ian S. Odgear
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe
| | - Amanda P. Willman
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe
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Stewart EC. Museum Archives: An Introduction (Book Review). CRL 1986. [DOI: 10.5860/crl_47_04_408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Stewart EC. Appraising the Records of Modern Science and Technology: A Guide (Book Review). CRL 1986. [DOI: 10.5860/crl_47_03_294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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