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O'Shea AMJ, Gibson M, Merchant J, Rewerts K, Miell K, Kaboli PJ, Shimada SL. Understanding rural-urban differences in veterans' internet access, use and patient preferences for telemedicine. J Rural Health 2023. [PMID: 37935649 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12805] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The expansion of telemedicine (e.g., telephone or video) in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) raises concerns for health care disparities between rural and urban veterans. Factors impeding telemedicine use (e.g., broadband, digital literacy, age) disproportionally affect rural veterans. PURPOSE To examine veteran-reported broadband access, internet use, familiarity with, and preferences for telemedicine stratified by residential rurality. METHODS Three hundred fifty veterans with a VA primary care visit in March 2022 completed a 30-min computer-assisted telephone interview. The sampling design stratified veterans by residential rurality (i.e., rural or urban) and how primary care was delivered (i.e., in-person or by video). Counts and weighted percentages are reported. FINDINGS After accounting for survey weights, 96.2% of respondents had in-home internet access and 89.5% reported functional connection speeds. However, rural- compared to urban-residing veterans were less likely to experience a telemedicine visit in the past year (74.1% vs. 85.2%; p = 0.02). When comparing telemedicine to in-person visits, rural versus urban-residing veterans rated them not as good (45.3% vs. 36.8%), just as good (51.1% vs. 53.1%), or better (3.5% vs. 10.0%) (p = 0.05). To make telemedicine visits easier, veterans, regardless of where they lived, recommended technology training (46.4%), help accessing the internet (26.1%), or provision of an internet-enabled device (25.9%). CONCLUSIONS Though rural-residing veterans were less likely to experience a telemedicine visit, the same actionable facilitators to improve telemedicine access were reported regardless of residential rurality. Importantly, technology training was most often recommended. Policy makers, patient advocates, and other stakeholders should consider novel initiatives to provide training resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M J O'Shea
- VA Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), The Iowa City VA Healthcare System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Mikayla Gibson
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - James Merchant
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Kelby Rewerts
- Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), The Iowa City VA Healthcare System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Kelly Miell
- Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), The Iowa City VA Healthcare System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Peter J Kaboli
- VA Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), The Iowa City VA Healthcare System, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Stephanie L Shimada
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), The Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Health Informatics and Implementation Science, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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Pratt AA, Hadlandsmyth K, Mengeling MA, Thomas EBK, Miell K, Norman SB, Lund BC. The Impact of Comorbid Chronic Pain on Pharmacotherapy for Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4763. [PMID: 37510878 PMCID: PMC10380889 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144763] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic pain can worsen PTSD symptomatology and may increase the risk of the prescription of multiple central nervous system (CNS)-active medications. The objective is to determine the impact of chronic pain on the number of CNS medications, including psychiatric medications, as well as the amount of medication changes. METHODS Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data were used to identify VA-served Veterans with PTSD (N = 637,428) who had chronic pain (50.3%) and did not have chronic pain (49.7%) in 2020. The outcomes included the number of changes in psychiatric medications and the number of currently prescribed CNS-active mediations during a one-year observation period. RESULTS The number of changes in psychiatric medications was significantly higher for those with chronic pain (mean (M) = 1.8) versus those without chronic pain (M = 1.6) (Z = 38.4, p < 0.001). The mean number of concurrent CNS-active medications were significantly higher for those with chronic pain (M = 2.7) versus those without chronic pain (M = 2.0) (Z = 179.7, p < 0.001). These differences persisted after adjustment for confounding factors using negative binomial regression. CONCLUSIONS Veterans with comorbid chronic pain and PTSD are at increased risk for a higher number of medication changes and for receiving CNS-active polytherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra A Pratt
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Building 42, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
| | - Katherine Hadlandsmyth
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Building 42, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- VA Office of Rural Health (ORH), Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Michelle A Mengeling
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Building 42, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- VA Office of Rural Health (ORH), Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Emily B K Thomas
- VA Office of Rural Health (ORH), Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 340 Iowa Ave, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
| | - Kelly Miell
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Building 42, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
| | - Sonya B Norman
- National Center for PTSD, 215 North Main Street, White River Junction, VT 05009, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Brian C Lund
- Center for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Building 42, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- VA Office of Rural Health (ORH), Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Highway 6 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, 145 N Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Suzuki H, Perencevich EN, Hockett Sherlock S, Clore GS, O'Shea AMJ, Forrest GN, Pfeiffer CD, Safdar N, Crnich C, Gupta K, Strymish J, Lira GB, Bradley S, Cadena-Zuluaga J, Rubin M, Bittner M, Morgan D, DeVries A, Miell K, Alexander B, Schweizer ML. Implementation of a Prevention Bundle to Decrease Rates of Staphylococcus aureus Surgical Site Infection at 11 Veterans Affairs Hospitals. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2324516. [PMID: 37471087 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.24516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance While current evidence has demonstrated a surgical site infection (SSI) prevention bundle consisting of preoperative Staphylococcus aureus screening, nasal and skin decolonization, and use of appropriate perioperative antibiotic based on screening results can decrease rates of SSI caused by S aureus, it is well known that interventions may need to be modified to address facility-level factors. Objective To assess the association between implementation of an SSI prevention bundle allowing for facility discretion regarding specific component interventions and S aureus deep incisional or organ space SSI rates. Design, Setting, and Participants This quality improvement study was conducted among all patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, cardiac valve replacement, or total joint arthroplasty (TJA) at 11 Veterans Administration hospitals. Implementation of the bundle was on a rolling basis with the earliest implementation occurring in April 2012 and the latest implementation occurring in July 2017. Data were collected from January 2007 to March 2018 and analyzed from October 2020 to June 2023. Interventions Nasal screening for S aureus; nasal decolonization of S aureus carriers; chlorhexidine bathing; and appropriate perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis according to S aureus carrier status. Facility discretion regarding how to implement the bundle components was allowed. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was deep incisional or organ space SSI caused by S aureus. Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equation (GEE) and interrupted time-series (ITS) models were used to compare SSI rates between preintervention and postintervention periods. Results Among 6696 cardiac surgical procedures and 16 309 TJAs, 95 S aureus deep incisional or organ space SSIs were detected (25 after cardiac operations and 70 after TJAs). While the GEE model suggested a significant association between the intervention and decreased SSI rates after TJAs (adjusted odds ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31-0.98), there was not a significant association when an ITS model was used (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.32-2.39). No significant associations after cardiac operations were found. Conclusions and Relevance Although this quality improvement study suggests an association between implementation of an SSI prevention bundle and decreased S aureus deep incisional or organ space SSI rates after TJAs, it was underpowered to see a significant difference when accounting for changes over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Suzuki
- Center for Access and Delivery Research & Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City Veterans' Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - Eli N Perencevich
- Center for Access and Delivery Research & Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City Veterans' Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - Stacey Hockett Sherlock
- Center for Access and Delivery Research & Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City Veterans' Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - Gosia S Clore
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - Amy M J O'Shea
- Center for Access and Delivery Research & Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City Veterans' Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - Graeme N Forrest
- Division of Infectious Disease, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Christopher D Pfeiffer
- Infectious Diseases Section, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, OHSU, Portland, Oregon
| | - Nasia Safdar
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Christopher Crnich
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kalpana Gupta
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Judith Strymish
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gio Baracco Lira
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Hospital Epidemiology and Occupational Health Service, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, Florida
| | - Suzanne Bradley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
- Infectious Diseases Section, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jose Cadena-Zuluaga
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio
- Long School of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Michael Rubin
- Department of Veterans' Affairs, VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
| | - Marvin Bittner
- Nebraska-Western Iowa Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Daniel Morgan
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
- VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore
| | - Aaron DeVries
- Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Kelly Miell
- Center for Access and Delivery Research & Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City Veterans' Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Bruce Alexander
- Center for Access and Delivery Research & Evaluation (CADRE), Iowa City Veterans' Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Marin L Schweizer
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin
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