Evaluating the implementation of peer counseling in a church-based dietary intervention for African Americans

Objective

Body & Soul, an evidence-based nutrition program for African Americans churches, is currently being disseminated nationally and free of charge by the National Cancer Institute. For dissemination feasibility, the peer counseling training is done via DVD rather than by live trainers. We describe implementation and process evaluation of the peer counseling component under real world conditions.

Methods

The study sample included 11 churches (6 early intervention, 5 delayed intervention) in 6 states. Data sources included training observations, post-training debriefing sessions, coordinator interviews, and church participant surveys. Survey data analysis examined associations between exposure to peer counseling and change in dietary intake. Qualitative data were analyzed using the constant comparative method.

Results

Eight of 11 churches initiated the peer counseling program. Recall of talking with a peer counselor was associated with significantly (p < .02) greater fruit and vegetable intake. Data indicate sub-optimal program execution after peer counselor training.

Conclusion

Inconsistent implementation of the peer counseling intervention is likely to dilute program effectiveness in changing nutrition behaviors.

Practice implications

Disseminating evidence-based programs may require added resources, training, quality control, and technical assistance for improving program uptake. Similar to earlier research phases, systematic efforts at the dissemination phase are needed for program success.     

Sleep disorders screening, sleep health awareness, and patient follow-up by community pharmacists in Australia

Introduction

Community pharmacies are well placed to deliver education and counseling to improve sleep health.

Objective

To develop, implement and evaluate a pharmacist led sleep health program.

Methods

Participating pharmacists (n = 23) were trained to screen, counsel and follow up patients at risk of sleep disorders. Patients were screened for specific sleep disorders, counseled, provided written information and/or referred to physicians. Patient outcomes were evaluated by questionnaire at 3 or 12 months post screening.

Results

A total of 325 patients were screened, with 142 (44%) patients at risk of one or more sleep disorders. A total of 847 interventions were recorded by pharmacists: verbal counseling (49%), written information (34%), and referrals (16%). A total of 63 patients (of 99 recalling being referred) reported acting on their referral. Positive changes were made with smoking (4%), caffeine intake (10%), alcohol intake (9%) and improved sleep environment (19%).

Conclusion

Pharmacists can raise awareness through educating patients on sleep health, and through counseling initiate behavior change in those at risk of having or developing a sleep disorder.

Practice implications

Further research using this feasibility study can help in understanding the utility of pharmacists screening patients for sleep disorders and educating the public in sleep health.     

General practice counseling for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to quit smoking: Impact after 1 year of two complex interventions

Objective

To evaluate two counseling programs in general practice to help smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to quit smoking.

Methods

Cluster randomized controlled trial including 68 general practices (667 patients) using a randomly assigned intervention program with counseling and advice about nicotine replacement therapy (and additional bupropion-SR in one of the programs) or usual care. Usual care consisted of periodic regular check-ups and COPD information. The main outcome measure was biochemically verified point prevalence at 12 months.

Results

The two intervention groups were treated as one in the analysis because they were equally effective. The intervention resulted in a significantly self-reported higher success rate (14.5%) compared to usual care (7.4%); odds ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-4.1. Biochemically verified quit rates were 7.5% (intervention) and 3.4% (usual care); odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval = 0.9-6.0.

Conclusion

The program doubled the cessation rates (statistically nonsignificant). Too few participants used the additional bupropion-SR to prove its effectiveness.

Practice implications

The protocols can be used for COPD patients in general practice, but expectations should be modest. If quitting is unsuccessful, a stepped care approach should be considered.     

Telephone nurse counseling for medication adherence in ulcerative colitis: A preliminary study

Objective

Adherence is challenging in episodic chronic conditions that require medication during both symptomatic and quiescent periods, such as ulcerative colitis (UC). Adherence for these conditions is under-studied. This study was a preliminary test of telephone nurse counseling to address cognitive and emotional barriers to adherence in UC.

Methods

524 people taking mesalamine for UC were referred by their health care providers, and 278 (53%) enrolled. There were no demographic differences between program participants and nonparticipants. Participants reported multiple comorbidities and concomitant medications. All participants received telephone follow-up (M = 2.1 calls) from a registered nurse who used cognitive-behavioral and motivational interviewing counseling techniques. Adherence measured by structured interview was compared to a population baseline using a binomial test.

Results

Attrition was 51% over 6 months but was unrelated to adherence. Participants had better adherence than the expected population rate, with a significant dose-response effect. Reasons for nonadherence were primarily psychological or efficacy-related.

Conclusion

Adherence following intervention was better than typical mesalamine adherence. Self-efficacy predicted adherence, but demographic and clinical variables did not. Adherent participants reported more adverse events.

Practice implications

Attention to patients’ cognitive and emotional reactions may help to improve adherence in episodic chronic diseases such as UC.     

Informing abortion counseling: an examination of evidence-based practices used in emotional care for other stigmatized and sensitive health issues

Objective

Emotional care is an important component of abortion services. Evidence-based counseling for other stigmatized and sensitive health issues may be informative for the improvement of abortion counseling.

Methods

We searched the literature for practices used in emotional care for stigmatized and sensitive health issues. We made analytic choices for the selection of articles using the “constant comparative method,” a grounded theory technique. We selected practices that were effective in supporting coping and improving psychosocial adjustment. Findings were synthesized and analyzed to draw evidence-based implications for abortion counseling.

Results

We uncovered nine practices used in emotional care for stigmatized and sensitive health issues that have been shown to support coping or improve psychological adjustment. The techniques and interventions identified were: self-awareness assessments, peer counseling, decision aids, encouraging active client participation, supporting decision satisfaction, support groups, Internet-based support, ongoing telephone counseling, and public artistic expression.

Conclusion

A variety of patient-centered, evidence-based interventions used for other health issues are applicable in emotional care for abortion. Evaluation of these practices in the abortion counseling setting can determine their appropriateness and effectiveness.

Practice implications

Abortion care providers may be able to integrate additional patient-centered practices to support coping or improve psychological adjustment after abortion.     

Improving diet and exercise in pregnancy with Video Doctor counseling: a randomized trial

Objective

To determine if an interactive, computerized Video Doctor counseling tool improves self-reported diet and exercise in pregnant women.

Methods

A randomized trial comparing a Video Doctor intervention to usual care in ethnically diverse, low-income, English-speaking pregnant women was conducted. Brief messages about diet, exercise, and weight gain were delivered by an actor-portrayed Video Doctor twice during pregnancy.

Results

In the Video Doctor group (n = 158), there were statistically significant increases from baseline in exercise (+28 min), intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, avocado and nuts, and significant decreases in intake of sugary foods, refined grains, high fat meats, fried foods, solid fats, and fast food. In contrast, there were no changes from baseline for any of these outcomes in the usual care group (n = 163). Nutrition knowledge improved significantly over time in both groups but more so in the Video Doctor group. Clinician-patient discussions about these topics occurred significantly more frequently in the Video Doctor group. There was no difference in weight gain between groups.

Conclusion

A brief Video Doctor intervention can improve exercise and dietary behaviors in pregnant women.

Practice implications

The Video Doctor can be integrated into prenatal care to assist clinicians with effective diet and exercise counseling.     

The impact of patient-centered communication on patients' decision making and evaluations of physicians: a randomized study using video vignettes

Objective

To assess the impact of patient-centered communication (PCC) behaviors on patients’ evaluations of physicians and acceptance of clinical recommendations.

Methods

We randomized 248 patients to view video-recorded, standardized vignettes, depicting a cardiologist using a high vs. low degree of PCC while recommending bypass surgery to a patient with angina and 3-vessel coronary artery disease. We compared patients’ ratings of the physician and their decision making in response to the physician's recommendation, for high vs. low PCC vignettes.

Results

Patients viewing high PCC vignettes rated the video physician more favorably overall (3.01 vs. 2.12, p < 0.001) and as more competent (3.22 vs. 2.66, p < 0.001) and trustworthy (2.93 vs. 2.28, p < 0.001) than those viewing the low PCC version (0-4 range for all scales). Patients viewing the high PCC version more frequently said they would undergo bypass surgery (96% vs. 74%, p < 0.001) if they were the patient in the video.

Conclusion

Patients expressed greater confidence in physicians who used more PCC behaviors, and greater willingness to accept an evidence-based recommendation.

Practice implications

PCC may make physicians more effective in the delivery of evidence-based care.     

Communicating non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug risks: verbal counseling, written medicine information, and patients' risk awareness

Objective

To assess potential associations among physician counseling, pharmacist counseling, written medicine information (WMI) and patient awareness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) risks.

Methods

Three-hundred and eighty-two older, white and African American patients prescribed NSAIDs were surveyed regarding their NSAID risk awareness defined as an index score ranging from zero to four correctly identified risks (i.e., gastrointestinal bleeding, heart attack, hypertension, and kidney disease). Associations among NSAID risk awareness and patient-reported physician counseling, pharmacist counseling, and reading of WMI were evaluated in multivariable ordered logistic regression models and confirmed using path analysis.

Results

Physician counseling was positively associated with reading WMI (p < 0.001) and NSAID risk awareness (p < 0.001). Pharmacist counseling was not associated with reading WMI (p = 0.622) and neither pharmacist counseling (p = 0.366) nor reading WMI (p = 0.916) was associated with NSAID risk awareness.

Conclusions

Physicians play a prominent role in facilitating NSAID risk awareness whereas pharmacist counseling and WMI may have limited impact.

Practice implications

The lack of significant associations among pharmacist counseling and reading WMI with NSAID risk awareness suggests a missed opportunity to improve patient understanding. There is a need for coordinated and effective strategies to communicate risk information among physicians and pharmacists and to better integrate WMI into this process.     

Abortion clinic patients' opinions about obtaining abortions from general women's health care providers

Objective

Most U.S. women obtain abortions at specialty clinics. This qualitative study explores abortion clinic patients’ opinions about receiving abortions from general women's health care providers.

Methods

We conducted 20 h-long, semi-structured interviews with diverse women who had abortions in the U.S. Heartland. Each described her usual health care provider and how she accessed abortion care. We used qualitative analytic methods to organize and interpret the data.

Results

Despite having a general provider, most women sought clinic abortions. Some women offered reasons for preferring specialty care and others for preferring abortion from their general provider. Most women assumed their general provider did not “do abortion” and many believed those providers were opposed to abortion. Women who had delivered a baby were concerned with their image in their general provider's eyes. Two women were denied care by their general providers.

Conclusion

Women's preferences for abortion care centered on privacy, cost, empathy, ability to control their image, and desire for safe quality care. Two women who sought abortions through their general providers experienced negative repercussions.

Practice implications

General providers should proactively make patients aware of their positions on abortion and if supportive indicate that they can provide that care and/or a referral.     

Coping with infertility online: An examination of self-help mechanisms in an online infertility support group

Objective

To examine communication within an online infertility support group.

Methods

A content analysis of 3500 messages posted to infertility bulletin boards.

Results

The most frequently used self-help mechanisms were support or empathy (45.5%) and sharing personal experiences (45.4%), followed by the provision of information and advice (15.9%), gratitude (12.5%), friendship (9.9%), chit-chat (9.4%), requests for information or advice (6.8%) and universality (4.8%), with negative statements (0.3%) and creative expressions (0.2%) being the least frequent categories.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that online support groups can provide a viable alternative source of support for couples dealing with infertility.

Practice implications

Health care professionals interested in developing online support interventions should look to tailor support resources to the specific needs of patients at different stages of the infertility journey.     

Development and pilot testing of an online screening decision aid for men with a family history of prostate cancer

Objective

This study aimed to develop and pilot test an online screening decision aid (DA) for men with a family history of prostate cancer.

Methods

Eligible men (with no previous prostate cancer diagnosis) were recruited through relatives attending a urology outpatient clinic. Men evaluated the DA in two stages. First, they appraised a paper-based version using a questionnaire (n = 22). Second, the same men were asked to reflect on an interactive web-based version via a semi-structured telephone interview (n = 20).

Results

Men evaluated both forms of the DA positively. Of the paper-based version, the majority of participants found the DA useful (91%), and that it contained enough information to make a screening decision (73%). All participants reported that the online DA was easy to use and navigate. Most participants reported that a website was their preferred mode of receiving prostate cancer screening information (70%).

Conclusion

The developed DA may represent the first online decision-making tool designed specifically for men with a family history prostate cancer that presents age and risk specific information to the user.

Practice implications

Comprehensive evaluations of the efficacy and impact of educational interventions such as this are crucial to improve services for individuals making informed screening decisions.     

Longer-term influence of breast cancer genetic counseling on cognitions and distress: smaller benefits for affected versus unaffected women

Objective

To evaluate outcomes of breast cancer genetic counseling in women with and without breast cancer.

Methods

Seventy-seven first-time attendees (n = 44 affected) completed questionnaires assessing cognitions (risk accuracy, knowledge, perceived personal control [PPC]) and distress (state anxiety [STAI], cancer-related stress reactions [IES]) from immediately before to immediately and six months after completing counseling. Data were analyzed using multilevel repeated measures and trend analyses.

Results

In affected counselees, mean cognitions did not significantly differ over time, anxiety significantly decreased, and IES levels were increased immediately post-counseling. In unaffected counselees, cognitions significantly improved over time except for knowledge. Distress levels showed similar patterns as in affected women. Improvements in cognitions and distress were significantly smaller in affected versus unaffected women.

Conclusion

Overall, counseling educates women about breast cancer risk and alleviates their anxiety. Importantly, benefits gained at immediate follow-up seem maintained over time.

Practice implication

Affected women seem to benefit less from counseling. Counselors may need to devote more effort into educating these women and addressing their anxieties. Future studies should confirm the unexpected finding that cancer-related distress increased immediately post-counseling.     

Preferences for decision-making about contraception and general health care among reproductive age women at an abortion clinic

Objective

Studies suggest that not all patients desire shared decision making, and little is known about decision making around contraception. This study compared decision-making preferences for contraception to preferences for general health among reproductive-aged women.

Methods

257 women receiving abortion care in an urban hospital completed a survey which included questions adapted from the Problem-Solving Decision-Making Scale about their preferences for medical decision making.

Results

Women were significantly more likely to desire autonomous decision making about contraception than about their general health care (50% vs. 19%, p < .001). No patient characteristics were associated with contraceptive decision-making preferences. Women with Medicaid insurance were more likely to desire autonomous decision making about contraception than about general health care (51% vs. 17%, p < .001).

Conclusion

Women desire more autonomy in their contraceptive decisions than in their decisions about general health care.

Practice implications

Health care providers should be attentive to the existence of variation in preferences in decision making across health domains. Contraceptive providers should proactively assess decisional preferences to ensure the most appropriate counseling is provided to each individual.     

Real-time PCR versus viral culture on urine as a gold standard in the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common cause of congenital infection. Whereas CMV PCR has replaced viral culture and antigen detection in immunocompromised patients because of higher sensitivity, viral culture of neonatal urine is still referred to as the gold standard in the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection.

Objective

To compare real-time CMV PCR with shell vial culture on urine in the diagnosis of congenital CMV, in a multicenter design.

Study design

A series of neonatal urines (n = 340), received for congenital CMV diagnostics and routinely assessed with shell vial CMV culture, was retrospectively tested by real-time CMV PCR.

Results

The proportion of newborns found to be congenitally infected by real-time CMV PCR was 8.2% (28/340, 95%CI 5.6-11.8%), and 7.4% (25/340, 95%CI 4.9-10.8%) by rapid culture. When considering rapid culture as reference, real-time PCR was highly sensitive (100%), whereas sensitivity of rapid culture was 89.3% when considering real-time PCR as reference.

Conclusions

Our results, supported by analytical and clinical data on CMV DNA detection in neonatal urine, suggest enhanced sensitivity of recent PCR techniques when compared to viral culture. There is considerable rationale to favor real-time CMV PCR as a gold standard in the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection. A large-scale study combining both laboratory and clinical data is required to determine the exact time frame for sampling of neonatal urine when using real-time PCR.     

Changing practitioner behavior and building capacity in tobacco cessation treatment: the TEACH project

Objective

To facilitate interprofessional knowledge transfer to practice by increasing treatment capacity of health care practitioners to deliver evidence-informed smoking cessation counseling.

Methods

TEACH (Training Enhancement in Applied Cessation Counseling and Health) combines diffusion of innovations with principles of adult learning to address the lack of system capacity to implement evidence-based smoking cessation treatments. Participants were professionals from 15 disciplines with commitment from their supervisor to implement the intervention. Pre- and post-training course evaluation surveys assessed the extent to which learning objectives were achieved and guided a continuous quality improvement process.

Results

Evaluation of 741 participants that attended the three-day Core Course from June 2007 to January 2009 revealed significant increases in pre- to post-training ratings of feasibility, importance, and confidence in using the intervention. In addition to attitudinal changes, practitioners made changes to practice behavior. At six months post-training, 55% of professionals were implementing the intervention and 91% engaged in knowledge transfer activities in their organizations/communities.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that TEACH impacted clinical practice and may serve as a model for knowledge translation initiatives in other health behavior domains.

Practice implications

These data demonstrate that it is feasible to operationalize interprofessional knowledge translation models to transfer research findings into practice.     

Unintentional non-adherence and belief in medicines in older adults

Objective

To determine whether beliefs in medicines are associated with forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.

Methods

Using a survey research design, baseline data (N = 1220) and follow-up data (N = 1024) were collected through an Internet survey using a convenience sample from Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older and who were Internet users. Logistic regression models were used to determine if patient's beliefs about the necessity of taking prescribed medications and their concern beliefs regarding the potential consequences of taking medications were significant in predicting forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.

Results

Concern beliefs in medicines were a significant predictor of forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.

Conclusion

If all cases of forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications are considered as unintentional non-adherence with no reference to the patient's beliefs in medicines; using cue based interventions such as phone reminders or alarms are not likely to reduce non-adherence. There was a strong association between patient belief in medications and non-adherence in older adults who were Medicare enrollees.

Practical implications

It is important that researchers consider the influence that patient medication beliefs have on patient adherence to develop better interventions to reduce non-adherence.     

Implementation of a patient education program on multiple sclerosis relapse management

Objective

To study the implementation of a patient education program on relapses and relapse therapy into routine care.

Methods

31 health care professionals took part in a one day train-the-trainer program (TTTP) and subsequently 261 persons with MS (pwMS) took part in the education program. Evaluation was carried out in trainers and pwMS.

Results

Participants (health professionals) in the TTTP understood the program's main goals and reported that the TTTP enabled them to successfully perform the program. The majority of participants in the program (pwMS) understood the core messages. Also, they showed increased risk knowledge and increased decision autonomy preferences. Treatment decisions were reported as autonomous or as “informed choice” in 49%, and as “shared decisions” by 45%. Overall, effects were less marked compared to the results of the underlying randomized-controlled trial.

Conclusion

PwMS! appreciate evidence-based information about relapse management and view the unbiased presentation of scientific uncertainty as a chance for decision autonomy.

Practice implications

The implementation study confirms the program's transferability into clinical practice.     

Trust and distrust among Appalachian women regarding cervical cancer screening: a qualitative study

Objective

To explore Appalachian women's perceptions of trust and distrust of healthcare providers and the medical care system as they relate to views about cervical cancer and screening.

Methods

Thirty-six Ohio Appalachia female residents participated in community focus groups conducted by trained facilitators. Discussion topics included factors related to cervical cancer, and the issues of trust and distrust in medical care. The tape-recorded focus groups were transcribed and analyzed to identify salient themes.

Results

Five themes emerged related to trust in healthcare. Patient-centered communication and encouragement from a healthcare provider led women to trust their physicians and the medical care system. In contrast, lack of patient-centered communication by providers and perceptions of poor quality of care led to distrust. Physician gender concordance also contributed to trust as women reported trust of female physicians and distrust of male physicians; trust in male physicians was reported to be increased by the presence of a female nurse.

Conclusions

Important factors associated with trust and distrust of providers and the medical care system may impact health-seeking behaviors among underserved women.

Practice implications

Opportunities to improve patient-centered communication around the issues of prevention and cervical cancer screening (such as providing patient-focused information about access to appropriate screening tests) could be used to improve patient care and build patients’ trust.     

Evaluating pharmacists' ability to counsel on tobacco cessation using two standardized patient scenarios

Objectives

To evaluate the impact that role-playing two pre/post standardized patient scenarios within a tobacco cessation training program had on pharmacists’ counseling skills. Second, to analyze the validity of the observation coding tool used to evaluate pharmacist's role-play performance.

Methods

Pharmacists performed two role-playing scenarios which incorporated national guidelines, the 5A's counseling process, and the “preparation” and “action” phases of the transtheoretical model. Pharmacists’ performance was evaluated with an observation coding tool.

Results

Pharmacists’ (n = 25) counseling performance improved significantly post-training (p < 0.02: Action Scenario; p < 0.004: Preparation Scenario). More than 50% of pharmacists provided patient-directed tobacco consultation services in the one year following training. The observation tool score for the “action phase” scenario was highly associated with pharmacists’ subsequent delivery of tobacco cessation services in community practice.

Conclusion

Role-playing facilitated pharmacists’ skill development. The evaluation tool and Action Scenario may be powerful for predicting pharmacists’ delivery of tobacco cessation services.

Practice implications

Incorporating role-playing and structured tools for performance evaluation can help enhance pharmacist performance during training and predict service delivery in community practice. Together they could facilitate tailored feedback to help pharmacists struggling with the difficult task of extending cognitive service roles in practice.