Correlations between Social Determinants of Health and Technology Access among Rural African American Alabamians

Certain populations have been excluded from the benefits of telehealth and the recent advances and widespread use of technology in health promotion due to limited technology access. Although research has identified these specific groups, none has explored these issues using the social determinants of health (SDH) framework. This exploratory study aimed 1) to investigate technology access and 2) to identify associated SDHs. A cross-sectional research design was implemented, and participants were recruited from rural Alabama (N=185). Binary logistic regressions were conducted. Only 60% of participants had technology access. People with food insecurity and health illiteracy were less likely to have internet and PC/tablet access. In addition, older age was associated with a lower likelihood of access to a smartphone. This study provided insights into SDH correlates of the digital divide, particularly among rural African Americans, and indicated that addressing affordability could be a partial solution.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Intervention for Opioid Use Disorders.

In 2021, drug overdose deaths exceeded 100,000 for the first time in U.S. history, mostly attributable to opioid overdoses. Medications for opioid use disorders are considered the gold standard for treatment; however, treatment initiation and adherence remain a challenge. Mindfulness-based interventions show efficacy for substance use disorders, and peer support has been shown to improve treatment outcomes. The purpose of the current study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the Minds and Mentors Program. Enrollment, randomization, and retention rates were 36%, 49%, and 57%, respectively. Client satisfaction scores ranged from 84.4% to 100%. Approximately 64% of participants attended 10 of 12 treatment sessions, representing treatment adherence. Qualitative analysis revealed four main domains: Permission to Be Honest and Open, Applicability for Everyday Life, Hope Restored, and Changing the Way I Think. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(3), 11-14.].

Psychological palliative care and bereavement interventions: Psychopathology and family contexts

COVID-19 disease has laid bare social determinants of health and inequities in our health care system and has further challenged the ways that we care for sick and dying individuals who may be isolated from loved ones. Moreover, the context of COVID-19 has highlighted the needs of families during bereavement. This chapter focusses on dying from noncommunicable chronic illnesses, which historically account for the majority of deaths worldwide. Nevertheless, the authors also want to acknowledge the current COVID-19 context of care. This context includes, but is not limited to, increasing mental health and substance use problems and the impact of social isolation on bereavement. The chapter discusses psychological interventions to address serious mental health conditions that may arise concomitant with advanced serious illness and palliative care. It highlights acceptance and commitment therapy as a particularly useful evidence-based intervention to alleviate suffering across a variety of illness contexts and mental health conditions. The mental health and coping among individuals receiving palliative care impact their care partners and can increase risk for complications in bereavement;therefore, the chapter reviews effective interventions for complicated bereavement. It ends with a summary of skill competencies and suggested targets for scientific and clinical work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Psychological interventions developed specifically for use in palliative care: A lifespan developmental perspective

This chapter describes psychological interventions developed for use in palliative care contexts. It discusses palliative care practice guidelines;the interventions are informed by developmental theory. It also covers advance care planning and common issues arising in the last phase of life. The chapter deals with the universal experience of facing the end of life of our loved ones and issues we each encounter in facing our own death. Specific evidence-based interventions have been developed to address these needs and how they can manifest differently across the adult lifespan. The chapter briefly reviews knowledge and skill competency domains and developmental theory, then discuss goals of care conversations, issues commonly seen in palliative care populations and evidence-based psychological interventions for these issues. It illustrates how one might apply this information and consider multiple intersecting identities, using a hypothetical case example created from an amalgam of our clinical work and woven throughout the chapter. This chapter ends with recommendations for practice change, as well as gaps in science to be addressed to maximize outcomes within the normative context of end of life for diverse patients, families, and health care providers. The authors' note that when they first started writing this and the following chapter, on palliative care and bereavement interventions, COVID-19 did not exist. The authors want to acknowledge the current context of care with COVID-19 as a new threat and concern for individuals and families. This context includes, but is not limited to, uncertainty, increasing mental health problems, deepening social and racial disparities, and increased need for telehealth and virtual platforms for providing social interaction and clinical services amidst wide disparities in high-speed internet availability and a digital divide in telehealth resources and skills, particularly in rural areas and communities of color. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)