Parallel growth modeling to better understand smoking with stimulant use outcomes during an integrated treatment trial.

While cigarette smoking is highly comorbid with stimulant use disorder (SUD), the relationship is rarely evaluated concurrently to better understand the association between the two and how they influence one another over time. The overarching research question posed was, do patterns of cigarette smoking and stimulant use co-vary (both at baseline and throughout treatment) with one another during the testing of a combined treatment for people who smoking and use stimulants, and do those changes depend on the experimental treatment being tested? Participants (n = 538, 52% male) were randomly assigned to the experimental group [smoking cessation and treatment-as-usual (TAU)] or placebo group (TAU; a minimum of one treatment session per week over 10 weeks). A parallel growth model was applied to determine whether initial smoking levels predicted stimulant use growth trajectories (and vice versa), and whether initial levels and growth trajectories of each were related. A significant treatment effect on the targeted disorder (smoking; B = .667, p < .001) and no significant effect on the non-targeted disorder (stimulant use; B = .007, p = .948) were found. In addition, there was a negative relationship between the slope of smoking and stimulant use (r = -.117, p = .208), however, it was not statistically significant. Clinical significance from the original study was replicated. Using parallel growth modeling, researchers can test hypotheses about off-target treatment effects, particularly when the effect is routed through change in the targeted disorder. This technique allows researchers to advance methodological procedures in the field, while better understanding the comorbidity between two disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Length of Stay and Hospital Revisit After Bacterial Tracheostomy-Associated Respiratory Tract Infection Hospitalizations.

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with longer length of stay (LOS) and higher 30-day hospital revisit rates for children hospitalized with bacterial tracheostomy-associated respiratory tract infections (bTARTIs). METHODS: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study using administrative data from the Pediatric Health Information System database between 2007 and 2014 of patients 30 days to 17 years old with a principal discharge diagnosis of bTARTI or a principal discharge diagnosis of bTARTI symptoms with a secondary diagnosis of bTARTI. Primary outcomes of LOS (in days) and 30-day all-cause revisit rates (inpatient, observation, or emergency department visit) were analyzed by using a 3-level hierarchical regression model (discharges within patients within hospital). RESULTS: We included 3715 unique patients and 7355 discharges. The median LOS was 4 days (interquartile range: 3-8 days), and the 30-day revisit rate was 30.5%. Compared with children 1 to 4 years old, children aged 30 days to 12 months had both longer LOS (adjusted length of stay [aLOS] = +0.9 days; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6 to 1.3) and increased hospital revisit risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.3 to 1.7). Other factors associated with longer LOS included public insurance (aLOS = +0.5 days; 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.8), 3 or more complex chronic conditions (CCCs), mechanical ventilation (acute or chronic), and empirical anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibiotics (aLOS = +0.6 days; 95% CI: 0.3 to 0.9). Other factors associated with 30-day revisit included 4 or more CCCs (aOR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.6) and chronic ventilator dependency (aOR = 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0 to 1.3). CONCLUSIONS: Ventilator-dependent patients <12 months old with at least 4 CCCs are at highest risk for both longer LOS and 30-day revisit after discharge for bTARTIs. They may benefit from bTARTI prevention strategies and intensive care coordination while hospitalized.

Criterion and Divergent Validity of the Sexual Minority Adolescent Stress Inventory.

Sexual minority adolescents (SMA) consistently report health disparities compared to their heterosexual counterparts, yet the underlying mechanisms of these negative health outcomes remain unclear. The predominant explanatory model is the minority stress theory; however, this model was developed largely with adults, and no valid and comprehensive measure of minority stress has been developed for adolescents. The present study validated a newly developed instrument to measure minority stress among racially and ethnically diverse SMA. A sample of 346 SMA aged 14-17 was recruited and surveyed between February 2015 and July 2016. The focal measure of interest was the 64-item, 11-factor Sexual Minority Adolescent Stress Inventory (SMASI) developed in the initial phase of this study. Criterion validation measures included measures of depressive symptoms, suicidality and self-harm, youth problem behaviors, and substance use; the general Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ) was included as a measure of divergent validity. Analyses included Pearson and tetrachoric correlations to establish criterion and divergent validity and structural equation modeling to assess the explanatory utility of the SMASI relative to the ASQ. SMASI scores were significantly associated with all outcomes but only moderately associated with the ASQ (r = -0.13 to 0.51). Analyses revealed significant associations of a latent minority stress variable with both proximal and distal health outcomes beyond the variation explained by general stress. Results show that the SMASI is the first instrument to validly measure minority stress among SMA.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and post-tracheotomy bacterial respiratory tract infection readmissions.

OBJECTIVE: Identify risk factors for readmission due to a bacterial tracheostomy-associated respiratory tract infection (bTARTI) within 12 months of discharge after tracheotomy. DESIGN/METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 240 children who underwent tracheotomy and were discharged with tracheotsomy in place between January 1, 2005 and June 30, 2013. Children with prolonged total or post-tracheotomy length of stay (LOS), less than 12 months of follow-up, or who died during the index hospitalization were excluded. Readmission for a bTARTI (eg, pneumonia, tracheitis) treated with antibiotics, as ascertained by manual chart review, was the outcome variable. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify the independent association between risk factors and hospital readmission for bTARTI within 12 months. RESULTS: At index hospitalizations for tracheotomy, the median admission age was 5 months (interquartile range [IQR] 2-43 months) and median LOS was 73 days (IQR 43-121 days). Most patients were of Hispanic ethnicity (n = 162, 68%) and were publicly insured (n = 213, 89%). Nearly half (n = 112, 47%) were discharged on positive pressure mechanical ventilation. Many (n = 103, 43%) were admitted for bTARTI within 12 months of discharge. Only Hispanic ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-3.9; P = 0.03) and acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa between tracheotomy and discharge from index hospitalization (AOR 3.2; 95%CI: 1.2-8.3; P = 0.02) were independently associated with increased odds of bTARTI readmission, while discharge on gastrointestinal pro-motility agents was associated with decreased risk (AOR = 0.4; 95%CI: 0.2-0.8; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic ethnicity and post-tracheotomy acquisition of P. aeruginosa during initial hospitalization are associated with bTARTI readmission.