Culturally Competent Education and Human Papillomavirus Self-Sampling Achieves Healthy People 2030 Cervical Screening Target Among Low-Income Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Women.

PURPOSE: Disparities in cervical cancer screening, incidence, and mortality exist in the United States. Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in Texas are 20% and 32% higher, respectively, than national averages. Within Texas, these rates are significantly higher among non-Hispanic (NH) Black and Hispanic women. Cervical cancer screening uptake is lower among NH Black and Hispanic women (72.9% and 75.9%, respectively) compared with White women (85.5%) in Texas. METHODS: During March-August 2023, we conducted a pilot study that offered culturally competent education and human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling kits to women in two public housing projects in Houston, TX, that have predominantly NH Black or Hispanic residents. Among those eligible for cervical cancer screening, 35% (n = 24) of the NH Black and 34% (n = 16) of the Hispanic women were found to be underscreened per the US Preventive Services Task Force Guideline. We recruited 40 (24 NH Black and 16 Hispanic) eligible women for our study. The study was approved by the MD Anderson institutional review board and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04614155-March 11, 2020). RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the NH Black and 87% of the Hispanic participants completed the HPV self-sampling procedures per protocol. Samples of 17% NH Black and 12% Hispanic participants showed a performance error. Overall, cervical cancer screening uptake improved from 65% to 91% among NH Black and from 66% to 96% among Hispanic participants. CONCLUSION: Culturally competent education and HPV self-sampling resulted in remarkable improvement in cervical cancer screening uptake among underscreened NH Black and Hispanic women residents of Houston public housing projects. Implementing this strategy could significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality among similar populations in the United States and globally.

Expanding active living after cancer to underserved cancer survivors and their caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) improves physical and psychological health in cancer survivors. This study evaluated Active Living After Cancer (ALAC), a community-based program to improve PA, physical function, and quality of life (QOL) in minority and medically underserved cancer survivors and their caregivers. METHODS: Participants completed 12 weekly ALAC sessions and assessments of PA, physical functioning, and QOL at baseline and follow-up (week 12). Paired samples t-tests were used to assess changes in outcomes over time. RESULTS: 540 cancer survivors (M age = 61.1 years, SD = 11.3) and 87 caregivers (M age = 62.3 years, SD = 13.1) were enrolled. Most were women (91.4%), Hispanic (61.1%) or non-Hispanic Black (19.3%), and medically underserved (86.4%). The percent of cancer survivors meeting PA recommendations increased from 28.9% to 60.2% (d = 0.75), and the number of sit-to-stand repetitions in a 30-second period increased from 12.3 to 14.3 (d = 0.39) from 0-12 weeks. Cancer survivors reported significant improvements in physical (T-score Δ = 1.7, d = 0.06) and mental (T-score Δ = 2.3, d = 0.31) health-related QOL. Caregivers also improved their PA, physical function, and QOL, and there were no statistically significant differences between breast and other cancer survivors and between cancer survivors and caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: The ALAC program demonstrated increased PA, physical function, and QOL in medically underserved cancer survivors and their caregivers. Furthermore, ALAC was successfully implemented by community partners and serves as a good model for reaching medically underserved cancer survivors and improving survivorship. Additional efforts are warranted to further extend reach, improve cancer survivorship, and reduce cancer health disparities among underserved cancer survivors.

Exploration of Latina/Hispanic women's experiences living with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a qualitative study with patients in Houston.

OBJECTIVES: A deeper understanding of the lived experiences of Hispanic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can help guide the development of behavioural programmes that facilitate NAFLD management. This paper explores Hispanic women's experiences living with NAFLD. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: We collected brief sociodemographic questionnaires and conducted in-depth interviews with 12 low-income (all had household income ≤USD$55 000 per year) Hispanic women with NAFLD from the Houston area. Transcripts were audio-recorded and transcribed. We developed a coding scheme and used thematic analysis to identify emergent themes, supported by Atlas.ti. RESULTS: Participants identified physicians as their main information source on NAFLD but also consulted the internet, family, friends and peers. Many were still left wanting more information. Participants identified family history, sedentary lifestyles, poor diet and comorbid conditions as causes for their NAFLD. Participants also reported emotional distress after diagnosis. Participants experienced both successes and challenges in making lifestyle changes in nutrition and physical activity. Some participants received desired social support in managing NAFLD, although there were conflicting feelings about spousal support. CONCLUSION: Multifaceted programming that improves patient-provider communication, conveys accurate information and enhances social support is needed to support Hispanic women in managing NAFLD.

Understanding Primary Care Physician Perspectives on the Diagnosis and Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Qualitative Study.

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are well suited to manage patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the limited, existing research suggests inadequate knowledge about the natural history, diagnostic methods, and management of NAFLD. The purpose of this qualitative study is to further understand the knowledge and practices for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD among PCPs. We conducted in-depth interviews with PCPs in the Greater Houston area, addressing current clinical practices used for diagnosing and managing NAFLD, as well as the perceptions of the PCPs regarding the burden of NAFLD on patients. We recorded interviews, transcribed them, coded transcripts, and identified patterns and themes. The interviewed PCPs (n = 16) were from internal or family medicine, with a range of experience (1.5-30 years). We found variations in NAFLD diagnosis and management across practices and by insurance status. Patients with abnormal liver imaging who had insurance or were within a safety-net healthcare system were referred by PCPs to specialists. Uninsured patients with persistently elevated liver enzymes received lifestyle recommendations from PCPs without confirmatory imaging or specialist referral. The role of PCPs in NAFLD management varied, with some helping patients set dietary and physical activity goals while others provided only general recommendations and/or referred patients to a dietitian. The diagnosis and management of NAFLD vary widely among PCPs and may be impacted by patients' insurance status and clinic-specific practices. The increasing burden of NAFLD in the U.S. medical system highlights the need for more PCPs involvement in managing NAFLD.

Community scientist program provides bi-directional communication and co-learning between researchers and community members.

Community involvement in research is key to translating science into practice, and new approaches to engaging community members in research design and implementation are needed. The Community Scientist Program, established at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston in 2018 and expanded to two other Texas institutions in 2021, provides researchers with rapid feedback from community members on study feasibility and design, cultural appropriateness, participant recruitment, and research implementation. This paper aims to describe the Community Scientist Program and assess Community Scientists' and researchers' satisfaction with the program. We present the analysis of the data collected from 116 Community Scientists and 64 researchers who attended 100 feedback sessions, across three regions of Texas including Northeast Texas, Houston, and Rio Grande Valley between June 2018 and December 2022. Community Scientists stated that the feedback sessions increased their knowledge and changed their perception of research. All researchers (100%) were satisfied with the feedback and reported that it influenced their current and future research methods. Our evaluation demonstrates that the key features of the Community Scientist Program such as follow-up evaluations, effective bi-directional communication, and fair compensation transform how research is conducted and contribute to reducing health disparities.

COVID-19 Knowledge, Beliefs, and Intention to Get Vaccinated: A Brief Educational Intervention Among Black and Hispanic Populations.

We aimed to determine the effect of a brief educational intervention on COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, beliefs, and vaccination intention in Black and Hispanic communities in Houston, Texas. As part of the Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities study (2020-2022), 1606 Black and Hispanic adults completed Web-based surveys before and after viewing COVID-19 educational materials. The intervention significantly improved health beliefs and vaccination intention. Disseminating short and ethnically appropriate educational materials is an effective strategy to decrease vaccine hesitancy in minority populations. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S1):S82-S86. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307501).

Negotiating cancer alone: A qualitative study exploring care experiences of racially and ethnically diverse women diagnosed with breast cancer during COVID-19.

COVID-19 has critically impacted cancer care services including reduced screenings, diagnoses, and surgeries; particularly among Black and Latina/x women who already suffer worse outcomes. This qualitative study explored the care experiences of a diverse sample of breast cancer survivors (N = 21; 7 Black, 4 Hispanic, 10 White) undergoing treatment during the pandemic via online semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory analysis yielded the core category "negotiating cancer alone," that included: (1) psychological distress, negotiating the cancer trajectory in isolation; (2) provider/healthcare system diagnostic and treatment delays; (3) heightened anxiety about treatment delays causing cancer progression; (4) supportive care limitations; and (5) disparate experiences of cancer care disruptions. Black and Latina/x women described greater delays in care, financial challenges, treatment complications, and insurance limitations than White women. The study identifies cancer patients' pandemic-related psychological, healthcare system, and health equity challenges and suggests recommendations to support their increased psychological needs during oncologic care disruptions.

The Indirect Effect of Smoking Level in the Association Between Urban Stress and Readiness to Quit Smoking among Adults Experiencing Homelessness.

Over 70% of adults experiencing homelessness are cigarette smokers, a fivefold greater rate than in the general U.S. population. Consequently, tobacco-related conditions are the leading causes of disease and death for this group. Adults experiencing homelessness tend to seek shelter in urban areas. Thus, they not only experience the daily stressors of being homeless, they may additionally experience unique or additive urban stressors (e.g., stress related to using public services, crime and violence, and/or cultural conflicts with others). For some smokers, stress is known to increase smoking rates and decrease readiness to quit smoking. Likewise, increased smoking rates alone may lead to a lower likelihood of making a quit attempt. The current study examined the potential mediating role of smoking level in the association of urban stress and quit readiness among adults experiencing homelessness (N=411). Two multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed that urban stress was positively associated with smoking level (p = 0.02). The odds ratio for one-unit increase in stress was 1.047 (CI.95:1.014, 1.082) for being a heavy vs. non-daily smoker. Furthermore, analyses revealed smoking level mediated the effect of stress on quit readiness (ab= -0.005, CI.95:-0.010, -0.002]). Homeless smokers who report high levels of stress might smoke at higher levels, which could attenuate quit readiness.

The implementation of ask-advise-connect in a federally qualified health center: a mixed methods evaluation using the re-aim framework.

Ask-Advise-Connect (AAC) efficiently links smokers in healthcare settings with evidence-based Quitline-delivered tobacco treatment through training clinic staff to systematically ask patients about smoking status, advise smokers to quit, and connect patients with state Quitlines using the electronic health record. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach, guided by the RE-AIM framework, to evaluate the implementation of AAC in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). AAC was implemented for 18 months at a FQHC serving primarily low-socioeconomic status (SES) Latinos and Latinas. Results are presented within the RE-AIM conceptual framework which includes dimensions of reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Quantitative patient-level outcomes of reach, effectiveness, and Impact were calculated. Post-implementation, in-depth interviews were conducted with clinic leadership and staff (N = 9) to gather perceptions and inform future implementation efforts. During the implementation period, 12.0% of GNHC patients who reported current smoking both agreed to have their information sent to the Quitline and were successfully contacted by the Quitline (Reach), 94.8% of patients who spoke with the Quitline enrolled in treatment (Effectiveness), and 11.4% of all identified smokers enrolled in Quitline treatment (Impact). In post-implementation interviews assessing RE-AIM dimensions, clinic staff and leadership identified facilitators and advantages of AAC and reported that AAC was easy to learn and implement, streamlined existing procedures, and had a positive impact on patients. Staff and leadership reported enthusiasm about AAC implementation and believed AAC fit well in the clinic. Staff were interested in AAC becoming the standard of care and made suggestions for future implementation. Clinic staff at a FQHC serving primarily low-SES Latinos and Latinas viewed the ACC implementation process positively. Findings have implications for streamlining clinical smoking cessation procedures and the potential to reduce tobacco-related disparities.

Ask-Advise-Connect (AAC) simplifies and streamlines the process of asking patients about their smoking status, advising smokers to quit, and connecting patients through the electronic health record with free, evidence-based tobacco cessation treatment offered by state Quitlines. This study is the first to evaluate perceptions of AAC among clinic leadership and staff. After an 18-month implementation of AAC at a clinic serving mostly low-income Latinos and Latinas, clinic staff (e.g., medical assistants) and leaders were interviewed. Respondents reported that AAC streamlined their efforts to get patients to quit smoking, was easy to carry out, and fit well into the clinic flow. Staff wanted to keep AAC as the standard of care and made suggestions to improve how AAC works. They reported positive feedback from patients. In addition, a similar proportion of smokers enrolled in Quitline treatment as in other AAC trials. Thus, AAC worked well for patients and clinic staff. Having AAC in other clinics could improve enrollment in evidence-based smoking cessation treatment, facilitate successful smoking cessation among low-income primary care patients, and reduce burden on healthcare providers.

Learning Through Doing: Comprehensive Programming for a Training Program in Cancer Disparities.

In the United States, preparing researchers and practitioners for careers in cancer requires multiple components for success. In this reflection article, we discuss our approach to designing a comprehensive research training program in cancer disparities. We focused on elements that provide students and early career scientists a deep understanding of disparities through first-hand experiences and skills training necessary to build a research career in the area. Our Educational Program sits within the framework of an NCI P20 program, "UHAND (University of Houston/MD Anderson Cancer Center)", jointly established by an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center and a minority-serving university as a collaborative partnership devoted to the elimination of cancer inequities among disproportionately affected racial and ethnic groups (UHAND Program to Reduce Cancer Disparities; NCI P20CA221696/ P20CA221697). The Education Program was designed to build on and enhance skills that are critical to pursuing a career in cancer disparities research at the undergraduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels-such as scientific communication, career planning and development, professional and community-based collaboration, and resilience in addition to solid scientific training. As such, our program integrates (1) opportunities for learning through service to community organizations providing resources to populations with documented cancer disparities, (2) a tailored curriculum of learning activities with program leadership and mentored research with scientists focused on cancer disparities and cancer prevention, (3) professional development training critical to career success in disparities research, and (4) support to address unique challenges faced by trainees from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in research.

Engaging the Asian American Community to Address Cancer Burden: Experiences and Lessons Learned.

BACKGROUND: Reducing cancer health disparities in Asian Americans requires orchestrated efforts and partnerships. OBJECTIVES: To describe the approach used by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, HOPE Clinic, and Asian American organizations to understand and engage Houston's Asian American communities in cancer research, as well as to share lessons learned. METHODS: The community-academic-medical partnership used community-based research principles to build the partnership, form the community advisory board, conduct a community needs assessment, and offer cancer prevention engagement and education. RESULTS: Some lessons learned included balancing language needs with limited resources, incorporating more time and resources to conduct health research in an ethnically diverse community, and promoting awareness of research and its role in cancer prevention in Asian American communities. CONCLUSIONS: Community-academic-medical partnerships are promising ways to engage the community, draw on combined expertise, and create research and programs that are scientifically strong and meaningful to the community.

Examining Associations between Source of Cancer Information and Mammography Behavior among Black Church-Going Women.

Black women have a slightly lower breast cancer incidence rate than White women, but breast cancer mortality is approximately 40% higher among Black women than among White women. Early detection by mammography may improve survival outcomes. Outlets providing information on cancer and cancer screening often present data, including mammography recommendations, that are unreliable, accessible, and/or inconsistent. We examined associations between sources of cancer information and mammography behavior among Black church-going women. A logistic regression model was used to examine associations between self-reported preferred source of cancer information (provider, cancer organization, social network, internet, or other media (e.g., books, magazines)) and self-reported most recent source of cancer information (same categories as preferred sources), respectively, and having received a mammogram within the prior 12 months. Participants were 832 Black women over 40 years old, recruited from three churches in Houston, Texas. Data were collected in 2012. Overall, 55.41% of participants indicated their preferred source of cancer information was a provider, 21.88% the internet, 11.54% other media, 10.22% a cancer organization, and 0.96% their social network. In contrast, 17.88% of participants indicated their most recent source of cancer information was a provider, 63.02% the internet, 12.04% other media, 4.50% a cancer organization, and 2.55% their social network. About 70% of participants indicated receiving a mammogram in the prior 12 months. Results indicated that women who most recently sought information from the internet had lower odds of having a mammogram than those who most recently sought information from a provider (aOR: 0.546, CI95%: 0.336-0.886, p = 0.014). These results reveal an opportunity to advance health equity by encouraging Black church-going women to obtain cancer information from providers rather than from the internet as a method to enhance mammography use. These results also reveal an opportunity to investigate what modifiable social determinants or other factors prevent Black church-going women from seeking cancer information from their preferred source, which was a provider for the majority of the sample, and designing interventions to better actualize this preference.

Enhancing access to and diversity in cancer clinical trials through a financial reimbursement program: Protocol to evaluate a novel program.

As clinical trials have become more complex, with increasing numbers of required procedures and clinic visits, gaining access to promising new treatments has become even more challenging for many individuals. To address these barriers, we implemented a financial reimbursement and outreach program designed to increase the number and diversity of participants in cancer clinical trials at centers in Dallas, Houston, and Philadelphia. As endorsed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Texas and Pennsylvania State Legislatures, the program provides financial reimbursement for non-clinical costs (e.g., travel, lodging) to patients on cancer clinical trials with household income up to 700% the Federal poverty rate. The research study described here, centered at the Dallas site, evaluates program impact by assessing (1) numbers and diversity of patients enrolled to cancer clinical trials before and after program implementation; (2) characteristics of patients offered participation in the program who do versus do not enroll; (3) characteristics of patients enrolled in the program who do versus do not complete the reimbursement process. To evaluate perceived barriers and facilitators of program participation, we will conduct semi-structured interviews and administer the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity Patient Reported Outcome Measure (COST PROM) and the Short Assessment of Health Literacy (SAHL). This program will examine how reimbursement of non-clinical costs can improve access to cancer clinical trials, with the eventual goal of increasing trial enrollment, diversity, representativeness, and generalizability.

Promoting Cancer Health Equity: A Qualitative Study of Mentee and Mentor Perspectives of a Training Program for Underrepresented Scholars in Cancer Health Disparities.

Racial and ethnic minorities, and women, experience stark disparities in cancer risk behaviors and mortality rates, yet often remain underrepresented in scientific research positions. We conducted an exploratory, qualitative study to examine the value of mentored research experience as part of an NCI-funded research training program designed to increase the representation of minority and women scientists in cancer disparities research. Using individual interviews, we explored 16 mentees' and 7 mentors' program experiences and perspectives to identify the most effective strategies to build strong mentoring relationships that could ultimately contribute to increased representation in health disparities research. Two expert analysts employed thematic analysis and constant comparison to code, categorize, and summarize the data into themes. Mentees and mentors shared five themes identifying contributions to program success: conditions for building successful mentoring relationships; role of mentor/mentee similarities or differences and their impact on effective collaboration; program elements that fostered developing knowledge, skills, and confidence; program supportive opportunities; and challenges and benefits of in-person vs. virtual program delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings contribute to improving the quality of training programs for historically excluded trainees to advance their cancer disparities research careers and offer a successful model that can guide similar programs.

Movement Through Chemotherapy Delay to Initiation Among Breast Cancer Patients: A Qualitative Analysis.

Purpose: (Neo) adjuvant chemotherapy decreases the risk of recurrence and improves overall survival among breast cancer patients; however, delays in chemotherapy initiation are associated with adverse health outcomes. The causes of delay are complex and include interrelated social, economic, cultural, environmental, and health system factors. Project Start was a qualitative study designed to assess and identify the multilevel factors contributing to the barriers and facilitators of initiating chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer who experienced ≥60 day delay in (neo) adjuvant chemotherapy initiation were included. Participants completed semi-structured interviews exploring barriers and facilitators to starting chemotherapy. Interviews were transcribed and coded to identify themes using the Sort and Sift, Think and Shift analytic approach. This analysis included thorough examination of the data by advancing through iterative analytic phases to identify core topics within and across transcripts. Results: We enrolled (N=22) participants with median age at diagnosis 53.5 years (range 27-70) who identified as Latina (n=8), Black (n=5), and non-Latina White (n=9). Participants described a common chemotherapy initiation process reflecting their unique needs as they transitioned through four stages: 1) receiving diagnosis and treatment recommendations; 2) processing treatment options; 3) "Flipping the Switch"; and 4) activating treatment and engaging in care. Limited explicit insight into their chemotherapy delay was expressed. Engagement across the self-, family-, community-, and medical-realms revealed interlinked and pivotal sources of support that helped participants navigate toward initiating chemotherapy. Specifically, the overarching themes included logistical, emotional, financial, and social sources of support and the relationship of these sources of support to participants' perceived self-efficacy to move toward initiating treatment. Conclusion: Activating women to be engaged in the treatment process across multiple levels appeared to facilitate initiating chemotherapy. Multilevel interventions that engage the patient, family, community, and medical team may support the initiation of timely chemotherapy.

Qualitative Exploration of Family Influences on Physical Activity in Hispanic Families.

BACKGROUND: Limited information exists on how the family unit aids or impedes physical activity (PA) engagement within Hispanic populations. This qualitative study explored family-level influences on PA in dyads of adult Hispanic family members (eg, parent-adult child, siblings, spouses). METHODS: In-person interviews and brief surveys were conducted together with 20 dyads lasting 1.5 hours each. Two researchers coded and analyzed text using thematic analysis in NVivo (version 11.0). They resolved discrepancies through consensus and used matrix coding analysis to examine themes by participants' demographics. RESULTS: The participants were mainly women (70%), from Mexico (61.5%), and they reported low levels of acculturation (87.5%). Themed facilitators for PA included "verbal encouragement," "help with responsibilities," "exercising with someone," and "exercising to appease children." Themed challenges included "lack of support," "challenges posed by children," "sedentary behaviors," and "competing responsibilities." Women more so than men described family-level challenges and facilitators, and dyads where both study partners were physically active provided more positive partner interaction descriptions for PA support than other dyads. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that leveraging family support may be an important approach to promote and sustain PA, and that family-focused interventions should integrate communication-building strategies to facilitate family members' ability to solicit support from each other.

Perceptions of Conflicting Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations Among Racially/Ethnically Diverse Women: a Multimethod Study.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting breast cancer screening recommendations have the potential to diminish informed decision making about screening. OBJECTIVE: We examined the knowledge, attitudes, and intentions related to divergent recommendations for breast cancer screening among racially/ethnically diverse women. DESIGN: We used a multimethod study design employing focus groups and questionnaires. Focus groups included: (1) two 10-min presentations on the national screening recommendations and the potential benefits and harms of screening and (2) an interactive discussion. Data were collected: 8/3/2017 to 11/19/2019. Analysis occurred from 1/21/2019 to 7/24/2020. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were (1) women 40-75 years; (2) English or Spanish speaking; (3)self-identified as Latina, Black, or non-Latina White; and (4) no known increased risk for breast cancer. MAIN MEASURES: Main outcomes were participants' knowledge and perceptions of benefits and harms of screening mammography and their screening intentions. Focus groups were transcribed and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics. KEY RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four women (n=52, 40-49 years; n=82, 50-75 years) participated in 28 focus groups. Participants were Latina (n=44); Black (n=51); and non-Latina White (n=39). Approximately one-quarter (n=32) had limited health literacy and almost one-fifth (n=23) had limited numeracy. In the context of differing national screening recommendations, participants questioned the motives of the recommendation-making agencies, including the role of costs and how costs were considered when making screening recommendations. Participants expressed concern that they were not represented (e.g., race/ethnicity) in the data informing the recommendations. Immediately following the focus groups, most participants expressed intention to screen within the upcoming year (pre n=100 vs. post n=107). CONCLUSIONS: Divergent breast cancer screening recommendations may lead to mistrust and paradoxically reinforce high overall enthusiasm for screening.

Physical activity and diet quality in relation to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study in a representative sample of U.S. adults using NHANES 2017-2018.

The association of physical activity (PA) and diet quality with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NAFLD-related fibrosis have never been examined in a representative sample of U.S. adults using a more precise form of measuring NAFLD. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations of PA and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index [HEI]-2015) with NAFLD and a subset with advanced fibrosis (F3-4) as assessed by vibration-controlled transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter in a representative sample of U.S. adults. This cross-sectional analysis uses data from 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. NAFLD was defined as controlled attenuation parameter ≥285 dB/m, and high likelihood of advanced fibrosis as liver stiffness measurements ≥8.6 kPa. Associations of HEI-2015 from 24-h dietary recalls and self-reported PA and sedentary behavior were estimated in multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis. In 2892 adults, the prevalence of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis was 35.6% and 5.6%, respectively. We found that high adherence to U.S. dietary recommendations (highest vs. lowest HEI-2015 tertile) and more PA (middle tertile vs. lowest) were associated with reduced odds of NAFLD (Adjusted OR and 95% CI; 0.60 (0.44, 0.84) and 0.65 (0.42, 0.99), respectively). More PA was inversely associated with advanced fibrosis (Adjusted OR = 0.35, 95%CI 0.16, 0.75). Diet quality and PA are associated with reduced odds of NAFLD, and PA may be critical even for those with advanced liver disease. These behaviors should be the focus of targeted public health interventions.

Association of Alcohol Use and Physical Activity with Body Mass Index in Mexican-Origin Adults.

BACKGROUND: Studies across racial/ethnic groups indicate that physical activity (PA) and alcohol consumption are positively associated, and that alcohol consumption is negatively associated with body mass index (BMI), but this relationship is less often evaluated in Hispanics. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between alcohol consumption, PA, and BMI in Hispanic adults. METHODS: In this secondary data analysis of a Mexican-American cohort, we collected self-reported PA, alcohol consumption, and demographics, and measured height and weight. Linear regression assessed the association between PA and alcohol consumption with BMI, controlling for covariates. Total sample for analyses was n = 3897. RESULTS: We found an inverse relationship between high PA and BMI in the full sample (adjusted estimate = - 0.03, 95% CI - 0.07, - 0.01) and in females, but not males. We also found an inverse relationship between current alcohol use and BMI in the full sample (adjusted estimate = - 0.05, 95% CI - 0.09, - 0.01) and both sexes. There was no significant interaction between PA and alcohol use on BMI. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of Mexican-origin adults, current alcohol use and high PA were associated with lower BMIs, but there was no interaction between PA and alcohol use. These results can be used to inform multiple behavior change interventions in Mexican-origin adults.

Fostering spirituality and psychosocial health through mind-body practices in underserved populations.

BACKGROUND: This study examined changes in spirituality and psychosocial outcomes among African American and rural adults participating in a culturally-adapted mind-body intervention. METHODS: African American (n = 22) and rural (n = 38) adults in Harmony & Health attended mind-body sessions twice a week for eight weeks and completed questionnaires on spirituality and psychosocial distress at baseline and post-intervention. Linear regression and repeated measures analyses were used to examine associations between intervention attendance and spirituality. RESULTS: Attendance was significantly associated with increased spirituality (ß=0.168, p = 013). Repeated measures analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction between attendance, spirituality, and study site (F(9,31)=2.891, p = 013). Urban African American participants who attended ≥75% of sessions reported greater increases in spirituality. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that mind-body practices may foster spirituality in urban African American adults. Additional adaptations are needed to strengthen spirituality in rural residents and to improve psychosocial health and wellbeing in this underserved population.