Factors Associated With Incident and Recurrent Falls Among Men Enrolled in Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Programs: An Examination of Race and Ethnicity.

We examined factors associated with incident (one) and recurrent (2+) falls among 7207 non-Hispanic White (NHW) (89.7%), non-Hispanic Black (NHB) (5.0%), and Hispanic (5.3%) men ages ≥60 years with ≥1 chronic conditions, enrolled in an evidence-based fall program. Multinomial and binary regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with incident and recurrent falls. Relative to zero falls, NHB and Hispanic men were less likely to report incident (OR = 0.55, p < .001 and OR = 0.70, p = .015, respectively) and recurrent (OR = 0.41, p < .001 and OR = 0.58, p < .001, respectively) falls. Men who reported fear of falling and restricting activities were more likely to report incident (OR = 1.16, p < .001 and OR = 1.32, p < .001, respectively) recurrent and (OR = 1.46, p < .001 and OR = 1.71, p < .001, respectively) falls. Men with more comorbidities were more likely to report recurrent falls (OR = 1.10, p < .001). Compared to those who experienced one fall, men who reported fear of falling (OR = 1.28, p < .001) and restricting activities (OR = 1.31, p < .001) were more likely to report recurrent falls. Findings highlight the importance of multi-component interventions to prevent falls.

Process Evaluations of Diabetes Self-Management Programs: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of process evaluations (PEs) of diabetes self-management programs (DSMPs). DATA SOURCE: An electronic search using Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (Ensco), Academic Search (Ebsco), and APA PsycInfo (Ebsco). STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Peer-reviewed, empirical quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method studies were included if they (1) were a traditional, group-based DSMP, (2) involved adults at least 18 years with T1DM or T2DM, (3) were a stand-alone or embedded PE, and (4) published in English. DATA EXTRACTION: The following process evaluation outcomes were extracted: fidelity, dose delivered, dose received, reach, recruitment, retention, and context. Additional items were extracted, (eg, process evaluation type, data collection methods; theories; frameworks or conceptual models used to guide the process evaluation, and etc). DATA SYNTHESIS: Due to heterogeneity across studies, studies were synthesized qualitatively (narratively). RESULTS: Sixty-eight studies (k) in 78 articles (n) (k = 68; n = 78) were included. Most were mixed methods of low quality. Studies were typically integrated into outcome evaluations vs being stand-alone, lacked theoretical approaches to guide them, and incorporated limited outcomes such as dose received, reach, and retention. CONCLUSION: Future research should 1) implement stand-alone theoretically grounded PE studies and 2) provide a shared understanding of standardized guidelines to conduct PEs. This will allow public health practitioners and researchers to assess and compare the quality of different programs to be implemented.

Pharmacological Prescribing and Satisfaction with Pain Treatment Among Non-Hispanic Black Men with Chronic Pain.

Introduction: Pharmacological strategies are often central to chronic pain management; however, pain treatment among non-Hispanic Black men may differ because of their disease profiles and healthcare interactions. However, less is known about pain medication prescribing and patients' satisfaction with pain treatment and management among non-Hispanic Black men with self-reported chronic pain. Purpose: This study assessed factors associated with non-Hispanic Black men being prescribed/recommended narcotics/opioids for chronic pain and their satisfaction with pain treatment/management. Methods: Data were analyzed from 286 non-Hispanic Black men with chronic pain who completed an internet-delivered questionnaire. Participants were recruited nationwide using a Qualtrics web-based panel. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with being prescribed/recommended narcotics/opioids for pain management treatment. Then, ordinary least squares regression was used to identify factors associated with their satisfaction level with the pain treatment/management received. Results: On average, participants were 56.2 years old and 48.3% were prescribed/recommended narcotics/opioids for chronic pain. Men with more chronic conditions (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.57, P = 0.043) and depression/anxiety disorders (OR = 0.53, P = 0.029) were less likely to be prescribed/recommended narcotics/opioids. Men who were more educated (OR = 2.09, P = 0.044), reported more frequent chronic pain (OR = 1.28, P = 0.007), and were allowed to participate more in decisions about their pain treatment/management (OR = 1.11, P = 0.029) were more likely to be prescribed/recommended narcotics/opioids. On average, men with more frequent chronic pain (B = -0.25, P = 0.015) and pain problems (B = -0.16, P = 0.009) were less satisfied with their pain treatment/management. Men who were allowed to participate more in decisions about their pain treatment/management reported higher satisfaction with their pain treatment/management (B = 0.55, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Playing an active role in pain management can improve non-Hispanic Black men's satisfaction with pain treatment/management. This study illustrates the importance of patient-centered approaches and inclusive patient-provider interactions to improve chronic pain management.

Personal Agency and Social Supports to Manage Health Among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Men With Diabetes.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic communities, especially among men who develop this chronic condition at earlier ages. Personal agency and social support are vital aspects to diabetes management. However, less is known about the relationship between these variables among men living with diabetes. The purposes of this study were to identify (1) levels of personal agency to manage health, (2) sources of social supports to manage health based on personal agency levels, and (3) factors associated with lower personal agency to manage health. Cross-sectional data from non-Hispanic Black (n = 381) and Hispanic (n = 292) men aged 40 years or older with T2D were collected using an internet-delivered questionnaire. Three binary logistic regression models were fitted to assess sociodemographics, health indicators, and support sources associated with weaker personal agency to manage health. About 68% of participants reported having the strongest personal agency relative to 32.1% reporting weaker personal agency. Men who relied more on their spouse/partner (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22, p = .025), coworkers (OR = 1.59, p = .008), or faith-based organizations (OR = 1.29, p = .029) for ongoing help/support to improve their health and manage health problems were more likely to have weaker personal agency. Conversely, men who relied more on their health care providers for ongoing help/support to improve their health and manage health problems were less likely to have weaker personal agency to manage health (OR = 0.74, p < .001). Findings suggest personal agency may influence men's support needs to manage T2D, which may also be influenced by cultural, socioeconomics, and the composition of social networks.

Caregiver strain among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic male caregivers with self-reported chronic health conditions.

OBJECTIVES: Caregiver strain often stems from unmet needs and is a risk factor for poor physical and psychological health. This study aims to identify factors associated with caregiver strain among middle-aged and older non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic male caregivers living with one or more chronic conditions. DESIGN: Data were analyzed from 418 male caregivers collected through Qualtrics Online Panels using an internet-delivered survey instrument (55.7% non-Hispanic Black, 44.3% Hispanic). Three ordinal regression models were fitted to assess factors associated with Caregiver Strain Scale tertiles: one for all men, one for non-Hispanic Black men only; and one for Hispanic men only. RESULTS: Similarities and differences were observed between the two groups in terms of factors associated with higher caregiver strain (i.e. lower disease self-management efficacy scores, providing ≥20 h of care per week). Uniquely for Non-Hispanic Black male caregivers, higher caregiver strain was associated with living with more children under the age of 18 (ß = 0.35, P = 0.011) and feeling more socially disconnected (ß = 0.41, P = 0.008). Uniquely for Hispanic male caregivers, higher caregiver strain levels were associated with experiencing lower pain levels (ß = -0.14, P = 0.040) and higher fatigue levels (ß = 0.23, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Findings from this study suggest that non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with chronic conditions have differing caregiving experiences. While bolstering social connectedness and caregiver support services may offset caregiver strain, tailored mental health and disease management programming are needed to meet the specific needs of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic male caregivers.

Current tobacco use patterns associated with healthcare utilization among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with chronic conditions.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use disparities persist among U.S. adults who are male, racially/ethnically diverse, and have chronic conditions. This study assessed current tobacco use patterns associated with past year healthcare utilization among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men ≥40 years old with ≥1 chronic condition. METHODS: Data were collected from a sample of 1,904 non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men from across the U.S. using an internet-delivered survey. Participants were categorized into four tobacco use groups: nontobacco users, exclusive cigarette smokers, dualtobacco users (cigarettes + one other tobacco product), and polytobacco users (cigarettes + ≥2 other tobacco products). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess current tobacco use patterns with past year primary care visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and overnight hospital stays. Adjusted models included participants' age, race/ethnicity, education level, marital status, health insurance coverage, body mass index, and number of chronic conditions. RESULTS: Relative to nontobacco users, exclusive cigarette smokers were at decreased odds of having a past year primary care visit (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47-0.99). Exclusive cigarette smokers (AOR = 1.66, 95%CI = 1.25-2.19), dualtobacco users (AOR = 1.75, 95%CI = 1.23-2.50), and polytobacco users (AOR = 4.10, 95%CI = 2.46-6.84) were at increased odds of having a past year ED visit compared to nontobacco users. Additionally, polytobacco users were at increased odds of having a past year overnight hospital stay (AOR = 2.72, 95%CI = 1.73-4.29) compared to nontobacco users. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest current tobacco use patterns are uniquely associated with past year healthcare utilization among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men, while taking into consideration important factors including complex disease profiles.

Physical Activity Impacts of an Activity-Friendly Community: A Natural Experiment Study Protocol.

Background: Stakeholders from multiple sectors are increasingly aware of the critical need for identifying sustainable interventions that promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. Activity-friendly communities (AFCs) have been known to provide opportunities for engaging in physical activity (PA) across the life course, which is a key to healthy living and healthy aging. Purpose: Our purpose is to describe the study protocol developed for a research project that examines: (a) the short- and long-term changes in total levels and spatial and temporal patterns of PA after individuals move from non-AFCs to an AFC; and (b) what built and natural environmental factors lead to changes in PA resulting from such a move, either directly or indirectly (e.g., by affecting psychosocial factors related to PA). Methods: This protocol is for a longitudinal, case-comparison study utilizing a unique natural experiment opportunity in Austin, Texas, USA. Case participants were those adults who moved from non-AFCs to an AFC. Matching comparison participants were residents from similar non-AFCs who did not move during the study period. Recruitment venues included local businesses, social and print media, community events, and individual referrals. Objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous PA and associated spatial and temporal patterns served as the key outcomes of interest. Independent (e.g., physical environments), confounding (e.g., demographic factors), and mediating variables (e.g., psychosocial factors) were captured using a combination of objective (e.g., GIS, GPS, Tanita scale) and subjective measures (e.g., survey, travel diary). Statistical analyses will be conducted using multiple methods, including difference-in-differences models, repeated-measures linear mixed models, hierarchical marked space-time Poisson point pattern analysis, and hierarchical linear mixed models. Conclusion: Natural experiment studies help investigate causal relationships between health and place. However, multiple challenges associated with participant recruitment, extensive and extended data collection activities, and unpredictable intervention schedules have discouraged many researchers from implementing such studies in community-based populations. This detailed study protocol will inform the execution of future studies to explore how AFCs impact population health across the life course.

Contextualizing the Chronic Care Model among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Men with Chronic Conditions.

Middle-aged and older men of color with chronic conditions have low utilization of preventive health services. In the context of the Chronic Care Model (CCM), the objective of this study was to identify perceptions about being informed, activated patients and having productive interactions in healthcare settings among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic middle-aged and older men with chronic health conditions in the United States. Using an internet-based survey deployed nationally using a Qualtrics panel, data were collected from a sample of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men aged 40 years and older with one or more self-reported chronic conditions (n = 2028). Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs were used to describe this national sample by race/ethnicity and age group (40-64 years and ≥65 years). Results suggest that most health-related factors differed more on age than by race/ethnicity. Younger age groups reported less preventive care, greater barriers to self-care, mental health issues, and risky behavior. Findings from this study provide insight into the health status and healthcare utilization of racial/ethnic men with one or more chronic conditions. Results may help inform prevention and treatment interventions for middle-aged and older men of color.

Preventative diabetes self-care management practices among individuals with diabetes and mental health stress.

BACKGROUND: The study purpose examines diabetes self-care management practices among individuals diagnosed with diabetes with and without mental health stress. METHODS: Pooled cross-sectional data (2011-2016) from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (HC-MEPS) were used. The sample consisted of individuals ages 25-85 years (n = 13,193; weighted n = 23,559,975). Dependent variables were engagement in moderate/vigorous physical exercise five times weekly, receiving dilated eye exams, foot checks, treating diabetes with diet modification or insulin injections, and eating fewer high fat/cholesterol foods. The independent variable was diabetes with and without mental health stress. The study controlled for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. RESULTS: Compared with individuals with diabetes without mental health stress, findings indicate individuals with diabetes and low or mild/moderate mental health stress were more likely to treat diabetes with diet modification and to restrict high fat/cholesterol food. Individuals with diabetes and severe mental health stress were more likely to restrict high fat/cholesterol. Additionally, individuals with mild/moderate to severe mental health stress were less likely to engage in diabetes care behavior. LIMITATIONS: Mental health stress is represented as a non-specific psychological distress index summary during the past 30 days and may not be an actual representation of overall distress in a person's life. There were no variables distinguishing diabetes type or severity. The study uses self-reported data and is cross-sectional. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health stress may contribute to individuals not engaging in self-management practices. It would be beneficial to incorporate psychosocial services for individuals with diabetes and mental health stress.

Diabetes Self-Management Among Individuals With Diabetes and Physical Disabilities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine diabetes self-management behavior among individuals who have diabetes living with and without physical limitations. METHODS: Pooled cross-sectional data (2011-2016) from the Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used. Dependent variables were utilization of dilated eye exams, foot checks, at least 1 dental checkup annually, treating diabetes with oral medication, treating diabetes with insulin injections, and engagement in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week. The independent variable was diabetes with physical limitations compared with diabetes without physical limitations. The study controlled for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. RESULTS: Findings indicate that individuals with diabetes and physical limitations were less likely to engage in moderate or vigorous physical exercise 5 times per week, have at least 1 annual dental checkup, and treat their diabetes orally with medication. CONCLUSIONS: Self-management behavior was poor among individuals with diabetes and physical limitations. Environmental barriers may partially contribute to reasons why individuals with diabetes and physical limitations do not engage in diabetes self-management behaviors that would assist them in mitigating diabetes complications. Other reasons could be the lack of equipment accessibility or adaptability and cultural competence among providers treating/caring for individuals with physical limitations.

Web-Based Health Information Seeking Among African American and Hispanic Men Living With Chronic Conditions: Cross-sectional Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has identified disparities in seeking and using web-based health information to inform health-related behaviors. Relatively few studies however have examined the correlations between web-based health information seeking and use based on race, gender, age, and the presence of chronic health conditions. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we identify factors associated with seeking and using web-based health information among a uniquely vulnerable and intersectional population-middle-aged and older (40 years and older) African American and Hispanic men living with one or more chronic conditions. METHODS: Survey responses were collected from a purposive sample of African American and Hispanic men using Qualtrics web-based survey management software. To qualify for inclusion in the study, respondents had to identify as African American or Hispanic men, report having at least one chronic condition, and be aged 40 years and older. A series of binary logistic regression models was created using backward elimination. Statistical significance was determined at P<.05 for all analyses. RESULTS: Web-based health information seeking among African American and Hispanic men is a function of education, the presence of multiple chronic conditions, frustration with health care providers, internet use, and the perceived reliability of web-based health information. The use of web-based health information to inform interactions with health care providers was more common among African American and Hispanic men, who rated their health as relatively good, perceived barriers to care, used technology regularly, and took more daily medications. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the factors that influence African American and Hispanic men seeking web-based health information may help improve the care and treatment of chronic conditions. African American and Hispanic men seek web-based health information as a substitute for routine care and to inform their discussions with health care providers.

Patients' and providers' perspectives on sexual health discussion in the United States: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this scoping review was to explore patients' and providers' perspectives on sexual health communication. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in three databases, Medline (OVID), CINAHL (Ebsco), and PsycINFO (Ebsco) covering January 1, 2000-May 12, 2020. A coding sheet with a list of questions was created in Qualtrics to extract information from each article. RESULTS: Thirty-three (33) studies were included in this review. The findings indicated that 1) the current sexual health discussion does not meet the needs of the patients; and 2) patients and providers hold uniquely different perspectives on the importance of the discussion, the responsibility of conversation initiation, and the comfort level of the discussion. CONCLUSIONS: There remains a significant gap between providers' perceptions and patients' needs regarding sexual health discussion. More efforts should be made to promote the necessary sexual health communication. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providers should initiate the discussion when necessary because it is very likely that patients welcome the discussion. Medical education and training should incorporate sexual health into its curricula to enhance health care professionals' abilities in addressing sexual health issues. Providers should model a sense of openness and comfort in conversation to encourage patients to discuss sexual health.

Use of Digital Health Information for Health Information Seeking Among Men Living With Chronic Disease: Data From the Health Information National Trends Survey.

Although diabetes education plays an important role in self-management for people living with diabetes, male health "help-seeking" lags far behind women. These gender-related "help-seeking" disparities often result in males being less engaged in their health care, which subsequently leads to poorer health outcomes among males. In this cross-sectional study, we used data from the 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) to identify factors that may contribute to communication inequalities between males and females. A hierarchical {linear/logistic} regression model was used to examine factors associated with online health information seeking among males living with diabetes. The results suggest that education, income, age, identifying as Hispanic, being a smoker, using a device to track progress toward a health-related goal, and using device to seek health information were all related to eHealth sum scores. Future research should consider testing applications among various at-risk groups to determine if the technology itself is becoming a barrier to eHealth.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms and missing breast cancer and cervical screening: results from Brazos valley community health survey.

Breast and cervical cancer screening are associated with dramatically reduced cancer mortality. Mental illnesses have been demonstrated to influence preventative behaviours. This study aims to explore whether anxiety or depressive symptoms is associated with breast and cervical cancer screening. We analyzed data (n = 3104) from the 2013 Brazos Valley Community Health Assessment. The GAD-7 Scale was used to assess the anxiety level, and PHQ-2 was used to assess the depressive symptoms. Stata 15.0 statistical software was used to perform descriptive and logistic regression analysis. Overall, 80.61% of women in each sample met breast cancer or cervical cancer screening guidelines, respectfully. Anxiety was associated with missing breast and cervical cancer screening, but the association was only significant for cervical cancer (OR = 1.430, CI = 1.009, 2.026), not for breast cancer (OR = 1.406, CI = .952, 2.078). Depressive symptom was significantly associated with missing breast (OR = 1.502, CI = 1.051, 2.149) and cervical (OR = 1.689, CI = 1.208, 2.362) cancer screening after controlling for demographics. Women with depressive symptoms and anxiety had higher odds of missing breast and cervical cancer screening. Health promotion programs should consider targeting individuals with anxiety and depression to improve cancer-screening rates..

Are health care providers making the most of patient encounters to promote HPV vaccination among cigarette smokers?

OBJECTIVE: To examine providers' HPV vaccine communication among adult cigarette smokers with household members aged ≤26 years. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we used 2017 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 1; N = 3191) data to derive a subsample (n = 725/3191; 22.7%) of adults with household members aged ≤26 years. Forward stepwise multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine providers' HPV vaccine communication, adjusting for patients' smoking status (main independent variable); HPV awareness and knowledge; HPV vaccine awareness and beliefs; and sociodemographic characteristics that contribute to disparities in HPV vaccine coverage. RESULTS: Current/former smokers (35.0%) had lower HPV-related awareness/knowledge than nonsmokers (65%). Few reported providers discussed (27.4%) or recommended (24.0%) HPV vaccine. Non-Hispanic Whites who knew HPV was a sexually transmitted disease and heard of HPV vaccine were 2-6 times more likely to report provider HPV vaccine communication. Provider HPV vaccine communication differences by smoking status were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Providers' HPV vaccine communication was higher among adults who had higher HPV-related awareness/knowledge. Although active/passive exposure to cigarette smoke increases cervical cancer risk, providers' HPV vaccine communication was not increased for current/former smokers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Current/former smokers' HPV-related awareness/knowledge and providers' HPV vaccine communication need to be increased.

Building Better Clinical Relationships With Patients: An Argument for Digital Health Solutions With Black Men.

There is a rapid evolution of care delivery taking place across the globe in response to an explosion of novel health technologies. Growing in parallel to this expansion is the anticipation of mHealth technologies to drive patient-centered care into the future. Despite this hope, continuing reports of health inequities and lived experiences of substandard care fill national, state, and community health reports. The impact of these inequities is particularly pernicious on Black men and their long-term health status. As decades of robust evidence substantiates needed interventions, current progress is not seeing expected gains. In this commentary, we argue that at the heart of these inequities are issues of access, health literacy, institutional racism, and growing social distance between clinicians and Black men. To address these inequities, we suggest that digital interventions, designed to support decision-making, information exchange, and shared accountability have the best hope to overcome current inequities by promoting authentic relationships that ultimately drive better communication between Black men and their clinicians.

African American Fathers' Perceived Role for the Dietary Behaviors of Their Children: A Qualitative Study.

The purpose of this study is to investigate African American (AA) fathers' involvement in promoting healthful decisions related to obesity and the issues that are potentially influencing dietary patterns among their children and within their households. This exploratory study gathered data via semistructured focus groups ( n = 3), which were thematically analyzed utilizing a grounded theory approach. Participants included AA fathers ( n = 20) with a mean age of 37 years (±11.79), all of which had one or more children between the ages of 6 and 18 years. Three significant subthemes emerged from the focus group sessions, which included fathers' perspectives about: (a) teaching by example; (b) eating healthy is expensive; and (c) cooking and eating at home. Understanding AA fathers' perceived and desired role in their children's health edification can inform initiatives that actively engage these men, and nurture their level of involvement, to promote positive health behaviors among their children. Such efforts are necessary for AA fathers to realize their potential to effectively serve as change agents and actively improve the health of their children, families, and communities.

Experiences With Stress Among African American Men Living With Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Inquiry.

Self-managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) is critical but often presents a challenge among African American men. Stress may exacerbate both mental and physical problems, which can lead to poor self-management; however, the evidence is sparse. The purpose of this manuscript is to examine the relationship the role of stress in type 2 diabetes management among a prospective group of African American men living in the southern United States. Nineteen African American men with T2D were recruited from barbershops and churches. Interviews were conducted using a semi structured interview guide. Transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological approach and focused on identifying common themes describing the responses regarding any stress that the participants have pertaining to living with and managing T2D. The themes that emerged from the participant responses are: (a) experiencing less stress, (b) stress not attributed from diabetes, (c) avoid thinking about stress, and (d) some stress is prevalent. Overall, participants expressed either that diabetes was not attributing to the stress that they have or that they have less stress than they did prior to being diagnosed with T2D. In this sample of African American men, stress became a factor for some participants when considering the complications that can occur from diabetes. These findings suggest the need for key considerations to only incorporate general information about diabetes and stress management, but should be gender and culturally relevant to African American men.

National college health assessment sampling: Organizational barriers preventing black participation and organizational solutions for appropriate representation.

Objective: This investigation longitudinally examined the participation of Black college students in the American College Health Association?s National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA). Participants: All respondents to ACHA-NCHA from the years 2008, 2011, & 2014 were included in the analysis. Methods: This study compared the descriptive demographic student characteristics from the 2008, 2011, & 2014 ACHA-NCHA data to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) college enrollment for the corresponding years. Results: Despite constituting 14.5% of the total enrollment in 4-year universities and colleges from 2005 to 2013, Black students represented about 7% of the ACHA-NCHA respondents. Conclusion: Having a sample lacking valid representation of minorities can further lead to biased and flawed assumptions. Therefore, organizations such as ACHA should make concerted efforts to gather data that is reflective of national enrollment rates.

Too Important to Ignore: Leveraging Digital Technology to Improve Chronic Illness Management Among Black Men.

Health disparities associated with chronic illness experiences of black men demonstrate widespread, systematic failures to meet an urgent need. Well-established social and behavioral determinants that have led to health disparities among black men include racism, discrimination, and stress. While advocacy work that includes community-engagement and tailoring health promotion strategies have shown local impact, evidence shows the gaps are increasing. We suspect that failure to reduce current disparities may be due to conventional public health interventions and programs; therefore, we submit that innovative interventions, ones that embrace digital technologies and their ability to harness naturally occurring social networks within groups, like black men, have particular importance and deserve attention. This commentary characterizes the current literature on chronic illness among black men as well as health interventions that use digital technology, to build a case for expanding research in this area to reduce the overwhelming burden of chronic illness among black men.