Community Health Worker Implementation and Cost Analysis of a Plant-Based Nutrition Program.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes program implementation through a research-restaurant partnership and assesses participant satisfaction, program costs, and percent body weight changes. METHODS: Participants (n = 60) in a virtual synchronous (n = 43) or virtual asynchronous (n = 17) 12-week plant-based nutrition program received restaurant vouchers. Class satisfaction data were collected weekly. Assessments were completed at baseline, 3 months, and 9 months, along with interviews (n = 13) between 3 and 9 months. The costing approach estimated costs per participant. Interviews were coded using a content analysis and constant comparative method. RESULTS: Participants rated the intervention favorably. Program costs were $198.63/participant, and participants' willingness to pay postintervention was $101.50 ± $63.90. Participants shared satisfaction with course content, the restaurant partnership, and suggestions for future delivery. No changes in participants' percent body weight were observed between 3 and 9 months (P = 0.98), indicating maintenance of 3-month weight loss. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: A research-restaurant partnership successfully implemented a nutrition program and generated positive feedback. With the lifting of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic restrictions, future research can now test alternative implementation methods (in person vs online) in other restaurants.

Ulcerative Colitis Is Associated With Diet-related Inflammation and Physical Activity in the IBD Partners E-cohort.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with ulcerative colitis (UC) seek complementary treatment methods, including diet and physical activity, to manage the burden of living with UC. This study examined associations between diet-associated inflammation, physical activity (PA), and UC-related health outcomes. METHODS: Data were obtained from 2052 IBD Partners e-cohort participants with UC. To quantify the inflammatory potential of food intake, dietary data were converted into Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and energy adjusted (E-DII) scores. Physical activity data were collected using the Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Activity Index. Outcome variables included the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index, Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, and psychosocial PROMIS domains. RESULTS: Higher E-DII scores, as indicator of increased dietary inflammatory potential, were associated with increased disease activity (ß = 0.166; P < .001), anxiety (ß = 0.342; P = .006), depression (ß = 0.408; P = .004), fatigue (ß = 0.386; P = .005), sleep disturbance (ß = 0.339; P = .003), and decreased social satisfaction (ß = -0.370; P = .004) and quality of life (ß = -0.056; P < .001). Physical activity was inversely associated with disease activity (ß = -0.108; P < .001), anxiety (ß = -0.025; P = .001), depression (ß = -0.025; P = .001), fatigue (ß = -0.058; P < .001), and sleep disturbance (ß = -0.019; P = .008), while positively associated with social satisfaction (ß = 0.063; P < .001) and quality of life (ß = 0.005; P < .001). Beneficial effects were generally greater for strenuous PA intensity. CONCLUSIONS: An anti-inflammatory diet and increased PA are associated with decreased disease activity, anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and fatigue, and associated with improved quality of life, sleep, and social satisfaction for patients with UC. Such modalities may reduce the daily burden of illness and aid in managing systemic and localized inflammation associated with UC.

Experiences of midlife and older African American men living with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a complicated disease that disproportionately affects African American men. Understanding the experiences of African American men living with T2DM is important for developing effective, culturally sensitive interventions. The purpose of this study was to describe how African American men view their T2DM and describe their perspectives on living with and self-managing T2DM. DESIGN: In-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 African American men aged 40-85 years diagnosed with T2DM. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo 10 with thematic analysis. RESULTS: Disbelief, shock, and denial were commonly experienced reactions at initial diagnosis. Many participants defined diabetes using words such as 'sugar' or 'glucose' and reported an awareness of health complications caused by diabetes, such as amputations and diabetic comas. Participants expressed various perspectives and attitudes towards having diabetes, including avoidance/apathy, fatalism, guilt and shame, fear and concern, and self-mastery. The majority of men described efforts to self-manage diabetes via glucose monitoring, changing dietary habits, and exercise. Many participants expressed concern over the financial burden associated with managing diabetes and reported that high costs can hinder a patient's ability to maintain active self-monitoring and deter patients from attending needed doctor's visits. Many participants expressed confidence in their healthcare providers, although a few expressed feelings of distrust and being uninformed. Participants tended to most appreciate physicians who spent time discussing their condition and who made an effort to engage in open patient-provider communication. CONCLUSION: Living with diabetes can be emotionally, physically, and mentally challenging. Efforts to improve adoption and maintenance of self-management behaviors may benefit from sensitivity to the patient's attitude and perspectives towards diabetes self-management, assistance overcoming the financial burden of managing diabetes, and open patient-provider communication.

The effects of exercise on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients during primary treatment: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most prevalent symptoms reported by breast cancer survivors. Despite a corpus of literature dedicated to understanding and identifying evidence-based treatments for cancer-related fatigue, gaps in the literature remain, particularly for breast cancer survivors during their primary treatment. Exercise training may represent an efficacious behavioral modality for mitigating fatigue symptoms in cancer survivors; yet, the effects of exercise during adjuvant therapy is an understudied area. AREAS COVERED: In this review, we synthesize the most recent evidence of exercise's effects on cancer-related fatigue during active treatment for breast cancer. We summarize the overall effects of exercise, moderators of these effects, and areas requiring further research. EXPERT OPINION: Strong evidence supports at least modest effects of exercise on cancer-related fatigue during breast cancer treatment. However, several knowledge gaps persist, including the need to: risk stratify patients to tailor exercise promotion strategies; implement higher-quality studies and translate this evidence to clinical practice; adopt biobehavioral models to better understand exercise's effects on cancer-related fatigue; evaluate the effects of exercise modes besides aerobic and combined training; and integrate technology to better understand and promote fatigue-reducing behaviors, such as exercise, across cancer care.