RESUMO
Background: This mixed methods study identified needed refinements to a telehealth-delivered cultural and linguistic adaptation of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Chinese patients with advanced cancer (MCP-Ch) to enhance acceptability, comprehensibility, and implementation of the intervention in usual care settings, guided by the Ecological Validity Model (EVM) and the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM). Methods: 15 purposively sampled mental health professionals who work with Chinese cancer patients completed surveys providing Likert-scale ratings on acceptability and comprehensibility of MCP-Ch content (guided by the EVM) and pre-implementation factors (guided by PRISM), followed by semi-structured interviews. Survey data were descriptively summarized and linked to qualitative interview data. Three analysts independently coded the transcripts according to EVM and PRISM domains; discrepancies were resolved through discussion and consensus. Results: Quantitative findings showed high appropriateness and relevance of MCP-Ch across five EVM domains of Language, Metaphors/Stories, Goals, Content, and Concepts. Qualitative analysis yielded 23 inductive codes under the seven EVM domains: (1) Language (3 subcodes), (2) Persons (2 subcodes), (3) Metaphors/Stories (2 subcodes), (4) Methods (8 subcodes), (5) Content (2 subcodes), (6) Goals (4 subcodes), and (7) Concepts (2 subcodes). Themes based on PRISM included (1) Intervention characteristics (organizational perspective, 7 subcodes; and patient perspective, 6 subcodes) (2) External environment (2 subcodes), (3) Implementation and sustainability infrastructure (4 subcodes), and (4) Recipients (organizational characteristics, 5 subcodes; and patient characteristics, 4 subcodes). Conclusion: Recommendations for next steps include increasing the MCP-Ch protocol's flexibility and adaptability to allow interventionists to flexibly tailor MCP-Ch material to meet patients' individual needs, simplifying content to improve comprehension and acceptability, providing additional training to Chinese-serving providers to increase adoption and sustainability, and considering interpreter-assisted delivery to increase access. Findings yielded important information to maximize cultural relevance as well as the implementation and sustainability potential of MCP-Ch in real-world settings.
RESUMO
Mexican Americans are among the highest risk groups for obesity and its associated health consequences, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. 154 overweight/obese Mexican Americans recruited from the Mexican Consulate in New York City were enrolled in COMIDA (Consumo de Opciones Más Ideales De Alimentos) (Eating More Ideal Food Options), a 12-week Spanish-language lifestyle intervention that included a dietary counseling session, weight-loss resources, and thrice-weekly text messages. Participants' weight (primary outcome); dietary intake, physical activity, and nutrition knowledge (secondary outcomes) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Of the 109 who completed follow-up, 28% lost ≥ 5% of their baseline body weight. Post-intervention, participants consumed more fruit and less soda, sweet pastries, fried foods and red meat; increased physical activity; and evidenced greater nutrition knowledge. A community-based lifestyle intervention with automated components such as text messaging may be a scalable, cost-effective approach to address overweight/obesity among underserved populations.
RESUMO
Patients with limited English proficiency receive worse care due to communication barriers. Little is known about which cancer hospitals have written language access policies addressing bilingual clinicians. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of healthcare organizations, matching survey data to American Hospital Association Survey and American Community Survey data. We analyzed characteristics associated with hospitals having bilingual clinician policies. The response rate was 71% (127/178). Many hospitals (53 [42%]) did not have written policies on bilingual clinicians. Having bilingual clinicians available at the hospital was associated with having a written policy on bilingual clinicians, while being an NCORP site was associated with not having a written policy on bilingual clinicians. Patient demographic characteristics were not associated with hospitals having written policies on bilingual clinicians. A substantial proportion of cancer hospitals do not have policies that cover language use by bilingual clinicians, particularly at NCORP sites. Having written policies on bilingual clinicians has the potential to mitigate cancer disparities by facilitating accountability, improving communication, and reducing errors.
Assuntos
Multilinguismo , Neoplasias , Estados Unidos , Humanos , Estudos Transversais , Institutos de Câncer , Idioma , Comunicação , Neoplasias/terapiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: New York City's (NYC's) taxi/for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers have occupational and demographic characteristics associated with food insecurity (low income, comorbidities, minority race/ethnicity). OBJECTIVE: To analyze food insecurity rates in a sample of NYC drivers and to identify associated factors. METHODS: At health fairs, we recruited a cross-sectional sample of licensed taxi/FHV drivers willing to receive study text messages. Most lacked a primary care provider. Food insecurity prevalence and associations with health and economic indicators were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 503 participants who completed a 2-item food security screener, 39.2% were food insecure. Significantly fewer food insecure than food secure drivers reported a doctor visit within the past year (48% vs 25%; Pâ<â.001). Food insecure drivers had greater weekly traffic ticket expenditure ($34 vs $24; Pâ=â.02) and were more likely to report insufficient household income (61% vs 39%; Pâ<â.001) and history of depression (14% vs 7%; Pâ=â.02), to have elevated (>200) measured total cholesterol (50% vs 37%; Pâ=â.02), and to have Perceived Stress Scale scores indicating greater stress than food secure drivers (14 vs 11; Pâ=â.002). In a binary logistic regression analysis, drivers who reported that their total household income was enough to meet their basic needs had significantly lower odds of being food insecure (0.695 odds ratio; Pâ=â.016). CONCLUSION: Food insecurity was high in this group of taxi/FHV drivers. Food insecurity interventions are needed and could be occupationally based, with worksite screening and resource navigation. Policies should address improving wages and healthcare access.
Assuntos
Abastecimento de Alimentos , Pobreza , Humanos , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Insegurança AlimentarRESUMO
PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in patients' race/ethnicity, preferred language, and other factors were associated with patient enrollment in oncology research studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all adults (>18 and ≤90) seen at a large, metropolitan cancer center from 2005 to 2015, examining if enrollment to a research study, varied by race/ethnicity, preferred language, comorbidities, gender, and age. RESULTS: A total of 233 604 patients were available for initial analysis. Of these, 93 278 (39.9%) were enrolled in a research protocol (therapeutic and non-therapeutic studies). Patients who self-reported their race/ethnicity as Native, Other, Unknown, or Refuse to Answer were less likely to be enrolled on a study. Patients with one or more comorbidities, and those whose preferred language was English, were more likely to be enrolled on a research study. A logistic regression model showed that, although Non-Hispanic Black patients were more likely to have one or more comorbidities and had a higher proportion of their subset selecting English as their preferred language, they were less likely to be enrolled on a study, than our largest population, Non-Hispanic/White patients. CONCLUSIONS: We identified differences in research study enrollment based on preferred language, and within race/ethnicity categories including Native-Populations, Other, Unknown or Refuse to Answer compared to Non-Hispanic/White patients. We also highlighted the lower odds of enrollment among Non-Hispanic/Black patients, in the setting of factors such as comorbidities and English language preference, which were otherwise found to be positive predictors of enrollment. Further investigation is needed to design targeted interventions to reduce disparities in oncology research study enrollment, with particular focus on language diversity.
Assuntos
Etnicidade , Neoplasias , Adulto , Humanos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estudos Transversais , Neoplasias/epidemiologia , Neoplasias/terapia , IdiomaRESUMO
There are hundreds of thousands of metropolitan United States taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers who lack health insurance and have limited access to primary care. The Affordable Care Act provided increased opportunities for insurance coverage. The current study used a 1,864 person 2015-2018 NYC taxi/FHV driver dataset, which included health insurance coverage and primary care access information. The data revealed an increase in insurance coverage and primary care uptake across the four years, from 40% to 63% and 52% to 60%, respectively. Drivers' age, region of birth, and hours driving per week predicted insurance coverage, and drivers' age, region of birth, hours driving per week, and insurance status predicted primary care coverage. Recommendations for addressing the pervasive low rates of insurance and primary care coverage among this understudied marginalized population are presented.
Assuntos
Seguro Saúde , Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , Humanos , Cobertura do Seguro , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Atenção Primária à Saúde , Estados UnidosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Job loss after a cancer diagnosis can lead to long-term financial toxicity and its attendant adverse clinical consequences, including decreased treatment adherence. Among women undergoing (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, access to work accommodations (e.g., sick leave) is associated with higher job retention after treatment completion. However, low-income and/or minority women are less likely to have access to work accommodations and, therefore, are at higher risk of job loss. Given the time and transportation barriers that low-income working patients commonly face, it is crucial to develop an intervention that is convenient and easy to use. METHODS: We designed an intervention to promote job retention during and after (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer by improving access to relevant accommodations. Talking to Employers And Medical staff about Work (TEAMWork) is an English/Spanish mobile application (app) that provides (1) suggestions for work accommodations tailored to specific job demands, (2) coaching/strategies for negotiating with an employer, (3) advice for symptom self-management, and (4) tools to improve communication with the medical oncology team. This study is a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the app as a job-retention tool compared to a control condition that provides the app content in an informational paper booklet. The primary outcome of the study is work status after treatment completion. Secondary outcomes include work status 1 and 2 years later, participant self-efficacy to ask an employer for accommodations, receipt of workplace accommodations during and following adjuvant therapy, patient self-efficacy to communicate with the oncology provider, self-reported symptom burden during and following adjuvant therapy, and cancer treatment adherence. DISCUSSION: This study will assess the use of mobile technology to improve vulnerable breast cancer patients' ability to communicate with their employers and oncology providers, work during treatment and retain their jobs in the long term, thereby diminishing the potential consequences of job loss, including decreased treatment adherence, debt, and bankruptcy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClincalTrials.gov NCT03572374 . Registered on 08 June 2018.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama , Aplicativos Móveis , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Quimioterapia Adjuvante , Emprego , Feminino , Humanos , FolhetosRESUMO
Mexican Americans are at increased risk for obesity upon immigration to the U.S., increasing their risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Our pilot individual lifestyle intervention culturally tailored for Mexican Americans, COMIDA (Consumo de Opciones Más Ideales De Alimentos) (Eating More Ideal Food Options), showed promising results. This paper presents outcomes from the group-based version of COMIDA. 129 overweight/obese Mexican Americans were enrolled in 'Group COMIDA'. Participants' weight (primary outcome), dietary intake and nutrition knowledge (secondary outcomes) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Seventeen percent of participants experienced 5% weight loss at follow-up. Post-intervention, participants consumed more fruit and vegetables and fewer sweets and fried foods. A group-based, culturally adapted lifestyle intervention may be a more cost-effective approach than individual interventions to improve dietary behavior among underserved populations, though additional modifications may be considered to increase the intervention's effectiveness in promoting significant weight loss.
Assuntos
Emigrantes e Imigrantes , Redução de Peso , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , Sobrepeso/prevenção & controle , Obesidade/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Background: This qualitative study aims to identify facilitators of and barriers to the implementation of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) by providers of mental health services to Latinos in the US and Latin America using the practical, robust implementation and sustainability model (PRISM). This information will be used to increase usability and acceptability of MCP for Latino patients with cancer and their providers in Latin America and the US. Methods: A total of 14 Latino cancer patient mental health providers completed in-depth semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited from 9 countries and 12 different sites. They provided feedback about barriers to and facilitators of implementation of MCP at the patient, provider, and clinic levels in their clinical setting. The qualitative data from the interviews was coded according to PRISM domains. Three analysts independently coded the transcripts; discrepancies between analysts were resolved through discussion and consensus. Results: Based on PRISM, themes were: clinic environment (protected time for training and supervision), intervention characteristics (adapt the intervention using more simple language, include more visual aids, include more family-oriented content), patient (develop materials for the identification and screening of patients, provide educational materials, increase motivation and knowledge about psychotherapy, assess commitment to psychotherapy, adapt for the inpatient vs. outpatient setting), provider (receive interactive/participatory training, educational materials, ongoing supervision, have flexibility of delivering the intervention in a less structured manner, theoretical framework of the provider) and external environment (work at policy level to integrate services for oncology patients). Conclusion: These qualitative data revealed potential facilitators and barriers of this intervention (MCP) on an international scale. Identified cultural, contextual, and healthcare systems factors illustrated the importance of examining pre-implementation needs prior to implementing a trial. We will design and plan a future RCT using the PRISM framework and these pre-implementation data. Plain Language Summary: This study integrates frameworks of implementation science and cultural adaptation through the examination of pre-implementation contextual issues at the preparation phase of a cultural adaptation of a psychotherapeutic intervention, Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP), for Latinos with advanced cancer. By examining implementation needs early in the implementation process, during preparation, the intervention can be adapted in a way that attends to and addresses the providers' most cited challenges in implementation: having a rigid protocol/structure, complexity of the intervention, disease burden preventing adherence to the intervention, transportation, and competing demands, and limited clinic space to offer the intervention.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Hispanics are the largest minority group in the United States, constituting 18 % of the population. Mexicans are the largest Hispanic subgroup and are at disproportionate risk for overweight/obesity. Lifestyle interventions targeting dietary change and physical activity have resulted in significant weight loss in several large randomized clinical trials in the general population, but few studies have tailored interventions to Mexican Americans. We conducted a community needs assessment from 2018 to 2020 in accordance with Domenech-Rodriguez and Wieling's Cultural Adaptation Process (CAP) model to inform the development of SANOS (SAlud y Nutrición para todOS) (Health and Nutrition for All), a culturally-tailored, community-based diet and lifestyle education and counseling program that addresses overweight/obesity among U.S. Mexicans. METHODS: Five Spanish-language focus groups were conducted until thematic saturation with 31 overweight/obese Mexicans in New York City about their knowledge, priorities, and preferences regarding diet, exercise, and evidence-based strategies for behavioral change. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: (1) A strong desire for tangible information related to diet and health, (2) Family as a primary motivator for behavior change, (3) Desire for group-based motivation and accountability to sustain intervention participation, (4) Belief in short-term goal setting to prevent loss of motivation, and (5) Time and workplace-related barriers to intervention adoption. CONCLUSIONS: Ecological factors such as the effect of acculturation on diet, family members' role in behavior change, and socioenvironmental barriers to healthy dietary practices and physical activity should be considered when adapting evidence-based treatments for Mexican Americans.
Assuntos
Estilo de Vida , Sobrepeso , Dieta , Exercício Físico , Humanos , Obesidade/prevenção & controle , Sobrepeso/prevenção & controle , Sobrepeso/psicologia , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers are a largely immigrant, low-income occupational group at increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Poor dental health is a CVD risk factor, and dental care access is an unexamined taxi/FHV driver CVD risk factor. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 422 taxi/FHV drivers (2016-2017) to identify predictors of access to dental health care among drivers. One-third (n = 128, 30.3%) reported needing dental care/tests/treatment within the past six months, and nearly one-half (n = 61, 48%) were delayed/unable to obtain care. Only 57.6% (n = 241) had past-year dental cleanings. Not having enough money to cover household expenses was a significant predictor of being delayed/unable to obtain needed dental care/tests/treatment in the prior six months (0.5 OR; 95% CI, 0.28-0.89; p < .05). Lack of dental insurance coverage (2.72 OR; 95% CI, 1.60-4.63; p < .001) or lack of primary care provider (2.72 OR; 95% CI, 1.60-4.63; p < .001) were associated with lack of past-year dental cleaning. Seventeen percent of drivers with Medicaid were unaware of their dental coverage, which was associated with both inability to access needed dental care/tests/treatment in the past 6 months (p = .026) and no past-year dental cleaning (p < .001). Limited understanding of dental coverage was associated with both an inability to access needed dental care/tests/treatment in the past 6 months (p = .028) and lack of past-year dental cleaning (p = .014). Our findings can inform targeted intervention development to increase taxi/FHV driver dental care access/uptake, potentially improving their CVD risk.
Assuntos
Condução de Veículo , Emigrantes e Imigrantes , Estudos Transversais , Atenção à Saúde , Humanos , Cobertura do SeguroRESUMO
Introduction: Taxi drivers are a low income population with long work hours, a high-stress sedentary occupation, and varied work shifts, augmenting their risk for sleep disorders. We evaluated sleep quality among New York City (NYC) taxi drivers, a predominantly immigrant/minority population, for associations with sleep outcomes and examined intervention development and policy implications. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at driver-frequented locations with 211 consenting NYC taxi drivers and included the 12-item Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale-10. For five domains (sleep disturbance, snoring, shortness of breath, sleep adequacy, and somnolence) and Sleep Problems Index-II, self-reported scores were calculated and normed against a nationally representative 2009 US sample to obtain standardized t-test scores. Scores <47 were lower than US averages, indicating worse sleep quality. Results were explored in multivariable linear and logistic regression models. Results: Almost one-half (47%) of drivers had scores indicating sleep quality below US averages for snoring, 36% for shortness of breath/obstruction, and 19% for somnolence. There were significant associations of perceived stress with Sleep Problems Index II (p<0.001), sleep disturbance (p<0.001), somnolence (p<0.001), and sleep adequacy (p<0.05). Stress was predictive of sleep adequacy (p<0.05, bivariate; p<0.05, multivariate) and shortness of breath/obstruction (p<0.01, bivariate; p<0.001, multivariate). Nightshift drivers had significantly worse sleep disturbance scores than dayshift drivers (p<0.05). Taxi drivers were more likely to get an inadequate amount of daily sleep (<7 hours) than the average US male (48.5% vs. 38.3%). Conclusions: Sleep hygiene and stress management interventions could benefit the health of this population and improve driver and public safety. The associations of taxi driver sleep quality and stress indicate an opportunity for targeted intervention. Further research into sleep as an important determinant of taxi driver health is needed, especially in the burgeoning for-hire vehicle (Uber, Lyft, etc) sector.
RESUMO
Taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers are a predominantly immigrant population facing a range of occupational stressors, including lack of workplace benefits and increasing financial strain from tumultuous industry changes and now COVID-19's devastating impact. Bilingual research staff surveyed 422 New York City taxi/FHV drivers using a stratified sampling approach in driver-frequented locations to examine drivers' health and financial planning behaviors for the first time. Drivers lacked health insurance at double the NYC rate (20% vs. 10%). Life insurance and retirement savings rates were lower than U.S. averages (20% vs. 60%, 25% vs. 58%, respectively). Vehicle ownership was a significant predictor of health insurance, life insurance, and retirement savings. Compared to South Asian drivers, Sub-Saharan African drivers were significantly less likely to have health insurance and North African, and Middle Eastern drivers were significantly less likely to have retirement savings. Although most drivers indicated the importance of insurance and benefits, < 50% understood how to use them. Drivers felt primary care coverage to be most important followed by other health-related coverage, retirement benefits, and life insurance. Results reveal compelling addressable gaps in insurance and benefits coverage and the need to implement accessible financial literacy with navigation and advising services and programs.
Assuntos
Condução de Veículo/estatística & dados numéricos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Emigrantes e Imigrantes/estatística & dados numéricos , Cobertura do Seguro/estatística & dados numéricos , Aposentadoria/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Seguro Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Seguro de Vida/estatística & dados numéricos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Pandemias , Aposentadoria/economia , SARS-CoV-2 , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers, a largely male, immigrant and medically underserved population, are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, in part due to the nature of their work. This study examined demographic and lifestyle predictors of hypertension diagnosis awareness, objectively measured blood pressure (hypertensive-range vs non-hypertensive-range readings), medication use, and hypertension control. A cross-sectional assessment was conducted with 983 male taxi/FHV drivers who attended health fairs in New York City from 2010 to 2017. Twenty-three percent self-reported a hypertension history and 46% had hypertensive-range BP readings. Approximately, half the drivers lacked health insurance (47%) and a usual care source (46%). Thirty percent did not self-report hypertension and had hypertensive-range BP readings. Medication use was reported by 69% of hypertension-aware drivers, and being older and having health care access (insurance, a usual care source, and seeing a doctor in the past year) was significantly associated with medication use. Hypertension-unaware drivers with hypertensive-range BP readings were less likely to have a usual care source. Over 60% of drivers who were hypertension-aware and on medication had hypertensive-range readings. There is a need for community-based and workplace driver and provider interventions to address BP awareness and management and to provide health care navigation for vulnerable populations such as taxi/FHV vehicle drivers.
Assuntos
Condução de Veículo , Hipertensão , Doenças Profissionais , Condução de Veículo/estatística & dados numéricos , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Hipertensão/diagnóstico , Hipertensão/tratamento farmacológico , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , Doenças Profissionais/diagnóstico , Doenças Profissionais/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças Profissionais/epidemiologia , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
This study examined differences in colorectal cancer screening across sociodemographic, migration, occupational, and health-related factors in a sample of male taxi drivers. Male drivers eligible for colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) (≥ 50 years old) were recruited in 55 community-based health fairs conducted during November 2015 to February 2017 in 16 taxi garages or community locations located in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Bronx. Participants completed a survey that included sociodemographic, migration, occupational, health-related, and cancer screening practices. For this study 33 questions were analyzed. The sample consisted of 137 male drivers, 27% of them had undergone CRCS. Occupation-related factors, including night shifts and driving high numbers of weekly hours, were associated with lower CRCS rates; having a family history of cancer, health insurance, a regular source of primary care, and a routine check-up in the last year, were associated with higher CRCS rates. The findings suggest that drivers with health insurance and better access to primary care are more likely to be up-to-date with CRCS. The results provide important information that can inform occupation-based public health interventions.
Assuntos
Condução de Veículo , Neoplasias Colorretais/diagnóstico , Comércio , Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde , Detecção Precoce de Câncer/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosAssuntos
Condução de Veículo , Automóveis , Atenção à Saúde , Humanos , Análise de Classes Latentes , Rede SocialRESUMO
Discrimination is associated with poorer mental and physical health outcomes. Taxi drivers have a higher risk of exposure to discrimination and higher rates of chronic conditions. A cross-sectional needs assessment was conducted with a multilingual group of 535 male taxi drivers in New York City. Drivers reporting higher discrimination were more likely to have higher perceived stress and were more likely to have anxiety/depression and chronic pain, adjusting for confounders. Workplace-based interventions designed to help drivers cope with discrimination, stress, and chronic health conditions, interventions to educate the taxi-riding public, and greater attention to these issues from administrative agencies are warranted.
Assuntos
Condução de Veículo , Ocupações/estatística & dados numéricos , Preconceito/psicologia , Preconceito/estatística & dados numéricos , Determinantes Sociais da Saúde , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Masculino , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Language barriers can influence the quality of health care and health outcomes of limited English proficient patients with cancer. The use of medical interpretation services can be a valuable asset for improving communications in emergency care settings. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a mobile translation application increased call frequency to interpreter services among providers in an Urgent Care Center at a comprehensive cancer center and to assess provider satisfaction of the mobile application. RESEARCH DESIGN: Prospective pre-post nonrandomized intervention of a mobile translation application with access to an over the phone interpreter (OPI) service at the push of a button and poststudy satisfaction survey. SUBJECTS: Sixty-five clinicians working at the Urgent Care Center in a cancer center in New York City. MEASURES: Mean call frequency to OPI services, tested by the nonparametric Wilcoxon Mann Whitney test, and self-reported provider satisfaction descriptives. RESULTS: The mobile application contributed to increasing the frequency of phone calls to OPI services during the intervention period (mean=12.8; P=0.001) as compared with the preintervention period (mean=4.3), and showed continued use during the postintervention period (mean=5.7). Most clinicians were satisfied with the use of the mobile application and access to the OPI services. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that mobile application tools contribute to increasing the use and ease of access to language services. This has the potential to improve the quality of communication between medical providers and limited English proficient patients in the delivery of cancer care in urgent care settings.
Assuntos
Comunicação , Proficiência Limitada em Inglês , Aplicativos Móveis , Telefone , Tradução , Adulto , Barreiras de Comunicação , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias , Cidade de Nova Iorque , Projetos Piloto , Estudos Prospectivos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
Immigrant taxi drivers in metropolitan cities are exposed to experiences of discrimination and occupation-based health risks. Given the structural differences in health care systems in the United States and Canada, we investigated the differences in reports of discrimination, health conditions and concern about health conditions between taxi drivers in New York City and Toronto, Ontario. Participants were recruited for a taxi driver Needs Assessment Survey as part of a Taxi Network needs assessment project using a street side convenience sampling technique in New York City and Toronto. The matched sample contained 33 drivers from Toronto and 33 drivers from NYC. All Toronto drivers in our sample reported having health insurance while over a quarter of NYC drivers did not have health insurance. Toronto drivers reported greater everyday and workplace discrimination. Drivers in both cities experienced higher rates than average, and reported concern about, major health conditions. We also found preliminary evidence suggesting a relationship between experiencing discrimination and reporting chronic pain. Our findings suggest the need for future research to more closely examine the associations between discrimination and health among the taxi driver population.