Residence in a Medicaid-expansion state and receipt of alcohol screening and brief counseling by adults with lower incomes: Is increased access to primary care enough?

BACKGROUND: We investigate whether living in a state that expanded Medicaid eligibility is associated with receiving alcohol screening and brief counseling among nonelderly, low-income adults and a subgroup with chronic health conditions caused or exacerbated by alcohol use. METHOD: Data are from the 2017 and 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 15,743 low-income adults; n = 7062 with a chronic condition). We used propensity score-weighted, covariate-adjusted, modified Poisson regression to estimate associations between residence in a Medicaid-expansion state and receipt of alcohol screening and brief counseling. Models estimated associations in the overall sample and chronic conditions subsample, as well as differential associations across sex, race, and ethnicity using interaction terms. RESULTS: Living in a state that expanded Medicaid eligibility was associated with being asked whether one drank (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08, 1.22), but not with further alcohol screening, guidance about harmful drinking, or advice to reduce drinking. Among individuals with alcohol-related chronic conditions, expansion state residence was associated with being asked about drinking (PR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.20) and, among past 30-day drinkers with chronic conditions, being asked how much one drank (PR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.59) and about binge drinking (PR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.99). Interaction terms suggest that some associations differ by race and ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Living in a state that expanded Medicaid is associated with a higher prevalence of receiving some alcohol screening at a check-up in the past 2 years among low-income residents, particularly among individuals with alcohol-related chronic conditions, but not with the receipt of high-quality screening and brief counseling. Policies may have to address provider barriers to delivery of these services in addition to access to care.

Effectiveness of brief counseling (5As): Antenatal tobacco cessation support program among pregnant women availing antenatal care.

Introduction: It is likely that a pregnant woman is more motivated and receptive to accepting healthy habits and practices if talked about the benefits to the fetus. When explained about the harmful effects of tobacco on the health of the baby, the mother can be encouraged to modify her tobacco consumption habits and work toward quitting tobacco. Aim: Our aim was to study the effectiveness of brief counseling (5As)-Antenatal Tobacco Cessation Support Program among pregnant women availing antenatal care (ANC). Methodology: A quasi-randomized study design was used to conduct the study. The participants were identified by screening during ANC visits, and women consuming tobacco were subjected to detailed history taking and very brief counseling with the help of 5A's framework. Results: We found that Mishri was the commonest form of tobacco consumed by these women. Around 93.33% of the women consume Mishri, followed by 6.66% of women consuming chewing tobacco. The method of brief counseling made an impact in the cessation of tobacco consumption in 13.37% of the study subjects. Conclusion: We conclude that the use of brief counseling and motivational interviewing is feasible in most settings without inhibiting the other important aspects of ANC or disrupting the patient flow.

Optimization of a new adaptive intervention using the SMART Design to increase COVID-19 testing among people at high risk in an urban community.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has impacted the health and social fabric of individuals and families living across the USA, and it has disproportionately affected people living in urban communities with co-morbidities, those working in high-risk settings, refusing or unable to adhere to CDC guidelines, and more. Social determinants of health (SDH), such as stigmatization, incarceration, and poverty, have been associated with increased exposure to COVID-19 and increased deaths. While vaccines and booster shots are available, it will take time to reach herd immunity, and it is unclear how long newly developed vaccines provide protection and how effective they are against emerging variants. Therefore, prevention methods recommended by the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC)-i.e., testing, hand-washing, social distancing, contact tracing, vaccination and booster shots, and quarantine-are essential to reduce the rates of COVID-19 in marginalized communities. This project will adapt and test evidence-based HIV interventions along the prevention and treatment cascade to help address COVID-19 prevention needs. METHODS: The study aims to (1) optimize an adaptive intervention that will increase rates of testing and adherence to New Jersey State COVID-19 recommendations (testing, social distancing, quarantine, hospitalization, contact tracing, and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots) among high-risk populations and (2) identify predictors of testing completion and adherence to New Jersey recommendations. This study follows Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles to conduct a Sequential, Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) with 670 COVID-19 medically/socially vulnerable people. Participants will be recruited using a variety of strategies including advertisements on social media, posting fliers in public places, street outreach, facility-based, and snowball sampling. Participants complete a baseline survey and are randomized to receive navigation services or an electronic brochure. They then complete a follow-up 7 days after baseline and are randomized again to either continue with their original assignment or switch to the other intervention or critical dialog or brief counseling. Participants then complete a 5-week post-baseline follow-up. Guided by the COVID-19 Continuum of Prevention, Care, and Treatment, the analysis will explore the factors associated with COVID-19 testing within 7 days of the intervention. DISCUSSION: This paper describes the protocol of the first study to use SMART following CBPR to adapt evidence-based HIV prevention interventions to COVID-19. The findings will inform the development of an effective and scalable adaptive intervention to increase COVID-19 testing and adherence to public health recommendations, including vaccination and booster shots, among a marginalized and difficult-to-engage population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04757298 . Registered on February 17, 2021.

Cost-analysis and cost-effectiveness of physical activity interventions in Brazilian primary health care: a randomised feasibility study / Análise de custo e custo-efetividade de intervenções de atividade física na atenção primária à saúde no Brasil: um estudo de viabilidade randomizado

Abstract Physical exercise programs have been carried out in primary health care in Brazil and have provided good results in terms of effectiveness, their economic contribution has not been investigated yet. The aim of the study is to verify the feasibility of brief counseling physical activity intervention and to compare its economic cost and cost-effectiveness with supervised physical exercise intervention in primary care. A multi-arm parallel feasibility trial, with equal randomization [1:1:1] was conducted in Basic Health Units in Brazil. 61 participants were randomized in Brief Counseling Intervention (BCI), Supervised Physical Exercise Intervention (SPEI) and Control Group (CG). Interventions lasted one year. The BCI is more economical than the SPEI, costing around 50% less in the economic comparisons (session cost, annual cost and cost per participant annually). At leisure time, the cost to move one person to the physically active category at 12 months is estimated in R$369.00 for BCI and R$426.21 for the SPEI. The Incremental Cost-effectiveness Ratio (ICER) is R$310.32. The BCI is feasible and more economic, however, the cost effective is not that different. Thus, it is strongly recommended that the two interventions be offered at primary care in Brazil.

Resumo Programas de exercício físico são ofertados na atenção primária à saúde no Brasil, apresentando bons resultados na eficácia, sua contribuição econômica ainda não foi investigada. O objetivo do estudo é verificar a viabilidade de uma intervenção breve de aconselhamento para atividade física, e comparar seu custo econômico e custo-efetividade com a intervenção supervisionada de exercício físico na atenção primária. Um estudo de viabilidade de múltiplos braços paralelos, com igual randomização [1:1:1] foi realizado em Unidades Básicas de Saúde no Brasil. 61 participantes foram randomizados em Intervenção Breve de Aconselhamento (BCI), Intervenção Supervisionada de Exercício Físico (SPEI) e Grupo Controle (CG). As intervenções tiveram duração de 1 ano. BCI é mais econômica que SPEI, custando cerca de 50% menos nas comparações econômicas (custo da sessão, custo anual e custo por participante anualmente). No lazer, o custo de mudança de uma pessoa para a categoria fisicamente ativa aos 12 meses é estimado em R$ 369,00 na BCI e R$ 426,21 na SPEI. O Índice de Custo-Efetividade Incremental (ICER) é de R$ 310,32. BCI é viável e mais econômica; no entanto, o custo-benefício não é tão diferente. Assim, é altamente recomendável que as duas intervenções sejam oferecidas.

Effectiveness of a Theory- and Web-Based Adaptive Implementation Intervention on Nurses' and Nursing Students' Intentions to Provide Brief Counseling: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Brief counseling can motivate patients to initiate health behavior change. However, increasing the provision of brief counseling by nurses is difficult due to contextual and practitioner-level factors impeding nurses' motivation and intentions to provide brief counseling (eg, unfavorable attitude toward brief counseling, lack of perceived control linked to barriers). Theory-based implementation interventions could address these practitioner-level factors and support evidence-based practice in the context of brief counseling. Web-based, adaptive e-learning (electronic learning) programs are a novel type of implementation intervention that could address the limitations of current brief counseling training programs, such as accessibility and personalization. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents a study protocol for evaluating the effectiveness of the E_MOTIVA implementation intervention-a theory- and web-based adaptive e-learning program-to increase nurses' and nursing students' intentions to provide brief counseling for smoking, an unbalanced diet, and medication nonadherence. METHODS: A two-group, single-blind, randomized controlled trial will be conducted with nurses and nursing students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Quebec, Canada. Participants in the experimental group will be allocated to the E_MOTIVA intervention-a theory- and web-based adaptive e-learning program-while participants in the active control group will be allocated to the E_MOTIVB intervention, a knowledge- and web-based standardized e-learning program. The E_MOTIVA intervention was designed to influence the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (eg, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) in the context of brief counseling. The Cognitive Load Index and User Engagement Scale will be used to assess participants' cognitive load and engagement related to e-learning. Participants will complete the Brief Counseling Nursing Practices Questionnaire-Abridged Version at baseline and follow-up. All study measures will be completed online. RESULTS: The study is ongoing. The results of the study will provide answers to the primary hypothesis (H1) that experimental group participants will demonstrate a greater change in the score of intentions to provide brief counseling between baseline (-T1) and follow-up (T4). Secondary hypotheses include greater improvements in scores of attitude (H2), subjective norms (H3), perceived control (H4), behavioral beliefs (H5), normative beliefs (H6), and control beliefs (H7) regarding brief counseling in the experimental group between baseline and follow-up. We also anticipate lower intrinsic and extrinsic cognitive loads (H8, H9), higher germane cognitive load (H10), and higher engagement (H11, H12) in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: This study will be among the first in evaluating a novel type of implementation intervention, a theory- and web-based adaptive e-learning program, in nurses and nursing students. This type of intervention has the potential to support evidence-based practice through accessible, personalized training in wide-ranging domains in nursing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN32603572; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN32603572. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/18894.

Effectiveness of midwife-led brief counseling intervention on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms of women experiencing a traumatic childbirth: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effectiveness of brief midwife-led counseling based on Gamble and colleagues' approach in decreasing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms among a group of women who had experienced a traumatic childbirth. METHODS: From among 270 pregnant women screened to participate in the study, 90 women experienced a traumatic childbirth. They were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention (n = 45) and control group (n = 45). We did a face-to-face counseling session within 72 h after giving birth and a telephone counseling session four to 6 weeks after giving birth for the intervention group. The control group only received the postnatal routine care. The outcome measures were post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: At the three-month follow-up, the intervention group showed significantly higher improvement on post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Gamble and colleagues' midwife-led brief counseling could be an effective approach to reduce psychological distress of women who have experienced a traumatic childbirth. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT201608285417N2, Date of Registration: 2/21/2017.

Physical Activity Promotion Tools in the Portuguese Primary Health Care: An Implementation Research.

BACKGROUND: This paper aims to discuss how physical activity (PA) brief assessment, brief counseling, and self-monitoring tools were designed and implemented in the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS), and to report on their current use by health professionals and citizens. METHODS: Three digital tools to facilitate PA promotion in primary health care (PHC) were developed: 1) a PA brief assessment tool was incorporated in the electronic health record platform "SClínico Cuidados de Saúde Primários"; 2) a brief counseling tool was developed in the software "PEM-Prescrição Eletrónica Médica" (electronic medical prescription); and 3) a "Physical Activity Card" was incorporated in an official NHS smartphone app called "MySNS Carteira". RESULTS: From September 2017 to June 2019, 119,386 Portuguese patients had their PA assessed in PHC. Between December 2017 and June 2019, a total of 7957 patients received brief intervention for PA by a medical doctor. Regarding the app "MySNS Carteira", 93,320 users activated the "Physical Activity Card", between February 2018 and December 2018. CONCLUSIONS: These tools represent key actions to promote PA among Portuguese citizens using PHC as a priority setting. Further initiatives will follow, including proper assessment of their clinical impact and training programs for health care professionals on PA promotion.

Addition of one session with a specialist counselor did not increase efficacy of a family physician-led smoking cessation program.

Objective Higher-intensity counseling sessions increase the smoking abstinence rate. However, counselors are limited in Taiwan. This study was performed to determine whether the addition of one session with a specialist counselor increases the efficacy of a family physician-led smoking cessation program. Methods Participants opted to either visit a family physician for brief counseling and pharmacotherapy (Po) or visit a specialist counselor for an initial session followed by a family physician for brief counseling sessions with pharmacotherapy (P+). The 7-day point prevalence (PP) rate was evaluated at weeks 12 and 24. Results In total, 356 patients were enrolled. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the PP rate at week 12 was higher in the Po than P+ group, but there was no significant difference at week 24. In the per-protocol analysis, the PP rates at weeks 12 and 24 were not significantly different between the Po and P+ groups. The adjusted odds ratios also revealed no significant differences in either the intention-to-treat analysis or the per-protocol analysis between the two groups. Conclusion The addition of one session with a specialist counselor had no benefit over the provision of counseling through a family physician at either 12 or 24 weeks of follow-up.

Brief Counseling on Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Pregnant Women in Argentina and Uruguay.

Argentina and Uruguay have a high prevalence of smoking during pregnancy, as well as of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. In this secondary analysis of a trial to implement brief smoking cessation counseling during antenatal care in Argentina and Uruguay, we aim to evaluate the effects of the intervention on the rates of self-reported SHS exposure at home and at work, and on attitudes recalled by non-smoker women enrolled in the intervention group compared with the control group. We randomly assigned (1:1) 20 antenatal care clusters in Argentina and Uruguay to receive a multifaceted intervention to implement brief smoking cessation counseling, which also included questions and counseling regarding SHS exposure, or to receive the standard of care. There was not a statistically significant difference between groups of the intervention's effect (reduction of exposure to SHS) on any of the three exposure outcome measures (exposure at home, work or other indoor areas) or on the attitudes of women regarding exposure (avoiding breathing SHS and having rooms where smoking is forbidden). This analysis shows that we should not expect reductions in SHS exposure with this modest intervention alone. To achieve such reductions, strategies engaging partners and other household members may be more effective.

Social connectedness and life satisfaction: Comparing mean levels for 2 undergraduate samples and testing for improvement based on brief counseling.

OBJECTIVES: Comparing the mean levels of social connectedness and life satisfaction, and analyzing their relationship for 2 undergraduate samples, and testing for an increase in their means for a brief counseling sample. PARTICIPANTS: Between October 2013 and May 2015, 3 samples were collected: not-in-counseling (NIC; n = 941), initial counseling session (ICS; ie, triage session only; n = 168), and brief counseling (BC; ie, median of 4 additional counseling sessions; n = 28). METHODS: Online surveys measuring demographic and background control variables, social connectedness, and life satisfaction. RESULTS: NIC students exhibited higher social connectedness and life satisfaction than ICS students. Social connectedness significantly explained life satisfaction beyond controlled-for variables for both samples. There was a significant increase in social connectedness and life satisfaction for the BC sample. CONCLUSIONS: Social connectedness is an important antecedent of life satisfaction for undergraduates. Brief counseling can increase transition students' social connectedness and life satisfaction.

Female veterans' preferences for counseling related to intimate partner violence: Informing patient-centered interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Female veterans are at high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). A critical issue in the provision of health care to women who experience IPV is the delivery of effective brief counseling interventions that address women's unique needs. We aimed to identify female veterans' priorities and preferences for healthcare-based IPV counseling. METHOD: A 2014 Web-based survey was administered to a national sample of US female veterans. Among 411 respondents (75% participation rate), 55% (n=226) reported IPV during their lifetime. These women identified priorities for the content focus of IPV-related counseling and preferences for the delivery of these services. RESULTS: Women prioritized counseling that focuses on physical safety and emotional health, with learning about community resources being a relatively lower priority. Participants preferred counseling to focus specifically on enhancing coping skills and managing mental health symptoms. In addition, women want counseling to be individualized and preferred the option to meet with a counselor immediately following disclosure. Affordable services and attention to privacy concerns were of paramount importance in the context of IPV-related counseling. CONCLUSION: These findings can inform patient-centered brief counseling interventions for women who experience IPV, which may ultimately reduce health disparities and violence among this population.

Consejo breve sobre el tabaco en atención primaria de salud en Chile: un desafío pendiente / Brief advice on tobacco in primary health care in Chile: a pending challenge

Introducción: El tabaco es la primera causa de morbimortalidad prevenible en el mundo. En Chile la prevalencia de consumo es 40,6 por ciento, la mayor a nivel continental. El consejo breve o consejería breve (CB) es una intervención simple, efectiva y de bajo costo para el cese de consumo de tabaco, que Atención Primaria en Salud (APS) ha demostrado disminuir en la prevalencia de tabaquismo. Existe escasa información sobre la utilización de CB en APS en Chile. Métodos: Estudio transversal de metodología cuantitativa. Se encuestó a 604 pacientes pertenecientes a 2 centros APS de Santiago, tras haber recibido atención clínica. Los datos fueron analizados con SPSS 21 y calculadora web Graph Pad. Resultados: La prevalencia de tabaquismo entre los encuestados fue de 32,5por ciento, de ellos, el 78,6 por ciento reportó deseo de dejar de fumar. Al 43,7 por ciento de los encuestados se le preguntó respecto al consumo de tabaco en la atención reciente, y del total de fumadores, a 37,1 por ciento se les aconsejó dejar de fumar. Los pacientes fumadores calificaron la recepción de CB como "indiferente", "agradable" o "muy agradable" en un 94,9 por ciento, y en un 90,5 por ciento, entre aquellos que no desean dejar de fumar. Conclusión: El tabaquismo es un problema escasamente abordado en las atenciones clínicas APS, lo que contrasta con la alta prevalencia de consumo nacional y de los pacientes consultantes. La mayoría de los fumadores desea dejar de fumar, y la minoría considera "desagradable" o "muy desagradable" ser aconsejada para cesar el consumo, aun en aquellos fumadores que no quieren dejar de fumar.(AU)

Introduction: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Chile smoking prevalence is 40.6 percent, the highest on the continent. Brief advice or brief counseling (BC) is a simple, effective and inexpensive intervention for tobacco consumption cessation, that has been shown decrease smoking prevalence in Primary Health Care (PHC). There is little information on the use of BC in PHC in Chile. Methods: Cross-sectional study of quantitative methodology. 604 patients were surveyed from 2 PHC centers of Santiago, after receiving clinical care. Data was analyzed with SPSS 21 and Graph Pad web calculator. Results: The smoking prevalence among respondents was 32.5 percent, 78.6 percent of them expressed desire to quit 43.7 percent of respondents were asked about consumption of tobacco in a recent consultation, and a total 36.9 percent of smokers were advised to quit. Smokers patients rated reciving CB as "indifferent", "pleasant" or "very pleasant" in 94,9 percent and 90,5 percent among those who did not want to quit. Conclusion: Smoking is a problem rarely addressed in PHC, this contrasts with the high prevalence of domestic consumption and consulting patients. Most smokers want to quit and only a minority considered "unpleasant" or "very unpleasant" being advised to cease consumption, even in those smokers who do not want to quit.(AU)

A pilot study of microanalysis in solution-focused brief counseling characteristics evaluation / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To explore the microanalysis method used to evaluate the solution-focused brief coun-seling (SFBC)interview characteristics of the skilled trainees and novices.Methods:Five skilled SFBC trainees, who had learned and practiced of SFBC for not less than 5 years,and 9 SFBC novices,who had a total of learning of SFBC for no more than 3 months,were recruited.The skilled trainees'5 interview recordings and 9 interview re-cordings of the novices were collected and coded.Then the formulations and questions used in the two groups'inter-views were compared with each other,and the different nature of language (positive,negative or neutral)used by them were also analyzed.Results:The numbers of complex formulations used by skilled trainees were more than the novice's [(4.4 ±2.5)vs.(1.6 ±1.1),P <0.05].And the percentage of opening questions was significant higher than novice's [(0.83 ±0.14)vs.(0.61 ±0.18),P <0.05].The numbers of positive utterances used by the skilled trainees were much more than the novices'[(16.0 ±7.0)vs.(8.7 ±2.4),P <0.05].Conclusion:The microanaly-sis method could be effectively used to distinguish the characteristic differences between the skilled trainees and the novices in their formulations,opening questions and positive utterances,during their respective interviews.And it could be effectively used to evaluate the interview skill levels of the skilled trainees and novices.