Metastatic Breast Cancer mHealth App to Promote Patient-Provider Communication: Protocol for a Usability and Satisfaction Study.

Background: With the availability of more advanced and effective treatments, life expectancy has improved among patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), but this makes communication with their medical oncologist more complex. Some patients struggle to learn about their therapeutic options and to understand and articulate their preferences. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can enhance patient-provider communication, playing a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment, quality of life, and outcomes for patients living with MBC.

Assessing Mental Illness Referral Request Acceptance: A Nationwide E-Referral Data From Saudi Arabia.

Background And Objective: Mental disorders significantly impact quality of life and life expectancy, representing a leading cause of global disease burden. Healthcare systems worldwide face challenges in meeting mental health service demands, particularly due to specialist shortages and geographical barriers. Saudi Arabia has implemented an innovative nationwide electronic referral system (SMARC) as part of its digital health transformation strategy to enhance mental healthcare accessibility.

Digital Surveillance of Mental Health Care Services in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study of National e-Referral System Data.

Background: Mental illness affects an estimated 25% of the global population, with treatment gaps persisting worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, leading to a significant increase in mental health issues globally. In Saudi Arabia, the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders is estimated at 34.

Evaluating the Impact of CenteringPregnancy Program Versus Individual Prenatal Care on Gestational Weight Gain.

The CenteringPregnancy (CP) program-proven to reduce preterm births-was modified to achieve more optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) by an intentional incorporation of nutrition education. We compared the effect of the modified CP program versus individual prenatal care (IPNC) on GWG. This observational study used linked birth certificate data and hospital discharge records of women who received prenatal care (PNC) in South Carolina Midlands' obstetric clinics between 2015 and 2019.

Impact of functional disability on health-care use and medical costs among cancer survivors.

Background: Cancer survivors with a disability are among the most vulnerable in health status and financial hardship, but no prior research has systematically examined how disability modifies health-care use and costs. This study examined the association between functional disability among cancer survivors and their health-care utilization and medical costs.

Methods: We generated nationally representative estimates using the 2015-2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Participation in the CenteringPregnancy Program and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension.

Introduction: CenteringPregnancy emphasizes nutrition, learning, and peer support through a group meeting format in contrast to the standard of prenatal care that maximizes a pregnant patient's time with their provider. It was hypothesized that the program may yield a reduced risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension. In this observational study, authors examined the impacts of the CenteringPregnancy program versus those of standard of prenatal care on pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Integrating maternal depression care at primary private clinics in low-income settings in Pakistan: A secondary analysis.

Introduction: The prevalence of depression among women in Pakistan ranges from 28% to 66%. There is a lack of structured mental healthcare provision at private primary care clinics in low-income urban settings in Pakistan. This study investigated the effectiveness and processes of a facility-based maternal depression intervention at private primary care clinics in low-income settings.

A National Perspective of Telemedicine Use and Direct Medical Costs: Who Uses It and How Much It Costs.

Background: Telemedicine has the potential to reduce medical costs among health systems. However, there is a limited understanding of the use of telemedicine and its association with direct medical costs.

Objectives: Using nationally representative data, we investigated telemedicine use and the associated direct medical costs among respondents overall and stratified by medical provider type and patient insurance status.

Mobile Health Apps for Patient-Centered Care: Review of United States Rheumatoid Arthritis Apps for Engagement and Activation.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a highly dynamic and individualized disease in terms of its patterns of symptomatic flare-ups and periods of remission. Patient-centered care (PCC) aligns patients' lifestyle goals with their preferences for managing symptoms and side effects through the selection of therapies appropriate for disease management. Mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to engage and activate patients in PCC.

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this study was to measure anxiety levels and many co-factors that might influence the levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak in southern Saudi Arabia (KSA). A cross-sectional self-reporting survey was conducted to determine the level of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms related to COVID-19 and quarantining. We selected a convenience sample of eligible participants who had been invited online through social media apps.

Patient Goals for Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Qualitative Study.

Rheumatoid arthritis is highly individualized in terms of its flare ups and periods of remission. Each patient's unique experience requires a high level of personalization in terms of treatment making it necessary to understand what their goals for living are. This study explores patient perceptions on how the burden of RA shapes patients' goals for living and their preferences for symptom and side-effect management within the United States.

Needlestick and sharps injuries among secondary and tertiary healthcare workers, Saudi Arabia.

Aim: The study aimed to assess the incidence of needlestick and sharps injuries among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia, as well as to determine whether there exists an association between hospital level and needlestick and sharps injuries rate.

Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 609 randomly selected HCWs from nine general hospitals.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire, which covered the structure and process of injection safety, was used for data collection.

Multilevel predictors of guideline concordant needle biopsy use for non-metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: Persistent breast cancer disparities, particularly geographic disparities, may be explained by diagnostic practice patterns such as utilization of needle biopsy, a National Quality Forum-endorsed quality metric for breast cancer diagnosis. Our objective was to assess the relationship between patient- and facility-level factors and needle biopsy receipt among women with non-metastatic breast cancer in the United States.

Methods: We examined characteristics of women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2004 and 2015 in the National Cancer Database.

The Gut-Microbiome in Gulf War Veterans: A Preliminary Report.

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom disorder affecting the central nervous system (CNS), immune and gastrointestinal (GI) systems of Gulf War veterans (GWV). We assessed the relationships between GWI, GI symptoms, gut microbiome and inflammatory markers in GWV from the Boston Gulf War Illness Consortium (GWIC). Three groups of GWIC veterans were recruited in this pilot study; GWV without GWI and no gastrointestinal symptoms (controls), GWV with GWI and no gastrointestinal symptoms (GWI-GI), GWV with GWI who reported gastrointestinal symptoms (GW+GI).

Clinical Work Intensity Among Medical Oncologists Practicing in National Community Oncology Research Program Community Sites.

Purpose: This study (1) assesses the level of clinical work intensity medical oncologists and oncologic nurse practitioners experience providing care and (2) identifies patient, provider, and practice factors mediating intensity.

Patients And Methods: Seventeen medical oncologists (12 physicians and five nurse practitioners) from five national sites national reported on the level of work intensity associated with 339 patient visits. Data collection at each site occurred over a 2- to 6 week period; for each provider, five visits were randomly selected from each of 4 randomly selected clinic days, yielding 20 visits per provider.