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Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
Blue Shield of California’s Community Health Advocates (CHA) Program was created to support whole person-health needs by helping individuals of all socio-economic statuses navigate and access community resources, social services, and medical systems. The Health Reimagined initiative embeds Community Health Advocates within physical health practices to increase access to social services and community resources, improve health outcomes, reduce medical costs, and improve overall patient experience. Interviews and focus groups were held and found value in adding CHA’s to the care team. During the pandemic, CHAs have been important. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have made the need for holistic, community-integrated care even more urgent.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community experienced high COVID-19 case rates by April 2020, in addition to chronic diseases and socioeconomic disparities, so NHPI networks were mobilized to address the crisis, and a COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Resilience team was created. The team consists of multiple committees that examine policy; testing, contact tracing, and isolation; communications; social supports and resources; and data and research. This article discusses the development of a cultural framework to guide culturally informed advocacy efforts to ensure an appropriate response and recovery plan for NHPI that extends beyond COVID-19 to addressing longstanding NHPI disparities.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article describes G4H, an intervention to mitigate loneliness. This article identifies the need for more interventions to address loneliness and seeks to contribute to the evidence available through a randomized controlled trial where individuals participate in either a group based belonging intervention (G4H) or in cognitive behavioral therapy. The research takes place in Australia and included 174 people who received the intervention prior to COVID-19, with follow up measures collected after COVID-19. Results indicated that both CBT and G4H were effective at improving symptoms, but G4H showed higher benefits regarding loneliness, depression, and wellbeing.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The article outlines biomedical, behavioral, and social/structural interventions to improve HIV prevention and treatment in sexual and gender minority Latinx communities. The authors emphasize the need for a combination of these types of interventions in addressing health issues like HIV and COVID-19.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article describes the implementation of a medical student-run, free virtual clinic providing medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in Miami, Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility criteria for accessing services through the clinic included Florida residency and an income below 200% of the federal poverty level. The article describes how the students promoted the clinic, the process for providing MAT virtually (under supervision of an attending physician), patient characteristics, and reports process evaluation data for the clinic. The practice strategy this article is focused on is access to MAT for people with OUD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article presents results from an intervention to provide medication assisted treatment (MAT) to individuals with opioid use disorder via telemedicine. This article describes outcomes for patients enrolled in the NYC Health+Hospitals Virtual Buprenorphine Clinic during the first nine weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 26, 2020 through May 28, 2020). Results from this evaluation were mixed. Loss-to-follow-up was similar to rates observed in studies of in-person opioid treatment, but the authors note telemedicine-based opioid treatment poses barriers to patients who frequently change mobile phones or phone numbers, and patients with unreliable internet access. The authors also note that the generalizability of this intervention may be limited in settings with different patient populations or staff capacity.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article evaluates a partnership between the University of Maryland, Baltimore – an urban academic treatment center – and multiple rural behavioral health treatment centers to provide medication assisted treatment (MAT) to individuals with opioid use disorder via videoconference. Retention rates and toxicology results for patients who received MAT via videoconference were comparable to those receiving face-to-face treatment. It should be noted that data for this study were collected prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article presents the results of a non-randomized cohort study comparing opioid agonist therapy (medication assisted treatment [MAT]) for opioid use disorder received via telemedicine, in-person, or a mix of telemedicine and in-person visits. The study was conducted between January 2011 and June 2012 in Ontario, Canada. The telemedicine group had the highest one-year treatment retention rate, followed by the mixed group, and the in-person group had the lowest one-year treatment retention rate. The results suggest telemedicine could be an effective means of increasing access to MAT for opioid use disorder. It should be noted that the study was conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and replicability will vary based on local resources and MAT regulations.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article presents the results of a non-randomized controlled trial comparing in-person vs. telemedicine treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder in South Carolina. The authors found no statistically significant difference in treatment outcomes for women who received care in-person vs. via telemedicine, and no statistically significant difference in outcomes for the newborns of women in these respective groups. The authors were unable to assign trial participants to telemedicine vs. in-person care at random due to the inability of some rural patients to attend treatment in person. Also, the sample size was not sufficient to achieve ~80% power to detect a difference between the two groups. At the same time, the practice strategy is considered useful for helping to deliver telehealth treatment for vulnerable populations, including pregnant and newly parenting people with substance use disorder, and people living in rural communities.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article details the results of a randomized clinical trial evaluating web-based versus in-person substance use disorder counseling. While participants who completed the study reported similar levels of satisfaction with treatment, and similar rates of attendance and drug-positive urinalysis results, it should be noted that most study withdrawal occurred among participants assigned to the web-based intervention, with 26 participants withdrawing due to problems with computer or internet function. If this program were replicated in other settings, the digital divide could pose a barrier to equitable outcomes. The practice strategy this article is focused on is telemedicine for treatment of substance use disorder.