Browsing by Author "Weathers, Tess"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Challenges Experienced by Black Women with Breast Cancer During Active Treatment: Relationship to Treatment Adherence
    (Springer Nature, 2023) Bigatti, Silvia M.; Weathers, Tess; Hayes, Lisa; Daggy, Joanne; Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health
    Background: Although rates of death from breast cancer have declined in the USA for both Black and White women since 1990, mortality rates for Black women remain strikingly higher - 40% higher compared to White women (American Cancer Society 1). The barriers and challenges that may be triggering unfavorable treatment-related outcomes and diminished treatment adherence among Black women are not well understood. Methods: We recruited 25 Black women with breast cancer who were to receive surgery and chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Through weekly electronic surveys, we assessed types and severity of challenges across various life domains. Because the participants rarely missed treatments or appointments, we examined the impact of severity of weekly challenges on thoughts of skipping treatment or appointment with their cancer care team using a mixed-effects location scale model. Results: Both a higher average severity of challenges and a higher deviation of severity reported across weeks were associated with increased thoughts on skipping treatment or appointment. The correlation between the random location and scale effects was positive; thus, those women that reported more thoughts on skipping a dose of medicine or appointment were also more unpredictable with respect to the severity of challenges reported. Conclusions: Black women with breast cancer are impacted by familial, social, work-related, and medical care factors, and these may in turn affect adherence to treatment. Providers are encouraged to actively screen and communicate with patients regarding life challenges and to build networks of support within the medical care team and social community that can help patients successfully complete treatment as planned.
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    Evaluation of an emergency department-based opioid overdose survivor intervention: Difference-in-difference analysis of electronic health record data to assess key outcomes
    (Elsevier, 2021) Watson, Dennis P.; Weathers, Tess; McGuire, Alan; Cohen, Alex; Huynh, Philip; Bowes, Clay; O’Donnell, Daniel; Brucker, Krista; Gupta, Sumedha; Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health
    Background: In recent years, a number of emergency department (ED)-based interventions have been developed to provide supports and/or treatment linkage for people who use opioids. However, there is limited research supporting the effectiveness of the majority of these interventions. Project POINT is an ED-based intervention aimed at providing opioid overdose survivors with naloxone and recovery supports and connecting them to evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). An evaluation of POINT was conducted. Methods: A difference-in-difference analysis of electronic health record data was completed to understand the difference in outcomes for patients admitted to the ED when a POINT staff member was working versus times when they were not. The observation window was January 1, 2012 to July 6, 2019, which included N = 1462 unique individuals, of which 802 were in the POINT arm. Outcomes of focus include MOUD opioid prescriptions dispensed, active non-MOUD opioid prescriptions dispensed, naloxone access, and drug poisonings. Results: The POINT arm had a significant increase in MOUD prescriptions dispensed, non-MOUD prescriptions dispensed, and naloxone access (all p-values < 0.001). There was no significant effect related to subsequent drug poisoning-related hospital admissions. Conclusions: The results support the assertion that POINT is meeting its two primary goals related to increasing naloxone access and connecting patients to MOUD. Generalization of these results is limited; however, the evaluation contributes to a nascent area of research and can serve a foundation for future work.
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    Latino immigrant parents of adolescents: Need for parenting support
    (2014) Bigatti, Silvia; Diaz, Virna; Conrad, Katrina; Weathers, Tess; Mirabal, Magdy
    Statement of problem: Latino immigrants in Indianapolis report difficulties parenting their adolescents, meanwhile higher rates of suicide attempts among Latino adolescents have been documented. Relevance: Successful transition through adolescence leads to family and individual well-being. This is especially important for families dealing with the stress of migration and acculturation. Methods: As part of a larger study to identify predictors of Latino adolescent depression, the community partner recruited adolescents and their parents from the population they serve. While the adolescents completed survey instruments, parents (roughly 100) participated in focus groups (n = 8) at various locations around the metropolitan area. One community partner and one academic partner ran the focus groups jointly, asking parents about their concerns regarding parenting and their children. Results: Parents reported problematic behaviors in their children, including aggression, isolation, and cutting. Several themes emerged, with two highlighted here: 1) an understanding that depression and anxiety explained some of the more extreme adolescent behaviors, and 2) a concern that their children would lose their identity and acculturate so much that they would disconnect from the family and its values. Parents reported need for parenting resources to help them navigate the adolescent years. Conclusions: It is challenging to parent adolescents, especially those who have the additional burden of straddling two very distinct cultures. When the parents themselves are adjusting to the new culture it is even more difficult. Culturally-tailored parenting guidance is desired by this Latino community and is likely to improve family functioning and adolescent adjustment.
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    The Changing Landscape of the Opioid Epidemic in Marion County and Evidence for Action
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2018-10-18) Watson, Dennis; Duwve, Joan; Greene, Marion; Weathers, Tess; Huynh, Philip; Nannery, Rebecca
    The impact of the opioid crisis is vast, with its effects impacting individuals, families, and communities as a whole. The epidemic has evolved – what began largely as a prescription opioid problem surged into the street, where heroin and “fake” pills resembling prescription drugs are now often laced with deadly amounts of illegally produced fentanyl. The evolving epidemic has compelled an evolving response, including new and more diverse strategies, and the engagement of multiple sectors of the community beyond health care, including employers, schools, nonprofit agencies, government agencies, law enforcement and policymakers. This report updates a 2016 report by the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health to describe the current landscape of the evolving opioid epidemic in Marion County, Indiana, and across the state.
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    Worlds Further Apart
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2021-08) Weathers, Tess; Comer, Karen; Staten, Lisa
    In our updated analysis of 104 ZIP codes in the Indianapolis metro area (2014-2018), we identified the northern suburb of Fishers as our longest living community and just 17 miles away, within the Indianapolis city limits, is the shortest living community within the metro area. Though only 17 miles of distance separate them, their life expectancy is worlds apart.