Lisa Goldman Rosas

All Publications

• Toward decolonized fiscal relationships between universities and community organizations: lessons learned from the California community engagement alliance against COVID-19 CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH Burke, N. J., Espinosa, P., Corchado, C. C., Vazquez, E., Rosas, L. G., Wooe, K. J., Lesarre, M., Gallegos-Castillo, A., Cheney, A., Lo, D. D., Hintz, R., Vassar, S. D., Brown, A. F. 2024; 34 (1): 1-13

  View details for DOI 10.1080/09581596.2024.2323715

  View details for Web of Science ID 001187561900001

• The Effectiveness of Recipe4Health: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation. American journal of preventive medicine Rosas, L. G., Chen, S., Xiao, L., Baiocchi, M., Ng, E., Emmert-Aronson, B. O., Chen, W. T., Thompson-Lastad, A., Martinez, E., Perez, J., Melendez, E., Markle, E., Radtke, M. D., Tester, J. 2024

  Abstract

  Food as Medicine is increasingly recognized as an important strategy for addressing the related challenges of food insecurity and nutrition-related chronic conditions. Food as Medicine refers to integration of food-based nutrition interventions into healthcare to prevent and treat disease. However, there is limited evidence to understand the effectiveness of Food as Medicine.Recipe4Health, a comprehensive Food as Medicine program, was implemented in 4 Federally Qualified Health Centers in California for patients with food insecurity and/or nutrition-related chronic conditions. Patients were referred by a healthcare provider to a 'Food Farmacy' (16 weekly produce home deliveries) alone or in combination with a 'Behavioral Pharmacy' (16 weekly group visits). A quasi-experimental study with pre/post surveys (4 months) and propensity score matched controls for Electronic Health Record (EHR) outcomes over 12 months was conducted. Participants were 2,643 Recipe4Health patients and 2,643 controls identified from 1/2020 to 12/2022; data were analyzed from 2023-2024.There was a significant increase in produce consumption from baseline to four months (0.41 servings/day [0.11, 0.72], p=0.007) in the Food Farmacy in combination with Behavioral Pharmacy. Compared to controls, there were improvements in non-HDL cholesterol for the Food Farmacy alone (-17.1 mg/dl[-26.9, -7.2], p<0.001) and in combination with Behavioral Pharmacy (-17 mg/dl [-28.3, -5.8], p=0.003) at 12 months. Compared to controls, HbA1c significantly decreased in the Food Farmacy alone at 12 months (-0.37%, 95% CI [-0.65, -0.08]; p=0.01), but not the Food Farmacy with Behavioral Pharmacy.Recipe4Health resulted in improvements in diet and multiple clinical health outcomes, such as non-HDL cholesterol and HbA1c.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2024.10.020

  View details for PubMedID 39491775

• Digital health equity - A call to action for clinical and translational scientists JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE Rowland, S., Brewer, L. C., Rosas, L. G. 2024; 8 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1017/cts.2024.564

  View details for Web of Science ID 001331517200001

• Addressing diabetes by elevating access to nutrition (ADELANTE) - A multi-level approach for improving household food insecurity and glycemic control among Latinos with diabetes: A randomized controlled trial. Contemporary clinical trials Radtke, M. D., Chen, W. T., Xiao, L., Espinosa, P. R., Orizaga, M., Thomas, T., Venditti, E., Yaroch, A. L., Zepada, K., Rosas, L. G., Tester, J. 2024: 107699

  Abstract

  Latinx adults are disproportionately impacted by the interrelated challenges of food insecurity and nutrition sensitive chronic diseases. Food and nutrition insecurity can exacerbate the development and progression of chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Sustainable, effective interventions aimed at improving food insecurity and diabetes management for Latinx populations are needed.This hybrid type 1 trial evaluates the effectiveness of a multi-level intervention that includes a medically supportive food and behavioral lifestyle program on the primary outcome of Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at 6 months. Latinx adults (n = 355) with type 2 diabetes (HbA1c of 6.0-12.0 %), overweight/obesity (BMI > 25 kg/m2), and self-reported risk of food insecurity will be randomized 1:1 to intervention (12 weekly deliveries of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain foods + culturally-modified behavioral lifestyle program) versus control (food deliveries after a 6-month delay). Outcome asessments will occur at 0, 6 and 12 months, and include HbA1c, dietary intake, psychosocial health outcomes, and diabetes-related stressors. In addition, food insecurity and the impact of the intervention on up to two household members will be measured. Qualitative interviews with patients, healthcare providers, and community partners will be conducted in accordance with Reach, Effectivenes, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenence (RE-AIM) framework to identify barriers and best practices for future dissemination.The ADELANTE trial will provide novel insight to the effectiveness of a multi-level intervention on diabetes-related outcomes in Latinx adults. The mixed-method approach will also identity the reach of this 'Food is Medicine' intervention on additional household members to inform diabetes prevention efforts.NCT05228860.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107699

  View details for PubMedID 39322114

• A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Culturally Adapted, Community-Based, Remotely Delivered Mindfulness Program for Latinx Patients With Breast Cancer is Acceptable and Feasible While Reducing Anxiety. Global advances in integrative medicine and health Juarez-Reyes, M., Martinez, E., Xiao, L., Goldman Rosas, L. 2024; 13: 27536130241274240

  Abstract

  Few Spanish mindfulness interventions have been evaluated in Latinx patients with cancer. We culturally adapted a mindfulness intervention for Spanish speaking Latinx patients. The objective was to measure feasibility and acceptability as primary outcomes, with changes in anxiety, depression, and sleep as secondary outcomes.Spanish-speaking Latinx patients with breast cancer (n = 31) were randomized, between April 2021 and May 2022 to either intervention or wait-list control groups. The mindfulness intervention consisted of 6-weekly 1.5-hour sessions remotely delivered by a novice facilitator. Cultural adaptations included language, metaphor, goal, concept, trauma informed, and acknowledgement of spirituality. Feasibility was benchmarked as 75% of participants attending their first session, 75% of participants completing 4 of 6 sessions, and scoring ≥ 4 on a 5-point Likert feasability scale measuring ability to implement changes after 6-weeks. Acceptability was measured as scoring ≥ 4 on a 5-point Likert scale measuring usefulness and relevance of the mindfulness intervention for each session. An intention-to-treat, linear mixed model with repeated measures analysis examined changes in anxiety, depression, and sleep at week 6 and 18 (3 months post intervention).All three feasibility benchmarks were met with 75% of first session attendance, 96% of participants completing 4 of 6 sessions, and 94% scoring ≥ 4, on the feasibility scale (Mean (SD) = 4.3 (0.6)). Acceptability scores for both usefulness and relevance questions were ≥ 4 across all 6 sessions. Anxiety was significantly reduced at 3 months (-3.6 (CI -6.9, -0.2), P = .04), but is of unclear clinical significance given the small change. Depression scores declined, but not significantly, and there were no changes in sleep.This culturally adapted, remotely delivered mindfulness intervention using a novice facilitator was acceptable and feasible and demonstrated associated reductions in anxiety amongst Spanish speaking Latinx patients with breast cancer.ClinicalTrials.gov ID# NCT04834154.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/27536130241274240

  View details for PubMedID 39157776

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11329901

• Effects of a Triage Checklist to Optimize Insomnia Treatment Outcomes and Reduce Hypnotic Use: The RESTING Study. Sleep Manber, R., Gumport, N. B., Tully, I. A., Kim, J. P., Kim, B., Simpson, N., Rosas, L. G., Zulman, D. M., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J. D., Rangel, E., Dietch, J. R., Tutek, J., Palaniappan, L. 2024

  Abstract

  Evaluate a triaged stepped-care strategy among adults 50 and older with insomnia disorder.Participants (N=245) were classified at baseline by a Triage-Checklist. Those projected to do better if they start treatment with therapist versus digitally delivered CBT-I (tCBT-I versus dCBT-I) constituted the YES stratum (n=137); the rest constituted the NO stratum (n=108). Participants were randomized within stratum to a strategy that utilized only dCBT-I (ONLN) or to a strategy that prospectively allocated the first step of care to dCBT-I or tCBT-I based on the Triage-Checklist and switched dCBT-I non-responders at 2-months to tCBT-I (STEP). Co-primary outcomes were the insomnia severity index (ISI) and the average nightly amount of prescription hypnotic medications used (MEDS), assessed at 2,4,6,9, and 12 months post-randomization.Mixed effects models revealed that, compared to ONLN, participants in STEP had greater reductions in ISI (p=0.001; η2=0.01) and MEDS (p=0.019, η2=0.01). Within the YES stratum, compared to ONLN, those in STEP had greater reductions in ISI (p=0.0001, η2=0.023) and MEDS (p=0.018, η2=0.01). Within the ONLN arm, compared to the YES stratum, those in the NO stratum had greater reductions in ISI (p=0.015, η2=0.01) but not in MEDS. Results did not change with treatment-dose covariate adjustment.Triaged-stepped care can help guide allocation of limited CBT-I treatment resources to promote effective and safe treatment of chronic insomnia among middle age and older adults. Further refinement of the Triage-Checklist and optimization of the timing and switching criteria may improve the balance between effectiveness and use of resources.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/sleep/zsae182

  View details for PubMedID 39115347

• Patient perceptions of digital and therapist-led CBT for insomnia: A qualitative study. Behavioral sleep medicine Gumport, N. B., Tully, I. A., Tutek, J., Dietch, J. R., Zulman, D. M., Rosas, L. G., Simpson, N., Manber, R. 2024: 1-16

  Abstract

  Technology has the potential to increase access to evidence-based insomnia treatment. Patient preferences/perceptions of automated digital cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and telehealth-delivered CBTI remain largely unexplored among middle-aged and older adults. Using a qualitative approach, the current study describes patients' reasons for participating in the clinical trial, preferences for digital CBTI (dCBTI) versus therapist-led CBTI, patient attitudes toward dCBTI, and patient attitudes toward telehealth-delivered therapist-led CBTI.Middle-aged and older adults (N = 80) completed a semi-structured interview before CBTI exposure. Qualitative responses were coded, and themes were inductively extracted.Most (62.5%) of the participants expressed a preference for therapist-led CBTI to dCBTI. Convenience was the most commonly reported advantage of dCBTI (n = 55) and telehealth-delivered CBTI (n = 65). Decreasing transit time and pandemic-related health concerns were identified as advantages to dCBTI and telehealth-delivered CBTI. Lack of human connection and limited personalization were perceived as disadvantages of dCBTI. Only three participants reported technological barriers to dCBTI and telehealth-delivered CBTI.Findings suggest that, despite an overall preference for therapist-led treatment, most middle-aged and older adults are open to dCBTI. As both dCBTI and telehealth-delivered CBTI are perceived as convenient, these modalities offer the potential to increase access to insomnia care.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/15402002.2024.2386611

  View details for PubMedID 39096163

• Ending Weight Stigma to Advance Health Equity. American journal of preventive medicine Pearl, R. L., Donze, L. F., Rosas, L. G., Agurs-Collins, T., Baskin, M. L., Breland, J. Y., Shanks, C. B., Stowers, K. C., Johnson, S., Lee, B. Y., Martin, M. Y., Mujuru, P., Odoms-Young, A., Panza, E., Pronk, N. P., Calicutt, K., Nadglowski, J., Nece, P. M., Tedder, M., Chow, L. S., Krishnamurti, H., Jay, M., Xi, D., Jastreboff, A. M., Stanford, F. C. 2024

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2024.06.021

  View details for PubMedID 38945180

• Vida Sana y Completa: A randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of diabetes prevention with and without medically supportive groceries among Latina women. Contemporary clinical trials Rosas, L. G., Perez, J. A., Chen, W. T., Xiao, L., Espinosa, P. R., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. A., Gardner, C. D., Marti, A., Martinez, E., Murthy, M., Hauser, M. 2024: 107582

  Abstract

  Latina women have a high prevalence of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Approximately half of Latinas with obesity will also experience food insecurity, or a lack of access to enough food for an active and healthy life. Food insecurity is a barrier for effective prevention and management of obesity-related chronic diseases. The goal of this type 1 hybrid comparative effectiveness trial is to compare a culturally-tailored diabetes prevention intervention with and without medically supportive groceries. Adult Latina women (n = 412) with obesity (Body Mass Index (BMI) of >30 kg/m2) and food insecurity will be 1:1 randomized to the Vida Sana intervention (control), or to Vida Sana y Completa (intervention plus integrated treatment for food insecurity). Vida Sana is an evidence-based culturally tailored, 12-month diabetes prevention intervention that targets at least 5% weight loss and at least 150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Participants enrolled in Vida Sana y Completa will also receive 12 weekly deliveries of medically supportive groceries. Those in Vida Sana alone will receive information on local food resources. Participants will be assessed at baseline and every 6 months for 24 months. The primary outcome is weight loss at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include weight loss maintenance, diet quality, and quality of life. Barriers and facilitators of implementation will be assessed using mixed methods according to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. This study will provide critical evidence for addressing the combination of obesity and food insecurity in primary care for diabetes prevention. Trial Registration: NCT052111.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107582

  View details for PubMedID 38810932

• PERCEPTION OF CBTI TREATMENT MODALITIES IN OLDER ADULTS WITH INSOMNIA: COMPARING DIGITAL AND THERAPIST-LED DELIVERY Tully, I., Gumport, N., Tutek, J., Simpson, N., Rosas, L., Zulman, D., Dietch, J., Manber, R. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2024

  View details for DOI 10.1093/sleep/zsae067.01064

  View details for Web of Science ID 001262172000171

• EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF FOOD AS MEDICINE: PRODUCE PRESCRIPTIONS WITH AND WITHOUT A BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION Rosas, L. G., Tester, J., Chen, S., Xiao, L., Baiocchi, M., Chen, W., Ng, E., Emmert-Aronson, B., Martinez, E., Perez, J. A., Melendez, E., Thompson-Lastad, A., Markle, E. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2024: S272

  View details for Web of Science ID 001271352800545

• PRE-CONFERENCE COURSE 5: THE HEALTH EQUITY SIG PRESENTS: INFUSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH INTO BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE: FROM RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICETO POLICY Espinosa, P., Rosas, L. G., Alcaraz, K. I., Figueroa, R., Lumpkins, C. Y., Soto, S. H. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2024: S7

  View details for Web of Science ID 001271352800015

• Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Intensity of Care at the End of Life for Patients With Lung Cancer: A 13-Year Population-Based Study. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Rodriguez, G. M., Popat, R., Rosas, L. G., Patel, M. I. 2024: JCO2301045

  Abstract

  Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Disparities in lung cancer mortality among racial and ethnic minorities are well documented. Less is known as to whether racial and ethnic minority patients with lung cancer experience higher rates of intensity of care at the end of life (EOL) compared with non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients.We conducted a population-based analysis of patients 18 years and older with a lung cancer diagnosis who died between 2005 and 2018 using the California Cancer Registry linked to patient discharge data abstracts. Our primary outcome was intensity of care in the last 14 days before death (defined as any hospital admission or emergency department [ED] visit, intensive care unit [ICU] admission, intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR], hemodialysis, and death in an acute care setting). We used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate associations between race and ethnicity and intensity of EOL care.Among 207,429 patients with lung cancer who died from 2005 to 2018, the median age was 74 years (range, 18-107) and 106,821 (51%) were male, 146,872 (70.8%) were NHW, 1,045 (0.5%) were American Indian, 21,697 (10.5%) were Asian Pacific Islander (API), 15,490 (7.5%) were Black, and 22,325 (10.8%) were Hispanic. Compared with NHW patients, in the last 14 days before death, API, Black, and Hispanic patients had greater odds of a hospital admission, an ICU admission, intubation, CPR, and hemodialysis and greater odds of a hospital or ED death.Compared with NHW patients, API, Black, and Hispanic patients who died with lung cancer experienced higher intensity of EOL care. Future studies should develop approaches to eliminate such racial and ethnic disparities in care delivery at the EOL.

  View details for DOI 10.1200/JCO.23.01045

  View details for PubMedID 38478794

• Vascular health years after a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy: The EPOCH Study. American heart journal Miller, H. E., Tierney, S., Stefanick, M. L., Mayo, J. A., Sedan, O., Rosas, L. G., Melbye, M., Boyd, H. A., Stevenson, D. K., Shaw, G. M., Winn, V. D., Hlatky, M. A. 2024

  Abstract

  Preeclampsia is associated with a two-fold increase in a woman's lifetime risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but the reasons for this association are uncertain. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between vascular health and a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy among women ≥ 2 years postpartum.Pre-menopausal women with a history of either a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (cases: preeclampsia or gestational hypertension) or a normotensive pregnancy (controls) were enrolled. Participants were assessed for standard ASCVD risk factors and underwent vascular testing, including measurements of blood pressure, endothelial function, and carotid artery ultrasound. The primary outcomes were blood pressure, ASCVD risk, reactive hyperemia index measured by EndoPAT and carotid intima-medial thickness. The secondary outcomes were augmentation index normalized to 75 beats per minute and pulse wave amplitude measured by EndoPAT, and carotid elastic modulus and carotid beta-stiffness measured by carotid ultrasound.Participants had a mean age of 40.7 years and were 5.7 years since their last pregnancy. In bivariate analyses cases (N=68) were more likely than controls (N=71) to have hypertension (18% vs. 4%, p=0.034), higher calculated ASCVD risk (0.6 vs 0.4, p=0.02), higher blood pressures (systolic: 118.5 vs. 111.6 mm Hg, p=0.0004; diastolic: 75.2 vs 69.8 mm Hg, p=0.0004), and higher augmentation index values (7.7 vs. 2.3 p=0.03). They did not, however, differ significantly in carotid intima-media thickness (0.5 vs. 0.5, p=0.29) or reactive hyperemia index (2.1 vs 2.1, p=0.93), nor in pulse wave amplitude (416 vs 326, p=0.11), carotid elastic modulus (445 vs 426, p=0.36), or carotid beta stiffness (2.8 vs 2.8, p=0.86).Women with a prior hypertensive disorder of pregnancy had higher ASCVD risk and blood pressures several years postpartum, but did not have more endothelial dysfunction or subclinical atherosclerosis.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ahj.2024.03.004

  View details for PubMedID 38484963

• What matters for weight loss in behavioral trials in the Latinx community: Learnings from three randomized controlled trials. Obesity research & clinical practice Rodriguez Espinosa, P., Xiao, L., Ma, J., Rosas, L. G. 2023

  Abstract

  Nearly half of Latinx adults in the US are obese, making effective weight loss interventions crucial to prevent associated chronic conditions.To identify factors associated with increased session attendance and clinically significant weight loss among Latinx adults.Latinx participants from the Vivamos Activos (n = 207), Vida Sana (n = 191), and HOMBRE (n = 424 Latinx men) randomized clinical trials.Post-hoc analysis of randomized controlled trial data.Culturally-adapted behavioral weight loss interventions based on the Diabetes Prevention Program among Latinx adults over 12 months.Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial predictors of session attendance and 5% weight loss at 12-months.Bi-variable associations between baseline characteristics and outcomes were tested with chi-square and t-tests. Those with p-value< 0.15 were then included in stepwise logistic regressions.Participants (N = 822) were middle age with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Older age in the Vivamos Activos and Vida Sana trials, and lower acculturation in the HOMBRE trial were significant predictors of increased session attendance. Factors associated with 5% weight loss varied by trials. These included younger age (OR 0.96 95% CI 0.92, 0.99) in Vivamos Activos, higher acculturation (OR 1.88 95% CI 1.05, 3.37) in Vida Sana, and higher education (OR 3.20 95% CI 1.3, 7.03) and greater body image dissatisfaction (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04, 1.6), and lower acculturation (0.69 95% CI 0.5, 0.96) in HOMBRE.Few and conflicting baseline characteristics were associated with session attendance and clinically significant weight loss, suggesting that alternative approaches to optimizing interventions are needed.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.orcp.2023.11.005

  View details for PubMedID 38071165

• Community Engagement in Behavioral Medicine: A Scoping Review. International journal of behavioral medicine Persad-Clem, R., Ventura, L. M., Lyons, T., Keinath, C., Graves, K. D., Schneider, M. L., Shelton, R. C., Rosas, L. G. 2023

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Behavioral medicine has made key contributions toward improving health outcomes. Engaging community partners in research is critical to addressing persistent health inequities. The aim of this scoping review was to explore how researchers engaged community partners within the field of behavioral medicine research from 2005 to 2023.METHOD: Publication databases and gray literature were searched for research that engaged community partners to address questions relevant to behavioral medicine. Articles were screened by title and abstract, and then by full text. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were coded using the framework provided by the Engagement Navigator to identify engagement approaches, methods, and tools and when they were used during the research.RESULTS: Of 1486 articles initially identified, 58 met the inclusion criteria. Most articles used well-known approaches (e.g., community-based participatory research; 67%), methods (e.g., advisory committees; 59%), and tools (e.g., interviews; 41%), and engaged with healthcare service providers (62%) and/or patients (53%). Community partners were most often included in research planning and design (79%), and less often in dissemination (45%).CONCLUSION: Community engagement has considerable potential to address health inequities. Our assessment of the approaches, methods, and tools used by behavioral medicine researchers to engage with a diverse range of community partners points toward promising strategies for enhancing the impact of community engagement. Researchers should incorporate explicit descriptions of community engagement strategies in publications, an outcome that could be facilitated by clear publishing guidelines, structured reporting tools, and clear messaging from funders about the value of community engagement in behavioral medicine research.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s12529-023-10242-6

  View details for PubMedID 38057655

• Community of Practice of Promotoras de Salud to address health inequities during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in public health Rodriguez Espinosa, P., Martinez Mulet, Y., Chen, W. T., Kirk, C., Tran, C., Gonzalez, M., Rosas, L. G. 2023; 11: 1260369

  Abstract

  Using principles of Community-Based Participatory Research, we describe a community of practice for community health workers and promotoras (CHW/Ps) to address COVID-19 inequities in the Latinx community. We offer a concrete example of how programs can engage CHW/Ps as full partners in the research process, and how programs can support CHW/Ps' capacity and workforce development during implementation. We conducted four focus groups with CHW/Ps (n = 31) to understand needs and invited 15 participants to the community of practice to work on issues identified by the group. We examined impact according to number of community members reached, types of outreach activities, surveys, and online views of educational materials. Process evaluation involved two focus groups with seven organizations and a Ripple Effects Mapping session with the CHW/Ps. Our community of practice has built CHW/Ps' capacity via 31 workshop and co-created culturally and linguistically relevant COVID-19 materials that have reached over 40,000 community members and over 3 million people online. The community of practice proved effective in supporting CHW/Ps to address COVID-19 inequities in the Latinx community. Our evaluations demonstrated benefits for community-academic partnerships, for CHW/Ps, and for the community. This model represents an innovative workforce training model to address health inequities and can be applied to other health topics.

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1260369

  View details for PubMedID 38026325

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10679433

• Mediating Effects of Neural Targets on Depression, Weight, and Anxiety Outcomes of an Integrated Collaborative Care Intervention: The ENGAGE-2 Mechanistic Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial. Biological psychiatry global open science Lv, N., Ajilore, O. A., Xiao, L., Venditti, E. M., Lavori, P. W., Gerber, B. S., Snowden, M. B., Wittels, N. E., Ronneberg, C. R., Stetz, P., Barve, A., Shrestha, R., Dosala, S., Kumar, V., Eckley, T. L., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Smyth, J. M., Rosas, L. G., Kannampallil, T., Zulueta, J., Suppes, T., Williams, L. M., Ma, J. 2023; 3 (3): 430-442

  Abstract

  Background: Integrated treatments for comorbid depression (often with anxiety) and obesity are lacking; mechanisms are poorly investigated.Methods: In a mechanistic pilot trial, adults with body mass index ≥30 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores ≥10 were randomized to usual care (n= 35) or an integrated behavioral intervention (n= 71). Changes at 6 months in body mass index and Depression Symptom Checklist-20 scores were co-primary outcomes, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 score was a secondary outcome. Changes at 2 months in the activation and functional connectivity of regions of interest in the negative affect circuit were primary neural targets, and secondary targets were in the cognitive control, default mode, and positive affect circuits.Results: Participants were 47.0 years (SD= 11.9 years), 76% women, 55% Black, and 20% Latino. Depression Symptom Checklist-20 (between-group difference,-0.3 [95% CI:-0.6 to-0.1]) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (-2.9 [-4.7 to-1.1]) scores, but not body mass index, decreased significantly at 6 months in the intervention versus usual care groups. Only Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 score changes at 6 months significantly correlated with neural target changes at 2 months in the negative affect (anterior insula, subgenual/pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala) and cognitive control circuits (dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex). Effects were medium to large (0.41-1.18 SDs). Neural target changes at 2 months in the cognitive control circuit only differed by treatment group. Effects were medium (0.58-0.79 SDs).Conclusions: Compared with usual care, the study intervention led to significantly improved depression but not weight loss, and the results on neural targets were null for both outcomes. The significant intervention effect on anxiety might be mediated through changes in the cognitive control circuit, but this warrants replication.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.03.012

  View details for PubMedID 37519462

• Greater Improvement in Obesity Among Children With Prediabetes in a Clinical Weight Management Program. Childhood obesity (Print) Tester, J. M., Xiao, L., Chau, C. A., Tinajero-Deck, L., Srinivasan, S., Rosas, L. G. 2023

  Abstract

  Background: There is a range of responses among individuals seen for medical management of their obesity. This retrospective analysis of longitudinal data considers the relationship between identified prediabetes and subsequent weight change among children (8-17 years) in a weight management clinic. Methods: Analysis included 733 patients (2687 visits in 2008-2016) with overweight and obesity (but not diabetes) whose referral laboratories included a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) within 90 days. Mixed-effects modeling examined the association between baseline prediabetes (serum HbA1c 5.7%-6.4%) and growth curve of percentage of the 95th percentile for BMI (%BMIp95). Random effects (individual growth curves) and fixed effects (prediabetes status, starting age and %BMIp95, sex, race/ethnicity, and linear slope and quadratic term of months since the initial visit) were modeled. Interactions between prediabetes and elapsed time estimated the influence of a recent prediabetic-range HbA1c on weight during the subsequent 12 months. Results: Mean %BMIp95 was 125.5% (SD 22.5), corresponding to severe obesity, and 35% had prediabetes. Adjusted monthly decrease in %BMIp95 was stronger for children with prediabetes compared with the peers in this clinic (slope: -0.62, standard error 0.10, p<0.001). Conclusion: There was greater weight improvement among children with prediabetes compared with their peers with normal HbA1c.

  View details for DOI 10.1089/chi.2022.0234

  View details for PubMedID 37347933

• Addressing food insecurity and chronic conditions in community health centres: protocol of a quasi-experimental evaluation of Recipe4Health. BMJ open Rosas, L. G., Chen, S., Xiao, L., Emmert-Aronson, B. O., Chen, W., Ng, E., Martinez, E., Baiocchi, M., Thompson-Lastad, A., Markle, E. A., Tester, J. 2023; 13 (4): e068585

  Abstract

  INTRODUCTION: Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and depression, are highly prevalent and frequently co-occur with food insecurity in communities served by community health centres in the USA. Community health centres are increasingly implementing 'Food as Medicine' programmes to address the dual challenge of chronic conditions and food insecurity, yet they have been infrequently evaluated.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The goal of this quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Recipe4Health, a 'Food as Medicine' programme. Recipe4Health includes two components: (1) a 'Food Farmacy' that includes 16 weekly deliveries of produce and (2) a 'Behavioural Pharmacy' which is a group medical visit. We will use mixed models to compare pre/post changes among participants who receive the Food Farmacy alone (n=250) and those who receive the Food Farmacy and Behavioural Pharmacy (n=140). The primary outcome, fruit and vegetable consumption, and secondary outcomes (eg, food security status, physical activity, depressive symptoms) will be collected via survey. We will also use electronic health record (EHR) data on laboratory values, prescriptions and healthcare usage. Propensity score matching will be used to compare Recipe4Health participants to a control group of patients in clinics where Recipe4Health has not been implemented for EHR-derived outcomes. Data from surveys, EHR, group visit attendance and produce delivery is linked with a common identifier (medical record number) and then deidentified for analysis with use of an assigned unique study ID. This study will provide important preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of primary care-based strategies to address food insecurity and chronic conditions.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Stanford University Institutional Review Board (reference protocol ID 57239). Appropriate study result dissemination will be determined in partnership with the Community Advisory Board.

  View details for DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068585

  View details for PubMedID 37024257

• Engaging diverse midlife and older adults in a multilevel participatory physical activity intervention: evaluating impacts using Ripple Effects Mapping. Translational behavioral medicine Rodriguez Espinosa, P., King, A. C., Blanco-Velazquez, I., Banchoff, A. W., Campero, M. I., Chen, W., Rosas, L. G. 2023

  Abstract

  Multilevel interventions are increasingly recommended to increase physical activity (PA) but can present evaluation challenges. Participatory qualitative evaluation methods can complement standard quantitative methods by identifying participant-centered outcomes and potential mechanisms of individual and community-level change. We assessed the feasibility and utility of Ripple Effects Mapping (REM), a novel qualitative method, within the context of a multi-level cluster randomized trial, Steps for Change. Housing sites with ethnically diverse, low-income aging adults were randomized to a PA behavioral intervention alone or in combination with a citizen science-based intervention (Our Voice) for promoting PA-supportive neighborhoods. Four REM sessions were conducted after 12 months of intervention and involved six housing sites (n = 35 participants) stratified by intervention arm. Interviews (n = 5) were also conducted with housing site staff. Sessions leaders engaged participants in visually mapping intended and unintended outcomes of intervention participation and participant-driven solutions to reported challenges. Maps were analyzed using Excel and Xmind 8 Pro and data were classified according to the socio-ecological model. Eight themes were identified for outcomes, challenges, and solutions. Most themes (6/8) were similar across intervention arms, including increasing PA and PA tracking, improving health outcomes, and increasing social connectedness. Groups (n = 2) engaged in Our Voice additionally identified increased community knowledge and activities directly impacting local environmental change (e.g., pedestrian infrastructure changes). Housing staff interviews revealed additional information to enhance future intervention recruitment, sustainability, and implementation. Such qualitative methodologies can aid in evaluating multi-level, multi-component interventions and inform future intervention optimization, implementation, and dissemination.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/tbm/ibad018

  View details for PubMedID 37011041

• SCALING UP PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS FOR IMPACT Parks, C. A., Houghtaling, B., Yaroch, A. L., Reynolds, M., Rosas, L. G., Espinosa, P., Martinez, E., Ollove, A., Thompson-Lastad, A. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2023: S116

  View details for Web of Science ID 001042977900230

• PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY: LESSONS AND APPLICATIONS FROM BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE RESEARCH Espinosa, P., AuYoung, M., Graves, K., Cheney, A. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2023: S110

  View details for Web of Science ID 001042977900217

• A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE SCALABILITY OF PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS USING THE CONSOLIDATED FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION RESEARCH (CFIR) Parks, C. A., Espinosa, P., Thompson-Lastad, A., Chen, W., Martinez, E., Reynolds, M., Yaroch, A. L., Rosas, L. G. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2023: S117

  View details for Web of Science ID 001042977900231

• ENGAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE RESEARCH FOR HEALTH EQUITY Rosas, L. G., Garcia, D. O., Adsul, P., Verdugo, L. A., Stephens, Z. C. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2023: S430

  View details for Web of Science ID 001042977901258

• PARTNERING WITH LATINX COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY DURING AND BEYOND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC Espinosa, P., Accion, P., Mulet, Y., Chen, W., Rosas, L. G. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2023: S110

  View details for Web of Science ID 001042977900218

• "My Body, My Rhythm, My Voice": a community dance pilot intervention engaging breast cancer survivors in physical activity in a middle-income country. Pilot and feasibility studies Rubio, M. A., Mejía-Arbeláez, C. M., Wilches-Mogollon, M. A., Moreno, S., Finck, C., Rosas, L. G., Romero, S. A., Guevara, P., Cabas, S., Rubiano, O., Flórez-Pregonero, A., León, J. G., Alarcón, L. F., Haile, R., Sarmiento, O. L., King, A. C. 2023; 9 (1): 30

  Abstract

  Interventions to promote physical activity among women breast cancer survivors (BCS) in low- to middle-income countries are limited. We assessed the acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a theory-driven, group-based dance intervention for BCS delivered in Bogotá, Colombia.We conducted a quasi-experimental study employing a mixed-methods approach to assess the 8-week, 3 times/week group dance intervention. The effect of the intervention on participants' physical activity levels (measured by accelerometry), motivation to engage in physical activity, and quality of life were evaluated using generalized estimating equation analysis. The qualitative method included semi-structured interviews thematically analyzed to evaluate program acceptability.Sixty-four BCS were allocated to the intervention (n = 31) or the control groups (n = 33). In the intervention arm, 84% attended ≥ 60% of sessions. We found increases on average minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day (intervention: +8.99 vs control: -3.7 min), and in ratings of motivation (intervention change score = 0.45, vs. control change score= -0.05). BCS reported improvements in perceived behavioral capabilities to be active, captured through the interviews.The high attendance, behavioral changes, and successful delivery indicate the potential effectiveness, feasibility, and scalability of the intervention for BCS in Colombia.ClinicalTrial.gov NCT05252780, registered on Dec 7th, 2021-retrospectively registered unique protocol ID: P20CA217199-9492018.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s40814-023-01253-x

  View details for PubMedID 36855214

  View details for PubMedCentralID 5879496

• Emergence of social support networks among breast cancer survivors through a community-based physical activity program in Colombia SOCIAL NETWORKS Blanco, M., Guerra, A. M., Rubio, M. A., Finck, C., King, A. C., Rosas, L. G., Sarmiento, O. L., Montes, F. 2023; 73: 62-71

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.socnet.2022.12.007

  View details for Web of Science ID 000918760600001

• Exploring cancer care needs for Latinx adults: a qualitative evaluation. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Rodriguez, G. M., Leach, M., Osorio, J., Villicana, G., Koontz, Z., Wood, E. H., Duron, Y., O'Brien, D., Rosas, L. G., Patel, M. I. 2022; 31 (1): 76

  Abstract

  PURPOSE: Latinx adults with cancer, as compared with non-Latinx White adults, are diagnosed with more advanced stages and experience worse quality of life. Identifying barriers in cancer care among low-income Latinx adults is crucial to designing and implementing culturally appropriate interventions. The objective of this study was to explore the specific barriers encountered by Latinx adults after a cancer diagnosis and perspectives on the use of community health workers (CHWs) to address these barriers.METHODS: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with low-income Latinx adults with a past or current history of cancer and/or their caregivers in a community oncology clinic located in an agricultural community in California. Analysis was based in grounded theory and performed using the constant comparative method.RESULTS: Sixteen interviews were conducted with patients alone (n=11), a caregiver alone (n=1), and patient-caregiver pairs (n=4 patients; n=4 caregivers). Four major themes emerged: (1) low cancer health literacy including cancer diagnosis and treatment, cancer fatalism, navigating next steps after diagnosis, advance directives, and precision medicine; (2) challenges in communicating and receiving supportive services due to language barriers; (3) stress and anxiety regarding financial hardships related to job loss, insurance barriers, and the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) the need for supportive, bilingual, and bicultural personnel to assist in overcoming these challenges.CONCLUSIONS: Low-income Latinx adults with cancer and their caregivers experience health literacy, communication, and financial barriers that impede quality cancer care delivery. Embedding CHWs in the care team could be one way to address these barriers to culturally concordant, accessible care.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00520-022-07518-0

  View details for PubMedID 36544063

• Detailed Versus Simplified Dietary Self-monitoring in a Digital Weight Loss Intervention Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Adults: Fully Remote, Randomized Pilot Study. JMIR formative research Patel, M. L., Cleare, A. E., Smith, C. M., Rosas, L. G., King, A. C. 2022; 6 (12): e42191

  Abstract

  Detailed self-monitoring (or tracking) of dietary intake is a popular and effective weight loss approach that can be delivered via digital tools, although engagement declines over time. Simplifying the experience of self-monitoring diet may counteract this decline in engagement. Testing these strategies among racial and ethnic minority groups is important as these groups are often disproportionately affected by obesity yet underrepresented in behavioral obesity treatment.In this 2-arm pilot study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a digital weight loss intervention with either detailed or simplified dietary self-monitoring.We recruited racial and ethnic minority adults aged ≥21 years with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 to 45 kg/m2 and living in the United States. The Pacific time zone was selected for a fully remote study. Participants received a 3-month stand-alone digital weight loss intervention and were randomized 1:1 to either the detailed arm that was instructed to self-monitor all foods and drinks consumed each day using the Fitbit mobile app or to the simplified arm that was instructed to self-monitor only red zone foods (foods that are highly caloric and of limited nutritional value) each day via a web-based checklist. All participants were instructed to self-monitor both steps and body weight daily. Each week, participants were emailed behavioral lessons, action plans, and personalized feedback. In total, 12 a priori benchmarks were set to establish feasibility, including outcomes related to reach, retention, and self-monitoring engagement (assessed objectively via digital tools). Acceptability was assessed using a questionnaire. Weight change was assessed using scales shipped to the participants' homes and reported descriptively.The eligibility screen was completed by 248 individuals, of whom 38 (15.3%) were randomized, 18 to detailed and 20 to simplified. At baseline, participants had a mean age of 47.4 (SD 14.0) years and BMI of 31.2 (SD 4.8) kg/m2. More than half (22/38, 58%) were identified as Hispanic of any race. The study retention rate was 92% (35/38) at 3 months. The detailed arm met 9 of 12 feasibility benchmarks, while the simplified arm met all 12. Self-monitoring engagement was moderate to high (self-monitoring diet: median of 49% of days for detailed, 97% for simplified; self-monitoring steps: 99% for detailed, 100% for simplified; self-monitoring weight: 67% for detailed, 80% for simplified). Participants in both arms reported high satisfaction, with 89% indicating that they would recommend the intervention. Weight change was -3.4 (95% CI -4.6 to -2.2) kg for detailed and -3.3 (95% CI -4.4 to -2.2) kg for simplified.A digital weight loss intervention that incorporated either detailed or simplified dietary self-monitoring was feasible, with high retention and engagement, and acceptable to racial and ethnic minority adults.ASPREDICTED #66674; https://aspredicted.org/ka478.pdf.

  View details for DOI 10.2196/42191

  View details for PubMedID 36512404

• Melanoma awareness and prevention among latinx and non-latinx white adults in urban and rural California: A qualitative exploration. Cancer medicine Mesia, R. J., Espinosa, P. R., Hutchison, H., Safaeinili, N., Finster, L. J., Muralidharan, V., Glenn, B. A., Haile, R. W., Rosas, L. G., Swetter, S. M. 2022

  Abstract

  Melanoma mortality rates in the US are highest among older men, individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES), and people of color. To better understand these inequities, a qualitative exploratory study was conducted in Northern and Southern California to generate knowledge about barriers and facilitators of awareness, prevention, and early detection of melanoma in lower SES Latinx and non-Latinx White (NLW) individuals living in urban and semi-rural areas.Nineteen focus groups were conducted (N = 176 adult participants), stratified by race/ethnicity (Latinx, low-income NLW), geography (semi-rural, urban), and language (English and Spanish). Inductive and deductive thematic analysis was conducted, and the findings were organized using the socioecological model framework: individual, interpersonal, community, and health system/policy levels.Four socioecological themes describe how key factors affect knowledge, perceived risk, preventive behaviors, and melanoma screening. Individual level findings revealed that many participants were not familiar with melanoma, yet were willing to learn through trusted sources. Having brown or darker skin tone was perceived as being associated with lower risk for skin cancer. Interpersonally, social relationships were important influences for skin cancer prevention practice. However, for several Latinx and semi-rural participants, conversations about melanoma prevention did not occur with family and peers. At the community level, semi-rural participants reported distance or lack of transportation to a clinic as challenges for accessing dermatology care. Healthcare systems barriers included burdens of additional healthcare costs for dermatology visits and obtaining referral.Varying factors influence the awareness levels, beliefs, and behaviors associated with knowledge, prevention, and early detection of melanoma among low-income Latinx and NLW individuals and in semi-rural areas. Results have implications for health education interventions. Navigation strategies that target individuals, families, and health care settings can promote improved prevention and early detection of melanoma in these communities.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/cam4.5457

  View details for PubMedID 36433634

• Pandemic Through the Lens of Black Barbershops: COVID-19's Impact and Barbers' Potential Role as Public Health Extenders. Journal of immigrant and minority health Taylor, N. K., Faulks, M., Brown-Johnson, C. G., Rosas, L. G., Shaw, J. G., Saliba-Gustafsson, E. A., Asch, S. M. 2022

  Abstract

  We examined the impact of COVID-19 on Black barbershops and their potential role as public health extenders. A 30-item survey was distributed to predominantly Black barbershop owners and barbers across 40 different states/territories in the US between June and October 2020. The survey addressed the impact of COVID-19 on Black barbershops, and barbers' interest in engaging in health outreach programs. The majority reported that stay-at-home orders had significant to severe impact on their business; few were prepared for the financial impact and less than half thought they qualified for government assistance. The majority were already providing health education and outreach to the Black community and showed interest in continuing to provide such services, like information on COVID-19. Barbers in Black-serving barbershops, a well-documented effective place for public health outreach to the Black community, show promise as public health extenders in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10903-022-01420-x

  View details for PubMedID 36417031

• The "Our Voice" Method: Participatory Action Citizen Science Research to Advance Behavioral Health and Health Equity Outcomes. International journal of environmental research and public health Pedersen, M., Wood, G. E., Fernes, P. K., Goldman Rosas, L., Banchoff, A., King, A. C. 2022; 19 (22)

  Abstract

  Citizen science research that more fully engages the community can systematically involve people from under-resourced groups to create practical health-enhancing improvements across physical, social and food environments. Exemplary health equity-focused outcomes include key health behaviors (e.g., healthy eating or physical activity) and community-level changes (e.g., public transit to food shops) that are central to health promotion while being demonstrably impacted by local environmental contexts. Yet, few examples of this approach are readily available for application within complex, community-based settings. In this paper, we present the Our Voice (OV) four-step method to demonstrate an integrated participatory citizen science approach and its usability for action-focused researchers and community health practitioners. In addition, we present a summary of the major research, processes, and community outcomes, with examples drawn from nutrition and healthy food access areas, among others. Finally, we explore the hallmark features of the OV method that effectively engage citizen scientists, empowering action and fostering solution-building across social and environmental structures impacting community health. Expanding research that marries participatory research philosophies with innovative citizen science methods, supported by systematic data collection, visualization, and delivery technologies, in turn provides a powerful toolkit for tackling local to global health equity challenges.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph192214773

  View details for PubMedID 36429494

• Acute care utilization at the end of life: Does race/ethnicity matter? Rodriguez, G. M., Rosas, L. G., Patel, M. I. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2022: 189

  View details for Web of Science ID 000891944700189

• Inclusionary trials: A review of lessons not learned. Epidemiologic reviews Adkins-Jackson, P. B., Burke, N. J., Espinosa, P. R., Ison, J. M., Goold, S. D., Rosas, L. G., Doubeni, C. A., Participation And Vaccine Hesitancy Working Groups, T. S., Brown, A. F. 2022

  Abstract

  The COVID-19 pandemic revealed weaknesses in the public health infrastructure of the United States, including persistent barriers to engaging marginalized communities towards inclusion in clinical research, including trials. Inclusive participation in clinical trials is crucial for promoting vaccine confidence, public trust, and addressing disparate health outcomes. A long-standing literature describes the value of community-based participatory research (CBPR) in increasing marginalized community participation in research. CBPR emphasizes shared leadership with community members in all phases of the research process including in the planning and implementation, interpretation, and dissemination. Shared leadership between academic and industry with marginalized communities can assist with inclusive participation in vaccine trials and increase public trust in the development of the vaccines and other therapies that are used during public emergencies. Nevertheless, epidemiological and clinical research do not yet have a strong culture of community partnership in the scientific process, which takes time to build and therefore may be difficult to develop and rapidly scale to respond to the pandemic. This article outlines practices that contribute to a lack of inclusive participation and offers steps that trialists and other researchers can take to increase marginalized communities' participation in research. Practices include planning for community engagement during the planning and recruitment phases, having regular dialogues with communities about their priorities, supporting them throughout a study, and navigating complex structural determinants of health. Additionally, we discuss how research institutions can support inclusive practices by reexamining their policies to increase participation in clinical trials and instilling institutional trustworthiness.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/epirev/mxac007

  View details for PubMedID 36124656

• Community health workers and precision medicine: A randomized controlled trial. Contemporary clinical trials Rodriguez, L. M., Wood, E. H., Xiao, L., Duron, Y., O'Brien, D., Koontz, Z., Rosas, L. G., Patel, M. I. 2022: 106906

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Precision cancer care has reduced cancer-related mortality. However, minorities remain less likely to receive precision medicine than White populations with cancer due to language and system-level barriers. Precision medicine knowledge increases involvement in treatment decisions and receipt of such treatment. Few interventions exist that seek to improve precision medicine knowledge among low-income and racial and ethnic minorities with cancer.METHODS: We designed a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW)-delivered intervention on patients' knowledge of precision medicine in partnership with a community oncology clinic in Monterey, California. Eligibility includes adults with newly diagnosed, progression or recurrence of cancer, low-income, or racial and ethnic minorities, or uninsured, insured by Medicaid or by a local agricultural employer. We will randomize 110 patients with cancer to the intervention or usual cancer care. The intervention group will be assigned to a CHW who will deliver culturally tailored and personalized education on precision medicine and advance care planning, screen for social determinants of health barriers and connect patients to community resources. The primary outcome is precision medicine knowledge measured by a 6-item survey adapted from Davies at baseline, 3-, 6- and 12-months post-enrollment. Exploratory outcomes include patient satisfaction with decision, activation, health care utilization, and receipt of evidence-based precision medicine care.CONCLUSION: This trial will assess whether the CHW-led intervention can increase knowledge of precision medicine as well as several exploratory outcomes including receipt of evidence-based cancer care among low-income and racial and ethnic minority adults with cancer.CLINICALTRIALS: gov Registration # NCT04843332.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106906

  View details for PubMedID 36084898

• The Value of Contemplative Practices: A Mixed Methods Approach Exploring Associations between Resilience and Experiences of the COVID-19 Pandemic among Older Adults. International journal of environmental research and public health Achepohl, G., Heaney, C., Rosas, L. G., Moore, J., Rich, T., Winter, S. J. 2022; 19 (16)

  Abstract

  The aim of this study was to explore the association between resilience and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults. We used a sequential explanatory mixed methods study design to recruit older adults who spoke English and were 60 and above during the pandemic. Survey data investigated older adults' resilience, post-traumatic growth, well-being, and demographics. Extreme case purposeful sampling of their resilience score was used to select interviewees. Qualitative data sought to understand the relationship between resilience and how older adults responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploring the relationship between resilience (well-being in the face of challenge) and one's experience of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that participants categorized as having high resilience had long held behaviors of contemplative practices that helped them effectively adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we continue to face global challenges, we must redefine care, guide interventions, and promote healthy aging by incorporating contemplative practices into the lives of older adults.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph191610224

  View details for PubMedID 36011860

• Integrated collaborative care intervention for depression and obesity in primary care: translation from research to practice. Health education research Ronneberg, C. R., Lv, N., Ajilore, O. A., Gerber, B. S., Venditti, E. M., Snowden, M. B., Steinman, L. E., Wittels, N. E., Barve, A., Dosala, S., Rosas, L. G., Kringle, E. A., Ma, J. 2022

  Abstract

  The objective of this study was to present lessons learned about engagement, delivery modality and pandemic impact while delivering a collaborative care intervention with a socioeconomically, racially and ethnically diverse sample. Participants completed a post-intervention survey (n=41) on experiences and preferred intervention delivery modality, coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Impact Survey (n=50) and provided open-ended feedback about the intervention (n=27). Intervention process data included attendance, modality, and withdrawals. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inductive content analyses. Of 71 intervention participants, 6 (8%) withdrew before session 1. Completers adhered to intervention timeline better than withdrawals. Participants liked the in-person interaction, efficient coach support, accountability of in-person and Zoom vs. phone sessions and the flexibility and convenience of phone and Zoom vs. in-person sessions. A majority of participants reported experiencing pandemic impacts such as heightened emotional distress, decreased activity engagement, poorer eating behaviors and being unable to meet basic needs. Participants deviating from intervention timelines may be re-engaged by targeted outreach attempts. Videoconference has the potential for providing as-needed coaching. Future interventions may be optimized to account for and address areas impacted by the pandemic. Findings revealed specific strategies that can be implemented in future interventions to improve emotional and physical health among diverse populations.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/her/cyac017

  View details for PubMedID 35876850

• Community engagement education in academic health centers, colleges, and universities JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE Doubeni, C. A., Nelson, D., Cohn, E., Paskett, E., Asfaw, S., Sumar, M., Ahmed, S. M., McClinton-Brown, R., Wieland, M. L., Kinney, A., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Rosas, L. G., Patino, C. M. 2022; 6 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1017/cts.2022.424

  View details for Web of Science ID 000853007500001

• Epidemiologic evaluation of clinical outcomes in ethnic minorities with myelodysplastic syndromes. Leukemia research Molina, A., Xiao, L., Ostrom, Q. T., Rosas, L. G., Greenberg, P. L. 2022; 119: 106907

  Abstract

  Since race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES), including economic and educational disadvantage (EED), may impact overall survival (OS) in primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), we analyzed the impact of these characteristics on OS in Non-Hispanic White (NHW), Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Hispanic patients. In this retrospective review using the SEER US population and American Community Survey data between 2001 and 2016, factor analysis was used for 23 county-level SES indicators to identify groups of interrelated measures of EED. For the 52,739 patients identified, increased age at diagnosis, male sex, higher prognostic risk category and higher EED were all associated with reduced OS. The most prominent SES factor extracted by factor analysis was EED. NHB patients had the highest OS compared to NHW and Hispanics. For all patients, EED analysis showed lower OS for most compared to least disadvantaged, most notably in lower-risk disease and Hispanics. More NHB and Hispanics (51% and 49%) were in the most disadvantaged category compared with NHW (30%). No significant differences were noted for causes of death by race/ethnicity. In conclusion, these data indicate that in addition to standard clinical measures for analyzing OS, race/ethnicity, SES and EED are critical determinants for assessing clinical outcomes in MDS patients.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.leukres.2022.106907

  View details for PubMedID 35772318

• COVID-19 Preventive Measures in Northern California Jails: Perceived Deficiencies, Barriers, and Unintended Harms. Frontiers in public health Liu, Y. E., LeBoa, C., Rodriguez, M., Sherif, B., Trinidad, C., Del Rosario, M., Allen, S., Clifford, C., Redding, J., Chen, W. T., Rosas, L. G., Morales, C., Chyorny, A., Andrews, J. R. 2022; 10: 854343

  Abstract

  Carceral facilities are high-risk settings for COVID-19 transmission. Little is known about the hidden burden of infection or practical barriers to infection control in these settings, especially in jails. There is also limited research on the mental health impacts of the pandemic among people living and working in carceral facilities.Between July 8, 2020 and April 30, 2021, we performed SARS-CoV-2 rapid antibody testing and administered a questionnaire among residents and staff of four Northern California jails. We utilized multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for demographic and carceral characteristics, to analyze factors associated with prior infection, including perceived likelihood of prior infection and access to new masks. We additionally assessed the implementation of, perceptions toward, and impacts of COVID-19 policies in practice. We engaged stakeholder representatives, including incarcerated individuals, to guide study design, procedures, and results interpretation.We enrolled 788 jail residents and 380 jail staff. Nearly half of residents and two-thirds of staff who were antibody-positive had not previously tested positive for COVID-19. Among residents without a prior COVID-19 diagnosis, antibody positivity was significantly associated with perceived likelihood of prior infection (adjusted OR = 8.9; 95% CI, 3.6-22.0). Residents who had flu-like illness in jail cited inadequate responses to reported illness and deterrents to symptom reporting, including fears of medical isolation and perceptions of medical neglect. Residents also disclosed deficient access to face masks, which was associated with antibody positivity (adjusted OR = 13.8, 95% CI, 1.8-107.0). Worsened mental health was pervasive among residents, attributed not only to fear of COVID-19 and unsanitary jail conditions but also to intensified isolation and deprivation due to pandemic restrictions on in-person visitation, programs, and recreation time.Carceral settings present significant challenges to maintaining infection control and human rights. Custody officials should work diligently to transform the conditions of medical isolation, which could mitigate deterrents to symptom reporting. Furthermore, they should minimize use of restrictive measures like lockdowns and suspension of visitation that exacerbate the mental health harms of incarceration. Instead, custody officials should ensure comprehensive implementation of other preventive strategies like masking, testing, and vaccination, in conjunction with multisector efforts to advance decarceration.

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2022.854343

  View details for PubMedID 35774562

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9237366

• Patient and Health Professional Perceptions of Telemonitoring for Hypertension Management: Qualitative Study. JMIR formative research Baratta, J., Brown-Johnson, C., Safaeinili, N., Goldman Rosas, L., Palaniappan, L., Winget, M., Mahoney, M. 2022; 6 (6): e32874

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the most prevalent and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, affecting nearly 50% of the US adult population; however, only 30% of these patients achieve controlled blood pressure (BP). Incorporating strategies into primary care that take into consideration individual patient needs, such as remote BP monitoring, may improve hypertension management.OBJECTIVE: From March 2018 to December 2018, Stanford implemented a precision health pilot called Humanwide, which aimed to leverage high-technology and high-touch medicine to tailor individualized care for conditions such as hypertension. We examined multi-stakeholder perceptions of hypertension management in Humanwide to evaluate the program's acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and sustainability.METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with 16 patients and 15 health professionals to assess their experiences with hypertension management in Humanwide. We transcribed and analyzed the interviews using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive analysis to identify common themes around hypertension management and consensus methods to ensure reliability and validity.RESULTS: A total of 63% (10/16) of the patients and 40% (6/15) of the health professionals mentioned hypertension in the context of Humanwide. These participants reported that remote BP monitoring improved motivation, BP control, and overall clinic efficiency. The health professionals discussed feasibility challenges, including the time needed to analyze BP data and provide individualized feedback, integration of BP data, technological difficulties with the BP cuff, and decreased patient use of remote BP monitoring over time.CONCLUSIONS: Remote BP monitoring for hypertension management in Humanwide was acceptable to patients and health professionals and appropriate for care. Important challenges need to be addressed to improve the feasibility and sustainability of this approach by leveraging team-based care, engaging patients to sustain remote BP monitoring, standardizing electronic medical record integration of BP measurements, and finding more user-friendly BP cuffs.

  View details for DOI 10.2196/32874

  View details for PubMedID 35687380

• THE FIRST STEP OF A TRIAGED STEPPED-CARE DELIVERY OF CBTI: A PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM THE RESTING STUDY Manber, R., Kim, J., Simpson, N., Tully, I., Tutek, J., Dietch, J., Gumport, N., Rosas, L., Zulmann, D., Palaniappan, L. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: A203

  View details for Web of Science ID 000838094800455

• Cross-sector co-creation of a community-based physical activity program for breast cancer survivors in Colombia. Health promotion international Rubio, M. A., Mosquera, D., Blanco, M., Montes, F., Finck, C., Duval, M., Trillos, C., Jaramillo, A. M., Rosas, L. G., King, A. C., Sarmiento, O. L. 2022; 37 (3)

  Abstract

  Benefits of physical activity (PA) in breast cancer survivors (BCS) are well established. However, programs to promote PA among BCS tailored to real-world contexts within low- to middle-income countries are limited. Cross-sector co-creation can be key to effective and scalable programs for BCS in these countries. This study aimed to evaluate the networking process to engage multisector stakeholders in the co-creation of a PA program for Colombian BCS called My Body. We employed a mixed-methods design including semistructured interviews, workshops and a social network analysis of centrality measures to assess stakeholders' engagement, resources and skills enabling the collaborative work, challenges, outcomes and lessons learned. The descriptive analysis and the centrality measures of the network revealed that 19 cross-sector stakeholders engaged in the My Body collaborative network. Through ongoing communication and cooperation, My Body built relationships between the academic lead institutions (local and international), and local and national public, private and academic institutions working in public health, sports and recreation, social sciences and engineering fields. The outcomes included the co-creation of the community-based PA program for BCS, its implementation through cross-sector synergies, increased relationships and communications among stakeholders, and successful dissemination of evidence and project results to the collaboration partners and other relevant stakeholders and community members. The mixed-methods assessment enabled understanding of ways to advance cross-sector co-creation of health promotion programs. The findings can help to enable continued development of sustainable cross-sector co-creation processes aimed at advancing PA promotion.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/heapro/daac073

  View details for PubMedID 35853152

• A qualitative exploration of melanoma awareness and prevention among Latinx and non-Latinx White populations in urban and rural California. Swetter, S. M., Mesia, R. J., Espinosa, P., Hutchison, H., Safaeinili, N., Finster, L. J., Muralidharan, V., Glenn, B. A., Haile, R. W., Rosas, L. G. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2022

  View details for Web of Science ID 000863680302407

• Addressing Latinx CANcer Care Equity (ALCANCE) randomized controlled trial: Precision medicine and community health workers Rodriguez, G. M., Wood, E. H., Leach, M., Villicana, G., Murillo, A., Rosas, L. G., Duron, Y., O'Brien, D. G., Koontz, Z., Patel, M. I. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2022

  View details for Web of Science ID 000863680304822

• PREFERENCE FOR DIGITAL CBTI: CHANGES DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF CBTI FOR MIDDLE AGED AND OLDER ADULTS Gumport, N., Tutek, J., Simpson, N., Tully, I., Dietch, J., Zulman, D., Rosas, L., Palaniappan, L., Manber, R. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: A206-A207

  View details for Web of Science ID 000838094800463

• PRESCRIBING PATTERNS FOR HYPNOTIC MEDICATION AMONG ADULTS SEEKING CBTI TREATMENT: A PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM THE RESTING STUDY Simpson, N., Kim, J., Tully, I., Dietch, J., Tutek, J., Gumport, N., Palaniappan, L., Rosas, L., Zulman, D., Manber, R. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: A212

  View details for Web of Science ID 000838094800475

• PREDICTORS OF RESPONSE TO DIGITAL CBTI IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF MIDDLE AGED AND OLDER ADULTS WITH INSOMNIA Gumport, N., Tutek, J., Tully, I., Simpson, N., Dietch, J., Zulman, D., Rosas, L., Palaniappan, L., Manber, R. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: A207

  View details for Web of Science ID 000838094800464

• HOMBRE: A Trial Comparing 2 Weight Loss Approaches for Latino Men. American journal of preventive medicine Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. A., Azar, K. M., Hooker, S. P., Zavella, P., Ma, J. 2022

  Abstract

  INTRODUCTION: Latino men have been drastically under-represented in research to identify effective behavioral weight-loss interventions. This trial compared 2 interventions for weight loss: (1) a culturally adapted intervention (HOMBRE) and (2) a minimal-intensity intervention.DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Latino men with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 and 1 or more cardiometabolic risk factors (N=424) were recruited (February 15, 2017‒October 2, 2018) from 14 medical centers and randomized to receive 1 of the 2 interventions.INTERVENTION: HOMBRE provided men a choice among 3 options: coach-facilitated group sessions using online video conferencing, coach-facilitated group sessions in person, and prerecorded videos of group sessions available online.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the proportion of participants sustaining clinically significant (≥5% of baseline) weight loss at 18 months. Secondary outcomes included weight loss trajectory over time, 3% and 10% weight loss, cardiometabolic risk factors, health behaviors, and psychosocial well-being at baseline and 18 months. Data were analyzed from October 6, 2020 to January 15, 2022.RESULTS: Participants were predominantly middle aged (47.0 [SD=11.9] years), were married (74.3%), were with at least some college experience (79.7%), and had middle to upper incomes (72.4% with annual family incomes >$75,000). Their average BMI was 33.1 kg/m2 (SD=5.1). The proportion achieving clinically significant weight loss at 18 months was 27.4% in the HOMBRE intervention and 20.6% in the minimal-intensity intervention (mean difference=7.2%, 95% CI= -1.8, 17.0; p=0.13). Mean difference between the HOMBRE vs the minimal-intensity group was ‒1.25 kg at 6 months (95% CI= -2.28, -0.21; p=0.02) and ‒1.11 kg at 12 months (95% CI= -2.11, -0.10; p=0.03) using weight measurement data abstracted from the Electronic Health Record and by self report. There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: Among Latino men with overweight and obesity, HOMBRE was not more effective for clinically significant weight loss than a minimal-intensity intervention at 18 months.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.03.032

  View details for PubMedID 35654660

• Association of COVID-19 impact with outcomes of an integrated obesity and depression intervention: Posthoc analysis of an RCT. Obesity research & clinical practice Kringle, E. A., Lv, N., Ronneberg, C. R., Wittels, N., Rosas, L. G., Steinman, L. E., Smyth, J. M., Gerber, B. S., Xiao, L., Venditti, E. M., Ajilore, O. A., Williams, L. M., Ma, J. 2022

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between COVID-19 impact and clinical outcomes of an integrated collaborative care intervention for adults with obesity and comorbid depression.METHODS: Latent class analysis identified clusters of self-reported COVID-19 impact. Cluster characteristics were examined using Fishers' least significant difference method and canonical discriminant analysis. Intervention vs. usual care effects on primary (body mass index [BMI], depressive symptoms) and secondary (anxiety symptoms and other psychosocial) outcomes stratified by cluster were examined using linear mixed models.RESULTS: Three clusters were identified: mental health and sleep impact (cluster 1, n=37), economic impact (cluster 2, n=18), and less overall impact (cluster 3, n=20). Clusters differed in age, income, diet, and baseline coping skills. The intervention led to improvements across several health outcomes compared with usual care, with medium to large effects on functional impairments (standardized mean difference, -0.7 [95% CI: -1.3, -0.1]) in cluster 1, depressive symptoms (-1.1 [95% CI: -2.0, -0.1]) and obesity-related problems (-1.6 [95% CI: -2.8, -0.4]) in cluster 2, and anxiety (-1.1 [95% CI: -1.9, -0.3]) in cluster 3.CONCLUSIONS: People with obesity and comorbid depression may have varied intervention responses based on COVID-19 impact. Interventions tailored to specific COVID-19 impact clusters may restore post-pandemic health.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.orcp.2022.05.005

  View details for PubMedID 35644753

• A MIXED METHODS APPROACH EXPLORING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN RESILIENCE AND EXPERIENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG OLDER ADULTS Achepohl, G. D., Heaney, C. A., Rosas, L., Moore, J., Winter, S. J. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S27

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118600057

• USING RIPPLE EFFECTS MAPPING TO ASSESS COVID-RELATED IMPACTS IN A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTERVENTION FOR LOWER-INCOME AGING ADULTS Condor, J. L., Espinosa, P., Blanco-Velazquez, I., Escobar, M., Campero, M. I., Rosas, L., Banchoff, A., King, A. C. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S669

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118602148

• BEHAVIORAL OBESITY TREATMENT USING DIGITAL TOOLS FOR RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITY ADULTS: FEASIBILITY OF THE SPARK PILOT STUDY Patel, M. L., Cleare, A. E., Smith, C. M., Rosas, L., King, A. C. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S189

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118600401

• ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY Rosas, L., Espinosa, P., Thomas, T. W., Yaroch, A. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S77

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118600167

• ENGAGING LATINO MEN IN BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION TRIALS: EVIDENCE FROM THE FIELD, LESSONS LEARNED, AND BEST PRACTICES Garcia, D. O., Griffith, D. M., Valdez, L. A., Rosas, L. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S332

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118601070

• THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON CANCER CARE AMONG LATINA WOMEN IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: A MIXED METHOD COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH STUDY Mulet, Y., Espinosa, P., Green, D., Trigo, M. L., Zeledon, N., Melendez, E., Torres, A., Martinez, X., Lorenzo, X., Rosas, L. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S632

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118602074

• USING MIXED METHODS TO UNDERSTAND FACILITATORS OF LATINO MEN'S ENGAGEMENT AND SUCCESS IN A BEHAVIORAL LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION Rosas, L., Lv, N., Lewis, M. A., Xiao, L., Hooker, S., Venditti, E., Azar, K., Zavella, P., Ma, J. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S334

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118601073

• ADDRESSING COVID-19 INEQUITIES IN THE LATINX COMMUNITY: A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE MODEL Espinosa, P., Chen, W., Mulet, Y., Rosas, L. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S106

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118600230

• RECIPE4HEALTH: PRIMARY CARE-BASED APPROACHES FOR ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE Rosas, L., Chen, S., Emmert-Aaronson, B., Chen, W., Thompson-Lastad, A., Sherman, S., Ben-Moshe, K., Chen, X., Xiao, L., Espinosa, P., Martinez, E., Tester, J. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2022: S78

  View details for Web of Science ID 000788118600168

• Innovative participatory evaluation methodologies to assess and sustain multilevel impacts of two community-based physical activity programs for women in Colombia. BMC public health Rubio, M. A., Guevara-Aladino, P., Urbano, M., Cabas, S., Mejia-Arbelaez, C., Rodriguez Espinosa, P., Rosas, L. G., King, A. C., Chazdon, S., Sarmiento, O. L. 2022; 22 (1): 771

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Community-based physical activity (PA) programs are appealing to women in Latin America and show potential for improving women's health. This study aimed to engage healthy middle-aged women, breast cancer survivors and local stakeholders participating in two publicly funded community-based PA programs in Bogota, Colombia (Recreovia and My Body) to assess and visually map the perceived barriers, facilitators, and outcomes to promote programs' improvement, scaling and sustainability.METHODS: We used two participatory action research methods, the 1) Our Voice citizen science method to capture data and drive local change in built and social environmental facilitators and barriers that influence women's engagement in community-based PA; and 2) Ripple Effects Mapping to visually map the intended and unintended outcomes of PA programs. We used thematic analysis to classify the results at the individual, social, and community levels.RESULTS: The stakeholders engaged in the participatory evaluation included cross-sector actors from the programs (N=6) and program users (total N=34) from the two programs (Recreovia N=16; My Body N=18). Program users were women with a mean age of 55.7years (SD=8.03), 65% lived in low-income neighborhoods. They identified infrastructure as the main feature affecting PA, having both positive (e.g., appropriate facilities) and negative (e.g., poorly built areas for PA) effects. Regarding program improvements, stakeholders advocated for parks' cleaning, safety, and appropriate use. The most highlighted outcomes were the expansion and strengthening of social bonds and the engagement in collective wellbeing, which leveraged some participants' leadership skills for PA promotion strategies in their community. The facilitated dialogue among program users and stakeholders fostered the sustainability and expansion of the community-based PA programs, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of both participatory methodologies provided a multidimensional understanding of the programs' impacts and multisectoral dialogues that fostered efforts to sustain the community-based PA programs.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s12889-022-13180-2

  View details for PubMedID 35428285

• RCT of the effectiveness of stepped-care sleep therapy in general practice: The RESTING study protocol. Contemporary clinical trials Manber, R., Tully, I. A., Palaniappan, L., Kim, J. P., Simpson, N., Zulman, D. M., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J. D., Rangel, E., Dietch, J. R., Rosas, L. G. 2022: 106749

  Abstract

  Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective, non-pharmacological intervention, designated by the American College of Physicians as the first-line treatment of insomnia disorder. The current randomized controlled study uses a Hybrid-Type-1 design to compare the effectiveness and implementation potential of two approaches to delivering CBT-I in primary care. One approach offers therapy to all patients through an automated, digital CBT-I program (ONLINE-ONLY). The other is a triaged STEPPED-CARE approach that uses a simple Decision Checklist to start patients in either digital or therapist-led treatment; patients making insufficient progress with digital treatment at 2 months are switched to therapist-led treatment. We will randomize 240 individuals (age 50 or older) with insomnia disorder to ONLINE-ONLY or STEPPED-CARE arms. The primary outcomes are insomnia severity and hypnotic medication use, assessed at baseline and at months 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 after randomization. We hypothesize that STEPPED-CARE will be superior to ONLINE-ONLY in reducing insomnia severity and hypnotic use. We also aim to validate the Decision Checklist and explore moderators of outcome. Additionally, guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we will use mixed methods to obtain data on the potential for future dissemination and implementation of each approach. This triaged stepped-care approach has the potential to improve sleep, reduce use of hypnotic medications, promote safety, offer convenient access to treatment, and support dissemination of CBT-I to a large number of patients currently facing barriers to accessing treatment. Clinical trial registration:NCT03532282.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106749

  View details for PubMedID 35367385

• Food Insecurity Influences Weight Trajectory in Children with Obesity. Childhood obesity (Print) Tester, J. M., Xiao, L., Tinajero-Deck, L., Juarez, L., Rosas, L. G. 2022

  Abstract

  Background: Social disadvantage is associated with children's risk of being overweight or obese, but little is known about how it impacts weight trajectory. This longitudinal analysis examines food insecurity and weight change over time among low-income children in a multidisciplinary weight management clinic. Methods: Food insecurity was assessed between 2008 and 2016 among 794 low-income patients (household income <$60k/year) who attended 3234 visits. Mixed-effects growth curve modeling was used to examine the association between baseline food security status and weight trajectory, using percentage of the 95th percentile for BMI (%BMIp95). Random effects (each child's growth curve) and fixed effects (food insecurity, starting age and %BMIp95, demographics, and months since the initial visit) were modeled, and interactions between food insecurity and elapsed time estimated the influence of food insecurity on weight trajectory. Results: Mean %BMIp95 was 129% (SD 24%), corresponding to severe obesity. Thirty percent of patients were food-insecure at baseline. After adjusting for other factors, monthly change in %BMIp95 was significantly smaller for food-insecure children compared to food-secure peers (difference in the coefficients for slope: 0.13, SE 0.05, p=0.009). The modeled 12-month change in %BMIp95 was significant for food-secure children (-2.28, SE 0.76, p=0.0026), but not for food-insecure children (-1.54, SE 1.22, p=0.21). Conclusion: Household food insecurity was associated with a less optimal weight trajectory among children with obesity.

  View details for DOI 10.1089/chi.2021.0311

  View details for PubMedID 35171045

• Preferences for Technology-Mediated Behavioral Lifestyle Interventions With Different Levels of Coach and Peer Support Among Latino Men: Comparative Study Within One Arm of a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR formative research Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Azar, K. M., Hooker, S. P., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. A., Zavella, P., Ma, J. 1800; 6 (2): e29537

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Although Latino men have the highest prevalence (45%) of obesity among all men in the United States, traditional weight loss interventions have not effectively engaged this hard-to-reach and diverse group. Offering choices among technology-mediated weight loss interventions may offer advantages.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine Latino men's preferences among 3 weight loss intervention options. We also examined whether attendance in group sessions (videoconference and in person) and weight loss differed according to intervention choice.METHODS: Latino men (n=200; mean age 47.3, SD 11.8 years) participated in a comparative effectiveness trial based on primary care and were randomized to receive the 1-year HOMBRE (Hombres con Opciones para Mejorar su Bienestar para Reducir Enfermedades Cronicas; English translation: Men With Options to Improve Their Well-being and Reduce Chronic Disease) intervention. HOMBRE is a weight loss intervention that offers 3 delivery options. During an orientation session, a trained bilingual coach helped men select 1 of the 3 intervention options that differed in coach, peer support, and available language. We used canonical discriminant analysis to assess multivariate associations of demographic, clinical, employment, cultural, and technology use and access factors with men's intervention choices. We used generalized linear models to estimate weight loss at 6, 12, and 18 months for men in each intervention option.RESULTS: Among Latino men, 28% (56/200) chose videoconference groups, 31% (62/200) chose web-based videos, and 41% (82/200) chose in-person groups. The canonical discriminant analysis identified 1 orthogonal dimension that distinguished between men who chose an in-person group and men who chose web-based videos. Men who were older, spoke Spanish, and did not use a computer frequently had a higher probability of choosing in-person groups versus web-based videos. For men who selected a group delivery option, 86.9% (107/123) attended ≥25% of the sessions, 83.7% (103/123) attended ≥50% of the sessions, and 73.2% (90/123) attended ≥75% of the sessions, with no differences by type of group (videoconference or in person). Men who chose videoconference and in-person group sessions lost significantly more weight at 6 months (both P<.001) and 18 months (P=.02 and P=.04, respectively) than those who chose web-based videos. Men who chose in-person group sessions also lost significantly more weight at 12 months (P=.008) than those who chose web-based videos.CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences according to demographic, employment, cultural, and technology use factors between men who chose 1 of the 3 intervention options. Men who chose one of the group-based options (videoconference or in person) lost significantly more weight than those who chose web-based videos. Providing options that accommodate the diversity of Latino men's preferences is important for increasing engagement in behavioral interventions.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03092960; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03092960.

  View details for DOI 10.2196/29537

  View details for PubMedID 35119377

• UNDERSTANDING HISTORICAL TRAUMA AMONG URBAN INDIGENOUS ADULTS AT RISK FOR DIABETES AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH Espinosa, P., Garcia, L. C., Vasquez, J. J., Xiao, L., Stafford, R. S., Krenzel, L., Ojeda, A., Rosas, L. G. 2022; 29 (3): 43-70

  Abstract

  Historical trauma has been posited as a key framework for conceptualizing and addressing health equity in Indigenous populations. Using a community-based participatory approach, this study aimed to examine historical trauma and key psycho-social correlates among urban Indigenous adults at risk for diabetes to inform diabetes and other chronic disease prevention strategies. Indigenous adult participants (n=207) were recruited from an urban area in California and were asked to identify whether their Indigenous heritage was from a group in the United States, Canada, or Latin America. Historical trauma was assessed using the Historical Loss (HLS) and Historical Loss Associated Symptoms (HLAS) scales. Nearly half (49%) of Indigenous participants from the United States or Canada endorsed thinking about one or more historical losses weekly, daily, or several times a day, compared to 32% for Indigenous participants from Mexico, Central America, and South America. Most participants (62%) reported experiencing one or more historical loss-associated symptoms, such as depression and anger, sometimes, often, or always. Ancestry from the United States or Canada, depression, and participation in cultural activities were associated with greater HLS and HLAS scores, indicating a greater number of losses and associated symptoms. Results suggest a need to consider historical trauma when designing diabetes prevention interventions and the need to further consider ancestry differences. As preventive efforts for Indigenous adults expand in urban environments, behavioral interventions must incorporate strategies that address community-identified barriers in order to succeed.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000878988600004

  View details for PubMedID 36178747

• STOP COVID-19 CA: Community engagement to address the disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in California. Frontiers in health services Casillas, A., Rosas, L. G., Carson, S. L., Orechwa, A., North, G., AuYoung, M., Kim, G., Guereca, J. A., Ramers, C. B., Burke, N. J., Corchado, C. G., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Cheney, A., Rabin, B. A., Stadnick, N. A., Oswald, W., Cabrera, A., Sorkin, D. H., Zaldivar, F., Wong, W., Yerraguntala, A. S., Vassar, S. D., Wright, A. L., Washington, D. L., Norris, K. C., Brown, A. F. 2022; 2: 935297

  Abstract

  Objective: To describe the early activities and lessons of the Share, Trust, Organize, Partner COVID-19 California Alliance (STOP COVID-19 CA), the California awardee of the NIH-funded multi-state Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) against COVID-19. The Alliance was established to ensure equity in Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) research, clinical practice, and public health for communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.Study setting: The STOP COVID-19 CA Alliance network of 11 universities and affiliated partner community-based organizations (CBOs) across California.Study design: Mixed methods evaluation consisting of an analysis of activity (August 2020 to December 2021) detailed in reports submitted by community-academic teams and a survey (August 2021) of academic investigators and affiliated community-based organization (CBO) partners.Data collection: We summarized activities from the 11 community-academic teams' progress reports and described results from an online survey of academic investigators and CBO partners in the California Alliance.Principal findings: A review of progress reports (n = 256) showed that teams fielded surveys to 11,000 Californians, conducted 133 focus groups, partnered with 29 vaccine/therapeutics clinical trials, and led more than 300 town halls and vaccine events that reached Californians from communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Survey responses from academic investigators and CBO partners emphasized the importance of learning from the successes and challenges of the California Alliance teams' COVID-19 initiatives. Both academic and CBO respondents highlighted the need for streamlined federal and institutional administrative policies, and fiscal practices to promote more effective and timely operations of teams in their efforts to address the numerous underlying health and social disparities that predispose their communities to higher rates of, and poor outcomes from, COVID-19.Conclusions: STOP COVID-19 CA represents a new and potentially sustainable statewide community engagement model for addressing health disparities in multiethnic/multicultural and geographically dispersed communities.

  View details for DOI 10.3389/frhs.2022.935297

  View details for PubMedID 36925779

• Corrigendum: COVID-19 preventive measures in Northern California jails: Perceived deficiencies, barriers, and unintended harms. Frontiers in public health Liu, Y. E., LeBoa, C., Rodriguez, M., Sherif, B., Trinidad, C., Del Rosario, M., Allen, S., Clifford, C., Redding, J., Chen, W., Rosas, L. G., Morales, C., Chyorny, A., Andrews, J. R. 2022; 10: 1002199

  Abstract

  [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.854343.].

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1002199

  View details for PubMedID 36052012

• Early Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Experience With the Use of Telehealth to Address Disparities: Scoping Review. Journal of medical Internet research Bailey, J. E., Gurgol, C., Pan, E., Njie, S., Emmett, S., Gatwood, J., Gauthier, L., Rosas, L. G., Kearney, S. M., Robler, S. K., Lawrence, R. H., Margolis, K. L., Osunkwo, I., Wilfley, D., Shah, V. O. 2021; 23 (12): e28503

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Health systems and providers across America are increasingly employing telehealth technologies to better serve medically underserved low-income, minority, and rural populations at the highest risk for health disparities. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has invested US $386 million in comparative effectiveness research in telehealth, yet little is known about the key early lessons garnered from this research regarding the best practices in using telehealth to address disparities.OBJECTIVE: This paper describes preliminary lessons from the body of research using study findings and case studies drawn from PCORI seminal patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) initiatives. The primary purpose was to identify common barriers and facilitators to implementing telehealth technologies in populations at risk for disparities.METHODS: A systematic scoping review of telehealth studies addressing disparities was performed. It was guided by the Arksey and O'Malley Scoping Review Framework and focused on PCORI's active portfolio of telehealth studies and key PCOR identified by study investigators. We drew on this broad literature using illustrative examples from early PCOR experience and published literature to assess barriers and facilitators to implementing telehealth in populations at risk for disparities, using the active implementation framework to extract data. Major themes regarding how telehealth interventions can overcome barriers to telehealth adoption and implementation were identified through this review using an iterative Delphi process to achieve consensus among the PCORI investigators participating in the study.RESULTS: PCORI has funded 89 comparative effectiveness studies in telehealth, of which 41 assessed the use of telehealth to improve outcomes for populations at risk for health disparities. These 41 studies employed various overlapping modalities including mobile devices (29/41, 71%), web-based interventions (30/41, 73%), real-time videoconferencing (15/41, 37%), remote patient monitoring (8/41, 20%), and store-and-forward (ie, asynchronous electronic transmission) interventions (4/41, 10%). The studies targeted one or more of PCORI's priority populations, including racial and ethnic minorities (31/41, 41%), people living in rural areas, and those with low income/low socioeconomic status, low health literacy, or disabilities. Major themes identified across these studies included the importance of patient-centered design, cultural tailoring of telehealth solutions, delivering telehealth through trusted intermediaries, partnering with payers to expand telehealth reimbursement, and ensuring confidential sharing of private information.CONCLUSIONS: Early PCOR evidence suggests that the most effective health system- and provider-level telehealth implementation solutions to address disparities employ patient-centered and culturally tailored telehealth solutions whose development is actively guided by the patients themselves to meet the needs of specific communities and populations. Further, this evidence shows that the best practices in telehealth implementation include delivery of telehealth through trusted intermediaries, close partnership with payers to facilitate reimbursement and sustainability, and safeguards to ensure patient-guided confidential sharing of personal health information.

  View details for DOI 10.2196/28503

  View details for PubMedID 34878986

• Baseline Intrinsic Functional Brain Connectomes Predict Treatment Outcome for Depression Comorbid With Obesity: A Report From the Engage Randomized Controlled Trial Zhang, X., Stetz, P., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Xiao, L., Lv, N., Rosas, L. G., Snowden, M. B., Smyth, J. M., Suppes, T., Ajilore, O., Williams, L. M. SPRINGERNATURE. 2021: 281

  View details for Web of Science ID 000725511401108

• Epidemiologic Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes in Ethnic Minorities with Myelodysplastic Syndromes Molina, A., Xiao, L., Ostrom, Q. T., Rosas, L. G., Greenberg, P. L. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2021

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2021-152011

  View details for Web of Science ID 000835740100133

• Intersection of Health Informatics Tools and Community Engagement in Health-Related Research to Reduce Health Inequities: Scoping Review. Journal of participatory medicine Rajamani, G., Rodriguez Espinosa, P., Rosas, L. G. 2021; 13 (3): e30062

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: The exponential growth of health information technology has the potential to facilitate community engagement in research. However, little is known about the use of health information technology in community-engaged research, such as which types of health information technology are used, which populations are engaged, and what are the research outcomes.OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this scoping review were to examine studies that used health information technology for community engagement and to assess (1) the types of populations, (2) community engagement strategies, (3) types of health information technology tools, and (4) outcomes of interest.METHODS: We searched PubMed and PCORI Literature Explorer using terms related to health information technology, health informatics, community engagement, and stakeholder involvement. This search process yielded 967 papers for screening. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, a total of 37 papers were analyzed for key themes and for approaches relevant to health information technology and community engagement research.RESULTS: This analysis revealed that the communities engaged were generally underrepresented populations in health-related research, including racial or ethnic minority communities such as Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Latino ethnicity, and communities from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The studies focused on various age groups, ranging from preschoolers to older adults. The studies were also geographically spread across the United States and the world. Community engagement strategies included collaborative development of health information technology tools and partnerships to promote use (encompassing collaborative development, use of community advisory boards, and focus groups for eliciting information needs) and use of health information technology to engage communities in research (eg, through citizen science). The types of technology varied across studies, with mobile or tablet-based apps being the most common platform. Outcomes measured included eliciting user needs and requirements, assessing health information technology tools and prototypes with participants, measuring knowledge, and advocating for community change.CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates the current landscape at the intersection of health information technology tools and community-engaged research approaches. It highlights studies in which various community-engaged research approaches were used to design culturally centered health information technology tools, to promote health information technology uptake, or for engagement in health research and advocacy. Our findings can serve as a platform for generating future research upon which to expand the scope of health information technology tools and their use for meaningful stakeholder engagement. Studies that incorporate community context and needs have a greater chance of cocreating culturally centered health information technology tools and better knowledge to promote action and improve health outcomes.

  View details for DOI 10.2196/30062

  View details for PubMedID 34797214

• The Role of Citizen Science in Promoting Health Equity. Annual review of public health Rosas, L. G., Espinosa, P. R., Jimenez, F. M., King, A. C. 2021

  Abstract

  While there are many definitions of citizen science, the term usually refers to the participation of the general public in the scientific process in collaboration with professional scientists. Citizen scientists have been engaged to promote health equity, especially in the areas of environmental contaminant exposures, physical activity, and healthy eating. Citizen scientists commonly come from communities experiencing health inequities and have collected data using a range of strategies and technologies, such as air sensors, water quality kits, and mobile applications. On the basis of our review, and to advance the field of citizen science to address health equity, we recommend (a) expanding the focus on topics important for health equity, (b) increasing the diversity of people serving as citizen scientists, (c) increasing the integration of citizen scientists in additional research phases, (d) continuing to leverage emerging technologies that enable citizen scientists to collect data relevant for health equity, and (e) strengthening the rigor of methods to evaluate impacts on health equity. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

  View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-102856

  View details for PubMedID 34724389

• Addressing cancer care needs for Latino adults: A formative qualitative evaluation Rodriguez, G. M., Leach, M., Osorio, J., Wood, E., Duron, Y., O'Brien, D. G., Zach, K., Rosas, L., Patel, M. I. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2021

  View details for DOI 10.1200/JCO.2020.39.28_suppl.105

  View details for Web of Science ID 000707130200104

• Desafios de medicion para la investigacion de la obesidad infantil en y entre America Latina y Estados Unidos. Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity Berrigan, D., Arteaga, S. S., Colon-Ramos, U., Rosas, L. G., Monge-Rojas, R., O'Connor, T. M., Perez-Escamilla, R., Roberts, E. F., Sanchez, B., Tellez-Rojo, M. M., Vorkoper, S., Cross Borders Working Group 2021; 22 Suppl 5: e13353

  Abstract

  La obesidad infantil es un grave problema de salud publica en Latinoamerica y Estados Unidos y para luchar contra ella se precisan instrumentos de medicion validos y fiables y que tengan en cuenta los aspectos culturales. Para avanzar en este campo seria util mejorar las mediciones en los distintos grupos de edades y paises del continente americano, tanto en las comunidades de origen como en las de acogida. Ademas, una mayor precision y comparabilidad de las mediciones contribuiria a acelerar la colaboracion y el aprendizaje transfronterizos. En este documento presentamos (1) los marcos conceptuales que han influido en nuestra perspectiva sobre la obesidad infantil y las necesidades relacionadas con su medicion en el continente americano; (2) un resumen de los recursos y guias existentes sobre los instrumentos de medida y su adaptacion a la investigacion de la obesidad infantil; (3) tres areas clave que plantean desafios y oportunidades para avanzar en la medicion de la obesidad infantil, incluidas las conductas parentales, la aculturacion y el potencial de utilizar metodos etnograficos para identificar los factores clave relacionados con la economia y la globalizacion. El progreso para reducir la obesidad infantil en las Americas podria acelerarse mediante mayor colaboracion transnacional destinada a optimizar la medicion para una mejor vigilancia, desarrollo y evaluacion de intervenciones, investigacion de implementacion y evaluacion de los experimentos naturales. Ademas, es necesario mejorar la formacion sobre los instrumentos de medicion y el acceso a medidas validas y fiables tanto en espanol como en otros idiomas de uso frecuente en las Americas.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/obr.13353

  View details for PubMedID 34708534

• Problem-solving therapy-induced amygdala engagement mediates lifestyle behavior change in obesity with comorbid depression: a randomized proof-of-mechanism trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition Lv, N., Lefferts, W. K., Xiao, L., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Wielgosz, J., Lavori, P. W., Simmons, J. M., Smyth, J. M., Stetz, P., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. A., Rosas, L. G., Snowden, M. B., Ajilore, O. A., Suppes, T., Williams, L. M., Ma, J. 2021

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Depression hinders obesity treatment; elucidating mechanisms may enable treatment enhancements.OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate whether changes in neural targets in the negative affect circuit following psychotherapy mediate subsequent changes in weight and behaviors.METHODS: Adults (n=108) with obesity and depression were randomly assigned to usual care or an intervention that delivered problem-solving therapy (PST) for depression over 2 mo. fMRI for brain imaging was performed at baseline and 2 mo. BMI, physical activity, and diet were measured at baseline and 12 mo. Mediation analysis assessed between-group differences in neural target changes using t test and correlations between neural target changes and outcome changes (simple and interaction effect) using ordinary least-squares regression.RESULTS: Compared with usual care, PST led to reductions in left amygdala activation (-0.75; 95% CI: -1.49, -0.01) and global scores of the negative affect circuit (-0.43; -0.81, -0.06), engaged by threat stimuli. Increases in amygdala activation and global circuit scores at 2 mo correlated with decreases in physical activity outcomes at 12 mo in the usual-care group; these relations were altered by PST. In relation to change in leisure-time physical activity, standardized beta-coefficients were -0.67 in usual care and -0.01 in the intervention (between-group difference: 0.66; 0.02, 1.30) for change in left amygdala activation and -2.02 in usual care and -0.11 in the intervention (difference: 1.92; 0.64, 3.20) for change in global circuit scores. In relation to change in total energy expenditure, standardized beta-coefficients were -0.65 in usual care and 0.08 in the intervention (difference: 0.73; 0.29, 1.16) for change in left amygdala activation and -1.65 in usual care and 0.08 in the intervention (difference: 1.74; 0.85, 2.63) for change in global circuit scores. Results were null for BMI and diet.CONCLUSIONS: Short-term changes in the negative affect circuit engaged by threat stimuli following PST for depression mediated longer-term changes in physical activity. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02246413 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02246413).

  View details for DOI 10.1093/ajcn/nqab280

  View details for PubMedID 34476464

• Development of a Mobile Health App (TOGETHERCare) to Reduce Cancer Care Partner Burden: Product Design Study. JMIR formative research Oakley-Girvan, I., Davis, S. W., Kurian, A., Rosas, L. G., Daniels, J., Palesh, O. G., Mesia, R. J., Kamal, A. H., Longmire, M., Divi, V. 2021; 5 (8): e22608

  Abstract

  Approximately 6.1 million adults in the United States serve as care partners for cancer survivors. Studies have demonstrated that engaging cancer survivors and their care partners through technology-enabled structured symptom collection has several benefits. Given the high utilization of mobile technologies, even among underserved populations and in low resource areas, mobile apps may provide a meaningful access point for all stakeholders for symptom management.We aimed to develop a mobile app incorporating user preferences to enable cancer survivors' care partners to monitor the survivors' health and to provide care partner resources.An iterative information gathering process was conducted that included (1) discussions with 138 stakeholders to identify challenges and gaps in survivor home care; (2) semistructured interviews with clinicians (n=3), cancer survivors (n=3), and care partners (n=3) to identify specific needs; and (3) a 28-day feasibility field test with seven care partners.Health professionals noted the importance of identifying early symptoms of adverse events. Survivors requested modules on medication, diet, self-care, reminders, and a version in Spanish. Care partners preferred to focus primarily on the patient's health and not their own. The app was developed incorporating quality-of-life surveys and symptom reporting, as well as resources on home survivor care. Early user testing demonstrated ease of use and app feasibility.TOGETHERCare, a novel mobile app, was developed with user input to track the care partner's health and report on survivor symptoms during home care. The following two clinical benefits emerged: (1) reduced anxiety among care partners who use the app and (2) the potential for identifying survivor symptoms noted by the care partner, which might prevent adverse events.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04018677; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04018677.

  View details for DOI 10.2196/22608

  View details for PubMedID 34398787

• Early changes in neural circuit function engaged by negative emotion and modified by behavioural intervention are associated with depression and problem-solving outcomes: A report from the ENGAGE randomized controlled trial. EBioMedicine Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Wielgosz, J., Xiao, L., Stetz, P., Correa, C. G., Chang, S. E., Lv, N., Rosas, L. G., Lavori, P. W., Snowden, M. B., Venditti, E. M., Simmons, J. M., Smyth, J. M., Suppes, T., Lewis, M. A., Ajilore, O., Ma, J., Williams, L. M. 2021; 67: 103387

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Depression exerts a staggering toll that is worsened with co-occurring chronic conditions such as obesity. It is imperative to develop more effective interventions for depression and to identify objective and biological plausible neural mechanisms to understand intervention outcomes. The current study uses functional neuroimaging to determine whether a behavioural intervention changes the negative affect circuit and whether these changes relate to subsequent improvements in both symptom and problem-solving outcomes in depressed patients with co-occurring obesity.METHODS: This study ('ENGAGE') was a pre-planned element of the randomized controlled trial, 'RAINBOW' (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02246413). 108 depressed patients with obesity were randomized to receive an integrated collaborative care intervention (I-CARE) or usual care. Participants underwent functional neuroimaging using an established facial emotion task at baseline and two months (coinciding with the first two months of intervention focused on problem-solving therapy ('PST')). Amygdala, insula and anterior cingulate cortex activation was extracted using pre-planned definitions and standardized methods. The primary health and behavioural outcomes were depression symptom severity and problem-solving ability respectively, assessed at baseline, the main 6-month outcome point and at 12-month follow up. Mediation analyses used an intent-to-treat approach.FINDINGS: PST, relative to usual care, reduced amygdala activation engaged by threat stimuli at two months. This reduction mediated subsequent improvements in depression severity in an intervention-dependent manner. PST did not change insula activation at two months but did temper the strength of the relationship between insula activation and improvements in problem-solving ability.INTERPRETATION: The negative affect circuit may be an important neural target and potential mediator of PST in patients with comorbid obesity.FUNDING: US National Institutes of Health/National Heart Lung and Blood Institute R01 HL119453 and UH2/UH3 HL132368.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103387

  View details for PubMedID 34004422

• Measurement challenges for childhood obesity research within and between Latin America and the United States. Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity Berrigan, D., Arteaga, S. S., Colon-Ramos, U., Rosas, L. G., Monge-Rojas, R., O'Connor, T. M., Perez-Escamilla, R., Roberts, E. F., Sanchez, B., Tellez-Rojo, M. M., Vorkoper, S., Cross Borders Working Group 2021: e13242

  Abstract

  Childhood obesity is a major public health challenge across Latin America and the United States. Addressing childhood obesity depends on valid, reliable, and culturally sensitive measurements. Such progress within and between countries of the Americas could be enhanced through better measurement across different age groups, different countries, and in sending and receiving communities. Additionally, better and more comparable measurements could accelerate cross-border collaboration and learning. Here, we present (1) frameworks that influenced our perspectives on childhood obesity and measurement needs across the Americas; (2) a summary of resources and guidance available concerning measurement and adaptation of measures for childhood obesity research; and (3) three major areas that present challenges and opportunities for measurement advances related to childhood obesity, including parental behavior, acculturation, and the potential to incorporate ethnographic methods to identify critical factors related to economics and globalization. Progress to reduce childhood obesity across the Americas could be accelerated by further transnational collaboration aimed at improving measurement for better surveillance, intervention development and evaluation, implementation research, and evaluation of natural experiments. Additionally, there is a need to improve training related to measurement and for improving access to valid and reliable measures in Spanish and other languages common in the Americas.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/obr.13242

  View details for PubMedID 33942975

• Activation of Cognitive Control Network During Inhibition Processing Dynamically Predicts Symptom Outcomes for Depression: A 24-month Longitudinal Study Zhang, X., Stetz, P., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Xiao, L., Lv, N., Rosas, L. G., Lavori, P. W., Snowden, M. B., Venditti, E. M., Simmons, J. M., Smyth, J. M., Suppes, T., Lewis, M. A., Ajilore, O., Ma, J., Williams, L. M. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2021: S98

  View details for Web of Science ID 000645683800234

• RIPPLE EFFECTS MAPPING IN BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS: A PARTICIPATORY METHOD TO ACCELERATE TRANSLATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Espinosa, P., Rosas, L., Campero, M. I., Rubio Rojas, M., Sarmiento, O. L., Chazdon, S., King, A. C. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2021: S568

  View details for Web of Science ID 000648922701350

• CHARTING UNEXPECTED "RIPPLE EFFECTS" OF TWO COMMUNITY-BASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA Rubio Rojas, M., Guevara Aladino, P., Rosas, L., Espinosa, P., Sarmiento, O. L. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2021: S570

  View details for Web of Science ID 000648922701353

• ENGAGING ETHNICALLY DIVERSE MID-LIFE AND OLDER ADULTS IN A MULTILEVEL PARTICIPATORY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTERVENTION: EVALUATING IMPACTS USING RIPPLE EFFECTS MAPPING Rosas, L., Espinosa, P., Campero, M. I., Blanco-Velazquez, I., Chen, W., King, A. C. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2021: S569

  View details for Web of Science ID 000648922701351

• Social cohesion emerging from a community-based physical activity program: A temporal network analysis. Network science (Cambridge University Press) Jaramillo, A. M., Montes, F., Sarmiento, O. L., Ríos, A. P., Rosas, L. G., Hunter, R., Rodríguez, A. L., King, A. C. 2021; 9 (1): 35-48

  Abstract

  Community-based physical activity programs, such as the Recreovía, are effective in promoting healthy behaviors in Latin America. To understand Recreovías' challenges and scalability, we characterized its social network longitudinally while studying its participants' social cohesion and interactions. First, we constructed the Main network of the program's Facebook profile in 2013 to determine the main stakeholders and communities of participants. Second, we studied the Temporal network growth of the Facebook profiles of three Recreovía locations from 2008 to 2016. We implemented a Time Windows in Networks algorithm to determine observation periods and a scaling model of cities' growth to measure social cohesion over time. Our results show physical activity instructors as the main stakeholders (20.84% nodes of the network). As emerging cohesion, we found: (1) incremental growth of Facebook users (43-272 nodes), friendships (55-2565 edges), clustering coefficient (0.19-0.21), and density (0.04-0.07); (2) no preferential attachment behavior; and (3) a social cohesion super-linear growth with 1.73 new friendships per joined user. Our results underscore the physical activity instructors' influence and the emergent cohesion in innovation periods as a co-benefit of the program. This analysis associates the social and healthy behavior dimensions of a program occurring in natural environments under a systemic approach.

  View details for DOI 10.1017/nws.2020.31

  View details for PubMedID 34322275

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8315584

• Social cohesion emerging from a community-based physical activity program: A temporal network analysis NETWORK SCIENCE Jaramillo, A., Montes, F., Sarmiento, O. L., Rios, A., Rosas, L. G., Hunter, R. F., Rodriguez, A., King, A. C. 2021; 9 (1): 35-48

  View details for DOI 10.1017/nws.2020.31

  View details for Web of Science ID 000672040100003

• Use of Korean dramas to facilitate precision mental health understanding and discussion for Asian Americans. Health promotion international Ta Park, V. M., Park, C. J., Kim, C., Nguyen, N. C., Tran, A. T., Chiang, A., Rho, S. J., Olaisen, R. H., Vuong, Q., Rosas, L. G., Cho, M. K. 2021

  Abstract

  Precision mental health holds great potential for revolutionizing care and reducing the burden of mental illness. All races and ethnicities such as Asian Americans, the fastest growing racial group in the United States (U.S.), need to be engaged in precision mental health research. Owing to its global popularity, Korean drama ('K-drama') television shows may be an effective educational tool to increase precision mental health knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among Asian Americans. This qualitative study examined the participants' perspectives about and acceptance of using K-dramas to educate and engage Asian Americans about precision mental health. Twelve workshops were conducted in English, Vietnamese and Korean with a convenience sample in the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. (n=122). Discussions were coded for themes. Findings revealed that all language groups reported positive reactions to using K-dramas to learn about precision health, genetics and mental health. Overall, participants shared that they learned about topics that are not generally talked about (e.g. precision health; genetic testing; mental health), from other people's perspectives, and the importance of mental health. Participants expressed how much they enjoyed the workshop, how they felt relieved due to the workshop, thought the workshop was interesting, and had an opportunity for self-reflection/healing. This pilot test demonstrated that K-dramas has promise to be used as a health educational tool in a workshop format focused on mental health among a diverse group of Asian Americans. Given the widespread access to K-dramas, they present a scalable opportunity for increasing awareness about specific health topics.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/heapro/daab012

  View details for PubMedID 33582752

• Weight loss effects in usual primary care: Findings from 5 behavioral weight loss RCTs. Obesity research & clinical practice Ronneberg, C. R., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Rosas, L. G., Shrestha, R., Dosala, S., Eckley, T., Wittels, N., Ma, J. 2021

  Abstract

  Primary care is an important setting for obesity treatment and behavior therapy is considered the first line. However, current practice often does not meet clinical guidelines and, furthermore, effects of usual care (UC) on weight loss are unclear. This makes it difficult to design sufficiently powered weight loss trials in primary care. This study analyzed data from UC control participants across 5 primary care-based randomized clinical trials of behavioral weight loss interventions to assess UC effects for 4 weight outcomes: body mass index (BMI), weight change (kg and %), and percent of participants achieving clinically significant 5% weight loss. Results indicated modest UC effects, suggesting modest weight loss is possible in usual primary care.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.orcp.2021.02.001

  View details for PubMedID 33589391

• Implementation outcomes of Humanwide: integrated precision health in team-based family practice primary care. BMC family practice Brown-Johnson, C. G., Safaeinili, N., Baratta, J., Palaniappan, L., Mahoney, M., Rosas, L. G., Winget, M. 2021; 22 (1): 28

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Humanwide was precision health embedded in primary care aiming to leverage high-tech and high-touch medicine to promote wellness, predict and prevent illness, and tailor treatment to individual medical and psychosocial needs.METHODS: We conducted a study assessing implementation outcomes to inform spread and scale, using mixed methods of semi-structured interviews with diverse stakeholders and chart reviews. Humanwide included: 1) health coaching; 2) four digital health tools for blood-pressure, weight, glucose, and activity; 3) pharmacogenomic testing; and 4) genetic screening/testing. We examined implementation science constructs: reach/penetration, acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability. Chart reviews captured preliminary clinical outcomes.RESULTS: Fifty of 69 patients (72%) invited by primary care providers participated in the Humanwide pilot. We performed chart reviews for the 50 participating patients. Participants were diverse overall (50% non-white, 66% female). Over half of the participants were obese and 58% had one or more major cardiovascular risk factor: dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes. Reach/penetration of Humanwide components varied: pharmacogenomics testing 94%, health coaching 80%, genetic testing 72%, and digital health 64%. Interview participants (n=27) included patients (n=16), providers (n=9), and the 2 staff who were allocated dedicated time for Humanwide patient intake and orientation. Patients and providers reported Humanwide was acceptable; it engaged patients holistically, supported faster medication titration, and strengthened patient-provider relationships. All patients benefited clinically from at least one Humanwide component. Feasibility challenges included: low provider self-efficacy for interpreting genetics and pharmacogenomics; difficulties with data integration; patient technology challenges; and additional staffing needs. Patient financial burden concerns surfaced with respect to sustainability.CONCLUSION: This is the first report of implementation of a multi-component precision health model embedded in team-based primary care. We found acceptance from both patients and providers; however, feasibility barriers must be overcome to enable broad spread and sustainability. We found that barriers to implementation of precision health in a team-based primary care clinic are mundane and straightforward, though not necessarily easy to overcome. Future implementation endeavors should invest in basics: education, workflow, and reflection/evaluation. Strengthening fundamentals will enable healthcare systems to more nimbly accept the responsibility of meeting patients at the crossroads of innovative science and routinized clinical systems.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s12875-021-01373-4

  View details for PubMedID 33530939

• Community-Based Approaches to Reducing Health Inequities and Fostering Environmental Justice through Global Youth-Engaged Citizen Science. International journal of environmental research and public health King, A. C., Odunitan-Wayas, F. A., Chaudhury, M., Rubio, M. A., Baiocchi, M., Kolbe-Alexander, T., Montes, F., Banchoff, A., Sarmiento, O. L., Balter, K., Hinckson, E., Chastin, S., Lambert, E. V., Gonzalez, S. A., Guerra, A. M., Gelius, P., Zha, C., Sarabu, C., Kakar, P. A., Fernes, P., Rosas, L. G., Winter, S. J., McClain, E., Gardiner, P. A., On Behalf Of The Our Voice Global Citizen Science Research Network 2021; 18 (3)

  Abstract

  Growing socioeconomic and structural disparities within and between nations have created unprecedented health inequities that have been felt most keenly among the world's youth. While policy approaches can help to mitigate such inequities, they are often challenging to enact in under-resourced and marginalized communities. Community-engaged participatory action research provides an alternative or complementary means for addressing the physical and social environmental contexts that can impact health inequities. The purpose of this article is to describe the application of a particular form of technology-enabled participatory action research, called the Our Voice citizen science research model, with youth. An overview of 20 Our Voice studies occurring across five continents indicates that youth and young adults from varied backgrounds and with interests in diverse issues affecting their communities can participate successfully in multiple contributory research processes, including those representing the full scientific endeavor. These activities can, in turn, lead to changes in physical and social environments of relevance to health, wellbeing, and, at times, climate stabilization. The article ends with future directions for the advancement of this type of community-engaged citizen science among young people across the socioeconomic spectrum.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph18030892

  View details for PubMedID 33494135

• Using RE-AIM to examine the potential public health impact of an integrated collaborative care intervention for weight and depression management in primary care: Results from the RAINBOW trial. PloS one Lewis, M. A., Wagner, L. K., Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Venditti, E. M., Steinman, L. E., Weiner, B. J., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J. D., Snowden, M. B., Ma, J. 2021; 16 (3): e0248339

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: An integrated collaborative care intervention was used to treat primary care patients with comorbid obesity and depression in a randomized clinical trial. To increase wider uptake and dissemination, information is needed on translational potential.METHODS: The trial collected longitudinal, qualitative data at baseline, 6 months (end of intensive treatment), 12 months (end of maintenance treatment), and 24 months (end of follow-up). Semi-structured interviews (n = 142) were conducted with 54 out of 409 randomly selected trial participants and 37 other stakeholders, such as recruitment staff, intervention staff, and clinicians. Using a Framework Analysis approach, we examined themes across time and stakeholder groups according to the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework.RESULTS: At baseline, participants and other stakeholders reported being skeptical of the collaborative care approach related to some RE-AIM dimensions. However, over time they indicated greater confidence regarding the potential for future public health impact. They also provided information on barriers and actionable information to enhance program reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance.CONCLUSIONS: RE-AIM provided a useful framework for understanding how to increase the impact of a collaborative and integrative approach for treating comorbid obesity and depression. It also demonstrates the utility of using the framework as a planning tool early in the evidence-generation pipeline.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0248339

  View details for PubMedID 33705465

• Investigating Health Information Technology Usage by Sociodemographic Subpopulations to Increase Community Engagement in Healthcare: An Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey. AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium Rajamani, G., Kurina, L., Rosas, L. G. 2021; 2021: 1029-1038

  Abstract

  It is well known that the US is plagued by health inequities: unjust differences in morbidity and mortality rates by sociodemographic factors. A potential method to address such inequities lies in utilizing health information technologies (HIT) to reach under-resourced populations and increase their involvement in healthcare. Previous researchers have done just this, using HIT tools to engage under-resourced communities and improve outcomes. However, it is unclear how HIT usage varies by sociodemographic characteristics. This study investigated this question through analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) and proposed tailored HIT interventions for specific subpopulations. Internet, smartphone, and wearable device usage were analyzed by age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and income; purposes of HIT usage were assessed; and logistic regression models were conducted to determine associations between purposes of HIT usage and sociodemographic predictors. Results showed that Black/African American, Latinx, and Asian populations all had significantly increased use of health videos, while participants with low educational attainment had significantly decreased use of many HIT tools. Thus, this study highlights effective interventions for specific racial/ethnic populations and showcases a need for HIT tools inclusive towards low education populations to increase their engagement in healthcare and reduce inequities.

  View details for PubMedID 35308912

• Development of a Mobile Health App (TOGETHERCare) to Reduce Cancer Care Partner Burden: Product Design Study JMIR Formative Research Oakley-Girvan, I., Davis, S. W., Kurian, A. W., Rosas, L. G., Daniels, J., Palesh, O. G., Mesia, R. J., Kamal, A. H., Longmire, M., Divi, V. 2021; 5 (8)

  View details for DOI 10.2196/22608

• Sex Moderates Treatment Effects of Integrated Collaborative Care for Comorbid Obesity and Depression: The RAINBOW RCT. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine Lv, N. n., Xiao, L. n., Rosas, L. G., Venditti, E. M., Smyth, J. M., Lewis, M. A., Snowden, M. B., Ronneberg, C. R., Williams, L. M., Gerber, B. S., Ajilore, O. A., Patel, A. S., Ma, J. n. 2021

  Abstract

  Sex influences health and related behaviors due to biological and psychosocial/socioeconomic factors. Assessing sex-specific responses to integrated treatment for comorbid obesity and depression could inform intervention targeting.To test (a) whether sex moderates the effects of integrated collaborative care on weight and depression outcomes through 24 months and (b) whether treatment response at 6 months predicts 12 and 24 month outcomes by sex.Secondary data analyses on weight and depression severity (SCL-20) measured over 24 months among 409 adults with obesity and depression in the Research Aimed at Improving Both Mood and Weight trial.Men achieved significantly greater weight reductions in intervention versus usual care than women, whereas women achieved significantly greater percentage reductions in SCL-20 than men at both 12 and 24 months. In logistic models, at 80% specificity for correctly identifying participants not achieving clinically significant long-term outcomes, women who lost <3.0% weight and men who lost <4.1% weight at 6 months had ≥84% probability of not meeting 5% weight loss at 24 months. Similarly, at 80% specificity, women who reduced SCL-20 by <39.5% and men who reduced by <53.0% at 6 months had ≥82% probability of not meeting 50% decrease in SCL-20 at 24 months.Sex modified the integrated treatment effects for obesity and depression. Sex-specific responses at 6 months predicted clinically significant weight loss and depression outcomes through 24 months. Based on early responses, interventions may need to be tailored to address sex-specific barriers and facilitators to achieving healthy weight and depression outcomes at later time points.NCT02246413 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02246413).

  View details for DOI 10.1093/abm/kaaa125

  View details for PubMedID 33616188

• Food Insecurity and Pediatric Obesity: a Double Whammy in the Era of COVID-19. Current obesity reports Tester, J. M., Rosas, L. G., Leung, C. W. 2020

  Abstract

  PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review examines the current evidence about the ways in which food insecurity relates to obesity in children and adolescents, examining diet and diet-related behaviors, and taking into consideration the role of stress.RECENT FINDINGS: While living with food insecurity impacts stress and diet-related behaviors in children and adolescents, it is not clear whether food insecurity is associated with obesity above and beyond the influence of poverty. However, strategies to mitigate food insecurity and obesity are inherently connected, and recent examples from clinical practice (e.g., screening for food insecurity among patients) and advocacy (e.g., policy considerations regarding federal food programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) are discussed. Food insecurity and obesity coexist in low-income children and adolescents in the USA. The COVID-19 pandemic exerts disproportionate burden on low-income children and families, magnifying their vulnerability to both food insecurity and pediatric obesity.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s13679-020-00413-x

  View details for PubMedID 33064269

• The ENGAGE-2 study: Engaging self-regulation targets to understand the mechanisms of behavior change and improve mood and weight outcomes in a randomized controlled trial (Phase 2). Contemporary clinical trials Lv, N., Ajilore, O. A., Ronneberg, C. R., Venditti, E. M., Snowden, M. B., Lavori, P. W., Xiao, L., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Wielgosz, J., Wittels, N. E., Barve, A., Patel, A. S., Eckley, T. L., Stetz, P., Gerber, B. S., Smyth, J. M., Simmons, J. M., Rosas, L. G., Williams, L. M., Ma, J. 2020: 106072

  Abstract

  Despite evidence for effective integrated behavior therapy for treating comorbid obesity and depression, treatment response is highly variable and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unknown. This hampers efforts to identify mechanistic targets in order to optimize treatment precision and potency. Funded within the NIH Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) Research Network, the 2-phased ENGAGE research project applies an experimental precision medicine approach to address this gap. The Phase 1 study focused on demonstrating technical feasibility, target engagement and potential neural mechanisms of responses to an integrated behavior therapy. This therapy combines a video-based behavioral weight loss program and problem-solving therapy for depression, with as-needed intensification of antidepressant medications, and its clinical effectiveness was demonstrated within a parent randomized clinical trial. Here, we describe the ENGAGE Phase 2 (ENGAGE-2) study protocol which builds on Phase 1 in 2 ways: (1) pilot testing of an motivational interviewing-enhanced, integrated behavior therapy in an independent, primarily minority patient sample, and (2) evaluation of a priori defined neural targets, specifically the negative affect (threat and sadness) circuits which demonstrated engagement and malleability in Phase 1, as mediators of therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, the Phase 2 study includes a conceptual and methodological extension to explore the role of microbiome-gut-brain and systemic immunological pathways in integrated behavioral treatment of obesity and depression. This protocol paper documents the conceptualization, design and the transdisciplinary methodologies in ENGAGE-2, which can inform future clinical and translational research in experimental precision medicine for behavior change and chronic disease management. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT03841682.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106072

  View details for PubMedID 32621905

• Patient Activation and Navigation: Utilizing Innovative Patient Engagement Strategies to Elevate Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Clinical Trials among African American Women Rajamani, G., Ahmed, L., Bezabeh, I., Gay, S., Hollis, T. M., Kassa, A., Kassa, L., McClinton-Brown, R., Mekonnen, T., Ross, R., Throvoer-Guillory, R. R., Tuttle, C. T., Waugh, J. J., Williams, L., Rosas, L. AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1158/1538-7755.DISP19-B037

  View details for Web of Science ID 000580647800151

• Implementation outcomes of humanwide: A pilot project of integrated precision health in team-based primary care Brown-Johnson, C., Safaeinili, N., Baratta, J., Morris, S., Palaniappan, L., Mahoney, M., Rosas, L., Winget, M. BMC. 2020

  View details for Web of Science ID 000533323500064

• THE POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT OF A DEPRESSION AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT INTERVENTION: LESSONS FROM THE RAINBOW TRIAL Lewis, M. A., Rosas, L., Lv, N., Wagner, L. K., Etta, V., Burrus, O., Snowden, M., Venditti, E. M., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J., Ma, J. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2020: S505

  View details for Web of Science ID 000546262401233

• THE HOMBRE TRIAL: ENGAGING LATINO MEN IN A BEHAVIORAL LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION FOR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT Rosas, L., Lv, N., Hooker, S., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. A., Xiao, L., Azar, K., Zavella, P., Ma, J. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2020: S201

  View details for Web of Science ID 000546262400420

• ENGAGEMENT OF LATINOS IN BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION TRIALS: EVIDENCE FROM THE FIELD, LESSONS LEARNED, AND BEST PRACTICES Rosas, L., Sorkin, D., Strong, L., Espinosa, P., Arredondo, E. M. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2020: S200

  View details for Web of Science ID 000546262400419

• EFFECT OF A CULTURALLY ADAPTED BEHAVIORAL WEIGHT LOSS INTERVENTION AMONG LATINO ADULTS: THE VIDA SANA RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL Rosas, L., Xiao, L., Lv, N., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. A., Zavella, P., Azar, K., Ma, J. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2020: S439

  View details for Web of Science ID 000546262401091

• First-Year Economic and Quality of Life Effects of the RAINBOW Intervention to Treat Comorbid Obesity and Depression. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Goldhaber-Fiebert, J. D., Prince, L., Xiao, L., Lv, N., Rosas, L. G., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. A., Snowden, M. B., Ma, J. 2020

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: Obesity and depression are prevalent and often co-occurring conditions in the United States. The Research Aimed at Improving Both Mood and Weight (RAINBOW) randomized trial demonstrated the effectiveness of an integrated intervention for adults with both conditions. Characterizing the intervention's economic effects is important for broader dissemination and implementation.METHODS: This study evaluated the cost (2018 US dollars) and health-related quality of life(HRQoL) impacts during RAINBOW's first year, comparing intervention (n=204) and usual-care groups (n=205). Outcomes included intervention delivery costs, differential changes in antidepressant medication spending compared with the pretrial year, differential changes in medical services spending compared with the pretrial year, and HRQoL changes from baseline using Euroqol-5D US utility weights.RESULTS: RAINBOW's 1-year delivery cost per person was $2,251. Compared with usual care, annual antidepressant medication days increased more (38 days [95% CI: 4 to 72]; P=0.027). Annual antidepressant medication spending had a larger, nonsignificant increase ($89 [95% CI: -$20 to $197]; P=0.109). Annual spending on medical care services had a smaller, nonsignificant decrease (-$54 [95% CI: -$832 to $941]; P=0.905). HRQoL had a nonsignificant increase (0.011 [95% CI: -0.025 to 0.047]; P=0.546).CONCLUSIONS: The RAINBOW intervention's economic value will depend on how its 1-year improvements in obesity and depression translate into long-term reduced morbidity, delayed mortality, or averted costs.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/oby.22805

  View details for PubMedID 32320533

• Differing views regarding diet and physical activity: adolescents versus parents' perspectives. BMC pediatrics Azar, K. M., Halley, M., Lv, N., Wulfovich, S., Gillespie, K., Liang, L., Goldman Rosas, L. 2020; 20 (1): 137

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Today, approximately one in five United States adolescents age 12 to 19years is obese and just over a third are either overweight or obese. This study examines how parents and peers influence diet and physical activity behaviors of older adolescents (14-18years) with overweight or obesity to inform weight management interventions.METHODS: Adolescent participants included 14 to 18-year-olds with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than the 85th percentile for their age and sex who were receiving care in a large healthcare system in Northern California. Adolescents and their parents participated in separate focus groups and interviews (if not able to attend focus groups) that were held at the same time in the same location. We used qualitative thematic analysis to identify common themes discussed in the adolescent and parent focus groups as well as paired analysis of adolescent-parent dyads.RESULTS: Participants included 26 adolescents and 27 parents. Adolescent participants were 14 to 18years old. Half were female and the participants were almost evenly distributed across year in school. The majority self-identified as White (56%) and Asian (36%).Three themes were identified which included 1) parents overestimated how supportive they were compared to adolescents' perception 2) parents and adolescents had different views regarding parental influence on adolescent diet and physical activity behaviors 3) parents and adolescents held similar views on peers' influential role on lifestyle behaviors.CONCLUSION: Parents' and adolescents' differing views suggest that alignment of parent and adolescent expectations and behaviors for supporting effective weight management could be incorporated into interventions.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s12887-020-02038-4

  View details for PubMedID 32220230

• Understanding mechanisms of integrated behavioral therapy for co-occurring obesity and depression in primary care: a mediation analysis in the RAINBOW trial. Translational behavioral medicine Rosas, L. G., Xiao, L., Lv, N., Lavori, P. W., Venditti, E. M., Snowden, M. B., Smyth, J. M., Lewis, M. A., Williams, L. M., Suppes, T., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Ma, J. 2020

  Abstract

  The RAINBOW trial demonstrated that an integrated collaborative care intervention was effective for improving weight and depression. This study examined mediation of the treatment effect by a priori specified lifestyle behaviors and cognitive functioning. Participants were randomized to a 12-month integrated intervention (n = 204) or usual care (n = 205). Body mass index (BMI) and 20-item Depression Symptom Check List (SCL-20) were co-primary outcomes (Y). To examine mediation, we assessed (a) the effect of the integrated intervention (X) on lifestyle behaviors (diet and physical activity) and cognitive functioning (problem-solving; M, XM path a) and (b) the association of these behaviors with BMI and SCL-20 (MY path b). Mediation existed if paths a and b were significant or if path a and the product of coefficients test (paths a and b) were significant. Compared with usual care, the intervention led to significant improvements in leisure time physical activity (201.3 MET minutes/week [SD, 1,457.6]) and total calorie intake (337.4 kcal/day [818.3]) at 6 months but not 12 months (path a). These improvements were not significantly associated with improvements in BMI or SCL-20 (path b). However, avoidant problem-solving style score and increased fruit and vegetable intake significantly correlated with improvements in BMI at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Also, increased fruit and vegetable intake, higher dietary quality, and better problem-solving abilities significantly correlated with improvements in SCL-20 at 6 and 12 months. These findings did not support the hypothesized mediation, but suggest lifestyle behaviors and cognitive functioning to target in future intervention optimization.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/tbm/ibaa024

  View details for PubMedID 32203569

• Sex Moderates Treatment Effects in Integrated Behavior Therapy for Comorbid Obesity and Depression Lv, N., Xiao, L., Rosas, L., Venditti, E., Snowden, M., Lewis, M., Williams, L., Smyth, J., Ajilore, O., Gerber, B., Ma, J. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1161/circ.141.suppl_1.P222

  View details for Web of Science ID 000589965800232

• Reduced Nonconscious Reactivity to Threat in Amygdala Mediates Physical Activity and Energy Expenditure in Integrated Behavior Therapy for Adults With Obesity and Comorbid Depression Ma, J., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Goldstein-Piekarski, A., Wielgosz, J., Lavori, P., Stetz, P., Rosas, L., Venditti, E., Snowden, M., Smyth, J., Lewis, M., Suppes, P., Ajilore, O., Lefferts, W., Williams, L. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1161/circ.141.suppl_1.P223

  View details for Web of Science ID 000589965800233

• Employing Participatory Citizen Science Methods to Promote Age-Friendly Environments Worldwide. International journal of environmental research and public health King, A. C., King, D. K., Banchoff, A., Solomonov, S., Ben Natan, O., Hua, J., Gardiner, P., Rosas, L. G., Espinosa, P. R., Winter, S. J., Sheats, J., Salvo, D., Aguilar-Farias, N., Stathi, A., Akira Hino, A., Porter, M. M., Our Voice Global Citizen Science Research Network, O. B. 2020; 17 (5)

  Abstract

  The trajectory of aging is profoundly impacted by the physical and social environmental contexts in which we live. While "top-down" policy activities can have potentially wide impacts on such contexts, they often take time, resources, and political will, and therefore can be less accessible to underserved communities. This article describes a "bottom-up", resident-engaged method to advance local environmental and policy change, called Our Voice, that can complement policy-level strategies for improving the health, function, and well-being of older adults. Using the World Health Organization's age-friendly cities global strategy, we describe the Our Voice citizen science program of research that has specifically targeted older adults as environmental change agents to improve their own health and well-being as well as that of their communities. Results from 14 Our Voice studies that have occurred across five continents demonstrate that older adults can learn to use mobile technology to systematically capture and collectively analyze their own data. They can then successfully build consensus around high-priority issues that can be realistically changed and work effectively with local stakeholders to enact meaningful environmental and policy changes that can help to promote healthy aging. The article ends with recommended next steps for growing the resident-engaged citizen science field to advance the health and welfare of all older adults.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph17051541

  View details for PubMedID 32121001

• Effect of an Intervention for Obesity and Depression on Patient-Centered Outcomes: An RCT. American journal of preventive medicine Rosas, L. G., Azar, K. M., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J. D., Snowden, M. B., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. M., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Ma, J. 2020

  Abstract

  INTRODUCTION: An integrated collaborative care intervention was successful for treating comorbid obesity and depression. The effect of the integrated intervention on secondary outcomes of quality of life and psychosocial functioning were examined, as well as whether improvements in these secondary outcomes were correlated with improvements in the primary outcomes of weight and depressive symptoms.STUDY DESIGN: This RCT compared an integrated collaborative care intervention for obesity and depression to usual care. Data were analyzed in 2018.SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Adult primary care patients (n=409) with a BMI ≥30 (≥27 if Asian) and 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire score ≥10 were recruited from September 30, 2014 to January 12, 2017 from primary care clinics in Northern California.INTERVENTION: The 12-month intervention integrated a behavioral weight loss program and problem-solving therapy with as-needed antidepressant medications for depression.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A priori secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life (Short Form-8 Health Survey), obesity-specific quality of life (Obesity-Related Problems Scale), sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System), and functional disability (Sheehan Disability Scale) at baseline and 6 and 12 months.RESULTS: Participants randomized to the intervention experienced significantly greater improvements in obesity-specific problems, mental health-related quality of life, sleep disturbance, sleep-related impairment, and functional disability at 6 months but not 12 months. Improvements in obesity-related problems (beta=0.01, 95% CI=0.01, 0.02) and sleep disturbance (beta= -0.02, 95% CI= -0.04, 0) were associated with lower BMI. Improvements in the physical (beta= -0.01, 95% CI= -0.01, 0) and mental health components (beta= -0.02, 95% CI= -0.03, -0.02) of the Short Form-8 Health Survey as well as sleep disturbance (beta=0.01, 95% CI=0.01, 0.02) and sleep-related impairment (beta=0.01, 95% CI=0, 0.01) were associated with fewer depressive symptoms.CONCLUSIONS: An integrated collaborative care intervention for obesity and depression that was shown previously to improve weight and depressive symptoms may also confer benefits for quality of life and psychosocial functioning over 6 months.TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT02246413.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.11.005

  View details for PubMedID 32067873

• Comparing enhanced versus standard Diabetes Prevention Program among indigenous adults in an urban setting: a randomized controlled trial. BMC public health Rosas, L. G., Vasquez, J. J., Hedlin, H. K., Qin, F. F., Lv, N. n., Xiao, L. n., Kendrick, A. n., Atencio, D. n., Stafford, R. S. 2020; 20 (1): 139

  Abstract

  Indigenous people in the United States are at high risk for diabetes. Psychosocial stressors like historical trauma may impede success in diabetes prevention programs.A comparative effectiveness trial compared a culturally tailored diabetes prevention program (standard group) with an enhanced one that addressed psychosocial stressors (enhanced group) in 2015 to 2017. Participants were 207 Indigenous adults with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 and one additional criterion of metabolic syndrome, and were randomized to the standard or enhanced group. Both groups received a culturally tailored behavioral diabetes prevention program. Strategies to address psychosocial stressors were provided to the enhanced group only. Change in BMI over 12 months was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included change in quality of life, and clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial measures at 6 and 12 months.The two groups did not significantly differ in BMI change at 12 months. The two groups also did not differ in any secondary outcomes at 6 or 12 months, with the exception of unhealthy food consumption; the standard group reported a larger mean decrease (95% CI) in consumption of unhealthy food compared with the enhanced group (- 4.6 [- 6.8, - 2.5] vs. -0.7 [- 2.9, 1.4], p = 0.01). At 6 months, significant improvements in weight and the physical component of the quality of life measure were observed for both groups compared with their baseline level. Compared with baseline, at 12 months, the standard group showed significant improvement in BMI (mean [95% CI], - 0.5 [- 1.0, - 0.1]) and the enhanced group showed significant improvement in the physical component of the quality of life (2.9 [0.7, 5.2]).Adding strategies to address psychosocial barriers to a culturally tailored diabetes prevention program was not successful for improving weight loss among urban Indigenous adults.(if applicable): NCT02266576. Registered October 17, 2014 on clinicaltrials.gov. The trial was prospectively registered.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s12889-020-8250-7

  View details for PubMedID 32000738

• Variability in engagement and progress in efficacious integrated collaborative care for primary care patients with obesity and depression: Within-treatment analysis in the RAINBOW trial. PloS one Lv, N., Xiao, L., Majd, M., Lavori, P. W., Smyth, J. M., Rosas, L. G., Venditti, E. M., Snowden, M. B., Lewis, M. A., Ward, E., Lesser, L., Williams, L. M., Azar, K. M., Ma, J. 2020; 15 (4): e0231743

  Abstract

  INTRODUCTION: The RAINBOW randomized clinical trial validated the efficacy of an integrated collaborative care intervention for obesity and depression in primary care, although the effect was modest. To inform intervention optimization, this study investigated within-treatment variability in participant engagement and progress.METHODS: Data were collected in 2014-2017 and analyzed post hoc in 2018. Cluster analysis evaluated patterns of change in weekly self-monitored weight from week 6 up to week 52 and depression scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) from up to 15 individual sessions during the 12-month intervention. Chi-square tests and ANOVA compared weight loss and depression outcomes objectively measured by blinded assessors to validate differences among categories of treatment engagement and progress defined based on cluster analysis results.RESULTS: Among 204 intervention participants (50.9 [SD, 12.2] years, 71% female, 72% non-Hispanic White, BMI 36.7 [6.9], PHQ-9 14.1 [3.2]), 31% (n = 63) had poor engagement, on average completing self-monitored weight in <3 of 46 weeks and <5 of 15 sessions. Among them, 50 (79%) discontinued the intervention by session 6 (week 8). Engaged participants (n = 141; 69%) self-monitored weight for 11-22 weeks, attended almost all 15 sessions, but showed variable treatment progress based on patterns of change in self-monitored weight and PHQ-9 scores over 12 months. Three patterns of weight change (%) represented minimal weight loss (n = 50, linear beta1 = -0.06, quadratic beta2 = 0.001), moderate weight loss (n = 61, beta1 = -0.28, beta2 = 0.002), and substantial weight loss (n = 12, beta1 = -0.53, beta2 = 0.005). Three patterns of change in PHQ-9 scores represented moderate depression without treatment progress (n = 40, intercept beta0 = 11.05, beta1 = -0.11, beta2 = 0.002), moderate depression with treatment progress (n = 20, beta0 = 12.90, beta1 = -0.42, beta2 = 0.006), and milder depression with treatment progress (n = 81, beta0 = 7.41, beta1 = -0.23, beta2 = 0.003). The patterns diverged within 6-8 weeks and persisted throughout the intervention. Objectively measured weight loss and depression outcomes were significantly worse among participants with poor engagement or poor progress on either weight or PHQ-9 than those showing progress on both.CONCLUSIONS: Participants demonstrating poor engagement or poor progress could be identified early during the intervention and were more likely to fail treatment at the end of the intervention. This insight could inform individualized and timely optimization to enhance treatment efficacy.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov# NCT02246413.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0231743

  View details for PubMedID 32315362

• US Public Concerns About the COVID-19 Pandemic From Results of a Survey Given via Social Media. JAMA internal medicine Nelson, L. M., Simard, J. F., Oluyomi, A. n., Nava, V. n., Rosas, L. G., Bondy, M. n., Linos, E. n. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1369

  View details for PubMedID 32259192

• Perspectives on Precision Health Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Communities and the Physicians That Serve Them. Ethnicity & disease Rosas, L. G., Nasrallah, C., Park, V. T., Vasquez, J. J., Duron, Y., Garrick, O., Hattin, R., Cho, M., David, S. P., Evans, J., McClinton-Brown, R., Martin, C. 2020; 30 (Suppl 1): 137–48

  Abstract

  Background: In order for precision health to address health disparities, engagement of diverse racial/ethnic minority communities and the physicians that serve them is critical.Methods: A community-based participatory research approach with mixed methods was employed to gain a deeper understanding of precision health research and practice among American Indian, African American, Latino, Chinese, and Vietnamese groups and physicians that serve these communities. A survey assessed demographics and opinions of precision health, genetic testing, and precision health research. Focus groups (n=12) with each racial/ethnic minority group and physicians further explored attitudes about these topics.Results: One hundred community members (American Indian [n=17], African American [n=13], Chinese [n=17], Latino [n=27], and Vietnamese [n=26]) and 14 physicians completed the survey and participated in the focus groups. Familiarity with precision health was low among community members and high among physicians. Most groups were enthusiastic about the approach, especially if it considered influences on health in addition to genes (eg, environmental, behavioral, social factors). Significant concerns were expressed by African American and American Indian participants about precision health practice and research based on past abuses in biomedical research. In addition, physician and community members shared concerns such as security and confidentiality of genetic information, cost and affordability of genetic tests and precision medicine, discrimination and disparities, distrust of medical and research and pharmaceutical institutions, language barriers, and physician's specialty.Conclusions: Engagement of racial/ethnic minority communities and the providers who serve them is important for advancing a precision health approach to addressing health disparities.

  View details for DOI 10.18865/ed.30.S1.137

  View details for PubMedID 32269455

• Effect of a Culturally Adapted Behavioral Intervention for Latino Adults on Weight Loss Over 2 Years: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open Rosas, L. G., Lv, N. n., Xiao, L. n., Lewis, M. A., Venditti, E. M., Zavella, P. n., Azar, K. n., Ma, J. n. 2020; 3 (12): e2027744

  Abstract

  Identifying effective weight loss interventions for Latino adults at risk of diabetes is of critical public health importance.To determine whether a culturally adapted behavioral intervention for Latino adults was more effective than usual care for weight loss over 24 months.In this randomized clinical trial, Latino adults with a body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 24 or greater and a high risk for type 2 diabetes were recruited in primary care practices in the San Francisco, California, area, randomized to receive the Vida Sana intervention or usual care, and followed up for 24 months. The study was conducted from November 2015 to May 2019, and data were analyzed from July 2019 to Septmeber 2020.The treatment group received Vida Sana, a culturally adapted lifestyle intervention that included a family-based orientation session and 22 group sessions over 12 months. Participants were encouraged to use a wearable activity tracker and mobile applications to track their physical activity and dietary intake. Participants received monthly email messages for an additional 12 months. The control group received usual care.The primary outcome was weight loss at 24 months. Secondary outcomes included weight loss at 12 months and achieving at least 5% weight loss at 12 and 24 months. Associations of baseline characteristics and intervention adherence with weight loss outcomes were also examined.Among 191 participants (mean [SD] age, 50.2 [12.2] years; 118 [61.8%] women; 107 participants [57.2%] of Mexican origin; mean [SD] baseline BMI, 32.4 [5.7]) randomized, 92 participants were randomized to the intervention and 99 participants were randomized to usual care. Of these, 185 participants (96.9%) completed 24-month follow-up. Mean (SD) weight loss did not differ significantly by group at 24 months (intervention: -1.1 [5.7] kg; control: -1.1 [7.1] kg; P = .93). However, mean (SD) weight loss was significantly greater in the intervention group (-2.6 [6.0] kg) than the control group (-0.3 [4.2] kg) at 12 months (mean difference, -2.1 [95% CI, -3.6 to -0.7] kg; P = .005). Intervention participants were more likely to achieve at least 5% weight loss than control participants at 12 months (22 participants [25.9%] vs 9 participants [9.2%]; P = .003), and participants who achieved at least 5% weight loss attended more intervention sessions than those who did not (mean [SD], 16.6 [7.6] sessions vs 12.4 [7.5] sessions; P = .03).These findings suggest that among Latino adults with high diabetes risk, a culturally adapted behavioral lifestyle intervention was effective for weight loss over 12 months but not 24 months.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02459691.

  View details for DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27744

  View details for PubMedID 33337491

• Engaging citizen scientists to build healthy park environments in Colombia. Health promotion international Rubio, M. A., Triana, C. n., King, A. C., Rosas, L. G., Banchoff, A. W., Rubiano, O. n., Chrisinger, B. W., Sarmiento, O. L. 2020

  Abstract

  Colombia's Recreovía program offers community-based free physical activity (PA) classes in parks. We evaluated built and social environmental factors influencing Recreovía local park environments, and facilitated a consensus-building and advocacy process among community members, policymakers and academic researchers aimed at improving uptake and impact of the Recreovía program. We used a mixed-methods approach, with individual and contextual PA measurements and a resident-enabled participatory approach (the Our Voice citizen science engagement model). Recreovía participants were likely to be women meeting PA recommendations, and highly satisfied with the Recreovía classes. Reported facilitators of the Recreovía included its role in enhancing social and individual well-being through PA classes. Reported barriers to usage were related to park maintenance, cleanliness and safety. The Our Voice process elicited community reflection, empowerment, advocacy and action. Our Voice facilitated the interplay among stakeholders and community members to optimize the Recreovía program as a facilitator of active living, and to make park environments more welcoming.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/heapro/daaa031

  View details for PubMedID 32361761

• Response to Gao et al., "Effect of Integrated Intervention on Obesity and Depression". American journal of preventive medicine Rosas, L. G., Xiao, L. n., Ma, J. n. 2020; 59 (3): 459–60

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.04.009

  View details for PubMedID 32828324

• Abstract 2033: Reducing cancer caregiver burden: A user-centered design approach for an mHealth app American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting Oakley-Girvan, I., Divi, V., Palesh, O., Daniels, J., Goldman Rosas, L., O'Brien, D., Davis, S. W., Kamal, A. H., Kurian, A. W., Longmire, M. R. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2020-2033

• Using Korean Dramas as a Precision Mental Health Education Tool for Asian Americans: A Pilot Study. International journal of environmental research and public health Ta Park, V. M., Olaisen, R. H., Vuong, Q., Rosas, L. G., Cho, M. K. 2019; 16 (12)

  Abstract

  Precision mental health (MH) holds great potential for revolutionizing MH care and reducing the burden of mental illness. Efforts to engage Asian Americans in precision MH research is necessary to help reduce MH disparities. Korean drama ("K-drama") television shows may be an effective educational tool to increase precision MH knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) among Asian Americans. This study determined whether KAB improved after participating in a K-drama precision MH workshop, and examined the participants' perspectives about K-dramas' utility as an educational tool. A K-drama precision MH workshop in English/Vietnamese/Korean was conducted with a convenience sample (n = 122). Pre-/post-tests on precision MH KAB (genetics and genetic testing, and MH and help-seeking) and a survey on K-dramas' utility as an educational tool were administered. Findings revealed a significant difference in the pre- and post-test KAB scores overall, by genetics and genetic testing, and by MH and help-seeking. There were also significant increases in the overall post-test KAB scores by workshop (language) participation. Overall, participants responded positively on the utility of K-dramas as a precision MH educational tool. This study demonstrates the feasibility of K-drama as an innovative and widely available health education tool to educate communities about precision MH.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/ijerph16122151

  View details for PubMedID 31216626

• UNDERSTANDING MECHANISMS OF BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT FOR COMORBID OBESITY AND DEPRESSION IN PRIMARY CARE: A MEDIATION ANALYSIS Rosas, L. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2019: S413

  View details for Web of Science ID 000473349401026

• EXAMINING OUTCOMES AND MECHANISMS OF INTEGRATED COLLABORATIVE OBESITY AND DEPRESSION CARE: INSIGHTS FROM THE RAINBOW TRIAL Ma, J., Rosas, L., Lv, N., Azar, K. J., Stoney, C. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2019: S413

  View details for Web of Science ID 000473349401025

• Effect of Integrated Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment and Problem-Solving Therapy on Body Mass Index and Depressive Symptoms Among Patients With Obesity and Depression: The RAINBOW Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ma, J., Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Snowden, M. B., Venditti, E. M., Lewis, M. A., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J. D., Lavori, P. W. 2019; 321 (9): 869–79

  Abstract

  Importance: Coexisting obesity and depression exacerbate morbidity and disability, but effective treatments remain elusive.Objective: To test the hypothesis that an integrated collaborative care intervention would significantly improve both obesity and depression at 12 months compared with usual care.Design, Setting, and Participants: The Research Aimed at Improving Both Mood and Weight (RAINBOW) randomized clinical trial enrolled 409 adults with body mass indices (BMIs) of 30 or greater (≥27 for Asian adults) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores of 10 or greater. Primary care patients at a health system in Northern California were recruited from September 30, 2014, to January 12, 2017; the date of final 12-month follow-up was January 17, 2018.Interventions: All participants randomly assigned to the intervention (n=204) or the usual care control group (n=205) received medical care from their personal physicians as usual, received information on routine services for obesity and depression at their clinic, and received wireless physical activity trackers. Intervention participants also received a 12-month intervention that integrated a Diabetes Prevention Program-based behavioral weight loss treatment with problem-solving therapy for depression and, if indicated, antidepressant medications.Main Outcomes and Measures: The co-primary outcome measures were BMI and 20-item Depression Symptom Checklist (SCL-20) scores (range, 0 [best] to 4 [worst]) at 12 months.Results: Among 409 participants randomized (mean age of 51.0 years [SD, 12.1 years]; 70% were women; mean BMI of 36.7 [SD, 6.4]; mean PHQ-9 score of 13.8 [SD, 3.1]; and mean SCL-20 score of 1.5 [SD, 0.5]), 344 (84.1%) completed 12-month follow-up. At 12 months, mean BMI declined from 36.7 (SD, 6.9) to 35.9 (SD, 7.1) among intervention participants compared with a change in mean BMI from 36.6 (SD, 5.8) to 36.6 (SD, 6.0) among usual care participants (between-group mean difference, -0.7 [95% CI, -1.1 to -0.2]; P=.01). Mean SCL-20 score declined from 1.5 (SD, 0.5) to 1.1 (SD, 1.0) at 12 months among intervention participants compared with a change in mean SCL-20 score from 1.5 (SD, 0.6) to 1.4 (SD, 1.3) among usual care participants (between-group mean difference, -0.2 [95% CI, -0.4 to 0]; P=.01). There were 47 adverse events or serious adverse events that involved musculoskeletal injuries (27 in the intervention group and 20 in the usual care group).Conclusions and Relevance: Among adults with obesity and depression, a collaborative care intervention integrating behavioral weight loss treatment, problem-solving therapy, and as-needed antidepressant medications significantly improved weight loss and depressive symptoms at 12 months compared with usual care; however, the effect sizes were modest and of uncertain clinical importance.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02246413.

  View details for PubMedID 30835308

• Acting locally while thinking globally to promote physical activity, address inequalities and achieve population change Winter, S., Rosas, L., Buman, M., Sheats, J., Salvo, D., Garber, R., Sarmiento, O., Broderick, B., Banchoff, A., King, A. HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC. 2018: S1–S2

  View details for Web of Science ID 000446516100004

• The Effect of a Behavioral Weight-Loss Intervention on Depressive Symptoms Among Latino Immigrants in a Randomized Controlled Trial JOURNAL OF IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY HEALTH Figueroa, S., Stafford, R. S., Heaney, C. A., Rosas, L. G. 2018; 20 (5): 1182–89

  Abstract

  Evidence of whether behavioral weight-loss interventions reduce depressive symptoms among Latino immigrants is limited. The effect of a behavioral weight-loss intervention on depressive symptoms was assessed using data from a clinical trial among Latino immigrants. Participants were randomized to a usual care (UC) control (n = 41), case management (CM) alone (n = 84), or CM with community health worker support (CM+CHW) (n = 82). Generalized estimating equation models were used to compare the impact of each intervention with UC. Effect modification by poverty level was further investigated. Overall, treatment groups were not significantly associated with 24-month changes in CES-D scores. Among participants below the 100% federal poverty level (FPL), those randomized to CM+CHW had 24-month CES-D scores significantly lower (Β coefficient = 0.72; 95% CI 0.55-0.93) than those in UC (p = 0.01). A behavioral weight-loss intervention providing case management and support from a CHW reduced depressive symptoms among Latino immigrants below the 100% FPL.

  View details for PubMedID 29038966

• A Latino Patient-Centered, Evidence-Based Approach to Diabetes Prevention JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF FAMILY MEDICINE Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Lewis, M. A., Venditti, E. M., Zavella, P., Luna, V., Ma, J. 2018; 31 (3): 364–74

  Abstract

  Cultural tailoring of evidence-based diabetes prevention program (DPP) interventions is needed to effectively address obesity and its related chronic diseases among Latinos in primary care. This article describes the patient-centered process used to adapt the DPP and reports cultural adaptations.We used a 2-stage formative research process to culturally adapt an evidence-based DPP intervention in the context of primary care. The first stage involved 5 focus groups of Latino patients and interviews with 5 stakeholders (3 with primary care physicians and 2 with medical directors) to inform a first round of adaptations. The second stage included pretesting the stage I-adapted intervention with a Latino patient advisory board to complete a second round of adaptations.Key stakeholders involved in this 2-stage adaptation process included 34 Latino patients who participated in 5 focus groups and 5 physicians and medical directors who participated in key informant interviews during stage I and 11 patients who attended the 16 advisory board meetings and their family members who attended 1 of the meetings during stage II. Using this patient-centered stakeholder-engaged approach, we found the original intervention was largely congruent with the cultural values of the study population. To further strengthen the cultural relevance of the intervention, salient cultural values emphasized by patients and stakeholders underscored the importance of family and community support for behavior change. Accordingly, key adaptations were made to (1) invite family members to the orientation session and at 2 other key timepoints to facilitate family support, (2) provide participants support from the coach and each other via smartphone applications, and (3) provide healthy, easy, low-cost culturally appropriate meals at each group session.The 2-stage approach actively engaging patients, family members, providers, and health care system leaders reinforced the cultural congruence of the existing intervention while further strengthening it with adaptations promoting Latino family and community support.

  View details for PubMedID 29743220

• HOMBRE: A randomized controlled trial to compare two approaches to weight loss for overweight and obese Latino men (Hombres con Opciones para Mejorar el Bienestar y bajar el Riesgo de Enfermedades cronicas, men with choices to improve well-being and decrease chronic disease risk) CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Azar, K. J., Xiao, L., Hooker, S. P., Lewis, M. A., Zavella, P., Venditti, E. M., Ma, J. 2018; 68: 23–34

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2018.02.019

  View details for Web of Science ID 000431163300004

• UNDERSTANDING HISTORICAL TRAUMA AMONG INDIGENOUS ADULTS AT RISK FOR DIABETES TO INFORM BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS Garcia, L. C., Vasquez, J. J., Stafford, R. S., Sallas, I., Kendrick, A. E., Rosas, L. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2018: S219

  View details for Web of Science ID 000431185200516

• UNDERSTANDING TREATMENT RESPONSE TO INTEGRATED BEHAVIOR THERAPY FOR COMORBID OBESITY AND DEPRESSION IN PRIMARY CARE Ma, J., Lv, N., Rosas, L., Xiao, L., Lavori, P., Venditti, E., Lewis, M., Snowden, M., Ward, E., Smyth, J., Suppes, T., Goldstein-Piekarski, A., Williams, L. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2018: S129

  View details for Web of Science ID 000431185200292

• A framework for examining the function of digital health technologies for weight management TRANSLATIONAL BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE Azar, K. J., Bennett, G. G., Nolting, L. A., Rosas, L., Burke, L. E., Ma, J. 2018; 8 (2): 280–94

  Abstract

  Research is rapidly extending its focus to develop and evaluate weight management interventions that incorporate eHealth technologies. Comparative effectiveness of eHealth interventions is partly limited by the extensive heterogeneity in intervention design, variation in use of eHealth tools, and expanding development of novel tools to promote weight management. We closely examined, characterized, and categorized the use and function of eHealth tools across a wide range of eHealth interventions for weight management in order to first create a novel schematic framework for eHealth interventions and, second, to evaluate eHealth interventions using this framework. We examined 49 randomized controlled trials from two systematic reviews evaluating the effectiveness of eHealth interventions for weight loss. Further characterization of each intervention identified common use and function of eHealth tools represented within interventions and thus important to include in the proposed framework. This resulted in six descriptive domains. We then categorized each eHealth intervention within the context of the newly developed framework. Last, we examined efficacious interventions in the context of the framework. Twenty-five randomized controlled trials reported significantly more weight loss between the intervention group utilizing eHealth, compared to a non-eHealth control intervention and/or within an eHealth intervention group. Of these 25 interventions, 15 (60%) used automated feedback (Domain 1), 13 (52%) used non-eHealth tailored feedback by a health care provider (Domain 5), and 8 (32%) used tailored feedback from a health care professional through an electronic channel (Domain 2). The proposed schematic framework offers an alternative and novel approach for comparing across interventions and informing the development and evaluation of eHealth interventions.

  View details for PubMedID 29385564

• EVALUATION OF PROMIS SLEEP MEASURES IN ETHNICALLY DIVERSE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE PRIMARY CARE PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DEPRESSION Ma, J., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Rosas, L., Snowden, M., Lewis, M., Venditti, E. M., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2018: S215

  View details for Web of Science ID 000431185200508

• HOMBRE: A randomized controlled trial to compare two approaches to weight loss for overweight and obese Latino men (Hombres con Opciones para Mejorar el Bienestar y bajar el Riesgo de Enfermedades cronicas; men with choices to improve well-being and decrease chronic disease risk). Contemporary clinical trials Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Azar, K. M., Xiao, L., Hooker, S. P., Lewis, M. A., Zavella, P., Venditti, E. M., Ma, J. 2018; 68: 23–34

  Abstract

  Latino men bear a disproportionate burden of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.However, limited behavioral lifestyle intervention research has focused on Latino men. This trial compares two approaches to weight loss for overweight and obese Latino men: 1) HOMBRE is a culturally adapted intervention that provides individual choice of either self-directed online videos, coach-facilitated in-person groups, and coach-facilitated online groups; and 2) a minimal intensity intervention that uses online videos with a coach available, if solicited by the participant.Latino men with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥27 kg/m2 and one or more cardiometabolic risk factors (n = 424) will be randomly assigned to receive one of the two approaches.The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework guides the planned evaluations.The primary aim is to determine the effectiveness of the HOMBRE intervention (the "E" in RE-AIM) on clinically significant weight loss (≥5% of baseline weight) at 18 months. We hypothesize that a significantly higher proportion of HOMBRE participants will maintain ≥5% of weight loss compared with those in the minimal intensity intervention.Secondary aims are to determine the effectiveness of HOMBRE on cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g., blood pressure, waist circumference), health behaviors (e.g., diet and physical activity), and psychosocial well-being (e.g., quality of life and depressive symptoms) and to evaluate the other attributes of RE-AIM. These findings have real word applicability with value to clinicians, patients, and other decision makers considering effective diabetes prevention programs for Latino men in primary care.

  View details for PubMedID 29505867

• The ENGAGE study: Integrating neuroimaging, virtual reality and smartphone sensing to understand self-regulation for managing depression and obesity in a precision medicine model. Behaviour research and therapy Williams, L. M., Pines, A. n., Goldstein-Piekarski, A. N., Rosas, L. G., Kullar, M. n., Sacchet, M. D., Gevaert, O. n., Bailenson, J. n., Lavori, P. W., Dagum, P. n., Wandell, B. n., Correa, C. n., Greenleaf, W. n., Suppes, T. n., Perry, L. M., Smyth, J. M., Lewis, M. A., Venditti, E. M., Snowden, M. n., Simmons, J. M., Ma, J. n. 2018; 101: 58–70

  Abstract

  Precision medicine models for personalizing achieving sustained behavior change are largely outside of current clinical practice. Yet, changing self-regulatory behaviors is fundamental to the self-management of complex lifestyle-related chronic conditions such as depression and obesity - two top contributors to the global burden of disease and disability. To optimize treatments and address these burdens, behavior change and self-regulation must be better understood in relation to their neurobiological underpinnings. Here, we present the conceptual framework and protocol for a novel study, "Engaging self-regulation targets to understand the mechanisms of behavior change and improve mood and weight outcomes (ENGAGE)". The ENGAGE study integrates neuroscience with behavioral science to better understand the self-regulation related mechanisms of behavior change for improving mood and weight outcomes among adults with comorbid depression and obesity. We collect assays of three self-regulation targets (emotion, cognition, and self-reflection) in multiple settings: neuroimaging and behavioral lab-based measures, virtual reality, and passive smartphone sampling. By connecting human neuroscience and behavioral science in this manner within the ENGAGE study, we develop a prototype for elucidating the underlying self-regulation mechanisms of behavior change outcomes and their application in optimizing intervention strategies for multiple chronic diseases.

  View details for PubMedID 29074231

• Profiles of sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and psychosocial characteristics among primary care patients with comorbid obesity and depression. Preventive medicine reports Ma, J., Xiao, L., Lv, N., Rosas, L. G., Lewis, M. A., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J. D., Venditti, E. M., Snowden, M. B., Lesser, L., Ward, E. 2017; 8: 42–50

  Abstract

  The objective of this study is to characterize profiles of obese depressed participants using baseline data collected from October 2014 through December 2016 for an ongoing randomized controlled trial (n=409) in Bay Area, California, USA. Four comorbidity severity categories were defined by interaction of the binary levels of body mass index (BMI) and depression Symptom Checklist 20 (SCL20) scores. Sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and psychosocial characteristics were measured. Mean (SD) age was 51 (12.1) years, BMI 36.7 (6.4) kg/m2, and SCL20 1.5 (0.5). Participants in the 4 comorbidity severity categories had similar sociodemographic characteristics, but differed significantly in the other characteristics. Two statistically significant canonical dimensions were identified. Participants with BMI≥35 and SCL20≥1.5 differed significantly from those with BMI<35 and SCL20<1.5 on dimension 1, which primarily featured high physical health (e.g., central obesity, high blood pressure and impaired sleep) and mental health comorbidities (e.g., post-traumatic stress and anxiety), poor health-related quality of life (in general and problems specifically with obesity, anxiety, depression, and usual daily activities), and an avoidance problem-solving style. Participants with BMI<35 and SCL20≥1.5 differed significantly from those with BMI≥35 and SCL20<1.5 on dimension 2, which primarily included fewer Hispanics, less central obesity, and more leisure-time physical activity, but greater anxiety and post-traumatic stress and poorer obesity- or mental health-related quality of life. In conclusion, patients with comorbid obesity and depression of varying severity have different profiles of behavioral, clinical and psychosocial characteristics. This insight may inform analysis of treatment heterogeneity and development of targeted intervention strategies. Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02246413.

  View details for PubMedID 28840096

• Personalized Hypertension Management Using Patient-Generated Health Data Integrated With Electronic Health Records (EMPOWER-H): Six-Month Pre-Post Study JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH Lv, N., Xiao, L., Simmons, M. L., Rosas, L. G., Chan, A., Entwistle, M. 2017; 19 (9): e311

  Abstract

  EMPOWER-H (Engaging and Motivating Patients Online With Enhanced Resources-Hypertension) is a personalized-care model facilitating engagement in hypertension self-management utilizing an interactive Web-based disease management system integrated with the electronic health record. The model is designed to support timely patient-provider interaction by incorporating decision support technology to individualize care and provide personalized feedback for patients with chronic disease. Central to this process were patient-generated health data, including blood pressure (BP), weight, and lifestyle behaviors, which were uploaded using a smartphone.The aim of this study was to evaluate the program among patients within primary care already under management for hypertension and with uncontrolled BP.Using a 6-month pre-post design, outcome measures included office-measured and home-monitored BP, office-measured weight, intervention contacts, diet, physical activity, smoking, knowledge, and health-related quality of life.At 6 months, 55.9% of participants (N=149) achieved office BP goals (<140/90 mm Hg; P<.001) and 86.0% achieved clinically meaningful reduction in office BP (reduction in systolic BP [SBP] ≥5 mm Hg or diastolic BP [DBP] ≥3 mm Hg). At baseline, 25.2% of participants met home BP goals (<135/85 mm Hg), and this percentage significantly increased to 71.4% (P<.001) at 6 months. EMPOWER-H also significantly reduced both office and home SBP and DBP, decreased office-measured weight and consumption of high-salt and high-fat foods (all P<.005), and increased intake of fruit and vegetables, minutes of aerobic exercise, and hypertension knowledge (all P<.05). Patients with higher home BP upload frequencies had significantly higher odds of achieving home BP goals. Patients receiving more total intervention, behavioral, pharmaceutical contacts had significantly lower odds of achieving home BP goals but higher improvements in office BP (all P<.05).EMPOWER-H significantly improved participants' office-measured and home-monitored BP, weight, and lifestyle behaviors, suggesting that technologically enabled BP home-monitoring, with structured use of patient-generated health data and a personalized care-plan facilitating patient engagement, can support effective clinical management. The experience gained in this study provides support for the feasibility and value of using carefully managed patient-generated health data in the day-to-day clinical management of patients with chronic conditions. A large-scale, real-world study to evaluate sustained effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and scalability is warranted.

  View details for PubMedID 28928111

• Behavioral lifestyle interventions for moderate and severe obesity: A systematic review PREVENTIVE MEDICINE Lv, N., Azar, K. J., Rosas, L., Wulfovich, S., Xiao, L., Ma, J. 2017; 100: 180–93

  Abstract

  Moderate and severe obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m2) affect 15% of US adults, with a projected increase over the next two decades. This study reviews evidence of behavioral lifestyle interventions for weight loss in this population. We searched PubMed, PsychInfo, CINAHL®, and Scopus through February 2016 for experimental and quasi-experimental studies that tested a dietary and/or physical activity intervention with a behavioral modification component versus a comparator; and had ≥six-month follow-up and a weight-related primary outcome. Twelve studies representing 1862 participants (mean BMI 37.5-48.3, mean age 30-54 years) were included. Nine studies compared different behavioral interventions and three tested behavioral intervention(s) versus pharmacological or surgical treatments. Among the 25 behavioral interventions in the 12 studies, 18 reported percent of participants achieving clinically significant weight loss up to 12months (32-97% achieving 5% or 3-70% achieving 10%). Three studies measured other cardiometabolic risk factors, but showed no significant risk reduction. Seven interventions with greater effectiveness (i.e., at least 31% achieving ≥10% or 62% achieving ≥5% weight loss up to one year) included multiple components (diet, physical activity, and behavioral strategies), long duration (e.g., one year), and/or intensive contacts (e.g., inpatient stays for clinic-based interventions, weekly contacts for community-based ones). Evidence for the effectiveness of behavioral interventions versus pharmacological or surgical treatment was limited. Comprehensive and intensive behavioral interventions can result in clinically significant, albeit modest, weight loss in this obese subpopulation but may not result significant improvements in other cardiometabolic risk factors. More research on scalable and sustainable interventions is needed.

  View details for PubMedID 28450123

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5503454

• MECHANISTIC SELF-REGULATION TARGETS IN INTEGRATED BEHAVIOR THERAPY FOR OBESE AND DEPRESSED ADULTS: RAINBOW-ENGAGE STUDY Ma, J., Rosas, L., Snowden, M., Wandell, B., Bailenson, J., Greenleaf, W., Dagum, P., Lavori, P., Suppes, T., Lewis, M., Smyth, J., Williams, L. SPRINGER. 2017: S1596–S1597

  View details for Web of Science ID 000398947202156

• Latino Adults' Perspectives on Treating Tobacco Use Via Social Media. JMIR mHealth and uHealth Anguiano, B., Brown-Johnson, C., Rosas, L. G., Pechmann, C., Prochaska, J. J. 2017; 5 (2)

  Abstract

  Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States, and in California they outnumber non-Hispanic whites. Smoking cessation programs tailored for Latino culture, and this population's specific smoking patterns, are needed. Online social networks for smoking cessation have high potential for Latinos, but have not been tested to date.Building a research program on social media apps for cancer prevention in diverse populations, this qualitative study assessed acceptability of tobacco treatment that was distributed via social media for Latino smokers.We conducted three focus groups with Latino adults who were former and current smokers recruited from Santa Clara County, California in 2015 (N=32). We assessed participants' smoking histories, attempts to quit, social media exposure, and receptivity to a social media-based smoking cessation intervention. Audio transcripts were translated and coded for themes.Participants reported factors driving their tobacco use and motivations to quit, and emphasized the importance of community and family in influencing their smoking initiation, cravings and triggers, attempts to quit, and abstinence. Participants valued the communal aspect of social media and suggested strategically tailoring groups based on key features (eg, age, gender, language preference). Participants reported preferring visual, educational, and motivational messages that were connected with existing services.Participants generally voiced acceptability of a social media-delivered intervention to help them quit smoking, viewed the intervention as well-equipped for catering to the strong community orientation of Latinos, and suggested that the platform was able to address variation within the population through strategic group creation. As a group member reflected, "Podemos hacerlo juntos" (We can do it together).

  View details for DOI 10.2196/mhealth.6684

  View details for PubMedID 28179217

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5322200

• Validation of Clinic Weights from Electronic Health Records Against Standardized Weight Measurements in Weight Loss Trials OBESITY Xiao, L., Lv, N., Rosas, L. G., Au, D., Ma, J. 2017; 25 (2): 363–69

  Abstract

  To validate clinic weights in electronic health records against researcher-measured weights for outcome assessment in weight loss trials.Clinic and researcher-measured weights from a published trial (BE WELL) were compared using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient, Bland and Altman's limits of agreement, and polynomial regression model. Changes in clinic and researcher-measured weights in BE WELL and another trial, E-LITE, were analyzed using growth curve modeling.Among BE WELL (n = 330) and E-LITE (n = 241) participants, 96% and 90% had clinic weights (mean [SD] of 5.8 [6.1] and 3.7 [3.9] records) over 12 and 15 months of follow-up, respectively. The concordance correlation coefficient was 0.99, and limits of agreement plots showed no pattern between or within treatment groups, suggesting overall good agreement between researcher-measured and nearest-in-time clinic weights up to 3 months. The 95% confidence intervals for predicted percent differences fell within ±3% for clinic weights within 3 months of the researcher-measured weights. Furthermore, the growth curve slopes for clinic and researcher-measured weights by treatment group did not differ significantly, suggesting similar inferences about treatment effects over time, in both trials.Compared with researcher-measured weights, close-in-time clinic weights showed high agreement and inference validity. Clinic weights could be a valid pragmatic outcome measure in weight loss studies.

  View details for PubMedID 28059466

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5269438

• Physical education policy compliance and Latino children's fitness: Does the association vary by school neighborhood socioeconomic advantage? PloS one Sanchez-Vaznaugh, E. V., Goldman Rosas, L., Fernández-Peña, J. R., Baek, J., Egerter, S., Sánchez, B. N. 2017; 12 (6)

  Abstract

  To investigate the contribution of school neighborhood socioeconomic advantage to the association between school-district physical education policy compliance in California public schools and Latino students' physical fitness.Cross-sectional Fitnessgram data for public-school students were linked with school- and district-level information, district-level physical education policy compliance from 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, and 2000 United States Census data. Multilevel logistic regression models examined whether income and education levels in school neighborhoods moderated the effects of district-level physical education policy compliance on Latino fifth-graders' fitness levels.Physical education compliance data were available for 48 California school districts, which included 64,073 Latino fifth-graders. Fewer than half (23, or 46%) of these districts were found to be in compliance, and only 16% of Latino fifth-graders attended schools in compliant districts. Overall, there was a positive association between district compliance with physical education policy and fitness (OR, 95%CI: 1.38, 1.07, 1.78) adjusted for covariates. There was no significant interaction between school neighborhood socioeconomic advantage and physical education policy compliance (p>.05): there was a positive pattern in the association between school district compliance with physical education policy and student fitness levels across levels of socioeconomic advantage, though the association was not always significant.Across neighborhoods with varying levels of socioeconomic advantage, increasing physical education policy compliance in elementary schools may be an effective strategy for improving fitness among Latino children.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0178980

  View details for PubMedID 28591139

• Use of a motivational interviewing-informed strategy in group orientations to improve retention and intervention attendance in a randomized controlled trial HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH Xiao, L., Lv, N., Rosas, L. G., Karve, S., Luna, V., Jameiro, E., Wittels, N., Ma, J. 2016; 31 (6): 729–37

  Abstract

  High retention and treatment adherence are essential to ensure the quality of evidence from clinical trials. Strategies for improving these have been explored but actual rates in lifestyle intervention trials indicate challenges. This study examined the use of a motivational interviewing-informed strategy during interactive group orientations prior to obtaining informed consent, collecting baseline data and randomization in a healthy dietary pattern intervention trial for asthma control in adults. The themes generated from small group discussions and echoed in large group discussions during the orientation sessions helped potential participants better understand the scientific rationale of the research design and procedures and the practical implications for them to participate in the study. Potential participants reported significantly lower confidence of completing the study after the group orientation. This suggests that the group orientations helped potential participants identify challenges to completing the study, have more realistic expectations about participation and be prepared if enrolled. Both retention (92% of 90 participants at 6 months) and intervention attendance (99% of 46 intervention participants attended 80% of 11 weekly group/individual sessions) were high, suggesting the motivation interviewing-informed group orientation strategy may help improve retention and adherence in clinical trials.

  View details for PubMedID 27923862

• Harnessing Technology and Citizen Science to Support Neighborhoods that Promote Active Living in Mexico. Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine Rosas, L. G., Salvo, D., Winter, S. J., Cortes, D., Rivera, J., Rodriguez, N. M., King, A. C. 2016: -?

  Abstract

  Middle- and low-income countries bear 80 % of the global chronic disease burden. Population-level, multi-sectoral approaches to promoting healthful lifestyles that take into local physical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural characteristics of both the environment and the population are needed. The "Nuestra Voz (Our Voice)" is one such approach that involves neighborhood residents acting as "citizen scientists" to systematically gather information on the barriers and facilitators of physical activity in their neighborhoods and then use their data to collectively advocate for local environmental- and policy-level changes to support active living. We pilot tested this approach in Cuernavaca, Mexico with adults and adolescents. This community-engaged and participatory approach is driven by residents, who utilize a GPS-enabled electronic tablet-based application with simple audio-based instructions to take photographs and record audio narratives of facets of their neighborhood that promote or hinder active living. After collecting these data, the citizen scientists come together in a community meeting and use their data to prioritize realistic, multi-level changes for promoting active living in their neighborhoods. A survey assessed participants' acceptability of the approach. Participating citizen scientists included 32 adults and 9 adolescents. The citizen scientists rated the acceptability of five of the nine acceptability survey items with an average of 4.0 or higher out of 5.0, indicating they thought it was "fun," were comfortable carrying the tablet, were likely to use it again, and would recommend it to friends and family. Items with average scores of less than 4 were all related to safety concerns. The most common barriers reported by citizen scientists using the tablet were poor sidewalk quality, presence of trash, negative characteristics of the streets, unpleasant aesthetics (e.g., graffiti), and presence of parks and recreational facilities. The Our Voice citizen scientist approach using the Discovery Tool has high potential for assisting communities in diverse settings to begin to identify both local barriers to active living as well as potentially useful strategies for promoting physical activity in culturally congruent ways that are appropriate and feasible in the local context.

  View details for PubMedID 27752825

• Development and evaluation of an enhanced diabetes prevention program with psychosocial support for urban American Indians and Alaska natives: A randomized controlled trial CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS Rosas, L. G., Vasquez, J. J., Naderi, R., Jeffery, N., Hedlin, H., Qin, F., LaFromboise, T., Megginson, N., Pasqua, C., Flores, O., McClinton-Brown, R., Evans, J., Stafford, R. S. 2016; 50: 28-36

  Abstract

  Diabetes is highly prevalent, affecting over 25 million adults in the US, yet it can be effectively prevented through lifestyle interventions, including the well-tested Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) adults, the majority of whom live in urban settings, are more than twice as likely to develop diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. Additionally, prevalent mental health issues and psychosocial stressors may facilitate progression to diabetes and hinder successful implementation of lifestyle interventions for AIAN adults. This 2-phased study first engaged community stakeholders to develop culturally-tailored strategies to address mental health concerns and psychosocial stressors. Pilot testing (completed) refined those strategies that increase engagement in an enhanced DPP for urban AIAN adults. Second, the enhanced DPP will be compared to a standard DPP in a randomized controlled trial (ongoing) with a primary outcome of body mass index (BMI) and a secondary outcome of quality of life (QoL) over 12months. Obese self-identified AIAN adults residing in an urban setting with one or more components of the metabolic syndrome (excluding waist circumference) will be randomized to the enhanced or standard DPP (n=204). We hypothesize that addressing psychosocial barriers within a culturally-tailored DPP will result in clinical (BMI) and superior patient-centered (QoL) outcomes as compared to a standard DPP. Exploratory outcomes will include cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g., waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose) and health behaviors (e.g., diet, physical activity). Results of this trial may be applicable to other urban AIAN or minority communities or even diabetes prevention in general.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2016.06.015

  View details for Web of Science ID 000385321600005

  View details for PubMedID 27381232

• Acceptability and feasibility of the 'DASH for Asthma' intervention in a randomized controlled trial pilot study PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION Blonstein, A. C., Lv, N., Camargo, C. A., Wilson, S. R., Buist, A., Rosas, L. G., Strub, P., Ma, J. 2016; 19 (11): 2049–59

  Abstract

  'DASH for Asthma' (n 90) was a 6-month randomized controlled trial that demonstrated potential benefits of a DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) behavioural intervention for improving diet quality and asthma control by comparing intervention to usual care in adults with uncontrolled asthma. The present study examined acceptability and feasibility of the intervention from the perspective of intervention participants and lifestyle coaches.Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, the 3-month intensive stage, including three individual and eight group sessions, focused on diet modifications and behavioural self-regulation. The 3-month maintenance stage contained telephone consultations. Participants and lifestyle coaches completed surveys including 5-point Likert scales and open-ended questions. We analysed data using descriptive and inductive content analyses.Forty-six intervention participants (survey response rate was 65-72 %) and two lifestyle coaches.Participants and lifestyle coaches were highly satisfied (all mean ratings >4) with individual and group sessions. Participants identified mastery of knowledge and skills (awareness, goal setting, self-monitoring, problem solving), social learning (class members sharing experiences and ideas) and good coaching skills (reflective listening, empathy, motivational counselling) as important contributors to self-efficacy and programme satisfaction. Participants also valued personalized feedback received in individual sessions. Lifestyle coaches viewed participant engagement as a facilitator to effective sessions. Finally, participants and lifestyle coaches identified food tasting as beneficial for observational learning and facilitation of participant engagement. High class attendance and self-monitoring rate also reflected the high engagement among participants.The DASH behavioural intervention was feasible and highly acceptable to participants with uncontrolled asthma and lifestyle coaches.

  View details for PubMedID 26653101

• Maternal Depression and Childhood Overweight in the CHAMACOS Study of Mexican-American Children MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL Audelo, J., Kogut, K., Harley, K. G., Rosas, L. G., Stein, L., Eskenazi, B. 2016; 20 (7): 1405–14

  Abstract

  Objective Although previous studies have examined the impact of maternal depression on child overweight and obesity, little is known about the relationship in Latino families, who suffer from high risks of depression and obesity. We prospectively investigated the association between depressive symptoms in women with young children and child overweight and obesity (overweight/obesity) at age 7 years among Latino families. Methods Participants included 332 singletons with anthropometric measures obtained at 7 years from the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study, a birth cohort study. Maternal depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale when the children were 1, 3.5, and 7 years. Overweight and obesity was measured by body mass index (kg/m(2)) at age 7 years. Results 63 % of women had CES-D scores consistent with depression in at least one of the 3 given assessments. Compared to children whose mothers were never depressed, children whose mothers were depressed at all three assessments had 2.4 times the adjusted odds of overweight/obesity at age 7 years (95 % CI 1.1-5.6). However, a single positive maternal depression screen was not associated with child overweight/obesity and there was no difference in the odds of overweight/obesity by the age of the child when maternal depression occurred. Conclusion Chronic maternal depression during a child's early life was associated with child overweight/obesity at 7 years. Addressing maternal depression is a critical component of comprehensive obesity prevention and treatment strategies for Latino children.

  View details for PubMedID 27007986

• Leveraging Citizen Science and Wearable Technologies for Population Physical Activity Promotion King, A. C., Winter, S. J., Sheats, J. L., Rosas, L. G., Buman, M. P., Salvo, D., Rodriguez, N. M., Seguin, R. A., Moran, M., Garber, R., Broderick, B., Zieff, S. G., Sarmiento, O., Gonzalez, S. A., Banchoff, A. W., Rivera, D. HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC. 2016: S99–S100

  View details for Web of Science ID 000381554400254

• Leveraging Citizen Science and Information Technology for Population Physical Activity Promotion. Translational journal of the American College of Sports Medicine King, A. C., Winter, S. J., Sheats, J. L., Rosas, L. G., Buman, M. P., Salvo, D., Rodriguez, N. M., Seguin, R. A., Moran, M., Garber, R., Broderick, B., Zieff, S. G., Sarmiento, O. L., Gonzalez, S. A., Banchoff, A., Dommarco, J. R. 2016; 1 (4): 30-44

  Abstract

  While technology is a major driver of many of society's comforts, conveniences, and advances, it has been responsible, in a significant way, for engineering regular physical activity and a number of other positive health behaviors out of people's daily lives. A key question concerns how to harness information and communication technologies (ICT) to bring about positive changes in the health promotion field. One such approach involves community-engaged "citizen science," in which local residents leverage the potential of ICT to foster data-driven consensus-building and mobilization efforts that advance physical activity at the individual, social, built environment, and policy levels.The history of citizen science in the research arena is briefly described and an evidence-based method that embeds citizen science in a multi-level, multi-sectoral community-based participatory research framework for physical activity promotion is presented.Several examples of this citizen science-driven community engagement framework for promoting active lifestyles, called "Our Voice", are discussed, including pilot projects from diverse communities in the U.S. as well as internationally.The opportunities and challenges involved in leveraging citizen science activities as part of a broader population approach to promoting regular physical activity are explored. The strategic engagement of citizen scientists from socio-demographically diverse communities across the globe as both assessment as well as change agents provides a promising, potentially low-cost and scalable strategy for creating more active, healthful, and equitable neighborhoods and communities worldwide.

  View details for PubMedID 27525309

• Precision Lifestyle Medicine A New Frontier in the Science of Behavior Change and Population Health AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE Ma, J., Rosas, L. G., Lv, N. 2016; 50 (3): 395–97

  View details for PubMedID 26651423

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4762748

• Pilot randomised trial of a healthy eating behavioural intervention in uncontrolled asthma EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL Ma, J., Strub, P., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Camargo, C. A., Buist, A. S., Lavori, P. W., Wilson, S. R., Nadeau, K. C., Rosas, L. G. 2016; 47 (1): 122-132

  Abstract

  Rigorous research on the benefit of healthy eating patterns for asthma control is lacking.We randomised 90 adults with objectively confirmed uncontrolled asthma and a low-quality diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) scores <6 out of 9) to a 6-month DASH behavioural intervention (n=46) or usual-care control (n=44). Intention-to-treat analyses used repeated-measures mixed models.Participants were middle-aged, 67% female and multiethnic. Compared with controls, intervention participants improved on DASH scores (mean change (95% CI) 0.6 (0, 1.1) versus -0.3 (-0.8, 0.2); difference 0.8 (0.2, 1.5)) and the primary outcome, Asthma Control Questionnaire scores (-0.2 (-0.5, 0) versus 0 (-0.3, 0.3); difference -0.2 (-0.5, 0.1)) at 6 months. The mean group differences in changes in Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire overall and subdomain scores consistently favoured the intervention over the control group: overall 0.4 (95% CI 0, 0.8), symptoms 0.5 (0, 0.9), environment 0.4 (-0.1, 1.0), emotions 0.4 (-0.2, 0.9) and activities 0.3 (0, 0.7). These differences were modest, but potentially clinical significant.The DASH behavioural intervention improved diet quality with promising clinical benefits for better asthma control and functional status among adults with uncontrolled asthma. A full-scale efficacy trial is warranted.

  View details for DOI 10.1183/13993003.00591-2015

  View details for Web of Science ID 000367443900018

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5136475

• Pilot randomised trial of a healthy eating behavioural intervention in uncontrolled asthma. The European respiratory journal Ma, J., Strub, P., Lv, N., Xiao, L., Camargo, C. A., Buist, A. S., Lavori, P. W., Wilson, S. R., Nadeau, K. C., Rosas, L. G. 2016; 47 (1): 122-32

  Abstract

  Rigorous research on the benefit of healthy eating patterns for asthma control is lacking.We randomised 90 adults with objectively confirmed uncontrolled asthma and a low-quality diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) scores <6 out of 9) to a 6-month DASH behavioural intervention (n=46) or usual-care control (n=44). Intention-to-treat analyses used repeated-measures mixed models.Participants were middle-aged, 67% female and multiethnic. Compared with controls, intervention participants improved on DASH scores (mean change (95% CI) 0.6 (0, 1.1) versus -0.3 (-0.8, 0.2); difference 0.8 (0.2, 1.5)) and the primary outcome, Asthma Control Questionnaire scores (-0.2 (-0.5, 0) versus 0 (-0.3, 0.3); difference -0.2 (-0.5, 0.1)) at 6 months. The mean group differences in changes in Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire overall and subdomain scores consistently favoured the intervention over the control group: overall 0.4 (95% CI 0, 0.8), symptoms 0.5 (0, 0.9), environment 0.4 (-0.1, 1.0), emotions 0.4 (-0.2, 0.9) and activities 0.3 (0, 0.7). These differences were modest, but potentially clinical significant.The DASH behavioural intervention improved diet quality with promising clinical benefits for better asthma control and functional status among adults with uncontrolled asthma. A full-scale efficacy trial is warranted.

  View details for DOI 10.1183/13993003.00591-2015

  View details for PubMedID 26493792

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5136475

• Service-Based Learning for Residents: A Success for Communities and Medical Education. Family medicine Gefter, L., Merrell, S. B., Rosas, L. G., Morioka-Douglas, N., Rodriguez, E. 2015; 47 (10): 803-806

  Abstract

  Community-based service-learning opportunities could support residents' acquisition of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies, but this concept has not been tested, and such programs are difficult to find. The objective of this work was to assess the value and the ACGME competency relevance of a service-learning program for residents that could be easily replicated nationally.Forty-one family medicine residents from three training programs participated in the Stanford Youth Diabetes Coaches Program at six high schools in California and Georgia serving minority students of low socioeconomic status. Residents completed online surveys to provide qualitative feedback and assess the program's impact on their acquisition of residency program competencies and self-management support proficiencies, including prior use and planned use of action plans-a key self-management support strategy.Ninety-five percent of residents indicated that the program was a valuable experience that contributed to acquisition of residency program competencies, including interpersonal and communication skills and communication with teens. Compared with baseline, significantly more residents reported intention to use action plans with patients following participation. Themes from qualitative feedback included: valuing the overall experience, increasing opportunities to practice teaching, enhancing their ability to communicate with adolescents, contributing to the health of the community, recognizing the potential of action plans, and increasing intent to use action plans.This pilot demonstrated that a brief service-learning program can enhance standard residency curriculum by encouraging acquisition of ACGME competencies and promoting utilization of self-management support in clinical practice.

  View details for PubMedID 26545059

• Nativity, US Length of Residence, and BMI Among Diverse Asian American Ethnic Groups. Journal of immigrant and minority health Rosas, L. G., Sanchez-Vaznaugh, E. V., Sánchez, B. N. 2015; 17 (5): 1496-1503

  Abstract

  Little is known about body mass index (BMI) patterns by nativity and length of US residence among Asian American ethnic groups. We used linear regression to examine the association of BMI with nativity and length of residence across six ethnic groups (Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, South Asians, and Vietnamese) using data from the California Health Interview Study. There was significant heterogeneity in the nativity/length of residence patterns in unadjusted BMI across ethnic groups (p < 0.001). In fully adjusted models, heterogeneity was attenuated (p = 0.05) with BMI among all US-born ethnic groups significantly higher than BMI for immigrants with the exception of South Asians. Longer US residence was positively associated with BMI among all groups, though only significant among Filipinos and Koreans. Programs targeting Asian Americans should take into consideration BMI patterns by nativity and US length of residence among diverse Asian American ethnic groups.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10903-014-0096-6

  View details for PubMedID 25192818

• Pica during pregnancy among Mexican-born women: a formative study. Maternal and child nutrition Lin, J. W., Temple, L., Trujillo, C., Mejia-Rodriquez, F., Rosas, L. G., Fernald, L., Young, S. L. 2015; 11 (4): 550-558

  Abstract

  Although pica, the craving and purposive consumption of non-food substances, is common among many populations, especially during pregnancy, the health consequences are not well understood. Further, very little is known about pica among Mexican populations in the United States and Mexico. Therefore, we conducted formative research to understand pica in this understudied population. Our objectives were to identify the frequency and types of pica behaviours, to understand perceived aetiologies and consequences of pica and to ascertain if the behaviour was common enough to warrant a larger study. We held nine focus group discussions (three in the Salinas Valley, California; six in Xoxocotla, Morelos, Mexico) with 76 Mexican-born women who were currently pregnant or had delivered within the past 2 years. Earth, adobe, bean stones and ice were the most commonly reported pica substances. Twenty-eight of the 76 participants (37%) reported ever engaging in pica; 22 participants (29%) reported doing so during pregnancy. The proportion of women reporting pica in the United States and Mexico was 43% and 34%, respectively. Women attributed pica to the overwhelming organoleptic appeal of pica substances (especially smell and texture) and to micronutrient deficiencies. Perceived consequences of unfulfilled pica cravings were birthmarks or fetal loss; fulfilled pica cravings were also thought to be generally harmful to the mother or child, with several women specifying toxic lead, pesticides or 'worms'. In sum, pica among Mexican women is common enough to warrant a larger epidemiologic study of its sociodemographic correlates and physiological consequences.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/mcn.12120

  View details for PubMedID 24784797

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4216644

• Applying the Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary Model in a Primary Care-Based Lifestyle Intervention Trial AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Azar, K., Xiao, L., Yank, V., Ma, J. 2015; 49 (3): S208-S214

  Abstract

  The majority of adults in the U.S. can be classified as overweight or obese (68%), putting them at risk for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other adverse health outcomes. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that providers offer or refer obese adults to intensive, multicomponent lifestyle interventions. However, there is a critical need for interventions that have been shown to be pragmatic and effective among diverse populations, scalable across different clinical settings and systems, and sustainable over time. The Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary (PRECIS) tool can be used to assess the degree to which trials of behavioral lifestyle interventions provide evidence to support this need. We used our recently completed trial, Evaluation of Lifestyle Interventions to Treat Elevated Cardiometabolic Risk in Primary Care (E-LITE), as a case study and assessed the domains of PRECIS to explore the degree to which we felt it achieved its intended pragmatic design (completed in December 2014). Overall, the systematic assessment using the PRECIS tool revealed that the E-LITE trial design was very pragmatic in nature. Its results and the subsequent adoption of the intervention into actual practice also suggest high potential for implementation of primary care interventions.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.05.011

  View details for Web of Science ID 000359878100011

• Applying the Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary Model in a Primary Care-Based Lifestyle Intervention Trial. American journal of preventive medicine Rosas, L. G., Lv, N., Azar, K., Xiao, L., Yank, V., Ma, J. 2015; 49 (3): S208-14

  Abstract

  The majority of adults in the U.S. can be classified as overweight or obese (68%), putting them at risk for Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other adverse health outcomes. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that providers offer or refer obese adults to intensive, multicomponent lifestyle interventions. However, there is a critical need for interventions that have been shown to be pragmatic and effective among diverse populations, scalable across different clinical settings and systems, and sustainable over time. The Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary (PRECIS) tool can be used to assess the degree to which trials of behavioral lifestyle interventions provide evidence to support this need. We used our recently completed trial, Evaluation of Lifestyle Interventions to Treat Elevated Cardiometabolic Risk in Primary Care (E-LITE), as a case study and assessed the domains of PRECIS to explore the degree to which we felt it achieved its intended pragmatic design (completed in December 2014). Overall, the systematic assessment using the PRECIS tool revealed that the E-LITE trial design was very pragmatic in nature. Its results and the subsequent adoption of the intervention into actual practice also suggest high potential for implementation of primary care interventions.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.05.011

  View details for PubMedID 26296556

• Research aimed at improving both mood and weight (RAINBOW) in primary care: A type 1 hybrid design randomized controlled trial. Contemporary clinical trials Ma, J., Yank, V., Lv, N., Goldhaber-Fiebert, J. D., Lewis, M. A., Kramer, M. K., Snowden, M. B., Rosas, L. G., Xiao, L., Blonstein, A. C. 2015; 43: 260-278

  Abstract

  Effective interventions targeting comorbid obesity and depression are critical given the increasing prevalence and worsened outcomes for patients with both conditions. RAINBOW is a type 1 hybrid design randomized controlled trial. The objective is to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness and implementation potential of an integrated, technology-enhanced, collaborative care model for treating comorbid obesity and depression in primary care. Obese and depressed adults (n=404) will be randomized to usual care enhanced with the provision of a pedometer and information about the health system's services for mood or weight management (control) or with the Integrated Coaching for Better Mood and Weight (I-CARE) program (intervention). The 12-month I-CARE program synergistically integrates two proven behavioral interventions: problem-solving therapy with as-needed intensification of pharmacotherapy for depression (PEARLS) and standardized behavioral treatment for obesity (Group Lifestyle Balance™). It utilizes traditional (e.g., office visits and phone consults) and emerging care delivery modalities (e.g., patient web portal and mobile applications). Follow-up assessments will occur at 6, 12, 18, and 24months. We hypothesize that compared with controls, I-CARE participants will have greater improvements in weight and depression severity measured by the 20-item Depression Symptom Checklist at 12months, which will be sustained at 24months. We will also assess I-CARE's cost-effectiveness and use mixed methods to examine its potential for reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. This study offers the potential to change how obese and depressed adults are treated-through a new model of accessible and integrative lifestyle medicine and mental health expertise-in primary care.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2015.06.010

  View details for PubMedID 26096714

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4537656

• The Effectiveness of Two Community-Based Weight Loss Strategies among Obese, Low-Income US Latinos JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS Rosas, L. G., Thiyagarajan, S., Goldstein, B. A., Drieling, R. L., Romero, P. P., Ma, J., Yank, V., Stafford, R. S. 2015; 115 (4): 537-U300

  Abstract

  Latino immigrants have high rates of obesity and face barriers to weight loss.To evaluate the effectiveness of a case-management (CM) intervention with and without community health workers (CHWs) for weight loss.This was a 2-year, randomized controlled trial comparing two interventions with each other and with usual care (UC).Eligible participants included Latinos with a body mass index of 30 to 60 and one or more heart disease risk factors. The 207 participants recruited during 2009-2010 had a mean age of 47 years and were mostly women (77%). At 24 months, 86% of the sample was assessed.The CM+CHW (n=82) and CM (n=84) interventions were compared with each other and with UC (n=41). Both included an intensive 12-month phase followed by 12 months of maintenance. The CM+CHW group received home visits.Weight change at 24 months.Generalized estimating equations using intent-to-treat.At 6 months, mean weight loss in the CM+CHW arm was -2.1 kg (95% CI -2.8 to -1.3) or -2% of baseline weight (95% CI -1% to -2%) compared with -1.6 kg (95% CI -2.4 to -0.7; % weight change, -2%, -1%, and -3%) in CM and -0.9 kg (95% CI -1.8 to 0.1; % weight change, -1%, 0%, and -2%) in UC. By 12 and 24 months, differences narrowed and CM+CHW was no longer statistically distinct. Men achieved greater weight loss than women in all groups at each time point (P<0.05). At 6 months, men in the CM+CHW arm lost more weight (-4.4 kg; 95% CI -6.0 to -2.7) compared with UC (-0.4 kg; 95% CI -2.4 to 1.5), but by 12 and 24 months differences were not significant.This study demonstrated that incorporation of CHWs may help promote initial weight loss, especially among men, but not weight maintenance. Additional strategies to address social and environmental influences may be needed for Latino immigrant populations.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jand.2014.10.020

  View details for Web of Science ID 000351779000008

  View details for PubMedID 25578925

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4380577

• Randomized Trial Of Healthy Eating Pattern In Adults With Uncontrolled Asthma Ma, J., Xiao, L., Lv, N., Camargo, C. A., Wilson, S. R., Buist, S., Lavori, P., Strub, P., Nadeau, K. C., Rosas, L. G. AMER THORACIC SOC. 2015

  View details for Web of Science ID 000377582807269

• Process Evaluation Of The "dash For Asthma" Intervention In A Randomized Controlled Trial Pilot Study Lv, N., Blonstein, A. C., Camargo, C. A., Wilson, S. R., Buist, S., Lavori, P., Strub, P., Nadeau, K. C., Xiao, L., Rosas, L. G., Ma, J. AMER THORACIC SOC. 2015

  View details for Web of Science ID 000377582801114

• Acceptability of health information technology aimed at environmental health education in a prenatal clinic PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING Rosas, L. G., Trujillo, C., Camacho, J., Madrigal, D., Bradman, A., Eskenazi, B. 2014; 97 (2): 244-247

  Abstract

  To describe the acceptability of an interactive computer kiosk that provides environmental health education to low-income Latina prenatal patients.A mixed-methods approach was used to assess the acceptability of the Prenatal Environmental Health Kiosk pregnant Latina women in Salinas, CA (n=152). The kiosk is a low literacy, interactive touch-screen computer program with an audio component and includes graphics and an interactive game.The majority had never used a kiosk before. Over 90% of women reported that they learned something new while using the kiosk. Prior to using the kiosk, 22% of women reported their preference of receiving health education from a kiosk over a pamphlet or video compared with 57% after using the kiosk (p<0.01). Qualitative data revealed: (1) benefit of exposure to computer use; (2) reinforcing strategy of health education; and (3) popularity of the interactive game.The Prenatal Environmental Health Kiosk is an innovative patient health education modality that was shown to be acceptable among a population of low-income Latino pregnant women in a prenatal care clinic.This pilot study demonstrated that a health education kiosk was an acceptable strategy for providing Latina prenatal patients with information on pertinent environmental exposures.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.pec.2014.07.018

  View details for Web of Science ID 000344824800014

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4520806

• Training at-risk youth to become diabetes self-management coaches for family members: partnering family medicine residents with underserved schools. Diabetes educator Gefter, L., Rosas, L. G., Rodriguez, E., Morioka-Douglas, N. 2014; 40 (6): 786-796

  Abstract

  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a school-based health program in which family medicine residents trained healthy at-risk adolescents to become diabetes self-management coaches for family members with diabetes.A mixed methods study included 97 adolescents from 3 San Francisco Bay Area high schools serving primarily ethnic minority youth of low socioeconomic status. Physicians came to schools once a week for 8 weeks and trained 49 adolescents to become coaches. Student coaches and 48 nonparticipant students completed pre- and posttest intervention questionnaires, and 15 student coaches and 9 family members with diabetes gave in-depth interviews after participation. Linear regression was used to determine differences in knowledge and psychosocial assets on pre- and posttests between student coaches and nonparticipant students, and NVIVO was used to analyze interview transcripts.After controlling for initial score, sex, grade, and ethnicity, student coaches improved from pre- to posttest significantly compared to nonparticipants on knowledge, belonging, and worth scales. Student coaches reported high satisfaction with the program. Articulated program benefits included improvement in diet, increased physical activity, and improved relationship between student coach and family member.Overall, this program can increase diabetes knowledge and psychosocial assets of at-risk youth, and it holds promise to promote positive health behaviors among at-risk youth and their families.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/0145721714549676

  View details for PubMedID 25208725

• Community Resource Utilization, Psychosocial Health, and Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Diet and Physical Activity among Low-Income Obese Latino Immigrants JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS Drieling, R. L., Rosas, L. G., Ma, J., Stafford, R. S. 2014; 114 (2): 257-265

  Abstract

  Low-socioeconomic-status (SES) Latinos are disproportionately represented among the 78 million obese Americans. Tailored behavioral weight-loss interventions show promise, but there is limited adaptation to lower-SES Latino immigrants. This study provides guidance for tailoring obesity-reduction strategies for this population by evaluating food security, educational community resource utilization, education level, depression, sex, and length of US residence as predictors of diet and physical activity. The cross-sectional study used baseline data collected in July 2009 through September 2010 for a weight-loss trial among lower-SES obese (body mass index 30 to 55) Latino immigrants who were enrolled at a community health clinic (n=207). Physical activity was measured using 7-day pedometer recording. Dietary intake was measured using an interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire. Factors assessed by questionnaire included education community resource use (nutrition and physical activity classes), education level, US residence (years), food security, and depressive symptoms. Data were analyzed using multivariate-adjusted linear regression models. More than one third of participants were sedentary (<5,000 steps/day), and 41% had low fruit and vegetable intake (<5 servings/day). In multivariate-adjusted models, educational community resource use, male sex, less education, fewer depressive symptoms, and shorter US residence time were associated with more physical activity (all, P ≤ 0.05). Educational community resource use was positively associated with fruit and vegetable intake (P=0.05). Male sex was associated with more sweet-beverage intake (P=0.02) and fast-food intake (P=0.04). Fewer depressive symptoms were associated with lower sweet-beverage intake (P=0.05). In conclusion, obesity-reduction strategies among low-SES Latino immigrants might effectively emphasize educational community resource use and interventions tailored for psychosocial and sociodemographic characteristics.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jand.2013.07.025

  View details for Web of Science ID 000331853100012

  View details for PubMedID 24119533

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3947013

• Short-term weight loss patterns, baseline predictors, and longer-term follow-up within a randomized controlled trial OBESITY Yank, V., Xiao, L., Wilson, S. R., Stafford, R. S., Rosas, L. G., Ma, J. 2014; 22 (1): 45-51

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: To examine weight loss patterns and predictors among participants in a primary care-based translation study of the Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle intervention. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cluster analysis identified short-term (12-week) weight loss patterns among 72 intervention participants. Analysis of variance assessed cluster differences in weight loss maintenance at 15-month follow-up. Discriminant analysis identified baseline characteristics that best differentiated between clusters. RESULTS: Participants had baseline mean (SD) age of 55.0 (10.8) years and BMI of 31.9 (5.2) kg/m(2) . Cluster analysis identified three short-term weight loss patterns: modest (n=15; 21%), moderate-and-steady (n=43; 60%), and substantial-and-early (n=14; 19%). Only participants with the latter two patterns achieved clinically significant (≥ 5%) short-term weight loss and maintained it at 15 months. On discriminant analysis, the modest cluster was most differentiated from other clusters by high friend encouragement for dietary change, high obesity-related problems, and low physical well-being. The moderate-and-steady cluster was differentiated by lower physical activity, family encouragement, and depression symptoms. CONCLUSION: Results provide insight into the heterogeneity of response to an effective lifestyle intervention by identifying short-term weight loss patterns and their baseline predictors and relationship to 15-month success. If replicated, results may help tailor strategies for participant subgroups in weight loss programs.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/oby.20510

  View details for Web of Science ID 000329613600011

  View details for PubMedID 23740619

• Associations between perinatal factors and adiponectin and leptin in 9-year-old Mexican-American children PEDIATRIC OBESITY Volberg, V., Harley, K. G., Aguilar, R. S., Rosas, L. G., Huen, K., Yousefi, P., Dave, V., Nguyet Phan, N., Lustig, R. H., Eskenazi, B., Holland, N. 2013; 8 (6): 454-463

  Abstract

  Mexican-American children are at particularly high risk of obesity. Features of the perinatal environment, including maternal nutrition, anthropometry, glucose tolerance and growth rate during infancy are implicated in programming of obesity in the offspring.Greater rate of weight or length gain in the first 6 months of life is associated with lower 9-year child adiponectin levels, adjusting for 9-year child BMI. Nine-year-old child adipokine levels are strongly related to those of their mothers'.To (i) determine whether perinatal factors (including maternal anthropometry and nutrition and early life growth measures) are associated with adiponectin and leptin levels in 9-year-old children, and (ii) assess relationships between adiponectin, leptin and concurrent lipid profile in these children.We measured plasma adiponectin and leptin for 146 mothers-9-year-old child pairs from the ongoing longitudinal birth cohort followed by the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas. Data on perinatal factors, including sociodemographics, maternal anthropometry and nutrition, and early life child growth were collected during pregnancy, birth and 6-month visits.Greater rate of weight and length gain during the first 6 months of life were associated with lower adiponectin in 9-year-olds (β = -2.0, P = 0.04; β = -8.2, P = 0.02, respectively) adjusting for child body mass index (BMI). We found no associations between child adipokine levels and either maternal calorie, protein, total fat, saturated fat, fibre, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption during pregnancy or children's concurrent sugar-sweetened beverage and fast food intake. Lipid profile in 9-year-old children closely reflected adiponectin but not leptin levels after adjustment for child BMI. Additionally, we report that child adipokine levels were closely related to their mothers' levels at the 9-year visit.Overall, our results support the hypothesis that early life factors may contribute to altered adipokine levels in children.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00127.x

  View details for Web of Science ID 000327212400008

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3633700

• Translating an evidence-based lifestyle intervention program into primary care: lessons learned. Health promotion practice Blonstein, A. C., Yank, V., Stafford, R. S., Wilson, S. R., Rosas, L. G., Ma, J. 2013; 14 (4): 491-497

  Abstract

  The E-LITE (Evaluation of Lifestyle Interventions to Treat Elevated Cardiometabolic Risk in Primary Care) trial evaluated the feasibility and potential effectiveness of translating an evidence-based lifestyle intervention for the management of obesity and related risk factors in a primary care setting. Delivered by allied health care providers, the intervention promoted at least 7% weight loss and at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity through gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes. Activities included interactive group lessons, food tasting, guided physical activity, and technology-mediated self-monitoring and behavioral counseling. This article discusses insights and potential areas for improvement to strengthen program implementation for dissemination of the E-LITE program to other primary care settings. We focus on (a) the role of allied health professionals in program delivery, (b) strengthening program integration within a primary care clinic, and (c) the use of information technology to extend the reach and impact of the program. Our experience shows the feasibility of implementing an evidence-based lifestyle intervention program combining group-delivered nutrition and behavioral counseling, physical activity training, and technology-mediated follow-up in a primary care setting. Challenges remain, and we offer possible solutions to overcome them.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/1524839913481604

  View details for PubMedID 23539264

• Pregnancy Glycemia in Mexican-American Women Without Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes and Programming for Childhood Obesity AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Ehrlich, S. F., Rosas, L. G., Ferrara, A., King, J. C., Abrams, B., Harley, K. G., Hedderson, M. M., Eskenazi, B. 2013; 177 (8): 768-775

  Abstract

  In the present study, we estimated the association between pregnancy glucose levels and offspring body mass index (BMI) z scores at 2, 3.5, 5, and 7 years of age, as well as z score trajectories across this age range, among Mexican-American women without diabetes or gestational diabetes. Beginning in 1999-2000, the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas prospectively followed women from Monterey County, California (52 obese and 214 nonobese women) and their children. Plasma glucose values obtained 1 hour after a 50-g oral glucose load comprised the exposure. Offspring BMIs were compared with national data to calculate z scores. Increasing pregnancy glucose levels were associated with increased offspring BMI z scores at 7 years of age; a 1-mmol/L increase in glucose corresponded to an increase of 0.11 (standard deviation = 0.044) z-score units (P < 0.05). In nonobese women only, the mean z score over this age range increased with increasing glucose levels. The average BMI z score at 4.5 years of age increased by 0.12 (standard error, 0.059) units for each 1-mmol/L increase in glucose (P = 0.04). In obese women only, increasing glucose was associated with increases in BMI z score over time (P = 0.07). Whether interventions to reduce glucose values in women free of disease could mitigate childhood obesity remains unknown.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/aje/kws312

  View details for Web of Science ID 000317435600006

  View details for PubMedID 23504745

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3668427

• Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention for Weight Loss Into Primary Care A Randomized Trial JAMA INTERNAL MEDICINE Ma, J., Yank, V., Xiao, L., Lavori, P. W., Wilson, S. R., Rosas, L. G., Stafford, R. S. 2013; 173 (2): 113-121

  Abstract

  The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention reduced the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) among high-risk adults by 58%, with weight loss as the dominant predictor. However, it has not been adequately translated into primary care.We evaluated 2 adapted DPP lifestyle interventions among overweight or obese adults who were recruited from 1 primary care clinic and had pre-DM and/or metabolic syndrome. Participants were randomized to (1) a coach-led group intervention (n = 79), (2) a self-directed DVD intervention (n = 81), or (3) usual care (n = 81). During a 3-month intensive intervention phase, the DPP-based behavioral weight-loss curriculum was delivered by lifestyle coach-led small groups or home-based DVD. During the maintenance phase, participants in both interventions received lifestyle change coaching and support remotely-through secure email within an electronic health record system and the American Heart Association Heart360 website for weight and physical activity goal setting and self-monitoring. The primary outcome was change in body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) from baseline to 15 months.At baseline, participants had a mean (SD) age of 52.9 (10.6) years and a mean BMI of 32.0 (5.4); 47% were female; 78%, non-Hispanic white; and 17%, Asian/Pacific Islander. At month 15, the mean ± SE change in BMI from baseline was -2.2 ± 0.3 in the coach-led group vs -0.9 ± 0.3 in the usual care group (P < .001) and -1.6 ± 0.3 in the self-directed group vs usual care (P = .02). The percentages of participants who achieved the 7% DPP-based weight-loss goal were 37.0% (P = .003) and 35.9% (P = .004) in the coach-led and self-directed groups, respectively, vs 14.4% in the usual care group. Both interventions also achieved greater net improvements in waist circumference and fasting plasma glucose level.Proven effective in a primary care setting, the 2 DPP-based lifestyle interventions are readily scalable and exportable with potential for substantial clinical and public health impact.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00842426.

  View details for DOI 10.1001/2013.jamainternmed.987

  View details for Web of Science ID 000317239700008

  View details for PubMedID 23229846

• Baseline reach and adoption characteristics in a randomized controlled trial of two weight loss interventions translated into primary care: A structured report of real-world applicability CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS Yank, V., Stafford, R. S., Rosas, L. G., Ma, J. 2013; 34 (1): 126-135

  Abstract

  Although the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention reduced type 2 diabetes incidence by 58% among high-risk adults at academic centers, it requires translation into typical primary care settings. Using baseline data from the Evaluation of Lifestyle Interventions to Treat Elevated Cardiometabolic Risk in Primary Care (E-LITE) randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the potential of its two DPP-based interventions to reach their target populations and be adopted into routine use.Overweight/obese adults with increased cardiometabolic risk enrolled from one primary care clinic. Using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) model, we assessed reach with data on patient identification, participation, and representativeness, and adoption with data on intervention feasibility and potential for organizational diffusion.The target population was identified by searching electronic health records. Contact was attempted for 2391 patients who completed initial screening by phone (56% uptake) or online (44%). Most (88%) of those screened ineligible were not within the target population; 12% were excluded because of research requirements. Conservatively estimated participation rate was 44%. Participants (n=241) included 54% men and had a mean (SD) age of 52.9 years (10.6) and body mass index of 32 kg/m(2) (5.4). Regarding adoption, all clinic physicians agreed to participate. The feasibility of intervention implementation and dissemination was enhanced by leveraging existing intervention, training, and primary care resources.E-LITE's lifestyle interventions had fair-to-good potential for primary care reach and adoption. Our trial evidence and structured reporting may inform real-world implementation of translational trials by health networks, physicians, and payers.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cct.2012.10.007

  View details for Web of Science ID 000314448300016

  View details for PubMedID 23124047

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3645977

• Pregnancy Glucose Levels in Women without Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes and Childhood Cardiometabolic Risk at 7 Years of Age JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS Ehrlich, S. F., Rosas, L. G., Ferrara, A., King, J. C., Abrams, B., Harley, K. G., Hedderson, M. M., Eskenazi, B. 2012; 161 (6): 1016-1021

  Abstract

  To estimate the association between pregnancy glucose values in women without recognized pregestational diabetes or gestational diabetes and cardiometabolic risk in their children.This longitudinal cohort study of 211 Mexican American mother-child pairs participating in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas study used multiple logistic regression to estimate the children's risk of nonfasting total cholesterol, nonfasting triglycerides, blood pressure (BP), and waist circumference (WC) ≥75th percentile at 7 years of age associated with a 1-mmol/L (18-mg/dL) increase in maternal pregnancy glucose level, measured 1 hour after a 50-g oral glucose load.The ORs for children in the upper quartile of diastolic BP, systolic BP, and WC associated with a 1-mmol/L increase in pregnancy glucose level were 1.39 (95% CI, 1.10-1.75), 1.38 (95% CI, 1.10-1.73), and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.02-1.54), respectively. Prepregnancy obesity was independently associated with increased odds of children belonging to the upper quartile of WC; maternal sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and gestational weight gain prior to the glucose test were not independently associated with any of the cardiometabolic outcomes.In Mexican American women without recognized pregestational diabetes or gestational diabetes, we found an association between increasing pregnancy glucose values and the children's diastolic and systolic BPs and WC at 7 years of age. Whether interventions to reduce pregnancy glucose values, even if below levels diagnostic of overt disease, will mitigate high BP and abdominal obesity in late childhood remains to be determined.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.05.049

  View details for Web of Science ID 000311348400011

  View details for PubMedID 22790183

• Practical Research Strategies for Reducing Social and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obesity. International journal of obesity Rosas, L. G., Stafford, R. S. 2012; 2012 (2): s16-s22

  Abstract

  Adult and childhood obesity and related adverse outcomes are most common among racial/ethnic minorities and socio-economically disadvantaged populations in the United States . Research approaches to obesity developed in mainstream populations and deploying new information technologies may exacerbate existing disparities in obesity. Current obesity management and prevention research priorities will not maximally impact this critical problem unless investigators explicitly focus on discovering innovative strategies for preventing and managing obesity in the disadvantaged populations that are most affected. On the basis of our research experience, four key research approaches are needed: (1) elucidating the underlying social forces that lead to disparities; (2) directly involving community members in the development of research questions and research methods; (3) developing flexible strategies that allow tailoring to multiple disadvantaged populations; and (4) building culturally and socio-economically tailored strategies specifically for populations most affected by obesity. Our experience with a community-based longitudinal cohort study and two health center-based clinical trials illustrate these principles as a contrast to traditional research priorities that can inadvertently worsen existing social inequities. If obesity research does not directly address healthcare and health-outcome disparities, it will contribute to their perpetuation.

  View details for PubMedID 23667289

• Physical Education Policy Compliance and Children's Physical Fitness AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE Sanchez-Vaznaugh, E. V., Sanchez, B. N., Rosas, L. G., Baek, J., Egerter, S. 2012; 42 (5): 452-459

  Abstract

  Physical education policies have received increased attention as a means for improving physical activity levels, enhancing physical fitness, and contributing to childhood obesity prevention. Although compliance at the school and district levels is likely to be critical for the success of physical education policies, few published studies have focused on this issue.This study investigated whether school district-level compliance with California physical education policies was associated with physical fitness among 5th-grade public-school students in California.Cross-sectional data from FITNESSGRAM(®) 2004-2006, district-level compliance with state physical education requirements for 2004-2006, school- and district-level information, and 2000 U.S. Census data were combined to examine the association between district-level compliance with physical education policies and children's fitness levels. The analysis was completed in 2010.Of the 55 districts with compliance data, 28 (50%) were in compliance with state physical education mandates; these districts represented 21% (216) of schools and 18% (n=16,571) of students in the overall study sample. Controlling for other student-, school-, and district-level characteristics, students in policy-compliant districts were more likely than students in noncompliant districts to meet or exceed physical fitness standards (AOR=1.29, 95% CI=1.03, 1.61).Policy mandates for physical education in schools may contribute to improvements in children's fitness levels, but their success is likely to depend on mechanisms to ensure compliance.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.01.008

  View details for Web of Science ID 000302963300009

  View details for PubMedID 22516484