Phelan, Sean M.

ABSTRACTBackgroundMetabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective and durable approach to treating obesity, yet recurrent weight gain occurs in a subset of patients. Primary care often serves as a routine point of contact for patients following MBS and is a potential gateway for addressing and/or preventing recurrent weight gain.MethodsAlthough guidelines for the management of recurrent weight gain after MBS exist, this narrative review was undertaken to clarify the role of the primary care providers in enhancing long‐term outcomes and preventing weight gain after MBS.FindingsRegular follow‐up in primary care provides an opportunity to identify challenges related to weight management and overall health outcomes, which may include concerns related to nutrition, mental or physical well‐being, body image, motivation, and behavior change, for example. The availability of multidisciplinary providers within primary care settings, including behavioral health specialists, dietitians, and physical therapists, is an important strength of this setting in addressing potential post‐MBS concerns such as recurrent weight gain.ConclusionThis review outlines clinical considerations for managing recurrent weight gain post‐MBS in primary care and includes recommendations for both primary care providers and specialty clinicians working in primary care to deliver care effectively and mitigate weight stigma post‐MBS.

We assessed associations of pediatrician demographic characteristics with patient satisfaction (PS) scores. We performed a retrospective analysis of PS scores among pediatricians at a single academic institution and their associations with individual demographic features including gender, race, and geographic location of medical school education. We analyzed PS survey results for 153 pediatricians, 48.4% of whom were female. Males received higher scores in 4 out of 10 questions including “Likelihood of your recommending this care provider to others” ( P = .007). We observed similar findings for white pediatricians compared to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) ( P = .033) and US medical school graduates compared to international school graduates ( P = .044). Overall, we observed that pediatricians who are female, BIPOC, or international medical school graduates receive lower PS scores than their counterparts. The impact of potential survey responder bias should be acknowledged when interpreting PS scores for pediatricians.

SummaryThe goal of this study was to ascertain the effect of patient body size on clinic‐ or patient‐delayed health care during the COVID‐19 pandemic and factors predicting delay. Primary survey data were collected in August 2021 from 3593 individuals living within the communities near Mayo Clinic facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Florida. More people who identified with the higher‐weight BMI categories reported having their care appointments cancelled (62.3%) compared to those who identified with normative weight (38.0%) or underweight (47.7%; p < .001) and reported more frequently delaying their own care (67.9%) relative to those who identified with normative weight (47.0%) or underweight (62.3%; p < .001). Higher‐weight people were more likely than others to report delay was due to not knowing where to get care (UW: 5.6%, NW: 3.5%, HW: 7.0%, pchi‐square < .001), worrying about weight‐based judgement (UW: 2.1%, NW: 2.1%, HW: 4.5%, pchi‐square < .001), and fearing discrimination (UW: 2.9%, NW: 2.4%, HW: 5.5%, pchi‐square < .001). There was no difference across groups in delay due to fear of COVID‐19 exposure. Weight gain was associated with care delay in higher‐weight and normative weight groups. Having experienced more patient‐centred care pre‐COVID was associated with less care delay in the normative weight group, but more care delay in other groups. Higher‐weight people were more likely to have their care delayed by health care providers and to delay care themselves. Patient weight gain and concerns about discrimination and judgement about weight gain may have driven the delay of needed care during COVID‐19.

ABSTRACT Aim To describe interventions to mitigate weight bias among practicing healthcare providers and examine their effectiveness. Design An integrative review. Methods The framework of Whittemore and Knafl (2005) was utilised to identify and synthesise studies of weight bias interventions. Covidence reference management software facilitated screening using predetermined eligibility criteria that is, published in peer‐reviewed journals, reported in English, and described outcomes for weight bias mitigation interventions among healthcare providers with a professional practice licence. We evaluated study quality using Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Tools for qualitative and quantitative studies. Data Sources Five databases were searched (CINAHL, Embase, EBSCOhost, APA PsycINFO, and Scopus) in July 2024. Results Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Four themes emerged: (1) active learning lessens weight bias more than passive learning, (2) multicomponent approaches yield better outcomes, (3) healthcare providers are willing to change their practices, and (4) explicit attitudes and beliefs are more amenable to change than implicit ones. Four sub‐themes within theme one included the use of in‐person workgroups; films, computer‐based, and podcast delivery; written modules; and physical characteristic modifications, such as the use of an adiposity empathy suit. Intervention designs using a theory‐based, active learning approach with repeated sessions were most successful at decreasing negative weight‐biased attitudes and beliefs. Conclusions Interventions that effectively reduce weight bias among practicing healthcare providers vary, yet evidence suggests that weight bias mitigation is achievable. These interventions offer strategies to improve patient‐centred care among patients living with obesity. Impact Healthcare providers often display weight bias. This review synthesises information on effective interventions for reducing bias, which may limit the subsequent negative patient outcomes associated with it. Reporting Method The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses was the structure used for this paper. Patient or Public Contribution There were no patient or public contributions.

Background/Objectives: Multi-gene, multi-cancer, hereditary cancer risk screenings may be useful in cancer prevention and treatment, not only for cancer patients but also for patients’ family members. If genetic cancer screening is to have the widest possible benefit, it must be extended into diverse cancer care settings that serve diverse patient communities, providing cancer patients and their relatives with individualized cancer risk evaluations. Little research, to date, has examined the impact of extending multigenic cancer screening into diverse settings. Without empirical data characterizing the support needs of cancer patients and their family members, we may not adequately satisfy the needs of all patients and risk exacerbating existing disparities in cancer care and outcomes. Methods: We examined patient perspectives on the sharing of genetic results with at-risk family members by surveying a racially diverse sample of cancer patients receiving a multi-gene, multi-cancer risk screen in a community hospital setting. Results: In a survey of 230 cancer patients, we found that intent to share results with family members was high but varied across family member types. More respondents planned to disclose results to at least one sister (82.5%) compared to at least one brother (73.1%). Over one-fourth of participants (27.4%) were either uncertain about sharing or intended to withhold their genomic screening results from at least one at-risk family member eligible for cascade testing. Participants were more likely to withhold their results from a sibling than from a child. Furthermore, intent to share across all family member types was lower if probands failed to identify at least one benefit to sharing. Conclusions: Understanding factors associated with decisions to share results with at-risk relatives in diverse patient populations can help clinicians support cascade genetic cancer screenings in diverse communities and settings.

ObjectivesRacial disparities are pervasive in access to pediatric surgery. The goal of this study was to test the hypotheses that, compared with White children, non‐White and Hispanic children: (1) were less likely to attend evaluations by otolaryngologists after a diagnosis of otitis media (OM) eligible for surgical referral, and (2) these children were less likely to receive tympanostomy tube (TT) after surgical consultation.MethodsThe OptumLabs Data Warehouse is a de‐identified claims database of privately insured enrollees. Guidelines on the management of OMs suggest that children should be evaluated for surgery if they have recurrent acute OM or chronic OM with effusion. A cohort of children who were diagnosed with OM were constructed. For Hypothesis 1, the primary outcome was otolaryngology office visit within 6 months of a diagnosis of recurrent or chronic OM. For Hypothesis 2, the outcome was TT placement within 6 months following the otolaryngology office visit. Cox regression models were used to determine the relationship between race/ethnicity and the primary outcomes.ResultsAmong 187,776 children with OMs, 72,774 (38.8%) had otolaryngology visits. In a multivariate Cox model, the hazard ratios of attending otolaryngology visit for Black, Hispanic, and Asian children were 0.93 (95% CI,0.90, 0.96), 0.86 (0.83, 0.88), and 0.74 (0.71, 0.77), compared with White children. Among the children evaluated by otolaryngologists, 46,554 (63.97%) received TT. Black, Hispanic, and Asian children with recurrent acute OM had lower likelihood of receiving TT.ConclusionsRacial disparities in attending otolaryngology office visit contributed to the disparities in receiving TT.Quality of EvidenceLevel 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3846–3852, 2024

Abstract Background: Individuals from diverse racial/ethnic and disadvantaged backgrounds are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials, compounding the difficulty of adequately understanding, addressing, and reversing health inequities. Social determinants of health (SDOH) factors likely contribute to disparities in cancer trial enrollment. While the presence of SDOH has shown to be associated with clinical trial participation, few studies have explored the role of SDOH in shaping beliefs around the benefits of clinical trials. Thus, this study aims to identify SDOH factors associated with beliefs around the benefits of clinical trial participation. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of data from the Community Health Assets and Resilience Measures survey. The survey was administered in Fall 2021 to community members (N=3593; 98% &gt; 50 years of age, 68% male, 52% racial/ethnic minority) residing in three states within the Mayo Clinic catchment area. Survey items assessed SDOH factors including financial instability, childcare, transportation, food insecurity, safety, literacy, social isolation, and perceived discrimination. Participant beliefs around the benefits of clinical trial participation was measured by rating level of agreement to 4 statements: ‘People in my community can benefit from participating in clinical trials’, ‘Participation in clinical trials benefits society’, ‘Participation in clinical trials is risky’, ‘I would personally benefit’, and ‘People in my community would benefit’. Response options were dichotomized as ‘agree’ and ‘disagree’ and adjusted stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with beliefs about clinical trials. Results: Race/ethnicity was significantly associated with all beliefs with Indigenous populations being significantly more likely to agree that people in their community could benefit from clinical trials, clinical trials benefit society, participation in clinical trials is risky, and that they would personally benefit. In adjusted analyses, financial instability, food insecurity, transportation, childcare, safety, social isolation, literacy, and discrimination were significantly associated with beliefs about the benefits of clinical trial participation. Neighborhood safety was most strongly associated with the belief that ‘People in my community can benefit from participating in clinical trials’ and ‘I would personally benefit from clinical trials’. Health literacy was most strongly associated with the belief that clinical trials benefit society and the community. Finally, the experience of 'people act as if they think you are not smart' (discrimination) was most strongly associated with the belief that clinical trials are risky. Conclusion: Clinical trials are the cornerstone to advancing equitable cancer care. Innovative, multifaceted, community-driven strategies are needed that address negative beliefs around the benefits of clinical trial participation to address existing recruitment and retention shortcomings. Citation Format: Jessica D. Austin, Todd Huschka, Amelia Barwise, Megan Allyse, Sean Phelan. The role of social determinants of health on beliefs around the benefits of clinical trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A077.

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the experience of interracial anxiety among health professionals and how it may affect the quality of their interactions with patients from racially marginalized populations. We explored the influence of prior interracial exposure—specifically through childhood neighborhoods, college student bodies, and friend groups—on interracial anxiety among medical students and residents. We also examined whether levels of interracial anxiety change from medical school through residency.Data SourceWeb‐based longitudinal survey data from the Medical Student Cognitive Habits and Growth Evaluation Study.Study DesignWe used a retrospective longitudinal design with four observations for each trainee. The study population consisted of non‐Black US medical trainees surveyed in their 1st and 4th years of medical school and 2nd and 3rd years of residency. Mixed effects longitudinal models were used to assess predictors of interracial anxiety and assess changes in interracial anxiety scores over time.Principal FindingsIn total, 3155 non‐Black medical trainees were followed for 7 years. Seventy‐eight percent grew up in predominantly White neighborhoods. Living in predominantly White neighborhoods and having less racially diverse friends were associated with higher levels of interracial anxiety among medical trainees. Trainees' interracial anxiety scores did not substantially change over time; interracial anxiety was highest in the 1st year of medical school, lowest in the 4th year, and increased slightly during residency.ConclusionsNeighborhood and friend group composition had independent effects on interracial anxiety, indicating that premedical racial socialization may affect medical trainees' preparedness to interact effectively with diverse patient populations. Additionally, the lack of substantial change in interracial anxiety throughout medical training suggests the importance of providing curricular tools and structure (e.g., instituting interracial cooperative learning activities) to foster the development of healthy interracial relationships.

Patient satisfaction (PS) surveying has become a commonly used measure of physician performance, but little is known about the impact on pediatricians. To investigate our hypothesis that PS surveys negatively impact pediatricians, we conducted a survey at an academic children’s medical center. Of 155 eligible physicians, 115 responded (response rate 74%). Two-thirds (68%) did not find the PS score report useful and 88% did not feel that PS scores accurately reflect the physician’s clinical ability. A third reported ordering tests, medications, or consultations due to pressure for higher PS scores. In addition, one-third agreed that PS surveys contribute to burnout and make it difficult to practice meaningful medicine. Overall, PS score reporting has a negative impact on pediatricians, especially those who are female, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of color), subspecialists, younger, and attended non-US medical schools. Further investigation into improved methods for providing feedback to pediatric physicians is warranted.