Ann Elizabeth Kurth's additional information
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Publications
Screening for high blood pressure in adults: U.S. preventive services task force recommendation statement
AbstractSiu, A. L., Bibbins-Domingo, K., Grossman, D., Baumann, L. C., Davidson, K. W., Ebell, M., García, F. A., Gillman, M., Herzstein, J., Kemper, A. R., Krist, A. H., Kurth, A. E., Owens, D. K., Phillips, W. R., Phipps, M. G., & Pignone, M. P. (2015). Annals of Internal Medicine, 163(10), 778-786. 10.7326/M15-2223AbstractDescription: Update of the 2007 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reaffirmation recommendation statement on screening for high blood pressure in adults. Methods: The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of different methods for confirming a diagnosis of hypertension after initial screening and the optimal rescreening interval for diagnosing hypertension. Population: This recommendation applies to adults aged 18 years or older without known hypertension. Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends screening for high blood pressure in adults aged 18 years or older. (A recommendation) The USPSTF recommends obtaining measurements outside of the clinical setting for diagnostic confirmation before starting treatment.Screening for thyroid dysfunction: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement
Failed generating bibliography.AbstractAbstractDescription: Update of the 2004 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on screening for thyroid disease. Methods: The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for subclinical and "overt" thyroid dysfunction without clinically obvious symptoms, as well as the effects of treatment on intermediate and final health outcomes. Population: This recommendation applies to nonpregnant, asymptomatic adults. Recommendation: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for thyroid dysfunction in nonpregnant, asymptomatic adults. (I statement).Screening for vitamin D deficiency in adults: U.S. Preventive services task force recommendation statement
AbstractLefevre, M. L., Siu, A. L., Bibbins-Domingo, K., Baumann, L. C., Curry, S. J., Davidson, K. W., Ebell, M., García, F. A., Gillman, M., Herzstein, J., Kemper, A. R., Kurth, A. E., Owens, D. K., Phillips, W. R., Phipps, M. G., & Pignone, M. P. (2015). Annals of Internal Medicine, 162(2), 133-140. 10.7326/M14-2450AbstractDescription: New USPSTF recommendation on screening for vitamin D deficiency in adults. Methods: The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on screening for and treatment of vitamin D deficiency, including the benefits and harms of screening and early treatment. Population: This recommendation applies to communitydwelling, nonpregnant adults aged 18 years or older who are seen in primary care settings and are not known to have signs or symptoms of vitamin D deficiency or conditions for which vitamin D treatment is recommended. Recommendation: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for vitamin D deficiency in asymptomatic adults. (I statement).Secondary HIV transmission prevention counseling and antiretroviral adherence messages in an African setting
Were, M., Kessler, J., Shen, C., Sidle, J., Macharia, S., Lizcano, J., Siika, A., Wools-Kaloustian, K., & Kurth, A. (2015). Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.Strategies to uncover undiagnosed HIV infection among heterosexuals at high risk and link them to HIV care with high retention: A "seek, test, treat, and retain" study
Failed generating bibliography.AbstractAbstractBackground: Over 50,000 individuals become infected with HIV annually in the U.S., and over a quarter of HIV infected individuals are heterosexuals. Undiagnosed HIV infection, as well as a lack of retention in care among those diagnosed, are both primary factors contributing to ongoing HIV incidence. Further, there are racial/ethnic disparities in undiagnosed HIV and engagement in care, with African Americans/Blacks and Latinos remaining undiagnosed longer and less engaged in care than Whites, signaling the need for culturally targeted intervention approaches to seek and test those with undiagnosed HIV infection, and link them to care with high retention. Methods/Design: The study has two components: one to seek out and test heterosexuals at high risk for HIV infection, and another to link those found infected to HIV care with high retention. We will recruit sexually active African American/Black and Latino adults who have opposite sex partners, negative or unknown HIV status, and reside in locations with high poverty and HIV prevalence. The "Seek and Test" component will compare the efficacy and cost effectiveness of two strategies to uncover undiagnosed HIV infection: venue-based sampling and respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Among those recruited by RDS and found to have HIV infection, a "Treat and Retain" component will assess the efficacy of a peer-driven intervention compared to a control arm with respect to time to an HIV care appointment and health indicators using a cluster randomized controlled trial design to minimize contamination. RDS initial seeds will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control arm at a 1:1 ratio and all recruits will be assigned to the same arm as the recruiter. Participants will be followed for 12 months with outcomes assessed using medical records and biomarkers, such as HIV viral load. Discussion: Heterosexuals do not test for HIV as frequently as and are diagnosed later than other risk groups. The study has the potential to contribute an efficient, innovative, and sustainable multi-level recruitment approach and intervention to the HIV prevention portfolio. Because the majority of heterosexuals at high risk are African American/Black or Latino, the study has great potential to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in HIV/AIDS. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01607541, Registered May 23, 2012.Survey of US correctional institutions for routine HCV testing
AbstractBeckwith, C. G., Kurth, A. E., Bazerman, L., Solomon, L., Patry, E., Rich, J. D., & Kuo, I. (2015). American Journal of Public Health, 105(1), 68-71. 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302071AbstractTo ascertain HCV testing practices among US prisons and jails, we conducted a survey study in 2012, consisting of medical directors of all US state prisons and 40 of the largest US jails, that demonstrated a minority of US prisons and jails conduct routine HCV testing. Routine voluntary HCV testing in correctional facilities is urgently needed to increase diagnosis, enable risk-reduction counseling and preventive health care, and facilitate evaluation for antiviral treatment.Technology use in linking criminal justice reentrants to HIV care in the community: A qualitative formative research study
AbstractPeterson, J., Cota, M., Gray, H., Bazerman, L., Kuo, I., Kurth, A., & Beckwith, C. (2015). Journal of Health Communication, 20(3), 245-251. 10.1080/10810730.2014.927036AbstractInnovative interventions increasing linkage, adherence, and retention in care among HIV-infected persons in the criminal justice system are needed. The authors conducted a qualitative study to investigate technology-based tools to facilitate linkage to community-based care and viral suppression for HIV-infected jail detainees on antiretroviral medications being released to the community. The authors conducted 24 qualitative interviews - 12 in Rhode Island and 12 in Washington, DC - among recently incarcerated HIV-infected persons to elicit their perceptions on the use of technology tools to support linkage to HIV care among criminal justice populations. This article discusses participants' perceptions of the acceptability of technological tools such as (a) a computer-based counseling and (b) text messaging interventions. The participants reported positive experiences when previewing the technology-based tools to facilitate linkage to HIV care and adherence to HIV medications. Successful linkage to care has been shown to improve HIV-associated and non-HIV-associated health outcomes, as well as prevent criminal recidivism and facilitate reentrants' successful and meaningful transition. These findings can be used to inform the implementation of interventions aimed at promoting adherence to antiretroviral medications and linkage to care for HIV-infected persons being released from the correctional setting.A time-motion analysis of HIV transmission prevention counseling and antiretroviral adherence messages in Western Kenya
AbstractWere, M. C., Kessler, J., Shen, C., Sidle, J., Macharia, S., Lizcano, J., Siika, A., Wools-Kaloustian, K., & Kurth, A. (2015). Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 69(4), e135-e141. 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000666AbstractBackground: Shortages of health workers and large number of HIV-infected persons in Africa mean that time to provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and other messages to patients is limited. Methods: Using time-motion methodology, we documented the intensity and nature of counseling delivered to patients. The study was conducted at a rural and an urban HIV clinic in western Kenya. We recorded all activities of 190 adult patients on ART during their return clinic visits to assess type, frequency, and duration of counseling messages. Results: Mean visit length for patients at the rural clinic was 44.5 (SD = 27.9) minutes and at urban clinic was 78.2 (SD = 42.1) minutes. Median time spent receiving any counseling during a visit was 4.07 minutes [interquartile range (IQR), 1.57-7.33] at rural and 3.99 (IQR, 2.87-6.25) minutes at urban, representing 11% and 8% of total mean visit time, respectively. Median time patients received ART adherence counseling was 1.29 (IQR, 0.77-2.83) minutes at rural and 1.76 (IQR, 1.23-2.83) minutes at urban (P = 0.001 for difference). Patients received a median time of 0.18 (0- 0.72) minutes at rural and 0.28 (IQR, 0-0.67) minutes at urban clinic of counseling regarding contraception and pregnancy. Most patients in the study did not receive any counseling regarding alcohol/ substance use, emerging risks for ongoing HIV transmission. Conclusions: Although ART adherence was discussed with most patients, time was limited. Reproductive counseling was provided to only half of the patients, and "positive prevention" messaging was minimal. There are strategic opportunities to enhance counseling and information received by clients within HIV programs in resource-limited settings.Understanding Research Gaps and Priorities for Improving Behavioral Counseling Interventions: Lessons Learned From the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
AbstractKurth, A. E., Miller, T. L., Woo, M., & Davidson, K. W. (2015). American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 49(3), S158-S165. 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.06.007AbstractBehavioral counseling interventions can address significant causes of preventable morbidity and mortality. However, despite a growing evidence base for behavioral counseling interventions, there remain significant research gaps that limit translating the evidence into clinical practice. Using U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) examples, we address how researchers and funders can move the research portfolio forward to achieve better application of behavioral counseling interventions to address substantial health burdens in the U.S. This paper describes the types of gaps that the USPSTF encounters across its behavioral counseling intervention topics and provides suggestions for opportunities to address these gaps to enhance the evidence base for primary care-based behavioral counseling recommendations. To accomplish this, we draw from both the USPSTF experience and issues identified by researchers and clinicians during the USPSTF-sponsored Behavioral Counseling Intervention Forum. We also discuss the dilemma posed by having "insufficient" evidence with which to make a behavioral counseling intervention-related recommendation, and describe two case examples (screening for alcohol misuse in adolescence and screening for child maltreatment), detailing the research gaps that remain. Recommendations are outlined for researchers, funders, and practice implementers to improve behavioral counseling intervention research and application.Behavioral counseling interventions to prevent sexually transmitted infections: U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommendation statement
LeFevre, M. L., & Kurth, A. (2014). Annals of Internal Medicine, 161(12), 894-901.