Sally Moyce

Migration Experiences of Foreign Educated Nurses: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Purpose: Global nurse migration has a recognized impact on host and source countries, but the lived experience of foreign educated nurses is an important aspect of the success of this migration. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to understand the lived migration and acculturation experiences of foreign educated nurses. Design: A systematic review of the literature, based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, was conducted. Primary research articles or secondary analyses were selected based on keyword and citation-based searches (n = 44). Findings: Nurses’ experiences included migration and licensing barriers, difficulty with communication, racism and discrimination, skill underutilization, acculturation, and the role of the family. Conclusions: Barriers encountered in host countries may impede acculturation and successful nursing practice, resulting in circular migration and poor patient safety outcomes. Implications for Practice: Social support systems and cultural orientation programs can mitigate the impacts of social isolation and racism. Addressing common barriers can help minimize deskilling and allow safe and effective transitions to host countries.

Heat strain, volume depletion and kidney function in California agricultural workers

Background Agricultural work can expose workers to increased risk of heat strain and volume depletion due to repeated exposures to high ambient temperatures, arduous physical exertion and limited rehydration. These risk factors may result in acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods We estimated AKI cumulative incidence in a convenience sample of 283 agricultural workers based on elevations of serum creatinine between preshift and postshift blood samples. Heat strain was assessed based on changes in core body temperature and heart rate. Volume depletion was assessed using changes in body mass over the work shift. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations of AKI with traditional risk factors (age, diabetes, hypertension and history of kidney disease) as well as with occupational risk factors (years in farm work, method of payment and farm task). Results 35 participants were characterised with incident AKI over the course of a work shift (12.3%). Workers who experienced heat strain had increased adjusted odds of AKI (1.34, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.74). Piece rate work was associated with 4.24 odds of AKI (95% CI 1.56 to 11.52). Females paid by the piece had 102.81 adjusted odds of AKI (95% CI 7.32 to 1443.20). Discussion Heat strain and piece rate work are associated with incident AKI after a single shift of agricultural work, though gender differences exist. Modifications to payment structures may help prevent AKI.

Cumulative Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury in California's Agricultural Workers.

Objective: Chronic kidney disease in Central America suggests that agricultural work is potentially harmful to the kidneys. We investigated the cumulative incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) over one work shift among agricultural workers in California. Methods: Serum creatinine was measured both before and after a work shift to estimate AKI. Associations of incident AKI with traditional and occupational risk factors were tested using Chi-square and trend tests and logistic regression. Results: In 295 agricultural workers, AKI after a summer work shift was detected in 35 participants (11.8%). Piece-rate work was associated with 4.52 adjusted odds of AKI (95% confidence interval 1.61 to 12.70). Conclusion: The cumulative incidence of AKI after a single day of summer agricultural work is alarming due to an increased risk of long-term kidney damage and mortality.

The Impact of Insurance Instability on Health Service Utilization: Does Non-metropolitan Residence Make a Difference?

PURPOSE Discontinuous and no health insurance are major barriers to health care utilization. This paper examines if nonmetropolitan versus metropolitan residence is associated with differences in health care utilization in the face of insurance instability. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of adults aged 18-64 years was conducted using the 2006-2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data set (N = 61,039). Negative binomial regression was used to model measures of health service utilization (emergency room [ER] visits, inpatient discharges, office-based visits, dental care visits, prescriptions filled, home health visits) as functions of insurance continuity, adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Models were stratified by metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan residence. FINDINGS Health insurance continuity was significantly associated with several measures of health service utilization, including more ER visits for individuals with gaps in health insurance (IRR [incident risk ratio] = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.16-1.42) and fewer inpatient discharges for individuals without insurance (IRR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.43-0.57) when compared with individuals with continuous insurance. Individuals who were discontinuously insured or uninsured had significantly fewer office-based visits. They also had significantly fewer dental visits, prescription fills, and home health visits; moreover, the magnitudes of these associations were generally significantly greater for residents of nonmetropolitan areas. CONCLUSIONS Insurance instability is associated with higher use of emergency services and reduced use of nonhospital health care services. Residents of nonmetropolitan areas with unstable or no insurance coverage may be at particular risk for reduced access and use of some health services relative to their counterparts living in metropolitan areas.

Receipt of Pediatric Weight-Related Counseling and Screening in a National Sample After the Expert Committee Recommendations.

Objective. It is uncertain whether children of all weight classifications receive the recommended screening and counseling and if these affect weight status in the subsequent year. Methods. Data from the 2008-2011 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey were used to examine associations between weight classification and receipt of weight-related screening and counseling from the pediatric provider (n = 9835). Body mass index (BMI) z-score in the subsequent year was modeled as a function of the BMI z-score in year 1. Results. Normal and overweight children have lower odds than obese children of receiving counseling regarding diet (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.50-0.68; AOR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.63-0.89, respectively) and exercise (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.48-0.65; AOR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.64-0.89, respectively). Counseling was associated with a small increase in BMI z-score in the subsequent year (β = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.01-0.11), as was maternal weight class. Conclusions. Recommendations to focus prevention on the family unit may reduce childhood overweight and obesity.

Recruitment, Methods, and Descriptive Results of a Physiologic Assessment of Latino Farmworkers: The California Heat Illness Prevention Study

Objective: The California heat illness prevention study (CHIPS) devised methodology and collected physiological data to assess heat related illness (HRI) risk in Latino farmworkers. Methods: Bilingual researchers monitored HRI across a workshift, recording core temperature, work rate (metabolic equivalents [METs]), and heart rate at minute intervals. Hydration status was assessed by changes in weight and blood osmolality. Personal data loggers and a weather station measured exposure to heat. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect demographic and occupational information. Results: California farmworkers (n = 588) were assessed. Acceptable quality data was obtained from 80% of participants (core temperature) to 100% of participants (weight change). Workers (8.3%) experienced a core body temperature more than or equal to 38.5 °C and 11.8% experienced dehydration (lost more than 1.5% of body weight). Conclusions: Methodology is presented for the first comprehensive physiological assessment of HRI risk in California farmworkers.

Influence of neighbourhood socioeconomic position on the transition to type II diabetes in older Mexican Americans: the Sacramento Area Longitudinal Study on Aging

Objective To examine the influence of neighbourhood socioeconomic position (NSEP) on development of diabetes over time. Design A longitudinal cohort study. Setting The data reported were from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging, a longitudinal study of the health of 1789 older Latinos. Participants Community-dwelling older Mexican Americans residing in the Sacramento Metropolitan Statistical Area. Main outcome Multistate Markov regression were used to model transitions through four possible states over time: 1=normal; 2=pre-diabetic; 3=diabetic; and 4=death without diabetes. Results At baseline, nearly 50% were non-diabetic, 17.5% were pre-diabetic and nearly 33% were diabetic. At the end of follow-up, there were a total of 824 people with type 2 diabetes. In a fully adjusted MSM regression model, among non-diabetics, higher NSEP was not associated with a transition to pre-diabetes. Among non-diabetics, higher NSEP was associated with an increased risk of diabetes (HR=1.66, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.42) and decreased risk of death without diabetes (HR: 0.56, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.96). Among pre-diabetics, higher NSEP was significantly associated with a transition to non-diabetic status (HR: 1.22, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.50). Adjusting for BMI, age, education, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, medical insurance and nativity did not affect this relationship. Conclusions Our findings show that high NSEP poses higher risk of progression from normal to diabetes compared with a lower risk of death without diabetes. This work presents a possibility that these associations are modified by nativity or culture.

The Impact of Insurance Instability on Health Service Utilization: Does Non-metropolitan Residence Make a Difference?: Insurance Instability and Rural Residence

PURPOSE Discontinuous and no health insurance are major barriers to health care utilization. This paper examines if nonmetropolitan versus metropolitan residence is associated with differences in health care utilization in the face of insurance instability. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of adults aged 18-64 years was conducted using the 2006-2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data set (N = 61,039). Negative binomial regression was used to model measures of health service utilization (emergency room [ER] visits, inpatient discharges, office-based visits, dental care visits, prescriptions filled, home health visits) as functions of insurance continuity, adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Models were stratified by metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan residence. FINDINGS Health insurance continuity was significantly associated with several measures of health service utilization, including more ER visits for individuals with gaps in health insurance (IRR [incident risk ratio] = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.16-1.42) and fewer inpatient discharges for individuals without insurance (IRR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.43-0.57) when compared with individuals with continuous insurance. Individuals who were discontinuously insured or uninsured had significantly fewer office-based visits. They also had significantly fewer dental visits, prescription fills, and home health visits; moreover, the magnitudes of these associations were generally significantly greater for residents of nonmetropolitan areas. CONCLUSIONS Insurance instability is associated with higher use of emergency services and reduced use of nonhospital health care services. Residents of nonmetropolitan areas with unstable or no insurance coverage may be at particular risk for reduced access and use of some health services relative to their counterparts living in metropolitan areas.

The Impact of Insurance Instability on Health Service Utilization

PURPOSE Discontinuous and no health insurance are major barriers to health care utilization. This paper examines if nonmetropolitan versus metropolitan residence is associated with differences in health care utilization in the face of insurance instability. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of adults aged 18-64 years was conducted using the 2006-2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data set (N = 61,039). Negative binomial regression was used to model measures of health service utilization (emergency room [ER] visits, inpatient discharges, office-based visits, dental care visits, prescriptions filled, home health visits) as functions of insurance continuity, adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Models were stratified by metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan residence. FINDINGS Health insurance continuity was significantly associated with several measures of health service utilization, including more ER visits for individuals with gaps in health insurance (IRR [incident risk ratio] = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.16-1.42) and fewer inpatient discharges for individuals without insurance (IRR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.43-0.57) when compared with individuals with continuous insurance. Individuals who were discontinuously insured or uninsured had significantly fewer office-based visits. They also had significantly fewer dental visits, prescription fills, and home health visits; moreover, the magnitudes of these associations were generally significantly greater for residents of nonmetropolitan areas. CONCLUSIONS Insurance instability is associated with higher use of emergency services and reduced use of nonhospital health care services. Residents of nonmetropolitan areas with unstable or no insurance coverage may be at particular risk for reduced access and use of some health services relative to their counterparts living in metropolitan areas.