Song Hee Hong

Use of the Internet for health information by older adults with arthritis.

BACKGROUND Despite the information available on the Internet and the increasing number of older adults who use the Internet, little is known about Internet use for health information by elders with arthritis. PURPOSE The purposes of this study were (1) to examine the use of computers and the Internet by elders with arthritis and (2) to describe demographic and illness-related characteristics of elders who use the Internet to find health information. SAMPLE Seventy-one elders with arthritis completed survey questionnaires. FINDINGS Twenty-eight percent had a computer in their home, of whom 95% had Internet access. Thirty-nine percent sought arthritis information on the Internet. People with more education were more likely to use the Internet. However, age and functional disability resulting from arthritis were not associated with Internet use. IMPLICATIONS Health professionals need to be aware of Internet resources and assist elders in finding appropriate Internet-based arthritis information.

Patient valuation of pharmacist services for self care with OTC medications

Background and Objectives:  The objectives of this study were to determine whether patients would be willing to pay for pharmacist self‐care services on proper use of over‐the‐counter medications. In addition, we examined whether patients’ willingness to pay was associated with community pharmacy setting and patients’ socio‐economic factors.

Disparity Implications of Medicare Eligibility Criteria for Medication Therapy Management Services

OBJECTIVE To determine whether there would be racial and ethnic disparities in meeting eligibility criteria for medication therapy management (MTM) services implemented in 2006 for Medicare beneficiaries. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Secondary data analyses of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2004-2005). STUDY DESIGN Logistic regression and recycled predictions were used to test the disparities in meeting eligibility criteria across racial and ethnic groups. The eligibility thresholds used by health plans in 2006 and new thresholds recommended for 2010 were examined. Racial and ethnic disparities were examined by comparing non-Hispanic blacks (blacks) with non-Hispanic whites (whites) and comparing Hispanics with whites, respectively. Disparities were also examined among individuals with severe health problems. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS According to 2006 thresholds, the adjusted odds ratios for meeting eligibility criteria for blacks and Hispanics to whites were 0.36-0.60 (p<.05) and 0.13-0.46 (p<.05), respectively. Blacks and Hispanics would be 21-34 and 32-38 percent, respectively, less likely to be eligible than whites according to recycled predictions. Similar patterns were found using the 2010 eligibility thresholds and among individuals with severe health problems. CONCLUSIONS There would be racial and ethnic disparities in meeting MTM eligibility criteria. Future research is warranted to confirm the findings using data after MTM implementation.

Activity Engagement: Perspectives from Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

Engagement in social and leisure activities is an indicator of quality of life and well-being in nursing homes. There are few studies in which nursing home residents with dementia self-reported their experiences in activity engagement. This qualitative study describes types of current activity involvement and barriers to activities as perceived by nursing home residents with dementia. Thirty-one residents participated in short, open-ended interviews and six in in-depth interviews. Thematic content analysis showed that participants primarily depended on activities organized by their nursing homes. Few participants engaged in self-directed activities such as walking, visiting other residents and family members, and attending church services. Many residents felt they had limited opportunities and motivation for activities. They missed past hobbies greatly but could not continue them due to lack of accommodation and limitation in physical function. Environmental factors, along with a fixed activity schedule, further prevented them from engaging in activities. Residents with dementia should be invited to participate in activity planning and have necessary assistance and accommodation in order to engage in activities that matter to them. Based on the findings, a checklist for individualizing and evaluating activities for persons with dementia is detailed.

Dynamic view on affordability of fixed-dose combination antihypertensive drug therapy.

BACKGROUND The use of fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) has been increasing since the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure recommended using ≥2 drugs as the first-line drug therapy for patients with stage 2 hypertension. FDCs simplify the drug therapy regimen and reportedly lower the drug therapy cost compared with the free combination (FC) of 2 single-agent drugs. This study hypothesized that the affordability of FDCs over FCs would change over time depending on the availability of generic single-agent drugs. METHODS This study used the 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Antihypertensive drugs were identified based on the Food and Drug Administration national drug directory. Based on the 2 databases, regression models were run to predict average monthly drug cost as well as out-of-pocket cost for each prescription along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Overall, FDCs (n = 26) had average monthly drug costs similar to respective FCs when FCs were not generically available. However, when FCs were generically available, FDCs (n = 11) had average drugs costs much higher than their respective FCs. For example, Lotrel as an FDC had an average monthly drug cost of

A comparison of direct medical costs across racial and ethnic groups among children with cancer

115.97 (95% CI =

The impact of patient knowledge of patient-centered medication label content on quality of life among older adults

96.59-

Computer Activities for Persons With Dementia

135.36), whereas its counterpart FC had an average monthly drug cost of

Face-name memory in Alzheimer's disease

21.00 (95% CI =

A Patient‐Centric Goal in Time to Blood Pressure Control from Drug Therapy Initiation

18.23-