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Scholarly Works (120 results)

  • Article
  • Peer Reviewed
Nutrition Bytes, Volume 19, Issue 1 (2015)

Background:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among Latinos. The use of promotoras, in conjunction with interpersonal and printed nutrition and exercise information can aid in healthy changes in Spanish speaking communities.8 Designing and delivering culturally appropriate interventions are critical for behavioral and nutritional success of Latinos.

Objective:

This literature review will provide information of the evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies developed for and tested with Latinos in order to inform clinicians of options for supporting improved cardiovascular outcomes in high risk Latinos.

Methods:

A literature search was performed in Pubmed that generated 110 RCT initial studies, four of which met the inclusion criteria after assessment for eligibility based on the following criteria: behavioral lifestyle intervention study, more than 1 CVD risk factor, biological outcomes reported (BP, Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, BMI and others), greater than 18 years old, and sample with 30% greater Hispanics.

Results:

All the studies used promotoras to deliver culturally appropriate interventions that combined nutritional and physical activity classes, walking routes and/or support groups. Hayashi et al showed statistically significant intervention effects, for reduce systolic blood pressure, 10-year CHD Risk score and an increase in physical activity (p<0.05). The reduction was by 6 points, making nutritional and physical counseling clinically relevant to potential reduction in blood pressure and improving CVD in Latinos. Furthermore, Balcazar et al demonstrated a reduction in the intervention’s cholesterol levels compared to the control group (p<0.05).  Most studies demonstrated no significant changes in LDL, HDL or BMI.

Conclusion:

This literature review provides initial evidence that culturally appropriate interventions such as using promotoras, bilingual materials/classes, appropriate cultural diet, exercise modifications and establishing a social support network provides potentially efficacious strategies for cardiovascular improvement in high risk Latinas.

    Cover page: Comparison and Effectiveness of Behavioral Cardiovascular Interventions in High Risk Latinos
    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    UCLA Previously Published Works (2018)
    Depression and methamphetamine use have been associated with increased sexual risk-taking among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study estimated associations between current major depressive episode and/or methamphetamine use disorder and engagement in condomless anal intercourse (CAI). From March 2014 thru January 2016, 286 methamphetamine-using MSM were enrolled into a RCT to reduce methamphetamine use and sexual risk-taking. Analyses revealed that current major depressive episode was associated with a 92% increase in the rate of engagement in CAI with casual male partners (IRR 1.92; 95% CI 1.12-3.31) and a 76% increase in the rate of engagement in CAI with anonymous male partners (IRR 1.76; 95% CI 1.00-3.09). Additionally, for each unit increase in diagnostic methamphetamine use disorder severity, rates of engagement in CAI with anonymous male partners increased by 44% (IRR 1.44; 95% CI 1.11-1.87) and rates of engagement in CAI with exchange male partners increased by 140% (IRR 2.40; 95% CI 1.39-4.13). Neither diagnosis was associated with CAI with main male partners. Depression and methamphetamine use influence sexual risk-taking in unique ways, and interventions working with MSM should assess participants for both depression and methamphetamine use, and may tailor intervention content based on diagnostic outcomes.
      Cover page: Associations Between Major Depressive Episode, Methamphetamine Use Disorder Severity, and Engagement in Sexual Risk-Taking Among Methamphetamine-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men.
      • Article
      • Peer Reviewed
      UCLA Previously Published Works (2018)
      BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men (MSM) exhibit elevated rates of HIV and STI prevalence, indicating increased engagement in sexual risk behaviors. OBJECTIVES: This analysis elucidates associations between participant sociodemographics (i.e., age, racial/ethnic identity, sexual identity, educational attainment, and HIV status) and sexual risk behaviors, particularly substance use before/during sex, and engagement in condomless anal intercourse (CAI) with casual, anonymous, and/or exchange male partners. METHODS: From March 2014 through January 2016, 286 methamphetamine-using MSM enrolled in a technology-based study to reduce methamphetamine use and HIV sexual risk behaviors. A robustly estimated generalized structural equation model employing the negative binomial family and log link function (n = 282) tested the simultaneous associations between participant sociodemographics and engagement in HIV sexual risk behaviors. RESULTS: Participants racial/ethnic identity (χ2(6) = 43.5; p < 0.0001), HIV status (χ2(6) = 22.0; p = 0.0012), educational attainment level (χ2(6) = 13.8; p = 0.0322), and years of age (χ2(6) = 32.4; p < 0.0001) all influenced participants engagement in substance use before/during sex and engagement in CAI. Methamphetamine (χ2(2) = 7.0; p = 0.0309) and marijuana (χ2(2) = 9.7; p = 0.0079) use before/during sex influenced participants engagement in CAI with casual, anonymous, and exchange male partners. CONCLUSION: Results indicate the importance of intervention efforts focused on younger racial/ethnic minority MSM with fewer years of educational attainment, and provides evidence of the specific subpopulations of MSM at greatest risk of detrimental effects of illicit substance use.
        Cover page: Associations between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Methamphetamine-using Men who Have Sex with Men.
        • Article
        • Peer Reviewed
        UCLA Previously Published Works (2020)
          • Article
          • Peer Reviewed
          UCLA Previously Published Works (2018)
          Men who have sex with men (MSM) exhibit elevated rates of mental health and substance use disorder relative to their non-MSM male counterparts. Methamphetamine use in particular has been associated with both neuronal damage and mental health disorders among MSM, and this study reports on the prevalence and comorbidity of DSM-5 mental health and substance use disorders in a sample of methamphetamine-using MSM. From March 2014 through January 2015, 286 methamphetamine-using MSM enrolled in a study to reduce methamphetamine use and sexual risk behaviors. At baseline, participants demonstrated high rates of current major depressive episode (35.8%), antisocial personality disorder (23.9%), suicide risk (23.2%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (23.2%), and social phobia (20.4%), as well as methamphetamine use disorder (89.1%), marijuana use disorder (41.0%), alcohol use disorder (39.6%), cocaine use disorder (30.9%), and inhalants use disorder (15.4%). Analyses revealed significant (p < 0.05) associations between methamphetamine use disorder severity and all listed mental health disorders, as well as between alcohol use disorder and all listed mental health disorders. Mental health disorder prevalence and substance use disorder severity were both elevated, and both methamphetamine and alcohol use disorder severity were associated with increased likelihood of comorbid mental health disorder.
            Cover page: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Comorbidity among Methamphetamine-Using Men Who have Sex with Men.
            • Article
            • Peer Reviewed
            UCLA Previously Published Works (2017)

            Background

            Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among Latinos. Designing and delivering culturally appropriate interventions are critical for modifying behavioral and nutritional behavior among Latinos and preventing CVD.

            Objective

            This literature review provides information on evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies developed for and tested with at-risk Latinos, which reported impacts on biological outcomes.

            Methods

            A literature search was performed in PubMed that identified 110 randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions for CVD risk reduction with at-risk Latinos (≥1 CVD risk factor, samples >30 % Latino), four of which met the inclusion criteria of reporting biological outcomes (BP, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and body mass index (BMI)).

            Results

            All the studies used promotoras (Hispanic/Latino community member with training that provides basic health education in the community without being a professional healthcare worker) to deliver culturally appropriate interventions that combined nutritional and physical activity classes, walking routes, and/or support groups. One study reported statistically significant reductions in systolic blood pressure and an increase in physical activity. One study reported reductions in cholesterol levels compared to the control group. Two studies did not have significant intervention effects. Most studies demonstrated no significant changes in LDL, HDL, or BMI. Methodological limitations include issues related to sample sizes, study durations, and analytic methods.

            Conclusion

            Few studies met the inclusion criteria, but this review provides some evidence that culturally appropriate interventions such as using promotoras, bilingual materials/classes, and appropriate cultural diet and exercise modifications provide potentially efficacious strategies for cardiovascular risk improvement among Latinos.
              Cover page: Efficacy of Behavioral Interventions on Biological Outcomes for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction among Latinos: a Review of the Literature
              • Article
              • Peer Reviewed
              UCLA Previously Published Works (2017)

              Background

              Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among Latinos. Designing and delivering culturally appropriate interventions are critical for modifying behavioral and nutritional behavior among Latinos and preventing CVD.

              Objective

              This literature review provides information on evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies developed for and tested with at-risk Latinos, which reported impacts on biological outcomes.

              Methods

              A literature search was performed in PubMed that identified 110 randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions for CVD risk reduction with at-risk Latinos (≥1 CVD risk factor, samples >30 % Latino), four of which met the inclusion criteria of reporting biological outcomes (BP, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and body mass index (BMI)).

              Results

              All the studies used promotoras (Hispanic/Latino community member with training that provides basic health education in the community without being a professional healthcare worker) to deliver culturally appropriate interventions that combined nutritional and physical activity classes, walking routes, and/or support groups. One study reported statistically significant reductions in systolic blood pressure and an increase in physical activity. One study reported reductions in cholesterol levels compared to the control group. Two studies did not have significant intervention effects. Most studies demonstrated no significant changes in LDL, HDL, or BMI. Methodological limitations include issues related to sample sizes, study durations, and analytic methods.

              Conclusion

              Few studies met the inclusion criteria, but this review provides some evidence that culturally appropriate interventions such as using promotoras, bilingual materials/classes, and appropriate cultural diet and exercise modifications provide potentially efficacious strategies for cardiovascular risk improvement among Latinos.
                • Article
                • Peer Reviewed
                UCLA Previously Published Works (2016)

                Background

                Relationships between alcohol, marijuana and other drug (AOD) use and contextual factors have mostly been established through retrospective self-report. Given the embeddedness of cell phones in adolescents' daily activities, cell phone-based ecological momentary assessment (CEMA) provides an opportunity to better understand AOD use in youth and how cell phones can be used to self-monitor and deliver interventions. We use CEMA to examine AOD use in Latino youth who have been especially understudied.

                Methods

                Twenty-eight mostly Latino youth (ages 13-18) in outpatient substance abuse treatment recorded AOD use, contextual factors, cravings, and affect through once-daily CEMA over one month periods. Random-effects logistic regression was used to compare contextual factors between periods of AOD use and non-use.

                Results

                The most frequent contextual factors reported during AOD use were being with close friends and "hanging out" as the primary activity. During AOD use compared to non-use, youth were more likely to be with close friends (OR=4.76; p<0.01), around users (OR=17.69; p<0.01), and at a friend's house (OR=5.97; p<0.01). Alcohol use was more frequently reported at night (63% vs 34%) and on weekends relative to other substances (64% vs 49%). Strong cravings were more frequently reported on AOD-use days (OR=7.34; p<0.01). Types of positive and negative affect were reported with similar frequencies, regardless of AOD use.

                Conclusions

                Reporting on social context, location, day and time of day, and cravings all show promise in developing cell phone-based interventions triggered by contextual data.
                  Cover page: Cell phone-based ecological momentary assessment of substance use context for Latino youth in outpatient treatment: Who, what, when and where
                  • Article
                  • Peer Reviewed
                  UCLA Previously Published Works (2018)
                  Depression and methamphetamine use have been associated with increased sexual risk-taking among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study estimated associations between current major depressive episode and/or methamphetamine use disorder and engagement in condomless anal intercourse (CAI). From March 2014 thru January 2016, 286 methamphetamine-using MSM were enrolled into a RCT to reduce methamphetamine use and sexual risk-taking. Analyses revealed that current major depressive episode was associated with a 92% increase in the rate of engagement in CAI with casual male partners (IRR 1.92; 95% CI 1.12-3.31) and a 76% increase in the rate of engagement in CAI with anonymous male partners (IRR 1.76; 95% CI 1.00-3.09). Additionally, for each unit increase in diagnostic methamphetamine use disorder severity, rates of engagement in CAI with anonymous male partners increased by 44% (IRR 1.44; 95% CI 1.11-1.87) and rates of engagement in CAI with exchange male partners increased by 140% (IRR 2.40; 95% CI 1.39-4.13). Neither diagnosis was associated with CAI with main male partners. Depression and methamphetamine use influence sexual risk-taking in unique ways, and interventions working with MSM should assess participants for both depression and methamphetamine use, and may tailor intervention content based on diagnostic outcomes.
                    • Article
                    • Peer Reviewed
                    UCLA Previously Published Works (2018)
                    This pilot study evaluated the use of smartphone ecological momentary assessments (EMA) for self-monitoring to optimize treatment outcomes among gay and bisexual men enrolled in an outpatient methamphetamine abuse treatment service program. Participants (N = 34) received EMA prompts five times daily to self-monitor their methamphetamine use, cravings, sexual risk behaviors, and associated triggers and affect throughout the 8-week treatment program. Participants were randomized into either a self-directed condition with access to a web-based EMA response visualization dashboard ("EMA + Dashboard"; n = 16); or, a counselor-supported condition incorporating weekly, 30-min, one-on-one counseling sessions to review and discuss the participant's self-monitoring data on the dashboard ("EMA + Dashboard + Counselor"; n = 18). Pilot participants were compared with historical controls (n = 102) as the reference group in multiple regression analyses to assess the impact of the two study conditions on the treatment service program outcomes. Study participants with weekly counseling (EMA + Dashboard + Counselor) exhibited significantly greater reductions in the number of condomless anal intercourse episodes than historical controls (IRR = 0.02, 95% CI [0.00, 0.30]), whereas the reduction was of similar magnitude as controls in the EMA + Dashboard self-directed condition (IRR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.02, 3.56]). Treatment effects were not significant for comparisons between the two study conditions and historical controls for self-reported methamphetamine use (EMA + Dashboard: IRR = 1.06, 95% CI [0.32, 3.49]; EMA + Dashboard+Counselor: IRR = 0.46, 95% CI [0.14, 1.49]), number of male partners (EMA + Dashboard: IRR = 1.02, 95% CI [0.39, 2.61]; EMA + Dashboard+Counselor: IRR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.20, 1.45]), and the likelihood of providing a urine sample that tested positive for methamphetamine metabolites (EMA + Dashboard: OR = 1.00, 95% CI [0.79, 1.25]; EMA + Dashboard + Counselor: OR = 0.93, 95% CI [0.74, 1.16]). The pilot study provides preliminary evidence that the treatment outcome for condomless anal intercourse can be improved through a combination of smartphone- and counselor-assisted self-monitoring.
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