Articles: pandemics.
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The COVID-19 pandemic caused potentially disruptive shocks to chronic condition care. We examined how diabetes medication adherence, related hospitalizations, and primary care use changed in high-risk veterans prepandemic and postpandemic. ⋯ Adherence to diabetes medications and primary care use remained high for most patients even though virtual care replaced in-person care. Black and nonelderly patients may require additional intervention to address lower adherence.
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Food insecurity is a major public health problem in the United States which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We used a multi-method approach to understand barriers and facilitators to implementing food insecurity screening and referrals at safety net health care clinics in Los Angeles County before the pandemic. ⋯ Integrating food insecurity assessment in clinical settings requires infrastructure support, staff training, clinic buy-in, and more coordination and oversight from local government, health center entities, and public health agencies.
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Observational Study
Healthcare professionals' beliefs regarding influenza vaccination: What has COVID-19 changed?
Influenza poses a potential public health threat among healthcare professionals since an infected healthcare professional can spread the virus to patients at higher risk as well as his/her own family members and colleagues. Annual influenza vaccination is the most effective way to protect HCPs. ⋯ Although the proportion of healthcare professionals with the intention to be vaccinated for influenza increased with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still not high enough. Influenza vaccination rates should be promoted by in-service training programs.