Samantha Jimenez

This study uses the National Survey of Children’s Health to examine the nationwide prevalence and severity of US adolescent mental health issues in the 12–17 age group between the years 2022 and 2023 in relation to parental mental health and exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). We used the NSCH data collected for 12–17-year-old adolescents. Descriptive statistics were generated for the selected sample and binary logistics regressions were conducted to examine influential factors for the presence and severity of adolescent depression and anxiety for the selected year. Adolescents aged 12–17 who experienced neighborhood violence had higher odds of being diagnosed with anxiety (OR = 1.369, p = 0.009) and depression (OR = 1.508, p = 0.004). Those living with someone who was mentally ill, suicidal, or severely depressed showed increased odds of anxiety (OR = 1.642, p < 0.001) and depression (OR = 1.587, p < 0.001). Adolescents judged unfairly due to a health condition or disability had markedly higher odds of anxiety (OR = 3.056, p < 0.001) and depression (OR = 1.835, p < 0.001), including severe forms (severe anxiety OR = 2.569; severe depression OR = 2.238; both p < 0.001). Poorer parental emotional health was consistently associated with higher adolescent anxiety and depression, with “fair” parental emotional health showing the strongest association for depression (OR = 7.320, p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate the need for better tailored mental health efforts towards both adolescents and their caregivers highlighting the harm of long-term environmental and familial stressors, and the gaps in community approaches in this population.

Background: Patient-centered communication is a critical process in high-quality healthcare that emphasizes the reciprocal sharing of information between providers and patients to ensure care aligns with the patient’s needs, preferences, and personal values. A significant challenge arises from the healthcare provider’s time constraints during clinical encounters and the lack of adequate training on how to adopt a patient-centered communication style that addresses patient concerns, making it difficult to foster an environment conducive to shared decision making. These issues are further exacerbated by cultural and language barriers, along with low levels of health literacy and social determinants of health (SDoHs), which complicate efforts to deliver patient-centered care. Objective: This study examined quality criteria for patient–provider communication (PPC) and their associations with sociodemographic characteristics and SDoHs on housing, transportation, and food insecurity. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-6) national dataset. Associations between PPC and sociodemographic variables were tested using the chi-squared test. Binary logistic regression was carried out to examine the association between three PPC criteria and each of the sociodemographic characteristics and patient comfort in disclosing information on SDoHs. Results: Bivariate analyses showed statistically significant associations for age, occupation status, marital status, Hispanic origin, and race across all three PPC criteria. Significant associations were reported for education and income for the two criteria related to being given the chance to ask questions and being involved in healthcare decisions. Finally, significant associations were reported for all PPC criteria and patient comfort levels in discussing SDoHs. Conclusions: Findings from this paper provide insight for enhancing the quality of PCC in underserved populations, particularly when it comes to informing the design of evidence-based cervical cancer screening interventions which are culturally centered around the patients’ needs and that integrate PPC as a foundational component.

Background: This systematic review has the following aims: (1) to identify measurement tools used globally by healthcare providers to diagnose PCOS in women at elevated risk; (2) to assess the comprehensiveness of these tools regarding mental health and chronic pain; (3) to list strategies for validating, disseminating, and implementing these tools; and (4) to provide future recommendations for experts in healthcare settings. Methods: This review utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the Arksey and O’Malley York methodology. Studies were sourced from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases, with inclusion criteria focusing on peer-reviewed articles addressing PCOS diagnosis and associated comorbidities. Data extraction and analysis followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) recommendations. Results: A total of 63 studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that current screening tools for PCOS often lack comprehensive integration of mental health and chronic pain assessments. Tools like the PCOSQ and its updated version, PCOSQ-50, inadequately address pain-related symptoms, highlighting a gap in holistic patient evaluation. This review identified significant associations between PCOS and mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, emphasizing the need for mental health screenings as part of PCOS management. Conclusions: There is a critical need for validated PCOS screening tools that encompass both physical and psychological aspects of the condition. Educating healthcare providers on the cultural and social determinants influencing PCOS can improve diagnosis and patient outcomes. Future research should focus on developing holistic screening tools and culturally relevant educational resources, aiming to enhance the overall quality of life for women with PCOS.