2023 Annual Report

A huge study found that mailing home testing kits significantly increased screening rates for cervical cancer, which is most treatable when caught early. The kits test for human papillomavirus, or HPV — the cause of most cervical cancers. More than half of all cervical cancers diagnosed in the United States are in people who are overdue for screening or have never been screened. The home kits increased screening rates both among people who were overdue and among people who had previously kept up with screening.

In the media: Increasing cervical cancer screening with self-sampling kits at home, JAMA Podcast, Nov. 28

The KPWHRI Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit (VTEU) evaluated the mpox vaccine for adolescents, helping to inform vaccine approval for 12- to 17-year-olds. The mpox virus, previously known as monkeypox, is related to smallpox and can cause serious symptoms, including fever, body aches, and skin lesions. The results of the trial will be used to help the Food and Drug Administration make decisions about approving the vaccine for the younger age group.

A new study compared the performance of 5 different models developed to identify a person’s risk of suicidal behavior. The results showed that simpler models performed similarly to more complex ones, finding that adding lots of extra information, or using more complex machine learning, didn’t improve performance of the model. Simpler models are easier to implement because they require less computing power.

In the media: For effective AI, keep it simple, Politico Future Pulse, March 28

Growing numbers of adults are alone when they develop dementia and do not have family members to help with their care. However, there is little research specific to this population. KPWHRI researchers and affiliates used data from the ACT Study to gain insight into the lives of kinless older adults with dementia, gathering important data on their life trajectories, care needs, and challenges.

In the media: Often hidden, research casts light on kinless adults with dementia, Washington News Service, Aug. 31

KPWHRI researchers tested a novel way to integrate alcohol-related care into primary care. The approach resulted in more people getting screened annually for alcohol use and also increased the number of people who were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and began treatment. Since the study ended, clinics have sustained high rates of screening and assessment for alcohol use disorder.

In the media: Ask patients about their alcohol consumption, study suggests, Medscape, April 25

Medications for opioid use disorder are effective and lifesaving, but most people with an addiction to opioids never receive this treatment. A KPWHRI-led trial found that adding nurse care managers to primary care clinics successfully increased medication treatment for opioid use disorder — the first randomized controlled trial of an intervention to do so. The researchers also identified key factors associated with the success of the intervention, including support from health system leaders and financial coverage for treatment.

In the media: Adding nurse care managers in primary care boosted OUD treatment, MedPage Today, Oct. 31

KPWHRI’s Center for Community Health and Evaluation (CCHE) found that a quality improvement project that used texting and fotonovela comics to engage with people overdue for colorectal cancer screening helped increase screening rates. The texts and stories were designed to address known barriers to screening and provide encouragement and educational materials for recipients.

In the media: mPulse Mobile and AltaMed research innovative approach to increasing colorectal cancer screenings, mHealth Times, April 20

Researchers looked at the difference between medical and nonmedical cannabis use and the risk of addiction to cannabis, also known as cannabis use disorder. They found that medical cannabis use was associated with a lower risk of moderate to severe cannabis use disorder than nonmedical use. The findings could help clinicians better engage with people experiencing symptoms.

In the media: Cannabis use disorder is common in one state where marijuana is legal, CNN, Aug. 29

KPWHRI’s Center for Accelerating Care Transformation (ACT Center) developed a toolkit alongside patient partners that offers practical tips and resources for anyone experiencing persistent pain, which is the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S. The toolkit is guided by the experiences of people who have ongoing pain and is designed to support people at any point in their pain management journey.