African American/Black (henceforth Black) men face disproportionate risks of morbidity and mortality from both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). The American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) tool was designed to examine predictors of CVD with included behaviors also linked to CRC risk (i.e., smoking status, weight, diet, and physical activity). However, no studies have combined LS7 assessment alongside CRC screening history, which serves as a proxy for assessing CRC risk, in Black men. In this study, Black men aged 45-75 participating in annual community wellness events were screened for 6 of 7 LS7 measures (excluding diet, LS6) and self-reported CRC screening. Analyses conducted using R 4.0.5. revealed that Black men (N = 680), with an average age of 57.3 years (SD = 7.5), reported poor (39.7%), intermediate (34.6%), or ideal (25.7%) LS6 scores with higher scores corresponding to lower risk for CVD. However, for every 1-point increase in LS6 scores (0-6), there was a 26% lower odds of reported CRC screening (p = .001). In the fully adjusted model, men with 4+ ideal LS6 behaviors had a 60% lower odds of self-reported CRC screening compared to those with two ideal LS6 behaviors (p < .001). These findings underscore the need for culturally relevant interventions for Black men across all levels of cardiovascular health (CVH) to increase CRC screening uptake.

Background Poor mental health is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among Black men in the United States. Efforts to improve mental health among Black men have been hampered by a lack of access and utilization of mental health services. Physical activity and social networks have been shown to improve mental health. Thus, we examined the effect of a community team-based physical activity, health education and social needs intervention among Black men on mental health over 24 weeks. Methods Black adult males (n = 74) from a large Midwestern city participated in Black Impact, a 24-week community-based lifestyle change program adapted from the Diabetes Prevention Program and American Heart Association’s (AHA) Check, Change, Control Blood Pressure Self-Management Program, which incorporates AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) framework. Measures of mental health including the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Patient Health Questionnaire 2-question depression screener (PHQ-2), and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) were completed at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. The change in mental health scores from baseline to 12 and 24 weeks were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models adjusting for age, education, and income. The change in cardiovascular health scores, defined as objective metrics of LS7 (LS5 [blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, body mass index and smoking]), by baseline mental health were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models with an interaction term (time*baseline mental health variable) and a random intercept for each participant. Results Among 71 Black men (mean age 51, 85% employed) at 24 weeks, CES-D scores decreased from 10.54 to 7.90 (-2.64, 95%CI:-4.74, -0.55), PHQ-2 decreased from 1.04 to 0.63 (-0.41, 95%CI: -0.75, -0.07), and PSS-10 decreased from 14.62 to 12.91 (-1.71, 95%CI: -3.53, 0.12). A 1-unit higher CES-D at baseline was associated with less improvement in LS5 scores by -0.04 (95%CI: -0.076, -0.005) and − 0.032 (95%CI:-0.067, 0.003) units at week 12 and 24, respectively, with similar findings for PSS. Conclusions The Black Impact community-based lifestyle program has the potential to reduce depressive symptoms and stress in Black men. There is a dire need for larger, randomized studies to test the impact of Black Impact on mental health in Black men to advance health equity. Trial Registration Retrospectively Registered, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04787978.

Partnering to Enhance Trial Retention of Black Men Working with the community, Ohio State University clinician-scientists curated trusting relationships that facilitated recruitment and retention of Black Americans in a clinical trial.

Background: Black Americans remain significantly underrepresented and understudied in research. Community-based interventions have been increasingly recognized as an effective model for reckoning with clinical trial participation challenges amongst underrepresented groups, yet a paucity of studies implement this approach. The present study sought to gain insight into Black male participants’ perception of clinical trials before and after participating in a community-based team lifestyle intervention in the United States. Methods: Black Impact, a 24-week community-based lifestyle intervention, applied the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) framework to assess changes in the cardiovascular health of seventy-four Black male participants partaking in weekly team-based physical activities and LS7-themed education and having their social needs addressed. A subset of twenty participants completed an exit survey via one of three semi-structured focus groups aimed at understanding the feasibility of interventions, including their perceptions of participating in clinical trials. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a content analysis, which involved systematically identifying, coding, categorizing, and interpreting the primary patterns of the data. Results: The participants reported a positive change in their perceptions of clinical trials based on their experience with a community-based lifestyle intervention. Three prominent themes regarding their perceptions of clinical trials prior to the intervention were as follows: (1) History of medical abuse; (2) Lack of diversity amongst research teams and participants; and (3) A positive experience with racially concordant research teams. Three themes noted to influence changes in their perception of clinical trials based on their participation in Black Impact were as follows: (1) Building trust with the research team; (2) Increasing awareness about clinical trials; and (3) Motivating participation through community engagement efforts. Conclusions: Improved perceptions of participating in clinical trials were achieved after participation in a community-based intervention. This intervention may provide a framework by which to facilitate clinical trial participation among Black men, which must be made a priority so that Black men are “more than just a number” and no longer “receiving the short end of the stick”.

Black American men have worse cardiovascular health compared with their White counterparts, yet are highly underrepresented in clinical trials. In 2020, Black men were recruited to participate in Black Impact, a community-based lifestyle intervention to increase cardiovascular health. Due to the research pause during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a virtual community engagement (VCE) process was co-designed with community stakeholders and evaluated for its effect on retention for the clinical trial. VCE via weekly virtual video conference sessions occurred for 9 weeks as a run-in phase prior to in-person research activities. Data collected during sessions included attendance, anecdotes on acceptability, and topical requests for subsequent weeks. Content analysis was performed on scribe notes from sessions to ascertain themes describing the implementation and participant perceptions of the VCE. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. The VCE provided opportunities to co-create a safe atmosphere in small groups, discuss mental health, foster trust, capitalize on the power of spirituality, and establish a brotherhood. Following the VCE run-in phase, 74 of 100 participants remained engaged for participation in the Black Impact study. The VCE described provides a framework that can be used to retain Black men during study delays or disruptions through fostering engagement and building community among participants and researchers.

Introduction In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the lack of diversity among clinical trial participants. Equitable representation is key when testing novel therapeutic and non-therapeutic interventions to ensure safety and efficacy across populations. Unfortunately, in the United States (US), racial and ethnic minority populations continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials compared to their White counterparts. Methods Two webinars in a four-part series, titled “Health Equity through Diversity,” were held to discuss solutions for advancing health equity through diversifying clinical trials and addressing medical mistrust in communities. Each webinar was 1.5 hours long, beginning with panelist discussions followed by breakout rooms where moderators led discussions related to health equity and scribes recorded each room’s conversations. The diverse groups of panelists included community members, civic representatives, clinician-scientists, and biopharmaceutical representatives. Scribe notes from discussions were collected and thematically analyzed to uncover the central themes. Results The first two webinars were attended by 242 and 205 individuals, respectively. The attendees represented 25 US states, four countries outside the US, and shared various backgrounds including community members, clinician/researchers, government organizations, biotechnology/biopharmaceutical professionals, and others. Barriers to clinical trial participation are broadly grouped into the themes of access, awareness, discrimination and racism, and workforce diversity. Participants noted that innovative, community-engaged, co-designed solutions are essential. Conclusions Despite racial and ethnic minority groups making up nearly half of the US population, underrepresentation in clinical trials remains a critical challenge. The community engaged co-developed solutions detailed in this report to address access, awareness, discrimination and racism, and workforce diversity are critical to advancing clinical trial diversity.

Background Non-medical health-related social needs (social needs) are major contributors to worse health outcomes and may have an adverse impact on cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease. The present study evaluated the effect of a closed-loop community-based pathway in reducing social needs among Black men in a lifestyle change program. Methods Black men (n = 70) from a large Midwestern city participated in Black Impact, a 24-week community-based team lifestyle change single-arm pilot trial adapted from the Diabetes Prevention Program and American Heart Association’s (AHA) Check, Change, Control Blood Pressure Self-Management Program, which incorporates AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) framework. Participants were screened using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Accountable Health Communities Health-Related Social Needs Screening Tool. Participants with affirmative responses were referred to a community hub pathway to address social needs. The primary outcome for this analysis is change in social needs based on the CMS social needs survey at 12 and 24 weeks using mixed effect logistic regressions with random intercepts for each participant. Change in a LS7 score (range 0–14) from baseline to 12 and 24 weeks was evaluated using a linear mixed-effects model stratified by baseline social needs. Results Among 70 participants, the mean age of participants was 52 ±10.5 years. The men were sociodemographically diverse, with annual income ranging from <$20,000 (6%) to ≥$75,000 (23%). Forty-three percent had a college degree or higher level of education, 73% had private insurance, and 84% were employed. At baseline 57% of participants had at least one social need. Over 12 and 24 weeks, this was reduced to 37% (OR 0.33, 95%CI: 0.13, 0.85) and 44% (OR 0.50, 95%CI: 0.21, 1.16), respectively. There was no association of baseline social needs status with baseline LS7 score, and LS7 score improved over 12 and 24 weeks among men with and without social needs, with no evidence of a differential effect. Conclusions The Black Impact lifestyle change single-arm pilot program showed that a referral to a closed-loop community-based hub reduced social needs in Black men. We found no association of social needs with baseline or change in LS7 scores. Further evaluation of community-based strategies to advance the attainment of LS7 and address social needs among Black men in larger trials is warranted.

Population Health ManagementVol. 25, No. 1 Points of ViewReckoning with Our Trustworthiness, Leveraging Community EngagementDarrell M. Gray II, Timiya S. Nolan, O.N. Ray Bignall II, John Gregory, and Joshua J. JosephDarrell M. Gray IIAddress correspondence to: Darrell M. Gray II, MD, MPH, FACG, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1590 N High St., Suite 525, Columbus, OH 43201, USA E-mail Address: dgrayiimd@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2506-3465Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Timiya S. NolanCollege of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children & Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, O.N. Ray Bignall IIDivision of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, John GregoryThe National African American Male Wellness Agency, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, and Joshua J. Josephhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9169-8261Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:2 Feb 2022https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2021.0158AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View article"Reckoning with Our Trustworthiness, Leveraging Community Engagement." Population Health Management, 25(1), pp. 6–7FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byHow to Get Involved With Community Engagement, Community Service, and Patient Advocacy During GI FellowshipClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Vol. 21, No. 3Predictors of Scientific Civic Engagement (PSCE) Survey: A Multidimensional Instrument to Measure Undergraduates’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Intention to Engage with the Community Using Their Science SkillsCBE—Life Sciences Education, Vol. 22, No. 1Using a multicultural and multilingual awareness-raising strategy to enhance enrollment of racially underrepresented minoritized communities – the PassITON trial7 December 2022 | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, Vol. 7, No. 1Virtual Community Engagement for Retention of Black Men in Clinical Research10 January 2023 | American Journal of Men's Health, Vol. 17, No. 1Diversity of Participation in Clinical Trials and Influencing Factors: Findings from the Health Information National Trends Survey 202022 September 2022 | Journal of General Internal Medicine, Vol. 557Community-Based Participatory Research to Improve Cardiovascular Health Among US Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups11 July 2022 | Current Epidemiology Reports, Vol. 9, No. 3Association of Socioeconomic Status With Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Black MenJournal of the American Heart Association, Vol. 10, No. 23The importance of offering vaccine choice in the fight against COVID-1920 October 2021 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 118, No. 43 Volume 25Issue 1Feb 2022 InformationCopyright 2022, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:Darrell M. Gray II, Timiya S. Nolan, O.N. Ray Bignall II, John Gregory, and Joshua J. Joseph.Reckoning with Our Trustworthiness, Leveraging Community Engagement.Population Health Management.Feb 2022.6-7.http://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2021.0158Published in Volume: 25 Issue 1: February 2, 2022Online Ahead of Print:July 16, 2021Keywordscommunity engagementhealth equityCOVID-19 vaccinationmedical mistrustsocial determinants of healthPDF download

Introduction: Life’s simple 7 (LS7) is a seven-metric framework from which cardiovascular health can be measured. Black Americans have the lowest attainment of LS7 among all communities. This may be in part related to patient activation or “having the capability and the willingness to take on the role of managing one’s own health and health care”. Patients with lower patient activation scores on the Patient Activation Measure tool (PAM) are more likely to develop and suffer from chronic diseases like hypertension and stroke. Black Americans report lower patient activation as compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, and lower medication adherence. Here, we discuss changes in patient activation during a 24-week community-based, lifestyle intervention focused on improving cardiovascular health in Black American men. Methods: We recruited 74 Black men with less than 4 of 7 LS7 metrics in the “ideal” range to participate in Black Impact, a community-based lifestyle intervention adapted from the AHA’s Check, Change, Control Program and Diabetes Prevention Program. Participants met weekly in groups of 8-25 for 24 weeks, completing group-based physical activities and health education sessions. Biometric screenings and self-report surveys (including the PAM 10-item questionnaire) were administered at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. Changes in PAM scores at 12 and 24 weeks were calculated using a linear mixed-effects model with random intercepts. Results: The mean baseline PAM score of participants, when adjusted for age, education, and income, was 64.68 (95% CI: 60.51, 68.85). At week 12, the PAM score increased by an average of 4.36 (95% CI: 1.09, 7.63; p = 0.01). At week 24, the increase from baseline was 8.22 (95% CI: 5.06, 11.38; p < 0.001). Increases in PAM were non-significantly associated with increases in LS7 over the 24 weeks (p= 0.346) Conclusions: In Black Impact, PAM scores increased substantially at 12 and 24 weeks. The 8-point PAM increase at 24 weeks is equivalent to a 16% reduction in the likelihood of hospitalizations and a 16% increase in medication adherence. These findings suggest community-based lifestyle interventions focused on increasing cardiovascular health may be a key strategy in advancing equity in patient activation.

Background: Attainment of the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) metrics reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; yet, Black Americans have the lowest LS7 attainment among all communities, the highest rate of CVD mortality, and low clinical trial participation. Social support is positively correlated with chronic disease self-management. Here, we describe the role of social support in a single-arm pilot clinical trial of a community-based lifestyle intervention among Black American men. Methods: The 24-week intervention featured weekly team-based physical activity and LS7-themed education. Seventy-four Black men participated in the intervention; twenty agreed to participate in exit surveys via one of three semi-structured focus groups. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis framed by House's social support framework. Results: Participants reported support from both peers and health coaches. The sub-themes of social support among peers were: (1) acknowledgement, understanding, and validation, (2) inspiration, (3) sense of community, (4) fear of disappointing fellow participants, and (5) group synergy. The sub-themes of social support from the health coaches and study team staff included: (1) contemplation of current health status, (2) racial concordance of health coaches and study team staff, (3) investment of the research team, (4) incentives, (5) access to healthcare providers, and (6) the COVID-19 pandemic. Emotional support was the most frequently discussed theme. Conclusions: Social support, especially emotional support, from peers and health coaches was a driver of clinical trial participation among participants. The intervention created a positive social environment and decreased medical mistrust. This intervention may provide a framework by which to facilitate clinical trial participation among Black men.

Population Health ManagementVol. 24, No. 4 Points of ViewFree AccessMask Up: Academic-Community-Government Partnerships to Advance Public Health During COVID-19Joshua J. Joseph, Autumn Glover, J. Nwando Olayiwola, Mark Rastetter, Johnnie (Chip) Allen, Kim Knight, Mysheika Roberts, Joe Mazzola, John Gregory, Bjorn Kluwe, and Darrell M. Gray, IIJoshua J. JosephAddress correspondence to: Joshua J. Joseph, MD, FAHA, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 579 McCampbell Hall, 1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA E-mail Address: [email protected]Department of Internal Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Autumn GloverDepartment of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, J. Nwando OlayiwolaDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Mark RastetterDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Johnnie (Chip) AllenOffice of Health Equity, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Kim KnightDepartment of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Mysheika RobertsColumbus Public Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Joe MazzolaFranklin County Public Health, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, John GregoryThe African American Male Wellness Initiative, National Center for Urban Solutions, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, Bjorn KluweDepartment of Internal Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this author, and Darrell M. Gray, IIDepartment of Internal Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:16 Aug 2021https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2020.0305AboutSectionsView articleSupplemental MaterialPDF/EPUBView Supplemental Data Permissions & CitationsPermissionsDownload CitationsTrack CitationsAdd to favorites Back To Publication ShareShare onFacebookXLinked InRedditEmail View articleBackgroundSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected more than 23 million individuals globally through August 2020.1 More than 5.7 million of those cases were in the United States with more than 175,000 deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).1In Ohio, there have been more than 115,000 cases and 4000 deaths during the same time period. Similar to other states across the United States, there has been a preponderance of urban cases and significant socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities. For instance, Blacks represent 13% of the state population, but 23% of cases, 31% of hospitalizations, and 19% of deaths.2 The largest city and county in Ohio, the city of Columbus and Franklin County, have the highest numbers of cases and deaths in the state.The segments of our population made vulnerable because of challenging social and structural determinants and/or rapid changes related to the COVID-19 response will be, hereafter, referred to as “vulnerable populations.” In Ohio and across the United States, vulnerable populations have disproportionately higher rates of chronic diseases including hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, which are associated with increased COVID-19 hospitalizations.3 Social determinants of health also increase risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among vulnerable populations. For instance, multigenerational housing and low-wage essential employment may make it difficult to social distance effectively.Methods for preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission are pivotal to mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in communities across Ohio and the United States. Successful reopening of schools and businesses is dependent on widespread use of evidenced-based prevention measures. A meta-analysis demonstrated the effectiveness of face masks in reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2.4 Modeling has shown that face mask use can decrease the average number of secondary cases per infectious case in a population made up of both susceptible and non-susceptible hosts to less than 1.5 Lastly, contemporaneous United States natural experiments show that states mandating face mask use in public is associated with a decline in the daily COVID-19 growth rate.6 Thus, strategies to promote face mask wearing, particularly in vulnerable communities, is critical for SARS-CoV-2 prevention during the active and recovery phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. One potential solution is the distribution of community care kits–including nonclinical isolation-grade masks, soaps, and hand sanitizers–in vulnerable communities paired with education media campaigns promoting face mask wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene via academic-community-government partnerships (Figure 1).FIG. 1. Academic-community-government partnerships to address COVID-19. The figure synthesizes the role of academic-community-government partnerships to address the COVID-19 pandemic.Description of the Population and Tools to Assess Need Within the PopulationIdentification of the most vulnerable communities in Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio was essential to target the campaign and community care kit distribution to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness. Full details are available in the Supplementary Methods and Supplementary Fig S1.Community Care Kit Donation and AssemblyThe Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) has relationships with corporate, community, government, and civic partners that donated supplies for the community care kits. Each kit contained 5 nonclinical isolation-grade face masks, 5 paper bags to store the face masks, 2 hand sanitizers, 1–2 hand soap bottles, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and information on primary care access, handwashing, proper wearing of a face mask, and how to make cloth masks at home.Community Care Kit Distribution Site Identification and LogisticsWe identified 5 sites for community care kit distribution in the target zip codes: Columbus City Schools, a community center, a church, and a grocery store. The distribution sites were publicized through a marketing campaign that included radio, television, print, and social media. The Department of Family and Community Medicine mobilized their Community Care Coach to bring the supplies from OSUWMC to the community sites for distribution. The Columbus Division of Police partnered to provide logistical and traffic management.Distribution sites were open for 5 hours per day over 5 days. Volunteers from OSUWMC and the National African American Male Wellness Initiative volunteered at the sites. Individuals could drive through or walk up to receive the kits. There was availability of in-person interpreters for Spanish and interpretation via phone on the Community Care Coach. Families with up to 5 individuals in the household received 1 kit and families with more than 5 individuals in the household received 2 kits. Individuals were asked 2 questions when picking up the kits: (1) What is your zip code? and (2) Has the household had access to face masks prior to the distribution?Community Care Kit DistributionBetween May 11–May 15, 2020, 46,000 face masks, 10,000 soaps, 18,000 hand sanitizers, and 12,000 dental hygiene items were distributed. There were 4726 recipients of face masks over the 5-day campaign and approximately 2800 other recipients who received face masks through additional donations to our community partners. The majority of community care kits were distributed to residents of the targeted zip codes as seen in Supplementary Fig 2a. Fifty-eight percent of individuals did not have access to a face mask prior to the distribution events (Supplementary Fig 2b), which ranged from as low as 29% to as high as 87% in the target zip codes.During the distribution, local and national civic and government leaders joined in the distribution of community care kits. Through print, radio, television, and social media all of the leaders discussed the importance of face masks, handwashing, and social distancing to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on communities in Columbus and Franklin County.Academic-Community-Government PartnershipsAmid the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of evidence-based methods to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission (eg, use of face masks, hand hygiene) has been essential. We describe a novel community-based strategy that leveraged data analytics and meaningful academic-community-government partnerships to both identify populations most vulnerable to COVID-19 and distribute needed supplies within vulnerable communities. Our community care kit distribution campaign is a blueprint for addressing local public health crises.The community care kit distribution approach requires leaders of diverse health care organizations willing to embrace the importance of community engagement in promoting public and population health. Although we recognize that one project will not singularly improve public health, it can sow the seeds for other projects. The combined effects of multiple projects at different levels of the socioecological model (individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy) targeting health behavior and health promotion are necessary to impact large public health issues, and academic-community-government partnerships have the potential to address many of those levels in mitigating the impact of COVID-19. In Ohio, on May 21, 2020, Governor Michael Dewine announced a plan to distribute thousands of “Community Wellness Kits” in more than 60 of Ohio's 88 counties through a partnership with the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers and the Nationwide Foundation, expanding the reach of the initial program to the most economically depressed communities in the state, “to our citizens who are not getting the health care they need.”7Academic-community-government partnerships are “The Columbus Way.” The Columbus Way is a unique collaboration between the businesses, government, nonprofit, and academic institutions that are cornerstones of the Columbus community.8 Columbus has used this approach before to tackle public health crises including cholera and typhoid fever; the COVID-19 pandemic is a modern day public health crisis that demands such novel approaches to mitigate risk in all communities.Author Contribution StatementEveryone who contributed significantly to the work are listed as authors on this manuscript. The authors had access to all the study data, take responsibility for the accuracy of the analysis, and had authority over manuscript preparation and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.Author Disclosure StatementThe authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.Funding InformationDr. Joseph received support from K23DK117041 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (USA) and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program ID# 76236 (USA). The funding source had no role in the design of the study; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data.Supplementary MaterialSupplementary MethodsSupplementary Figure S1Supplementary Figure S2References1. Dong E, Du H, Gardner L. An interactive web-based dashboard to track COVID-19 in real time. Lancet Infect Dis 2020;20:533–534. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar2. Ohio COVID-19 Dashboard. Ohio Department of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19). https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/dashboards Accessed June 6, 2020. Google Scholar3. Garg S, Kim L, Whitaker M, O'Halloran A, Cummings C, Holstein R, et al. Hospitalization rates and characteristics of patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019—COVID-NET, 14 states, March 1–30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:458–464. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar4. Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, Solo K, Yaacoub S, Schünemann HJ, et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2020;395:1973–1987. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar5. Stutt ROJH, Retkute R, Bradley M, Gilligan CA, Colvin J. A modelling framework to assess the likely effectiveness of facemasks in combination with ‘lock-down’ in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Proc R Soc Math Phys Eng Sci 2020;476:20200376. Medline, Google Scholar6. Lyu W, Wehby GL. Community use of face masks and COVID-19: evidence from a natural experiment of state mandates in the US: study examines impact on COVID-19 growth rates associated with state government mandates requiring face mask use in public. Health Aff (Millwood) 2020;39:1419–1425. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar7. Merritt J. Minority Strike Force Team Unveils First Recommendations. WYSO. 2020. https://www.wyso.org/2020-05-21/minority-strike-force-team-unveils-first-recommendations Accessed November 18, 2020. Google Scholar8. Rivkin J. The Columbus partnership. Harvard Bus Sch Case 2015:715–462. Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byVirtual Community Engagement for Retention of Black Men in Clinical Research10 January 2023 | American Journal of Men's Health, Vol. 17, No. 1Community Coalitions' Perspectives on Engaging with Hospitals in Ohio to Address the Opioid Crisis Daniel M. Walker, Karen Shiu-Yee, Sadie Chen, Matthew J. DePuccio, Rebecca D. Jackson, and Ann Scheck McAlearney16 December 2022 | Population Health Management, Vol. 25, No. 6STOP COVID-19 CA: Community engagement to address the disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in California30 November 2022 | Frontiers in Health Services, Vol. 2Diversity of Participation in Clinical Trials and Influencing Factors: Findings from the Health Information National Trends Survey 202022 September 2022 | Journal of General Internal Medicine, Vol. 557Improving cardiovascular health in black men through a 24-week community-based team lifestyle change intervention: The black impact pilot studyAmerican Journal of Preventive Cardiology, Vol. 9Reckoning with Our Trustworthiness, Leveraging Community Engagement Darrell M. Gray II, Timiya S. Nolan, O.N. Ray Bignall, John Gregory, and Joshua J. Joseph2 February 2022 | Population Health Management, Vol. 25, No. 1Association of Socioeconomic Status With Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Black MenJournal of the American Heart Association, Vol. 10, No. 23The Creation of a Program of Engagement and Outreach for COVID-19 Among African Americans Through Community-Academic Partnerships31 May 2021 | Journal of Community Health, Vol. 46, No. 6Diversity in clinical trials: an opportunity and imperative for community engagementThe Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Vol. 6, No. 8 Volume 24Issue 4Aug 2021 InformationCopyright 2021, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishersTo cite this article:Joshua J. Joseph, Autumn Glover, J. Nwando Olayiwola, Mark Rastetter, Johnnie (Chip) Allen, Kim Knight, Mysheika Roberts, Joe Mazzola, John Gregory, Bjorn Kluwe, and Darrell M. Gray, II.Mask Up: Academic-Community-Government Partnerships to Advance Public Health During COVID-19.Population Health Management.Aug 2021.430-432.http://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2020.0305Published in Volume: 24 Issue 4: August 16, 2021Online Ahead of Print:January 8, 2021KeywordsCOVID-19community engagementacademic-community-government partnershipsPDF download

Background Black men are burdened by high cardiovascular risk and the highest all‐cause mortality rate in the United States. Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with improved cardiovascular risk factors in majority populations, but there is a paucity of data in Black men. Methods and Results We examined the association of SES measures including educational attainment, annual income, employment status, and health insurance status with an ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) score, which included blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, body mass index, physical activity, and smoking in African American Male Wellness Walks. Six metrics of ICH were categorized into a 3‐tiered ICH score 0 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 6. Multinomial logistic regression modeling was performed to examine the association of SES measures with ICH scores adjusted for age. Among 1444 men, 7% attained 5 to 6 ICH metrics. Annual income <$20 000 was associated with a 56% lower odds of attaining 3 to 4 versus 0 to 2 ICH components compared with ≥$75 000 ( P =0.016). Medicare and no insurance were associated with a 39% and 35% lower odds of 3 to 4 versus 0 to 2 ICH components, respectively, compared with private insurance (all P <0.05). Education and employment status were not associated with higher attainment of ICH in Black men. Conclusions Among community‐dwelling Black men, higher attainment of measures of SES showed mixed associations with greater attainment of ICH. The lack of association of higher levels of educational attainment and employment status with ICH suggests that in order to address the long–standing health inequities that affect Black men, strategies to increase attainment of cardiovascular health may need to address additional components beyond SES.

Introduction: African American (AA) men are burdened by high cardiovascular risk and have the highest age-adjusted all-cause mortality rate in the United States of America (US). Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with improved cardiovascular risk factors in majority populations, but there is a paucity of data in AA men. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that higher levels of socioeconomic status would be associated with higher attainment of ideal cardiovascular health in AA men. Methods: We examined the association of socioeconomic status measures including education, income, occupation, and insurance status with an ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) score which included blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and smoking in African American Male Wellness Walks (AAMWW). Six metrics of ICH were categorized into a three-tiered ICH score 0-2, 3-4, 5-6. Ordinal logistic regression modeling was performed with adjustment for age. Results: Among 1,444 men, 108 (7%) attained 5-6 ICH metrics at baseline. After adjustment for age, none of the baseline indicators of socioeconomic status were associated with attainment of ICH. Conclusion: In our community-dwelling sample of AA men, the proportion of individuals with highest scores for ICH was very low, and SES was not associated with greater attainment of ICH. Strategies to increase attainment of cardiovascular health in AA men by health care professionals and policymakers need to incorporate intentional interventions beyond the scope of SES in order to advance health equity in AA men.

Enhancing clinical trial diversity is a moral and scientific imperative. The lack of diversity is an obstacle to understanding the safety and efficacy of novel therapies across population subgroups, which is crucial to reducing disparities and advancing equity. Furthermore, the striking and persistent under-representation of minority racial and ethnic groups in clinical trials is harmful. In the USA, minority racial and ethnic groups comprise nearly 40% of the population; however, 75% of the 32 000 participants in the trials of 53 novel drugs approved in 2020 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were White.

Background: African American (AA) men have the highest age-adjusted all-cause mortality rate in the U.S. and a high burden of risk factors contributing to chronic diseases. The African American Male Wellness Walk (AAMWW) seeks to reduce health disparities and promote attainment of Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) among AA males. We investigated the association of six components of the American Heart Association’s LS7 metrics: blood pressure, body weight, cholesterol, physical activity, smoking, and blood glucose with self-reported health, diabetes prevalence, body fat percentage (BF%), and family history of diabetes. Methods: Our study included 731 AA male participants from the 2017 and 2018 AAMWWs. ANOVA and Chi-square tests analyzed continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Six metrics of LS7 developed a total cardiovascular health score, categorized by the number of ideal LS7 components as 0-2, 3, 4, 5-6. Logistic and linear regression models examined the association of LS7 with outcomes adjusted for age and insurance status. Results: Participants with 5-6 ideal metrics compared to 0-2 had 261% higher odds of a 1 category higher self-reported health (p<0.0001). Individuals with 3-6 compared to 0-2 ideal metrics had 88% lower odds of diagnosed diabetes (p<0.001). Participants with 5-6 ideal metrics had a 12.2% lower body fat percentage compared to participants with 0-2 ideal metrics (p=0.0003). Conclusion: Attainment of LS7 metrics is associated with improved self-reported health and inversely associated with diabetes prevalence and BF% among AA men in the AAMWW. Interventions targeting LS7 ideal metrics among AA men may promote health equity. Disclosure E.B. Aboagye-Mensah: None. R.A. Azap: None. J.B. Odei: None. D.M. Gray: Consultant; Self; Genentech, Inc. T.S. Nolan: None. R. Elgazzar: None. D.L. White: None. J.H. Gregory: None. J. Joseph: None.

African American (AA) men have the highest age-adjusted all-cause mortality rate in the United States of America (US) and a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors. The African American Male Wellness Walk (AAMWW) seeks to reduce such health disparities among AA males. The association of a combination of ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) metrics (blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and smoking) with self-reported health, diabetes, and body fat percentage was examined among 729 AA male participants from the 2017 and 2018 AAMWWs. Six metrics of ICH were categorized into a three-tiered ICH score 0–2, 3–4, 5–6. Linear and logistic regression modeling was performed with adjustment for age and insurance. Seven percent of men attained 5–6 ICH metrics at baseline. Participants with 5–6 ICH metrics versus 0–2 had 256% higher odds of excellent self-reported health compared to good, fair or poor (p < 0.0001). After exclusion of glucose from the ideal cardiovascular health score, participants with 3–4 versus 0–2 ICH metrics had a 48% lower odds of diabetes (p < 0.0031). After exclusion of BMI from the ICH score, participants with 5 ICH metrics had a 14.1% lower body fat percentage versus participants with 0–2 ICH metrics (p = 0.0057). Attainment of higher ideal cardiovascular health scores is associated with higher odds of self-reported health, lower odds of diabetes and lower body fat percentage among AA men. Future strategies leading to greater attainment of cardiovascular health in AA males will be important to advance health equity.