eHealth provides an important mechanism to connect medically underserved populations with health information, but little is known about gaps in eHealth literacy research in underserved adult populations within the U.S. Between June and July 2013, three systematic literature reviews of five databases were conducted and a subsequent hand search was completed. Identified literature was screened and studies meeting exclusion and inclusion criteria were synthesized and analyzed for common themes. Of the 221 articles critically appraised, 15 met these criteria. Thirty-five of these studies were excluded due to international origin. Of the articles meeting the inclusion criteria, underserved populations assessed included immigrant women, the elderly, low-income, the un- and underemployed, and African-American and Hispanic populations. eHealth literacy assessments utilized included one or two item screeners, the eHEALS scale, health information competence and cognitive task analysis. Factors examined in relation to eHealth literacy included age, experience, overall health literacy, education, income and culture. The majority did not assess the impact of locality and those that did were predominately urban. These data suggest that there is a gap in the literature regarding eHealth literacy knowledge for underserved populations, and specifically those in rural locations, within the U.S.

Collaborative on Countering the US Opioid Epidemic [8] has been focusing on comprehensive and collaborative efforts to fundamentally address the opioid epidemic crisis. All of these major initiatives emphasize pain education as a key component in the fight against the dual crises of chronic pain and the opioid epidemic. I am honored to represent the AAPM on the HHS Pain Management Task Force and the NAM Action Collaborative and contribute to these important initiatives of our nation on your behalf.

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Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to improve measures of executive cognitive function and reduce cigarette consumption. Studies conducted to date have been small, and the results are mixed. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, parallel arm clinical trial tested the effects of active anodal tDCS targeted to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (versus sham) on 7-day smoking cessation in 106 treatment-seeking smokers. Participants received three sessions of sham (n = 35), 1mA (n = 35), or 2mA (n = 36) tDCS in the context of a validated smoking lapse paradigm then received brief smoking cessation counseling and completed a monitored quit attempt. The primary outcome was total number of days of abstinence confirmed via exhaled carbon monoxide. Results: During the quit period, there were no effects of dose group on days of abstinence (sham, M (SD): 2.5 days (±2.5); 1mA: 2.5 days (±2.5); 2mA: 2.4 days (±2.3); β = −0.08; p = 0.76) or on change in daily smoking rate (sham, M (SD): −12.6 CPD (±4.8); 1mA: −11.8 CPD (±4.4); 2mA: −11.7 CPD (±5.3); β = 0.42, p = 0.49), nor were there effects of dose group on latency to smoke or number of cigarettes smoked during the smoking lapse paradigm. Side effects of tDCS were generally mild (<5 out of 10), and participants were not able to distinguish between active and sham treatment. Conclusions: These results do not support the efficacy of tDCS targeted to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for smoking cessation.

Purpose – High school students are at an age where food handling may occur for themselves and as entry level workers in food service. An estimated 21 percent of food and beverage service workers are aged 16-19 years. The purpose of this paper is to determine baseline food safety knowledge and associated factors among high school students. Design/methodology/approach – A convenience sample of 231 Chicago high school students was approached to participate in a 34-question survey to obtain information about their food safety knowledge, behaviors, and personal hygiene. Frequencies of correct answers to each knowledge question were examined to determine knowledge gaps. Bivariate analyses were performed to identify student variables associated with knowledge score and regression models were used to examine the associations between eligible factors and knowledge score. Findings – Among the 195 participating students, 70 percent described themselves as Hispanic/Latino and 15 percent as non-Hispanic Black. In all, 12 percent of the students had restaurant employment experience. The overall student mean knowledge score was 37 percent. Students demonstrated substantial knowledge gaps regarding the temperatures for cooking, mechanisms for thawing food, cross-contamination, and vulnerable populations for foodborne disease. In the final linear regression model, Hispanic ethnicity and experience cooking seafood were significantly associated with lower knowledge score and experience cooking meat and cooking alone were significantly associated with higher knowledge score (p < 0.05). Research limitations/implications – Students demonstrated substantial knowledge gaps regarding the temperatures for cooking, mechanisms for thawing food, cross-contamination, and vulnerable populations for foodborne disease. In the final linear regression model, Hispanic ethnicity and experience cooking seafood were significantly associated with lower knowledge score and experience cooking meat and cooking alone were significantly associated with higher knowledge score (p < 0.05). Originality/value – These data demonstrate substantial knowledge gaps in a predominantly minority high school student population. Given that high school students are a substantial proportion of the food service workforce, they are especially important to target for food safety education.