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The Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused global distress, and communities of color are disproportionately adversely affected. Within this group, many caregivers are concerned about issues such as staying healthy, keeping the family well, paying bills, and caring for children who are housebound. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the challenges facing caregivers, the manner in which systemic discrepancies have impacted African American caregivers, and how COVID-19 responses have exacerbated pre-existing issues. To do this, we administered semi-structured interviews to caregivers residing in California, Georgia, Maryland, Indiana, Alabama, and New York regarding their experiences caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were then analyzed using grounded theory and content analysis. The results indicate an increase in subjective mental health symptomology, stressors associated with social isolation, and compounded stress due to civil unrest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical solutions for practitioners and caregivers are provided based on study findings. In addition, the authors of this study wish to bring awareness to the societal and systemic issues that adversely impact this population.

Objective: To evaluate the construct and criterion validity of the Video Transportation Scale (VTS). Setting: Inpatient service of a safety net hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Method: We administered the VTS in the context of a randomized controlled trial of a DVD-delivered narrative-based intervention (stories) designed to encourage smoking cessation among hospitalized patients. Results: Factor analysis yielded a two-factor solution relating to engagement and attentional focus. Patients receiving the stories-based intervention had a higher score for engagement than control but stories patients and controls did not differ in reported attentional focus. The engagement factor demonstrated predictive validity in that patients with higher scores were more likely to report quitting smoking at two weeks. Conclusion: The VTS provides a rapid assessment of transportation that can be used in applied settings using video-based narratives. (Contains 4 tables.)

Objective: Our goal was to develop an interactive DVD to help African American and Caucasian American adults with hypertension learn how to become better communicators during medical interactions. Material was to be presented in several formats, including patients' narratives (stories)., Methods: To develop the narratives we recruited members of the target audience and elicited stories and story units in focus groups, interviews, and seminars. Story units were ranked-ordered based on conformance with the theory of planned behavior and narrative qualities and then melded into cohesive stories. The stories were recounted by actors on the DVD., Results: 55 adults (84% women; 93% African American) participated in a focus group, interview, or seminar; transcripts yielded 120 story units. The most highly rated units were woven into 11 stories. The six highest rated stories/actor-storytellers were selected for presentation on the DVD., Conclusion: We achieved our goal of developing an easy-to-use, story-driven product that may teach adults how to talk effectively with their doctors about hypertension. The DVD's effectiveness should be tested in a randomized trial., Practice Implications: Behavioral interventions aimed at improving patients' ability to communicate during doctor visits may be useful adjuncts in the achievement of BP goals., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)