2023
Persistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19 illness: a qualitative study
Messiah S, Francis J, Weerakoon S, Mathew M, Shaikh S, Veeraswamy A, Lozano A, He W, Xie L, Polavarapu D, Ahmed N, Kahn J. Persistent symptoms and conditions among children and adolescents hospitalised with COVID-19 illness: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2023, 13: e069073. PMID: 37734886, PMCID: PMC10514629, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 illnessIn-depth interviewsQualitative studyPaediatric healthcare systemHealth information sourcesLack of insurance coverageMental health impactsPrevalence of long COVIDPersistent symptomsPost-COVID-19 symptomsPost-traumatic stress disorderPersistent COVID-19 symptomsHealthcare systemCOVID-19 experiencePre-existing conditionsQualitative interviewsInsurance coverageCOVID-19Support strategiesWorsening pre-existing conditionsHealth impactsIllnessSupport systemInterviewsLong COVIDNeighborhood Characteristics and the Burden of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury: An Ecological Comparison Study
Lee H, Weerakoon S, Harrell M, Messiah S, Rao D. Neighborhood Characteristics and the Burden of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated Lung Injury: An Ecological Comparison Study. Pediatric Allergy Immunology And Pulmonology 2023, 36: 16-22. PMID: 36930825, DOI: 10.1089/ped.2022.0133.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSocioeconomic statusZip codesHealth insuranceE-cigarettesEVALI casesNeighborhood-level characteristicsPatient's zip codeElectronic medical recordsTargeted prevention programsProduct use-associated lung injuryHigh school educationUse-associated lung injuryAt-risk communitiesPrivate health insuranceData of adolescentsAmerican Community SurveySES characteristicsChildren's Medical Center DallasNeighborhood characteristicsPrevention programsInvestigate associationsCommunity SurveyNinety-five percentMedical recordsVaping products
2022
Comparison of Long-Term Complications of COVID-19 Illness among a Diverse Sample of Children by MIS-C Status
Messiah S, Xie L, Mathew M, Shaikh S, Veeraswamy A, Rabi A, Francis J, Lozano A, Ronquillo C, Sanchez V, He W, Weerakoon S, Srikanth N, Borel M, Kapera O, Kahn J. Comparison of Long-Term Complications of COVID-19 Illness among a Diverse Sample of Children by MIS-C Status. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2022, 19: 13382. PMID: 36293968, PMCID: PMC9603408, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013382.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMIS-CCOVID-19 illnessSevere COVID illnessMultisystem inflammatory syndromeLong symptomsPediatric COVID-19 casesAssociated with SARS-CoV-2 infectionPediatric healthcare systemLong COVIDSARS-CoV-2 infectionRetrospective EHR reviewFollow-up surveyInflammatory syndromePersistent symptomsEthnically diverse childrenPediatric professionalsPresence of long COVIDHealthcare systemVulnerable populationsPost-COVID-19 recovery effortsGovernment insurancePrivate insuranceSymptomsCOVID illnessIllness
2021
Cluster-randomised trial of the impact of an obesity prevention intervention on childcare centre nutrition and physical activity environment over 2 years
Natale R, Atem F, Lebron C, Mathew M, Weerakoon S, Martinez C, Shelnutt K, Spector R, Messiah S. Cluster-randomised trial of the impact of an obesity prevention intervention on childcare centre nutrition and physical activity environment over 2 years. Public Health Nutrition 2021, 25: 3172-3181. PMID: 34593076, PMCID: PMC9991736, DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021004109.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhysical activity environmentsObesity prevention interventionsCluster randomised trialPhysical activityPreventive interventionsActive environmentNutritional scorePromote healthy weightObesity prevention programmesScreen time policiesRandom effects mixed modelPrevalence of obesityPre-school-aged childrenEthnically diverse familiesHealthy weightIntervention armEnvironment scoresPrevention programmesEPAOLow-incomeMiami-Dade CountyControl armSchool yearPrimary outcomeScore changes
2020
An Implementation Approach Comparison of a Child Care Center-Based Obesity Prevention Program.
Natale R, Atem F, Weerakoon S, Lebron C, Mathew M, Sardinas K, Chang C, Shelnutt K, Spector R, Altare F, Messiah S. An Implementation Approach Comparison of a Child Care Center-Based Obesity Prevention Program. Journal Of Developmental And Behavioral Pediatrics 2020, 42: 135-145. PMID: 32947578, PMCID: PMC9336224, DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000000861.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImprove dietary intake patternsCluster randomized controlled trialTrain-the-trainer approachObesity prevention interventionsPhase 1Obesity prevention programsChild dietary practicesBody mass index percentileSnack food consumptionTrain-the-trainerDietary intake patternsUniversity-based research teamPhase 2Randomized controlled trialsVegetable intakeUnhealthy foodsEthnic minority familiesFruit consumptionPreventive interventionsDietary practicesTeam implementationPrevention programsIntake patternsControlled trialsHealthy rangeImplementation of a telehealth-enhanced home visiting programme for families of young children
Jetelina K, Oke O, Rodriguez P, Weerakoon S, Barlow S. Implementation of a telehealth-enhanced home visiting programme for families of young children. Journal Of Telemedicine And Telecare 2020, 28: 266-279. PMID: 32772762, DOI: 10.1177/1357633x20938282.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHome visiting programmeVisiting programmeElectronic health recordsPost-implementationEmergency departmentLongitudinal electronic health recordsPrimary care servicesPaediatric healthcare systemClinical care staffIncreased post-implementationEvaluate patient experienceIntermediate clinical outcomesFamilies of young childrenPreliminary effectivenessCare staffInner settingCare servicesPatient experienceEligible familiesHealth recordsHealthcare professionalsHealthcare utilizationED utilizationHealth systemOuter setting