Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Clinical Assessment Of 4th Year Osteopathic Medical Students: Outdoor Medicine Rotation, Erik E. Langenau, Sarah Blazovic, Ashley Cochran, Sarah Corcoran, Elisa Guisto, Austin Sorchik, Cameron Williams

Erik E. Langenau

Introduction: Securing clinical training sites remains a challenge for medical educators who often resort to paying preceptors or searching for new clinical training sites which haven’t traditionally taken students. We describe a unique partnership between the Boy Scouts of America and PCOM, providing a clinical training opportunity for OMS4 students at PCOM: Outdoor Clinical rotation the Summit Bechtel Family National Boy Scout Reserve in rural West Virginia at the National Scout jamboree, serving 35,000 scouts.

Methods and Curricular Design: By the end of the rotation, each PCOM student was able to (1) provide urgent care for common outdoor injuries: …

Tobacco Smoke Exposure Is An Independent Predictor Of Vitamin D Deficiency In Us Children, Benjamin U. Nwosu, Philip Kum-Nji

Benjamin U. Nwosu

IMPORTANCE: The role of tobacco-smoke exposure on serum vitamin D concentration in US pediatric population is not known. We hypothesized that tobacco smoke exposure would increase the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in US children.

METHODS: Representative national data were accessed from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010 databank on 2,263 subjects of ages 3 to 17 years. Subjects were categorized into two groups based on their age: children, if <10 >years; and youth if 10 to 17 years. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the effect of serum cotinine-verified tobacco smoke exposure on …

Indicators Of Simulated Driving Skills In Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sherrilene Classen, Miriam Monahan, Kiah Brown

Miriam Monahan

Adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have an increased risk for committing traffic violations, and they are four times more likely than neurotypical peers to be crash involved, making them a potentially high risk group for driving. We used a two-group design to measure differences in demographics, clinical off-road tests, and fitness to drive abilities in a driving simulator with nine adolescents with ADHD (mean age = 15.00, SD ± 1.00) compared to 22 healthy controls (HC) (mean age = 14.32, SD ±..716), as evaluated by an Occupational Therapist Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist (OT-CDRS). Despite few demographic differences, the …

The Influence Of Psychosocial Factors On Academic Performance Of Adolescents: A Quality Assurance Project, S. A. Gulzar, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Amina Aijaz, Neesha Hussain

Tazeen Ali

Adolescence is a time of rapid psychological and physiological changes and is associated with anxiety and mental distress. This project looks at the potential of school-based programs to reduce these negative effects of academic performance in both the short- and long-term. This study was conducted in a private school in Karachi, Pakistan between October 1998 and December 2006 on 305 students with low academic performance. Results show that students scoring low grades had a mean of 55 + 2.8 and postintervention score of 56 + 2.6. The intervention package significantly created a difference in reducing the number of students receiving …

Health Care Transitions For Adolescents And Young Adults With Special Health Care Needs: Where Are We Now?, Nicole Mubanga, Dennis J. Baumgardner, Jessica J. F. Kram

Dennis J. Baumgardner, MD

Eventually, all adolescents must “graduate” from pediatric-oriented to adult-oriented health care. This transition, most often occurring during young adulthood, is especially important for adolescents with special health care needs and involves not only primary care physicians, but also both pediatric and adult subspecialists. Several studies support the benefit of transitional programs for adolescents and young adults with special health care needs. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics named transitional care as one of its top priorities. However, transitional programs have yet to become an established norm among hospitals and providers, specifically outside of children’s hospitals. This topic synopsis aims to …

Theory-Driven Longitudinal Study Exploring Indoor Tanning Initiation In Teens Using A Person-Centered Approach, Joel J. Hillhouse, Rob Turrisi, Michael J. Cleveland, Nichole M. Scaglione, Katie Baker, L. Carter Florence

Joel Hillhouse

Background Younger indoor tanning initiation leads to greater melanoma risk due to more frequent and persistent behavior. Despite this, there are no published studies exploring the predictors of indoor tanning initiation in teen populations. Purpose This longitudinal study uses latent profile analysis to examine indoor tanning initiation in indoor tanning risk subgroups from a national sample of female adolescents. Methods Latent profile analysis used indoor tanning beliefs and perceptions to identify indoor tanning initiation risk subgroups. The teens in each subgroup were reassessed on indoor tanning initiation after a year. Results Three subgroups were identified: a low risk, anti-tanning subgroup …

Vitamin D Status In Pediatric Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Benjamin U. Nwosu, Louise Maranda, Ninfa Candela

Benjamin U. Nwosu

IMPORTANCE: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with significant morbidity in children and adolescents, and the therapeutic efficacy of available treatment options is limited. The role of vitamin D supplementation in pediatric IBS is unclear as the vitamin D status of pediatric patients with IBS is unknown. Equally, the relationship of vitamin D status with psychosomatic symptoms in children and adolescents is unclear. AIM: To characterize the vitamin D status of pediatric patients with IBS using a case-control study design. HYPOTHESIS: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration will be similar between patients with IBS and controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective …

Clinical Topic Review 2013 - Behavioral Health Screening Among Masshealth Children And Adolescents, Judith A. Savageau, Georgianna Willis, Kathy Muhr, David M. Keller, Gideon Aweh, Elizabeth O'Connell

Judith A. Savageau

Results from the 2013 evaluation suggest that the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative had a large impact on formal behavioral health screening and treatment utilization among children and adolescents enrolled in MassHealth.

Clinical Topic Review: Behavioral Health Screening For Children With Well Visits, Judith A. Savageau, Linda M. Cabral, Jack Gettens, Elizabeth O'Connell, Lana Miller, Susan Maguire

Judith A. Savageau

The first Clinical Topic Review was conducted in order to better understand how behavioral health screenings were occurring for children and adolescents during well visits prior to the implementation of a requirement that primary care providers perform behavioral health screening using a standardized behavioral health screening tool during every well child visit.

A Mobile, Avatar-Based App For Improving Body Perceptions Among Adolescents: A Pilot Test, Annmarie Lyles, Ashish Amresh, Jennifer Huberty, Michael Todd, Rebecca E. Lee

Ashish Amresh

The Associations Between Physical Activity, Screen Time And Weight From 6 To 14 Years: The Raine Study, Beth P. Hands, Paola Chivers, Helen Parker, Garth Kendall, Lawrence Beilin, Dawne Larkin

Paola Chivers

To examine the strength and direction of the relationship between physical activity level, screen use and BMI in a cohort at ages 6, 8, 10 and 14 yrs as part of a prospective longitudinal cohort study. The sample comprised 1403 males and females who participated in the follow-up survey at 14 yrs of age between 2003 and 2005. Exploratory structural equation modelling was used to examine the interrelationships between physical activity level, BMI and screen time at 6, 8, 10 and 14 yrs. Predictors of BMI at 6, 8, 10 and 14 yrs explained 1.3, 76.1, 80.1 and 73.1 percent …

Maturity, Physical Ability, Technical Skill And Coaches' Perception Of Semi-Elite Adolescent Australian Footballers, A Cripps, L Hopper, C Joyce

Christopher Joyce

Purpose: To confirm the effect of maturational differences on anthropometric and physical testing and explore the effect of maturation on technical skill and coaches’ perceptions of skill in adolescent Australian footballers.

Methods: Athletes were recruited from a semi-elite under 16 competition (n = 94, age 15.7 ± 0.3 years) and completed anthropometric, physical, and technical skill tests. Coaches from each team provided subjective ratings of athletes’ technical skills. Maturation groups were derived from years from peak height velocity estimates, with classifications either later, average or earlier maturing.

Results: Effect size comparisons revealed very large to moderate effects between groups for …

Maturity, Physical Ability, Technical Skill And Coaches' Perception Of Semi-Elite Adolescent Australian Footballers, A Cripps, L Hopper, C Joyce

Ashley Cripps

Purpose: To confirm the effect of maturational differences on anthropometric and physical testing and explore the effect of maturation on technical skill and coaches’ perceptions of skill in adolescent Australian footballers.

Methods: Athletes were recruited from a semi-elite under 16 competition (n = 94, age 15.7 ± 0.3 years) and completed anthropometric, physical, and technical skill tests. Coaches from each team provided subjective ratings of athletes’ technical skills. Maturation groups were derived from years from peak height velocity estimates, with classifications either later, average or earlier maturing.

Results: Effect size comparisons revealed very large to moderate effects between groups for …

Moving Physical Activity Beyond The School Classroom: A Social-Ecological Insight For Teachers Of The Facilitators And Barriers To Students' Non-Curricular Physical Activity, Brendon Hyndman, Amanda Telford, Caroline F. Finch, Amanda C. Benson

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

Non-curricular avenues such as active play during school breaks have been established as a major source for children’s physical and cognitive development, yet there is little information for teachers on the influences affecting primary and secondary school students’ non-curricular physical activity. During this study focus groups and drawing were used to explore the broader influences on primary (n=47) and secondary (n=29) school students’ physical activity behaviour beyond the classroom. Barriers and facilitators to children’s physical activity were categorised using a multi-level social-ecological framework incorporating intrapersonal, interpersonal, physical environment and policy factors. Based on the drawings, comparisons between students’ existing play …

Moving Physical Activity Beyond The School Classroom: A Social-Ecological Insight For Teachers Of The Facilitators And Barriers To Students' Non-Curricular Physical Activity, Brendon Hyndman, Amanda Telford, Caroline F. Finch, Amanda C. Benson

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

Non-curricular avenues such as active play during school breaks have been established as a major source for children’s physical and cognitive development, yet there is little information for teachers on the influences affecting primary and secondary school students’ non-curricular physical activity. During this study focus groups and drawing were used to explore the broader influences on primary (n=47) and secondary (n=29) school students’ physical activity behaviour beyond the classroom. Barriers and facilitators to children’s physical activity were categorised using a multi-level social-ecological framework incorporating intrapersonal, interpersonal, physical environment and policy factors. Based on the drawings, comparisons between students’ existing play …

Reflection Impulsivity In Adolescent Cannabis Users: A Comparison With Alcohol-Using And Non-Substance-Using Adolescents, Nadia Solowij, Katy A. Jones, Megan E. Rozman, Sasha M. Davis, Joseph Ciarrochi, Patrick C. L Heaven, Nicole Pesa, Dan I. Lubman, Murat Yucel

joseph Ciarrochi

Rationale Reflection impulsivity-a failure to gather and evaluate information before making a decision-is a critical component of risk-taking and substance use behaviours, which are highly prevalent during adolescence. Objectives and methods The Information Sampling Test was used to assess reflection impulsivity in 175 adolescents (mean age 18.3, range 16.5-20; 55% female)-48 cannabis users (2.3 years use, 10.8 days/month), 65 alcohol users, and 62 non-substance-using controls-recruited from a longitudinal cohort and from the general community and matched for education and IQ. Cannabis and alcohol users were matched on levels of alcohol consumption. Results Cannabis users sampled to the lowest degree of …

Personality And Religious Values Among Adolescents: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Analysis., Patrick C. Heaven, Joseph V. Ciarrochi

joseph Ciarrochi

Using three waves of data, we assessed the relationships between endorsement of religious values, some of the major personality dimensions, and social and emotional well-being amongst teenagers. Participants were 784 high school students at Time 1 (382 manles and 394 females; 8 did not indicate their gender) and 563 provided data at each of Time 1, Time 2 and Time 3.

Cognitive Ability, Right-Wing Authoritarianism, And Social Dominance Orientation: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study Amongst Adolescents, Patrick C. L. Heaven, Joseph Ciarrochi, Peter Leeson

joseph Ciarrochi

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Vitamin D Supplementation On Hepatic Dysfunction, Vitamin D Status, And Glycemic Control In Children And Adolescents With Vitamin D Deficiency And Either Type 1 Or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Benjamin U. Nwosu, Louise Maranda

Benjamin U. Nwosu

BACKGROUND: The effects of vitamin D supplementation on mild hepatic dysfunction and glycemic control are unclear in children and adolescents with either type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D).

HYPOTHESIS: Vitamin D supplementation will improve hepatic dysfunction and glycemic control.

AIM: To determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on alanine transaminase (ALT), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 131 subjects with either T1D (n = 88∶46 females, 42 males), or T2D (n = 43∶26 females, 17 males) of ages 3-18 years between 2007-2013. All subjects had (1) a …

Sun Protecting And Sun Exposing Behaviors: Testing Their Relationship Simultaneously With Indicators Of Ultraviolet Exposure Among Adolescents, Melinda Williams, Peter Caputi, Sandra C. Jones, Don Iverson

Sandra Jones

The aim of this study was to build on existing understanding of adolescent sun-related behavior by combining sun protecting and sun exposing behaviors and testing their relationship simultaneously with indicators of ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Data were collected for 692 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years. General linear modeling was undertaken to test the relationship of sun-related behaviors with indicators of UV exposure. Overall, the combined sun protection and sun exposing behaviors accounted for 13.8% of the variance in the number of sunburns, 28.1% of the variance in current tan and 57.5% of the variance in desired tan, respectively. Results …

Australian Adolescents' Compliance With Sun Protection Behaviours During Summer: The Importance Of The School Context, Melinda Williams, Sandra C. Jones, Peter Caputi, Donald Iverson

Sandra Jones

Adolescents exhibit significantly lower sun protection behaviours than adults in Australia. While many studies have assessed the sun protection behaviours of adolescents during summer, few studies have explored the differences in sun protection behaviours of adolescents across key contexts relevant to adolescents during summer—notably school time, weekends and school holidays. Greater understanding of differences in behaviours across these contexts provides more detailed explanations of the nature of adolescent ultraviolet exposure and thereby facilitates improved targeting of interventions for this segment whose behaviour is considered hard to change. In this study, we explore the differences in self-reported, habitual, sun protection behaviours …

Exposure To Alcohol Advertising And Alcohol Consumption Among Australian Adolescents, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee

Sandra Jones

Aims: Underage drinking is a major problem in Australia and may be influenced by exposure to alcohol advertising. The objective of the present study was to collect data on 12 17 year old Australian adolescents' exposure to different types of alcohol advertising and examine the association between exposure to advertising and alcohol consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1113 adolescents aged 12 17 years recruited with a variety of methods to gain a cross-section of participants across metropolitan, regional and rural New South Wales (including independent schools, mall intercepts and online). Participants answered a series of questions assessing adolescents' exposure …

Not Just The Taste: Why Adolescents Drink Alcopops, Sandra C. Jones, Samantha Reis

Sandra Jones

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the features of alcopops which make them attractive to Australian adolescents, which features are most important in determining choice of ready-to-drinks (RTDs) over other alcoholic drinks, and whether these vary by age and gender. Design/methodology/approach – Mixed methods study. Participants in Study 1 (focus groups) were 72 adolescents aged 12-17 from New South Wales, Australia; four groups each from Sydney (metropolitan area), Wollongong (regional) and Dubbo (rural); and in Study 2 (survey), 1,263 adolescents aged 12-17 recruited through schools, mall intercepts, and online. Findings – The predominant factor influencing preference …

Review Of Physical Activity Prevalence Of Asian School-Age Children And Adolescents, Andre M. Müller

Andre M Müller

Overweight and obese populations in Asia are high and increasing rapidly. Physical activity prevalence studies have found low physical activity rates among Asian school-age children and adolescents. The purpose of this review is to establish a baseline for physical activity rates in Asian school-age children and adolescents and serve as a platform for additional research. Thirty articles published between 2000 and 2011 on physical activity prevalence of school-age children and adolescents were included in the review. Fourteen studies were conducted in East Asia, 10 in Southeast Asia, 2 in South Asia, and 2 in West Asia. Studies used subjective methods …

Health-Related Quality Of Life, Depression, And Self-Esteem In Adolescents With Leprosy-Affected Parents: Results Of A Cross-Sectional Study In Nepal, Nobuko Yamaguchi, Krishna C. Poudel, Masamine Jimba

Krishna C. Poudel

Nonreciprocal And Reciprocal Dating Violence And Injury Occurrence Among Urban Youth, Monica Swahn, Meltem Alemdar, Daniel J. Whitaker

Dan Whitaker

Objective: Dating violence is a significant health problem among youth that leads to adverse health outcomes, including injuries. Reciprocal violence (perpetrated by both partners) is associated with increased injury in adults, but very little is known about the prevalence and context for reciprocal violence, as well as injury rates, among youth. We sought to determine the prevalence and scope of reciprocal dating violence and injury occurrence among urban youth in a high-risk community.

Methods: Analyses were based on data from the Youth Violence Survey, conducted in 2004, and administered to over 80% of public school students in grades 7, 9, …

Australian Adolescents' Compliance With Sun Protection Behaviours During Summer: The Importance Of The School Context, Melinda Williams, Sandra C. Jones, Peter Caputi, Donald Iverson

Don C. Iverson

Adolescents exhibit significantly lower sun protection behaviours than adults in Australia. While many studies have assessed the sun protection behaviours of adolescents during summer, few studies have explored the differences in sun protection behaviours of adolescents across key contexts relevant to adolescents during summer—notably school time, weekends and school holidays. Greater understanding of differences in behaviours across these contexts provides more detailed explanations of the nature of adolescent ultraviolet exposure and thereby facilitates improved targeting of interventions for this segment whose behaviour is considered hard to change. In this study, we explore the differences in self-reported, habitual, sun protection behaviours …

Process Evaluation Of An Innovative Sun Protection Intervention Targeting Adolescents, Sandra C. Jones, Keryn M. Johnson, Donald C. Iverson, Jeffrey Thom

Don C. Iverson

The purpose of the current intervention was to target a defined segment of the adolescent population with a sun protection ‘offering’ that positioned sun protection as beneficial and addressed identified barriers (particularly inconvenience and image). A community intervention was conducted in one defined geographic region over the 2009/2010 Summer school holidays. Key elements of the intervention included the distribution of augmented products, promotional materials with a pre-tested impactful message, and partnerships with community and commercial organisations. The intervention was successful in creating interest and attention among adolescents. This paper reports on the process evaluations, focusing on barriers, facilitators and lessons …

Correlates Of Suicide Ideation And Attempt Among Youth Living In The Slums Of Kampala, Monica H. Swahn, Jane B. Palmier, Rogers Kasirye, Huang Yao

Monica H. Swahn

While suicidal behavior is recognized as a growing public health problem world-wide, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviors among street and slum youth in Africa, and in Uganda, specifically. The number of youth who live on the streets and in the slums of Kampala appears to be growing rapidly, but their mental health needs have not been documented, which has hampered resource allocation and service implementation. This study of youth, ages 14–24, was conducted in May and June of 2011, to assess the prevalence and correlates of suicidal behavior. Participants (N = 457) were …

Self-Harm And Suicide Attempts Among High-Risk, Urban Youth In The U.S.: Shared And Unique Risk And Protective Factors, Monica H. Swahn, Bina Ali, Robert M. Bossarte, Manfred Van Dulmen, Alex Crosby, Angela C. Jones, Katherine C. Schinka

Monica H. Swahn

The extent to which self-harm and suicidal behavior overlap in community samples of vulnerable youth is not well known. Secondary analyses were conducted of the “linkages study” (N = 4,131), a cross-sectional survey of students enrolled in grades 7, 9, 11/12 in a high-risk community in the U.S. in 2004. Analyses were conducted to determine the risk and protective factors (i.e., academic grades, binge drinking, illicit drug use, weapon carrying, child maltreatment, social support, depression, impulsivity, self-efficacy, parental support, and parental monitoring) associated with both self-harm and suicide attempt. Findings show that 7.5% of participants reported both self-harm and suicide …