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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

A New Application Of Spatiotemporal Analysis For Detecting Demographic Variations In Aids Mortality: An Example From Florida, Yuwen Chiu, Chiehwen Ed Hsu Nov 2008

A New Application Of Spatiotemporal Analysis For Detecting Demographic Variations In Aids Mortality: An Example From Florida, Yuwen Chiu, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

The purpose of the present study was to characterize, geographically and temporally, the patterns of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) death disparity in 67 Florida jurisdictions, and to determine if the detected trends varied according to age, race, and sex. The space-time scan statistic proposed by Kulldorff et al was used to examine the excess AIDS deaths that occurred between 1987 and 2004. Results were geographically referenced in maps using EpiInfo and EpiMap made available by the Centers for Disease Control. Miami-Dade and the nearby counties including Broward, Martin, and Palm Beach are the most likely clusters (observed/expected: 1505.16) with …


Assessing Bioterrorism Preparedness And Response Of Rural Veterinarians: Experiences And Training Needs, Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Francisco G. Soto Mas Jul 2008

Assessing Bioterrorism Preparedness And Response Of Rural Veterinarians: Experiences And Training Needs, Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Francisco G. Soto Mas

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Veterinarians play a unique role in emergency preparedness and response, and as such federal agencies and academic institutions allocated considerable resources to provide training to enhance their readiness. However, the level of preparedness of veterinarians in many rural regions is yet to be improved. This paper reports an assessment of the bioterrorism preparedness, specifically the experience and training needs of rural veterinarians in North Texas. The study employed a cross-sectional design with a study population that included all veterinarians (N=352) in the 37 counties in Texas Department of State Health Services Regions 2 and 3. Data on veterinarians practicing or …


Examining Geographic And Temporal Variations Of Aids Mortality: Evidence Of Racial Disparities, Yuwen Chiu, Chiehwen Ed Hsu Jun 2008

Examining Geographic And Temporal Variations Of Aids Mortality: Evidence Of Racial Disparities, Yuwen Chiu, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Background: There is little literature on spatiotemporal trends of AIDS mortality among different race and gender groups. The purpose of the present study is to describe AIDS mortality geographically and temporally, and to determine if detected trends vary by race and gender. Methods: The Spatial Scan Statistic was employed to examine the geographic excess of AIDS mortality by race and gender in 24 Maryland jurisdictions between 1987 and 2003. Spatial analysis was conducted to identify clusters of excess mortality. The temporal scan statistic was used to explore time trends of AIDS mortality. Prospective space-time analysis was also conducted to verify …


Correlates Of Tobacco Cessation Counseling Among Hispanic Physicians In The Us: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study, Francisco Soto Mas, Chiehwen Ed Hsu Mar 2008

Correlates Of Tobacco Cessation Counseling Among Hispanic Physicians In The Us: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study, Francisco Soto Mas, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Background: Physician advice is an important motivator for attempting to stop smoking. However, physicians’ lack of intervention with smokers has only modestly improved in the last decade. Although the literature includes extensive research in the area of the smoking intervention practices of clinicians, few studies have focused on Hispanic physicians. The purpose of this study was to explore the determinants of tobacco counseling practices among Hispanic physicians in the US. Methods: Data were collected through a validated survey instrument among a cross-sectional sample of self-reported Hispanic physicians practicing in New Mexico, and who were members of the New Mexico Hispanic …


Capacity Building In Biodefense Informatics For Public Health Preparedness In Rural Regions: Epiinfo, Gis, And Data Management Training, Francisco G. Soto Mas, Jerry A. Miller, Ella T. Nkhoma, W. Chris Chambers Dec 2007

Capacity Building In Biodefense Informatics For Public Health Preparedness In Rural Regions: Epiinfo, Gis, And Data Management Training, Francisco G. Soto Mas, Jerry A. Miller, Ella T. Nkhoma, W. Chris Chambers

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Introduction: Emergency informatics such as data management and GIS applications have become important training agenda for enhancing health surveillance and risk communication in public health emergencies. The free EpiInfo/Epimap Program developed by the CDC offers domain knowledge such as health information management may be particular crucial for preparing non-urban jurisdictions that are often confronting limited resources in dealing with health emergency events. This paper describes the delivery of training workshops to enhance the competencies of health workers in biodefense informatics, and discusses its implication for delivering education to rural regions. Methods: Three EpiInfo/EpiMap workshops “Biodefense Informatics and Health Surveillance Database …