Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Socioeconomic-Status And Mental Health In A Personality Disorder Sample: The Importance Of Neighborhood Factors, Zach Walsh, M. Tracie Shea, Shirley Yen, Emily B. Ansell, Carlos M. Grilo, Thomas H. Mcglashan, Robert L. Stout, Donna S. Bender, Andrew E. Skodol, Charles A. Sanislow, Leslie C. Morey, John G. Gunderson

Charles A. Sanislow, Ph.D.

This cross-sectional study examined the associations between neighborhood-level socioeconomic-status (NSES), and psychosocial functioning and personality pathology among 335 adults drawn from the Collaborative Longitudinal Personality Disorders Study. Participants belonged to four personality disorder (PD) diagnostic groups: Avoidant, Borderline, Schizotypal, and Obsessive Compulsive. Global functioning, social adjustment, and PD symptoms were assessed following a minimum two-year period of residential stability. Residence in higher-risk neighborhoods was associated with more PD symptoms and lower levels of functioning and social adjustment. These relationships were consistent after controlling for individual-level socioeconomic-status and ethnicity; however, the positive association between neighborhood-level socio-economic risk and PD symptoms was …

Addressing The Persistence Of Tuberculosis Among The Canadian Inuit Population: The Need For A Social Determinants Of Health Framework, Kassandra C. Kulmann Ma Candidate, Chantelle Am Richmond Professor

Chantelle Richmond

Canadian Aboriginal people have poorer levels of health than the general population. A serious issue is the high rate of tuberculosis (TB) among the Inuit population; rates are much higher than those of the general Canadian population. Several social determinants of health (SDOH), including household crowding and poverty, are strongly correlated with TB prevalence. In this paper, we describe the medical and social determinants of TB, and critically examine the TB literature specific to the Inuit population. The majority of studies recommend biomedical interventions for the treatment of TB. Few researchers have employed the social determinants of health theory to …

Social Foundations For A Community-Based Public Health Cholera Campaign In Borgne, Haiti, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

The rapid and widespread progression of cholera in rural Haiti can be attributed to a “perfect storm” of conditions including the widespread use of unprotected water sources, rudimentary sanitation, the lack of means to afford simple necessities, and the near absence of basic health services to treat the sick. Accessibility of essential health care and reliable sources of clean water in remote areas of rural Haiti are fundamental barriers to addressing acute public health emergencies including the ongoing cholera epidemic. This article explores the notion that positive health outcomes for hard to reach populations can be achieved through community mobilization. …

Risk Factors For Becoming Homeless Among A Cohort Of Veterans Who Served In The Era Of The Iraq And Afghanistan Conflicts, Stephen Metraux, Limin X. Clegg, John D. Daigh, Dennis P. Culhane, Vincent R. Kane

Dennis P. Culhane

Community-Level Characteristics Associated With Variations In Rates Of Homelessness Among Families And Single Adults, Jamison D. Fargo, Ellen A. Munley, Thomas H. Byrne, Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, Dennis P. Culhane

Dennis P. Culhane

Relationship Among Adverse Childhood Experiences, History Of Active Military Service, And Adult Outcomes: Homelessness, Mental Health And Physical Health, Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, J J. Cutuli, Michelle Evans-Chase, Dan Treglia, Dennis P. Culhane

Dennis P. Culhane

Homelessness Research: Shaping Policy And Practice, Now And Into The Future, Dennis P. Culhane, Vince R. Kane, Mark Johnston

Dennis P. Culhane

Universal Screening For Homelessness And Risk For Homelessness In The Veterans Health Administration, Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, Jamison D. Fargo, Thomas H. Byrne, Vincent R. Kane, Dennis P. Culhane

Dennis P. Culhane

Get The Word Out: Utilizing Traditional And Emerging Tools To Disseminate And Measure The Impact Of Your Research, Sally A. Gore

Sally A. Gore

Publishing articles and presenting at conferences are tried and true ways for promoting your research within academic and professional circles, but with changes to scholarly communications and the emergence of many new forms that allow individuals to disseminate information more freely, openly, and quickly, researchers have a host of opportunities to both promote their work to a larger audience and track the impact of their research in a more accurate manner. From article-level metrics (altmetrics) to open access publications to the use of social media, this poster gives an introduction to some of the vehicles available today, how to use …

The 2013 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (Ahar) To Congress: Part 1, Point-In-Time Estimates Of Homelessness, Meghan Henry, Alvaro Cortes, Sean Morris, Jill Khadduri, Dennis P. Culhane

Dennis P. Culhane

Riding The Wave: Counting The Library As Community Benefits, Margot G. Malachowski

Margot G Malachowski, MLS, AHIP

Welcome To The Journal Of Evolution And Health, Aaron Blaisdell, Paul Jaminet, David C. Pendergrass

Aaron P Blaisdell

Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Evolution and Health! The Journal of Evolution and Health is the peer-reviewed, open-access journal of the Ancestral Health Society, a community of scientists, healthcare professionals, and laypersons who collaborate to understand health challenges from an evolutionary perspective.

Hyptertension Among Haitians Living In The Bahamas, John Mazzeo

John Mazzeo, Ph.D.

For many Haitians in the Bahamas, migration and the process of adapting to life creates stress and may be correlated with high blood pressure. This study examines the social determinants of hypertension among Haitians in the Bahamas by exploring how experiences of migration create stress that is believed to cause high blood pressure. The Haitian explanatory model of high blood pressure, tansyon, explains the relationships between variables such as diet, stress, and poverty with the blood. Research was conducted in several Haitian communities in New Providence and Abaco using ethnographic methods such as interviews and participant observation. Information about hypertension …

The 2012 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (Ahar) To Congress: Volume 2, Estimates Of Homelessness In The United States, Claudia Solari, Alvaro Cortes, Scott Brown, Jill Khadduri, Dennis P. Culhane

Dennis P. Culhane

Rates Of Insurance For Injured Patients Before And After Health Care Reform In Massachusetts: Another Case Of Double Jeopardy?, Heena P. Santry, Courtney E. Collins, Jason T. Wiseman, Julie M. Flahive, Charles M. Psoinos, Zeling Chau, Shimul A. Shah, Catarina I. Kiefe

Catarina I. Kiefe

Background: As a result of healthcare reform (HCR), insurance rates among Massachusetts (MA) residents increased from 86.6% (2006) to 94.4% (2010) and conferred a 7.6% higher probability of being insured compared to neighboring states. The effect of an individual mandate on insurance rates among trauma patients is unknown.

Methods: This was retrospective analysis of adult (18-64yrs) trauma patients from MA and surrounding states (NH, RI, CT, NY, VT) treated at our level 1 trauma center in central MA before (2004-2005) and after (2009-2010) MA-HCR. We estimated changes in insurance rates across time-periods and state-residence.

Results: Before MA-HCR, 76.7% (1647/2,148) of …

Disparities In Access To Healthcare: The Case Of A Drug And Alcohol Abuse Detoxification Treatment Program Among Minority Groups In A Texas Hospital, Alberto Coustasse, Karan P. Singh, Fernando M. Trevino

Alberto Coustasse, DrPH, MD, MBA, MPH

The authors analyzed ethnic/racial disparities in healthcare access and length of stay from a defined population of individuals seeking medical detoxification services at a hospital in Texas. Results indicated Blacks were more likely to be insured compared with Whites, mostly by public insurance, but this did not hold for Hispanics, who were about three times more likely to be uninsured compared with Blacks. In addition, the authors observed lower median of length of stay in the Medicaid category among Hispanics. These results can be explained by aggressive case management, sociocultural barriers, or discriminatory practices, both intentional and unintentional.

Physical Activity At Daycare: Issues, Challenges And Perspectives, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Shauna Burke

Trish Tucker

This study sought to examine London, Ontario‐based childcare providers’ perspectives of the barriers and facilitators to physical activity participation among preschoolers (i.e. children aged 2.5–5 years) attending daycare. A heterogeneous sample of childcare providers (n = 54; response rate 47%) working at public daycare facilities in London, Ontario participated. Using a qualitative methodology, eight semi‐structured focus groups were conducted between February and March 2009. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive content analysis was used to code and categorize emerging themes. When asked to describe the barriers to engaging preschoolers in physical activity while at daycare, participants discussed …

The Influence Of The Physical Environment And Sociodemographic Characteristics On Children's Mode Of Travel To And From School, Kristian Larsen, Jason Gilliland, Peter Hess, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Meizi He

Trish Tucker

Objectives: We examined whether certain characteristics of the social and physical environment influence a child's mode of travel between home and school. Methods: Students aged 11 to 13 years from 21 schools throughout London, Ontario, answered questions from a travel behavior survey. A geographic information system linked survey responses for 614 students who lived within 1 mile of school to data on social and physical characteristics of environments around the home and school. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the influence of environmental factors on mode of travel (motorized vs "active") to and from school. Results: Over 62% of …

Adolescents' Perspectives Of Home, School And Neighborhood Environmental Influences On Physical Activity And Dietary Behaviors, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Jason Gilliland, Meizi He

Trish Tucker

This investigation sought to gain an understanding of how youth perceive neighborhood environmental influences on their physical activity and eating behaviors. This qualitative study targeted a heterogeneous sample of 12- to 14- year-olds in London, Ontario, Canada. Using a semi-structured interview guide, we conducted nine focus groups (n = 60) and used inductive content analysis to investigate their discussions. Most participants discussed their school, parks, and opportunity structures around their homes as influencing their physical activity, and overwhelmingly reported the availability of fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, and slow-food restaurants in their neighborhoods as influencing their eating practices. The descriptive information …

The Effect Of Season And Weather On Physical Activity: A Systematic Review, Patricia Tucker, Jason Gilliland

Trish Tucker

Objectives: This study reviewed previous studies to explore the effect of season, and consequently weather, on levels of physical activity. Study design and methods: Thirty-seven primary studies (published 1980–2006) representing a total of 291 883 participants (140 482 male and 152 085 female) from eight different countries are described, and the effect of season on moderate levels of physical activity is considered. Results: Upon review of the evidence, it appears that levels of physical activity vary with seasonality, and the ensuing effect of poor or extreme weather has been identified as a barrier to participation in physical activity among various …

Environmental Influences On Physical Activity Levels In Youth, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Jason Gilliland, Meizi He, Kristian Larsen, Paul Hess

Trish Tucker

This study assessed the amount of physical activity engaged in by youth aged 11–13, in relation to: (1) the presence of neighborhood recreational opportunities, objectively measured within a geographic information system; and (2) parents’ perceptions of recreation opportunities in their neighborhoods. Students in grade 7 and 8 (n=811) in 21 elementary schools throughout London, Ontario completed the adapted Previous Day Physical Activity Recall and a questionnaire assessing environmental influences in the home and school neighborhoods. Parents/guardians of participants also completed a questionnaire eliciting demographic information and perceptions of the neighborhood environment. On average, students engaged in 159.9 min/day of physical …

Healthy Eating And Physical Activity Challenges And Opportunities In After-School Programs: Providers’ Perspectives, Heather Thomas, L. Fellner, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin

Trish Tucker

The purpose of this study was to understand after-school program providers’ perspectives of (a) current physical activity and nutrition curriculum, practices, and challenges, and (b) necessary modifications, program suggestions or resource needs to improve the healthy eating and active living practices within their after-school program for children aged 6 to 12 years. This qualitative study targeted a sample of nine after-school program providers in London, Ontario. Data was collected via in-depth interviews and a demographic survey between January and April 2009. Strategies to enhance data trustworthiness were incorporated throughout. After-school program providers identified insufficient healthy eating curriculum and requested interactive, …

Why Are There Delays In Seeking Treatment For Childhood Diarrhoea In India?, Nisha Malhotra

Nisha Malhotra

Abstract Aim To examine the barriers and facilitating factors for seeking treatment for childhood diarrhoea and to determine the main causes for delay in seeking treatment.

Methods Data from Indian Demographic and Health survey 2005–06 (NFHS-III) was used. Mothers were asked if their children (<5-years) had suffered from diarrhoea during the two weeks preceding the survey. Data were collected on the time of seeking treatment after start of the illness, and days waited to seek treatment after the diarrhoea started. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to find the determinants of seeking treatment at the health facility and the factors responsible for the “delay” in seeking advice/treatment.

Results Out of a sample of 41,287 children, 3890 (9.4%) reportedly had diarrhoea. Sixty percent of children with diarrhoea were taken to a health facility. Mother's education till higher secondary and above (OR 1.65; 95% CI, 1.08 – 2.54), richest (OR 1.76; 95% CI, 1.24 – 2.48) wealth index, mother's lack of knowledge of oral …

Kawasaki Syndrome In Texas, Alberto Coustasse, Julius J. Larry, Witold Migala, Cody Arvidson, Karan P. Singh

Alberto Coustasse, DrPH, MD, MBA, MPH

The authors examined hospitalization rates of Kawasaki Syndrome (KS) among Texas children to isolate clusters, identify demographic disparities, and suggest possible causative factors. Using a retrospective cross-sectional study design, they studied 330 KS cases from 2,818,460 hospital discharges. The majority of the cases (61.5%) occurred within the 1-4-years-old category, representing the highest hospitalization rate (14.3 per 100,000 children). Almost 75% of the KS population was less than 5 years old, with hospitalization rates approximately 8 times higher than that of all other children (p < .05). KS diagnosis occurred for only 49.4% of all KS cases upon admission. Along with high-density …

To The Bitter End: Disparities In End-Of-Life Care, Alberto Coustasse, Theresa Quiroz, Sue G. Lurie

Alberto Coustasse, DrPH, MD, MBA, MPH

Although technological advancements have provided the means to sustain life and provide care regardless of whether the treatment is appropriate and compassionate given the condition of the patient, bioethical, legal, and moral concerns related to disparities in care still arise in the United States. These concerns call into question the necessity to continue life-sustaining or palliative care treatments when patients and/or families are faced with end-of-life decisions. This study will focus on various historical, clinical cultural, and ethical issues that have placed this dilemma into a controversial public spectrum, by using case studies retrieved from referenced literature, which illustrate disparities …

Libraries In New England Working To Develop Healthy Communities And Increase Health Literacy, Michelle L. Eberle, Javier Crespo, Deborah Clark, Caroline Marshall, Margot Malachowski

Margot G Malachowski, MLS, AHIP

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, New England Region, created Communities of Interests (COIs) for our network members to come together to learn more about health literacy and be a part of cultivating healthy communities. Each Community of Interest offers an e-newsletter and hosts webinars with presentations by experts in health literacy and creating healthy communities. Topics for programs this year included: 10 Easy Ways You Can Contribute to Health Literacy; How to Contribute to Community Benefit at Your Hospital; a MedlinePlus.gov Train-the-Trainer; Clever Evaluation; and a program day on Health Information Equity. Each COI conducted needs assessment at …

A Tale Of Two Health Sciences Libraries Working To Improve Health Literacy [Poster], Margot G. Malachowski Mls, Kate Saylor Msi

Margot G Malachowski, MLS, AHIP

Enhancing Treatment Participation In Camhs Among Families Of Conduct Problem Children: Effectiveness Study Of A Clinician Training Programme, Bruce Watt, Mark Dadds, Denisse Best, Catherine Daviess

Bruce Watt

Background: The effectiveness of a training programme targeting structural and therapy process strategies to enhance treatment attendance among families of conduct problem children was evaluated across three community mental health clinics. Method: Utilising a staggered multiple-baseline design, referrals prior to clinician training were compared to posttraining referrals (N=221). Results: In comparison to service as usual, children and their families referred after the training initiative had significantly higher treatment attendance (66% vs. 83%) and 79% less likelihood of attrition, though findings were mixed for child's mental health. Conclusions: The findings provide initial support for the effectiveness of the clinician training programme …

Individuals With Single Versus Multiple Suicide Attempts Over 10 Years Of Prospective Follow-Up, Christina L. Boisseaua, Shirley Yen, John C. Markowitz, Carlos M. Grilo, Charles A. Sanislow, M. Tracie Shea, Mary C. Zanarini, Andrew E. Skodol, John G. Gunderson, Leslie C. Morey, Thomas H. Mcglashan

Charles A. Sanislow, Ph.D.

Background: The study attempted to identify characteristics that differentiate multiple suicide attempters from single attempters in individuals with personality disorders (PDs) and/or major depression.

Method: Participants were 431 participants enrolled in the Collaborative Longitudinal Study of Personality Disorders from July 1996 to June 2008. Suicide attempts were assessed with the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation at 6 and 12months, then yearly through 10years. Logistic regression was used to compare single attempters to multiple attempters on Axis I and II psychiatric disorders and personality trait variables.

Results: Twenty-one percent of participants attempted suicide during the 10years of observation, with 39 (9.0%) reporting …

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 …