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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2011

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Medicine and Health Sciences

Florida Public Health Review

Articles 1 - 15 of 15

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Is The Polst Model Desirable For Florida?, Sarah Catherine Spillers, Brittany Lamb Nov 2011

Is The Polst Model Desirable For Florida?, Sarah Catherine Spillers, Brittany Lamb

Florida Public Health Review

Florida has one ofthe largest and most rapidly growing elderly populations in the nation. Although advances in medicine are allowing physicians to extend the lives of elderly patients, advances must simultaneously be made in the end-of-life care arena to ensure that the comfort and quality of life of elderly patients is maintained. This paper argues that use of a Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form in Florida would be effective in increasing the accuracy oftranslating patients’ end-of-life wishes into treatment orders, in ensuring the consistency of treatment across settings, and in improving health care provider compliance with patient …


Florida Public Health Association 2009 Survey Of Academic Public Health Programs In Florida, Leslie Sue Lieberman, Nancy Rudner Lugo, Mary Peoples-Sheps, Melissa J. Vilaro, Claude Earl Fox Sep 2011

Florida Public Health Association 2009 Survey Of Academic Public Health Programs In Florida, Leslie Sue Lieberman, Nancy Rudner Lugo, Mary Peoples-Sheps, Melissa J. Vilaro, Claude Earl Fox

Florida Public Health Review

Preparing the public health workforce is essential to the protection ofthe health and wellbeing ofthe state and the nation. Yet, a workforce shortage is looming. It is anticipated that by 2020, the nation will be facing a shortfall ofmore than a quarter of a million public health workers. To address this impeding shortage, the Association ofSchools ofPublic Health (ASPH) has stressed the need to build public health education capacity, with emphasis on competencies and curriculum in emerging diseases, with joint degrees, and with diverse approaches to education, including certificates and distance learning. To assess Florida’s available public health professional preparation …


Mentoring: Combating Vulnerabilities Of Homeless Children, Julia Lane Mitchell Jun 2011

Mentoring: Combating Vulnerabilities Of Homeless Children, Julia Lane Mitchell

Florida Public Health Review

Homeless children are at risk for numerous health maintenance, academic performance, job preparedness, and emotional well- being issues. The effects of poverty multiply with time, posing greater risks the longer children are entrenched in homelessness. Expansive, holistic programming can address the special needs ofhomeless children. One-on-one mentoring offers a viable strategy to prevent morbidity emanating from homelessness by providing personal attention, encouragement, and affirmation to these vulnerable children, who with time, may develop a more defined self-identity that results in motivation and success.


Pedestrian Safety In Hillsborough County, Florida: A Proposed Policy Approach, Alyssa B. Mayer Jun 2011

Pedestrian Safety In Hillsborough County, Florida: A Proposed Policy Approach, Alyssa B. Mayer

Florida Public Health Review

Despite the resurgence of interest in policy implementation, communities, community-based coalitions, and other community- based groups have had mixed success in effecting state and local health policy changes. However, policy changes have been deemed more effective than individual behavior change programs. The creation of a policy advocacy framework may simplify the policy analysis process and arm community groups with practical tools to select, modify, and promote effective public health policies. This paper applies a hypothetical framework for equipping community groups to apply an evidence base to focus policy advocacy efforts systematically.


Prostate Cancer Screening: Leadership Implications, Dorothy D. Zeviar Jun 2011

Prostate Cancer Screening: Leadership Implications, Dorothy D. Zeviar

Florida Public Health Review

TheepidemiologyofprostatecancerintheAfricanAmericanpopulationiswell-knowntohealthcarepractitioners; prostate cancer disproportionately impacts African American men 2:1 compared to Caucasian men. The Prostate Cancer Foundation hypothesizes that the increased mortality risk may be due to delayed diagnosis, poor work-up, and less complete treatment, indicating inequitable use of the health care system. The National Cancer Institute suggests that availability of health insurance and physician contact may increase screening and thus, reduce cancer mortality. Because health behaviors and health outcomes are impacted at five different levels according to the Social Ecology Model ofhealth – intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community and social/policy levels – this report proposes that a Collaborative Leadership model …


Childhood Obesity In America: The Leadership Role Of Schools In Prevention, Daphnee A. Guillaume Jun 2011

Childhood Obesity In America: The Leadership Role Of Schools In Prevention, Daphnee A. Guillaume

Florida Public Health Review

Childhood obesity is a major public health concern; children are being diagnosed with adult type diseases and health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, etc. Still, over the past decade there have been many attempts by schools, and even the federal government to address the situation, yet there hasn’t been an effective model that has been able to do so. The schools in this country are not consistent when it comes to addressing the issue of childhood obesity. Out of the 50 states in this country, only 19 have nutritional standards for school meals, though all 50 …


Using Leadership To Address The Problem Of Obesity In The Workplace, Amber Colston Jun 2011

Using Leadership To Address The Problem Of Obesity In The Workplace, Amber Colston

Florida Public Health Review

Obesity is a growing epidemic that affects more and more Americans every year. With the majority ofAmerican adults in the workforce, obesity plays a large part in healthcare costs, absenteeism, and “presenteeism.” Because ofthe large amount oftime adults spend in the workplace, using this setting as an intervention point for healthy lifestyle change could greatly reduce the prevalence of obesity. This paper will review factors that have contributed to the problem of obesity in the workplace, namely the factors at each ofthe five levels ofthe Social Ecology ofHealth Model. Then using leadership frameworks, such as that of Transformational Leadership, this …


Lead The Way Florida! Raising Nutrition Awareness To Lower Obesity, Bethany M. Brunny Jun 2011

Lead The Way Florida! Raising Nutrition Awareness To Lower Obesity, Bethany M. Brunny

Florida Public Health Review

Rising obesity rates increase the potential for many chronic diseases and lower quality of life. Strong leadership in the practice ofnutrition awareness and knowledge needs to be established to reduce obesity in the state ofFlorida. Most Americans do not eat the recommended daily amounts offruits and vegetables, which partially accounts for increased obesity rates. Interventions that raise nutritional knowledge and awareness may increase fruit and vegetable intake and lower fat intake. Having nutritional knowledge is the first step to living a healthy lifestyle with a healthy weight. Changes in policy like requiring restaurants to report calorie and fat contents offood …


Failures In The Veterans Administration And New Strategies For Leadership, Jarrett Nathaniel Brunny Jun 2011

Failures In The Veterans Administration And New Strategies For Leadership, Jarrett Nathaniel Brunny

Florida Public Health Review

World news organizations have criticized the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for endangering patient safety through negligence. Several VA medical centers - including prominent centers operating in Florida - failed to sterilize endoscopy and colonoscopy equipment. Through improper sterilization, a pathway for infection is created resulting in potential disease exposures to patients. In response, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the reports and found that facilities did not adhere to protocol concerning reusable medical equipment (RME) problems during the practice ofperforming endoscopies and colonoscopies. The Office ofInspector General noted that the incidents reflected flaws in …


Formalizing Education About Public Health Leadership During Professional Preparation, Robert J. Mcdermott Jun 2011

Formalizing Education About Public Health Leadership During Professional Preparation, Robert J. Mcdermott

Florida Public Health Review

This year is the fourth year that the Florida Public Health Review (FPHR) has published student essays that attempt to illustrate how the application of specific leadership paradigms might, in theory, be responsive in addressing challenging and historically unresponsive problems in public health. Other public health students, faculty, and practitioners from throughout Florida are invited to contribute ideas that foster leadership skills and the development ofdynamic leaders.


Addressing Colon Cancer Screening Disparities Among Overweight And Obese Women, Sara M. Kennedy Jun 2011

Addressing Colon Cancer Screening Disparities Among Overweight And Obese Women, Sara M. Kennedy

Florida Public Health Review

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in women and 60% ofdeaths from colon cancer could be prevented ifpersons 50 and older were screened regularly. Whereas physician recommendation has been identified as critical to increasing colon cancer screening, this factor may be insufficient for increasing colon cancer screening adherence among overweight and obese women. Despite having more physician visits, this population tends to receive fewer preventative services. Women who delay routine cancer screening have the highest rates ofdieting. An intervention utilizing the recommendation for screening from a weight loss advisor at an organization like may prove to be effective. …


A Leadership Solution To Workplace Stress, Monica L. Rousseau Jun 2011

A Leadership Solution To Workplace Stress, Monica L. Rousseau

Florida Public Health Review

Sources of stress can be found nearly everywhere: in school, at home, in traffic, and maybe most importantly –in the workplace. Chronic workplace stress, also known as “burnout”, has been linked with both psychological and physiological illnesses. As most Americans spend about halfoftheir waking hours at work, the workplace is an excellent location to evaluate specific risk factors and implement stress reducing programs. Although a number ofsuch programs are currently in practice, the majority ofthem only offer techniques and coping mechanisms to individuals already exhibiting some, or several, ofthe many severe symptoms ofchronic stress. The purpose ofthis paper is to …


Prevalence Of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 And 2 In A Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic In Miami, Maya Morrison-Bryant, Maria Alcaide, Khaled Deeb, Jose G. Castro Feb 2011

Prevalence Of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 And 2 In A Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic In Miami, Maya Morrison-Bryant, Maria Alcaide, Khaled Deeb, Jose G. Castro

Florida Public Health Review

The Prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 among STD clinics in Miami is not known. The objective of this study was to evaluate infection rates of HSV 1 and 2, and to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, sexual orientation and co-infection with HIV and other STIs, in individuals attending a Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinic in Miami. A cross-sectional study of 663 patients tested for HSV type-specific serology or herpes culture during the year 2007 was performed. An overall infection rate of HSV-1 was 42.1% and 36.7% for HSV-2. Statistically higher infection rates for HSV-1and 2 were seen among Hispanics (56.7%, 54.4%) …


An Update On Red Light Camera Research: The Need For Federal Standards In The Interest Of Public Safety, Barbara Langland-Orban, John T. Large, Etienne E. Pracht Feb 2011

An Update On Red Light Camera Research: The Need For Federal Standards In The Interest Of Public Safety, Barbara Langland-Orban, John T. Large, Etienne E. Pracht

Florida Public Health Review

Since publishing our critique of red light camera (RLC) studies in 2008, we have gained increased insights on the controversy over RLCs. Herein we provide additional information on RLCs, and use a question-and-answer format to address frequently asked questions. This update includes the rationale given for ignoring fatalities at RLC sites, the convergence in findings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's compendium of best RLC studies, common violations of research methods in RLC evaluations, the RLC cost-to-benefit implications for motorists, an explanation for the increase in rear-end crashes at RLC sites, and why RLCs may be ineffective in reducing …


Decreasing Unwanted Pregnancies By Increasing Use Of Emergency Contraceptive Pills (Ecps): A Leadership Approach, Kara Mcginnis Feb 2011

Decreasing Unwanted Pregnancies By Increasing Use Of Emergency Contraceptive Pills (Ecps): A Leadership Approach, Kara Mcginnis

Florida Public Health Review

Unwanted pregnancies burden the U.S. healthcare system, as well as create challenges for women, families, and children. Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) can prevent a large percentage of unwanted pregnancies if used appropriately. Factors contributing to non-use of ECPs include the negative social environment created by views on sexual health, misunderstanding concerning the mechanism ofaction, women’s misperceptions oftheir risks ofgetting pregnant and how ECPs work, barriers to obtaining ECPs, and lack of counseling about ECPs from healthcare providers. Leadership is needed to address these factors contributing to the problem. Health educators are in a unique position to lead the field in …