Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

National Longitudinal Survey Of Public Health Systems: Comparative Report Of 2012 Results, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

The third wave of the National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems was fielded in 2012 in a nationally-representative cohort of local communities. The survey measures the availability of 20 recommended public health activities in the community, the range of organizations that participate in performing each activity, and the perceived effectiveness of each activity. Prior waves of the survey were fielded in 1998 and 2006. Local health officials report data for this survey and receive a customized report of results that compare data for their community with national norms and with "peer groups" of similar communities. This document provides an …

An Assessment Of The Effects Of Desertification In Yobe State, Nigeria, Jibril Musa Phd

Confluence Journal Environmental Studies (CJES), Kogi State University, Nigeria

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental and socio-economic problems of our time. Desertification describes circumstances of land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions resulting from the climatic variation and human activities. The fundamental goal of this thesis was to assess the effects of desertification in Yobe State, Nigeria. The present threat of desertification in the sahel has reached an alarming stage where crops cultivation and animal rearing/grazing are no more productive, soil has lost its nutrient/fertility, various infrastructure had given way because of windstorm from the neighbouring Niger Republic and sand dunes had taken over. The …

Using Remote Sensing Data To Improve Rice Production In Kutigi, Niger State, Nigeria, Jibril Musa Phd, M B. Yunusa

Confluence Journal Environmental Studies (CJES), Kogi State University, Nigeria

This research work looked in the used of Remote Sensing to improve Agricultural production in Kutigi, Niger State. The aim of the study is to use remote sensing to improve rice farming activities in Kutigi, Niger State. It is very important to identify such methods to improve Agricultural production because experts are always interested in new researches and findings to better the standard of living in any environment. In view of this, Remotely-sensed data could be used or employed to elevate most of these agricultural problems in Kutigi through the following objectives: Using Landsat imagery to assess the present landuse …

Public Health Return On Investment: Making The Case, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

Fiscal pressures and policy imperatives have created a need for rigorous economic analyses of public health programs and policies. ROI analyses can reveal whether the benefits of public health strategies justify their costs, who realizes these benefits and costs, and under what circumstances.

Comparative Effectiveness Research And Patient-Centered Outcomes Research In Public Health Settings: Design, Analysis And Funding Considerations, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

The principles and methods of CER and PCOR have developed primarily with therapeutics in mind, but they must also be applied to the study of public health programs, policies, and delivery systems. This session surveys the emerging field, and provides examples of CER/PCOR methods applied in public health settings using practice-based research networks (PBRNs).

Incorporating Digital Health Literacy Into Adult Esl Education On The Us-Mexico Border, Erika Mein, Francisco Soto Mas

Francisco Soto Mas

The increasing digitization of information and communication has undoubtedly impacted the ways in which people in the United States access and interpret health information. Although the traditional emphasis of health literacy research has been the comprehension of health-related texts such as patient information forms, prescriptions, and medicine labels, the increased use of electronic means to locate health information requires more critical engagement with texts beyond basic comprehension. In accessing electronic health information, patients need to be able to navigate the vast amount of online health information and to interpret and synthesize health information across multiple sources (i.e. websites) while also …

A Human Centered Geovisualization Framework To Facilitate Visual Exploration Of Telehealth Data: A Case Study, Ashish Joshi, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Background: Public health data is typically organized by geospatial units. Routine geographic monitoring of health data enables an understanding of the spatial patterns of events in terms of causes and controls. GeoVisualization (GeoVis) allows users to see information hidden both visually and explicitly on a map. Despite the applicability of GeoVis in public health, it is still underused for visualizing public health data. Objective: The objective of this study is to conduct user analysis by examining the various kinds of users that are involved with the telehealth program, their expertise and skills and their perception towards the utilization of GeoVis …

Data Acquisition Plan For The Public Health Multi-Network Practice And Outcome Variation (Mprove) Study, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

This brief details the steps to be followed in obtaining and compiling data on the core (and optional) measures of public health service delivery for the MPROVE study. MPROVE data will need to be obtained from several different sources. Data for some measures already exist in administrative records, surveillance systems, or other sources maintained by the local and state public health agencies that participate in your PBRN. For other measures, it may be necessary to obtain data from other agencies that collaborate with the public health agencies in your PBRN. In still other cases, it may be necessary to undertake …

Commonhealth: Mass. A National Leader In Overdose Prevention, Leo Beletsky, Alexander Walley

Leo Beletsky

In this interview on Radio Boston, Leo Beletsky and Alexander Walley discuss their viewpoint piece, “Prevention of Fatal Opioid Overdose,” which appeared in the Nov. 14, 2012 issue of the Journal of the Medical American Association.

Final Set Of Public Health Delivery Measures Selected For The Multi-Network Practice And Outcome Variation Examination (Mprove) Study, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

The Multi-Network Practice and Outcome Variation Examination Study (MPROVE) engages public health practice-based research networks (PBRNs) in the collection and analysis of measures of public health delivery across a large number of local practice settings in order to examine the causes and consequences of practice variation in public health. This document summarizes the final set of measures selected for the MPROVE study, including measures of the reach, volume, intensity, and quality of public health delivery in three domains of activity: chronic disease prevention, communicable disease control, and environmental health protection.

Australian Consumer Attitudes To Health Claim - Food Product Compatibility For Functional Foods, P. G. Williams, L. Ridges, M. Batterham, B. Ripper, M. C. Hung

Dr Marijka Batterham

This study with Australian consumers investigated how appealing different health claims combined with particular food carriers were to Australian consumers, and compared the results of a similar study with Dutch consumers. 149 shoppers considered up to 30 different food concepts, rating how ‘attractive’, ‘believable’, and ‘new and different’ they found each concept and their ‘intention to try’. Each variable was significantly related to intention to try (p<0.001) and together explained 56% of the intention score. Claims and carriers independently had a significant effect on ratings of attractiveness and intention to try but, unlike the Dutch study, the carrier was a more important predictor of intention to purchase than the claim. Implications for regulation of health claims for food are discussed.

Prevention Of Fatal Opioid Overdose, Leo Beletsky

Leo Beletsky

Opioid overdose is a burgeoning public health crisis, accounting for at least 16,000 deaths annually in the United States. Opioid overdose occurs across sex, ethnic, age, and geographic strata and involves both medical and nonmedical opioid use. To date, federal government response has focused primarily on monitoring and securing the drug supply. This Viewpoint suggests various steps necessary to support a more comprehensive approach.

Vulnerability Of Mountain Rivers To Waste Dumping From Neamț County, Florin C. Mihai, Liviu Apostol, Adrian Ursu, Pavel Ichim

Florin C MIHAI

Lack of waste management facilities from mountain region often lead to uncontrolled disposal of waste on river banks polluting the local environment and damaging the tourism potential. Geographical conditions influences the distribution of human settlements which are located along the rivers and its tributaries. This paper aims to estimate the amounts of household waste generated and uncollected disposed into mountain rivers, taking into account several factors such as:proximity of rivers to the human settlements, the morphology of villages, length of river that crosses the locality(built up areas), local population, the access to waste collection services and waste management infrastructure. Vulnerability …

Public Health Return-On-Investment Template - Demonstration Version, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

The Public Health Return on Investment (ROI) Template is designed to help public health organizations estimate the economic returns from investments made in strategies that enhance public health service delivery, including quality improvement (QI) interventions. Depending on data availability, the template can be used to support retrospective analyses of actual investments as well as prospective analyses of potential future investments. The tool is designed to analyze economic returns realized through one ore more of the following pathways: (1) Reductions in routine operating costs; (2) Increases in revenue streams; (3) Increases in the outputs produced through agency services/functions; (4) Reductions in …

Estimating Scale And Scope Effects In Public Health Delivery: Implications For Regionalization, Glen P. Mays, Rachel A. Hogg, Rick Ingram, Kristina Rabarison

Glen Mays

OBJECTIVES: The nation's public health delivery system comprises nearly 3000 local public health agencies that vary widely in capabilities. Economic pressures, workforce shortages, and new national accreditation standards are leading these agencies to explore mechanisms for pooling resources to enhance delivery and improve population health. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort design is used to analyze changes in the availability and perceived effectiveness of services delivered by local public health providers. A stratified random sample of the nation's 3000 local public health agencies (n=497) were surveyed in 1998 and again in 2006 and 2011 (70% response) to measure the availability of 20 …

Si Edna, Si Pakoy At Si Rosanna By Ramon Cf Cuervo Iii, Emmanuel Mario B. Santos Aka Marc Guerrero, Ramon Cf Cuervo Iii

Emmanuel Mario B Santos aka Marc Guerrero

Socalled normal ‘zombie’ life of non-PWDs in our own neighborhoods will pale in comparison to these abilities of our (Marco Sison, may we borrow the title of your monster hit song of yesteryears?) Si Aida, Si Lorna at Si Fe PWDs – put to proactive work and living

Introduction Of A Waterless Alcohol-Based Hand Rub In A Long-Term Care Facility, Lona Mody, Mcneil A. Shelly, Rongjun Sun, Bradley Suzanne, Carol A. Kauffman

Rongjun Sun

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of introduction of an alcohol-based hand rub on hand hygiene knowledge and compliance and hand colonization of healthcare workers (HCWs) in a long-term-care facility (LTCF). METHODS: Two floors of an LTCF participated. Ward A used the hand rub as an adjunct to soap and water; ward B was the control. HCWs' hands were cultured using the bag-broth technique for Staphylococcus aureus, gram-negative bacilli (GNB), Candida, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). HCWs completed a questionnaire at baseline and after an educational intervention and introduction of rub. RESULTS: Hand hygiene practices, knowledge, and opinions did not change after …

Variations In Climatic Parameters And Food Crop Yields: Implications On Food Security In Benue State, Nigeria., Emmanuel Adamgbe, Fanan Ujoh

Confluence Journal Environmental Studies (CJES), Kogi State University, Nigeria

Agricultural production in Nigeria like in other developing countries is highly vulnerable to variations in climatic parameters which may have inverse or direct effect on the performance of food crops. This paper examines the patterns and trends of the variations in the climatic parameters and the implications of such variations on efficient yield rates of some food crops in Benue State using data on climatic variables (rainfall, temperature, sunshine) and the yield of some crops per hectare for 25 years (1986-2010). Data on the climatic variables were collected from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, AirForce Base, Makurdi while the data on …

Risky Alcohol Use And Age At Onset Of Regular Alcohol Consumption In Relation To Frontal Lobe Indices, Reward Sensitivity And Rash Impulsiveness, Michael Lyvers, Helen Duff, Penelope Hasking

Mike Lyvers

Excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to predisposing traits that may reflect frontal lobe functioning, an idea explored by this study. The study recruited 132 adults of both genders aged 18-68 years who completed an online questionnaire battery. Sensitivity to punishment was the primary variable associated with age of onset for weekly drinking. The relationship between disinhibition and drinking behavior, as assessed by the AUDIT, was partially mediated by sensitivity to reward. The findings of this study suggest that several interrelated and heritable personality and neurobehavioral traits may promote earlier as well as riskier alcohol consumption.

Strengthening The Case Against Functionally Significant Serotonergic Neurotoxicity In Human Mdma (Ecstasy) Users, Michael Lyvers

Mike Lyvers

Extract:Halpern and colleagues [1] have overcome some of the methodological issues raised previously [2] concerning their initial pilot study of ecstasy users [3]. Their latest study [1] found that of 15 neuropsychological tests tapping various cognitive and memory functions reported previously by others to differentiate ecstasy users from controls, only the Revised Strategy Applications Test (RSAT) showed a clear indication of poorer performance in heavy (but not moderate) ecstasy users compared to controls, ecstasy users were selected for low exposure to other illicit drugs and alcohol, whereas in most other studies of this type the influence of potentially confounding associations …

A Profile Of Nonurgent Emergency Department Use In An Urban Pediatric Hospital, Katrina Kubicek, Deborah Liu, Christy Beaudin, Jocelyn Supan, George Weiss, Yang Lu, Michele Kipke

Yang Lu

Objectives: This study was designed to develop a descriptive profile of parents and caregivers who bring their children to the emergency department (ED) for nonurgent issues and to explore the reasons for presenting to an urban hospital pediatric ED for nonurgent conditions. Such work is necessary to develop effective interventions.

Methods: A total of 106 parents/caregivers whose child was triaged with a nonemergent/urgent condition completed a 15- to 20-minute computerized survey (English and Spanish) in an urban pediatric ED.

Results: Most respondents described themselves as Latino (76%) and foreign born (62%). About one half (49%) reported having an annual income …

Selecting Measures Of Public Health Service Delivery: Results From A Delphi Survey For The Mprove Study, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

This database contains detailed, sortable results from the expert panel Delphi survey used to rate candidate measures of public health service delivery to be used in the Multi-Network Practice and Outcome Variation Examination Study (MPROVE), conducted by the Public Health Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRN) Program.

Selecting Measures Of Public Health Delivery: Results Of A Delphi Survey For The Mprove Study, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

The Multi-Network Practice and Outcomes Variation Examination Study (MPROVE) supports six participating public health practice-based research networks (PBRNs) in selecting a common set of service delivery measures for use in analyzing geographic variation in delivery across local communities. This report presents results from an expert panel Delphi survey used to rate candidate measures on a set of selection criteria, in order to select the final set of measures for study.

Partner Violence Assessment In Rural Health Care Clinic, Ann Coker, Vicki C. Flerx, Paige H. Smith, Daniel J. Whitaker, Mary Kay Fadden, Melinda Williams

Dan Whitaker

Objectives. We sought to determine the frequency of intimatepartner violence by type in a large, clinic-based, nurse-administeredscreening and services intervention project.

Methods. A brief intimate partner violence screen, which includeditems to measure sexual and physical assaults and psychologicalbattering (using the Women’s Experience With Batteringscale) was administered to consenting women receiving care at1 of 8 rural clinics in South Carolina.

Results. Between April 2002 and August 2005, 4945 eligible womenwere offered intimate partner violence screening, to which 3664(74.1%) consented. Prevalence of intimate partner violence ina current (ongoing) relationship was 13.3%, and 939 women (25.6%)had experienced intimate partner violence at some point …

Peranan Pendidikan Dalam Menciptakan Generasi Berkarakter, Zulkifli Rangkuti

Zulkifli Rangkuti

No abstract provided.

Integrating Health Literacy And Esl : An Interdisciplinary Curriculum For Hispanic Immigrants, Francisco Soto Mas

Francisco Soto Mas

Adult Hispanic immigrants are at a greater risk of experiencing the negative outcomes related to low health literacy, as they confront cultural and language barriers to the complex and predominately monolingual Englishbased U.S. health system. One approach that has the potential for simultaneously addressing the health, literacy, and language needs of Hispanics is the combination of health literacy and English as a second language (ESL) instruction. The purpose of the project was to evaluate the feasibility of using ESL instruction as a medium for improving health literacy among Hispanic immigrants. Objectives included the development, implementation, and evaluation of an interdisciplinary …

Inventory Of Public Health Service Delivery Measures: The Mprove Study, Glen Mays

Glen Mays

This database contains a searchable inventory of measures of public health service delivery that have been recommended as candidates for use in the MPROVE study of geographic variation in local public health service delivery.

Incidence And Nature Of Anxiety-Depression Comorbidity In Prostate Cancer Patients, Christoper Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Background: The aim of this study was to measure the incidence of anxiety-depression comorbidity among a sample of prostate cancer (PCa) patients and to investigate the total score, factor score and scale item differences across subgroups defined according to the presence of anxiety and/or depression. Methods: 491 PCa patients who had received their initial diagnosis between 1 and 113 months previously completed a survey of background variables, as well as the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Depression Scales (SAS, SDS). Results: Incidence of anxiety-depression comorbidity was nearly 16%, and higher than that previously reported in other samples. Although the directional differences …

Instructor Spotlight: Leah C. Neubauer, Leah Neubauer

Leah C. Neubauer

No abstract provided.

Factors Associated With The Process Of Adaptation Among Pakistani Adolescent Females Living In United States., Salma Khuwaja, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

This study explored post-migration experiences of recently migrated Pakistani Muslim adolescent females residing in the United States. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty Pakistani Muslim adolescent females between the ages of 15 and 18 years living with their families in Houston, Texas. Data obtained from the interviews were evaluated using discourse analysis to identify major reoccurring themes. Participants discussed factors associated with the process of adaptation to the American culture. The results revealed that the main factors associated with adaptation process included positive motivation for migration, family bonding, social support networks, inter-familial communication, aspiration of adolescents to learn other …