Digital Commons Network^™

Bse: Risk, Uncertainty, And Policy Change, Enda Cummins, Pat Grace, Kevin Mcdonnell, Shane Ward

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

The authors discuss how, in our "risk society," a range of potential risks and uncertainties are associated with new technologies and new diseases, such as BSE. These risks bring with them worries about human health, while the ability to assess and manage new health scares is an essential skill for government and related industries.

Comparing Bottled Water And Tap Water: Experiments In Risk Communication, Branden B. Johnson

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

The author discusses results of experiments in risk communication comparing bottled water and tap water.

Correlates Of Vigorous Physical Activity For Children In Grades 1 Through 12: Comparing Parent-Reported And Objectively Measured Physical Activity, James F. Sallis, Wendell C. Taylor, Marsha Dowda, Patty S. Freedson, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

Correlates of physical activity were examined in young people in grades 1 through 12, and analyses were conducted separately for eight age/grade and sex subgroups. Twenty-one explanatory variables were assessed by parental report. Physical activity was assessed in 781 young people via parent report, and 200 wore an accelerometer for seven days. Between 11% and 36% of parent-reported child vigorous physical activity was explained. The most consistent correlates were peer support and use of afternoon time for active rather than sedentary recreation. Peer support was the only significant correlate of objectively monitored activity in multiple subgroups.

From Diagnosis To Payment: The Dynamics Of Coding Systems For Hospital, Physician, And Other Health Services, Karen Matherlee

National Health Policy Forum

This background paper reviews the two principal coding systems used to describe health services in the United States: ICD-9-CM and HCPCS, a combination of CPT-4 and national and local codes. It probes the relationships of these coding systems to payment policy, administrative simplification under HIPAA, and other concerns. The paper also addresses four coding issues: governance of CPT; adoption of ICD-10-CM; the appropriateness, accuracy, and responsiveness to change of the codes themselves; and the degree of documentation needed to monitor health services and determine payment.

Managed Care: As Good As It Gets? (Los Angeles), Lisa Sprague

National Health Policy Forum

This site visit was a return trip to southern California to examine the state of managed care. Between the Forum's last visit (in late 1998) and this one, the marketplace underwent considerable change, including significant movement away from global capitation, the collapse of physician practice management firms, and the development of new insurance products. Site visitors were briefed on managed care trends in the state, and panel discussions focused on issues related to physician group solvency, employer and consumer expectations, managed care regulation, and plan and provider strategies for surviving and prospering in the difficult southern California market. Site visitors …

Estimating Causal Parameters In Marginal Structural Models With Unmeasured Confounders Using Instrumental Variables, Tanya A. Henneman, Mark Johannes Van Der Laan, Alan E. Hubbard

U.C. Berkeley Division of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

For statisticians analyzing medical data, a significant problem in determining the causal effect of a treatment on a particular outcome of interest, is how to control for unmeasured confounders. Techniques using instrumental variables (IV) have been developed to estimate causal parameters in the presence of unmeasured confounders. In this paper we apply IV methods to both linear and non-linear marginal structural models. We study a specific class of generalized estimating equations that is appropriate to these data, and compare the performance of the resulting estimator to the standard IV method, a two-stage least squares procedure. Our results are applied to …

Case Study Of An Ergonomics Training Program For Nursing Home Workers, Roger C. Jensen

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

This paper describes a case study of a labor-based ergonomics-training program that makes use of some effective worker training methods. The program focus was on ergonomics awareness and back injury prevention for nursing home workers. It was developed and conducted by a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the Service Employees International Union. Training methods included the train-the-trainer model and the small group activity method. The investigation also compared the program components with those identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as being key elements in effective safety training.

Safety And Health Sign Colors And Signal Words For Communicating Information On Likelihood And Imminence Of Threat, Roger C. Jensen, Andrew M. Mccammack

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

Signs are used extensively in workplace facilities and on products to identify hazards and provide instructions and safety information. A fundamental component of these signs is a signal-word panel located at the top of the sign. Certain colors and signal words in this panel are intended to convey information about a hazard, including likelihood of harm and imminence of the threat. The purpose of this study was to determine if young adults without prior training on safety signs associate signal words and color with likelihood of harm and imminence of the threat. The sample population consisted of 59 college students. …

Comparison Of Domestic Violence Outcomes Among Emergency Department Nurses, Pamela S. Neal

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between domestic violence education, organizational support, screening, danger assessment, safety planning, and referral practices among professional registered nurses in two ED settings.

Sample & Setting: A convenience sample of 63 professional registered nurses provided data from two EDs. An ED located in Kentucky where state mandated continuing education in domestic violence was required (n = 33) and an ED in West Virginia (n = 30) where mandated continuing education in domestic violence was not required was the setting for the study. The samples were separated based on nurses who …

Providers Choices In Web-Medical Records: An Analysis Of Trade-Offs Made By Physicians In San Bernardino County, Jay Eriah Shankar

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis concluded that offering physicians an appropriate Web-based transcription service should be well received and improve their medical record management and patient care.

Delays In The Emergency Department And Their Effects On The Ambulance Provider, Simon Peter Moore

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis is a case analysis of the nature of delays in emergency room admissions and the effects on ambulance dispatching and availability as it occurred in Southern California.

Integrating Hiv Prevention And Care Into Maternal And Child Health Care Settings: Lessons Learned From Horizons Studies, Naomi Rutenberg, Sam Kalibala, Charles Mwai, James Rosen

HIV and AIDS

Many women in the developing world still lack access to high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention and care services. To address this problem, Horizons has undertaken a range of operations research efforts that examine the integration of HIV-related care in the maternal-child health setting. At a workshop held in Kenya in July 2001, participants discussed the experience to date and formulated practical strategies for improving the integration. This consultation report summarizes that discussion according to the following seven key program components: Training and Motivation to Improve the Performance of Health Workers; Supervision of HIV Services and Quality Assurance of HIV Testing; Caring for …

Invisible, Underserved, And Diverse: The Health Of Women In Prison, Janette Y. Taylor, Rachel Williams, M. J. Eliason

International Journal of Global Health

In the United States of America, women are the fastest growing segment of the criminal justice system. They are entering the system with far greater physical and mental health problems than men, but with fewer health services. Additionally, within this expanding population of incarcerated women, are disproportionately represented poor women of color with serious health needs. This article: a) uses an ecosocial model to examine and critique the health and healthcare of women in prison, b) examines social structures that influence incarceration and health status, and c) proposes reconsideration of current prison health services and education.

Pick-Me-Up Newsletter - Issue 5 , Volume 1, Nova Southeastern University

Pick Me Up Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Preliminary Linkage Map Of The Tick, Ixodes Scapularis, Amy J. Ullmann, Joseph Piesman, M.C. Dolan, William C. Black, Iv

United States Public Health Resources

A linkage map of the Ixodes scapularis genome was constructed based upon segregation amongst 127 loci. These included 84 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, 32 Sequence-Tagged RAPD (STAR) markers, 5 cDNAs, and 5 microsatellites in 232 F₁ intercross progeny from a single, field-collected P₁ female. A preliminary linkage map of 616 cM was generated across 14 linkage groups with one marker every 10.8 cM. Assuming a genome size of ∼10⁹ bp, the relationship of physical to genetic distance is ∼300 kb/cM in the I. scapularis genome.

Erratum To "Chronic Ethanol Administration Decreases The Ligand Binding Properties And The Cellular Content Of The Mannose 6-Phosphatelinsulin-Like Growth Factor Ii Receptor In Rat Hepatocytes", James Haorah, Daniel L. Mcvicker, James C. Byrd, Richard G. Macdonald, Terrence M. Donohue, Jr.

United States Public Health Resources

We regret that in the above article a mistake occurred in Table 2 and apologize for any confusion or inconvenience which may have resulted. It is now given correctly below.

Increased Hippocampal Volume In Schizophrenics' Parents With Ancestral History Of Schizophrenia, Josette G. Harris, David A. Young, Donald C. Rojas, Ana Cajade-Law, Ann Scherzinger, Safia Nawroz, Lawrence E. Adler, C. Munro Cullum, Jack Simon, Robert Freedman

United States Public Health Resources

Objective: Decreased hippocampal volume is one of the hypothesized pathological features of schizophrenia, but it is not known if this abnormality is familially transmitted. The aim of this study was to measure the hippocampal volume of the parents of schizophrenic probands. in relationship to the apparent transmission of genetic risk.
Method: Eighteen subjects from families consisting of a schizophrenic proband and two clinically unaffected parents were studied. Probands were compared to six control subjects, matched for age, sex, and educational level. The six families were selected so that only one parent had an ancestral family history of schizophrenia. The volumes …

Inhibition Of Hepatic Stellate Cell Collagen Synthesis By N-(Methy1amino)Isobutyric Acid, Thomas L. Freeman, Kusum K. Kharbanda, Dean Tuma, Mark Milliard

United States Public Health Resources

The increased deposition of extracellular matrix by hepatic stellate cells following liver injury, in a process known as activation, is considered a key mechanism for increased collagen content of liver during the development of liver fibrosis. We report that N- (methylamino)isobutyric acid (MeAIB), a specific inhibitor of System A-mediated amino acid uptake, reduces the accumulation of collagen in CFSC-2G hepatic stellate cell cultures and in a rat model of liver injury and fibrosis. Rat CFSC-2G cells were cultured in 0-5 mM MeAIB, and the accumulation and synthesis of collagen were measured by binding to Sirius red F3B and pulse-labeling with …

Bioterrorism, Public Health, And International Law, David P. Fidler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Hiv/Aids Prevention Guidance For Reproductive Health Professionals In Developing-Country Settings, Helen Epstein, Daniel Whelan, Janneke Van De Wijgert, Purnima Mane, Suman Mehta

HIV and AIDS

While the integration of information, technologies, and services to respond to HIV/AIDS may seem closely related, there are a variety of issues that continue to create obstacles to integration. Among these are the stigmatizing nature of HIV infection and AIDS and discrimination faced by those who are infected or perceived to be infected; sexual practices and identities that remain socially unacceptable; gender roles and relations that make it difficult for women and men to access information, services, and technologies on HIV prevention; reluctance to recognize the special needs of young people; and barriers to service delivery created by broader economic, …

The Female Condom: Dynamics Of Use In Urban Zimbabwe, Horizons Program

HIV and AIDS

In July 1997, Population Services International (PSI), at the request of the Zimbabwe National AIDS Coordination Programme, launched a social marketing program for the female condom in Zimbabwe. The campaign's intended audience was women in long-term relationships. To avoid the stigma associated with condoms and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, PSI marketed the female condom as a family planning product under the brand name Care™. Approximately one year after the start of the female condom social marketing campaign, the Horizons Program and PSI conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study of female condom users, male condom users, and nonusers of either …

Designing Hiv/Aids Intervention Studies: An Operations Research Handbook, Andrew A. Fisher, James R. Foreit, John E. Laing, John E. Stoeckel, John Townsend

HIV and AIDS

This handbook has several objectives and uses. First, it is designed to help HIV/AIDS researchers develop and write a detailed operations research proposal. An appropriate use of the handbook is as a resource in workshops or courses on research design and proposal development. Thus, the organization of the handbook follows that of a research proposal, starting with identifying, defining, and justifying a research problem, and ending with how to prepare a budget. Although the handbook is not an academic textbook on research methods, it does provide a review of many key concepts and important methods essential for conducting HIV/AIDS field …

Allocating Health Care Resources To The Elderly, George P. Smith Ii

Scholarly Articles

Health is not an absolute condition, but is assessed by reference to age and other factors. Therefore, a relative scale is necessary to determine whether an elderly person’s right to health care is being satisfied. Today, older Americans are increasingly affected by the growing need to regulate health care delivery. Since 1900, those over the age of 85 years have become twenty-one times as numerous in society, with an eightfold increase in the number of people over the age of 65. Given the need to curb rising health care costs — particularly the expenses related to caring for older individuals …

Ndola Demonstration Project: A Midterm Analysis Of Lessons Learned, Horizons Program

HIV and AIDS

This report summarizes baseline and midterm findings of an intervention pilot study conducted by Horizons, LINKAGES, National Food and Nutrition Commission, District Health Management Team, Hope Humana, and the Zambia Integrated Health Program in Ndola District, Zambia. The aim of the research is to investigate how integrating services for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMCT) of HIV into low-resource maternal and child health (MCH) and antenatal care (ANC) settings influences women’s ability to make and implement informed decisions about HIV. The intervention strengthened routine services and introduced HIV voluntary counseling and testing and PMCT counseling and services into the MCH/ANC …

Safety Behaviour In The Construction Industry, Nick Macdonald, Victor Hrymak

Reports

The influences on safety standards and employee safety behaviour was analysed on 18 large construction sites on the island of Ireland. The safety management and documentation of these sites was also analysed. The results are discussed at length together with comprehensive recommendations for the industry.

Living Arrangements And Socio-Demographic Conditions Of Older Adults In Cambodia, Zachary Zimmer, Sovan Kiry Kim

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Since the takeover of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge in 1975, analysis of social conditions in the country has been lacking. Only recently has dependable socio-demographic data become available. We use some of these data to examine living arrangements and other socio-demographic conditions among Cambodia’s older population and compare results to those recently found in Thailand and Vietnam. On balance, living arrangements in Cambodia are similar to those in neighboring countries. Older adults are likely to be living with a grown child and in a variety of arrangements involving different family members. To determine gender preference for coresident children we …

Changes In Functional Limitations And Survival Among The Elderly In Taiwan: 1993, 1996, And 1999, Zachary Zimmer, Linda G. Martin, Ming-Cheng Chang

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This paper focuses on changes in the prevalence of functional limitations among nationally representative samples of adults aged 65 and older in Taiwan as measured in 1993, 1996, and 1999. Using data from the Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan, we investigate changes in difficulties walking and climbing stairs, two tasks that represent basic lower body movements that are less likely to be influenced by changes in living environments and social roles than are activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Results are shown for both unadjusted prevalence rates and rates adjusted …

Working Paper: Elders In Massachusetts Prefer Paid Caregivers, Francis G. Caro

Gerontology Institute Publications

Older Massachusetts residents would rather have paid professionals provide their long-term care than their own children, according to a recent UMass Poll of 461 Massachusetts residents.

Résistance Des Vêtements De Protection Aux Mélanges De Solvants Industriels : Développement D'Un Outil De Sélection, Gérald Perron, Jacques E. Desnoyers, Jaime Lara

Rapports de recherche scientifique

L’objectif de ce travail était de comprendre le comportement des mélanges de solvants sur la résistance des matériaux protecteurs et de développer un modèle de prédiction de la résistance des matériaux aux solvants industriels. Dans ce but, deux techniques ont été développées, l'une consistant à mesurer le gonflement dynamique à partir des mesures d'allongement d’une membrane polymérique et l'autre pour mesurer la perméation par volumétrie. La technique d'allongement dynamique s’est avérée très utile pour la mesure des coefficients de diffusion et pour obtenir les paramètres tridimensionnels de solubilité de Hansen. La technique volumétrique, comme celle de l’allongement dynamique, est applicable …

Prévention Par La Photothérapie Des Troubles D'Adaptation Au Travail De Nuit, Diane B. Boivin, Francine O. James

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Click here for the English version of this report

Au Québec, on estime qu'un tiers des emplois permanents sont comblés en dehors des heures conventionnelles. On note en particulier une prédominance du travail de nuit à plein temps dans les secteurs qui requièrent (hôpitaux, protection publique) ou qui choisissent (manufactures) 24 heures de service par jour. Il est bien connu que le travail de nuit ou en rotation s’accompagne de privation importante de sommeil, de troubles de vigilance et de performance, et d’un risque accru d’accidents graves en milieu de travail. De plus, ces troubles d’adaptation s’accroissent avec l’âge alors …