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Health-Exposure Modelling And The Ecological Fallacy, Jon Wakefield, Gavin Shaddick

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Recently there has been increased interest in modelling the association between aggregate disease counts and environmental exposures measured, for example via air pollution monitors, at point locations. This paper has two aims: first we develop a model for such data in order to avoid ecological bias; second we illustrate that modelling the exposure surface and estimating exposures may lead to bias in estimation of health effects. Design issues are also briefly considered, in particular the loss of information in moving from individual to ecological data, and the at-risk populations to consider in relation to the pollution monitor locations. The approach …

Dump Truck Driver Dies After Unintentional Release Of Asphalt, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

On June 6, 2005 a 55-year-old male dump truck driver (Driver 1) died when he was buried waist deep in 400-degree Fahrenheit asphalt. Driver 1 stopped along the highway to help another dump truck driver (Driver 2), (both were independent truck drivers), who had experienced brake problems. As the two men were examining the pneumatic brake system at the rear of the disabled dump truck, the tailgate opened unexpectedly, spilling hot asphalt onto the decedent who was under the rear of the truck.

To prevent similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made:

Recommendation No. 1: Tailgate chains should always …

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 81, No. 23 [25], Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news. Articles in this issue:

• Leslie, Joey. More Students Tested During AIDS Day
• Hupman, Samantha. J-term More Popular than Anticipated
• Fontana, Alex. Student Government Association Proposes New Bicycles for Police
• Bosken, Nina. Students Dodge, Duck, Dive for Charity and Prizes – Special Olympics
• Richardson, Kelly. Kentucky Community Technical College System Requests Funding – KCTCS
• Taking the Next Step – Cultural Diversity
• Eoff, Allison. Pass on Adderall
• Gabler, R. XXX Ads Disappointing
• Williams, Suzanne. A Woman’s Heart
• Hupman, Samantha. Two Fights Reported on Hill
• Paul, Corey. Kwanzaa to Be Celebrated Today …

Redesigning Practice To Improve Care Delivery (Boston), Laura A. Dummit, Lisa Sprague

National Health Policy Forum

This site visit focused on how the practice of medicine is changing or can be changed to improve care delivery across the spectrum of patient populations. Regarded as a “medical Mecca,” Boston is home to the academic health centers and teaching hospitals where many of the nation’s physicians are trained. As a center of innovation, Boston prides itself on its high bar with respect to standards of care. Panels addressed the used of clinical information technology (IT) in the physician’s office, in the hospital, and community-wide. Participants observed how IT is being used to further the mission of community health …

History-Adjusted Marginal Structural Models To Estimate Time-Varying Effect Modification , Maya L. Petersen, Steven G. Deeks, Jeffrey N. Martin, Mark J. Van Der Laan

U.C. Berkeley Division of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Much of epidemiology and clinical medicine is focused on the estimation of treatments or interventions administered over time. In such settings of longitudinal treatment, time-dependent confounding is often an important source of bias. Marginal structural models are a powerful tool for estimating the causal effect of a treatment using observational data, particularly when time-dependent confounding is present. Recent statistical work presented a generalization of marginal structural models, called history-adjusted marginal structural models. Unlike standard marginal structural models, history-adjusted marginal structural models can be used to estimate modification of treatment effects by time-varying covariates. Estimation of time-dependent causal effect modification is …

The Perceptions Of Roles And Practices Of Preceptors And Their Expectations For Students In The Coordinated Program In Dietetics At Indiana State University, Carin R. Aloisio

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dietetics education requires a minimum of a baccalaureate degree and 900 hours of supervised practice for eligibility of candidates to sit for the Registration Exam. The primary goals of this study are to determine perceptions of preceptors of supervised practice about their roles and practices and their expectations for students, and to compare and/or contrast these between the three main areas of dietetics: clinical, community and food service management.

Spatial Autocorrelation Of Deer-Vehicle Accidents In Vigo County, J. Scott Horn

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deer-vehicle accidents (DV As) are a problem in many areas. They cause millions of dollars in property damage, personal injury, and loss of life each year. This thesis examines whether DVAs in Vigo County, Indiana during the year 2000 were spatially autocorrelated; and whether DV As selected by deer habitat were spatially autocorrelated. Specifically using Moran's I to test for spatial autocorrelation this study determined if and to what degree spatial autocorrelation existed among these DVAs. A Moran's I value of .0023 shows that the accidents occurred randomly. These DV A data were then used to plot a map which …

High Potency And Other Alcoholic Beverage Consumption Among Adolescents, Edessa C. Jobli, Heather S. Dore, Chudley Werch, Michele Johnson Moore

Public Health Faculty Research and Scholarship

This study examined the prevalence of high potency (liquor, malt liquor, fortified wine) and other alcoholic beverage consumption (beer, wine/wine coolers) among adolescents, the impact of gender and ethnicity, and the risk and protective factors that predicted consumption. A confidential survey revealed that, among eighth grade students, wine/wine coolers were the most popular alcoholic beverages, with the highest levels of lifetime use, and the greatest current frequency and quantity of use, followed closely by beer and liquor. Minor gender differences were found, as well as notable ethnic differences, in consumption. Intentions and attitudes were important predictors of use across beverages. …

Asthma Management Programs In Managed Care Organizations, Christine W. Hartmann Mss, Phd, Vittorio Maio Pharmd, Ms, Neil I. Goldfarb, Nicole M. Cobb Maom, David B. Nash

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

The aim of this work was to investigate how managed care organizations (MCOs) currently approach asthma treatment and management and to determine factors affecting asthma outcomes. A Web-based survey was administered to a national sample of 351 medical directors of MCOs to investigate the asthma management program components in their organizations as well as gaps and barriers in the management of patients with asthma. All 134 (38.2%) responding medical directors reported that their organizations monitor asthma patients. Plans use a variety of asthma management activities, including general member education (90%), member education by mail (87%), self-management education (85%), and provider …

Factors Related To Delayed Time For Hiv Care Among Youth Living With Hiv: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Social Support Networks And Access To Care, Patricia L. Jones

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: This research explored the pattern of influence social support networks had on delayed time between diagnosis and first doctor’s visit after diagnosis of HIV in youth. Results showed that factors related to receiving a referral were prosocial peer behaviors and excessive fibbing in the past 6 months. The study identified sources of social support and described the relationship between the source of support and time of first doctor’s visit after HIV diagnosis. Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed on all youth (N=347) and specifically on those seeking care. Methodology: Historical data were extracted from the baseline dataset of …

Eating Behavior And Obesity Risk Of Youth Living In The City Of San Bernardino, California, Carolyn A. Corder

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Adolescents living in the City of San Bernardino, California, are susceptible to health risks due to high rates of violence, suicide, teen pregnancy, and poverty, which place them among the most vulnerable in the Nation to disability, early death, unhealthy offspring, illiteracy, economic disadvantage, and chronic disease. This study analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior (YRBS) and local surveys conducted in the City’s Unified School District from 1999 through 2001. The investigators focused on the relationship, if any, of dietary and anthropometric factors to the priority adolescent behaviors targeted for intervention by the Healthy People 2010 objectives: accidental injuries …

Sources Of Variation In Nutrient Intakes Among Men In Shanghai, China, Hui Cai, Gong Yang, Yong-Bing Xiang, James R. Hébert, Da-Ke Liu, Wei Zheng, Xiao-Ou Shu

Faculty Publications

Background and objective: Random errors, from any source, will attenuate epidemiological risk estimates. Before we launched the Shanghai Men’s Health Study (SMHS), a large population-based cohort study investigating the diet–cancer association among Chinese men, a dietary calibration study was conducted among 96 men aged 40–75 years (mean age 56.5 years), with biweekly 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs) implemented over a 1-year period. Data from this study were analysed to evaluate the nature and magnitude of variances for intake of 26 nutrients among SMHS participants, to compare variance ratios of 26 nutrients among Chinese men and women and individuals in other studies, …

Chaotic Desynchronization Of Multistrain Diseases, Ira Schwartz, Leah Shaw, Derek Cummings, Lora Billings, Marie Mccrary, Donald Burke

Department of Mathematics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Multistrain diseases are diseases that consist of several strains, or serotypes. The serotypes may interact by antibody-dependent enhancement rADE, in which infection with a single serotype is asymptomatic, but infection with a second serotype leads to serious illness accompanied by greater infectivity. It has been observed from serotype data of dengue hemorrhagic fever that outbreaks of the four serotypes occur asynchronously. Both autonomous and seasonally driven outbreaks were studied in a model containing ADE. For sufficiently small ADE, the number of infectives of each serotype synchronizes, with outbreaks occurring in phase. When the ADE increases past a threshold, the system …

Remote Physiological Monitoring: Clinical, Financial, And Behavioral Outcomes In A Heart Failure Population, Laurel R. Hudson Msn, Rn, G. Brent Hamar Dds, Mph, Patty Orr Rn, Edd, Jeffrey H. Johnson Bs, Amy Neftzger Ma, Richard S. Chung Md, Myra L. Williams Mph, William M. Gandy Edd, Albert Crawford Phd, Mba, Msis, Janice L. Clarke Rn, Bba, Neil I. Goldfarb

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

This article reports on the outcomes associated with remote physiological monitoring (RPM) conducted as part of a heart failure disease management program. Claims data, medical records, data transmission records, and survey results for 91 individuals ages 50–92 (mean 74 years) successfully completing a heart failure RPM program were analyzed for time periods before, during, and after the monitoring intervention. The program was associated with significant reductions in per member per month costs and emergency room and hospital utilization. More detailed analyses were performed for specific gender and age subgroups. Participant surveys indicated high levels of satisfaction, and improvements in self-perceived …

Are Specific Language Impairment And Dyslexia Distinct Disorders?, Hugh W. Catts, Suzanne M. Adlof, Tiffany Hogan, Susan Ellis Weismer

Faculty Publications

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific language impairment (SLI) and dyslexia are distinct developmental disorders.

Method - Study 1 investigated the overlap between SLI identified in kindergarten and dyslexia identified in 2nd, 4th, or 8th grades in a representative sample of 527 children. Study 2 examined phonological processing in a subsample of participants, including 21 children with dyslexia only, and 43 children with SLI only, 18 children with SLI and dyslexia, and 165 children with typical language/reading development. Measures of phonological awareness and nonword repetition were considered.

Results - Study 1 showed limited but …

Download Full Pdf Issue Volume1, Issue 1 - Msph Newsletter 2005

Public Health Link

Inaugural Issue Master of Science in Public Health Student Newsletter. Newsletter includes thesis presenters and topics, upcoming events, reminders, and student opportunities.

Download Full Pdf Issue Volume1, Issue 2 - Msph Newsletter 2005

Public Health Link

This is the second issue from 2005 and includes student thesis topics, reminders, updates, and upcoming events.

Intimate Partner Violence And Disabilities Among Women Attending Family Practice Clinics, Ann L. Coker, Paige H. Smith, Mary Kay Fadden

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

Purpose: To estimate the frequency and type of disabilities preventing work among those experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) compared with those never experiencing IPV.

Methods: We used a large cross-sectional survey of women, ages 18–65, attending family practice clinics from 1997 through 1998. Participation included a 5–10-minute in-clinic survey assessing IPV experience and a longer telephone survey assessing health status and chronic disabilities that prevented work outside the home or housework.

Results: Of 1,152 eligible women surveyed, 54% experienced some type of IPV, and 24% were currently in a violent relationship. Women who had ever experienced IPV …

Medicare Advantage Snps: A New Opportunity For Integrated Care?, Christie Provost Peters

National Health Policy Forum

Medicare Advantage special needs plans (SNPs) are a new type of coordinated care plan established by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act. SNPs were created to encourage greater access to Medicare managed care for certain special needs populations: the institutionalized, persons dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and the chronically ill. Some view SNPs as a new opportunity to integrate acute and long-term care services as well as Medicare and Medicaid financing. Others, however, question the degree to which full integration will become a widespread reality. This issue brief examines the SNP option and the promises and challenges …

Modélisation De L'Exposition Au Monoxyde De Carbone, Andrea Scarino, Robert Tardif

Rapports de recherche scientifique

No abstract provided.

Download The Pdf Of The Full Issue

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Events And Opportunities

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract available.

Motorcycle Helmets Are Good Medicine, Douglas Mcgee

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract available.

Montreal Gp Successfully Challenges Canada's Ban On Parallel Private Healthcare Insurance, David Woods

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract available.

Harvest Health: Chronic Disease Self-Management Program For Older African-Americans, Nancy L. Chernett, Laura N. Gitlin

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract available.

The 2005 Disease Management Colloquium A Success

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

The 2005 Disease Management Colloquium was heald at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia on June 21-24, 2005. The Colloquium's goal is to better educate government agencies, the healthcare industry, employers, and the general public about the important role disease management programs play in improving healthcare quality and outcomes for persons subject to chronic conditions. The following are highlights from a number of the morning keynote presentations.

New Publications From The Department Of Health Policy

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract available.

Demonstrating The Value Of Data Warehouses

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

The Department of Health Policy hosted a Professional Collaboration Day on June 14, 2005. The following is a summary of the morning session, hosted by GE Healthcare, which focused on Demonstrating the Value of Data Warehouses.

Promoting Research In Cognitive Neuroscience And Cognitive Rehabilitation, John Whyte

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract available.

Letter To The Editor: Health Literacy, Bob Marquis

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract available.