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The Health Of Caregiving Grandmothers: A Rural-Urban Comparison, Jeri Bigbee, Carol Musil, Diane Kenski

Jeri L. Bigbee

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of rural versus urban caregiving grandmothers along with their physical and mental health status.

Methods: A secondary analysis of data produced from the first wave of a longitudinal study of 485 Ohio grandmothers was conducted. Health status was measured using the SF-36 Health Survey and the 20-item CES-D depression scale. Rural-urban classification was made using Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes based on resident ZIP codes, identifying 97 rural and 388 urban grandmothers in the sample.

Findings: The rural and urban grandmothers were similar in age, educational level and …

Public Health Nursing Competency In A Rural/Frontier State, Jeri Bigbee, Nancy Otterness, Pam Gehrke

Jeri L. Bigbee

Objectives: To assess the self-reported levels of competency among public health nurses (PHNs) in Idaho. Design and Sample: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. The sample consisted of 124 PHNs, including 30 in leadership roles, currently practicing in Idaho's official public health agencies. Measures: Structured interviews were conducted with participants who provided self-ratings in the 8 domains of public health competency as developed by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice and the Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations. Results: The findings indicated that the overall level of competency was most strongly associated with the duration …