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Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The Fundamentals Of Medicare Demonstrations, Amanda Cassidy

National Health Policy Forum

Demonstrations are experiments that test Medicare policy changes without permanently changing the Medicare program. They allow policymakers to learn about the potential impact and operational challenges of a proposed modification to Medicare, but in a more controlled environment and on a limited basis. Since demonstrations can affect hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries and providers and involve millions of dollars, they are often controversial. This paper describes the basics of Medicare demonstrations, including what they are, how they are initiated, and why they are undertaken. The paper also explores the relationship between demonstrations and other research projects. The primary challenges in …

Shaping Medicaid And Schip Through Waivers: The Fundamentals, Cynthia Shirk

National Health Policy Forum

The use of waivers has become one of the key vehicles for innovation in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). This background paper examines the use of research, demonstration, and program waiver authorities to test new approaches to the delivery of and payment for health care and long-term care services. The paper reviews the statutory basis and mechanics of demonstrations and program waivers, as well as their history and political context in shaping Medicaid and SCHIP. It also explores the ways the changing state-federal relationship and the ever-growing demand for state flexibility have driven waiver policy. Finally, …

Preterm Birth Rates In Pregnant Women With Sexually Transmitted Infections: Cincinnati Public Health Centers 2005 And 2006 Deliveries, Elizabeth Singhoffer

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objective: To evaluate the differences in prenatal maternal infections in women served by the City of Cincinnati health centers that have or have not had a preterm birth.

Methods: A retrospective and observational study of medical records of 738 patients seen at the City of Cincinnati health centers, who delivered in the years of 2005 and 2006. The usable data resulted in 668 total subjects. Data collected included types of health care visits prior to index pregnancy, if preconception/ reproductive health care was discussed, demographics, gestational age at first prenatal visit and at delivery, insurance at first prenatal visit and …

Knowledge, Awareness And Practices Regarding Dengue Fever Among The Adult Population Of Dengue Hit Cosmopolitan., Ahmed Itrat, Abdullah Khan, Sunniya Javaid, Mahwash Kamal, Hassan Khan, Sannia Javed, Saira Kalia, Adil Haleem Khan, Muhammad Imran Sethi, Imtiaz Jehan

Community Health Sciences

Background: The World health Organization (WHO) declares dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever to be endemic in South Asia. Despite the magnitude of problem, no documented evidence exists in Pakistan which reveals the awareness and practices of the country's adult population regarding dengue fever, its spread, symptoms, treatment and prevention. This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dengue fever in people visiting tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted among people visiting tertiary care hospitals in Karachi. Through convenience sampling, a pre-tested and structured questionnaire was administered through …

Evaluating Patient Compliance: Effect Of Appointment Reminder Systems On Attendance, Jacquelyn D. Phillips

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Currently, rising health care cost is an important topic on many agendas and platforms. In 2007, health care spending in the United States reached $2.3 trillion, and was projected to reach $3 trillion in 2011 (NCHC, 2007). Increasing health care cost is in direct relationship with the rise in the ageing population, chronic illness, and the uninsured lower socioeconomic population as well. The research on medical compliance and attendance (missed/kept appointment) behavior is an important area to explore because it is critical for all aspects of successful treatment, disease prevention, and health promotions that have direct correlation with health care …

Assessing Emergency Medical Care In Low Income Countries: A Pilot Study From Pakistan., Junaid A. Razzak, Adnan A Hyder, Tasleem Akhtar, Mubashir Khan, Uzma R. Khan

Department of Medicine

Background: Emergency Medical Care is an important component of health care system. Unfortunately it is however, ignored in many low income countries. We assessed the availability and quality of facility-based emergency medical care in the government health care system at district level in a low income country - Pakistan. Methods: We did a quantitative pilot study of a convenience sample of 22 rural and 20 urban health facilities in 2 districts - Faisalabad and Peshawar - in Pakistan. The study consisted of three separate cross-sectional assessments of selected community leaders, health care providers, and health care facilities. Three data collection …

Alcohol And Other Drugs, National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism

United States Public Health Resources

Addictive disorders represent a major health issue both in the United States and worldwide. Because alcohol and drug dependence are likely to co-occur, exploring how alcohol addiction may relate to and interact with other addictions is important. Current research is exploring the underlying causes of addiction, and why alcohol and other drug use disorders co-occur so frequently, as well as how behavioral and drug therapies can best treat these disorders. There is no “magic bullet” for treating addiction—no treatment will work for everyone in every situation. More research is needed to identify effective treatments for different populations, especially youth, older …

Thomas Jefferson University-Annual Report-2008, Robert L. Barchi, Md, Phd, Brian G. Harrison

Thomas Jefferson University Administrative Documents and Reports

No abstract provided.

Download Full Pdf Issue Of Thomas Jefferson University Mph Public Health Link Newsletter, Vol. 4, Iss. 2, Summer 2008

Public Health Link

This issue includes "Community Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting & SAPHE Student Awards", a recap of the "National Public Health Week: The Public Health Response to Climate Change in Philadelphia" symposium, thesis presenters and other program announcements.

Prescriptions For Excellence In Health Care Summer 2008 Download Full Issue #4

Prescriptions for Excellence in Health Care Newsletter Supplement

No abstract provided.

Cities Of Consumption: The Impact Of Corporate Practices On The Health Of Urban Populations, Nicholas Freudenberg, Sandro Galea

Publications and Research

The increasing concentration of the world's population in cities and the growing accumulation of political and economic power by corporations create new threats to health and opportunities for improving global health. By considering the intersection of these two fundamental social determinants of well-being, we elucidate some of the mechanisms by which they influence the health of urban populations. After reviewing the changing historical impact of corporations on cities, we focus on the growth of consumption as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity and describe how the food, tobacco, automobile, and other industries promote unhealthy behaviors and lifestyles in urban …

Association Between Muscular Strength And Mortality In Men: Prospective Cohort Study, Jonatan R. Ruiz, Xuemei Sui, Felipe Lobelo, James R. Morrow Jr., Allen W. Jackson, Michael Sjöström, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine prospectively the association between muscular strength and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in men.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Aerobics center longitudinal study.

Participants: 8762 men aged 20-80.

Main outcome measures: All cause mortality up to 31 December 2003; muscular strength, quantified by combining one repetition maximal measures for leg and bench presses and further categorised as age specific thirds of the combined strength variable; and cardiorespiratory fitness assessed by a maximal exercise test on a treadmill.

Results: During an average follow-up of 18.9 years, 503 deaths occurred (145 cardiovascular disease, 199 cancer). Age …

Clark County Child Death Review: 2007 Annual Report, Nevada Institute For Children’S Research And Policy

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

The primary goal of all Child Death Review Teams is to prevent future child deaths. The child death review process enables jurisdictions to come together in a collaborative, multidisciplinary forum to openly discuss detailed circumstances in an effort to gain a better understanding of child deaths. The team provides a venue for representatives from a variety of both public and private agencies as well as community organizations to share information in a confidential and non-threatening environment. The National Center for Child Death Review (hereinafter, National Center), which is supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department …

Profile And Trends Of Hiv-Infected Patients Who Use Health Department Services In Hillsborough County, Florida

Florida Public Health Review

The Hillsborough County Health Department (HCHD) provides care for one-third of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Hillsborough County, Florida, who relied on public assistance for medical treatment. This study describes the demographic profile and trends for these patients. Data were obtained retrospectively from the HCHD’s electronic database for 2,298 patients who enrolled for HIV/AIDS care between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006. The patient sample included 32.6% women, 48.7% African Americans, 19.0% Hispanics, and 30.9% Whites, with mean age 39.7 ± 9.6 years. The proportion of Hispanic enrollees increased annually (p<0.001), exceeding the Hispanic population growth rate in Hillsborough county during that same period (p=0.006). African Americans and Hispanics were more likely to have AIDS at enrollment (p<0.001). Minority women were much more likely to rely on this public-assisted HIV care compared with White female patients. Minority enrollees were also more likely to have AIDS at enrollment to the service. Nearly 98% of patients depended on government-funded health insurance. Whereas the coverage of the Ryan White increased, Medicaid and Medicare decreased for all ethnic groups (p<0.001). The rapid increase in Hispanic enrollment, the increasing dependence on the Ryan White funding, and ethnicity-gender disparities require further investigations. Monitoring demographic profiles and trends of this underserved patient cohort helps the health department assess service needs and effectively allocate existing resources to better serve this HIV-infected population.

Papanicolaou Test In An Urban Std Clinic: The Good And Bad News

Florida Public Health Review

The objective of the study was to review Pap test results and follow-ups in an urban sexually transmitted disease clinic in Miami, Florida. We reviewed the results of all Pap tests conducted in the clinic during 2005. All the samples were processed by a single commercial laboratory. We attempted to contact clients with abnormal results other than inflammation to return to the clinic. Results: of the 849 samples, 622 (73.3%) were normal, 211 (24.8%) were abnormal (inflammation 76 (9.0%), ASCUS 68 (8%), and LGSIL or higher 64 (7.5%), and 16 (1.9%) were considered unsatisfactory for cytological interpretation. We were able …

Influence Of Prediction Approaches For Spatially-Dependent Air Pollution Exposure On Health Effect Estimation, Sun-Young Kim, Lianne Sheppard, Ho Kim

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Background: Air pollution studies increasingly estimate individual-level exposures from area-based measurements by using exposure prediction methods such as nearest monitor and kriging predictions. However, little is known about the properties of these methods for health effects estimation. This simulation study explores how two common prediction approaches for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) affect relative risk estimates for cardiovascular events in a single geographic area.

Methods: We estimated two sets of parameters to define correlation structures from 2002 PM2.5 data in the Los Angeles (LA) area and selected additional parameters to evaluate different correlation features. For each structure, annual average PM2.5 was …

Usia Menarche Pada Siswi Sd Dan Sltp Di Kota Bandung, Dian Aryati

Kesmas

Secara global, kesehatan reproduksi mendapat perhatian yang berbeda sejak konverensi internasional Demografi (International Conference on Demography) (ICPD) di Kairo pada tahun 1994. Tahap seksual remaja diinisiasi oleh pertumbuhan lengkap pada organ reproduksi yang mengantarkan seorang wanita pada menstruasi. Selama bertahun-tahun, usia menarche telah menurun yang dipengaruhi oleh faktor biologi dan lingkungan. Penurunan usia menarche berakibat pada peningkatan kehamilan yang tidak diharapkan yang disebabkan oleh aktivitas seksual sebelum menikah. Hal tersebut dapat meningkatkan tindakan abortus dan penyakit menular seksual pada remaja dan kelainan ingestion. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui berbagai faktor yang berhubungan dengan usia menarche pada remaja. Penelitian dengan desain studi …

Perilaku Cuci Tangan Sebelum Makan Dan Kecacingan Pada Murid Sd Di Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan Sumatera Barat, Zaidina Umar

Kesmas

Di Indonesia penyakit cacingan tersebar luas di pedesaan dan di perkotaan dengan prevalensi semua umur 40%-60% dan murid SD 60-80%. Survei Depkes RI di 10 propinsi di Indonesia menemukan prevalensi kecacingan di Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan tahun 2003 (85, 8%) dan tahun 2005 (51,4% ) lebih tinggi dari kabupaten lain. Angka infeksi kecacingan tinggi dipengaruhi oleh kebersihan diri, sanitasi lingkungan dan kebiasaan penduduk. Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui hubungan perilaku cuci tangan dengan kejadian kecacingan pada murid SD Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan. Penelitian dengan desain cross sectional ini menggunakan data sekunder hasil survei kecacingan Depkes RI tahun 2005, jumlah sampel 257 orang. Diagnosis …

Perilaku Makan Menyimpang Pada Remaja Di Jakarta, Trulyana Tantiani, Ahmad Syafiq

Kesmas

Salah satu transisi gaya hidup yang terjadi adalah perubahan perilaku makan yang paling berdampak pada kaum perempuan untuk terlihat cantik dengan berdiet berlebihan yang menjurus pada Perilaku Makan Menyimpang (PMM). Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengetahui penyebab, mekanisme, dan proses terjadinya PMM dari persepsi penderita. Desain penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif dan kuantitatif. Penelitian kualitatif dilakukan pada 3 informan yang pernah mengalami PMM. Penelitian kuantitatif, dilakukan pada 397 responden yang belum mengalami PMM. Waktu pengambilan data adalah bulan Mei-Juni 2007 dengan menggunakan metode wawancara mendalam untuk penelitian kualitatif dan wawancara terstruktur menggunakan kuesioner dari Sarafino dari Stice untuk penelitian kuantitatif. …

Nonparametric Regression Using Local Kernel Estimating Equations For Correlated Failure Time Data, Zhangsheng Yu, Xihong Lin

Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Methods For Estimating The Causal Effect Of A Treatment In Randomized Clinical Trials Subject To Noncompliance, Rod Little, Qi Long, Xihong Lin

Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Semiparametric Maximum Likelihood Estimation In Normal Transformation Models For Bivariate Survival Data, Yi Li, Ross L. Prentice, Xihong Lin

Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

England, Pamela (Fa 276), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid and full-text scan of paper (Click on “Additional Files” below) for Folklife Archives Project 276. Paper: "Pediatrics Clinic and Well-Child Care Clinic" written by Pamela England for a Western Kentucky University folk studies class.

Working Report On The Status Quo Of Nanomaterials Impact On Health And Environment, Harald Krug, Margarita Apostolova, Marite Arija Bake, Gordon Chambers, Horia Chiriac, Eva Herzog, Victoria Hand, Jürgen Höck, Peter Hoet, Nicoleta Lupu, Declan Mccormack, Maja Remskar, George Robillard, Jamila Smisterova, Jan Stetkiewicz, Speranta Tanasescu, Aris Tsatsakis, David Vaughn, Peter Wick, Jörg Wörle-Knirsch

Articles

Nanotechnology is regarded as one of the key technologies of the future and associated with high expectations by politics, science and economy. Artificially produced nanosized particles and nanoscale system components have new properties which are of importance for the development of new products and applications. Such new properties of materials and substances result from the special properties of surfaces and interfaces and in part, from the geometric shape of the material. In theory nanoparticles (NPs) can be produced from nearly any chemical; however, most NPs that are currently in use today have been made from transition metals, silicon, carbon (single-walled …

Heart Rate Variability Characteristics In Sedentary Postmenopausal Women Following Six Months Of Exercise Training: The Drew Study, Conrad P. Earnest, Carl J. Lavie, Steven N. Blair, Timothy S. Church

Faculty Publications

Background: Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with a higher risk of mortality. Overall, postmenopausal women have lower levels of HRV than premenopausal women, which may be additionally complicated by lifestyle related behaviors such as physical inactivity and obesity. Though cardiorespiratory exercise training increases HRV, little is known regarding the exercise dose necessary to promote improvement.

Methodology/Principle Findings: Our primary aim was to measure HRV in post-menopausal women following 6-moths of exercise training. We examined supine resting HRV in 373 post-menopausal women (45-75 y) after 6-months of randomly assigned and double-blinded administered exercise training exercise training at 50%, 100% …

Separation And Characterization Of Respirable Amphibole Fibers From Libby, Montana, James S. Webber, David J. Blake, Tony Ward, Jean C. Pfau

Public and Community Health Sciences Faculty Publications

The vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, was in operation for over 70 yr and was contaminated with asbestos-like amphibole fibers. The mining, processing, and shipping of this vermiculite led to significant fiber inhalation exposure throughout the community, and residents of Libby have developed numerous pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. The present study describes the separation of Libby 6-mix into respirable and nonrespirable size fractions by means of aqueous elutriation. The elutriator, designed to separate fibers with aerodynamic diameters smaller than 2.5 μm (respirable) from larger fibers, used an upward flow rate of 3.4 × 10^{−4 …}

Long-Term Survival After Radical Prostatectomy Compared To Other Treatments In Older Men With Local Or Regional Prostate Cancer, Liqian Liu, Ann L. Coker, Xianglin L. Du, Janice N. Cormier, Charles E. Ford, Shenying Fang

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

Background

This study aimed to address long-term survival in a large population-based cohort of men with prostate cancer receiving radical prostatectomy compared to other treatments.

Methods

We studied 5,845 patients diagnosed with local/regional stage prostate cancer at age 65–74 in 1992 with comorbidity score

Results

Of 5,845 patients, 10-year all-cause survival rates were the highest for patients receiving radical prostatectomy (81.0%; 95% CI: 79.4–82.4%), followed by radical prostatectomy in combination with radiotherapy (67.6%; 62.0–72.5%), radiotherapy (60.5%; 58.3–62.6%), and were the lowest for watchful-waiting (50.7%; 47.5–53.8%). A similar pattern was found for 10-year prostate cancer-specific survivals by treatments. After adjusting for …

Plymouth-Carver Sole Source Aquifer: Regional Open Space Plan, Urban Harbors Institute, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Urban Harbors Institute Publications

The second largest sole source aquifer in Massachusetts, the Plymouth-Carver Sole Source Aquifer (the Aquifer) covers 140 square miles underlying the towns of Plymouth, Carver, Kingston, Wareham, Plympton, Middleborough, and Bourne. The Aquifer contains over 500 billion gallons of fresh water (USGS 1992), and serves as a critical water resource for residential, commercial, and agricultural uses in the area. Though its resources are vast, they are not unlimited, nor are they unaffected by contamination.

On August 7, 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a notice announcing that the Plymouth-Carver Aquifer satisfies all criteria for designation as a sole source …

What Are The Individual Preparations For Children With Special Health Care Needs In The Event Of An Emergency?, Karen Sue Barcelo

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Children with special health care needs are one of the most vulnerable groups in the event of an emergency. Natural and manmade disasters or emergency events occur on a daily basis. Government agencies, schools and day care centers have begun developing emergency disaster plans; fewer plans have been developed for children with special needs. One explanation for the lack of specific planning for children is that agencies may believe that plans for adults are not different from plans for children. There may be many reasons why parents who have children with special needs may not have an emergency plan in …