Public Health Commons^™

Exercise And Cardiovascular Events - Placing The Risks Into Perspective: A Scientific Statement From The American Heart Association Council On Nutrition, Physical Activity, And Metabolism And The Council On Clinical Cardiology, Paul D. Thompson, Barry A. Franklin, Gary J. Balady, Steven N. Blair, Domenico Corrado, N. A. Mark Estes Iii, Janet E. Fulton, Neil F. Gordon, William L. Haskell, Mark S. Link, Barry J. Maron, Murray A. Mittleman, Antonio Pelliccia, Nanette K. Wenger, Stefan N. Willich, Fernando Costa

Faculty Publications

Habitual physical activity reduces coronary heart disease events, but vigorous activity can also acutely and transiently increase the risk of sudden cardiac death and acute myocardial infarction in susceptible persons. This scientific statement discusses the potential cardiovascular complications of exercise, their pathological substrate, and their incidence and suggests strategies to reduce these complications. Exercise-associated acute cardiac events generally occur in individuals with structural cardiac disease. Hereditary or congenital cardiovascular abnormalities are predominantly responsible for cardiac events among young individuals, whereas atherosclerotic disease is primarily responsible for these events in adults. The absolute rate of exercise-related sudden cardiac death varies with …

Effects Of Residence And Race On Burden Of Travel For Care: Cross Sectional Analysis Of The 2001 Us National Household Travel Survey, Janice C. Probst, Sarah B. Laditka, Jong-Yi Wang, Andrew O. Johnson

Faculty Publications

Background: Travel burden is a key element in conceptualizing geographic access to health care. Prior research has shown that both rural and minority populations bear disproportionate travel burdens. However, many studies are limited to specific types of patient or specific locales. The purpose of our study was to quantify geographic and race-based differences in distance traveled and time spent in travel for medical/dental care using representative national data.

Methods: Data were drawn from 2001 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), a nationally representative, cross-sectional household survey conducted by the US Department of Transportation. Participants recorded all travel on a designated day; …

Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine For Weight Control In The United States, Patricia A. Sharpe, Heidi M. Blanck, Joel E. Williams, Barbara E. Ainsworth, Joan M. Conway

Faculty Publications

Objectives: The purpose was to assess the prevalence and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine use for weight control.

Design: A list-assisted random-digit-dialed telephone survey of adults was conducted in the fall of 2002 (n = 11,211). The focus of the study was complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, other than dietary supplements, in the previous 12 months.

Settings/location: The sample of respondents was drawn from the total noninstitutionalized U.S. adult population residing in telephone-equipped locations.

Subjects: The sampling procedures were designed to obtain adequate representation of Hispanic and non-Hispanic black respondents. Data from the total sample of 11,211 …

Objectively Measured Physical Activity And Fat Mass In A Large Cohort Of Children, Andy R. Ness, Sam D. Leary, Calum Mattocks, Steven N. Blair, John J. Reilly, Jonathan Wells, Sue Ingle, Kate Tilling, George Davey Smith, Chris J. Riddoch

Faculty Publications

Background: Previous studies have been unable to characterise the association between physical activity and obesity, possibly because most relied on inaccurate measures of physical activity and obesity.

Methods and Findings: We carried out a cross sectional analysis on 5,500 12-year-old children enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Total physical activity and minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were measured using the Actigraph accelerometer. Fat mass and obesity (defined as the top decile of fat mass) were measured using the Lunar Prodigy dual x-ray emission absorptiometry scanner. We found strong negative associations between MVPA and …

Disparities In Health And Well-Being Among Latinos In Washington Heights/Inwood, 2000–2005, Ana Motta-Moss

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

Introduction: This report analyzes how well the residents of Washington Heights/Inwood (WH/IN) have fared on selected health indicators set forth by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygene between 2000 and 2005.

Methods: Data on Latinos and other racial/ethnic groups were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, reorganized for public use by the Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota, IPUMSusa. Cases in the dataset were weighted and analyzed to produce population estimates.

Results: Immigrant families in particular face a multitude of health concerns, as well as specific barriers to accessing health care services. The socioeconomic and …

Download Full Pdf Issue Of Thomas Jefferson University Mph Public Health Link Newsletter, Vol. 2, Iss. 8, November/December 2006

Public Health Link

Vol. 2, Iss. 8 includes a faculty spotlight on Mona Sarfaty, an article on Richard Wender becoming President of the American Cancer Society and Jefferson presenters at the upcoming American Public Health Association meeting.

Download Full Pdf Issue Of Thomas Jefferson University Mph Public Health Link Newsletter, Vol. 2, Iss. 7, October 2006

Public Health Link

Vol. 2, Iss. 7 includes a description of the The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, a faculty spotlight on the Thomas Jefferson University and the Rwanda Healing Project and new course offerings for the spring.

Download Full Pdf Issue Of Thomas Jefferson University Mph Public Health Link, Vol. 2, Iss.5, June 2006

Public Health Link

Vol. 2, Iss.5 of the MPH Public Health Link newsletter highlights recent graduate, Charbel Haber.

Aha/Acc Guidelines For Secondary Prevention For Patients With Coronary And Other Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: 2006 Update, Sidney C. Smith Jr., Jerilyn Allen, Steven N. Blair, Robert O. Bonow, Lawrence M. Brass, Gregg C. Fonarow, Scott M. Grundy, Loren Hiratzka, Daniel Jones, Harlan M. Krumholz, Lori Mosca, Richard C. Pasternak, Thomas A. Pearson, Marc A. Pfeffer, Kathryn A. Taubert

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Download Full Pdf Issue Of Thomas Jefferson University Mph Public Health Link, Vol. 2, Iss.4, May 2006

Public Health Link

Vol. 2, Iss. 4 of Public Health Link newsletter includes a summary of the retreat to the Franklin Institute, SAPHE's public health week award luncheon and thesis presenters.

Download Full Pdf Issue Of Thomas Jefferson University Public Health Link, Vol. 2, Iss.3, April 2006

Public Health Link

Vol. 2, Iss. 3 of Public Health Link includes spotlight on Richard Wender, MD from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. Also includes National Public Health Week and thesis presentations.

Association Between Tobacco Use And Body Mass Index In Urban Indian Population: Implications For Public Health In India, Mangesh S. Pednekar, Prakash C. Gupta, Heema C. Shukla, James R. Hébert

Faculty Publications

Background: Body mass index [BMI, weight (kg)/height (m2)], a measure of relative weight, is a good overall indicator of nutritional status and predictor of overall health. As in many developing countries, the high prevalence of very low BMIs in India represents an important public health risk. Tobacco, smoked in the form of cigarettes or bidis (handmade by rolling a dried rectangular piece of temburni leaf with 0.15–0.25 g of tobacco) or chewed, is another important determinant of health. Tobacco use also may exert a strong influence on BMI.

Methods: The relationship between very low BMI (< 18.5 kg/m2) and tobacco use was examined using data from a representative cross-sectional survey of 99,598 adults (40,071 men and 59,527 women) carried out in the city of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) in western India. Participants were men and women aged ≥ 35 years who were residents of the main city of Mumbai.

Results: …

Download Full Pdf Issue Volume 2, Issue 1 - Msph Newsletter 2006

Public Health Link

This is the first issue of 2006 and it highlights upcoming events and an accreditation update.

Barriers For Latino Immigrants Seeking Health Care Services, Jennier Ng'andu

2006 Latino Health Summit

At the time of the presentation Ms. Ng'andu was Health Policy Analyst, National Council of La Raza.

This presentation was part of a larger track "Immigrants, Refugees, Asylees and the Undocumented: Understanding Laws that Impact their Health and Well-Being"

From the brochure:

Participants will gain a better understanding of the various status types (e.g., immigrants, refugees) of Latinos residing in the United States and learn how these status types impact individual legal rights. Specific areas to be addressed include employment, bad debt and collections, domestic violence, human trafficking, access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services, and access to …

Brochure And Schedule Of Events, Latino Health Summit, Virginia Commonwealth University

2006 Latino Health Summit

Brochure and Schedule of Events, including abstracts for the Latino Health Summit, November 16-17, 2006

Metro Richmond Latino Health Services & Resource Guide – 2006, Virginia Commonwealth University

2006 Latino Health Summit

This Guide was produced by the VCU Institute for Women’s Health, VCU Center on Health Disparities, and CLAS Act Virginia as a resource for the fall 2006 Latino Health Summit: Latino Cultures and Beliefs in Health Care. The purpose of this Guide is to provide a practical tool for community health care professionals to use in their work by assisting in cataloguing key provider and patient resources and services. The guide will be posted on the VCU Institute for Women’s Health and VCU Center on Health Disparities websites, which will be updated on a regular basis.

Using Focus Groups In The Consumer Research Phase Of A Social Marketing Program To Promote Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity And Walking Trail Use In Sumter County, South Carolina, Ericka L. Burroughs, Lara E. Peck, Patricia A. Sharpe, Michelle L. Granner, Carol A. Bryant, Regina Fields

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The use of social marketing approaches in public health practice is increasing. Using marketing concepts such as the "four Ps" (product, price, place, and promotion), social marketing borrows from the principles of commercial marketing but promotes beneficial health behaviors. Consumer research is used to segment the population and develop a strategy based on those marketing concepts. In a community-based participatory research study, 17 focus groups were used in consumer research to develop a social marketing program to promote walking and other moderate-intensity physical activities.

Methods: Two phases of focus groups were conducted. Phase 1 groups, which included …

Knowledge And Perceived Risk Of Tuberculosis: Us Racial And Regional Differences, Karen A. Kirtland, Ana Lopez-De Fede, Muriel Harris, Kevin C. Remington

Publications

The purpose of this study is to report the findings of the 2004 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) questions on tuberculosis (TB) knowledge and perceived risk of contracting TB. Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major health threat in the United States, but minimal effort is made on public education to increase knowledge about TB. Using data from the 2004 NHIS, this study examined knowledge and perceived risk of TB of 26,136 US respondents. Results showed that nationally, how much a respondent knew about tuberculosis, knowing someone with tuberculosis, being 18–34 years old, and being Black were most strongly associated …

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, …

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.

Recruitment And Retention Of Emergency Medical Technicians: A Qualitative Study, P. Daniel Patterson, Janice C. Probst, Katherine H. Leith, Sara J. Corwin, M. Paige Powell

Faculty Publications

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are critical to out-of-hospital care, but maintaining staff can be difficult. The study objective was to identify factors that contribute to recruitment and retention of EMTs and paramedics. Information was drawn from three focus groups of EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, and EMT-Paramedic personnel recruited from participants at an annual conference. Thoughts and feelings of EMTs and paramedics were investigated using eight questions designed to explore entry into emergency medical services, what it is like to be an EMT or paramedic, and the EMT educational process. Data were analyzed at the group level for common themes using NVivo. For …

Revised Adult Treatment Panel Iii Guidelines And Cardiovascular Disease Mortality In Men Attending A Preventive Medical Clinic, Chris I. Ardern, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Ian Janssen, Timothy S. Church, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Background - National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines recommended therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) and drug therapy to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. These guidelines have been revised recently (ATP III-R); however, the risk of CVD mortality within each intervention window and the effects of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and metabolic syndrome on CVD mortality within the framework of the guidelines are unknown.

Methods and Results - Risk factor and CRF data from 19,125 men (aged 20 to 79 years) who attended a preventive medical clinic between 1979 and 1995 were used. Mortality follow-up was completed until December 31, …

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Inversely Associated With The Incidence Of Metabolic Syndrome: A Prospective Study Of Men And Women, Michael J. Lamonte, Carolyn E. Barlow, Radim Jurca, James B. Kampert, Timothy S. Church, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Background - Few studies have reported the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic syndrome incidence, particularly in women.

Methods and Results - We prospectively studied 9007 men (mean±SD, age, 44±9 years; body mass index, 25±3 kg/m²) and 1491 women (age, 44±9 years; body mass index, 22±2 kg/m²) who were free of metabolic syndrome and for whom measures of waist girth, resting blood pressure, fasting lipids, and glucose were taken during baseline and follow-up examinations. Baseline cardiorespiratory fitness was quantified as duration of a maximal treadmill test. Metabolic syndrome was defined with NCEP ATP-III criteria. During a …

Psychometric Properties Of The Self-Efficacy For Exercise Questionnaire In A Diverse Sample Of Men And Women, Sarah Wilcox, Patricia A. Sharpe, Brent E. Hutto, Michelle L. Granner

Faculty Publications

Background: Self-efficacy is a consistent correlate of physical activity, but most self-efficacy measures have not been validated in diverse populations. This study examined the construct, criterion-related, and convergent validity and internal consistency of the Self-Efficacy for Exercise Questionnaire. Methods: African American and Caucasian adults (N = 1919) from two adjacent counties in South Carolina were identified through a list-assisted random digit-dialed telephone survey. Psychometric properties of the measure were assessed by gender, race, age, education, and body weight subgroups. Results: Across all subgroups, a single-factor solution explained 93 to 98% of the common variance in an exploratory factor analysis, …

Correlates Of Physical Activity In Persons With Arthritis: Review And Recommendations, Sarah Wilcox, Cheryl Der Ananian, Patricia A. Sharpe, Jennifer Robbins, Theresa Brady

Faculty Publications

Background: Physical activity (PA) is important for arthritis self-management. A better understanding of the PA correlates in persons with arthritis will help inform interventions. Methods: Computer searches were conducted on PubMed, PsychInfo, Current Contents, and Cinahl databases. Reference lists of extracted articles were also searched. Thirty-six studies published between 1976 and February 2004 met inclusion criteria. Results: PA correlates are presented for sociodemographic, psychological, health-related, social, and environmental categories. Self-efficacy, perceived benefits and barriers, mental well-being, prior PA, and pain received the most consistent support as PA correlates, whereas sociodemographic, social, and environmental variables were the least studied. Too few …

Scale And Shape Issues In Focused Cluster Power For Count Data, Robin C. Puett, Andrew B. Lawson, Allan B. Clark, Tim E. Aldrich, Dwayne E. Porter, Charles E. Feigley, James R. Hébert

Faculty Publications

Background: Interest in the development of statistical methods for disease cluster detection has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Evaluations of statistical power provide important information for the selection of an appropriate statistical method in environmentally-related disease cluster investigations. Published power evaluations have not yet addressed the use of models for focused cluster detection and have not fully investigated the issues of disease cluster scale and shape. As meteorological and other factors can impact the dispersion of environmental toxicants, it follows that environmental exposures and associated diseases can be dispersed in a variety of spatial patterns. This study simulates …

Prevention Conference Vii - Obesity, A Worldwide Epidemic Related To Heart Disease And Stroke: Executive Summary, Robert H. Eckel, David A. York, Stephan Rössner, Van Hubbard, Ian Caterson, Sachiko T. St. Jeor, Laura L. Hayman, Rebecca M. Mullis, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Clinical Implications Of Obesity With Specific Focus On Cardiovascular Disease: A Statement For Professionals From The American Heart Association Council On Nutrition, Physical Activity, And Metabolism, Samuel Klein, Lora E. Burke, George A. Bray, Steven N. Blair, David B. Allison, Xavier Pi-Sunyer, Yuling Hong, Robert H. Eckel

Faculty Publications

Obesity adversely affects cardiac function, increases the risk factors for coronary heart disease, and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The risk of developing coronary heart disease is directly related to the concomitant burden of obesity-related risk factors. Modest weight loss can improve diastolic function and affect the entire cluster of coronary heart disease risk factors simultaneously. This statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism reviews the relationship between obesity and the cardiovascular system, evaluates the effect of weight loss on coronary heart disease risk factors and coronary heart disease, and provides …

Evaluating Uranium Depth Versus Socio-Economic Statistics For Residential Radon Vulnerability In Warren County, Kentucky, Anthony Iovanna

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Residences in Warren County, Kentucky, are characterized by high levels of residential radon, which is one of the radioactive daughter products of uranium. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), radon exposure causes approximately 22,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States per year. The City of Bowling Green, in Warren County, is underlain by karst, an easily soluble limestone subsurface, which allows radon gas to travel easily through cracks and fissures. Carbonate rocks under Bowling Green are underlain by the Devonian Chattanooga Shale, a low-grade uranium ore and a potential source of radon gas. A digital …