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Introduction: Little is known about Filipino American women's (FAW) sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The purpose of this study was to examine the SRH knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy among young adult FAW. Method: This was a qualitative, descriptive interpretive design. Four focus group interviews and one individual interview were conducted. Purposive sampling was used for this study. Inclusion criteria were female, Filipino American, between the ages 18 and 24 years old, and be able to understand and speak English. Results: Twelve participants (n = 12) were recruited. Three themes emerged from this study: (a) sources of SRH information; (b) influence of cultural values, religion, and intergenerational factors; and (c) facilitators of and barriers to women's health services. Discussion: Themes emerged from the content analysis identifying SRH disparities within the Filipino American community, which may inform future interventions and research on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Death by suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents globally. Healthy People 2020 set a goal to reduce by 10% the rate of suicide attempts that required treatment and designated the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to measure this objective. Objectives: This study used cross-sectional YRBS data (2009–2017) to (a) investigate whether gender moderates the linear time trend for the rate of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among high school students within the United States; (b) estimate these same measures stratified by gender; and (c) investigate whether the Healthy People 2020 goal for reduction in suicide attempts was met in 2017 for males and females. Methods: Secondary analysis of nationally representative high school students using YRBS data 2009–2017 were analyzed using R and the R survey package. Based on Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines (STROBE), additive interactions using rate difference were compared to multiplicative interactions using odds ratios. Results: Additive interactions were identified between female gender and linear trends for depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts requiring treatment. Females, but not males, had positive linear trends for depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts requiring treatment. Suicide attempts requiring treatment among females was 36% higher in 2017 than in 2009 but decreased 13% in males during the same period. Discussion: The Healthy People 2020 goal to reduce suicide attempts requiring treatment by 10% has not been met among females. The divergent trends by gender highlight the importance of surveillance measures by gender. Future research is needed to identify better suicide prevention strategies that address underlying factors and are gender specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bullying victimization is common among adolescents and increases the likelihood of depressive symptoms and suicidality. Two previous meta-analyses have shown that these relationships do not significantly vary by gender. Objectives: This research investigated whether there are significant positive additive interactions between bullying victimization and female gender on depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide attempts that required treatment. Methods: For this research, analyses of pooled data from the 2011, 2013, and 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 44,632) were performed to estimate measures of additive interaction, as well as measures of multiplicative interaction in order to examine whether the relationship between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms or suicidality significantly varied by gender. Results: Measures of additive interaction show that the magnitude of the relationship between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms or suicidality is significantly greater among female than male individuals. In contrast, measures of multiplicative interaction indicate that the magnitude of the relationship between bullying and depressive symptoms or suicidality is not significantly greater among female than male individuals. Discussion: Measures of additive interaction are relevant for nursing and population health research. Future research should further explore how and why bullying victimization appears to more profoundly affect female individuals more than male individuals and how to mitigate it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine variables influencing the positive health practices (PHP) of Filipino college students to gain a better understanding of health practices in this ethnic/racial group. Cross-sectional study tested theoretical relationships postulated among (a) PHP, (b) social support (SS), (c) optimism, and (d) acculturation.Participants: A sample of Filipino college students (N= 226) aged 18 to 21 was obtained in June 2009.Methods: Participants completed 4 instruments. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 16.0.Results: Positive correlations were found between PHP and SS (r= .39,p= .01) and optimism and PHP (r= .36,p= .01). No correlation was found between PHP and acculturation. Optimism and SS predicted performance of PHP (R2= .18,F[2, 221] = 24.927,p< .001). A difference was found in acculturation levels between participants who grew up in the United States (t[223] = 4.5,p< .001) and those who did not.Conclusions: Findings help health practitioners and educators to better understand the underlying factors that influence PHP in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that developed and tested theoretical relationships proposed between positive health practices (PHP) and social support (SS), optimism, and acculturation among Asian Americans aged 18-21 years. Evidence showed significant positive relationships between SS and optimism with PHP and between acculturation and PHP. Further research is recommended to identify and test other mediators for more insight into the relationship between the two variables.

TOPIC. Nurses’ role in cancer control. PURPOSE. Many cancers are preventable and curable, if detected early. As the largest group of healthcare professionals, nurses can play a significant role in the control of cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this discussion is to highlight ways nurses can contribute to the prevention and early detection of cancer. It is meant to stimulate nurses’ own ideas about the specific role they can play in cancer control, regardless of practice setting. INFORMATION SOURCES. Existing literature, professional practice. CONCLUSION. Nurses have the ability to serve as change agents in strengthening cancer control within the systems they practice, regardless of the type of setting. Nurses can engage in a number of cancer control activities such as providing patient education on cancer risk, cancer prevention, and early detection, and in the development of policy in support of cancer control activities in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose: Adolescence and young adulthood are critical times for developing lifelong healthy habits. Although cigarette use has declined, Hookah (waterpipe) use among youth is rapidly increasing in prevalence, with 10-20% of US adolescents and young adults reporting use in the previous month. Health risks are similar to cigarette smoking yet hookah is perceived as safer and healthier. Misconceptions present a risk to youth who are unaware of potential consequences. Little is known about factors associated with hookah smoking in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs and behaviors of hookah smoking among young adults. More specifically, the study assessed the practice of hookah smoking in college students ages of 18-24 years and examined relationships between hooking use and perceptions, attitudes, normative beliefs, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, attitudes and trait sensation seeking. Theoretical Framework: The Theory of Planned Behavior guided the research. Methods: A descriptive correlational research design was used. A convenience sample of 74 returned completed surveys: a socio-demographic form, the Sensation Seeking Scale, and a 43-item Hookah Questionnaire assessing lifetime and frequency of hookah smoking, social and environmental context, perceptions, attitudes, normative beliefs, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Data was collected in 2015. Results: The majority of the participants were female (n=58, 78.4%); mean age 21 (SD= 1.38); 54.8 % Caucasian, 16.4 % Hispanic, 15.1 % African American, 13.7 % Asian American. Two-thirds (66.7%) of the reported ever using hookah; 6.8% reported use during the previous month. Males and females reported lifetime use at similar rates (67.2% male, 68.8% female); more Caucasians (72.5%) than non-Caucasians (60.6%) smoked a hookah but the difference was not significant (X2 = 1.159, df=1, p=.282). Subject data was grouped into those ever users and never users. Ever users reported greater acceptability (X2=3.86, df=1, p=.05), lower perceived harm (X2=19.79, df=6, p=.003), scored higher on subjective norms (t=2.652, df=64, p=.01) normative beliefs (t=4.959, df=35, p=.000) and sensation seeking (t=4.622, df=72, p=.000). Correlational analysis demonstrated relationships between frequency and sensation seeking (r=.44, p=.000) subjective norms (r=.523, p=.000) normative beliefs (r=.617, p=.000) and lower perceived harm (r=-.346, p=.003). Conclusions/Implications: Findings contribute the knowledge base regarding the practice of hookah smoking in this population. The significant differences found between ever smokers and never smokers and the significant correlations between frequency and perceptions underscore a need to consider psy-chosocial factors in research and implementation. This study can inform efforts to design effective strategies to reduce the likelihood of youths engaging in hookah smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose: This study developed and tested theory to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence positive health practices (PHP) among female young adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the factors that may influence the health behaviors among female young adults. More specifically, this study examined the relationships between health literacy, health knowledge and beliefs, self-esteem, self-efficacy, social support and health behaviors (such as nutrition and physical activity, breast and cervical health) in female young adults, between the ages of 18-24 years old. Theoretical Framework: This study empirically test theoretical relationships postulated in the literature between the dependent variable, health behaviors, and each of the independent variables of (a) health literacy, (b) health knowledge and beliefs, (c) self-esteem, and (d) self-efficacy and (e) social support. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study design was used. A convenience sample of 102 female young adults in an urban setting completed questionnaires assessing their health literacy, health knowledge and beliefs, self-esteem, self-efficacy, perceived social support, their performance of health practices, and one demographic questionnaire. Data collection is complete and data is currently being entered into SPSS Statistical Software to be analyzed. Results: Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson correlations and multiple regression analysis will be used to test the research hypotheses. Conclusions/Implications: It is anticipated that the study findings will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the factors that influence health practices among female young adults to promote the adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors among this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effectiveness of a HIV/AIDS peer education program, Teens for AIDS Prevention (TAP) in two cultures. A convenience sample of 287 (American and Nepalese) 9th grade students participated in the study. It was found that HIV/AIDS knowledge scores were significantly higher among American adolescents than their Nepalese counterparts only at pre-intervention. American adolescents had significantly higher self-efficacy scores than Nepalese adolescents both at pre-intervention and post-intervention. Adolescent peer education programs could be used to improve adolescent HIV/AIDS knowledge and self-efficacy for limiting sexual risk behavior; however for the educational programs to be effective, it is pertinent that the program is culturally appropriate to the target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participants: A convenience sample of 210 community dwelling Black single mothers ages 18 to 45, who reside in U.S. urban communities. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed. Participants responded to an open-ended question that asked about reasons for depressed mood. A directed approach to content analysis was used to categorize the responses based on existing theoretical formulations and empirical findings about the causes of depression in women. Percentages and frequencies were used to describe the results of the analysis. Findings: A total of 319 usable responses were provided. Collectively and individually the most frequent responses were consistent with Social/Environmental factors such as lack of financial resources (n = 115; 36.05%), followed by Psychological factors such as general cognitive/emotional feelings of stress (n = 60; 18.81%), and parenting stressors or daily hassles (n = 40; 12.54%). Physiologic factors such as a having physiologic or medical conditions were reported less often (n = 14; 4.39%). Conclusions/Implications: Social/Environmental and Psychological factors contribute to depressed mood more often than Physiological factors in Black single mothers. Depression prevention efforts should target the social determinants of mental health in Black single mothers who should be connected with appropriate financial, psychological, educational and social service resources in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]