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Objective: First, to examine general health care attitudes and health care utilization of a University Health Service (UHS) at a large university. Second, to identify differences between LGBT and non-LBGT students. Participants: 2,943 university students were surveyed in Spring 2013; 7.8% LGBT, 67% undergraduate and 65% female. Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods online survey to assess health care utilization and attitudes. Results: A majority had utilized UHS and held positive attitudes in general. LGBT students were more likely to: use UHS for ongoing care, mental health, and preventive care; report concerns about utilization (e.g. confidentiality, sensitivity, and discrimination issues); report provider discomfort discussing sexuality; and hold positive attitudes toward the health care needs of LGBT students. Conclusions: University health centers have an important role in student health. Barriers to care should be removed, including perceived discrimination. Student health center staff should be trained on LGBT health issues.

This study employed an alternating treatment design with a baseline for three English learners in an urban Midwestern middle school to investigate the utility of a culturally adaptive intervention package called Preview-Review. Participants were provided with a scripted bilingual preview of conceptual and contextual information relating to the topic and explicit instruction of passage vocabulary using cognates, multiple exemplars, and reinforcement. The effects of repeated readings alone and in combination with preview-review were measured on oral reading fluency, reading comprehension score, and reading comprehension rate. Results indicated that the repeated readings with preview-review were superior to the repeated readings stand-alone condition across all target variables. The study also finds support for the use of reading comprehension rate for progress monitoring intervention effectiveness with English learners.

Purpose: To determine sources of health information of Latinos and assess associations with acculturation level, functional health literacy and demographics. Methods: Focus groups (n = 40) and Semi-structured survey interviews were conducted with adults (n = 212). Results: Over 60% of respondents had lived in the country for less than 10 years, were women with less than a high school degree, and under the age of 40 years old. Motivation for seeking health information was reported to be primarily due to illness (n = 146, 71.9%) and mostly for themselves (n = 191, 90%). The majority of participants chose to take the survey in Spanish and preferred Spanish for health information. Younger participants, recent immigrants, women, participants with lower education levels and lower acculturation to American culture were more likely to use other People and Self-Help strategies as sources of information. Although most found information trustworthy and easy to obtain, 10% did not find their top source of information trustworthy, 20% reported difficulty accessing the information and 25% found the information insufficient. Barriers identified such as language and trust are explored and discussed. Lastly, participants with marginal and inadequate Functional Health Literacy (FHL) and low Acculturation/English proficiency were less likely to use Media sources and more likely to rely on friends, family and traditional medicine or healers. Conclusion: Specific implications for professional practice are presented; specifically, consideration for language preferences; formatting and material for audiences; readability and comprehension levels; cultural relevance and appropriateness; and physical location availability; and measures of literacy, FHL and acculturation.

Background: Workplace safety and health is a major public health concern, but largely absent from the school health curriculum. Little is known about teachers' perceptions of teaching workplace safety and health topics. Methods: We administered a 41-item questionnaire reflecting the theory of planned behavior, modified to measure knowledge, to 242 middle and high school teachers in career and technical education and academic subjects. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis to assess the measures' psychometric properties and factorial ANOVAs to compare differences among participants' knowledge, attitude toward, self-efficacy, and intention (to teach) workplace safety and health by sex, prior work injury, and main subject taught. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses indicated the measures reflected the theory. Factorial ANOVAs suggested female teachers had statistically significantly lower mean self-efficacy scores than did male teachers to teach workplace safety and health. Male occupational career and technical education teachers demonstrated higher mean knowledge scores than male teachers in other subjects. Participants not injured at work had higher knowledge scores than those who had been injured. Conclusion: Self-efficacy (influenced by sex) and knowledge (influenced by subject taught and previous workplace injury) revealed factors that may affect teachers' provision of workplace safety and health education, a critical yet overlooked component of school health.

Diabetes disproportionately affects individuals with lower income in the U.S. (CDC, 2012). Specifically the control of diabetes through self-management has been found to be sub-par and an important contributor to complications (Seligman, Davis, Schillinger, & Wolf, 2010). People experiencing homelessness also experience barriers. One such group is homeless veterans who have diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate self-management behaviors and knowledge regarding diabetes among homeless military veterans in order to establish a baseline of knowledge, self-management behaviors, attitudes, and barriers. A cross-sectional convenience sample of 27 homeless military veterans at a local shelter completed face-to-face structured survey interviews. Blood glucose monitoring behaviors were adequate but foot and eye care behaviors need improvement. Gaps existed in knowledge and attitudes about diabetes. Barriers such as lack of access to healthy food and lack of knowledge of how to cook limited their ability to self-manage diabetes. Veterans who had higher knowledge scores, and had been diagnosed longer, had higher self-management scores. Findings from this study help to inform the existing need for health educators to engage with veterans diagnosed with diabetes to improve health outcomes.

The purposes of the study were to determine the health literacy levels of Latinos in the Greater Cincinnati Area in both English and Spanish by utilizing two standardized quantitative measures of health literacy, and to undertake an assessment of the relationship between language, health literacy and acculturation in this community. Given a rapid increase in the Latino immigrant population in the Midwest, data on health literacy and acculturation were needed. A convenience sample of 214 Latinos was recruited in the Greater Cincinnati Area. Semi-structured interviews in English or Spanish included three validated scales: one for linguistic proficiency, and two for health literacy levels. Results showed that most participants chose to be surveyed in Spanish and that 2/3 were married or living together, well-educated and under the age of 40 years. Almost half had more than high school education and half reported annual income under $16,000. 60% had lived in the USA 10 years or less. Almost half were born in Mexico and about a quarter in Central America. Most participants had low acculturation to US culture and low health literacy and English reading ability. Lower acculturation was associated with lower health literacy. Recommendations for Health Education practice are presented.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess potential relationships among reproductive health knowledge, preventive health behaviors, perceived severity and risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and sexually transmitted infections and selected demographical variables and characteristics related to acculturation among Latina immigrants. Methods: A total of 204 Latinas from a Midwestern city in the United States consented to participate in the study. Health interviews were conducted using semistructured interviews and convenience sampling. Interviews were conducted in the participants' choice of language by trained bilingual administrators at a variety of Latino associated locations. Results: Characteristics associated with acculturation, such as English skill, play a role in preventive health behaviors--in this case, self breast exams and likelihood of getting Pap tests. Perception of risk and severity may be affected by acculturation characteristics such as barriers to access as well as perception of severity which appear to be higher among Latinas with lower education levels. Conclusion: Culturally appropriate efforts to assess the health needs of emerging Latino communities will contribute to preventive health education for women. (Contains 3 tables.)

There have been no published studies documenting current practices regarding graduate student research supervision by faculty in health education programs. Documenting current standards for such supervision may help programs gauge their practices against a national sample. This study assessed practices utilized by U.S. universities and colleges for faculty to supervise theses and dissertations in health education programs. Requirements of committee composition, graduate faculty status, faculty rank, years of service, and publication record were assessed. Funding, publication expectations, and training of faculty were also examined. Surveys (n=137) were sent to department heads, directors or program coordinators of graduate programs (62.7% response rate). The majority of institutions required faculty to earn graduate faculty status before they could chair a thesis (80.3%) or a dissertation (82.4%). Fifteen percent required faculty training before chairing a thesis and 25.9% required training before chairing a dissertation. The majority (92.4%) reported no maximum number of committees on which a faculty member could serve. One-third of respondents were either very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with current guidelines for supervision, while 17.3% were somewhat satisfied or partially satisfied. A need exists for health education programs to more systematically prepare junior level faculty to guide thesis and dissertation work. (Contains 5 tables.)

Background: Latinos experience disproportionate negative health status and health care access. Expanding understanding of factors impacting Latino immigrant health is imperative. Purpose: This study identified health-seeking behaviors among Latinas in a large Midwestern city with rapid immigrant population growth. Health-seeking behaviors like frequency of care, type of health care provider (HCP) sought, and reasons for seeking care were explored. Barriers to health care access and their frequency were identified. Additionally, interactions between demographics, health-seeking behaviors and health care access barriers were explored. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 204 Latinas by trained culturally competent and bilingual interviewers. Results: Most reported moderate to good health. Foreign born Latinas reported lower overall health. Nearly half had experienced difficulty obtaining health care services. Leading access barriers were: cost, communication issues, and lack of insurance. Those reporting difficulty had: significantly lower education and income levels, lower ability for self-sufficiency, less likelihood of having legal status, and more likelihood of being unemployed. Lack of Latino HCPs and cultural insensitivity by HCPs were reported as barriers. Discussion: Incongruities in access to care underscore the importance for novel interventions aimed at reducing health care disparities. Findings emphasize the need for tailored outreach programs that address barriers and that are effective in increasing Latina participation in preventive health care. Continued assessment of acculturation on health-seeking behaviors among Latinas is clearly warranted, as it can have a profound impact on their health seeking behaviors. Translation to Health Education Practice: The continuation of efforts to decrease all health disparities is discussed with emphasis on giving attention to the specific needs of emerging populations for culturally appropriate and effective health care options. (Contains 6 tables.)

This study assessed current criteria and procedures used when hiring health education faculty. One hundred thirty two program heads/coordinators of health education programs listed in the "AAHE 2001 Directory of Institutions" completed a mailed 45-item survey on hiring criteria and procedures. Results indicated that 90% of programs had conducted a search since 1995 with 71% hiring a faculty member. Twenty nine percent were unable to complete their search due to lack of quality candidates, funding issues or other reasons. While 62% required interview candidates present research at the interview, only 36% required candidates to teach an actual class. The hiring criteria perceived as most important were: desire to teach, health education doctorate, teamwork willingness, demonstrated teaching/presenting ability, and teaching experience. In addition, differences existed based on program type. Programs with graduate degrees had significantly greater numbers of tenure track positions and positions held by tenured faculty, individuals with doctoral/terminal degrees in health education, and individuals with CHES certification. Programs offering graduate degrees were significantly more likely to place emphasis on research experience while programs offering only undergraduate degrees were more likely to place emphasis on teaching experience. Based on these findings, programs may wish to examine possible incongruities between their hiring criteria and actual interviewing procedures. (Contains 6 tables.)

Objectives Informing research participants of the results of studies in which they took part is viewed as an ethical imperative. However, there is little guidance in the literature about how to do this. The Fluoxetine Or Control Under Supervision trial randomised 3127 patients with a recent acute stroke to 6 months of fluoxetine or placebo and was published in the Lancet on 5 December 2018. The trial team decided to inform the participants of the results at exactly the same time as the Lancet publication, and also whether they had been allocated fluoxetine or placebo. In this report, we describe how we informed participants of the results.Design In the 6-month and 12-month follow-up questionnaires, we invited participants to provide an email address if they wished to be informed of the results of the trial. We re-opened our trial telephone helpline between 5 December 2018 and 31 March 2019.Setting UK stroke services.Participants 3127 participants were randomised. 2847 returned 6-month follow-up forms and 2703 returned 12-month follow-up forms; the remaining participants had died (380), withdrawn consent or did not respond.Results Of those returning follow-up questionnaires, a total of 1845 email addresses were provided and a further 50 people requested results to be sent by post. Results were sent to all email and postal addresses provided; 309 emails were returned unrecognised. Seventeen people replied, of whom three called the helpline and the rest responded by email.Conclusion It is feasible to disseminate results of large trials to research participants, though only around 60% of those randomised wanted to receive the results. The system we developed was efficient and required very little resource, and could be replicated by trialists in the future.Trial registration number ISRCTN83290762; Post-results.

Throughout the Midwest and the southern United States, new groups of Hispanic/Latino and other immigrants are settling in large numbers. In many regions, very little infrastructure exists in social service, health care, and educational entities that would allow professionals to deliver much-needed services. Little data exist on the sociodemographics of new immigrant communities in the South and the Midwest. Sociodemographic information provides social work professionals and community planners with valuable clues about the health and social services that may be necessary to promote a viable, livable community. In this article, the authors report on a survey of 535 Hispanic adults conducted in a midwestern city, surrounded by urban, suburban, and rural areas in three adjacent states. This information can be used to design programs and services to benefit new immigrants and to assist communities in predicting future needs.

This study investigated sexuality topics discussed by parents, sources of sexuality education, sexual risk behaviors, and attitudes about who should educate children about sexuality among a sample of 204 adult Latinas. Nearly half of sexually active women (having ever had sex) reported condom use and 36.7% reported discussing sexual history with new sexual partners. Self-discovery, friends and media were the most commonly reported sources of sexuality education. Almost 60% of participants thought that both parents and teachers should be responsible for their children's sexuality education. Lower education and lower acculturation were related to reporting peers and media as primary sources of sexuality education. Participants whose parents discussed at least one sexuality related topic with them reported higher frequency of condom use. (Contains 5 tables.)

The relationships among acculturation, health protective sexual communication, and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors of Hispanic women are examined. Respondents represented 14 Latin American countries, a mean age of 29.5 years, and relatively low education and income levels. A significant correlation was found between higher non-Hispanic acculturation level and higher sexual communication with new partners. Higher non-Hispanic acculturation levels were also correlated with higher number of sexual partners in the prior 12 months. The higher the score for health protective sexual communication, the higher the reported frequency of condom use with new sexual partners in the past 12 months. Given the low number of sexual partners, HIV/AIDS risk for this group of women appears to be related to not knowing whether their partners had other sexual partners and to low frequency of condom use. Implications for health education are discussed. (Contains 4 tables.)

People with invisible disabilities experience life altering physical and mental complications. This paper provides information regarding the background of invisible disabilities, the impact of them on specific aspects of health, invisible disability awareness among the general public, and implications for health education. Research indicates that the general public has low knowledge and negative attitudes toward people with invisible disabilities and decreasing social involvement, inclusion, and acceptance of people with them as well. Educational programs that focused on increasing awareness of disabilities were reviewed. There is a need for effective, research-based invisible disability awareness programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to pilot test the Comics for Health program, a theory-based nutrition and physical activity intervention for children. Twelve after-school programs were randomized to either a theory-based (n = 37) or a knowledge-based (n = 34 children) version of the intervention. Pretests, posttests, and 3-month follow-up tests were administered to evaluate the programmatic effects on body mass index percentile, obesity-related behaviors, and constructs of social cognitive theory. Both interventions found significant, yet modest effects for fruit and vegetable consumption (P < .005), physical activities (P < .004), and water and sugar-free beverage consumption (P < .001) and self-efficacy for fruit and vegetable consumption (P < .015) and physical activities (P < .009). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot participatory needs assessment, using Photovoice to engage in a critical dialogue with preadolescent Latina girls about their perceptions of health and immediate health concerns. Seven Latina girls participated in the Photovoice study and held a photography exhibition for the community to display their photographs and quotes from their discussions. Eight themes about being healthy emerged. Conducting a needs assessment, which concentrates on the voices and needs of these girls, can be the first step to creating successful and cost-efficient programs and interventions specifically suited to this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]