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Aim: This study was conducted to determine the preferences of testing and learning styles of undergraduate nursing students within a baccalaureate school of nursing. Background: Historically, nursing education has been in a face-to face (F2F) lecture format. One of the most pronounced trends in higher education over the last decade has been a strong growth in distance education through online course work [1]. Method: A survey was given to 685 undergraduate sophomore level nursing students within a baccalaureate undergraduate school of nursing over eight semesters. This same survey was given again to these sophomore undergraduate nursing students during their senior year to determine if results waivered. There were 228 seniors surveyed over four semesters. Students were asked to indicate their age (17 to 27 years, 27 to 37 years, > 37 years) Students were queried about their preferences among the following categories: 1. Test taking preference: computer exams, or paper and pencil exams 2. Book preference: traditional hard copy textbook, or E-book 3. Learning style preference: online learning, or attending classroom lecture, or both Results: Overwhelmingly, sophomore and senior level undergraduate nursing students surveyed, selected their preferences in test taking, book usage, and instruction styles, to support traditional learning methodologies period. Conclusion: The results from this study emphasize the need for nurse educators to listen attentively to their students and not assume that advanced technology is the ultimate learning method to be utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Studies have shown positive housing retention and quality of life outcomes in moving on initiatives (MOIs). However, less is known about how movers' health service use changes post-move. This paper aims to explore physical and mental health service use over time for participants in New York City's MOI program. Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses data collected at baseline, 12-months post move and 24-months post move to explore patterns in mental and physical health service use and their association with mental and physical health status for participants (N = 41). Health status was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Survey Instrument. Findings: Three mental health service use patterns emerged: service use at all time points, inconsistent service use across time points and no service use at any time point. Significant group differences in mental health were found at baseline and 12 months. Two physical health service use patterns emerged: service use at all three time points and inconsistent service use across time points. Significant group differences were found in mental health at 12 and 24 months. Originality/value: This study showed that physical and mental health service use varied slightly over time for participants, with the majority of service use being for outpatient/non-acute care. The findings also point to possible relationships between service use and mental health status. Positive and negative implications of these findings are framed within the broader context of PSH and MOI goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study discusses the creation of an online, asynchronous presentation to educate adolescents about prevention of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) through interprofessional collaborations and electronic service-learning (eSL) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The Hearing Education and Research (HEAR) presentation, which included activities and videos to educate a group of ethnically diverse adolescents (n = 100) on NIHL, was created by 11 doctor of audiology (AuD) students through online collaborations toward course-related eSL requirements. Adolescents responded to a baseline survey to assess hearing health–related behaviors prior to reviewing the presentation. A postprogram survey was administered 1 week after the presentation to assess change in knowledge and attitudes toward NIHL prevention. Online collaborations with schoolteachers helped with project implementation. Postreflection papers written by AuD students regarding the eSL activities were analyzed. Lastly, suggestions from a focus group of educators were included that highlight the role of interprofessional collaborations to enhance school-based hearing conservation opportunities. Results: The HEAR presentation resulted in changes in knowledge about NIHL among the adolescents. Postreflection papers by the AuD students indicated that the eSL activity served as a high-impact pedagogical assignment, especially during the academic challenges of the pandemic. Feedback from a focus group of schoolteachers helped outline ideas for future implementation of sustainable hearing conservation programs in school settings. Conclusion: The pilot data collected in this study serve as a proof of concept for future hearing conservation projects in school-based settings via interprofessional collaborations and by engaging university students via eSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The Communication Disorders and Nursing Programs conducted a pilot study to examine the value of peer review as an educational strategy to improve graduate student writing and understanding of course assignments. PARTICIPANTS: Graduate students enrolled in a communication disorders diagnostic process course, a health policy course, or a philosophical foundations course (N=120). METHODS: Students participated as a peer reviewer for their final assignment. The reviewer read the draft assignment and provided comments. Additionally, nursing students read their papers out loud to the peer reviewer. Students submitted their draft assignment to their professor. The nursing drafts were graded. Students revised and submitted the final assignment for a grade. Students completed a questionnaire at the end of the course to provide feedback about the value of peer review. RESULTS: A 65% response rate was obtained. Students (89.9%) felt that the draft was helpful, the partner was helpful (70.9%), and 78.5% incorporated the suggestions of the peer reviewer. Overall, grades improved from the draft version to the final version for each assignment. CONCLUSION: The pilot study showed that peer review was an effective educational strategy to improve student grades and conceptual understanding of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess whether preschoolers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behave differently during mother-child interaction tasks as a function of task palatability and whether differences are associated with the presence of comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Methods Typically developing, ADHD, and ADHD + ODD children and their mothers participated in digitally recorded interactions, which included three 5-min tasks, differing in level of palatability/engagement and parental structure (Free Play Task = highly engaging, not structured; Paper and Pencil Task = not engaging, highly structured; Duplo Task = highly engaging, structured). Results Mixed ANOVAs revealed that positive engagement, but not structure, differentially improved the behaviour of children with ADHD + ODD. Discussion Although ADHD and ODD are associated with more negative behaviours during the mother-child interaction, those with comorbid ADHD + ODD exhibit differentially greater impairment during relatively boring tasks. Implications for treatment are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VACTERL Association is a medical diagnosis that represents a broad range of characteristics affecting the following body systems: vertebrae; anal; cardiovascular; trachea; esophageal; renal and radial; and limb. Auditory, growth, sex, and reproductive characteristics are often present as well. Thus far, VACTERL has only been examined within the medical system, and, within that framework, it has become identified as an anomaly and ‘disability,’ leaving the embodied experiential realities of individuals who live with it unexplored. This paper reports on a qualitative study with eight self-identified women with VACTERL Association. This paper provides an introduction to the experiences of these women and provides an exploration of the elements and processes of identity negotiation, with particular focus on the intersection between gender and ability. As well, the impact of a medical label as it affects identity formation is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper is about naming illnesses--about who determines what categories are used and the implications of these determinations. The central concerns of medical/psychiatric anthropology have been to understand popular categories of and systems for classification of illness, to examine the relationship of illness categories to cultural understandings of the body, and to interpret the role of categories of illness in mediating between the personal and social spheres. At the same time, the paper also discusses the interplay of popular categories and psychiatric diagnoses. This paper examines the multiple experiences of nervios among Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico and New York City. Our contention is that nervios is more than a diffuse idiom of distress, and that there are different categories and experiences of nervios which provide insights into how distress is experienced and expressed by Puerto Ricans and point to different social sources of suffering. The data in this paper come from the responses to a series of open-ended questions which tapped into people's general conceptions of nervios and ataques de nervios. These questions were incorporated into follow-up interviews to an epidemiological study of the mental health of adults in Puerto Rico. The results suggest ways to incorporate these different categories of nervios into future research and clinical work with different Latino groups in the United States and in their home countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild cognitive impairment is an intermediate state between the cognitive decline often experienced in normal aging and dementia that affects 15% of Americans over 65 years of age. Our communities have an opportunity to support the development and adoption of evidence-based programs to help older adults preserve cognition and physical function. In partnership with a local urban YMCA in an underserved, predominantly minority neighborhood, we tested the appeal and therapeutic benefits of SMARTfit training among older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The participants reported a positive training experience. After 12 weeks of dual-task training, Trail-Making Test and Stroop Color–Word Interference Test scores improved, as did scores on the Short Physical Performance Battery. Results of our SMARTfit dual-task training intervention are encouraging. Larger randomized controlled trials must further investigate the development, implementation, and therapeutic impacts of SMARTfit dual-task training on cognitive and physical function in aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the complex nature of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) by juxtaposing the mental and sexual health of women who had undergone FGM/C as part of initiation/membership into a traditional women's society (TWS) with those who were also cut but not initiated into a TWS. While considerable differences emerged between TWS members and nonmembers, there was no evidence that TWS membership was protective against the physical and psychological trauma typically ascribed to FGM/C. In fact, the pattern of results would tend to suggest the opposite. Possible explanations for and implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous work has established that gender, age, and self-control can predict Death Anxiety (DA), the distress that centers around thoughts of one's mortality. However, it has not been determined if DA is associated with Delay of Gratification (DG; a tendency to forgo immediate rewards to receive a more favorable outcome in the future), attitudes toward gender roles (as compared to gender identity itself), and Death Reflections (DR; positive goals that occur when contemplating death). To examine these relations, 131 adults (45% women; aged 23–67 years) completed questionnaires that assess these constructs. We found that greater DG, egalitarian gender role attitudes, and engagement with DR were all associated with reduced DA. Gender identity was not associated with any variable, including DA. Age correlated independently with DA, but not when included in the regression models. These results demonstrate that elements of self-regulation and prosocial attitudes may predict baseline DA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the convention of the American Sociological Association. The article further refers to a sociologist who is so much a part of normal society that today one of the stores is tendering a fashion show for his wife to indicate her status equal to the wife of doctor, politician or any other example of social adjustment to be found at a convention in New York. According to the author, the paper presented at the convention can only represent a tiny sample of all the chaff that is annually struck up by this vast communal threshing crew. People owe many of these papers to the broad tolerance of the American academic community which apparently approved and even financed them without one man in a supervisory position having the discourtesy to suggest that the matter under study was self-evident. There seems also to be developing a sociology within sociology which promises much. Its best sample is a paper which indicates that persons who fail to answer sociological questionnaires by mail come from homes where their parents habitually beat them.

Purpose – Mental health frontline workers can and do provide fundamental support in the wellness of people with serious mental illness. The City University of New York offered a non-credit Certificate in Wellness Coaching to this group. The purpose of this paper is to describe the certificate and the program outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data collected through course evaluations, reports, and observations to describe perceptions of personal and professional usefulness and applicability, as well as challenges. Findings – Participants reported using wellness concepts personally and professionally and perceived personal development in communication and leadership. Participants and faculty identified internal and external supports and barriers to transitioning into the role of wellness coach. Originality/value – The paper presents a replicable model which taught frontline workers wellness concepts that benefit themselves and consumers and helped participants identify ways to expand capacity within their mental health agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Group prenatal care results in improved birth outcomes in randomized controlled trials, and better attendance at group prenatal care visits is associated with stronger clinical effects. This paper's objectives are to identify determinants of group prenatal care attendance, and to examine the association between proportion of prenatal care received in a group context and satisfaction with care. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis of pregnant adolescents (n = 547) receiving group prenatal care in New York City (2008-2012). Multivariable linear regression models were used to test associations between patient characteristics and percent of group care sessions attended, and between the proportion of prenatal care visits that occurred in a group context and care satisfaction. Results Sixty-seven groups were established. Group sizes ranged from 3 to 15 women (mean = 8.16, SD = 3.08); 87 % of groups enrolled at least five women. Women enrolled in group prenatal care supplemented group sessions with individual care visits. However, the percent of women who attended each group session was relatively consistent, ranging from 56 to 63 %. Being born outside of the United States was significantly associated with higher group session attendance rates [B(SE) = 11.46 (3.46), p = 0.001], and women who received a higher proportion of care in groups reported higher levels of care satisfaction [B(SE) = 0.11 (0.02), p < 0.001]. Conclusions Future research should explore alternative implementation structures to improve pregnant women's ability to receive as much prenatal care as possible in a group setting, as well as value-based reimbursement models and other incentives to encourage more widespread adoption of group prenatal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was (a) to investigate the behaviors, knowledge, and motivators associated with personal listening device (PLD) use and (b) to determine the influence of different types of hearing health risk education information (text with or without visual images) on motivation to modify PLD listening use behaviors in young adults. Method: College-age students (N = 523) completed a paper-and-pencil survey tapping their behaviors, knowledge, and motivation regarding listening to music or media at high volume using PLDs. Participants rated their motivation to listen to PLDs at lower volume levels following each of three information sets: text only, behind-the-ear hearing aid image with text, and inner ear hair cell damage image with text. Results: Acoustically pleasing and emotional motives were the most frequently cited (38%-45%) reasons for listening to music or media using a PLD at high volume levels. The behind-the-ear hearing aid image with text information was significantly (p < .0001) more motivating to participants than text alone or the inner ear hair cell damage image with text. Conclusions: Evocative imagery using hearing aids may be an effective approach in hearing protective health campaigns for motivating safer listening practices with PLDs in young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely detected in pregnant women and associated with adverse outcomes related to impaired placental function. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a dimeric glycoprotein hormone that can indicate placental toxicity. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to quantify the association of serum PFAS with placental hCG, measured as an intact molecule (hCG), as free alpha- (hCGα) and beta-subunits (hCGβ), and as a hyperglycosylated form (h-hCG), and evaluate effect measure modification by social determinants and by fetal sex. METHODS: Data were collected from 326 pregnant women enrolled from 2015 to 2019 in the UPSIDE study in Rochester, New York. hCG forms were normalized for gestational age at the time of blood draw in the first trimester [multiple of the median (MoM)]. Seven PFAS were measured in second-trimester maternal serum. Multivariate imputation by chained equations and inverse probability weighting were used to evaluate robustness of linear associations. PFAS mixture effects were estimated by Bayesian kernel machine regression. RESULTS: Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) [hCGβ: 0.29 log MoM units per log PFHxS; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08, 0.51] and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) (hCG: -0.09; 95% CI: -0.16, -0.02) were associated with hCG in the single chemical and mixture analyses. The PFAS mixture was negatively associated with hCGα and positively with hCGβ. Subgroup analyses revealed that PFAS associations with hCG differed by maternal race/ethnicity and education. Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) was associated with hCGβ only in Black participants (-0.23; 95% CI: -0.37, -0.09) and in participants with high school education or less (-0.14; 95% CI: -0.26, -0.02); conversely, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) was negatively associated with hCGα only in White participants (-0.15; 95% CI: -0.27, -0.03) and with hCGβ only in participants with a college education or greater (-0.19; 95% CI: -0.36, -0.01). These findings were robust to testing for selection bias, confounding bias, and left truncation bias where PFAS detection frequency was <100%. Two associations were negative in male (and null in female) pregnancies: Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) with hCGα, and PFNA with h-hCG. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence was strongest for the association between PFHxS and PFDA with hCG in all participants and for PFPeA and PFNA within subgroups defined by social determinants and fetal sex. PFAS mixture associations with hCGα and hCGβ differed, suggesting subunit-specific types of toxicity and/or regulation. Future studies will evaluate the biological, clinical and public health significance of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rehabilitation intervention descriptions often do not explicitly identify active ingredients or how those ingredients lead to changes in patient functioning. The Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) provides guidance to identify the critical aspects of any rehabilitation therapy and supported the development of standardly named ingredients and targets in voice therapy (Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System for Voice Therapy [RTSS-Voice]). This study sought to test the content validity of the RTSS-Voice and determine if the RTSS-Voice can be used to identify commonalities and differences in treatment (criterion validity) across clinicians in everyday clinical practice. Method: Five speech-language pathologists from different institutions videotaped one therapy session for 59 patients diagnosed with a voice or upper airway disorder. Specifications were created for each video, and iterative rounds of revisions were completed with the treating clinician and two RTSS experts until consensus was reached on each specification. Results: All 59 sessions were specified without the addition of any targets or ingredients. There were two frequent targets: (a) increased volition and (b) decreased strained voice quality. There were three frequent ingredients: (a) information regarding the patient's capability and motivation to perform a therapeutic behavior, (b) knowledge of results feedback, and (c) opportunities to practice voicing with improved resonance and mean airflow. Across sessions treating vocal hyperfunction, there was large variability across clinicians regarding the types and number of treatment components introduced, types of feedback provided, and vocal practice within spontaneous speech and negative practice. Conclusions: The RTSS and the RTSS-Voice demonstrated strong content validity, as they comprehensively characterized 59 therapy sessions. They also demonstrated strong criterion validity, as commonalities and differences were identified in everyday voice therapy for vocal hyperfunction across multiple clinicians. Future work to translate RTSS principles and RTSS-Voice terms into clinical documentation can help to understand how clinician and patient variability impacts outcomes and bridge the research--practice gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowdsourcing has seen a substantial increase in interest from researchers and practitioners in recent years. Being a new form of work facilitated by information technology, the rise of crowdsourcing calls for the development of new theoretical insights. Our focus in this article is on extra-role behavior-employees' voluntary activities, which are not part of their prescribed duties. Specifically, we explored how user interface design can help increase extra-role behavior among crowdsourcing workers. In a randomized experiment, we examined the joint effects of the presentation of a performance display to crowdsourcing workers and the personal attributes of these workers on the workers' likelihood to engage in extra-role behavior. The experimental setting included an image analysis task performed on an environmental monitoring website. We compared workers' behavior across the different experimental conditions and found that the interaction between the presence of a performance display and the workers' personality trait of curiosity has a significant impact on the likelihood of engaging in extra-role behavior. In particular, the presence of a performance display was associated with increased likelihood of extra-role behavior among low-curiosity workers, and no change in extra-role behavior was observed among high-curiosity users. Implications for design are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoliberal ideology champions privatization, personal responsibility, and entrepreneurship, and public health practice under neoliberalism channels this individualized focus. Though this ‘new public health’ may be seen as a liberalizing practice of governance, in which individuals are free to maximize health and autonomy, this privatization also embeds responsibility within the individual without regard to existing or resulting inequalities. This paper examines the presence of neoliberal ideology in the narratives and subjectivities as it relates to HIV prevention in the lives of young gay and bisexual men living in New York City. We also seek to further the critique of neoliberalism in HIV prevention. The men often saw themselves or others as rational, autonomous agents, yet there were also clear instances where social and structural factors were at play. These factors influenced a subjectivity existing outside the narrow, atomistic framework of neoliberalism. Implicit moral hierarchies arose from notions of personal responsibility and recklessness, pitting men against each other and potentially inhibiting social and community prevention efforts. Further, neoliberal ideology obscured the social and structural mechanisms at play, such as racial inequality, economic inequality, homophobia, and sexual shaming. In contrast to the ideology of neoliberal public health, we must explicitly consider the resources, opportunities, and social conditions that shape autonomy and subjectivity among young gay and bisexual men. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In order to connect with families and influence treatment trajectories, outreach materials should address cultural perceptions of the condition, its causes, and post-diagnostic care. This paper describes the cultural adaptation and translation of the Autism Speaks First 100 Days Kit into Korean for the purpose of improving autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, assessment, and interventions. The goal of this study is to describe a methodology for future cross-cultural adaptations and translations of outreach materials on ASD, using the Autism Speaks First 100 Days Kit as an exemplar. The research involved two stages of qualitative interviews: unstructured individual and group interviews with 19 Korean child health and education professionals in Queens, NY, followed by structured cultural consensus modeling interviews with 23 Korean mothers, with and without children with ASD, in Queens, NY and the greater Washington, DC area. We conclude that a systematic approach to cultural translation of outreach materials is feasible. Cultural consensus modeling yielded information about numerous barriers to care, had a demonstrable effect on the translation of the kit, and was efficient when employed with coherent segments of a relatively homogeneous population and focused on a single condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Available evidence suggests that young former Soviet Union immigrants in New York City have high rates of non-medical prescription opioid and heroin use, drug injection and injection-related risk behavior, making them vulnerable to hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, overdose and associated harms. This group has been the focus of little research, however. This paper presents quantitative and qualitative data from 80 former Soviet immigrants (ages 18-29) to characterize their opioid use trajectories, injection risk behavior, HCV/HIV testing histories and self-reported HCV/HIV serostatus, and provides clinically meaningful data to inform tailored education, prevention and harm reduction interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Timely data on drug overdose deaths can help identify community needs, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and allocate resources. We identified variations in death investigation and reporting systems within and between states that affect the timeliness and accuracy of death certificate information. Methods: The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) is a community-engaged, data-driven approach to combating the opioid crisis in 67 communities in 4 states: Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio. HCS conducted a survey of coroners and medical examiners to understand variability in drug overdose death data. We compared survey results in Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio with national data to investigate the completeness of provisional death counts by type of death investigation system. Results: Communities in each HCS state had different ways of collecting and reporting mortality data. Completion of death certificates for drug overdoses ranged from <2 weeks in 23% (7 of 31) of those surveyed to more than 3 months in 10% (3 of 31) of those surveyed. Variabilities in the timeliness of reporting drug overdose deaths were not associated with type of coroner or medical examiner office in each state, urban versus rural setting, or specificity of drug information on the death certificate. Conclusion: Having specific drug information on the death certificate may increase death certificate quality, comparability, and accuracy. We recommend the following: (1) all coroners and medical examiners should be trained on conducting death investigations, interpreting toxicology reports, and completing death certificates; (2) 1 office in each state should oversee all coroners and medical examiners to increase data consistency; and (3) communities should identify and address barriers to timely death certification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Given the rising trend in Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and the wide disparities that exist in pediatric oral health, risk assessment for ECC has become increasingly important. The purpose of this paper is to describe lessons learned from an Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) approach in the planning, development, and pilot testing of an electronic interactive ECC risk assessment application - My Smile Buddy (MSB). METHODS: Five focus groups were conducted during the assessment and development phases of MSB. Community Health Workers (CHW) then facilitated MSB with 35 mothers from the local community. RESULTS: MSB was well accepted by mothers and scored well in usability and usefulness by CHWs. Lessons learned during MSB development included recognizing CHW understanding of local community attitudes regarding oral health and access to dental care and that power-sharing is required in order to create an intervention that is both engaging and accepted by the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has demonstrated significant links between the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and secure base use and support in marital interactions. The mechanisms underlying such findings have not been examined in detail. This paper examines the hypothesis that script-like attachment representations shape both attachment narratives and attachment-related caregiving behavior and thus helps explain the correlation between them. Crowell et al. (2002) reported that AAI transcript coherence is significantly related to adults' caregiving and care seeking in couple problem solving interactions. In a random selection of 60 cases from that study, we assessed the extent to which interviewees conceptualized their early attachment experiences in terms of a secure base script. A series of regression analyses demonstrated that approximately 80% of the correlation between AAI coherence and laboratory caregiving and care seeking reported by Crowell et al. (2002) is accounted for by secure base script knowledge. Scoring secure base script knowledge from AAI transcripts is a useful step toward understanding links between early experience, adult attachment representations, and adults' ability to provide and seek support in close relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information needs of practicing physicians in seventeen counties of upstate New York were surveyed by questionnaire. A 45.6% response, or 258 usable replies, was obtained. Computer-aided market analysis indicated that the areas of greatest need for improved information were new developments in specialties and government regulations relating to health care. Sources most frequently used were journal papers, colleagues, and books, in that order. Specialty-related differences occurred with both specific information needs and source use. Degree date, geographical location, and type of practice (hospital, nonhospital, private, and so on), and involvement in research or education were also analyzed in relation to information needs and sources. Implications for library service are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subjects of this study were 40 consecutive children in a child therapy and evaluation agency, half of whom were seen for reunification therapy and half for other reasons related to parent–child difficulties in the context of high-conflict divorce. Children completed a 28-item paper-and-pencil questionnaire regarding their thoughts and feelings about their parents to assess the degree to which their statements reflected unjustified alienation from one parent and alignment with the other. Responses to the questionnaires were coded by the first author as reflective of alienation or not. Case files were independently reviewed by agency staff for presence of indicated abuse, and clinicians independently rated the children's resistance to treatment services. Findings revealed that presence of alienation was found in all but one reunification therapy case and in only four of the nonreunification cases. In addition, the children who were coded as exhibiting alienation were rated by their clinicians as significantly more resistant to treatment. Only one alienated child had an indicated abuse or neglect finding in the file, as opposed to five in the not-alienated group. These data highlight the unique configuration of behaviors and attitudes of alienated children and contribute to the knowledge base about how to evaluate and identify them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The study reported in this paper examined the relationships between social workers' experiences when interfacing with managed care organizations, coping strategies, burnout, and somatic symptoms associated with stress. A sample of 591 social workers completed questionnaires that included demographic questions and measures of perceived competence in the context of managed care, coping strategies, burnout, and somatic symptoms. Multiple regression analyses revealed that coping had statistically significant correlations with several burnout dimensions and with workers' perceived competence in the context of managed care. As coping provided the most comprehensive influence on workers' psychological and somatic reactions associated with burnout, the author suggests that agencies provide social workers with adequate training to promote workers' use of effective coping styles that are appropriate when interfacing with managed care organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

gambino k.m. (2010) Motivation for entry, occupational commitment and intent to remain: a survey regarding Registered Nurse retention. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(11), 2532-2541. Aim. This paper is a report of a study of the relationships between Registered Nurses' motivation for entering the profession, occupational commitment and intent to remain with an employer until retirement. Background. Identifying and supporting nurses who are strongly committed to their profession may be the single most influential intervention in combating the nursing shortage. An understanding of the characteristics these individuals possess could lead to a decline in the high attrition rates plaguing the profession. Method. Using a survey design, Registered Nurses enrolled at the school of nursing and/or employed at the associated university medical centre of a large, not-for-profit state university were polled in 2008. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine how the variables of motivation for entry and occupational commitment could indicate intent to remain. Results. The strongest indicators of intent to remain were normative commitment and age, with a 70% average rate of correctly estimating retention. Exp(B) values for normative commitment (1·09) and age (1·07) indicated that for each one-point increase on the normative commitment scale or one-point increase in age, the odds of remaining with an employer until retirement increased by 1·1%. Conclusion. Transformational changes in healthcare environments and nursing schools must be made to encourage loyalty and obligation, the hallmarks of normative commitment. Retention strategies should accommodate mature nurses as well as promote normative commitment in younger nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

landers t., mcwalters j., behta m., bufe g., ross b., vawdrey d.k. & larson e. (2010) Terms used for isolation practices by nurses at an academic medical center. Journal of Advanced Nursing 66(10), 2309–2319. Aim. This paper is a report of a study to determine if the terms used by nurses to describe isolation precautions are associated with correct identification of required personal protective equipment. Background. Isolation measures are important in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. The terms used to describe categories of isolation have changed in response to new pathogens and with advances in infection prevention. Methods. For 3 months in 2009, nurses from an academic medical center on the East Coast of the United States of America completed a survey consisting of ten clinical scenarios which asked about recommended personal protective equipment and for the name of the recommended isolation type. Correct identification of required personal protective equipment was compared to use of an approved isolation category term, controlling for infection knowledge and demographic variables. Results. Three hundred and seventeen nurses gave responses to 2215 clinical scenarios. Use of non-approved category terms was associated with statistically significantly lower rates of correct personal protective equipment identification compared to use of an approved term (62·2% vs. 77·8%; P < 0·001). Specific PPE was also selected for use when not indicated – including gowns (42%), N-95 respirators (13%), fluid shield masks (13%) and sterile gloves (6%). Conclusion. Inconsistent terminology for isolation precautions may contribute to variations in practice. Adoption of internationally accepted and standardized category terms may improve adherence to these precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed fidelity of delivery and participant engagement in the implementation of a community paramedic coach-led Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) program adapted for use following emergency department (ED) visits. The adapted CTI for ED-to-home transitions was implemented at three university-affiliated hospitals in two cities from 2016 to 2019. Participants were aged ≥60 years old and discharged from the ED within 24 hours of arrival. In the current analysis, participants had to have received the CTI. Community paramedic coaches collected data on program delivery and participant characteristics at each transition contact via inventories and assessments. Participants provided commentary on the acceptability of the adapted CTI. Using a multimethod approach, the CTI implementation was assessed quantitatively for site- and coach-level differences. Qualitatively, barriers to implementation and participant satisfaction with the CTI were thematically analyzed. Of the 863 patient participants, 726 (84.1%) completed their home visits. Cancellations were usually patient-generated (94.9%). Most planned follow-up visits were successfully completed (94.6%). Content on the planning for red flags and post-discharge goal setting was discussed with high rates of fidelity overall (95% and greater), while content on outpatient follow-up was lower overall (75%). Differences in service delivery between the two sites existed for the in-person visit and the first phone follow-up, but the differences narrowed as the study progressed. Participants showed a 24.6% increase in patient activation (i.e., behavioral adoption) over the 30-day study period (p < 0.001). Overall, participants reported that the program was beneficial for managing their health, the quality of coaching was high, and that the program should continue. Not all participants felt that they needed the program. Community paramedic coaches reported barriers to CTI delivery due to patient medical problems and difficulties with phone visit coordination. Coaches also noted refusal to communicate or engage with the intervention as an implementation barrier. Community paramedic coaches delivered the adapted CTI with high fidelity across geographically distant sites and successfully facilitated participant engagement, highlighting community paramedics as an effective resource for implementing such patient-centered interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electronic massagers have gained popularity for their non-invasive and cost-effective approach to healthcare. However, existing electronic massagers require manual manipulation, leading to inconsistency. Objective: To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the Electronic Massager—Expert Manipulative Massage Automation (EMMA) among the American population. Methods: A single-arm pilot study was conducted at Mayo Clinic Rochester campus. Participants received massage therapy with the EMMA treatment model and completed a demographics and Satisfaction Survey Questionnaire. Data were collected using REDCap, and statistical analysis was performed. Results: Twenty healthy volunteers (13 women, 7 men; median age, 47 years) participated and completed the intervention within 2 weeks. No adverse events were reported. Overall, the acceptability and satisfaction of massage utilizing EMMA were high, with all participants finding the study worthwhile, willing to participate again, and willing to recommend the study to others. Regarding the overall experience, 65.0% reported a better-than-expected experience. Responses to open-ended post-treatment questions showed that most participants enjoyed the warmth (35%), pressure (25%), and relaxation (20%) provided by EMMA, with the majority suggesting no changes or improvements were needed. However, some participants expressed a desire for an expanded massage area (20%). Conclusions: This study suggests that the EMMA massager has high acceptability and satisfaction among healthy volunteers, thus demonstrating its feasibility. However, further research is needed to optimize EMMA and assess its clinical effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the findings of a survey of medical students' attitudes toward torture and discusses variables that may correlate with those attitudes. In late 2016, 483 enrolled medical and MD-PhD students at the Weill Cornell Medical College received an anonymous, institutional review board- approved survey that included questions about torture and its effectiveness, demographic questions, inquiries about personal experiences of harassment or discrimination, and questions regarding engagement in human rights activities. Some questions were drawn from a 2008 University of Illinois survey of medical students' attitudes toward torture, the only prior such survey at a US medical university. Of the 483 students who were contacted, 121 (25%) returned completed questionnaires, with responses indicating strong opposition to torture and skepticism about its usefulness. Respondents expressed greater opposition to torture in this survey than those who participated in the 2008 survey. Respondents' involvement in Weill Cornell's human rights program was associated with significantly stronger opposition to torture, while personal experiences of harassment were associated with a trend toward weaker opposition to torture. Respondents' answers closely approximate the clearly stated ethics of the profession, suggesting that human rights education during medical school may contribute to the development of proper values in young physicians even before they proceed into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To better understand the knowledge, practice, importance, awareness, usefulness, and confidence of non‐Hispanic Black and English‐ and Spanish‐speaking Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes. Design: A descriptive cross‐sectional survey study design was used and descriptive statistics was conducted. Sample: Non‐Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes were recruited from three New York City public hospitals. Measurements: A one‐time survey was delivered via email, text message or over the phone. Results: Of the 96 participants, 47.9% were Hispanic/Latino and 52.1% were non‐Hispanic Black individuals; 43.8% of the surveys were completed in Spanish and 56.3% in English; 41.7% were female and 58.3% male; 77.1% preferred to complete the survey via the telephone, 14.6% through email, and 8.3% via text message. Chi‐square findings showed, 90.6% knew mask wearing prevented COVID‐19; 96.9% knew that covering the nose and mouth during mask wearing is needed, 93.8% wore a mask, and 92.8% felt it important or very important to wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID‐19. For social distancing, 88.5% knew it prevented the spread of COVID‐19, 93.8% practiced it, and 95.8% felt it important or very important. Conclusion: In having a better understanding of the knowledge and practices of COVID‐19 among non‐Hispanic Black and Hispanic populations with diabetes, the development of culturally and linguistically tailored community‐based mitigation strategies can be developed that are aimed at improving the preparedness of these groups for the next emerging infectious disease, such as COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonmedical prescription opioid use has become widespread. It can lead to heroin use, drug injection and HIV infection. We describe young adult opioid users' sexual risk behavior, partnerships and settings. 464 youth aged 18-29 who reported opioid use in the past 30 days were recruited using Respondent-Driven Sampling. Eligible participants completed a computer-assisted, interviewer-administered risk questionnaire and were tested for STIs and HIV. Participants (33% female; 66% white non-Hispanic) almost all had sex in the prior 90 days; 42% reported more than one partner. Same-sex sex was reported by 3% of men and 10% of women. Consistent condom use was rare. Seven percent reported group sex participation in the last 90 days but lifetime group sex was common among men and women. Young opioid users' unprotected sex, multiple partners and group sex puts them and others at high HIV and STI risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In light of the importance of preschool oral narrative skills as precursors to literacy, this exploratory study examined expressive language skills among emergent bilingual Latine preschoolers using a naturalistic personal narrative task. To understand the factors that support language use in the personal narrative context for this population, we examined the contribution of children’s executive function (EF) skills to their narrative language abilities. Method: Children completed two subtests from the Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment to measure EF and produced two personal narratives in response to conversational prompts. A series of linear regressions were used to evaluate the relation between children’s EF skills and their narrative production ability, narrative organization, and expressive language skills derived from automated analyses of narrative samples. Results: EF was found to predict children’s ability to produce a personal narrative but not the language skills children demonstrated in these narratives. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that EF is implicated in emergent bilingual Latine children’s narrative abilities. At the preschool age, the contribution of EF to narrative language production is apparent in the global task of producing a narrative, rather than in the organizational or linguistic features of the narrative. As such, supporting both EF and narrative skills might be an important means of facilitating preliteracy among bilingual children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Women who have direct exposure to incarceration or indirect exposure through their partner are at high risk for poor health behaviors and outcomes, which may have lasting impacts on their children. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of recent incarceration exposure among women with a recent live birth and assess the relationship between incarceration exposure and maternal and child health. Methods: We used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (36 states and New York City, 2012-2015; N = 146 329) to estimate the prevalence of women reporting that they or their husband/partner spent time in jail during the 12 months before giving birth. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between incarceration exposure and maternal and infant health conditions. Results: The prevalence of incarceration exposure shortly before or during pregnancy was 3.7% (95% CI, 3.6%-3.9%). Women with incarceration exposure had increased odds of prepregnancy hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.26-1.81), prepregnancy and postpartum depressive symptoms (aOR = 1.95 [95% CI, 1.73-2.19] and 1.49 [95% CI, 1.32-1.67], respectively), and having an infant admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (aOR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04-1.33). Conclusion: Because a parent's incarceration exposure is an adverse childhood experience with the potential to disrupt important developmental periods and have negative impacts on the socioemotional and health outcomes of children, it is critical for researchers and health care providers to better understand its impact on maternal and infant health. Prenatal and postnatal care may provide opportunities to address incarceration-related health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment as usual has historically been used as control arms for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but utilizing wellness interventions as active comparison conditions can advance the evidence base of such interventions while increasing access to health promotion content. We use the results from the CONNECT 2 RCT's wellness intervention control arm as a case example of active comparison conditions that can control for dosage or attentional effects in future research. We summarized existing studies on wellness control HIV RCT interventions, introduced CONNECT 2, and discussed recruitment, randomization, and the intervention. Overall, Wellness Promotion participants were more likely to engage in physical activity, eat healthier, and do more vigorous exercise when compared with HIV Risk Reduction. CONNECT 2 Wellness intervention results solidify why wellness interventions can play an important role in treatment guidelines. Developing and implementing this model can be a more ethical, equitable, and holistic approach among underserved communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the speech acoustic characteristics of Jamaican Creole (JC) and English in bilingual preschoolers and adults using acoustic duration measures. The aims were to determine if, for JC and English, (a) child and adult acoustic duration characteristics differ, (b) differences occur in preschoolers’ duration patterns based on the language spoken, and (c) relationships exist between the preschoolers’ personal contextual factors (i.e., age, sex, and percentage of language [%language] exposure and use) and acoustic duration. Method: Data for this cross-sectional study were collected in Kingston, Jamaica, and New York City, New York, United States, during 2013–2019. Participants included typically developing simultaneous bilingual preschoolers (n = 120, ages 3;4–5;11 [years; months]) and adults (n = 15, ages 19;0–54;4) from the same linguistic community. Audio recordings of single-word productions of JC and English were collected through elicited picture-based tasks and used for acoustic analysis. Durational features (voice onset time [VOT], vowel duration, whole-word duration, and the proportion of vowel to whole-word duration) were measured using Praat, a speech analysis software program. Results: JC-English–speaking children demonstrated developing speech motor control through differences in durational patterns compared with adults, including VOT for voiced plosives. Children’s VOT, vowel duration, and whole-word duration were produced similarly across JC and English. The contextual factor %language use was predictive of vowel and whole-word duration in English. Conclusions: The findings from this study contribute to a foundation of understanding typical bilingual speech characteristics and motor development as well as schema in JC–English speakers. In particular, minimal acoustic duration differences were observed across the post-Creole continuum, a feature that may be attributed to the JC–English bilingual environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate factors influencing utilisation of follow-up oral-health services in general dentistry clinics among children subsequent to a teledentistry consultation and treatment with a paediatric dental specialist.Methods: Conducted in 2017, the study included 144 children living in rural upstate New York who experienced a teledentistry consultation in 2015-2016 at one of several local general dentistry clinics. A remotely located paediatric dental specialist provided consultation services in the teledentistry visit and treatment services in the specialty dental clinic. Associations between follow-up services at the general dentistry clinics and patients' characteristics, specialty treatment recommendations, case-management services, timeliness of treatments and travel distances were evaluated.Results: The study results indicated that most children completed a treatment plan (97.2%) at the specialty clinic and subsequently accessed follow-up oral-health services at one of the local general dentistry clinics (77.1%) where teledentistry services were provided. Children's utilisation of follow-up services in general dentistry clinics was associated with a shorter time to specialty treatment (p = 0.013) and fewer case-management contacts (p = 0.004). Children who had a longer time to treatment initiation (p < 0.001) or completion (p = 0.043) required significantly more case-management services than other children.Discussion: The study found that case severity and compliance with treatment were predictors of utilisation of oral-health services in general dentistry clinics. An additional finding was that case-management interventions were important in facilitating specialty dental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States (US) and Switzerland are affluent countries with different responses to surges in opioid use disorder (OUD) cases over the last thirty years. The Swiss "PROVE" trail implemented heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) for OUD alongside other medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). In contrast, heroin remains highly controlled, HAT is inaccessible, and MOUD programs are generally more restrictive in the US than in Switzerland. We conducted a survey to compare practitioners' attitudes toward HAT across sites in both countries. Surveys were distributed electronically for voluntary, uncompensated completion (N = 120) at two mental health delivery sites, Psychiatrische Dienste Graubünden (PDGR) in Graubünden, Switzerland and Montefiore Medical Center (MMC) in the Bronx, NY. The survey instrument included 10 demographic and 19 "beliefs" questions measuring agreement level with a statement on a 5-point scale. Analysis included 79 PDGR respondents (mean age = 43.2, 59.5% women) and 41 MMC respondents (mean age = 44.7, 63.4% women), and did not show differences in confidence to treat OUD, addictions, and psychiatric disorders. For belief in HAT, Swiss respondents had a significantly more favorable view (b = 0.62) than those in New York (p = 0.00027). This study shows a difference in attitudes toward HAT among demographically similar staff treating OUD patients across sites. The cohorts demonstrate an overall positive attitude toward HAT but a more robust positive attitude was evident in Switzerland. Previously unreported attitude comparisons across sites with dissimilar OUD treatment availability may explain differences in practices and success in reducing harm from this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research shows a greater prevalence of substance use among childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. Transgender women experience CSA at a significantly higher rate compared to the general population. Previous studies show a high prevalence of substance use and find that CSA predicts increased drug use among transgender women. It is proposed that the process through which CSA influences substance use behaviour, is mediated by depression. Further, research has shown that secure attachment may buffer against these associations.Participants were 213 transgender women participating in a behavioural intervention to reduce sexual risk and substance use. A moderated mediation model, including a three-way interaction, examined the indirect effect of CSA, through depression, on both substance use problems and alcohol use disorder, as well as the protective effect of secure attachment on these pathways. Findings from the moderated mediation analysis provide evidence to support our hypothesis that depression mediates the pathways from CSA to both substance use problems and alcohol use disorder for transgender women. We also observed a significant three-way interaction (e.g. attachment anxiety x attachment avoidance x CSA) indicating that secure attachment buffered against the association between CSA and symptoms of depression, as well as CSA and substance use problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous research has shown the feasibility of using machine learning models trained on social media data from a single platform (eg, Facebook or Twitter) to distinguish individuals either with a diagnosis of mental illness or experiencing an adverse outcome from healthy controls. However, the performance of such models on data from novel social media platforms unseen in the training data (eg, Instagram and TikTok) has not been investigated in previous literature. Objective: Our study examined the feasibility of building machine learning classifiers that can effectively predict an upcoming psychiatric hospitalization given social media data from platforms unseen in the classifiers' training data despite the preliminary evidence on identity fragmentation on the investigated social media platforms. Methods: Windowed timeline data of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder before a known hospitalization event and healthy controls were gathered from 3 platforms: Facebook (254/268, 94.8% of participants), Twitter (51/268, 19% of participants), and Instagram (134/268, 50% of participants). We then used a 3 × 3 combinatorial binary classification design to train machine learning classifiers and evaluate their performance on testing data from all available platforms. We further compared results from models in intraplatform experiments (ie, training and testing data belonging to the same platform) to those from models in interplatform experiments (ie, training and testing data belonging to different platforms). Finally, we used Shapley Additive Explanation values to extract the top predictive features to explain and compare the underlying constructs that predict hospitalization on each platform. Results: We found that models in intraplatform experiments on average achieved an F1-score of 0.72 (SD 0.07) in predicting a psychiatric hospitalization because of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, which is 68% higher than the average of models in interplatform experiments at an F1-score of 0.428 (SD 0.11). When investigating the key drivers for divergence in construct validities between models, an analysis of top features for the intraplatform models showed both low predictive feature overlap between the platforms and low pairwise rank correlation (<0.1) between the platforms' top feature rankings. Furthermore, low average cosine similarity of data between platforms within participants in comparison with the same measurement on data within platforms between participants points to evidence of identity fragmentation of participants between platforms. Conclusions: We demonstrated that models built on one platform's data to predict critical mental health treatment outcomes such as hospitalization do not generalize to another platform. In our case, this is because different social media platforms consistently reflect different segments of participants' identities. With the changing ecosystem of social media use among different demographic groups and as web-based identities continue to become fragmented across platforms, further research on holistic approaches to harnessing these diverse data sources is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: During the coronavirus disease pandemic, audio‐only and video telehealth visits became more widely available, but the relative patient satisfaction between telehealth and in‐person modalities is not well‐described. Aims and Objectives: Our objective was to compare patient satisfaction with audio‐only, video, and in‐person adult primary care visits at a large, urban public healthcare system. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, we used aggregated data from Press Ganey patient satisfaction surveys at 17 primary care facilities at New York City Health + Hospitals for visits between 1 June 2021 to 30 November 2021. We compared mean scores for questions common to surveys for each modality in domains of Access, Care Provider, and Overall Assessment using pairwise comparisons with two‐tailed t‐tests. Results: There were 7,183/79,562 (9.0%) respondents for in‐person visits and 1,009/15,092 (6.7%) respondents for telehealth visits. Compared to respondents for in‐person visits, respondents for telehealth visits were more likely to be aged 35–64 years, Asian, and speak English as their primary language, and less likely to be ≥65 years old, Black or other race, and speak Spanish or another language as their primary language (p < 0.001). Patients reported higher mean satisfaction for Access measures for telehealth visits than in‐person visits (p < 0.001). For Care Provider satisfaction questions, video visits generally had higher mean scores than in‐person and, in turn, audio‐only visits. For Overall Assessment questions, video visits had higher mean scores than in‐person and, subsequently, audio‐only visits. Conclusion: Of the visit modalities, video visits had the highest mean satisfaction scores across all domains. Telehealth may improve experiences with access, but audio‐only visits may provide poorer visit experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer fatalism–the belief that death is inevitable when cancer is present–has been identified as a barrier to cancer screening, detection, and treatment. Our study examined the relationship between self-reported cancer fatalism and adherence to cancer screening guidelines of the breasts, cervix, colon, and prostate among a diverse sample of urban-dwelling adults in Brooklyn, New York. Between May 2019 and August 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of adults 40 + years of age (n = 2,341) residing in Brooklyn neighborhoods with high cancer mortality. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the odds of reporting cancer screening completion across three fatalistic cancer belief categories (low, med, high). Participants' median age was 61 (IQR 51, 71) years, 61% were women, 49% self-identified as non-Hispanic black, 11% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 6% more than one race. There were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of low, some, or high fatalistic beliefs identified among male respondents compared to women. Among women, we observed that high fatalistic cancer beliefs were associated with higher odds (OR 2.01; 95% CI 1.10–3.65) of completing breast but not cervical (1.04; CI 0.55–1.99) or colon (1.54; CI 0.88–2.69) cancer screening. Men with high fatalistic cancer beliefs had a trend towards lower odds of prostate screening (OR 0.53: 95% CI 0.18–1.57) compared to men with low fatalistic beliefs, but neither was statistically significant. Findings suggest that high fatalistic cancer beliefs may be an important factor in cancer screening utilization among women. Further examination in longitudinal cohorts with a larger sample of men may be needed in order to identify any significant effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Perinatal mortality prevention strategies that target fetal deaths often utilize vital records data sets shown to contain critical quality deficiencies. To understand the causes of deficient data, we linked survey responses of fetal death reporters with facility fetal death data quality indicators. Methods In 2011, we surveyed the person most responsible for fetal death reporting at New York City healthcare facilities on their attitudes, barriers, and practices regarding reporting. We compared responses by 2 facility data quality indicators (data completeness and ill-defined cause of fetal death) for third trimester fetal death registrations using Chi squared tests. Results Thirty-nine of 50 facilities completed full questionnaires (78 % response rate); responding facilities reported 84 % (n = 11,891) of all 2011 fetal deaths, including 329 third trimester fetal deaths. Facilities citing ≥1 reporting barrier were approximately five times more likely to have incomplete third trimester registrations than facilities citing no substantial barriers (37.5 vs 7.9 %; RR 4.7; 95 % CI [1.6-14.2]). Reported barriers included onerous reporting requirements (n = 10; 26 %) and competing physician priorities (n = 11; 28 %). Facilities citing difficulty involving physicians in reporting were more likely to report fetal deaths with nonspecific cause-of-death information (70.9 vs 56.6 %; RR 1.3; 95 % CI [1.1-1.5]). Conclusions Self-reported challenges correlate with completeness and accuracy of reported fetal death data, suggesting that such barriers are likely contributing to low quality data. We identified several improvement opportunities, including in-depth training and reducing the information collected, especially for early fetal deaths (<20 weeks' gestation), the majority of events reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In July 2018, a new federal mandate by the Department of Housing and Urban Development went into effect requiring all US public housing authorities to implement policies banning smoking in living units, indoor common areas, administrative buildings, and outdoor areas within 25 feet of these buildings. Although some housing authorities had smoke-free policies in place for decades, others had to implement them for the first time. Housing authorities continue to face challenges in ensuring compliance with these policies, and resident perspectives can greatly inform measures to promote adherence.Aims and Methods: We conducted in-person interviews with 20 New York City Housing Authority tenants in April 2018. Our thematic analysis examined resident opinions on the upcoming smoke-free housing policy.Results: Although 65% of residents supported the policy, 50% anticipated poor adherence due to expected lack of enforcement, safety issues with smoking outdoors, and general discontent with the housing authority and living conditions. However, many participants felt adherence could be improved if the housing authority optimized resource-provision and communication with tenants.Conclusions: Our study adds to existing literature examining tenant views on the controversial topic of mandatory smoke-free housing policies, and our interviews were conducted at a unique time prior to policy implementation in the country's largest public housing authority. Based on our results, we provide recommendations for housing authorities including: (1) information and resource-provision, (2) safety enhancement, and (3) relationship building with tenants in order to maximize policy adherence.Implications: Our study is unique because we captured resident views prior to policy implementation in a housing authority without a preexisting smoke-free policy in place. In comparison, most recent research on this topic has focused on the postimplementation period or used survey research methods in the preimplementation phase. Our findings add to extant research about tenant perspectives on smoke-free housing policies and offer suggestions to address barriers to compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While racial/ethnic differences in fetal growth have been documented, few studies have examined whether they vary by exogenous factors, which could elucidate underlying causes. The purpose of this study was to characterize longitudinal fetal growth patterns by maternal sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors and examine whether associations with maternal race/ethnicity varied by these other predictors. Between 2016 and 2019, pregnant women receiving prenatal care at NYU Langone Health (New York, New York) were invited to participate in a birth cohort study. Women completed questionnaires, and clinical data were abstracted from ultrasound examinations. Maternal characteristics were assessed in relation to fetal biometric measures throughout pregnancy using linear mixed models. Maternal race/ethnicity was consistently associated with fetal biometry: Black, Hispanic, and Asian women had fetuses with smaller head circumference, abdominal circumference, and biparietal diameter than White women. The associations between race/ethnicity and fetal growth varied by nativity for Asian women, such that the disparity between Asian and White women was much greater for US-born women than for foreign-born women. However, associations for Black and Hispanic women did not vary by nativity. While race/ethnicity-specific fetal growth standards have been proposed, additional work is needed to elucidate what could be driving these differences, including factors that occur in parallel and differentially affect fetal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the development and initial psychometric properties of the School Interference Questionnaire (SIQ), a questionnaire designed to assess both academic functional impairment related to mental health problems and the type and frequency of school refusal behavior. Participants were 110 youth ages 13 to 18 years (M = 15.41 years, SD = 1.42) admitted to an adolescent partial hospitalization program. The majority of participants identified as female (57.3%), Caucasian (59.1%), and non-Latino (70.0%). Internal consistency of the 12 SIQ core interference items was excellent (Cronbach's α =.91). The factor structure suggested that a single factor was appropriate for the 12 school interference items. Correlations between the SIQ and other measures in this study provided support for construct validity. The average SIQ core interference item score showed evidence of convergent validity via correlations with measures of school refusal, global disability, and internalizing symptoms. The SIQ also exhibited no significant association with timing of study enrollment, suggesting evidence for divergent validity. Results provide initial evidence supporting the psychometric properties of this novel measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rates of participation in HIV care, medication uptake, and viral suppression are improving among persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States. Yet, disparities among African American/Black and Latino PLWH are persistent, signaling the need for new conceptual approaches. To address gaps in services and research (e.g., insufficient attention to structural/systemic factors, inadequate harm reduction services and autonomy support) and improve behavioral interventions, we integrated critical race theory, harm reduction, and self-determination theory into a new conceptual model, then used the model to develop a set of six intervention components which were tested in a larger study. The present qualitative study explores participants' perspectives on the study's acceptability, feasibility, and impact, and the conceptual model's contribution to these experiences. Methods: Participants in the larger study were African American/Black and Latino PLWH poorly engaged in HIV care and with non-suppressed HIV viral load in New York City (N = 512). We randomly selected N = 46 for in-depth semi-structured interviews on their experiences with and perspectives on the study. Interviews were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed verbatim, and data were analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis. Results: On average, participants were 49 years old (SD = 9) and had lived with HIV for 19 years (SD = 7). Most were male (78%) and African American/Black (76%). All had taken HIV medication previously. Challenging life contexts were the norm, including poverty, poor quality/unstable housing, trauma histories exacerbated by current trauma, health comorbidities, and substance use. Participants found the study highly acceptable. We organized results into four themes focused on participants' experiences of: 1) being understood as a whole person and in their structural/systemic context; 2) trustworthiness and trust; 3) opportunities for self-reflection; and 4) support of personal autonomy. The salience of nonjudgment was prominent in each theme. Themes reflected grounding in the conceptual model. Participants reported these characteristics were lacking in HIV care settings. Conclusions: The new conceptual model emphasizes the salience of systemic/structural and social factors that drive health behavior and the resultant interventions foster trust, self-reflection, engagement, and behavior change. The model has potential to enhance intervention acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness with African American/Black and Latino PLWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background One of the weight-loss strategies that has attracted attention is the use of spicy foods. It has been suggested that spicy food preference is related to a genetically predetermined sensitivity to the bitter compound 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). Objective Our aim was to examine the relationship of PROP taste intensity and hot chili pepper use with body mass index (BMI), energy intake, and fat intake. Design This study utilized a cross-sectional design. Participants/setting The sample included 350 subjects (154 male, 196 female) ages 18 to 55 years living in the New York City area. Main outcome measures BMI was calculated by measuring weight and height, and the sensitivity to PROP was evaluated using the PROP filter paper method. Subjects also rated the frequency of usage and preference for hot chili pepper using a chili pepper questionnaire. Their daily energy and fat intake were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Statistical analyses performed An independent sample t -test compared subject characteristics between groups based on sex, PROP status, and hot chili pepper user status for the continuous variables, and the χ 2 test was used for categorical variables. One-way analysis variance examined the differences in subject characteristics across four ethnicities. To predict BMI, energy intake, and fat intake, multiple linear regression models were fit with the covariates of age, sex, ethnicity, chili pepper score, and PROP mean. Results The values for BMI, energy intake, and fat intake of PROP tasters were significantly lower than those of PROP nontasters ( P =0.03, P <0.001, and P <0.001, respectively). The energy intake of chili pepper nonusers was significantly lower than that of chili pepper users ( P =0.02), while there was no significant difference in fat intake between chili pepper users and nonusers. Conclusions This study suggests that PROP taste sensitivity contributes more to the prediction of energy and fat intake than chili pepper use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency ambulance service in Harlem, New York was studied to determine the degree to which misuse exists. Data were collected prospectively from a paramedic (ALS) ambulance and a basic life support (BLS) ambulance dispatched from Harlem Hospital. The results show that only 29.5% of the 136 calls dispatched to the ALS unit had congruent dispatch and actual priorities (r = 0.05), and only 59.6% of the 255 calls handled by both units were recommended for the unit with the proper level of the skill. 69.9% of calls assigned to the ALS unit were found not to need emergency transport (ET), the most common reason being the "unfounded" call, which represented 35.3% of the sample. ALS intervention was needed on only 20.6% of calls dispatched to the ALS unit. Paramedics were able to correctly access the need for ET 95.6% of the time, but were only willing to refuse transport 35.2% of times in which they felt it was unnecessary. Within the population studied, there exists a significant subset of nonemergency calls which could be more efficiently triaged, both at the level of dispatch and by EMS personnel on the scene. Author Perspective: This research was performed from July 1 to July 26, 1985 to fulfill the requirements of a Community Medicine rotation when the investigator was a student at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City (presently the Ican School of Medicine at Mount Sinai). Dr. Alexander E. Kuehl was the Vice President of New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Emergency Medical Service at the time (prior to New York City EMS moving under the Fire Department) and served as preceptor for the project. This work has not been previously published; however, the investigator was an invited presenter at the "Third International Urban Emergency Medical Service System Symposium" in September 1985 at the World Trade Center in New York City. The oral presentations at the symposium were entitled: "Paramedic Attitudes Concerning On-The-Scene Triage" and "Emergency Ambulance Utilization in Harlem." To complete the work for this 30-day rotation, the investigator performed daily ambulance ride-alongs in Harlem, New York for 15 consecutive days and collected data prospectively from paramedics. EMTs staffing an ambulance during the same time frame provided concurrent information by survey. Some EMS terminology is now outdated; however, the terms have not been updated in order to preserve the historical perspective of the article. While the data are now historical, having been collected nearly 40 years ago, this research provides useful insights into current EMS initiatives, notably: (1) accuracy of assigned dispatch priority, (2) need for emergency transport to an emergency department, and (3) willingness of paramedics to refuse transport in cases where it is deemed unnecessary. The research questions represent many of the challenges that persist in today's EMS world with some being particularly relevant with the advent of Community Paramedicine. Emergency Ambulance Utilization in Harlem truly illustrates "what's old is new again!" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]