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In this paper we tell a story about how we partnered with a Chicago high school in order to turn the school inside out by displaying larger-than-life teacher portraits and statements at street level throughout the community. This paper explores how public art and activism can help teachers and students develop notions of civic literacy and engagement in order to change prevailing ideas about the role that teachers and schools play in our communities. Can teachers learn to relate effectively in communities outside of schools? Is this a desirable or even useful goal for educators? This paper examines notions of partnership, community, civic literacy and engagement, and the role that teachers and students might play in shaping their communities.

In this study, we used data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to investigate factors associated with older adults' engagement with advance care planning (ACP) across varying levels of cognitive functioning status. Our analysis used a sample of 17,698 participants in the HRS 2014 survey. Survey descriptive procedures (Proc SurveyMeans, Proc SurveyFreq) and logistic regression procedures (Proc SurveyLogistic) were used. Race, ethnicity, level of cognition, education, age, and number of chronic diseases consistently predicted ACP. Participants with lower levels of cognition were less likely to have a living will and durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPOAH). African American and Hispanic participants, younger participants, and those with lower cognition and education levels were less likely to engage in ACP. Marital status and loneliness predicted ACP engagement. Some results varied across the cognition cohorts. Our results indicated that sociodemographic status, together with health and cognitive status, has a significant role in predicting ACP. The results can provide valuable insights on ACP for older adults with or at risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia and other cognitive impairments, caregivers, families, and healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much has been published in the health care literature describing partnerships between academic institutions and community or health care agencies that are designed to improve health outcomes in medically underserved populations. However, little has been published regarding partnerships between minority- and majority-serving academic institutions with this same aim. Key principles of collaborative partnerships are used in a descriptive analysis of the development, functions, and benefits of such an interinstitutional academic partnership that was formed to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities in rural South Carolina. Lessons learned from the partnership parallel other human relationships where mutual respect and trust, open and clear communication, and shared decision and problem solving are important for building and sustaining partnerships.

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION IS ONE OF THE RISKIEST TASKS A NURSE EXECUTES (Maricle, Whitehead, & Rhodes, 2007). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimates that there are 1.5 million preventable adverse drug [...]

The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the amniotic fluid index (AFI) and the accuracy of the sonographic estimated fetal weight (EFW) as [...]

Background: An increase of cultural diversity and treatment options offer opportunities and challenges related to end-of-life (EOL) care for healthcare providers and policymakers. EOL care planning can help reduce confusion and uncertainty when individuals and family members need to make decisions about EOL care options. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate preferences, attitudes, and behaviors regarding EOL care planning among young and middle-aged Iranian-American adults. Methods: A cross-sectional national sample of 251 Iranian-American adults completed surveys. Paper and online surveys in English and Persian were offered to potential participants. Results: All the participants completed online survey in English language. In incurable health conditions, 56.8% preferred hospitalization and intensive treatments. From the 40.6% participants who preferred comfort care, most preferred care at home (29.5%) compared to an institution (11.1%). Those who preferred hospitalization at EOL mostly preferred intensive and curative treatments. The mean score of attitudes toward advance decision-making was moderately high (11.48 ± 2.77). Favorable attitudes were positively associated with acculturation (r =.31, p <.001), age (r =.15, p <.05), and number of years living in the U.S. (r =.26, p <.001). Conversely, spirituality and favorable attitudes were negatively associated (r = −.17, p <.05). Conclusion: Immigrant and culturally diverse individuals have experienced different living and healthcare environments. These differences can influence their EOL care planning and decisions. Knowledge of diverse perspectives and cultures is essential to design culturally congruent plans of EOL care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between demographic factors and other correlates of fatalism, and assessed the impact of fatalistic beliefs on the participation in breast cancer screening in rural women. The subjects were 220 women aged 50 and over recruited from 6 large rural counties in South Carolina. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the revised Powe Fatalism Inventory. Results show significant associations between fatalism and increased age (p = 0.005), race (p = 0.0001), doctor recommendation (p = .0034) and decreased educational level (p = 0.001). Fatalism was associated with noncompliance with mammography screening in univariate analysis among African-American women (OR = .362; 95% CI: 1.11, 11.8). After adjusting for possible confounders (age, education, and doctor recommendation), fatalism was not significantly associated with noncompliance with screening. These results illustrate age, race, and education may be important predictors of fatalism and that fatalism may be one barrier that has previously gone unmeasured and unchallenged in understanding screening behavior in older women. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: Website: ] KEYWORDS. Culture, fatalism, cancer screening, rural, elderly

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses employed in a major hospital in South Carolina, to examine the relationship between self-reported and actual body mass index values, and to assess the impact of weight on physical aspects of nursing, professional social acceptance, occupational injury, and absenteeism. Results and implications are reported here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal beliefs about health and illness influence many people's decisions about seeking care. This research represents a study of beliefs about breast cancer held by African women in Ghana. In-person interviews based on the revised Powe fatalism inventory (rPFI) were held with 109 women. Correlational analysis and factor analysis were performed. There were negative, nonsignificant associations between fatalism and age (r = -.095, p = 0.33), and educational level (r = -.078, p = .422). Fatalism scores were relatively low, 3.78 on an 11-point scale. Comparisons are made to responses by African American women in other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]