bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Addressing Tobacco in Managed Care: A Survey of Dentists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors
Authors: Albert David , Ward Angela , Ahluwalia Kavita , Sadowsky Donald 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. This study assessed the tobacco cessation knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of dentists participating in a large managed care dental plan. Methods. Participating dentists in 4 states were surveyed via mail. Results. Dentists' perceived success in helping patients quit using tobacco was highly correlated with discussion of specific strategies for quitting, advice about the use of nicotine gum, and time spent counseling patients. Dentists who were confident about their smoking cessation knowledge frequently advised patients to quit and spent more time counseling patients about tobacco cessation. Conclusions. Tobacco cessation is not a routine part of dental practice. Knowledge, time spent counseling patients, and specific strategies for quitting were associated with dentists' perceptions of success. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:997–1001)
Prescription Noncompliance due to Cost Among Adults With Disabilities in the United States
Authors: Kennedy Jae , Erb Christopher 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. This study estimated national prevalence rates of medication noncompliance due to cost and resulting health problems among adults with disabilities. Methods. Analyses involved 25 805 respondents to the Disability Follow-Back Survey, a supplement to the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Surveys. Results. Findings showed that about 1.3 million adults with disabilities did not take their medications as prescribed because of cost, and more than half reported health problems as a result. Severe disability, poor health, low income, lack of insurance, and a high number of prescriptions increased the odds of being noncompliant as a result of cost. Conclusions. Prescription noncompliance due to cost is a serious problem for many adults with chronic disease or disability. Most would not be helped by any of the current proposals to expand Medicare drug coverage.
Reverberations of Family Illness: A Longitudinal Assessment of Informal Caregiving and Mental Health Status in the Nurses’ Health Study
Authors: Cannuscio Carolyn C. , Jones Camara , Kawachi Ichiro , Colditz Graham A. , Berkman Lisa , Rimm Eric 
Published: December 2008

0bjectives. This study examined the association between caregiving for disabled or ill family members, estimated to occur in more than 22 million US households, and change in mental health. Methods. We assessed 4-year change in mental health among 37 742 Nurses’ Health Study participants with the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36. Results. Women who provided 36 or more weekly hours of care to a disabled spouse were almost 6 times more likely than noncaregivers to experience depressive or anxious symptoms (multivariate odds ratio [OR] = 5.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.8, 8.3). Caring for a disabled or ill parent (≥ 36 weekly hours) was associated with a less dramatic elevation in depressive or anxious symptoms (multivariate OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 0.9, 4.3). Conclusions. In this population, caregiving was associated with increased risk of depressive or anxious symptoms.
Suicide Attempts Among Gay and Bisexual Men: Lifetime Prevalence and Antecedents
Authors: Paul Jay P. , Catania Joseph , Pollack Lance , Moskowitz Judith , Canchola Jesse , Mills Thomas , Binson Diane , Stall Ron 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We examined lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts and psychosocial correlates in a large population-based sample of men who have sex with men (MSM).Methods. A telephone probability sample of US urban MSM (n = 2881) were interviewed between November 1996 and February 1998.Results. Twenty-one percent had made a suicide plan; 12% had attempted suicide (almost half of those 12% were multiple attempters). Most who attempted suicide made their first attempt before age 25. Although prevalence of parasuicide (i.e., attempted suicide) has remained constant across birth cohorts, mean age at initial attempts has declined.Conclusions. MSM are at elevated risk for suicide attempts, with such risk clustered earlier in life. Some risk factors were specific to being gay or bisexual in a hostile environment.
Trends in Diabetes Prevalence Among American Indian and Alaska Native Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Authors: Acton Kelly J. , Ríos Burrows Nilka , Moore Kelly , Querec Linda , Geiss Linda S. , Engelgau Michael M. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. This study determined trends in diabetes prevalence among young American Indians and Alaska Natives. Methods. American Indian and Alaska Native children (< 15 years), adolescents (15–19 years), and young adults (20–34 years) with diabetes were identified from the Indian Health Service (IHS) outpatient database. The population living within IHS contract health service delivery areas was determined from census data. Results. From 1990 to 1998, the total number of young American Indians and Alaska Natives with diagnosed diabetes increased by 71% (4534 to 7736); prevalence increased by 46% (6.4 per 1000 to 9.3 per 1000 population). Increases in prevalence were greater among adolescents and among young men. Conclusions. Diabetes should be considered a major public health problem among young American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Health Reform in Brazil: Lessons to Consider
Authors: Elias Paulo Eduardo M. , Cohn Amelia 
Published: December 2008

US analysts and decisionmakers interested in comparative health policy typically turn to European perspectives, but Brazil—notwithstanding its far smaller gross domestic product and lower per capita health expenditures and technological investments—offers an example with surprising relevance to the US health policy context. Not only is Brazil comparable to the United States in size, racial/ethnic and geographic diversity, federal system of government, and problems of social inequality. Within the health system the incremental nature of reforms, the large role of the private sector, the multitiered patchwork of coverage, and the historically large population excluded from health insurance coverage resonate with health policy challenges and developments in the United States.
A Global Network for Early Warning and Response to Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism: Applied Epidemiology and Training Programs, 2001
Authors: Sandhu Hardeep S. , Thomas Christopher , Nsubuga Peter , White Mark E. 
Published: December 2008

In many ministries of health, applied epidemiology and training programs (AETPs) are responsible for detecting and responding to acute health events, including bioterrorism. In November 2001, we assessed the bioterrorism response capacity of 29 AETPs; 17 (59%) responded. Fifteen countries (88%) had bioterrorism response plans; in 6 (40%), AETPs took the lead in preparation and in 6 (40%) they assisted. Between September 11 and November 29, 2001, 12 AETPs (71%) responded to a total of 3024 bioterrorism-related phone calls. Six programs (35%) responded to suspected bioterrorism events. AETPs play an important role in bioterrorism surveillance and response. Support for this global network by various health agencies is beneficial for all developed and developing countries.
Medical Care for Interned Enemy Aliens: A Role for the US Public Health Service in World War II
Authors: Fiset Louis 
Published: December 2008

During World War II, the US Public Health Service (USPHS) administered health care to 19 000 enemy aliens and Axis merchant seamen interned by the Justice Department through its branch, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The Geneva Prisoners of War Convention of 1929, which the United States applied to civilian internees, provided guidelines for belligerent nations regarding humanitarian treatment of prisoners of war, including for their health. The INS forged an agreement with the USPHS to meet these guidelines for the German, Italian, and Japanese internees and, in some cases, their families. Chronic shortages and crowded camps continuously challenged USPHS administrators. Nevertheless, the USPHS offered universal access to care and provided treatment often exceeding care received by many American citizens.
Agreement Between Administrative Data and Patients’ Self-Reports of Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Kressin Nancy R. , Chang Bei-Hung , Hendricks Ann , Kazis Lewis E. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We examined agreement of administrative data with self-reported race/ethnicity and identified correlates of agreement. Methods. We used Veterans Affairs administrative data and VA 1999 Large Health survey race/ethnicity data. Results. Relatively low rates of agreement (approximately 60%) between data sources were largely the result of administrative data from patients whose race/ethnicity was unknown, with least agreement for Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander patients. After exclusion of patients with missing race/ethnicity, agreement improved except for Native Americans. Agreement did not increase substantially after inclusion of data from individuals indicating multiple race/ethnicities. Patients for whom there was better agreement between data sources tended to be less educated, non–solitary living, younger, and White; to have sufficient food; and to use more inpatient Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care. Conclusions. Better reporting of race/ethnicity data will improve agreement between data sources. Previous studies using VA administrative data may have underestimated racial disparities.
Contextual Influences on Reproductive Wellness in Northern India
Authors: Stephenson Rob , Tsui Amy Ong 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. There has been a growing recognition of the importance of contextual influences on health outcomes. This article examines community-level influences on 5 reproductive wellness outcomes in Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods. Multilevel modeling is used to estimate household and community-level effects on wellness, with hierarchically organized data from a statewide survey of villages, urban blocks, households, women, health providers, and staff. Results. The household and community have a strong contextual influence on wellness, although the models explain more of the variation in outcomes between households than between communities. Conclusions. Communities influence wellness outcomes through the socioeconomic environment and the characteristics of the health infrastructure. The specific dimensions of the community and health infrastructure varied between the outcomes.
Regional Patterns and Correlates of Substance Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in 7 US Urban Areas
Authors: Thiede Hanne , Valleroy Linda A. , MacKellar Duncan A. , Celentano David D. , Ford Wesley L. , Hagan Holly , Koblin Beryl A. , LaLota Marlene , McFarland William , Shehan Douglas A. , Torian Lucia V. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We sought to characterize substance use patterns in young men who have sex with men (MSM) in 7 US urban areas and sociodemographic characteristics and history associated with such use. Methods. We examined data collected from 1994 through 1998 in a venue-based, cross-sectional survey. Results. Among the 3492 participants, 66% reported use of illicit drugs; 28%, use of 3 or more drugs; 29%, frequent drug use (once a week or more); and 4%, injection drug use. These practices were more common among participants who were White, self-identified as bisexual or heterosexual, had run away, or had experienced forced sex. Conclusions. Effective drug prevention and treatment programs addressing local drug-use patterns and associated factors are urgently needed for young MSM, a population with a high rate of illicit drug use.
Latin American Social Medicine: Roots, Development During the 1990s, and Current Challenges
Authors: Tajer Débora 
Published: December 2008

Latin American social medicine arose during the 1950s and 1960s, drawing its inspiration from the social movements that emerged in France, Germany, and England in the mid-19th century. The Latin American movement of social medicine has clear ideological goals. It is organized around the Latin American Association of Social Medicine, which was founded in 1984 and is regarded as a social, political, and academic movement. This article takes a historical perspective and presents the reasons for the emergence and identity of the association, focusing on the main developments and contributions of this movement from the 1990s until the present time.
A Social-Medical Approach to Violence in Colombia
Authors: Franco Saul 
Published: December 2008

Violence is the main public health problem in Colombia. Many theoretical and methodological approaches to solving this problem have been attempted from different disciplines. My past work has focused on homicide violence from the perspective of social medicine. In this article I present the main conceptual and methodological aspects and the chief findings of my research over the past 15 years. Findings include a quantitative description of the current situation and the introduction of the category of explanatory contexts as a contribution to the study of Colombian violence. The complexity and severity of this problem demand greater theoretical discussion, more plans for action and a faster transition between the two. Social medicine may make a growing contribution to this field.
Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Health: Findings From Community Studies
Authors: Williams David R. , Neighbors Harold W. , Jackson James S. 
Published: December 2008

The authors review the available empirical evidence from population-based studies of the association between perceptions of racial/ethnic discrimination and health. This research indicates that discrimination is associated with multiple indicators of poorer physical and, especially, mental health status. However, the extant research does not adequately address whether and how exposure to discrimination leads to increased risk of disease. Gaps in the literature include limitations linked to measurement of discrimination, research designs, and inattention to the way in which the association between discrimination and health unfolds over the life course. Research on stress points to important directions for the future assessment of discrimination and the testing of the underlying processes and mechanisms by which discrimination can lead to changes in health.
Employment Discrimination, Segregation, and Health
Authors: Darity William A. 
Published: December 2008

The author examines available evidence on the effects of exposure to joblessness on emotional well-being according to race and sex. The impact of racism on general health outcomes also is considered, particularly racism in the specific form of wage discrimination. Perceptions of racism and measured exposures to racism may be distinct triggers for adverse health outcomes. Whether the effects of racism are best evaluated on the basis of self-classification or social classification of racial identity is unclear. Some research sorts between the effects of race and socioeconomic status on health. The development of a new longitudinal database will facilitate more accurate identification of connections between racism and negative health effects.
Perceived Discrimination and Depression: Moderating Effects of Coping, Acculturation, and Ethnic Support
Authors: Noh Samuel , Kaspar Violet 
Published: December 2008

The authors evaluated the effects of cultural norms and social contexts on coping processes involved in dealing with perceived racial discrimination. Cross-sectional data derived from personal interviews with Korean immigrants residing in Toronto were analyzed. Among the respondents, active, problem-focused coping styles were more effective in reducing the impacts on depression of perceived discrimination, while frequent use of passive, emotion-focused coping had debilitating mental health effects. The present findings lend greater support to a social contextual explanation than to a cultural maintenance explanation of coping processes. They also suggest that, when empowered with sufficient social resources, racial minority individuals of diverse cultural heritages are more likely to confront than to accept racial bias.
Violence and Health: The United States in a Global Perspective
Authors: Mercy James A. , Krug Etienne G. , Dahlberg Linda L. , Zwi Anthony B. 
Published: December 2008

Violence is a public health problem that can be understood and changed. Research over the past 2 decades has demonstrated that violence can be prevented and that, in some cases, prevention programs are more cost-effective than other policy options such as incarceration. The United States has much to contribute to—and stands to gain much from—global efforts to prevent violence. A new World Health Organization initiative presents an opportunity for the United States to work with other nations to find cost-effective ways of preventing violence and reducing its enormous costs.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Adult Vaccination Among Individuals With Diabetes
Authors: Egede Leonard E. , Zheng Deyi 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. This study examined whether differences in access to health care, health coverage, and socioeconomic status (SES) explained racial differences in influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates in individuals with diabetes. Methods. We analyzed data on 1906 individuals from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey. We used multiple logistic regression to adjust for race/ethnicity, age, access to care, health insurance, and SES, and used SUDAAN for statistical analyses to yield national estimates. Results. Whites had higher vaccination rates than did African Americans or Hispanics. After adjustment for covariates, race/ethnicity predicted receipt of both vaccines independent of age, access to care, health care coverage, and SES. Conclusions. Racial disparity in vaccination rates for adults with diabetes is independent of access to care, health care coverage, and SES. (Am J Public Health. 2003;93:324–329)
What Is Population Health?
Authors: Kindig David , Stoddart Greg 
Published: December 2008

Population health is a relatively new term that has not yet been precisely defined. Is it a concept of health or a field of study of health determinants? We propose that the definition be “the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group,” and we argue that the field of population health includes health outcomes, patterns of health determinants, and policies and interventions that link these two. We present a rationale for this definition and note its differentiation from public health, health promotion, and social epidemiology. We invite critiques and discussion that may lead to some consensus on this emerging concept.
A Population-Based Analysis of Socioeconomic Status and Insurance Status and Their Relationship With Pediatric Trauma Hospitalization and Mortality Rates
Authors: Marcin James P. , Schembri Michael S. , He Jingsong , Romano Patrick S. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We investigated socioeconomic disparities in injury hospitalization rates and severity-adjusted mortality for pediatric trauma. Methods. We used 10 years of pediatric trauma data from Sacramento County, Calif, to compare trauma hospitalization rates, trauma mechanism and severity, and standardized hospital mortality across socioeconomic strata (median household income, proportion of households in poverty, insurance). Results. Children from lower–socioeconomic status (SES) communities had higher injury hospitalization and mortality rates, and presented more frequently with more lethal mechanisms of injury (pedestrian, firearm), but did not have higher severity-adjusted mortality. Conclusions. Higher injury mortality rates among children of lower SES in Sacramento County are explained by a higher incidence of trauma and more fatal mechanisms of injury, not by greater injury severity or poorer inpatient care.
Assessing the Capacity of Health Departments to Engage in Community-Based Participatory Public Health
Authors: Parker Edith , Margolis Lewis H. , Eng Eugenia , Henríquez-Roldán Carlos 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We created indicators of local public health agency capacity to engage in community-based participatory public health. Methods. We sent a survey of 27 items reflecting aspects of community-based participatory public health to 429 employees in 4 local health departments. Two thirds (n = 282) responded. We performed a factor analysis to identify components of community-based participatory practice. Results. We identified 4 factors: (1) the agency’s and (2) the individual employee’s skills in working with community groups and minority populations, (3) the extent and frequency of agency networking, and (4) community participation in health department planning. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that it is possible to measure the competencies needed by health department staff to engage in community-based participatory public health.
Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening: Sociodemographic Predictors Among White, Black, and Hispanic Women
Authors: Selvin Elizabeth , Brett Kate M. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We evaluated the relationship between breast and cervical cancer screening and a variety of variables across race/ethnicity groups. Methods. Using logistic regression models, we analyzed data from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey to assess the relative importance of the independent variables in predicting use of cancer screening services. Results. Having a usual source of care was the most important predictor of cancer screening use for all race/ethnicity groups. Health insurance was associated with an increased likelihood of cancer screening. Smoking was associated with a decreased likelihood of cancer screening. Conclusions. Regardless of race/ethnicity, most women follow mammography and cervical cancer screening guidelines. The identification of specific factors associated with adherence to cancer screening guidelines may help inform screening campaigns.
Inclusion of Immigrant Status in Smoking Prevalence Statistics
Authors: Baluja Kaari Flagstad , Park Julie , Myers Dowell 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. Data from the 1995–1996 and 1998–1999 Current Population Survey tobacco use supplements were used to examine smoking prevalence statistics by race/ethnicity and immigrant status. Methods. Smoking prevalence statistics were calculated, and these data were decomposed by country of birth for Asian immigrants to illustrate the heterogeneity in smoking rates present within racial/ethnic groups. Results. Except in the case of male Asian/Pacific Islanders, immigrants exhibited significantly lower smoking prevalence rates than nonimmigrants. However, rates varied according to country of birth. Conclusions. This research highlights the need to disaggregate health statistics by race/ethnicity, sex, immigrant status, and, among immigrants, country of birth. Data on immigrants’ health behaviors enhance the development of targeted and culturally sensitive public health smoking prevention programs.
Challenges to Masculine Transformation Among Urban Low-Income African American Males
Authors: Aronson Robert E. , Whitehead Tony L. , Baber Willie L. 
Published: December 2008

In this article we describe and analyze the challenges faced by an intervention program that addresses the fatherhood needs of low-income urban African American males. We used life history as the primary research strategy for a qualitative evaluation of a program we refer to as the Healthy Men in Healthy Families Program to better understand the circumstances and trajectory of men’s lives, including how involvement in the program might have benefited them in the pursuit of their fatherhood goals. A model of masculine transformation, developed by Whitehead, was used to interpret changes in manhood/fatherhood attitudes and behaviors that might be associated with the intervention. We combined Whitehead’s model with a social ecology framework to further interpret challenges at intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, and broader societal levels.