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Expanding the value of qualitative theories of illness experience in clinical practice: a grounded theory of secondary heart disease prevention

Qualitative theories of illness experience are about the individual interpretations of the psychosocial and cultural aspects of living with illness. Thus, they contribute to a better understanding of health and health care provision. In this paper, we examine how a grounded theory (GT) of heart disease experience can inform secondary prevention. In-depth interviews of individual experience of heart disease were conducted with 26 patients, using GT iterative data collection and analysis framework. A GT was compiled from data and examined within a sociocultural framework to ascertain how experience influenced health behaviour. Despite individual contextual variations, the theory of ‘keeping it going’ describes the study sample’s common attitude to living with heart disease. The theory was adequate in explaining secondary cardiac behaviour, because it identified the aspects of patients’ beliefs and attitudes which are key to effective secondary prevention. The assessment of the impact of illness experience on health behaviour within a sociocultural framework helped to articulate the strong influence of social and contextual factors. The study offers an appropriate explanatory framework for encouraging health behaviour change. It emphasizes the importance of interventions being relevant to individual perceptions and interpretations. It provides a framework for designing and evaluating cardiac interventions and the theoretical principles which underpin them.

Effects of episodic variations in web-based avian influenza education: influence of fear and humor on perception, comprehension, retention and behavior

In order to provide empirical evidence on the role of a web-based avian influenza (AI) education program for mass communication and also ultimately help young children learn and develop healthy behaviors against AI and all types of influenza, an education program with two episodic variations (i.e. fear and humor) has been developed and examined with 183 fifth-grade elementary students. A quasi-experimental design was employed to find potential differential effects on the context-specific risk perception, AI knowledge acquisition, retention and behavior. The study results reveal that the fear appealed AI web-based education program was much more effective than the humor-based program in improving risk perception and educating the students about healthy behaviors (i.e. against influenza infection). However, a significant behavior change or improvement of health practices was not apparent on the post-tests (i.e. 1 month after the treatment) in either episode of the program.

Developing the IDEFICS community-based intervention program to enhance eating behaviors in 2- to 8-year-old children: findings from focus groups with children and parents

One purpose of ‘identification and prevention of dietary- and lifestyle-induced health effects in children and infants’ (IDEFICS) is to implement a standardized community-based multi-component healthy eating intervention for younger children in eight different countries. The present study describes important influencing factors for dietary behaviors among children aged 2–8 years old in order to determine the best approaches for developing the dietary components of the standardized intervention. Twenty focus groups with children (74 boys, 81 girls) and 36 focus groups with 189 parents (28 men, 161 women) were conducted. Only in two countries, children mentioned receiving nutrition education at school. Rules at home and at school ranged from not allowing the consumption of unhealthy products to allowing everything. The same diversity was found for availability of (un)healthy products at home and school. Parents mentioned personal (lack of time, financial constraints, preferences), socio-environmental (family, peer influences), institutional (school policies) and physical–environmental (availability of unhealthy products, price, season) barriers for healthy eating. This focus group research provided valuable information to guide the first phase in the IDEFICS intervention development. There was a large variability in findings within countries. Interventions should be tailored at the personal and environmental level to increase the likelihood of behavioral change.

Implementation fidelity: the experience of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Study

While researchers have developed more effective programs and strategies to prevent the initiation of substance use and increasingly communities are delivering these interventions, determining the degree to which they are delivered as they were designed remains a significant research challenge. In the past several years, more attention has been given to implementation issues during the various stages of program development and diffusion. This paper presents the findings from a substudy of an evaluation of a newly designed middle and high school substance abuse prevention program, Take Charge of Your Life delivered by local Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer instructors. A key aspect of the study was to determine the extent to which implementation fidelity, using the measures of content coverage and appropriate instructional strategy, was associated with improvement in the program mediators of realistic normative beliefs, understanding the harmful effects of substance use and the acquisition of decision-making and resistance skills. Although it was found that higher fidelity was associated with better scores on some of the mediators, this was not a consistent finding. The mixed results are discussed within the context of the lesson activities themselves.

'Ready. Set. ACTION!' A theater-based obesity prevention program for children: a feasibility study

This study examined the feasibility of implementing an innovative theater-based after-school program, ‘Ready. Set. ACTION!’, to reach ethnically diverse and low-income children and their parents with obesity prevention messages. The study population included 96 children and 61 parents. Children were in fourth to sixth grade and 41% were overweight at baseline. Program impact was evaluated with a pre/post-randomized controlled study design, but a major focus was placed on the process evaluation conducted in the intervention schools. Intervention children and parents reported high program satisfaction and that they had made changes or intended to make positive changes in their behaviors due to program participation. However, few meaningful differences between the intervention and control conditions were found at follow-up. Thus, the combined process and impact evaluation results suggest that the intervention was effective in leading to increased awareness of the need for behavioral change, but was not powerful enough on its own to lead to behavioral change. From this feasibility study, we concluded that Ready. Set. ACTION! offers promise as a creative intervention strategy. The next research step may be to incorporate theater-based programs into more comprehensive school-based interventions, with both educational and environmental components, and evaluate program impact.

There's alcohol in my soap: portrayal and effects of alcohol use in a popular television series

Two studies are reported addressing the media influences on adolescents’ alcohol-related attitudes and behaviours. A content analysis was conducted to investigate the prevalence of alcohol portrayal in a Dutch soap series. The coding scheme covered the alcohol consumption per soap character, drinking situations and drinking times. Inter-coder reliability was satisfactory. The results showed that alcohol portrayal was prominent and that many instances of alcohol use reflected undesirable behaviours. To assess the influence of such alcohol cues on adolescents, a 2 x 2 experiment was conducted focusing on the separate and combined effects of alcohol portrayal in the soap series and surrounding alcohol commercials. Whereas the alcohol commercials had the expected effects on adolescents’ attitudes, the alcohol-related soap content only appeared to have unexpected effects. Adolescents who were exposed to the alcohol portrayal in the soap series had a less positive attitude towards alcohol and lower drinking intentions. Implications of these findings for health policy and future research are discussed.

Assessment of a national network: the case of the French teacher training colleges' health education network

The French teacher training colleges’ health education (HE) network was set up in 2005 to encourage the inclusion of HE in courses for primary and secondary school teachers. A systematic process of monitoring the activity and the impact of this initiative was implemented. This analysis was systematically compared with the perceptions of teaching staff involved in the network. This paper assesses the network after 2 years using documents produced and interviews with 24 coordinators. Twenty-nine teacher training colleges out of a total of 31 are involved in the network. The network has helped to create links between teacher training colleges, extend HE training and encourage partnerships with other public health organizations. By 2007, HE was included in courses offered by 19 teacher training colleges as opposed to only 3 in 2005. This study not only showed the positive impact of the network but also revealed issues in its management and presented new challenges to ensure the effectiveness of the network. The network has succeeded in attracting and training trainers who were already providing or were interested in HE. Reaching other trainers who are not familiar with HE remains a challenge for the future.

Applying motivational interviewing to counselling overweight and obese children

The aim of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to nurses’ application of motivational interviewing (MI) to counselling overweight and obese children aged 5 and 7 years, accompanied by their parents. Ten welfare centre and school health service nurses trained and practiced MI for 6 months, then participated in focus group interviews concerning their experiences with applying MI to counselling overweight and obese children. Important barriers were nurses’ lack of recognition that overweight and obesity among children constitute a health problem, problem ambivalence among nurses who felt that children's weight might be a problem although there was no immediate motivation to do anything and parents who the nurses believed were unmotivated to deal with their children's weight problem. Facilitators included nurses’ recognition of the advantages of MI, parents who were cooperative and aware of the health problem and working with obese children rather than those who were overweight.

Gender factors associated with sexual abstinent behaviour of rural South African high school going youth in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The cross-sectional study investigated South African rural high school learners' choice of sexual abstinence in order to be able to develop tailored health education messages. All Grade 9 learners from one class at each of 10 randomly selected rural high schools participated. The Integrated Model for Motivational and Behavioural Change was used to elicit attitudes, social influences, self-efficacy and intentions towards sexual abstinence. Chi-square and t-tests were used for bivariate analysis. In total, 454 learners, mean age 16.7 years (standard deviation 1.41) range 14–20 years, participated, of whom 246 (54.2%) were female. When comparing learners reporting abstinence (n = 252) with those not abstinent (n = 202), abstinent learners were significantly more often females (P < 0.005), younger (16.5 years versus 17.1 years, P < 0.005) and drank less alcohol (P < 0.005). Abstaining girls believed that their friends and parents think that they should abstain from sex, that their friends abstained from sex and that abstinence helped them to mature emotionally. Abstinent boys expressed intentions to abstain from sex until marriage. Targeted intervention research is required to encourage South African rural high school learners to delay their sexual initiation to reduce their risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Different abstinent messages are needed for boys and girls to address the different patterns of behaviour observed.

Development and implementation of an integrated, multi-modality, user-centered interactive dietary change program

Computer-tailored behavior change programs offer the potential for reaching large populations at a much lower cost than individual or group-based programs. However, few of these programs to date appear to integrate behavioral theory with user choice, or combine different electronic modalities. We describe the development of an integrated CD-ROM and interactive voice response dietary change intervention that combines behavioral problem-solving theory with a high degree of user choice. The program, WISE CHOICES, is being evaluated as part of an ongoing trial. This paper describes the program development, emphasizing how user preferences are accommodated, and presents implementation and user satisfaction data. The program was successfully implemented; the linkages among the central database, the CD-ROM and the automated telephone components were robust, and participants liked the program almost as well as a counselor-delivered dietary change condition. Multi-modality programs that emphasize the strengths of each approach appear to be feasible. Future research is needed to determine the program impact and cost-effectiveness compared with counselor-delivered intervention.

Body image, dieting and disordered eating and activity practices among teacher trainees: implications for school-based health education and obesity prevention programs

The aim was to investigate and compare body image, body dissatisfaction, dieting, disordered eating, exercise and eating disorders among trainee health education/physical education (H&PE) and non-H&PE teachers. Participants were 502 trainee teachers randomly selected from class groups at three Australian universities who completed the questionnaire. H&PE males and females had significantly poorer body image and higher levels of body dissatisfaction, dieting and disordered eating behaviors than non-H&PE participants. H&PE teachers were more likely to over-exercise and have exercise disorders, but very few self-identified problems with objectively assessed excessive exercise behaviors. Lifetime prevalence of eating disorders was 12.5% in H&PE males, 0% in non-H&PE males, 7.7% in H&PE females and 6% in non-H&PE females. Few participants had received any past or current treatment. Of particular concern is the likelihood of the teachers' inappropriate and dangerous attitudes and behaviors being intentionally or unintentionally conveyed to their school students. Those planning school health education, nutrition education and school-based obesity prevention programs should provide suitable training for the teachers involved. Screening and treatment services among teachers may also be helpful in order to detect, treat and educate young teachers about body image, dieting, disordered eating and physical activity practices.

Turning negative into positive: public health mass media campaigns and negative advertising

Literature suggests that ‘negative advertising’ is an effective way to encourage behavioral changes, but it has enjoyed limited use in public health media campaigns. However, as public health increasingly focuses on non-communicable disease prevention, negative advertising could be more widely applied. This analysis considers an illustrative case from tobacco control. Relying on internal tobacco industry documents, surveys and experimental data and drawing from political advocacy literature, we describe tobacco industry and public health research on the American Legacy Foundation’s "truth" campaign, an example of effective negative advertising in the service of public health. The tobacco industry determined that the most effective advertisements run by Legacy’s "truth" campaign were negative advertisements. Although the tobacco industry’s own research suggested that these negative ads identified and effectively reframed the cigarette as a harmful consumer product rather than focusing solely on tobacco companies, Philip Morris accused Legacy of ‘vilifying’ it. Public health researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of the "truth" campaign in reducing smoking initiation. Research on political advocacy demonstrating the value of negative advertising has rarely been used in the development of public health media campaigns, but negative advertising can effectively communicate certain public health messages and serve to counter corporate disease promotion.

Can social cognitive theory constructs explain socio-economic variations in adolescent eating behaviours? A mediation analysis

Adolescents of low socio-economic position (SEP) are less likely than those of higher SEP to consume diets in line with current dietary recommendations. The reasons for these SEP variations remain poorly understood. We investigated the mechanisms underlying socio-economic variations in adolescents’ eating behaviours using a theoretically derived explanatory model. Data were obtained from a community-based sample of 2529 adolescents aged 12–15 years, from 37 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. Adolescents completed a web-based survey assessing their eating behaviours, self-efficacy for healthy eating, perceived importance of nutrition and health, social modelling and support and the availability of foods in the home. Parents provided details of maternal education level, which was used as an indicator of SEP. All social cognitive constructs assessed mediated socio-economic variations in at least one indicator of adolescents’ diet. Cognitive factors were the strongest mediator of socio-economic variations in fruit intakes, while for energy-dense snack foods and fast foods, availability of energy-dense snacks at home tended to be strong mediators. Social cognitive theory provides a useful framework for understanding socio-economic variations in adolescent's diet and might guide public health programmes and policies focusing on improving adolescent nutrition among those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.

A process evaluation of an injury prevention school-based programme for adolescents

A process evaluation provides critical information that can inform the design and implementation of a programme. This study sought to provide examples of how to operationalize a process evaluation of an effective programme (Skills for Preventing Injury in Youth). A comprehensive definition of process evaluation was used which included assessing dose, adherence, quality of process, participant responsiveness and programme differentiation. Dose was assessed through teacher and student ratings as well as independent observations. Reports from an observer were used to assess adherence to programme objectives, the quality of process including interactive delivery and programme differentiation. Participant responsiveness was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively with students providing greater depth to the findings. Findings regarding dose varied and suggested different sources of reports provided supplementary information. The findings also suggested that independent observations are an important tool for process evaluation and identified challenges for programme designers regarding interactive material. Overall, the research indicated that a comprehensive definition of process evaluation could be operationalized and provided an understanding of an application of a process evaluation to an injury prevention programme. Continued development of process evaluations will enable a better understanding of the conduct of interventions and maximize the likely effect of such interventions.

The relationship between the food environment and fruit and vegetable intake of adolescents living in Residential Children's Homes

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between food environments and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of adolescents (n = 246) living in Residential Children's Homes (RCHs) in North and South Carolina, USA. Administrators of 21 RCHs completed the Physical Activity and Dietary Environmental Assessment (PADEA), an instrument assessing FV-related environmental variables of RCHs: (i) policies, (ii) availability, (iii) social environment, (iv) community collaboration and (v) administrative support. Two different approaches using mixed-effects regression models were used to compare FV consumption of adolescents living in RCHs with more conducive food environments compared with adolescents living in RCHs with less conducive environments. Using one approach, PADEA variables were analyzed as categorical data and in the second approach, PADEA variables were analyzed as continuous data. Results indicated greater FV consumption among adolescents residing in RCHs with more conducive food environments compared with less conducive RCHs. Specifically, adolescents living in RCHs with higher levels of administrative support and more FV policies reported greater FV intake compared with adolescents living in RCHs with less support and fewer policies. Food environments are related to adolescents’ dietary behaviors and interventions targeting FV consumption should include strategies to increase administrative support and the development of FV-related policies.

Attitudes and subjective norms: determinants of parents' intentions to reduce childhood fever with medications

Fever is a natural protective response of the host organism. Mild to moderate fevers, up to 40.0°C, have immunological benefits and do not need to be reduced. However, parents regularly reduce fever with medications to prevent perceived harmful outcomes. This study identified the determinants of parents’ intentions to reduce childhood fever with medications. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with 391 Australian parents of children aged between 6 months and 5 years. Recruitment was through advertising, face-to-face and snowball methods. The survey targeted constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior: attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions and previously identified background factors. Structural equation modeling identified 69% of the variance in intentions. The strongest influences were from non-scientifically based attitudes (phobic) (β = 0.55) and subjective norms (husband/partner and doctors) (β = 0.36). Attitudes (β = 0.69) and subjective norms (β = 0.52) were strongly determined by child medication behavior (whether the child took medications easily when febrile) which had a total effect on intentions of β = 0.66. Perceived control, education and number of children had minimal influence on intentions. There is an urgent need for (i) the education of both parents in the benefits of fever and (ii) for doctors to consistently provide parents with evidence-based information.

CEO Of Black AIDS Institute Discusses HIV/AIDS At Newspaper Conference; Group Releases Report Examining HIV Testing In Black Community

Phill Wilson, CEO of the Black AIDS Institute (BAI), last week addressed the annual convention of the National Newspapers Publishers Association where he discussed the reasons blacks "were so slow to grasp the severity of the threat" of HIV, the NNPA/Seattle Medium reports.

Developing World Health Care Solutions Help Some U.S. Programs

The Wall Street Journal examines how some U.S.-based health care programs are improving their treatment capabilities by learning from strategies used in developing countries.

Wellcome Trust To Give $50M To Boost Health Research In Africa

The Wellcome Trust on Thursday pledged 30 million pounds or about $50 million to support health research at more than 50 African institutions, Nature reports (Nayar, 7/1). The money will fund seven partnerships that aim to boost health research capacity in Africa. It was unveiled at the

Recent Releases: TB Plans Compared; Seasonal Hunger; Getting Health Workers In Underserved Places; Antiretroviral Drugs To Prevent HIV

Economic Benefits Of Global Plan To Stop TB Examined A study, recently published in the journal Health Affairs, analyzes the costs associated with the Global Plan to Stop TB and compared them to the cost of sustaining the DOTS treatment program.

A Selection Of Recent Studies And Surveys

Politico Examines Retraction, Resubmission Of Proposed HIV Travel Ban Rule

Politico's blog "Under the Radar" explores HHS' recent decision to revise documents submitted to the Federal Register regarding a change in HIV-related immigration policy.

Rockefeller Foundation Launches $100M 5-Year Initiative To Improve Health Systems In Africa, Asia

The Rockefeller Foundation launched a $100 million, five-year initiative aimed at improving health systems in Asia and Africa, Judith Rodin, the foundation's president, said in a speech on Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya, Xinhua reports.

Homeshare International "Homeshare Transforming The Lives Of People, Communities And Nations"

Homeshare International is bringing together programme coordinators, academics and policy makers from around the world. They offer participants a fantastic opportunity to learn more about running a successful Homeshare programme and also present the growing evidence base for the effectiveness of Homeshare as a policy option. What is Homeshare? Homeshare is increasingly seen as a vital means of supporting people in their own homes.

Cases Of The 2009 H1N1 Influenza A Virus Confirmed In Crawford And Miami Counties

Cases of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus has been confirmed in a Crawford County adult and a Miami County child. These are the first cases identified in both counties. Local health departments are following the guidance provided by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) when dealing with a confirmed case. This includes a thorough case investigation and management of the patient and close contacts.

Poverty And Cultural Loss Are Some Of The Essential Causes Of The Health Gap Between Indigenous And Non-Indigenous People

The second of two reviews in this weekÂ´s The Lancet discusses the primary origins of the health gap. In an effort to understand these inequalities, the authors attempt to give an Indigenous perspective.

Illinois Department Of Public Health Director Offers Tips For A Safe And Healthy Holiday Weekend

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold wants to remind you of some steps you can take to ensure a safe and healthy Fourth of July. Food Safety Picnics and cookouts top the list of summer activities. But remember, special precautions need to be taken when preparing and serving food during warm weather to avoid foodborne illnesses like salmonellosis.

HCL Welcomes Government Proposals For More Flexible NHS, UK

HCL plc, the UK's largest health and social care recruitment agency, said the Government's proposals to reform the NHS by devolving power to frontline professionals and patients will mean a greater need for flexible staffing and more collaboration between the public and private sectors. The Government strategy document "Building Britain's Future", outlines proposals to reduce bureaucracy in the NHS and give patients enforceable rights to high standards of care.

Ad Update: Religious Groups Back Reform, Unions Target Senators' Tax Plans

"Labor unions are showing their increasing displeasure over [health reform] financing proposals that target their healthcare benefits by launching attack ads against key lawmakers, causing the Senate's leading advocate of taxing such benefits to seek an end to one especially aggressive campaign," Congress Daily reports.

Veterans Affairs Provides Underused Monthly Pension Benefit While Medicaid Receives Increased Attention

Medicaid receives increased attention while an underused, special monthly pension benefit called Aid and Attendance can help veterans, and spouses, with assisted living.

The United Nations To Launch "Texting4Health" In Uganda

The UN is launching, on Wednesday the 1st of July 2009, a ten-day initiative intended to reach out to 10,000 people in Uganda through mobile phones to demonstrate the reach and potential use of mobile phones in health information and promotion. The initiative, "Texting4Health" will invite residents of Uganda's second largest commercial city of Jinja to participate in a short health quiz using text messages.

Human Milk And Blood Serum SRMs For Contaminant Measurements Issued By National Institute Of Standards And Technology

Responding to scientists' need to measure organic contaminants in human body fluids, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has recently made four new Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) available for purchase. Developed in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the human milk and serum SRMs have certified levels of contaminants, including flame retardants and pesticides, commonly found in the U.S. population.

Lautenberg Announces Nearly $17 Million For 20 Health Centers Across New Jersey

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced 20 New Jersey health centers will receive $16,987,384 to address facility and equipment needs, increase access to health care for underserved populations, and create construction-related jobs. The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds are being provided under the Economic Recovery Law signed by President Obama in February.

Funding, Restrictions Keep WFP From Reaching Millions Of Hungry North Koreans

The U.N.'s World Food Programme (WFP) said Wednesday a "lack of international funding and new restrictions by North Korea on its staff and where it can operate has left it unable to reach millions of hungry women and children in the impoverished country," AP/Taiwan News reports. According to the WFP, it has received 15 percent of the $504 million it needs to feed 6.

Red Cross Offers Helpful Water Safety Tips As Holiday Weekend Approaches

Now that the warm weather has arrived, there's nothing like swimming to help cool you off on a hot summer day.

University Of Queensland To Provide Ipswich Healthcare Boost With $2.5m Super Clinic, Australia

The University of Queensland will establish a $2.5million GP Super Clinic at Ipswich that will focus on key local health issues. The Australian Government has signed an agreement with the University to develop the Ipswich GP Super Clinic which will have a standard GP service for management of acute presentations complemented by a focus on chronic disease and mental health.

New Jersey Leaders Detail Savings For Health Reform

Saying that the savings from chronic disease prevention and treatment "can fill the funding gap for health care reform," the New Jersey Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) was joined by key state business leaders in urging federal lawmakers to "take the savings and run" with a health care reform bill that works for all Americans. "The savings are there," said former New Jersey Governor James Florio, Co-Chair of the PFCD effort in New Jersey.

Burgess Response To President Obama's Answer To His Question On Medical Liability Reform

During today's White House online town hall on health care, a question was submitted by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), Chairman of the Congressional Health Care Caucus. Following President Obama's response to the question on medical liability reform, Congressman Burgess issued the following statement: "First and foremost, I would like to thank those of you who viewed my YouTube question to President Obama for today's White House online town hall on health care.

No Evidence That WHO-recommended Treatment For Insecticide Poisoning Improves Survival

A study published this week in the open access journal PLoS Medicine finds no evidence to suggest that a controversial antidote recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to treat patients poisoned with highly toxic insecticides improves their chance of survival.

Roche To Offer Developing Countries Discounted Tamiflu

The pharmaceutical company Roche on Wednesday announced a program to help ensure developing countries have access to its antiviral Tamiflu, for "the management of a novel influenza strain defined by the WHO as having significant and current pandemic potential," Reuters reports (Egenter, 7/1).

BMA Reaffirms Opposition To Assisted Suicide, UK

Doctors have reaffirmed their opposition to assisted suicide following a debate at the BMA's Annual Conference in Liverpool yesterday. Doctors rejected calls from Thameside doctor, Kailash Chand to change legislation to allow the choice of an assisted death by patients who are terminally ill and who have mental capacity.

Sightseeing Helicopter Crashes in Hawaii Decrease Following FAA Regulations

An emergency rule intended to reduce the number of deaths and injuries associated with Hawaiian air tours was followed by a 47 percent reduction in sightseeing crashes, according to a new study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy.

Cost-Effective Measures Could Stop Child Pneumonia Deaths

Implementing measures to improve nutrition, indoor air pollution, immunization coverage and the management of pneumonia cases could be cost-effective and significantly reduce child mortality from pneumonia, according to a study led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Researchers found that these strategies combined could reduce total child mortality by 17 percent and could reduce pneumonia deaths by more than 90 percent.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Awards Dean's Medal to David Oshinsky

Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH, dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has awarded the Dean's Medal—the School's highest honor—to historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Oshinsky. The Dean's Medal recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field of public health. Oshinsky was presented with the Dean's Medal on May 20 at the Bloomberg School of Public Health's convocation ceremony in Baltimore, Md. He also presented the convocation keynote address.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Awards Dean's Medal to Richard Horton

Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH, dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has awarded the Dean's Medal—the School's highest honor—to Richard Horton, editor of the renowned medical journal The Lancet. The Dean's Medal recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field of public health.

Study Finds Novel Genetic Risk Factors for Kidney Disease

A team of researchers from the United States, the Netherlands and Iceland has identified three genes containing common mutations that are associated with altered kidney disease risk. One of the discovered genes, the UMOD gene, produces Tamm-Horsfall protein, the most common protein in the urine of healthy individuals. Although the Tamm-Horsfall protein has been known for almost 60 years, its functions are not well understood and its relationship to chronic kidney disease risk was not known previously.

Bacteria Play Role in Preventing Spread of Malaria

Bacteria in the gut of the Anopheles gambiae mosquito inhibit infection of the insect with Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria in humans, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Scientists with the Bloomberg School's Malaria Research Institute found that removing these bacteria, or microbial flora, with antibiotics made the mosquitoes more susceptible to Plasmodium infection because of a lack of immune stimulation.

Celebrity DUI, Missed Opportunity to Educate Public

The recent drinking and driving (DUI) arrests of celebrities—Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Michelle Rodriguez and Lindsay Lohan—yielded widespread news coverage, however, very little of it offered any public health context, according to a new report by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy. Analyzing stories reported by the New York Times, TIME, People and the evening news broadcasts from ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and Fox, researchers found that only 4 percent of the reports made any mention of injury or potential injury from the DUI events. In 2005, alcohol-related crashes resulted in 16,885 deaths in the U.S. The results of the study will be published in the May 2009 issue of Alcohol and Alcoholism and is available on the journal's website in advance of the print publication.

Malaria Immunity Trigger Found for Multiple Mosquito Species

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have for the first time identified a molecular pathway that triggers an immune response in multiple mosquito species capable of stopping the development of Plasmodium falciparum—the parasite that causes malaria in humans.

Indoor Air Pollution Increases Asthma Symptoms

A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University found an association between increasing levels of indoor particulate matter pollution and the severity of asthma symptoms among children. The study, which followed a group of asthmatic children in Baltimore, Md., is among the first to examine the effects of indoor particulate matter pollution.

Researchers Find Essential Proteins for Final Stage of Malaria Transmission Cycle

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute (JHMRI) have identified, for the first time, the molecular components that enable the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium to infect the salivary glands of the Anopheles mosquito—a critical and final stage for spreading malaria to humans.

HIV Transmission Rate Declines in U.S.

Although the number of people living with HIV has increased in the United States over time, the rate at which an infected person passes the virus on to an uninfected person has dropped significantly since the peak of the epidemic, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers found the rate of transmission dropped 88 percent since 1984 and 33 percent since 1997. The study will be published in a letter to JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and is available in advance of publication on the journal&apost;s website.

Johns Hopkins and Uganda's Makerere University to Collaborate on African Health Education Initiative

The Johns Hopkins University has received a $4.97 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to undertake the initial phase of a unique program aimed at improving health outcomes in Uganda and East Africa, in coordination with the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health, and the Makerere University College of Health Sciences in Kampala, Uganda. As part of the initiative, the faculties of medicine, nursing, and public health at both schools will develop an institution-building relationship to further extend the educational capacity of Makerere University, Uganda's largest university.

Transporting Broiler Chickens Could Spread Antibiotic-Resistant Organisms

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have found evidence of a novel pathway for potential human exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria from intensively raised poultry—driving behind the trucks transporting broiler chickens from farm to slaughterhouse. A study by the Hopkins researchers found increased levels of pathogenic bacteria, both susceptible and drug-resistant, on surfaces and in the air inside cars traveling behind trucks that carry broiler chickens. The study is the first to look at exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria from the transportation of poultry. The findings are published in the first issue of the Journal of Infection and Public Health.

Grandparents a Safe Source of Childcare

For working parents, having grandparents as caregivers can cut the risk of childhood injury roughly in half, according to a new study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Compared to organized daycare or care by the mother or other relatives, having a grandmother watch a child was associated with a decreased risk of injury for the child. The study is among the first to examine the relationship between grandparents' care and childhood injury rates.

"Guided Care" Receives Award for Program Innovation

Guided Care, a new model of comprehensive health care for people with multiple chronic conditions, has received the 2008 Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation. The award is given annually by the Archstone Foundation and the Gerontological Health Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA). Guided Care was developed by members of the faculties of the Johns Hopkins University's schools of Public Health, Medicine and Nursing.

U.S. Suicide Rate Increases

The rate of suicide in the United States is increased for the first time in a decade, according to a new report from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy. The increase in the overall suicide rate between 1999 and 2005 was due primarily to an increase in suicides among whites aged 40-64, with white middle-aged women experiencing the largest annual increase. Whereas the overall suicide rate rose 0.7 percent during this time period, the rate among middle-aged white men rose 2.7 percent annually and 3.9 percent among middle-aged women. By contrast, suicide in blacks decreased significantly over the study's time period, and remained stable among Asian and Native Americans. The results are published online at the website of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and will be published in the December print edition of the journal.

Efavirenz-Based Initial Therapies Associated with Better Outcomes in HIV-Infected Adults

A study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that HIV-infected patients taking the antiretroviral drug efavirenz were more likely to adhere to treatment and less likely to experience virologic failure and death compared to patients taking nevirapine. Nevirapine is the most frequently prescribed drug for patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, where the study was conducted.

JHSPH Receives $7.6 Million Grant to Study Disaster Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations

Jonathan Links, PhD, professor and director of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Public Health Preparedness, has been awarded a five-year $7,663,066 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study disaster preparedness risks and needs for vulnerable populations. The grant was part of a commitment by the CDC to establish Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers (PERRCs) at seven universities. The PERRCs will conduct research that will evaluate the structure, capabilities and performance of public health systems for preparedness and emergency response activities.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Expands Collaboration in National Children's Health Study

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has been selected to expand its role as a study center in the National Children's Study. At a briefing today, officials from the National Institutes of Health announced that the Bloomberg School would oversee recruitment of study volunteers from Montgomery County, Md., in collaboration with colleagues from the Johns Hopkins Montgomery County campus and from local health agencies. In addition, the Hopkins-based research team will continue to recruit study participants from neighborhoods in Baltimore County.

Researchers Identify Genes Associated with Increased Gout Risk

Researchers have identified mutations in three genes that are associated with high levels of uric acid in the blood, which is a risk factor for gout. The team developed a genetic risk score composed of the number of uric acid-increasing mutations that each person carries (0 to 6), which was associated with up to a 40-fold increased risk for developing gout when comparing persons at lowest and highest risk. The findings are published in the October 4 issue of The Lancet.