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Biomedical subjects

J A Mayer

Publications and source records attributed to J A Mayer.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Promoting low-fat entree choices in a public cafeteria.

Reductions in dietary fat have been recommended in the prevention of coronary heart disease. Because entrees contribute substantially to total meal fat content, we evaluated a cafeteria-based intervention for increasing the purchase rate of low-fat entrees (M = 6.83 g) relative to nonlow-fat entrees (M = 25.59 g). The intervention included a poster listing the benefits of a LF diet and the daily LF entrees (i.e., broiled or baked chicken and fish dishes). During 6 days per phase, food selections (N = 3,264) were monitored by trained observers. The intervention, which cost $80.00, produced significant increases (i.e., from 20% to 35%) in the purchase rate of LF entrees.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Theoretical and practical aspects of receptor hormone assay in breast cancer.

The Authors have discussed the importance of ER/PR assay in breast cancer care. 162 patients were studied. The dextran-coated charcoal technique was used as the standard most readily available. The Authors point out the importance of specimen handling as is shown by time-decay studies, and the differences in ER/PR level at the time of the biopsy and mastectomy cut-section, and its eventual influence to better understanding assay results. The establishment of a center of control between different labs would also help in the development of more exact regimens for cancer care.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reducing ultraviolet radiation exposure in children.

BACKGROUND: Project SUNWISE evaluated the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention in reducing children's ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. METHODS: Across four YMCAs, 48 aquatics classes (N = 169 children, mean age = 7) were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control condition. The 6-week intervention included a UVR reduction curriculum presented at poolside by aquatics instructors and home-based activities for children and their parents. Outcome measures were (a) tanness-associated skin color dimensions assessed with a colorimeter, (b) specific daily solar protection behaviors of children as reported by parents, and (c) general solar protection behaviors. RESULTS: Controlling for intraclass clustering in all analyses, at posttest, no statistically significant between-group differences were found in tanness, daily solar protection scores, or general sunscreen use. The intervention group showed significantly greater general hat use relative to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention failed to impact most of the outcome measures. Supplementing the behavior-focused intervention package with environmental supports may be warranted.

California↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Project Salsa: development and institutionalization of a nutritional health promotion project in a Latino community.

PURPOSE: Project Salsa was a community-based effort seeking to promote health through nutritional behavior change in a Latino community of San Diego, California. The purpose of this article is to report on program factors related to long-term institutionalization of Project Salsa interventions. DESIGN: Project Salsa was a demonstration rather than an experimental project. To ensure maximum sensitivity to the needs and values of the community, Project Salsa began with an extensive health needs assessment, including development of an advisory council, telephone survey, archival research, and key informant interviews. SETTING: Project Salsa interventions took place in San Ysidro, California, located near the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to Tijuana from 1987 to 1992. SUBJECTS: The intervention community had 14,500 residents, of which nearly 83% were Latino. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions included coronary heart disease risk factor screenings, meal preparation classes, newspaper columns, point-of-purchase education, school health and cafeteria programs, and breast-feeding promotion. MEASURES: Institutionalization of intervention components. RESULTS: Two of the interventions, the risk factor screenings and school health programs, are still in operation 4 years after the end of project funding. CONCLUSIONS: Four factors common to institutionalized components are presented in the paper.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of a media-based mammography program.

Reports indicate that only 15%-20% of women 50 years of age and older have had a mammogram. To promote screening mammography, the San Diego County Unit of the American Cancer Society sponsored a community-wide program that featured (1) discounted mammograms through participating clinics, (2) program promotion through television news, and (3) availability of a phone bank for obtaining referrals for mammography. Pre- and postintervention random sample phone surveys indicated that women's intentions to obtain a mammogram increased significantly after the media campaign, particularly in those aware of the program. Women's intentions after the media campaign predicted mammography compliance in the following year. A total of 3,102 women received mammograms directly through the program, with a "suspicious finding" rate of 4%. Participant satisfaction with the program was high.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of co-worker-delivered prompts on breast self-examination frequency.

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of co-worker-delivered reminders to perform breast self-examination (BSE). Before participating in a BSE training workshop, subjects (n = 36) were randomly assigned in pairs (of co-workers who registered together) to one of two experimental conditions: contract or control. Subjects in the contract condition, after discussing specific prompting strategies as part of a "buddy system" in their workshop, contracted to prompt their designated peers at least once a month for six months following the workshop. In addition, subjects in both conditions received mailed prompts monthly. We assessed BSE adherence and prompting behaviors in retrospective interviews. Results indicated that subjects in both conditions significantly increased BSE frequency above pre-workshop levels. However, the magnitude of this increase did not differ between conditions. A process evaluation indicated that the control group pairs were similar to the contract group pairs in their prompting behavior.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Facility-based inreach strategies to promote annual mammograms.

Mammography facilities frequently use inreach strategies, such as reminders, to encourage annual returns by asymptomatic women 50 years of age and older. We describe three pilot studies that systematically compared various strategies. In each study, patients seen for a screening mammogram during a specified period were randomly assigned to a novel reminder condition or a comparison condition one year later, and return rates were monitored. In study 1, return rates for subjects receiving a standard mailed reminder (36%) and subjects receiving a mailed reminder plus incentive (32%) were similar. In study 2, return rates for subjects receiving a mailed reminder (44%) and subjects receiving a phoned reminder (48%) also were similar. However, study 3 focused on a mailed reminder on the referring physician's letterhead sent by the mammography facility versus no reminder, and a significant increase in return rates resulted (47% versus 19%). We present the implications of this pattern of findings and discuss the need for a larger trial of the physician-endorsed reminder.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of a worksite mammography program.

We implemented a one-year program to promote mammography for employees at one campus of a state university system; a second campus served as a comparison site. Measurement cohorts, who were surveyed immediately before and after the intervention, had been randomly selected at each site; all of the subjects had insurance coverage that included mammographic screening. The intervention consisted of print media, on-site workshops, and incentive drawings. Results indicated that mammography rates increased significantly at both sites, for both those 40-49 years of age and for those > or = 50 years of age. The rate increases for the 40- to 49-year-old age group at the intervention and control sites were 17.6% and 13.6%, respectively, and, for the > or = 50-year-old age group, 11.9% and 6.3%. However, the differential changes in rates between the sites were not significant for either age category. The intervention was perceived positively by the intervention site cohort, and participation in the various components was encouraging. We present suggestions for future research on this topic.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A survey of recreational sun exposure of residents of San Diego, California.

The incidence of skin cancer in San Diego is one of the highest in the nation. Research has documented that excessive unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation over time significantly increases a person's risk for developing various types of skin cancer. Our study investigated the amount of sun exposure and the practice of sun protection among San Diegans and examined factors thought to be associated with these behaviors. In April 1994, a random sample of 864 San Diego residents was surveyed by telephone. Because most survey questions specifically asked about sun exposure and sun protection when tanning versus recreating, the analyses were presented separately for recreators (i.e., those who spent time in the sun during the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm for recreation last summer; n = 786) and tanners (i.e., those who spent at least 10% of their time in the sun to get a tan last summer; n = 464), a subset of recreators. Study results indicated that on average, 27% of the tanners' time in the sun last summer was spent getting a tan, and tanners reported using sunscreen about 50% of the time on both their face and body. In terms of sun protection while recreating, survey respondents reported using sunscreen on their face approximately 40% of the time compared to approximately 30% of the time on their body. Correlates of sun exposure and sun protection for both tanners and recreators included demographic characteristics, susceptibility factors, attitudes, and knowledge. The findings from this study support the need for education on skin cancer prevention. The practical implications of these findings are discussed in terms of appropriate community skin cancer prevention interventions. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): skin cancer, sunlight, behavior.

Adolescent↗