Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “FLORIDA”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 901 records · Page 50Linked to original sources

Stakeholder analysis of Florida farmworker housing.

Farmworkers, farmworker advocates, state and federal policy-makers, and researchers all consider adequate housing as central to successful migration, community building, and quality of life, including good health, among farmworkers. This study analyzes results from interviews and focus groups with stakeholders involved in Florida farmworker housing conducted with the goal of providing recommendations for future farmworker housing policy. These recommendations include considering housing needs within a life continuum and understanding how wages and housing are interconnected. The concurring perspectives of stakeholders can be considered as building blocks in developing more effective state and local housing policy.

Adult↗

MEDLINE end-user survey: the University of Florida experience.

The University of Florida Health Science Center Library (UF-HSCL) surveyed MEDLINE end-user activities of the faculty from the six colleges which the UF-HSCL serves. A questionnaire was developed and sent to all faculty members. The Basic SAS program was used to analyze the collected data. This survey was intended to identify the users, the reasons for faculty members not being end users, the purpose for searching MEDLINE, the information retrieval methods, the level of end-user satisfaction, and the librarian's role in information retrieval activities. Many findings from this survey were in agreement with those of the 1988 study by the National Library of Medicine.

Attitude to Computers↗

The Southeast Florida AIDS Information Network: a community outreach, specialized information system.

In the years ahead, end-user instruction will expand from the current models of curriculum- and institution-based programs for teaching MEDLINE to include outreach programs to unaffiliated users for teaching specialized database searching. The Southeast Florida AIDS Information Network (SEFAIN), a community-based information system targeting health care providers in a tri-county area, is an example of this new model. The components of SEFAIN and the results of the outreach and educational programs are presented. The advantages of these programs to both providers and librarians are highlighted. Comparisons are drawn between end users who take specialized information courses and those who take MEDLINE courses or no courses. These data will assist librarians in the justification and development of specialized information systems.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Fluorescent tracer evaluation of chemical protective clothing during pesticide applications in central Florida citrus groves.

Chemical protective clothing (CPC) is often recommended as a method of exposure mitigation among pesticide applicators. This study evaluated four CPC regimens (cotton work shirts and work pants, cotton/polyester coveralls, and two non-woven garments) during 33 airblast applications of the organophosphorus insecticide ethion in central Florida citrus groves. CPC performance was determined by measurement of fluorescent tracer deposition on skin surfaces beneath garments with a video imaging analysis instrument (VITAE system), and by alpha-cellulose patches placed outside and beneath the garments. Non-woven coveralls allowed significantly greater exposure than did traditional woven garments, primarily because of design factors (e.g., large sleeve and neck openings). The greatest exposure occurred on the forearms beneath the non-woven garments. Fabric penetration was detected for all test garments; 5% to 7% of the ethion measured outside the garments was found beneath the garments. The clothing materials tested were not chemically resistant under these field conditions. Exposurepathways that would probably be undetected by the patch technique were characterized effectively with fluorescent tracers and video imaging analysis. However, the patch technique was more sensitive in detecting fabric penetration. CPC garments have been improved since this study was conducted, but performance testing under field conditions is not widespread. Workers conducting airblast applications would be better protected by closed cab systems or any technology that places an effective barrier between the worker and the pesticide spray.

Aerosols↗

Consumer and surrogate preferences for a cash option versus traditional services: Florida adults with developmental disabilities.

As long-term service expenditures have risen, policymakers have sought ways to control costs while maintaining consumer satisfaction. Concurrently, there is increasing interest in the disability community in consumer direction. The Cash and Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation (CCDE) seeks to increase consumer direction and control costs by offering a cash allowance and information services to persons with disabilities, enabling them to purchase needed assistance. Because the disability community is composed of diverse subgroups, needs of these consumer communities must be assessed individually. Results from a telephone survey conducted to assess the interest in a cash option for Florida adults with developmental disabilities is presented, the three-state CCDE described, how survey findings can inform consumer information efforts discussed, and policy issues highlighted.

Adult↗

The effectiveness of Florida's "Improved Pregnancy Outcome" program.

The development of a national program to assure access to prenatal care for all women, regardless of income, is believed to be an effective means of reducing low birthweight and neonatal mortality in the U.S. Yet scarce empirical evidence concerning the effectiveness of large-scale prenatal care programs is available. This paper summarizes an evaluation of a statewide public prenatal care program which grew out of the federal Improved Pregnancy Outcome (IPO) project. Using linked birth and infant death-certificate data, and IPO program records from a four-year period (1985-1988), this study compares the neonatal mortality rates of participants of Florida's IPO program with those of a matched comparison group. The results indicate an inverse relationship between IPO participation and the risk of neonatal mortality in a low-income population. These findings suggest that large-scale prenatal care programs can be effective in improving birth outcomes.

Adolescent↗

Uncompensated care and hospital conversions in Florida.

Hospital conversions to for-profit ownership have prompted concern about continuing access to care for the poor or uninsured. This DataWatch presents an analysis of the rate of uncompensated care provided by Florida hospitals before and after converting to for-profit ownership. Uncompensated care declined greatly in the converting public hospitals, which had a significant commitment to uncompensated care before conversion. Among converting nonprofit hospitals, uncompensated care levels were low before conversion and did not change following conversion. The study suggests that policymakers should assess the risk entailed in a conversion by considering the hospital's historic mission and its current role in the community.

Florida↗

Effects of the malpractice crisis on access to and incidence of high-risk procedures: evidence from Florida.

There is much debate on how recent increases in medical malpractice premiums affect patients' access to care. We examined activity levels of neurosurgeons and obstetricians, as well as the incidence of high-risk surgery and patients' travel times in Florida, where malpractice insurance premiums have soared since 2000. Compared with 1997-2000, we found that during 2000-2003, many neurosurgeons cut back their volume of brain surgeries and that craniotomy patients traveled longer for care without any significant change in the overall incidence of craniotomies. Women undergoing high-risk deliveries did not see increases in travel times.

Female↗

Laparoscopic surgery for morbid obesity: 1,001 consecutive bariatric operations performed at The Bariatric Institute, Cleveland Clinic Florida.

BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity is an epidemic in America. This series evaluates the safety and efficacy in the first 1,001 laparoscopic bariatric operations performed at The Bariatric Institute, Cleveland Clinic Florida. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted examining all patients undergoing a primary bariatric procedure (either laparoscopic gastric bypass or laparoscopic gastric banding) from July 2000 to December 2003. RESULTS: 2 surgeons performed 1,001 laparoscopic bariatric operations. Average age was 47 (19-75) years, average BMI was 55.6 (35-97) kg/m2, and average ASA class was III. Excess weight loss was 51% at 6 months, 73.4% at 1 year for the gastric bypass group and 54% at 1 year for the laparoscopic banding group. The overall complication rate was 31.8% (12.4% major and 19.4% minor) in the gastric bypass group and 13% in the laparoscopic banding group. There was no postoperative mortality. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is feasible and safe for weight loss. Results obtained have been comparable to those reported for the open approach for weight loss, with a similar major morbidity rate and an improved mortality rate.

Adult↗

Periodontal probe use in general practice in Florida.

Use of the periodontal probe in 134 Florida dental practices was studied. Results indicated that 62% of the practices performed a complete recorded periodontal probing for new patients. Recall patients received a complete recorded periodontal probing in 57% of the practices at a mean frequency of 12.7 months. Selected site probing was performed in 22% of the offices as part of the new patient examination, and in 34% of the offices as part of the recall examination. In the examinations in 57% of the practices, changes in pocket depths were detected that could suggest changes in connective tissue levels.

Dental Hygienists↗

Root caries and root defects in urban and rural adults: the Florida Dental Care Study.

As part of the Florida Dental Care Study--a longitudinal study of risk factors for changes in dental health--the authors examined and interviewed 873 adults aged 45 years and older. During the examination, clinicians noted the number of teeth present and the participant's dental condition, including presence of root caries and fillings or noncarious defects on the roots. The interview was conducted to collect demographic and other information such as the adults' perceptions about dental care and their perceptions about their own dental health. The authors found that men, African-Americans, adults living in rural areas and those living in poverty were significantly more likely to have root caries than other participants. The data reported in this article will serve as baseline information for subsequent research.

Aged↗

Perceived social status, language and identified dental home among Hispanics in Florida.

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted a study to examine the extent to which perceived social status in communities and in U.S. society in general and primary language are associated with having a dental home among four Hispanic groups. METHODS: The authors used random-digit-dialing technology to select a probability sample of Hispanic adults in Miami-Dade County, Fla., for a telephone-based survey. Trained interviewers administered the pretested survey instrument in Spanish or English. The authors used bivariate contingency tables and multiple logistic regression modeling to analyze the data. RESULTS: Eight hundred ten adults participated, and their nationality groups were as follows: Cuba (n = 450), Nicaragua (n = 139), Colombia (n = 132) and Puerto Rico (n = 89). After controlling for nationality group, the authors found that respondents who perceived themselves to be at a higher social status in the United States than in their own community were significantly more likely to have a dental home; those who reported having a higher community status were significantly less likely to have a dental home compared with respondents who perceived their national and community social status to be equal. Respondents who primarily spoke a language other than English at home were less likely than those who primarily spoke English to have a dental home. Female respondents were more likely than male respondents to have a dental home. Respondents with dental insurance were more likely to have a dental home than were those without dental insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived social status and acculturation may influence whether Hispanics have a dental home. However, because of the sample design, the findings may not be generalizable to all Hispanic populations in Florida or the United States. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Reducing disparities in oral health status and in use of dental services among Hispanics relative to non-Hispanic whites may require attention to cultural factors such as language, community structure and immigrants' degree of acculturation.

Acculturation↗

Sex, drugs, and the spread of HIV/AIDS in Belle Glade, Florida.

Belle Glade, Florida, an agricultural community in the heart of the state's vegetable and sugar cane production areas, has the highest cumulative per capita incidence of AIDS in the United States. A risk reduction intervention program was introduced to lessen unsafe AIDS-related behaviors and to generate data on the epidemiology of HIV infection. Initial attention focused on individuals who were believed to be at the core of the transmission pattern, injection drug users and their sexual partners. We found, however, that injection drug use was much less widespread than anticipated. Results suggested that the primary mode of HIV transmission is heterosexual intercourse-mediated by drug taking (particularly crack smoking) and a flourishing sex industry-a finding that is corroborated by the increased and disproportionate rate of heterosexual AIDS in Belle Glade. The prevalence and types of risk behaviors engaged in would not have been completely explained without the use of ethnographic methods including observation of, and lengthy interviews with, the populations at risk.

Adult↗

Crowd out: evidence from the Florida Healthy Kids Program.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of children who had insurance coverage in the 12 months preceding enrollment in a state-subsidized program; the percentage of parents who had access to employer-based family coverage; and the cost of the families' share of the premium per month. METHODS: We randomly selected 930 families whose children were enrolled in the Florida Healthy Kids Program for a period of between 1 and 3 months and conducted telephone interviews with them in 1998 about their children's insurance coverage before program entry and their access to employer-based family coverage. There were 653 families in the final sample. RESULTS: Only 5% of the children had employer-based coverage before program enrollment. However, 26% had access to family coverage through their employers with the family share of the premiums representing on average 13% of their incomes. Access to employer-based coverage varied significantly by family income. CONCLUSIONS: Throughout the development of the State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation, policy analysts expressed concern that families may crowd out or substitute a subsidized state plan for employer-based coverage. This substitution could result in fewer improvements in access to care and health status than were anticipated, because families are simply moving to a different form of health insurance. There is some degree of crowd out in the Healthy Kids Program. The economic burden to near-poor families to purchase employer-based coverage is significant. Some degree of substitution may need to be tolerated to ensure that children receive needed health insurance.

Child↗

Insect infestation of stored oats in Florida and field evaluation of a device for counting insects electronically.

Automated methods of monitoring stored grain for insect pests will contribute to early detection and aid in management of pest problems. An insect population infesting stored oats at a seed processing plant in north-central Florida was studied to test a device for counting insects electronically (Electronic Grain Probe Insect Counter, EGPIC), and to characterize the storage environment. The device counts insects as they fall through an infrared beam incorporated into a modified grain probe (pitfall) trap and transmits the counts to a computer for accumulation and storage. Eight traps were inserted into the surface of the grain bulk, and the insects trapped were identified and counted manually at weekly intervals. Grain temperature and moisture content also were recorded for each trap location. Manual and automatic counts were compared to estimate error in the EGPIC system. Both over- and undercounting occurred, and errors ranged from -79.4 to 82.4%. The mean absolute value of error (+/- SE) was 31.7% (+/- 4.3). At least 31 species, or higher taxa, were detected, but the psocid Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein) and the foreign grain beetle, Ahasverus advena (Waltl), accounted for 88% of the captured insects. Species diversity, phenology, and spatial distribution are presented, as well as temporal and spatial distribution of grain temperature and moisture content. The data sets generated will find application in population modeling and development of integrated pest management systems for stored grain.

Animals↗

Evaluation of predatory mites and Acramite for control of twospotted spider mites in strawberries in north central Florida.

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted from 2003 to 2005 to determine the effectiveness of two predatory mite species, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), and a reduced-risk miticide, Acramite 50 WP (bifenazate), for control of twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, in strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne). In greenhouse tests, three treatments consisting of releases of P. persimilis, N. californicus, and an untreated control were evaluated. Both species of predatory mites significantly reduced twospotted spider mite numbers below those found in the control during the first 3 wk of evaluation. However, during week 4, twospotted spider mite numbers on the plants treated with P. persimilis increased and did not differ significantly from the control. Field studies used releases of P. persimilis and N. californicus, applications of Acramite, and untreated control plots. Both N. californicus and P. persimilis significantly reduced populations of twospotted spider mite below numbers recorded in the control plots. During the 2003-2004 field season P. persimilis took longer than N. californicus to bring the twospotted spider mite population under control (< 10 mites per leaflet). Acramite was effective in reducing twospotted spider mite populations below 10 mites per leaflet during the 2003-2004 field season but not during the 2004-2005 field season, possibly because of a late application. These findings indicate that N. californicus releases and properly timed Acramite applications are promising options for twospotted spider mite control in strawberries for growers in north Florida and other areas of the southeast.

Animals↗

Habitat segregation of mosquito arbovirus vectors in south Florida.

Oviposition traps set in rural to urban environments in three south Florida counties were colonized predominantly by Culex quinquefasciatus Say (35.1%), Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (34.5%), Aedes aegypti (L.) (23.8%), and Culex nigripalpus Theobald (6.6%) during 1 yr of monthly sampling. Significant differences were detected among counties for abundances of Cx. quinquefasciatus and for percentage composition of that species and Ae. albopictus. Aerial images of habitats around each collection site were digitized, and coverages by each of 16 habitat variables were recorded. Abundances ofAe. aegypti were positively related to habitat variables associated with urbanization and negatively correlated to those reflecting rural characteristics. Multiple regression models of habitat selection explained similar proportions of variances in abundance of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, but signs of significant variables were opposite for these two species. No consistent trends of habitat associations were observed among counties for the two Culex spp. Co-occurrences of the four species in individual traps depended on container type (tub versus cup), and, for Aedes spp. with Culex spp., county. The results underscore the importance of scale in evaluating habitat selection and the utility of quantifiable habitat characteristics of intermediate scale to identify site characteristics favored by the arboviral vectors Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus.

Aedes↗

West Nile virus infection rates in Culex nigripalpus (Diptera: Culicidae) do not reflect transmission rates in Florida.

We describe the first documented field transmission of West Nile (WN) virus by a North American mosquito. WN was first detected in northern Florida in 2001. An intensive mosquito trapping and surveillance program was conducted in this region for four nights to assess mosquito transmission of WN. Four mosquito traps, each with a single sentinel chicken, were placed at five different locations on each of four nights. A total of 11,948 mosquitoes was collected, and 14 mosquito pools were found to contain WN, giving a minimum infection rate between 1.08 and 7.54 per 1,000. Only one of the 80 sentinel chickens seroconverted to WN, demonstrating a single mosquito transmission event during the study and a mosquito transmission rate of between 0.8 and 1 per 1,000. Culex nigripalpus Theobald was responsible for WN transmission to the sentinel chicken, although both Cx. nigripalpus and Culex quinquefasciatus Say were found infected with WN. Mosquito transmission rates are reported in this study for the first time for a WN outbreak. This information is essential to determine risk of human and animal infection.

Animals↗