[Epidemiological surveillance and its role in immunization programs].
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Communicable Disease Control↗
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OCTOPUS--a church-based sex education program for teens and parents.
OCTOPUS is the acronym for a rural, church-based sex education program for teens and parents. The tentacles symbolize the agencies and individuals involved in this multi-faceted community outreach program designed to promote "Open Communication Regarding Teenagers Or Parents Understanding of Sexuality." Its purpose was to establish a forum for family discussion within a church setting to enhance communication skills, convey factual information, and cultivate the development of a decision-making process to help parents help their teenagers acquire appropriate morals and values. The OCTOPUS program was a team effort comprised of nurses, health educators, and counselors with experience serving adolescents, ministers who sought to integrate religious views with sex education, and church and community members interested in improving dialogue between parents and teenagers about sexuality. The team developed a comprehensive yet flexible program that could be modified to meet each church's preferences. Generally, the topics were arranged into four two-hour sessions. Presentation methods included a combination of lectures, films, and pamphlets. Large and small group discussions were used for clarification and communication skills development. While the results of this program were not quantifiable, feedback from four churches and one-hundred participants has been highly favorable.
Adolescent↗
A telemedicine transaction model.
The objective of this paper is to propose a telemedicine transaction model and a set of terms to facilitate communication between telemedicine researchers, program directors, and others. The model is described in terms of the sites, personnel, and events involved. Examples of real-time, store-and-forward, and physical referral transactions are depicted using the model. A hierarchy of information classes for collaboration studies is developed based on their relation to the frequency of data collection. Finally, a list of definitions is given to specify the terminology used. The model is suitable for most telemedicine systems, is useful in providing a common language for skilled telemedicine participants, and can be used in comparative evaluation studies.
Communication↗
Indoor radon: a case study in risk communication.
Two key questions have influenced the development and implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program to reduce the public health risks of indoor radon gas; the answers may also apply to other preventive health care programs. First, how can we best communicate risk? Risk communication research indicates that simple message, persuasion, and prescriptive guidance will best encourage citizens to protect themselves from voluntary risks (within the control of the individual), such as radon. However, scientists expect technical information, logical and unemotional appeals, and detailed explanations of uncertainty. An appropriate balance between the persuasive and the technical will encourage public action and assuage the scientific community. Second, what environmental health care problems should we focus on? Public concern with involuntary risks imposed by an external force, such as hazardous waste dumps, drive our environmental health agenda. Consequently, because government decision-makers respond to public perceptions and pressures, which they frequently support, the largest fraction of the government's resources and the most aggressive protection programs are typically reserved for environmental health problems that pose involuntary risks. The experience of the EPA's Radon Program suggests that major gains in public health protection could be achieved through communication that effectively persuades people to accept personal responsibility for preventing voluntary risks, such as radon, and a more informed dialogue between the scientific community and the public concerning national priorities for environmental health protection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Air Pollution, Indoor↗
Condom use in multi-ethnic neighborhoods of San Francisco: the population-based AMEN (AIDS in Multi-Ethnic Neighborhoods) Study.
We examined the prevalence and correlates of condom use in a community-based sample of unmarried heterosexual and gay/bisexual Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics (aged 20 to 44 years) in San Francisco (n = 1229). Only 9% of heterosexual males reported always using condoms, and fewer of those with multiple sexual partners (6%) reported always using condoms compared with those in monogamous relationships (12%). Much higher proportions of gay/bisexual men reported always using condoms (48%). Racial differences in condom use were observed only among women. Sexual communication and the sexual enjoyment value of condoms were consistent correlates of condom use across gender and sexual orientation, while other condom-related beliefs were significant predictors of condom use only for men. In general, condom promotion programs should build sexual communication skills, teach people how to enhance enjoyment with condoms, and reduce psychological barriers to condom acquisition and use.
Adult↗
Minnesota plan for nonsmoking and health: multidisciplinary approach to risk factor control.
In 1981, the Minnesota Department of Health began a long-term program to control risk factors for the major health problems of the State as determined by an expert committee. The methods chosen to initiate programs were social, economic, and epidemiologic background research and a multidisciplinary statewide planning process. Smoking was considered the most important problem. During 1983-84, department staff members analyzed the epidemiology and economics of smoking in Minnesota and reviewed the literature on methods of smoking control. They and a multidisciplinary technical committee prepared a coordinated plan to increase the prevalence of nonsmoking in Minnesota. The 39 recommendations address mass communication and marketing, educational programs in schools, public and private regulation, economic disincentives through taxation, and funding of programs and evaluation of results. The Minnesota Plan for Nonsmoking and Health was released in September 1984. During the first half year, the plan provided material for formation of a coalition of health organizations to promote nonsmoking. In June 1985, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Omnibus Nonsmoking and Disease Prevention Act, which provides $4 million over 2 years for promotion of nonsmoking through education, regulation, and public communications. These intervention activities will be funded by a portion of a 5-cent increase in cigarette excise tax. The foundations have been laid for what may be the most comprehensive statewide nonsmoking program in the United States.
Adolescent↗
RESTORATION OF COMMUNICATION IN THE ELDERLY, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HEMIPLEGIC PATIENTS: INTERIM REPORT ON PROGRAM.
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Aged↗
Tobacco industry youth smoking prevention programs: protecting the industry and hurting tobacco control.
OBJECTIVES: This report describes the history, true goals, and effects of tobacco industry-sponsored youth smoking prevention programs. METHODS: We analyzed previously-secret tobacco industry documents. RESULTS: The industry started these programs in the 1980s to forestall legislation that would restrict industry activities. Industry programs portray smoking as an adult choice and fail to discuss how tobacco advertising promotes smoking or the health dangers of smoking. The industry has used these programs to fight taxes, clean-indoor-air laws, and marketing restrictions worldwide. There is no evidence that these programs decrease smoking among youths. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco industry youth programs do more harm than good for tobacco control. The tobacco industry should not be allowed to run or directly fund youth smoking prevention programs.
Adolescent↗
Family planning in Iran: results of a survey and a mass media campaign.
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Communication↗
Drug education: a primer.
A review of the increasing literature describing various drug education efforts and programs suggests that few of the critical issues presented in this article have been considered in program planning and implementation. Second, research has demonstrated that although drug education programs can increase drug knowledge relatively easily, it is more difficult to modify attitudes; that is, changes in knowledge are not paralleled by changes in attitudes. Third, many, if not most, programs have been found to have no effect upon drug use. A number of programs have reported reduced drug use, while a few others have reported increased drug use. Fourth, there is no evidence that greater knowledge about drugs per se stimulates their use. The fact that drug users know more about drugs than nonusers doesn't mean that knowledge leads to use. It has been suggested (Stuart, 1974) that drug education might stimulate use by (1) providing students with facts that overcome beliefs which inhibit use, (2) changing attitudes that prevent use, (3) encouraging students to think of themselves as potential users by virtue of having been included in drug education programs, and (4) providing specific information which serves to facilitate the use of drugs. One should, of course, consider the obvious possibility that greater knowledge results from use rather than vice versa. Fifth, there appears to be little predictable relationship between values communicated by drug education programs, values held by recipients, value changes and drug use, or abstinence. The same can be said about behavioral styles. When one goes beyond the limitations of drug/drug user stereotypes--to include people and the almost unlimited types and number of available chemical substances which we must learn to adapt to and cope with--one is confronted by the reality that drug education, as currently designed and practiced, may be irrelevant to individual and group needs. Sixth, drug education appears to have little or no effect upon the increased availability of increasing numbers and types of powerful active chemical substance for more and more segments of the population. Drug education is at best a parallel phenomenon to chemical coping, which necessitates drug availability as well as the process of social pharmacology. Seventh, to date drug education has had no predictable effect upon either the mystification or demystification of drugs, drug use, drug users, or abstinence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Health Education↗
Improved assessment of denitrifying, N2-fixing, and total-community bacteria by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using multiple restriction enzymes.
A database of terminal restriction fragments (tRFs) of the 16S rRNA gene was set up utilizing 13 restriction enzymes and 17,327 GenBank sequences. A computer program, termed TReFID, was developed to allow identification of any of these 17,327 sequences by means of polygons generated from the specific tRFs of each bacterium. The TReFID program complements and exceeds in its data content the Web-based phylogenetic assignment tool recently described by A. D. Kent, D. J. Smith, B. J. Benson, and E. W. Triplett (Appl. Environ. Microb. 69:6768-6766, 2003). The method to identify bacteria is different, as is the region of the 16S rRNA gene employed in the present program. For the present communication the software of the tRF profiles has also been extended to allow screening for genes coding for N2 fixation (nifH) and denitrification (nosZ) in any bacterium or environmental sample. A number of controls were performed to test the reliability of the TReFID program. Furthermore, the TReFID program has been shown to permit the analysis of the bacterial population structure of bacteria by means of their 16S rRNA, nifH, and nosZ gene content in an environmental habitat, as exemplified for a sample from a forest soil. The use of the TReFID program reveals that noncultured denitrifying and dinitrogen-fixing bacteria might play a more dominant role in soils than believed hitherto.
Bacteria↗
Implementing communication between Windows PCs and test equipment using RS-232 and Borland C++ Builder.
Modern experiments in the behavioral sciences frequently employ several items of electronic equipment such as computers, monitoring devices, stimulus presentation equipment, and response collection systems. In many cases it would be advantageous for these items to communicate directly with each other. Such communication may facilitate greater automation of experiments (i.e., reduced experimenter influences during the experiment), more precise experiment control (i.e., superior timing and synchronization capabilities of electronic devices), and greater accuracy of data collection (i.e., reduced ambiguity of participant responses). Many electronic experiment devices already provide external interfaces through which communication with other devices can be implemented. The most common is based on the RS-232 protocol, which is also found in all standard PCs. Therefore, Microsoft Windows based computers can be programmed to control experiments by communicating directly with electronic experiment devices. We show how to implement this RS-232 interconnection between devices and a Windows PC using currently available software tools.
Computer Communication Networks↗
[Carry forward the successes].
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Achievement↗
A four-year longitudinal study of the impact on learning structure on dental student lifestyle values.
Acquiring values is an important part in the education of dental students. This study describes how the values of 109 dental students changed over four years in the dental school's learning environment. Data describe the dental school learning environment as highly teacher-centered, in which authority is vested in faculty, in which activities are highly programmed, and in which communication is one-way, teacher-to-student. The data also indicate significant changes in dental students' values after four years in this environment. Learning from and sharing with others, interpersonal communication, and close relationships with others are valued less by students while more value is placed on their own interests and goals.
California↗
Social science research in malaria prevention, management and control in the last two decades: an overview.
In the recent past, considerable progress has been made in understanding how human behavior and social organization, macro- and micro-level economic processes, and health and political systems affect responses to malaria at global, national, community, household, and individual levels. Advances in malaria-related social, behavioral, economic, evaluation, health systems, and policy (social science) research have resulted in improvements in the design and implementation of malaria prevention, management and control (PMC) strategies. Indeed, the past two decades chronicle dramatic advances in the implementation of evidence-based interventions, drawn not only from biomedical but also from social science research. Malaria awareness-raising, advocacy, case management, and prevention efforts have reaped the benefits of social science research and as a result, many programs are implemented and evaluated in a more effective manner than in the past. However, the pace at which findings from social science research are integrated into program and policy implementation is unsatisfactory. Additionally, examples remain of programs that fail to utilize findings from social science research and as a result, achieve minimal results. Furthermore, there is a sizeable body of knowledge that is underutilized and which, if assimilated into programs and policies, could accelerate progress in malaria PMC. Examples include information on meaningful community participation, gender, socio-economic status, and health systems. Regrettably, although social science input is necessary for almost all interventions for malaria management and control, the numbers of scientists working in this area are dismal in most of the key disciplines-medical anthropology; demography; geography and sociology; health economics and health policy; social psychology; social epidemiology; and behavior-change communication. Further, skills of program workers charged with implementation of interventions and strategies at country level are most often inadequate. The Special Program for Research and training in tropical diseases (TDR) and the multi-lateral initiative on malaria (MIM) have remained in the forefront of capacity building for this area of research, but additional efforts are needed to bring more applied social scientists into the fold. Their skills are necessary to ensure that social science findings get to program planners and implementers in a useful form that allows for more rapid and appropriate integration of the results into malaria PMC programs and policies. A re-thinking of the current focus within capacity building efforts is proposed.
Communication↗
Pyramids to success: laying the foundation for professional practice.
Communication plays a vital role in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. Quality patient outcomes and successful collaboration depend upon the healthcare provider's ability to communicate needs. A self-directed work team at a large southeastern hospital used a quality improvement process to design a new series of workshops to enhance staff communication skills. The redesigned programming reduced duplication of education content and built upon a conceptual foundation that cultivates professional development. The workshops feature content such as self-awareness, personal effectiveness, and leadership of others.
Academic Medical Centers↗