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Health Education Research - current issue
Moderators and mediators of behaviour change in a lifestyle program for treated hypertensives: a randomized controlled trial (ADAPT)
Burke, V., Beilin, L. J., Cutt, H. E., Mansour, J., Mori, T. A. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0000
We aimed to examine moderators and mediators of behaviour change in a cognitive lifestyle program for drug-treated overweight hypertensives in Perth, Australia. We collected data at baseline, 4 months (post-intervention) and 1-year follow-up in a randomized controlled trial of a program that focused on weight loss, diet, and exercise. Mediation analysis used regression models that estimate indirect effects with bootstrapped confidence limits. Outcomes examined were saturated fat intake (% energy) and physical activity (hours per week). In total, 90/118 individuals randomized to usual care and 102/123 to the program-completed follow-up. Sex was a moderator of response post-intervention for diet and physical activity, with a greater response among women with usual care and among men with the program. Change in self-efficacy was a mediator of dietary change post-intervention [effect size (ES) –0.055, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.125, –0.005] and at follow-up (ES 0.054, 95% CI –0.127, –0.005), and in physical activity post-intervention (ES 0.059, 95% CI 0.003, 0.147). These findings highlight different responses of men and women to the program, and the importance of self-efficacy as a mediator. Mediators for physical activity in the longer term should be investigated in other models, with appropriate cognitive measurements, in future trials.
Storage of household firearms: an examination of the attitudes and beliefs of married women with children
Johnson, R. M., Runyan, C. W., Coyne-Beasley, T., Lewis, M. A., Bowling, J. M. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0000
Although safe firearm storage is a promising injury prevention strategy, many parents do not keep their firearms unloaded and locked up. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guiding conceptual framework, this study examines factors associated with safe storage among married women with children and who have firearms in their homes. Data come from a national telephone survey (n = 185). We examined beliefs about defensive firearm use, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and firearm storage practices. A Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test was conducted to assess associations between psychosocial factors and firearm storage practices. Women were highly motivated to keep firearms stored safely. Those reporting safe storage practices had more favorable attitudes, more supportive subjective norms and higher perceptions of behavioral control than those without safe storage. One-fourth believed a firearm would prevent a family member from being hurt in case of a break-in, 58% believed a firearm could scare off a burglar. Some 63% said they leave decisions about firearm storage to their husbands. Women were highly motivated to store firearms safely as evidenced by favorable attitudes, supportive subjective norms and high perceptions of behavioral control. This was especially true for those reporting safer storage practices.
Will patients agree to have their literacy skills assessed in clinical practice?
Ryan, J. G., Leguen, F., Weiss, B. D., Albury, S., Jennings, T., Velez, F., Salibi, N. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0000
If health providers are aware of their patients' literacy skills, they can more appropriately tailor their communication with patients. Few providers, however, assess patient's literacy skills for fear of offending patients, but no research has ever determined if patients object to such assessments. Our objectives were to determine the percentage of patients seen for routine health care that would agree to undergo literacy assessment and if satisfaction of patients differs in practices that perform literacy assessments versus practices that do not. We randomized 20 private and public medical practices to an intervention group that implemented literacy assessments with the Newest Vital Sign and a control group that did not. For intervention practices, we noted the percentage of patients agreeing to undergo the assessment. For both intervention and control practices, we assessed patient satisfaction. Of 289 patients asked to undergo literacy assessment in the intervention practices, 284 (98.3%) agreed to do so, including 125 (46.1%) with low or possibly low literacy skills. There was no difference in satisfaction between the intervention group and the control group. We conclude that patients are willing to undergo literacy assessments during routine office visits and performing such assessments does not decrease patient satisfaction.
Public Health News From Medical News Today
Many Not-For-Profit Hospitals Have Credit Ratings Downgraded This Year, Report Finds
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0700
Downgrades in the credit ratings of U.S. not-for-profit health care systems and hospitals exceeded upgrades by a 2-to-1 ratio this year for the first time since 2003, according to a report released on Monday by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.
Opinion Piece Discusses Need For Stronger Privacy Measures For Health Records
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act notification form received by patients during doctor visits "offers no control over who sees your information and instead just tells you about some of the entities that can access your information, rather than asking for your permission," according to a
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Feature Highlights Recent Blog Entries
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700
While mainstream news coverage is still a primary source of information for the latest in policy debates and the health care marketplace, online blogs have become a significant part of the media landscape, often presenting new perspectives on policy issues and drawing attention to under-reported topics.
Public Health News Headlines from Johns Hopkins
Malaria Researchers Identify New Mosquito Virus
tmparson@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0400
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health?s Malaria Research Institute have identified a previously unknown virus that is infectious to Anopheles gambiae?the mosquito primarily responsible for transmitting malaria. According to the researchers, the discovered virus could one day be used to pass on new genetic information to An. gambiae mosquitoes as part of a strategy to control malaria, which kills over one million people worldwide each year.
De Beers African Health Scholars Named
nwoodwri@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0400
De Beers African Health Scholars Named
Older Patients More Satisfied with Care When Accompanied to Medical Visits
paffairs@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:30:00 -0400
A study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that 38 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are accompanied to routine medical visits. These accompanied beneficiaries tended to be older, sicker and less educated but more satisfied with their health care provider compared to unaccompanied patients. The study is published in the July 14 edition of Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Moderators and mediators of behaviour change in a lifestyle program for treated hypertensives: a randomized controlled trial (ADAPT)
Burke, V., Beilin, L. J., Cutt, H. E., Mansour, J., Mori, T. A. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0000
We aimed to examine moderators and mediators of behaviour change in a cognitive lifestyle program for drug-treated overweight hypertensives in Perth, Australia. We collected data at baseline, 4 months (post-intervention) and 1-year follow-up in a randomized controlled trial of a program that focused on weight loss, diet, and exercise. Mediation analysis used regression models that estimate indirect effects with bootstrapped confidence limits. Outcomes examined were saturated fat intake (% energy) and physical activity (hours per week). In total, 90/118 individuals randomized to usual care and 102/123 to the program-completed follow-up. Sex was a moderator of response post-intervention for diet and physical activity, with a greater response among women with usual care and among men with the program. Change in self-efficacy was a mediator of dietary change post-intervention [effect size (ES) –0.055, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.125, –0.005] and at follow-up (ES 0.054, 95% CI –0.127, –0.005), and in physical activity post-intervention (ES 0.059, 95% CI 0.003, 0.147). These findings highlight different responses of men and women to the program, and the importance of self-efficacy as a mediator. Mediators for physical activity in the longer term should be investigated in other models, with appropriate cognitive measurements, in future trials.
Storage of household firearms: an examination of the attitudes and beliefs of married women with children
Johnson, R. M., Runyan, C. W., Coyne-Beasley, T., Lewis, M. A., Bowling, J. M. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0000
Although safe firearm storage is a promising injury prevention strategy, many parents do not keep their firearms unloaded and locked up. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guiding conceptual framework, this study examines factors associated with safe storage among married women with children and who have firearms in their homes. Data come from a national telephone survey (n = 185). We examined beliefs about defensive firearm use, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and firearm storage practices. A Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test was conducted to assess associations between psychosocial factors and firearm storage practices. Women were highly motivated to keep firearms stored safely. Those reporting safe storage practices had more favorable attitudes, more supportive subjective norms and higher perceptions of behavioral control than those without safe storage. One-fourth believed a firearm would prevent a family member from being hurt in case of a break-in, 58% believed a firearm could scare off a burglar. Some 63% said they leave decisions about firearm storage to their husbands. Women were highly motivated to store firearms safely as evidenced by favorable attitudes, supportive subjective norms and high perceptions of behavioral control. This was especially true for those reporting safer storage practices.
Will patients agree to have their literacy skills assessed in clinical practice?
Ryan, J. G., Leguen, F., Weiss, B. D., Albury, S., Jennings, T., Velez, F., Salibi, N. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0000
If health providers are aware of their patients' literacy skills, they can more appropriately tailor their communication with patients. Few providers, however, assess patient's literacy skills for fear of offending patients, but no research has ever determined if patients object to such assessments. Our objectives were to determine the percentage of patients seen for routine health care that would agree to undergo literacy assessment and if satisfaction of patients differs in practices that perform literacy assessments versus practices that do not. We randomized 20 private and public medical practices to an intervention group that implemented literacy assessments with the Newest Vital Sign and a control group that did not. For intervention practices, we noted the percentage of patients agreeing to undergo the assessment. For both intervention and control practices, we assessed patient satisfaction. Of 289 patients asked to undergo literacy assessment in the intervention practices, 284 (98.3%) agreed to do so, including 125 (46.1%) with low or possibly low literacy skills. There was no difference in satisfaction between the intervention group and the control group. We conclude that patients are willing to undergo literacy assessments during routine office visits and performing such assessments does not decrease patient satisfaction.
Public Health News From Medical News Today
Many Not-For-Profit Hospitals Have Credit Ratings Downgraded This Year, Report Finds
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0700
Downgrades in the credit ratings of U.S. not-for-profit health care systems and hospitals exceeded upgrades by a 2-to-1 ratio this year for the first time since 2003, according to a report released on Monday by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.
Opinion Piece Discusses Need For Stronger Privacy Measures For Health Records
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act notification form received by patients during doctor visits "offers no control over who sees your information and instead just tells you about some of the entities that can access your information, rather than asking for your permission," according to a
Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Feature Highlights Recent Blog Entries
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700
While mainstream news coverage is still a primary source of information for the latest in policy debates and the health care marketplace, online blogs have become a significant part of the media landscape, often presenting new perspectives on policy issues and drawing attention to under-reported topics.
Public Health News Headlines from Johns Hopkins
Malaria Researchers Identify New Mosquito Virus
tmparson@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0400
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health?s Malaria Research Institute have identified a previously unknown virus that is infectious to Anopheles gambiae?the mosquito primarily responsible for transmitting malaria. According to the researchers, the discovered virus could one day be used to pass on new genetic information to An. gambiae mosquitoes as part of a strategy to control malaria, which kills over one million people worldwide each year.
De Beers African Health Scholars Named
nwoodwri@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0400
De Beers African Health Scholars Named
Older Patients More Satisfied with Care When Accompanied to Medical Visits
paffairs@jhsph.edu (Office of Communications) Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:30:00 -0400
A study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that 38 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are accompanied to routine medical visits. These accompanied beneficiaries tended to be older, sicker and less educated but more satisfied with their health care provider compared to unaccompanied patients. The study is published in the July 14 edition of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Sites:
ALPHA - Alaska Public Health Association: Public Health professionals in Alaska use the combined strength of scientific knowledge, professional skill, individual commitment, community support, and political will to enable people to achieve their potential to live full, active lives.American Association of Poison Control Centers: Organization of poison centers and interested individuals which provides a forum to promote the reduction of morbidity and mortality from poisonings through public and professional education and scientific research.
American College of Preventive Medicine: Professional society of US physicians focused on disease prevention and health promotion. Provides information about continuing education and about medical and public policy issues.
American Council on Science and Health: ACSH Homepage - description
American Heart Association: Learn more about the American Heart Association's efforts to reduce death caused by cardiovascular disease.
American Public Health Association: Professional association dedicated to improving the public's health through education and advocacy.
American Public Human Services Association: The American Public Human Services Association, founded in 1930, is a nonprofit, bipartisan organization of state and local human service agencies and individuals who work in or are interested in public human service programs.
APHL - Association of Public Health Laboratories: The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to safeguard the public's health by strengthening public health laboratories in the United States and across the world. In collaboration with members, APHL advances laboratory systems and practices, and promotes policies that support heal...
Arizona Public Health Association: The mission of the Association is to assist in the protection and promotion of personal and environmental health. Publications and information on public health programs available.
Association for the Promotion of Comprehensive Family Health: Forefront: A global network of human rights defenders ,
Association of Local Public Health Agencies: alPHa
Association of Schools of Public Health: National organization representing accredited schools of public health. Links to accredited schools, grants and funding, employment and public health resources.
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials: ASTHO
Benton Franklin Health Department: Public health protection, prevention, promotion, information services for Benton and Franklin counties, in southeast Washington state.
Boston Public Health Commission: An independent public agency comprised of a variety of preventive health services.
Bureau of Primary Health Care: The BPHC assures that underserved and vulnerable people get the health care they need. It is one of four Bureaus of the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Cabarrus Health Alliance, Cabarrus County Public Health: Providing information of the numerous services of the Public Health Authority of Cabarrus County, Kannapolis, North Carolina.
California Public Health Association - North: California Public Health Association - North is an affiliate of the American Public Health Association and works to improve the Public's Health in the State of California.
Canadian Consortium for Health Promotion Research: Enhances health promotion in Canada by linking research, capacity development and information dissemination.
Center For Health Administration Studies - CHAS: Conducts interdisciplinary studies of local, national, and international health services delivery. Affiliate of the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration.
Center for Health and the Global Environment: Center's mission is to understand the human health consequences of global environmental change, and to promote a wider understanding of these consequences among physicians, scientists, policy-makers, the media, and the general public.
Central Michigan District Health Department: Serving Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola and Roscommon counties.
Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health: Public health services described include immunizations, STD/HIV clinic, home care, senior health clinic, environmental health, lead poisoning, radon within 14-county service area in north Iowa.
Community and Public Health Administration: Works to assure that Core Public Health Functions and Essential Public Health Services are provided to everyone in Maryland.
CPHA - Colorado Public Health Association: An Association of professionals working together to assure healthy people and healthy places in Colorado.
Department of Public Health and Environment -Colorado: Regulates public health and environmental protection services for the entire state.
Doctors Without Borders: Website of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in almost 70 countries.
European Observatory on Health Care Systems: Promotes health policy-making through analysis of the dynamics of health care systems in Europe, in partnership with WHO.
Food and Drug Administration: Home Page for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Georgia Division of Public Health: The Georgia Division of Public health is the central source for public health information in Georgia, with statistics, reports, local services, news, and more.
Georgia Public Health Association: A non-profit corporation organized for the purpose of promoting the public and personal health of the citizens of Georgia.
HAZnet: An online news/forum for Health Action Zone or HAZ partnership between NHS, local authority, voluntary, and business agencies to share ideas in reducing health inequality in England.
Health and Human Development Programs: Health and Human Development Programs is a division of EDC, a nonprofit research and development organization. HHD programs foster healthy lifestyles and create healthy and safe environments where people live, learn, and work. In the United States and internationally, we promote health and just...
Henry and Stark County Health Departments: Promoting public health of the counties with programs in environmental health, communicable disease, home health, health and wellness promotion, and maternal and child health. Based in Kewanee, IL.
Illinois Public Health Association: Working with other allied organizations and groups to improve the health status of Illinois residents, the quality of the environment, accessibility to basic health services and the capabilities of the public health system.
Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs: The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs (CCP) is a pioneer in the field of strategic, research-based communication for behavior change and health promotion that has helped transform the theory and practice of public health.
Kentucky Cabinet for Health Services: The state government agency that administers programs to promote the mental and physical health of Kentuckians.
LA County Public Health Programs and Services: Protects health, prevents disease, and promotes health and well-being for all persons in Los Angeles County.
Louisiana Public Health Association: (LPHA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote health in the State of Louisiana.
Management Sciences for Health (MSH): Management Sciences for Health is a private, nonprofit international organization working in public health areas to improve management and access to critical services in primary health care, child survival, maternal and child health, family planning and reproductive health.
Michigan Public Health Institute: Promoting positive health conditions in populations and communities through research, education and application of scientific health practices.
Missouri Citizens' Coalition for Freedom in Health Care: MCCFHC is a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting our citizen rights to freedom in health care through informed and educated choices.
National Association of County and City Health Officials - NACCHO: Non-profit association serving 3,000 local health departments. Contains information and resources for those interested in public health and the work of local health agencies.
National Association of Local Boards of Health - NALBOH: Represents the interests of local health boards and assists them to assure the health of the community.
NC Division of Public Health: North Carolina Public Health Home Page
New Jersey Public Health Planning Association: The Association promotes the development of health services and systems of community needs to assure access to healthcare, and exchange health statistics information.
Office of Public Health and Science: A division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, serves as the focal point for leadership and coordination in public health and science.
Public Health - Seattle and King County: Welcome to Public Health - Seattle & King County
Public Health Division, Health Department of WA: Resources on publications, child health and development and services offered to protect, promote, and restore people's health. (Western Australia)
Public Health Foundation: Public Health Foundation - For over 35 years PHF has served as a national, non-profit organization dedicated to achieving healthy communities through research, training, and technical assistance for health improvement planning, understanding and using public health data, and improving performance.
Public Health Institute: Promotes health, well being, and quality of life through research, training, and community building.
Public Health Practice Program Office: CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Home Page
Public Safety Executive Association, Inc.: Job database for public safety professionals.
San Francisco Department of Public Health: Protects and promotes the health of all San Franciscans through the work of 2 Divisions - the Community Health Network (CHN) and Population Health and Prevention.
Simcoe County Health Unit: Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit - Information and services to promote and protect health, prevent disease and injury - Health Unit.
Sleep Products Safety Council: Sleep Products Safety Council's mission is to provide consumer safety information, support research and promote activities aimed at reducing hazards associated with mattresses and other sleep products.
Snell Memorial Foundation: Not for profit organization dedicated to research, education, testing, and development of helmet safety standards.
Sound Partners for Community Health: Sound Partners for Community Health is a competitive national grant program supporting partnerships between public radio stations and local organizations to increase public awareness of health issues.
Southern California Public Health Association: Providing public health leadership by working to maintain and enhance health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and health protection efforts in California.
te: Dedicated to advocating for public health education and health promotion legislation.
Tetrahedron, Inc.: description
The American Lung Association of Nebraska: Information about this non-profit, non-governmental voluntary health organization. Includes information on asthma, tobacco and health related articles and resources. Affiliated with the national American Lung Association.
The Hospital Infection Society: Exists to foster the scientific interests of hospital doctors who are interested in nosocomial or hospital acquired infections.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health: The Department of Public Health is dedicated to our mission, to serve all the people in the Commonwealth, particularly the underserved, and to promote healthy people, healthy families, healthy communities and healthy environments through compassionate care, education and prevention.
Trust for America's Health: Health advocacy organization taking action to prevent disease and protect the health and safety of communities. Provides information and resources on coordinated tracking of diseases and potentially associated environmental factors.
Virginia Department of Health Professions: Virginia Department of Health Professions - Licensing health care providers and enforcing standards governing their practice
Washington Health Foundation: The not-for-profit, Washington Health Foundation is leading the way in making Washington the Healthiest State in the Nation by building Healthy Systems and promoting Healthy Living in the largest civic engagement project for health in state history.
West Bengal Voluntary Health Association: WBVHA is a Calcutta(India) based NGO working for the promotion of health awareness and offering health services through branches in West Bengal.
World Health Organization - WHO/OMS: The United Nations public health arm. Monitors disease outbreaks, assesses the performance of health systems around the globe, maintains world epidemiological and statistical information, and other activities.
World Toilet Organization: Includes news and event information, articles of interest, forum, design advisories, with highlights on maintenance and health issues.
This directory is based on the Open Directory and may have been modified