Publications by authors named "Alaina Beauchamp"
Introduction: To examine the associations of neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES), ethnic enclaves, residential Black segregation with screening for breast, cervical and colorectal (CRC) cancers across the state of Texas (TX).
Methods: Using an ecologic study design, spatial clustering of low breast, cervical and CRC screening rates were identified across TX census tracts using local Moran's I statistics. Binomial spatial probit regression was used to estimate the associations between nSES, Hispanic/Latino and Asian American (AA) ethnic enclave neighborhoods and residential Black segregation with geospatial clusters of low screening, adjusting for behavioral characteristics.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how a lack of temporal information affects the measurement of racial bias in mortgage lending, particularly for Black Americans, by incorporating trends over time and credit scores.
- It focuses on two metropolitan areas (Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Dallas-Fort Worth) from 1990 to 2020, finding that both had significant changes in mortgage denial odds, with Dallas-Fort Worth showing increased bias while Boston-Cambridge-Newton showed decreased bias.
- The research highlights that areas historically affected by redlining exhibited the strongest bias persistence; it emphasizes the importance of temporal data in understanding and addressing ongoing discrimination in housing policies.
Background: Firearm-related injury represents a significant public health problem in the USA. Firearm purchasing has risen nationwide and there has been increased efforts to deploy injury prevention initiatives within gun establishments. However, firearm-related risks and harms that may occur inside these high-exposure settings are not well characterized.
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- The rise of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections poses a significant global health danger, influenced by complex factors, including socioeconomic conditions.
- A study in the Dallas-Fort Worth area analyzed patient data from 2015 to 2020, linking bacterial culture results to socioeconomic indices to understand AMR patterns.
- Findings indicated that regions with high deprivation levels had higher AMR rates, suggesting that improving socioeconomic factors could help reduce AMR spread.
Background And Aims: The two most common interventions used to treat painless jaundice from pancreatic cancer are endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). Our study aimed to characterize the geographic distribution of ERCP-performing hospitals among patients with pancreatic cancer in the United States and the association between geographic accessibility to ERCP-performing hospitals and biliary interventions patients receive.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database for pancreatic cancer from 2005 to 2013.
Article Synopsis
- Minority populations in the U.S. are increasing, highlighting the need for ongoing analysis of cultural contexts in health disparities.
- This study aimed to develop a Cultural Context Index (CCI) using geospatial data to assess social health determinants across diverse communities in 73,682 census tracts.
- The findings indicate that areas with the greatest need for culturally competent health care have higher rates of poor physical and mental health, particularly in metropolitan regions with significant Black and Hispanic populations.
Background: Social connectedness decreases human mortality, improves cancer survival, cardiovascular health, and body mass, results in better-controlled glucose levels, and strengthens mental health. However, few public health studies have leveraged large social media data sets to classify user network structure and geographic reach rather than the sole use of social media platforms.
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the association between population-level digital social connectedness and reach and depression in the population across geographies of the United States.
During the COVID-19 pandemic possible substance use disorders (SUD) were exacerbated from increased stress and isolation. Experiences of symptomology differ widely by occupations. The objectives were to determine if there is a temporal relationship between COVID-19 vulnerability and possible SUDs among first responders, and to examine the association with neighborhood vulnerability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To examine the prevalence and predictors of screening for violence against persons and victim service utilization within an integrated safety-net health system.
Study Setting: Emergency Department (ED) at Parkland Hospital-Dallas County's largest safety-net provider of services for minority and underinsured and uninsured patients.
Study Design: Prospective, longitudinal study during the first 6 months of a universal violence against persons screener.
Background: Law enforcement officers (LEOs) are exposed to chronic stress throughout the course of their shift, which increases the risk of adverse events. Although there have been studies targeting LEO safety through enhanced training or expanded equipment provisions, there has been little attempt to leverage personal technology in the field to provide real-time notification of LEO stress. This study tests the acceptability of implementing of a brief, smart watch intervention to alleviate stress among LEOs.
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- Limited research has highlighted the prevalence of mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, among police officers, as well as the challenges they face in seeking care.* -
- A survey in a Dallas-Fort Worth police department found that while many officers exhibited symptoms of mental illness, only 17% had sought mental health services in the past year.* -
- The study involved 434 officers, revealing that 12% had a lifetime mental health diagnosis, and 26% displayed current mental illness symptoms, with those reporting symptoms more likely to be interested in mental health services.*
There is limited information about the applicability and effectiveness of tobacco and illicit drug use interventions in urban and racial/ethnic minority youth, a population with great need for prevention of alcohol and drug use. We pilot-tested the feasibility of a behavioral intervention to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use among urban young adults in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 12-week intervention pilot project was developed to be implemented at a community-based social service organization that provides educational, juvenile justice-related case management, and mentoring services to youth with substance use and incarceration histories.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous, nature of the occupation exposes officers to both acute and chronic stress over law enforcement officers' (LEO) tenure. The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) Describe multi-level characteristics that define high-stress calls for service for LEO; and 2) Characterize factors that impact cumulative stress over the course of a LEO's shift.
Methods: Qualitative data were collected from 28 LEOs at three law enforcement agencies in the Dallas-Fort Worth areas from April 2019 to February 2020.
Background: High frequency of alcohol use among people living with HIV (PLWH) warrants careful assessment and screening to better understand its impact on HIV disease progression and development of comorbidities. Due to the limitations of the tools used to measure alcohol use, the links to health consequences are not fully understood.
Methods: We completed a cross-sectional analysis to examine the prevalence of alcohol consumption using multiple alcohol assessment tools and their correlation and consistency in a cohort of PLWH (N = 365) enrolled in the New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV (NOAH) Study.