Gendered racial microaggressions and black college women: A cross-sectional study of depression and psychological distress.

We assessed the association between gendered racism, the simultaneous experience of sexism and racism, depression, and psychological distress in Black college women using an intersectional instrument, the gendered racial microaggression scale. Black college women enrolled at a predominantly white institution (PWI) in the southeastern U.S.

Distracted mobile device use among street-crossing college student pedestrians: an observational approach.

To estimate the incidence of mobile device use among street-crossing pedestrians and explore differences by sex and intersection type at a large public South-eastern university in the United States.All instances of campus pedestrians crossing the street during the observation period ( = 4,878).Video recordings of crosswalk activity at four locations were analyzed for pedestrian use of a mobile device while crossing.

Mobile device use while crossing the street: Utilizing the theory of planned behavior.

Every year, thousands of pedestrians are killed and tens-of-thousands are nonfatally injured as a result of traffic crashes. The year 2016 holds the record for the most pedestrians killed in one year since 1990. Mobile device use while crossing the street has been associated with unsafe crossing behaviors and gait abnormalities, potentially increasing the risk of pedestrian injury or death.

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to predict HPV vaccination intentions of college men.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs in predicting human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination behavioral intentions of vaccine-eligible college men.

Participants: Participants were unvaccinated college men aged 18-26 years attending a large public university in the southeastern United States during Spring 2015.

Methods: A nonexperimental, cross-sectional study design was employed.

Parent health literacy and adherence-related outcomes in children with epilepsy.

Background: The relationship between parent health literacy and adherence to treatment in children with epilepsy has not been fully explored. The purpose of this study was to determine whether parent health literacy and other variables predicted factors associated with adherence, such as missed medication doses, missed medical appointments, and seizure frequency, in children with epilepsy between 1 and 12 years old.

Methods: It was hypothesized that parents with adequate parent health literacy would report fewer missed doses, missed appointments, and seizure occurrences.

Unmet needs for dental care in children with special health care needs.

Objective: The unmet need for dental care is one of the greatest public health problems facing U.S. children.

Prevalence of pediatric epilepsy in low-income rural Midwestern counties.

Epilepsy is one of the most common disabling neurological disorders, but significant gaps exist in our knowledge about childhood epilepsy in rural populations. The present study assessed the prevalence of pediatric epilepsy in nine low-income rural counties in the Midwestern United States overall and by gender, age, etiology, seizure type, and syndrome. Multiple sources of case identification were used, including medical records, schools, community agencies, and family interviews.

Prevalence of epilepsy in rural Kansas.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of active epilepsy in two southeastern rural Kansas counties.

Methods: Medical records were abstracted from the emergency rooms, out- and inpatient services and clinics of 9 hospitals, from 10 doctors' offices, and 1 nursing home in and surrounding the two counties. Letters were mailed from hospitals and doctors' offices to invite their potentially eligible patients to participate in an interview.

Factors associated with medication adherence in patients with epilepsy and recommendations for improvement.

Although it is one of the most common neurological disorders, epilepsy continues to be a highly stigmatized and disabling chronic condition. Healthy People 2020 aims for improvement in the health-related quality of life and well-being of Americans, including these medically vulnerable patients. Efforts to research and improve medication adherence in this population and others with chronic conditions are an important step towards this end.

Parent opinions about use of text messaging for immunization reminders.

Background: Adherence to childhood immunization schedules is a function of various factors. Given the increased use of technology as a strategy to increase immunization coverage, it is important to investigate how parents perceive different forms of communication, including traditional means and text-message reminders.

Objective: To examine current forms of communication about immunization information, parents' satisfaction levels with these communication modes, perceived barriers and benefits to using text messaging, and the ideal content of text messages for immunization reminders.

Oral health attitudes and practices among a German Mexican Mennonite farmworker community.

The oral health needs of migrant farm laborers are greater and more immediate than those of comparable populations. However, little is known about the conditions of oral health care among German-speaking Mexican Mennonites, a distinctive cultural subgroup of migrant farm laborers. The purpose of this study was to examine the oral health practices, perceived oral health status, and barriers to obtaining dental care among a community of Low German-speaking Mexican Mennonites residing in Southwest Kansas.

The role of local health departments in providing sexually transmitted disease services and surveillance in rural communities.

Local health departments (LHDs) are an important source for screening and treating sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in rural communities. Yet, they oftentimes lack the resources needed to adequately assess and monitor these conditions. The purpose of this study was to (1) explore how rural LHDs assess and monitor STDs; (2) identify barriers to effective surveillance; (3) examine STD patterns in their communities; and (4) provide recommendations for improving surveillance.

Comparison of focus groups on cancer and employment conducted face to face or by telephone.

Findings from telephone focus groups have not been compared previously to findings from face-to-face focus groups. We conducted four telephone focus groups and five face-to-face focus groups in which a single moderator used the same open-ended questions and discussion facilitation techniques. This comparison was part of a larger study to gain a better understanding of employment experiences after diagnosis of gynecologic cancer.

The influence of experience and credential status on perceptions of agency competency in delivery of the 10 essential environmental public health services.

Contributions made by the environmental health (EH) workforce in reducing human disease are some of the most significant to public health. A shrinking workforce and increased work complexity have called for workforce training in the 10 essential public health services. The preliminary study discussed here assesses perceived competency of the Kansas EH workforce in the 10 essential public health services and evaluates credentialing influence on perceptions.

Addressing health disparities among African Americans: using the stages of change model to document attitudes and decisions about nutrition and physical activity.

Physical activity (PA) and poor fruit/vegetable intake are contributors of health disparities among African Americans (AA). In order to design effective interventions to address these behaviors, it is essential to assess where individuals are in terms of their attitudes and decisions. The aim of this study was to use the Stages of Change Model to assess AA's attitudes and decisions regarding pertinent health behaviors and provide suggestions about how to address them.

Immigrants vs. non-immigrants: attitudes toward and practices of non-therapeutic male circumcision in the United States of America.

Objectives: To explore and compare attitudes toward and practices of non-therapeutic male circumcision (NTMC) between immigrants and non-immigrants.

Study Design: We conducted 8 focus groups involving 44 participants of the lay public (21 immigrants and 23 non-immigrants) and 14 extended interviews with physicians (9 family physicians and 5 pediatricians).

Results: Four themes regarding NTMC were identified: knowledge and awareness, benefits and drawbacks, Medicaid and American Academy of Pediatrics practices and recommendations, and medical and cultural competence issues.

How can immunization coverage in urban counties be improved? A pilot study of a Kansas county.

Vaccination coverage is sometimes lower in urban counties compared with their rural counterparts. Increasing private health providers' participation in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and in centralized immunization data collections systems or registries are 2 recommended strategies for increasing urban and statewide vaccination coverage. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine perceived barriers to providing immunization services in a group of private health clinics in an urban county and to obtain the clinics' recommendations for improvement.

Using a community-based participatory research approach to improve the performance capacity of local health departments: the Kansas Immunization Technology Project.

Background: Building the capacity of local health departments (LHDs) in the use of health data is critical. Unlike community-based health agencies or private healthcare providers, LHDs serve as public health officials for their communities. Thus, LHDs' ability to use technology, electronically access and distribute up-to-date health information, and to measure population-based health outcomes for their communities is crucial.

Measures of adherence to epilepsy treatment: review of present practices and recommendations for future directions.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide, and the majority of people with epilepsy who live in developed countries manage their condition with antiseizure medication. Surprisingly, therefore, the literature on epilepsy does not document a comprehensive investigation of patient adherence to medication treatment. This paper reviews existing literature on direct and indirect measures of adherence.

Epilepsy patients' perceptions about stigma, education, and awareness: preliminary responses based on a community participatory approach.

As individuals directly impacted by their experience of epilepsy and others' responses to it, epilepsy patients' opinions about education and awareness issues are needed. A community-based participatory approach was used to develop a survey of public and patient attitudes and perceptions about epilepsy, which was administered to persons with epilepsy. The majority of the 165 respondents (34% response rate) indicated they perceive misperceptions and stigma related to epilepsy in the general public, which they thought could be ameliorated through educational interventions.

Initial perspectives from Midwestern neurologists: epilepsy patients' barriers and motivators for seeking treatment.

Purpose: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological illness that affects 2.7 million people in the United States, but remains poorly understood. Care providers may not recognize their patients' need for epilepsy information, contributing to treatment barriers, such as stigmatization and poor patient-provider communication.

African American parents' behaviors and attitudes about substance use and abuse.

Limited information exists about African American parents' substance use and attitudes, independent of how they relate to their children. This study examined whether the behaviors and attitudes of a sample of African American parents differed from the general population of adults. Results indicated their attitudes were relatively more conservative, and that alcohol and illicit drug use were lower.

Using principles of community-based participatory research to enhance health data skills among local public health community partners.

In a prior statewide health disparities assessment, local community public health and social service professionals indicated a need for technical capacity growth in order to understand and effectively utilize health data. Using a community-based participatory research approach in addressing this need, health data training was provided to 26 individuals with the primary goals being to provide capacity to identify health disparities that result in higher morbidity and mortality, and to provide the skills needed to access, interpret, and utilize health data. Satisfaction surveys showed that an overwhelming majority of participants were extremely pleased with the training.

Breast cancer counts: numeracy in breast cancer information on the Web.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the numeracy information included in three prominent breast cancer Web sites.

Methods: A content analysis was performed, grouping numeracy items into 15 categories. Interrater reliability was high.