Non-spouse companions accompanying older adults to medical visits: a qualitative analysis.

Background: Medical Visit Companions (MVCs) are encouraged for older adults' routine medical encounters. Little data exist on the experiences and contributions of non-spouse companions for the growing population of older adults without a living spouse.

Methods: We conducted six focus groups with forty non-spouse MVCs identified through churches in Baltimore, Maryland.

Health Ministry and Activities in African American Faith-Based Organizations: A Qualitative Examination of Facilitators, Barriers, and Use of Technology.

African American faith-based organizations (FBOs) play an important role in addressing health disparities. Increasingly, churches offer health fairs, screenings, or education through health ministries. However, little is known about linking these organizations with evidence-based interventions (EBIs) developed by research.

Homicide Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 1999-2009: Implications for Public Health Interventions.

Objective: We determined estimates of homicide among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) compared with non-Hispanic white people to characterize disparities and improve AI/AN classification in incidence and mortality reporting.

Methods: We linked 1999-2009 death certificate data with Indian Health Service (IHS) patient registration data to examine death rates from homicide among AI/AN and non-Hispanic white people. Our analysis focused primarily on residents of IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area counties and excluded Hispanic people to avoid underestimation of incidence and mortality in AI/ANs and for consistency in our comparisons.