Geography, facilities, and promotional strategies used to encourage indoor tanning in New York City.

There is emerging evidence for the relationship between indoor tanning and melanoma. Eighty-five indoor tanning facilities in New York City were observed to determine number of tanning machines, pricing, promotions, products, and hours. Census data by zip code was used to determine population density, gender, race, age, percent living in poverty, percent unemployed, and percent college educated of areas in which tanning facilities were located.

Implementing and evaluating a school-based program to improve childhood vision.

Background: Approximately 20% of the American schoolchildren have a vision problem. Children from low-income urban areas have been shown to have more than twice the normal rate of vision problems. This study evaluated the effectiveness of A Vision for Success, a school-based program designed to provide eyeglasses to children in a timely manner in selected New York City public elementary schools and to encourage their regular use at school.

An evaluation of colonoscopy use: implications for health education.

In this retrospective study, we examined factors that associated with colonoscopy test use among adults who did not have colorectal cancer (CRC) in the USA. A total of 2,150 non-CRC adults >or=55 were selected from the Health Information National Trends Survey, a random-digit telephone survey that collected data in 2003-2004. Participants were classified based on receiving CRC tests within the recommended time interval.

Adiposity is associated with endothelial activation in healthy 2-3 year-old children.

Adiposity is associated with C-reactive protein level in healthy 2-3 year-old children and with other markers of endothelial activation in adults, but data are lacking in very young children. Data from 491 healthy Hispanic children were analyzed. Mean age was 2.

Cost effectiveness of a telephone intervention to promote dilated fundus examination in adults with diabetes mellitus.

In a clinical trial, we have previously shown that a telephone intervention can significantly increase participation in dilated fundus examination (DFE) screening among low-income adults with diabetes. Here the costs and cost-effectiveness ratio of this intervention are calculated. Intervention effectiveness was estimated as the difference in DFE utilization between the telephone intervention and print groups from the clinical trial multiplied by the size of the telephone intervention group.

Tailored telephone education to promote awareness and adoption of fruit and vegetable recommendations among urban and mostly immigrant black men: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake in black men are far below national recommendations.

Methods: Urban, primarily immigrant, black men (n=490) from the New York City metropolitan area participating in the Cancer Awareness and Prevention (CAP) Trial (2005-2007) were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups: 1) FV Education (FVE) or 2) Prostate Education (PE). Both interventions entailed a mailed brochure plus two tailored telephone education (TTE) calls.

Promoting healthy vision in students: progress and challenges in policy, programs, and research.

Background: An estimated 1 in 5 American children has a vision problem. Children living in poor urban environments have twice the normal rate of vision problems. Uncorrected vision problems can worsen over time and result in permanent vision loss.

Facilitating factors for colorectal cancer screening.

Background: In this retrospective study, we examined factors that facilitated receipt of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in a sample of low-income, predominantly African Americans participating in a tailored telephone education intervention.

Methods: A total of 61 individuals who received CRC screening were matched on age and sex with 61 individuals who had not received screening. Using records collected as part of the intervention, we identified facilitating factors and compared them between groups.

Telephone intervention to promote diabetic retinopathy screening among the urban poor.

Background: Participation in diabetic retinopathy screening is suboptimal. The Vision is Precious study (2001-2005) tested the hypothesis that a tailored telephone intervention in urban minority diabetes populations, offered in English or Spanish, would result in greater screening for retinopathy than a standard print intervention.

Design: Randomized controlled trial

Setting/participants: Subjects (N=598) were adults with diabetes without a dilated fundus examination (DFE) in >1 year from three healthcare centers in Bronx NY.

Measuring comparative risk perceptions in an urban minority population: the risk perception survey for diabetes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess comparative risk perceptions related to diabetes complications and their associations with patient characteristics in an urban minority sample.

Methods: The authors developed the Risk Perception Survey-Diabetes Mellitus (RPS-DM) and administered the survey using a Solomon Four group design with a random half of a sample of 599 adults with diabetes. This was the baseline survey to measure comparative risk perceptions in a multiethnic sample prior to implementation of randomly assigned behavioral interventions to improve diabetic retinopathy screening rates.

Telephone outreach to increase colorectal cancer screening in an urban minority population.

Objectives: We compared the effectiveness of a telephone outreach approach versus a direct mail approach in improving rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in a predominantly Black population.

Methods: A randomized trial was conducted between 2000 and 2003 that followed 456 participants in the New York metropolitan area who had not had recent CRC screening. The intervention group received tailored telephone outreach, and the control group received mailed printed materials.

Patient preferences and adherence to colorectal cancer screening in an urban population.

We measured patient preferences for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening strategies and actual receipt of alternative CRC screening tests among an urban minority sample participating in an intervention study. The fecal occult blood test was the most preferred test, reportedly owing to its convenience and the noninvasive nature. For individuals who obtained a test that was other than their stated preference (41.

Barriers to colorectal cancer screening: an educational diagnosis.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a largely preventable disease through early detection and treatment, yet screening rates remain low and mortality rates remain high, particularly among low-income, minority populations. This study was conducted to identify barriers to CRC screening.

Methods: Repeated telephone contacts were conducted with 226 individuals from 52 to 80 years of age, who had not recently received CRC screening.

Factors associated with colorectal cancer screening among Chinese-Americans.

Objective: To investigate factors associated with receipt of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among urban senior Chinese-Americans.

Methods: Two hundred three men and women from three senior centers completed a questionnaire that included sections on demographics, fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and sigmoidoscopy use, and potential barriers to screening.

Results: Receipt of a FOBT within the prior 12 months (37.

Body image, weight, and food choices of Latina women and their young children.

Objective: To investigate body image perceptions of women about themselves and their young children and their relationship to their food choices and those of their children.

Design: Descriptive and correlational study.

Participants And Setting: 187 low-income, Latina women and their children, ages 5 to 7 years and 52% female, in New York City.

Fasting plasma insulin modulates lipid levels and particle sizes in 2- to 3-year-old children.

Objective: Obesity and hyperinsulinemia are associated with dyslipidemia in adults and older children, but little is known about these relationships in very young children. We examined the relation of fasting insulin to lipid levels and lipid particle size in young healthy children.

Research Methods And Procedures: Analyses were performed on data from 491 healthy 2- and 3-year old Hispanic children enrolled in a dietary study conducted in New York City, 1992-1995.

Obesity, fasting plasma insulin, and C-reactive protein levels in healthy children.

Objective: Obesity is associated with hyperinsulinemia and increased level of C-reactive protein in older children and adults, but little is known about these relationships in very young children. We examined these relationships in healthy 2- to 3-year-old children.

Research Methods And Procedures: Analyses were performed on data from 491 healthy 2- to 3-year-old Hispanic children enrolled in a dietary study conducted in New York City, 1992 to 1995.

Review and analysis of evaluation measures used in nutrition education intervention research.

The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the kinds of evaluation measures used in 265 nutrition education intervention studies conducted between 1980 and 1999 and an analysis of psychometric issues arising from such a review. The data are summarized in terms of tables for interventions with each of six key population groups: preschool children, school-aged children, adults, pregnant women and breast-feeding promotion, older adults, and inservice preparation of professionals and paraprofessionals. Measures evaluating knowledge and skills or behavioral capabilities were most widely used in studies with preschool, school-aged, and inservice populations (50%-85%) and less widely used in studies with the other groups, particularly breast-feeding promotion (5%).

Calcium intake in preschool children--a study of dietary patterns in a low socioeconomic community.

Background: There is a lack of published data on sources and quantity of calcium intake in preschool children.

Study Objectives: To assess calcium intake compared with the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), to identify major food sources of calcium, and to compare dietary patterns of healthy preschool children who do and do not meet the calcium DRI.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Knowledge, beliefs, and barriers relevant to colorectal cancer screening in an urban population: a pilot study.

A sample of 115 urban, working-class, predominantly minority men and women was interviewed by telephone to assess knowledge, beliefs, and barriers relevant to colorectal cancer (CRC) and CRC screening. More than half (53.9%) were unable to name a CRC screening test.

The effect of health education on the rate of ophthalmic examinations among African Americans with diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: This study evaluated a multicomponent educational intervention to increase ophthalmic examination rates among African Americans with diabetes.

Methods: A randomized trial was conducted with 280 African Americans with diabetes, enrolled from outpatient departments of 5 medical centers in the New York City metropolitan area, who had not had a dilated retinal examination within 14 months of randomization (65.7% female, mean age = 54.

Promoting the selection of low-fat milk in elementary school cafeterias in an inner-city Latino community: evaluation of an intervention.

Objectives: This study examined the effects of a school-based intervention designed to promote the consumption of low-fat white milk at lunchtime in 6 elementary schools in an inner-city, primarily Latino neighborhood.

Methods: A multifaceted intervention based on social marketing techniques was delivered at 3 randomly selected schools. The school was the unit of assignment and analysis; 6902 children were involved in the study.