Cancer genetic health communication in families tested for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer risk: a qualitative investigation of impact on children's genetic health literacy and psychosocial adjustment.

Children's literacy about the genetics of late-onset hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC) often develops through conversations with parents about BRCA gene testing and adults' cancer diagnoses. These conversations may promote early understanding of HBOC, but the long-term impact on children's psychosocial adjustment remains unclear. We investigated cancer genetic health communication in BRCA-tested families to consider benefits, risks, and moderating influences on children's understanding and well-being.

Psychometric Evaluation of a Consumer-Developed Family-Centered Care Assessment Tool.

The objective of this study was to create a psychometrically sound measure of family-centered care, the Family-Centered Care Assessment (FCCA), developed through a process led by families in collaboration with maternal and child health leaders. The items for the FCCA scale were initially developed by families of children and youth with special needs in partnership with pediatric providers and researchers. Using an Institutional Review Board-approved research protocol, the questions were revised based on input from focus groups of diverse parents in three states.

A Technical Assistance Model for Guiding Service and Systems Change.

Technical assistance (TA) has been a ubiquitous part of the implementation of policies, programs, and services across public and private enterprise for decades. There have been few attempts to identify critical components of TA and evaluate its effectiveness. Qualitative analysis of interviews with experienced TA providers suggested a continuum of practice anchored at each end by approaches termed content-driven and relationship-based.

Psychometric evaluation of a cultural competency assessment instrument for health professionals.

Background: Few valid and reliable measures exist for health care professionals interested in determining their levels of cultural and linguistic competence.

Objective: To evaluate the measurement properties of the Cultural Competence Health Practitioner Assessment (CCHPA-129).

Methods: The CCHPA-129 is a 129-item web-based instrument, developed by the National Center for Cultural Competence.

Implementation of culturally and linguistically competent policies by state Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) programs.

Objective: This descriptive study was intended to identify actual actions, steps and processes of Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) programs to develop, implement, sustain and assess culturally and linguistically competent policies, structures and practices.

Methods: An online 52-item mixed format survey of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) CSHCN directors was conducted. In April 2003 and May 2004, 59 directors were solicited to participate in the survey and 42 (86%) responded.

Calcium antagonists in the treatment of Tourette's disorder.

Two patients with Tourette's disorder were treated with calcium antagonists. Verapamil and nifedipine produced positive responses, and diltiazem produced no response. Given the negative side effects of the current drugs for this disorder, the authors suggest further study of calcium antagonists.

Georgetown Adolescent Psychosocial Rating Scale.

Unlabelled: The Georgetown Adolescent Psychosocial Rating Scale (GAPRS) was developed as a clinical tool to be used in the evaluation of the psychosocial development of the adolescent. Preliminary findings have shown it to be useful in assessing normal psychosocial development and identifying deviant states. The GAPRS was developed in a clinical setting over a 5-year period as a questionnaire with the statistical ability to assess adolescent psychosocial development.