Delivery of a Vitamin D Intervention in Homebound Older Adults Using a Meals-on-Wheels Program: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of a vitamin D intervention delivered through a Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) program to improve 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and reduce falls in homebound older adults.

Design: Single-blind, cluster randomized trial.

Setting: MOW, Forsyth County, North Carolina.

Utilizing a Meals on Wheels program to teach falls risk assessment to medical students.

Falls are a critical public health issue for older adults, and falls risk assessment is an expected competency for medical students. The aim of this study was to design an innovative method to teach falls risk assessment using community-based resources and limited geriatrics faculty. The authors developed a Fall Prevention Program through a partnership with Meals-on-Wheels (MOW).

Inter-examiner reliability of salivary diagnostic tests in a practice-based research network.

Purpose: Patient salivary characteristics are being measured as part of the Northwest PRECEDENT (Practice-based REsearch Collaborative in Evidence-based DENTistry) study on caries risk assessment. Prior to the implementation of these salivary diagnostic tests in a practice-based cohort study, inter-examiner reliability was assessed for resting salivary pH, stimulated salivary flow rate, pH and buffering capacity.

Methods: An initial evaluation of inter-examiner reliability of the 4 salivary tests was conducted among 6 dental auxiliary examiners using a convenience sample of 40 dental students.