Key Components of the Batterer Intervention Program Process: An Analysis of Observational Data From Two Community-Based BIPs.

Qualitative research on batterer intervention programs (BIPs) has primarily consisted of interview-based studies of clients and facilitators. To date, no research has utilized observational data to understand how BIPs "work," or the processes occurring in BIPs that promote prosocial behavioral change. Forty-four observations of BIP group sessions were conducted.

Human Services Utilization Among Male IPV Perpetrators: Relationship to Timing and Completion of Batterer Intervention Programs.

Limited information exists on the extent to which male perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are engaged in the use of human services for co-occuringpsychosocial and health issues. The current analysis uses administrative data from one batterer intervention program (BIP) and data from the local Department of Human Services to explore perpetrators' engagement with human services, and the relationship of that use to timing and completion of the BIP. Data for 330 adult male clients referred to the participating BIP from 2010 to 2015 were collected.

Male Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators' Perceptions of the Positives and Negatives of Peer Interactions in Group Batterer Intervention Programs.

Seventy-six adult male perpetrators of intimate partner violence enrolled in a batterer intervention program (BIP) were interviewed on their perspectives of the intra-BIP group peer interactions. A majority of participants endorsed positives aspects of working with peers in the group context. Only one negative aspect arose, namely, other group members who disrupted the BIP process in some way.

The Challenges of Working With Men Who Perpetrate Partner Violence: Perspectives and Observations of Experts Who Work With Batterer Intervention Programs.

Batterer intervention programs (BIPs) constitute the primary treatment for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). Systematic evaluations of BIPs, however, have yielded modest results in terms of these programs' ability to reduce perpetration. Descriptive studies, which can provide information on the contexts and process associated with BIPs, can provide insights into the underlying mechanisms that might promote change among BIP clients, and as such are important to improving efficacy measures for BIPs.

The Operational Challenges for Batterer Intervention Programs: Results From a 2-Year Study.

Batterers intervention programs (BIPs) constitute a primary intervention for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). There is little understanding as to what operational, or program-level, challenges BIPs face that can impede their effectiveness and adherence to state standards. As part of a 2-year ethnographic study, we conducted 36 individual semistructured interviews with professionals working with BIPs and identified five themes related to program-level challenges for BIPs: (a) information barriers, (b) safety issues, (c) facilitator retention and training, (d) the need for monitoring, and (e) funding constraints.

Developing a Community-Based Tailored Exercise Program for People With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness.

Background: People with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) are at a greater risk of medical issues compared with the general population. Exercise has a positive effect on physical and mental health outcomes among this population in community settings.

Objectives: To describe community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods used to tailor an exercise program among people with SPMI, demonstrate its impact, and present lessons learned for future research.

Effect of food service nutrition improvements on elementary school cafeteria lunch purchase patterns.

Background: Schools can play a major role in prevention and intervention for childhood obesity. We describe changes in elementary school cafeteria lunch sales patterns resulting from nutritional improvements in menu offerings that were part of a community-wide focus on health.

Methods: Elementary school lunch sales data were collected for 1 week in each of 7 years in a district serving a predominantly poor, rural, and Caucasian student population, with high rates of obesity.

Prenatal smoking cessation intervention and gestational weight gain.

Background: Quitting smoking is often associated with weight gain and prenatal cessation may lead to increased gestational weight gain (GWG). Although previous reports have suggested a link between prenatal smoking cessation and GWG, no studies have examined the relationship between cessation and guideline-recommended GWG, and there is little information about the relationship between the timing of prenatal cessation and GWG. Thus, we examine GWG among women in a community prenatal smoking cessation program and assess the relationship between the timing of prenatal cessation GWG.

Nutrition knowledge of low-income parents of obese children.

Minority and low-income children are overrepresented among obese US children. Lack of basic nutrition knowledge among parents may contribute to this disparity. The purpose of this study is to measure nutrition knowledge of parents of Medicaid-insured obese children using a simple low-literacy tool.

Giving residents tools to talk about behavior change: a motivational interviewing curriculum description and evaluation.

Objective: To determine whether a motivational interviewing (MI) curriculum is effective in teaching internal medicine residents core MI skills and the empathic, nonjudgmental MI style.

Methods: Nineteen third-year residents met for 12 h with a faculty instructor. Teaching methods included lecture, written exercises, a simulated patient exercise, and discussion of residents' behavior change issues.

In person versus computer screening for intimate partner violence among pregnant patients.

Objective: To compare in person versus computerized screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) in a hospital-based prenatal clinic and explore women's assessment of the screening methods.

Methods: We compared patient IPV disclosures on a computerized questionnaire to audio-taped first obstetric visits with an obstetric care provider and performed semi-structured interviews with patient participants who reported experiencing IPV.

Results: Two-hundred and fifty patient participants and 52 provider participants were in the study.

The Pittsburgh STOP program: disseminating an evidence-informed intervention for low-income pregnant smokers.

Purpose: Prenatal smoking is a preventable risk factor for poor perinatal outcomes and is more prevalent in pregnant smokers of low socioeconomic status (SES). We describe the intervention model and factors associated with quitting from the Pittsburgh STOP Program, an evidence-informed dissemination intervention for low-SES pregnant smokers.

Setting: STOP is delivered in community health care clinics serving economically disadvantaged women.

Partner violence screening in mental health.

Objective: To study a mental health sample to assess (1) the prevalence of physical, sexual and emotional intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration, (2) the extent this sample reported being asked about IPV by mental health clinicians and (3) how prevalence and screening rates varied by gender.

Method: Women and men receiving services at a large psychiatric facility completed anonymous written questionnaires.

Results: A total of 524 adults were approached for study participation, and 428 (158 men, 270 women) completed a survey.

Understanding turning points in intimate partner violence: factors and circumstances leading women victims toward change.

Objective: When counseling women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), healthcare providers can benefit from understanding the factors contributing to a women's motivation to change her situation. We wished to examine the various factors and situations associated with turning points and change seeking in the IPV situation.

Methods: We performed qualitative analysis on data from 7 focus groups and 20 individual interviews with women (61 participants) with past and/or current histories of IPV.

Adapting pediatric obesity treatment delivery for low-income families: a public-private partnership.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the feasibility of delivering a pediatric weight management intervention adapted for low-income families. Academic researchers, a Medicaid health plan, a State Medicaid agency, and community pediatric providers partnered in the project.

Methods: Participants were 48 families with 52 overweight/obese children aged 4 to 12 recruited from Medicaid health plan and providers' offices.

Helping women victims of intimate partner violence: comparing the approaches of two health care settings.

Health professionals from two different clinical settings were asked about their comfort level in dealing with intimate partner violence (IPV). Focus groups and semistructured interviews were used to gather information. Staff in an obstetrics and gynecology setting relatively rich in IPV resources described feeling capable dealing with IPV.

Targeting pregnant and parental smokers: long-term outcomes of a practice-based intervention.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the change in obstetric and pediatric provider smoking cessation practices following implementation of a practice guideline-driven office-based program.

Methods: This pre-post evaluation took place between May 2003 and August 2006 in 1 pediatric and 1 obstetric hospital-based clinic. The intervention involved provider training combined with office system supports.

Translating an evidence-based intervention for pediatric overweight to a primary care setting.

The objective of this study was to train pediatric providers to address weight, body mass index (BMI), diet, and physical activity with parents. Children aged 8 to 12 years with BMI of >or=85th percentile were eligible if accompanied by a parent. The intervention was a family-based, 11-session behavioral program focusing on healthy eating and physical activity.

Parental perception of children's weight in a paediatric primary care setting.

Objective: To determine how parents of overweight children perceived their children's weight status compared with actual body mass index (BMI).

Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study assessed parental perception of and concern about weight, diet and physical activity of 3-12-year-olds. BMI values >or=85th and <95th percentile and >or=95th percentile were considered at risk for overweight and overweight respectively.

The process of change for victims of intimate partner violence: support for a psychosocial readiness model.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is a women's health problem that imposes a significant health and health care cost burden. Although IPV victims cannot change the perpetrator's behavior, they can take actions to reduce exposure to the partner's abuse. The process of change for IPV victims has been described using the transtheoretical model (TTM), among others.

Understanding behavior change for women experiencing intimate partner violence: mapping the ups and downs using the stages of change.

Objective: For women who are experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), making changes toward safety is often a gradual process. When providing counseling and support, health care providers may benefit from better understanding of where women are in their readiness to change. Our objective was to apply the transtheoretical model's stages of change to the experiences of women who experienced IPV and map their experiences of change as they moved toward increased safety.

Accessing adult smokers in the pediatric setting: What do parents think?

The anticipation of negative parental reaction is cited by pediatricians as a common barrier to intervening with parents who smoke. In an effort to clarify perceived versus actual parent reaction, the present study investigated the reactions of a diverse parent sample toward pediatricians addressing parental smoking in the outpatient setting. This study represents a descriptive cross-sectional in-person survey of 906 parents interviewed exiting four geographically diverse pediatric practices.

Health care interventions for intimate partner violence: what women want.

Objective: We sought to determine what women want from health care interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV) and understand why they found certain interventions useful or not useful.

Methods: We conducted interviews with 21 women who have a past or current history of intimate partner violence. Participants were given cards describing various IPV interventions and asked to perform a pile sort by placing cards into three categories ("definitely yes," "maybe," and "definitely no") indicating whether they would want that resource available.

Relationship of birth cohort and early age at onset of illness in a bipolar disorder case registry.

Objective: Utilizing data from a previously characterized registry of subjects with bipolar illness, the authors examined age at onset of the first illness episode in cohorts of subjects born from 1900 through 1939 and from 1940 through 1959.

Method: Demographic and clinical characteristics at the first full episode of bipolar disorder of subjects in a diagnostically validated voluntary bipolar disorder registry (N=1,218) were reviewed and subjected to statistical analyses.

Results: The median age at onset of the first episode of bipolar illness was lower by 4.