Effects of an entertaining, culturally targeted narrative and an appealing expert interview on the colorectal screening intentions of African American women.

Universal screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is recommended for individuals 50-75 years of age, but screening uptake is suboptimal and African Americans have suffered persistent racial disparities in CRC incidence and deaths. We compared a culturally tailored fictional narrative and an engaging expert interview on the ability to increase intentions to be screened for CRC among African American women. In a post-only experiment, women (N = 442) in face-to-face listening groups in African American churches heard audio recordings of either a narrative or an expert interview.

Differences in response to a dietary intervention between the general population and first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients.

Objective: To determine whether response to a dietary intervention is greater among people with family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) compared with a general population.

Design: Cohort study examining participants from 2 related studies.

Setting: Rural Virginia.

Increasing tobacco quitline calls from pregnant african american women: the "one tiny reason to quit" social marketing campaign.

Introduction: Pregnant African American women are at disproportionately high risk of premature birth and infant mortality, outcomes associated with cigarette smoking. Telephone-based, individual smoking cessation counseling has been shown to result in successful quit attempts in the general population and among pregnant women, but "quitlines" are underutilized. A social marketing campaign called One Tiny Reason to Quit (OTRTQ) promoted calling a quitline (1-800-QUIT-NOW) to pregnant, African American women in Richmond, Virginia, in 2009 and was replicated there 2 years later.

Dietary intake in a randomized-controlled pilot of NOURISH: a parent intervention for overweight children.

Objective: NOURISH is a community-based treatment program for parents of overweight and obese children (ages 6-11, BMI ≥ 85 th percentile). This study examined the impact of Nourishing Our Understanding of Role modeling to Improve Support and Health on child and parent dietary intake, secondary trial outcomes.

Methods: In Virginia from 2008 to 2009, this randomized controlled pilot was implemented and dietary assessment of parents and children conducted at baseline, post-test, and 6-month follow-up.

Fruit and vegetable intake among rural youth following a school-based randomized controlled trial.

Objective: We implemented a theory-based randomized controlled trial (Living Free of Tobacco, Plus (LIFT+) in ten rural middle schools and assessed impact on tobacco use and fruit/vegetable (F/V) intake in 2008-2010. Data on F/V intake at baseline, immediate post intervention, and 1-year follow-up are presented.

Methods: Schools were randomized to intervention or control groups.

Comparing screening and preventive health behaviors in two study populations: daughters of mothers with breast cancer and women responding to the behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey.

Background: Studies show that daughters of mothers with breast cancer may be at increased risk for developing the disease. However, daughters' adherence to health behavior and screening recommendations, compared to the general population, is unknown.

Methods: Telephone interviews explored characteristics of adult daughters (n=147), including primary and secondary preventive behaviors, body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake, alcohol intake, smoking, and mammography.

Genetic risk, perceived risk, and cancer worry in daughters of breast cancer patients.

This study explored relationships between worry, perceived risk for breast cancer, consulting a genetic counselor, having genetic testing, and genetic risk for women whose mothers had breast cancer. Analyses involved data from a community-based phone survey of women whose mothers had breast cancer. Participants were categorized as having low, intermediate, or high genetic risk based on their reported family history, in accordance with an accepted classification scheme.

Patient weight counseling choices and outcomes following a primary care and community collaborative intervention.

Objective: Obesity has become a public health epidemic in adults and children. Clinician practices need new models to effectively address overweight in patients, yet, practices lack time and resources. We tested a clinician-delivered intervention that utilized community resources for in-depth counseling for unhealthy behaviors including overweight.

Patient costs as a barrier to intensive health behavior counseling.

Background: Although intensive health behavior counseling has been demonstrated to help patients lose weight and quit smoking, many payers offer limited coverage for such counseling.

Purpose: This mixed-methods case study examined how coverage affected utilization of an electronic linkage system (eLinkS) to help adult patients obtain intensive health behavior counseling, provided through a collaboration of primary care practices and community programs.

Methods: Grant support enabled patients to obtain counseling at no cost, but funds were exhausted within 5 weeks as a result of an overwhelming response.

Variations in breast cancer screening and health behaviors by age and race among attendees of women's health clinics.

Objective: Breast cancer mortality has declined, yet disease outcomes have not improved equally across populations. Disparities may initiate early in the continuum of care, in health behavior patterns, and screening practices. We examined variations in mammography, exercise, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) by age and race in a diverse sample of clinic patients.

The association between body mass index and arthritis among US adults: CDC's surveillance case definition.

Introduction: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention modified the surveillance case definition of arthritis to a more stringent form in 2002. To date, the association between arthritis and obesity (an established risk factor for arthritis) has not been examined with the new definition. We describe the association between body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) and arthritis using the new arthritis case definition to provide a more accurate assessment of the relationship between weight and arthritis among US adults.

Mammography screening after risk-tailored messages: the women improving screening through education and risk assessment (WISER) randomized, controlled trial.

Aims: A randomized trial investigated the impact of risk-tailored messages on mammography in diverse women in the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System's gynecology clinics.

Methods: From 2003 to 2005, 899 patients > or =40 years of age were randomized to receive risk-tailored information or general information about breast health. Multiple logistic regression analyses summarize their breast health practices at 18 months.

The influence of appearance, health, and future orientations on tanning behavior.

Objective: To compare the influence of appearance, health, and future orientations on tanning attitudes and behaviors.

Methods: The study was an online survey of 406 volunteers from a university community.

Results: Appearance and future orientations were more closely related to ultraviolet radiation exposure and protection than was health orientation.

Duration of an intervention's impact on perceived breast cancer risk.

This study explored risk perceptions after breast cancer risk appraisal. The study involved a randomized trial of Women's Health clinic patients (>or= 40 years old). Primary outcome was perceived breast cancer risk at baseline, 1 month, 6 months, and 18 months.

An electronic linkage system for health behavior counseling effect on delivery of the 5A's.

Background: A variety of factors limit the ability of clinicians to offer intensive counseling to patients with unhealthy behaviors, and few patients (2%-5%) are referred to the community counseling resources that do offer such assistance. A system that could increase referrals through an efficient collaborative partnership between community programs and clinicians could have major public health implications; such was the subject of this feasibility evaluation.

Methods: At nine primary care practices, an electronic linkage system (eLinkS) was instituted to promote health behavior counseling and to automate patient referrals to community counseling services.

The impact of family history of breast cancer and cancer death on women's mammography practices and beliefs.

Purpose: To summarize the impact of a family history of breast cancer on mammography practices and beliefs.

Method: Survey data concerning breast health practices and beliefs were utilized for a cross-sectional analysis. Participants were 899 racially diverse nonpregnant women 40 years and older without breast cancer.

Tolerance for ambiguity could influence awareness of breast cancer genetic testing and inform health education.

Objective: This exploratory study assessed relationships among education, tolerance for ambiguity, and genetic testing awareness in light of implications for cancer genetics education.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted from self-administered written survey data of a breast cancer risk communication trial, including 899 Women's Health patients recruited from 2003 to 2005. The modifying effect of tolerance for ambiguity on the relationship between educational background and breast cancer genetic testing awareness was assessed through logistic regression.

A preliminary investigation of the predictors of tanning dependence.

Objectives: To investigate possible predictors of tanning dependence including demographic variables, exposure and protective behaviors, and other health-related behaviors.

Methods: This study consisted of an online survey of 400 students and other volunteers from a university community.

Results: Twenty-seven percent of the sample was classified as tanning dependent.

Rural adolescent attitudes toward smoking and weight loss: relationship to smoking status.

Perceptions that smoking contributes to weight loss are widespread among youth. We examined the association between weight loss and smoking to determine whether supportive attitudes were associated with smoking status and whether this is a particular problem in rural areas. High school students (N=730) completed a survey assessing smoking-related characteristics and behaviors.

Recruiting diverse patients to a breast cancer risk communication trial--waiting rooms can improve access.

Low participation among underserved populations in health research constrains progress in public health practices. From 2003 to 2005, Women's Health Clinic patients at the VCU Health System were recruited to a trial investigating breast cancer risk communication. In secondary analyses, we examined dimensions of the recruitment of these diverse women.

Parental smoking, closeness to parents, and youth smoking.

Objectives: To examine parent closeness and its effect in predicting youth smoking when 0, 1, or 2 parents smoked.

Methods: Youth and parent smoking, closeness to parents, family structure, and gender and ethnicity among middle (n=17,468) and high school (n=5457) students were measured using a questionnaire.

Results: Number of parents smoking incrementally moderated the protective effect of all 4 measures of parent closeness, in predicting youth smoking.

A practice-sponsored Web site to help patients pursue healthy behaviors: an ACORN study.

Purpose: We tested whether patients are more likely to pursue healthy behaviors (eg, physical activity, smoking cessation) if referred to a tailored Web site that provides valuable information for behavior change.

Methods: In a 9-month pre-post comparison with nonrandomized control practices, 6 family practices (4 intervention, 2 control) encouraged adults with unhealthy behaviors to visit the Web site. For patients from intervention practices, the Web site offered tailored health advice, a library of national and local resources, and printouts for clinicians.

Anthropometric changes using a walking intervention in African American breast cancer survivors: a pilot study.

Introduction: African American women exhibit a higher mortality rate from breast cancer than do white women. African American women are more likely to gain weight at diagnosis, which may increase their risk of cancer recurrence and comorbidities. Physical activity has been shown to decrease body mass index and improve quality of life in cancer survivors.

Differences in food intake and exercise by smoking status in adolescents.

Background: Smoking, diet, and lack of exercise are the top preventable causes of death in the United States. Some 23% of high school students currently smoke and many teens do not meet Healthy People 2010 standards for healthy eating or physical activity. This study examined the relationship between smoking and the consumption of fruit, vegetables, milk/dairy products and the frequency of exercise in 10,635 Virginia youth.