Youth Assets, Neighborhood Factors, Parental Income, and Tobacco Use: A Longitudinal Study of Health Disparities.

This study aimed to assess how the relationship between youth assets and future no-tobacco use among youth might differ according to race/ethnicity, neighborhood factors and socio-economic status. Five waves of annual data were collected from 1111 youth/parent pairs living in Oklahoma, USA who were randomly selected to participate in the Youth Asset Study (YAS). A marginal logistic regression model using all five waves of no-tobacco use, demographics, and their interaction was used to compare the change in tobacco use over time.

The Factors Contributing to Physicians' Current Use of and Satisfaction With Electronic Health Records in Kuwait's Public Health Care: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study.

Background: Electronic health record (EHR) has emerged as a backbone health care organization that aims to integrate health care records and automate clinical workflow. With the adoption of the eHealth care system, health information communication technologies and EHRs are offering significant health care advantages in the form of error reduction, improved communication, and patient satisfaction.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) investigate factors associated with physicians' EHR adoption status and prevalence of EHRs in Kuwait and (2) identify factors predicting physician satisfaction with EHRs in public hospitals in Kuwait.

Health Promotion Programs to Reduce Noncommunicable Diseases: A Call for Action in Kuwait.

Most public health issues in Kuwait are related to unhealthy behaviours. Research shows that behaviours are the result not only exclusively of personal choices but also of myriads of other social and environmental factors. Kuwait is one of the leading countries in obesity and tobacco use in the world.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura patients' attitudes toward depression management: A qualitative study.

Background And Aims: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare disorder characterized by acute episodes of systemic microvascular thrombosis; TTP is more common in adults, women, and African-Americans (Blacks). Our Oklahoma TTP Registry documented that survivors have an increased prevalence of depression compared with the general population; however, many patients' depression remains untreated. Moreover, studies identifying attitudes toward depression management are lacking.

Conducting a formative evaluation of an intervention promoting mammography screening in an American Indian community: The Native Women's Health Project.

Background: Breast cancer is an important public health issue among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. However, there are very few published studies describing the evaluation of breast health promotion programs among AI/AN women.

Purpose: To describe the formative evaluation of a multi-component intervention to promote mammography screening in an AI community in rural Oklahoma.

Community pharmacists' beliefs regarding improvement of Star Ratings scores using the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Objectives: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is moving toward a value-based model, which includes the Five-Star Quality Rating System (Star Ratings). Prescription Drug Plans include multiple pharmacy measures associated with adherence and patient safety that contribute to CMS Star Ratings scores. This study, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), explored factors associated with community pharmacists' beliefs to improve Star Ratings scores.

Demographic Factors Predict Disparities in Number of Assets Youth Possess.

Objectives: This study's purpose was to determine if youth race/ethnicity, youth age and sex, parent income and education, household wealth, family poverty, and family structure were prospectively associated with youth assets in a community-based sample of racially/ethnically and economically-diverse youth and their parents.

Methods: Five waves of data were collected annually (2003 to 2008) from youth (N = 1111; Mean age = 14.4 years, SD = 1.

The use of think-aloud protocols to identify a decision-making process of community pharmacists aimed at improving CMS Star Ratings scores.

Background: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Star Rating system based on multiple measures that indicate the overall quality of health plans. Community pharmacists can impact certain Star Ratings measure scores through medication adherence and patient safety interventions.

Objective: To explore methods, needs, and workflow issues of community pharmacists to improve CMS Star Ratings measures.

The Design of a Multi-component Intervention to Promote Screening Mammography in an American Indian Community: The Native Women's Health Project.

Background: Breast cancer is an important public health issue among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women in the US. This article describes the design and implementation of a culturally sensitive intervention to promote breast health among AI/AN women through a hybrid model that incorporates clinical and community-based approaches. This is one of the first studies using this model addressing breast cancer disparities among AI/AN populations in the US.

Barriers And Motivators for Smoking Cessation in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Unlabelled: Although studies have shown that smoking is detrimental to the health of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), studies regarding barriers and motivators for smoking cessation are lacking. The purpose of this study was to generate hypotheses regarding the barriers and motivators for smoking cessation in SLE patients.

Methods: This study was based on the theoretical framework of the stages of change model.

Prospective association between negative life events and initiation of sexual intercourse: the influence of family structure and family income.

Objectives: We examined the prospective association between negative life events and time to initiation of sexual intercourse and the influence of family structure and family income on this association.

Methods: We followed up a randomly selected sample (n=649) of ethnically diverse parents and their children aged 12 to 17 years over a 5-year period. We conducted Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to examine the relation between negative life events and time to initiation of sexual intercourse.

Prospective Associations Among Assets and Successful Transition to Early Adulthood.

Objectives. We investigated prospective associations among assets (e.g.

Prospective associations between negative life events and youth tobacco use.

Objective: To examine the prospective associations between commonly-occurring negative life events (NLEs) and adolescent tobacco use.

Methods: NLEs were examined prospectively over 4 years from 1111 adolescents (mean age = 15.17 years).

Predictors of regular mammography use among American Indian women in Oklahoma: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There are significant disparities in breast cancer screening and survivorship between American Indian (AI) and non-Hispanic white women. This study aimed to identify the salient beliefs AI women from Oklahoma have on regular mammography screening, and to determine which beliefs and health- related practices are associated with past mammography screening behavior.

Methods: This study used an integrated model of the Theory of Planned Behavior as the guiding theoretical framework.

The influence of assets and environmental factors on gender differences in adolescent drug use.

For adolescents, illicit drug use remains a significant public health problem. This study explored prospectively the differential effects of 17 youth assets and 5 environmental factors on drug use in adolescent males and females (Youth Asset Study - a 5-wave longitudinal study of 1117 youth/parent pairs). Baseline analyses included 1093 youth (53% female).

Mixed-methods feasibility study on the cultural adaptation of a child abuse prevention model.

The current study utilized mixed-methods analyses to examine the process of adapting a home-based parenting program for a local Latino community. The study examined the: (a) acceptability and cultural congruence of the adapted SafeCare® protocol, (b) adherence to the core components of SafeCare® while adapting to local community culture, and (c) social validity of the new model in addressing SafeCare® target areas (parenting, home safety, and child health). Participants were 28 Latino mothers and eight providers.

Date rape among Cypriot female college students: an explorative study.

This study examined the prevalence and reporting of date rape among female college students (aged 18-24) in Cyprus and assessed the students' attitudes and awareness regarding date rape. In addition, the study examined how date rape is perceived among representatives of related private and governmental organizations in Cyprus. This is part of a larger multi-country study.

The predictive influence of family and neighborhood assets on fighting and weapon carrying from mid- to late adolescence.

Using a developmental, social-ecological approach to understand the etiology of health-risk behavior and inform primary prevention efforts, we assess the predictive effects of family and neighborhood social processes on youth physical fighting and weapon carrying. Specifically, we focus on relationships among youth and their parents, family communication, parental monitoring, as well as sense of community and neighborhood informal social control, support, concerns, and disorder. This study advances knowledge through its investigation of family and neighborhood structural factors and social processes together, employment of longitudinal models that estimate effects over adolescent development, and use of self-report and observational measures.

A longitudinal study of youth assets, neighborhood conditions, and youth sexual behaviors.

Purpose: To prospectively determine whether individual, family, and community assets help youth to delay initiation of sexual intercourse (ISI); and for youth who do initiate intercourse, to use birth control and avoid pregnancy. The potential influence of neighborhood conditions was also investigated.

Methods: The Youth Asset Study was a 4-year longitudinal study involving 1,089 youth (mean age = 14.

School-related assets and youth risk behaviors: alcohol consumption and sexual activity.

Background: Two risk behaviors, alcohol consumption and early initiation of sexual intercourse (ISI), can have devastating consequences for youth. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of school connectedness and school-related behaviors (eg, academic performance, skipping school, getting into trouble at school) with these 2 risk behaviors.

Methods: The Youth Asset Survey (YAS) was administered to 1117 youth/parent pairs in their homes using Computer-Assisted Personal/Self-Interviewing (CAPI/CASI).

Parental youth assets and sexual activity: differences by race/ethnicity.

Objectives: To examine how the relationship between parental-related youth assets and youth sexual activity differed by race/ethnicity.

Methods: A random sample of 976 youth and their parents living in a Midwestern city participated in the study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted for 3 major ethnic groups controlling for the other demographics.

Associations between youth assets and sexual intercourse by household income.

Purpose: Evaluate youth assets or potential strengths and sexual intercourse associations by household income.

Design: Data consisted of youth and parent responses from randomly selected households from a cross-sectional study and wave one of a longitudinal extension of that study. Youth assets and sexual intercourse were compared for four income categories.

Reliability and validity of the youth asset survey: an update.

Purpose: Improve and expand an existing youth asset scale.

Design: Consisted of seven steps: (1) review of poorer-performing items and constructs, (2) literature review for relevant new asset constructs/items, (3) review of revised instrument by panel of experts, (4) qualitative review through focus group research, (5) pilot-test of instrument, (6) evaluation of the performance of the instrument in a longitudinal study, and (7) conduct of test-retest analysis.

Subjects/setting: Youth (N = 1111) recruited through canvassing of randomly selected census tracts and blocks.

Youth assets and sexual risk behavior: differences between male and female adolescents.

Youth internal assets and external resources are protective factors that can help youth avoid potentially harmful behaviors. This study investigates how the relationship between youth assets or resources and two sexual risk behaviors (ever had sex and birth control use) varied by gender. Data were collected through in-home interviews from parent-adolescent dyads, including 1,219 females and 1,116 males.

Sexuality, sexual and reproductive health: an exploration of the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of the Greek-Cypriot adolescents.

This study examines the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of Greek-Cypriot adolescents regarding sexuality, sexual and reproductive health in Cyprus. This is the first study in Cyprus that focuses on these issues. During the study, a survey was administered to a random sample of third grade students (N = 697, Mean age = 14 +/- 1 years, 48% males).