Cluster Analysis Methods to Support Population Health Improvement Among US Counties.

Context: Population health rankings can be a catalyst for the improvement of health by drawing attention to areas in need of relative improvement and summarizing complex information in a manner understood by almost everyone. However, ranks also have unintended consequences, such as being interpreted as "hard truths," where variations may not be significant. There is a need to improve communication about uncertainty in ranks, with accurate interpretation.

Students authoring molecular case studies as a partial course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) for lab instruction.

Understanding the relationship between protein structure and function is a core-learning goal in biochemistry. Students often struggle to visualize proteins as three-dimensional objects that interact with other molecules to affect its biochemical consequences. We describe here a partial course-based undergraduate research experiences that has students exploring protein structure and function hands-on while authoring a molecular case study intended for others to use.

Life Expectancy At The US-Mexico Border: Evidence Of Disparities By Place, Race, And Ethnicity.

The mortality experience for the cluster of US counties in the US-Mexico border region has not been well described. We calculated 2016-18 life expectancy for the border region (counties within 100 kilometers of the border), making key comparisons to the US overall and to nonborder counties in border states. Life expectancy from birth for the border region was 81.

Trends in infants born at low birthweight and disparities by maternal race and education from 2003 to 2018 in the United States.

Background: Understanding current levels, as well as past and future trends, of the percentage of infants born at low birthweight (LBW) in the United States is imperative to improving the health of our nation. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine recent trends in percentage of LBW, both overall and by maternal race and education subgroups. Studying disparities in percentage of LBW by these subgroups can help to further understand the health needs of the population and can inform policies that can close race and class disparities in poor birth outcomes.

Comparative Methodologic and Practical Considerations for Life Expectancy as a Public Health Mortality Measure.

Introduction: Life expectancy is a public health metric used to assess mortality. We describe life expectancy calculations for US counties and present methodologic considerations compared with years of potential life lost before age 75 (YPLL-75) and premature age-adjusted mortality (PAAM), 2 commonly used length-of-life metrics.

Methods: We used death data from the National Center for Health Statistics for 2015-2017 and other health measures from the 2019 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.

What Do We Know About the Drivers of Health and Equity? A Narrative Review of Graphic Representations.

Frameworks can be influential tools for advancing health and equity, guiding population health researchers and practitioners. We reviewed frameworks with graphic representations that address the drivers of both health and equity. Our purpose was to summarize and discuss graphic representations of population health and equity and their implications for research and practice.

Deaths of Despair(ity) in Early 21st Century America: The Rise of Mortality and Racial/Ethnic Disparities.

Introduction: Recent media coverage and research have emphasized increasing mortality rates for middle-aged white Americans. A concern is that this has shifted focus away from the health burden of other population subgroups. This cross-sectional study compares the magnitude of racial/ethnic mortality disparities across age groups and investigates how changing mortality trends have affected these disparities.

Ranking composite Cancer Burden Indices for geographic regions: point and interval estimates.

Purpose: To develop a composite Cancer Burden Index and produce 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as measures of uncertainties for the index.

Methods: The Kentucky Cancer Registry has developed a cancer burden Rank Sum Index (RSI) to guide statewide comprehensive cancer control activities. However, lack of interval estimates for RSI limits its applications.

Wisconsin Versus Minnesota: A Border Battle for the Healthiest State.

Background: Measuring and ranking the health of counties helps raise awareness of health disparities based on where people live. Recently, there has been increasing interest in comparing the health of counties across state lines, to potentially measure the impact of local and state-level policies.

Methods: The counties in Minnesota (n = 87) and Wisconsin (n = 72) were combined into a single 2-state region, and all 159 counties were ranked according to the County Health Rankings methods, with summary ranks for health outcomes and health factors.

Progress in reducing premature deaths in Wisconsin counties, 2000-2010.

Background: Measuring trends in a county's premature death rate is a straightforward method that can be used to assess a county's progress in improving the health of the population.

Methods: Age-adjusted premature death rate data from Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health for persons less than 75 years of age were collected for the years 2000-2010. Overall 10-year percent change was calculated, compared, and ranked for all Wisconsin counties during this time period.

Correlates of physiological and psychological stress among parents of childhood cancer and brain tumor survivors.

Objective: First, we sought to determine if parents of children with cancer or a brain tumor had greater stress compared to parents of healthy children and to evaluate the correlates of stress among parents of children with cancer or brain tumors. Second, we sought to examine the relationship between perceived stress and symptoms of stress and how that relationship may differ for parents of children with cancer.

Methods: In-person, interviewer-assisted surveys were administered to 73 case dyads (children with cancer or a brain tumor and their parents) and 133 comparison dyads (children without health problems and their parents from a community sample).

Family influence: key to fruit and vegetable consumption among fourth- and fifth-grade students.

Objective: To assess social and familial environmental influences on fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption of fourth- and fifth-graders living in a culturally diverse, urban setting.

Design: In 2006, students from 9 fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms from a public school in the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Region were recruited as part of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education's initiative to increase FV consumption among school-aged children in low-income schools. This intervention was conducted in partnership with the school.