Application of the Frailty Framework among Vulnerable Populations to Hospitalization Outcomes of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in Long Beach, California.

Background: Individuals experiencing homelessness have a high prevalence of infectious diseases that may result in hospitalization. However, low ability to navigate the healthcare system and lack of health insurance may mean that those who are experiencing homelessness may not receive the healthcare that they need.

Objectives: This study uses risk factors at baseline to predict hospitalization at follow-up.

Effect of an anti-inflammatory dietary intervention on quality of life among breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: Behavioral interventions have been used with breast cancer survivors (BCS) in cancer pain management and post-treatment quality of life (QOL) studies. We studied the effects of an anti-inflammatory dietary intervention on QOL in BCS.

Methods: One hundred fifty-three overweight and obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m), early stage (0-III), English-speaking BCS who had completed all cancer treatment 2 or more months prior to enrollment were recruited into a two-arm randomized controlled trial with a 2 (group) by 3 (time) repeated measures design.

Rectal douching in a community sample of men and women.

Rectal douching (RD) may be a vector for sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between RD, and the prevalence of various STIs and sexual behaviors in a sample of women and men in Long Beach, California. Five hundred and forty-seven men (mean age 42.

Gender differences in risk taking behaviors for trachomatis.

trachomatis (CT) is a global problem. We compared the risk taking behaviors for CT infection between men and women. Adults (2299 females, 5559 males) were administered the Risk Behavior Assessment.

The Impact of Organizational Factors on Nurses' Knowledge, Perceptions, and Behaviors Around Advance Care Planning.

The objective of this study was to understand the organizational context of nurses' use of advance care plans (ACPs). We use a modified version of Bandera's social cognitive theory model to understand relationships between organizational constructs such as experience with ACPs and satisfaction with organizational support and oncology nurses' knowledge, behaviors, and perceptions around ACPs. The sample included practicing registered nurses with a major focus in oncology who were members of the Oncology Nursing Society in the United States, and nurses at medical hospital or community care settings were included.

The Role of the Medicaid Expansion in the Use of Preventive Health Care Services in California Men.

Men's use of preventive care services may be constrained due to a number of factors including lack of health care insurance. California used the Medicaid expansion provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to enroll low-income men between the ages of 18 and 64 years in publicly funded health insurance. Most studies on the effect of the ACA on health care services have focused on racial/ethnic differences rather than gender.

Survival Sex Trading in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Most studies on survival sex, defined as sex trading for money, drugs, , have limited their focus to adolescents. The current study reports about the relationships between survival sex trading (SST) and high-risk behaviors in a sample of adults. Bivariate analysis shows that HIV-positive status, use of cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamine, heroin, having received drug treatment, and having received medical services are associated with SST.

Arrest and Trait Aggression Correlates of Emergency Department Use.

This study examined the associations between arrest and incarceration, trait aggression, and emergency department (ED) use. Data were collected from 525 clients who visited the Center for Behavioral Research and Services in Long Beach, CA, using the following instruments: Risk Behavior Assessment, Risk Behavior Follow-Up Assessment, the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), the Displaced AQ, and the parole and Legal Status section of the Addiction Severity Index. The bivariate analysis suggested that ED use was significantly associated with trait aggression and trait-displaced aggression among those with a history of incarceration.

Health implications of sex trading characteristics in Long Beach, California, USA.

This study examined the comparative health risk behaviors of women who (a) traded sex for money, (b) traded sex for drugs, (c) traded sex for both drugs and money, or (d) did not trade sex. Self-report data were collected from 2369 women who received services through HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing programs and a subset were tested for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. Results revealed those women who traded sex only for money used condoms, were tested for HIV, and received the HIV test results more often than the other women.

A latent class analysis of alcohol and drug use immediately before or during sex among women.

Background: Alcohol and drug use by women is related to high-risk sexual practices and protective behaviors.

Objectives: To determine sexual risk and protective behaviors using information about women's drug use immediately before or during sex.

Methods: Latent class analysis using PROC LCA in SAS software was used to determine classes of women using both past 30-day drug use and before or during sex.

Comparisons of New HIV Rapid Test Kit Performance.

The development of rapid point-of-care tests for HIV infection has greatly reduced the problem of failure to return for test results. Test manufacturers are now developing test kits that can test for two or even three diseases at the same time, multiple-disease test kits. This study reports on the sensitivity and specificity of HIV tests when included on multi-disease test kits.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Aggression, and Illicit Stimulant Use: Is This Self-Medication?

This study compares adults with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on measures of direct and displaced aggression and illicit drug use. Three hundred ninety-six adults were administered the Wender Utah Rating Scale, the Risk Behavior Assessment, the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), and the Displaced Aggression Questionnaire (DAQ). Those with ADHD were higher on all scales of the AQ and DAQ, were younger at first use of amphetamines, and were more likely to have ever used crack and amphetamines.

Failure to get into substance abuse treatment.

Among substance abusers in the US, the discrepancy in the number who access substance abuse treatment and the number who need treatment is sizable. This results in a major public health problem of access to treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics of Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) that either hinder or facilitate access to treatment.

Using the Bem and Klein Grid Scores to Predict Health Services Usage by Men.

We examined the association between scores on the Bem Sex Roles Inventory (BSRI), Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, and utilization of hospital inpatient services, emergency departments, and outpatient clinic visits in the past 12 months among 53 men (mean age 39 years). The femininity subscale score on the BSRI, ever having had gonorrhea and age were the three variables identified in a multivariate linear regression significantly predicting use of total health services. This supports the hypothesis that sex roles can assist our understanding of men's use of health services.

Impulsiveness, and trait displaced aggression among drug using female sex traders.

Objective: This study compared women who sex trade for drugs, money, or both compared to neither (did not sex trade), and introduced the concept of trait displaced aggression to the literature on sex trading.

Methods: Female participants (n=1055) were recruited from a low-income area of southern California. Measures included: the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), Eysenck Impulsiveness Scale (EIS), and the Displaced Aggression Questionnaire (DAQ).

Application of the Extended Health Control Belief Model to Predict Hepatitis A and B Vaccinations.

Background: Adult vaccination compliance rates vary according to sample and type of vaccine administered (influenza, pneumococcal). This study looked at vaccination of a community sample of low-income, minority adults.

Methods: Nurses offered free vaccination for hepatitis A and B in the form of the combined Twinrix vaccine to adults on a walk-in basis.

Psychometric Properties of the Milestones of Recovery Scale-Older Adult Version.

The Milestones of Recovery Scale (MORS) is a tool that mental health professionals can use to track clients' recovery. It has been shown to have good reliability and validity in an adult population. It is important to demonstrate its psychometric properties among the elderly.

Stressful point-of-care rapid testing for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis.

Even with technological advances in point-of-care rapid testing for HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis, individuals may still find the experience of submitting to testing, and receiving results, to be stressful. Participants completed the rapid test experience questionnaires to assess stress both prior to and after the specimen collection. Participants completed the risk behavior assessment, the coping strategies indicator, and the Barratt impulsivity scale.

Hepatitis C Infection Among Hispanics in California.

Hispanics in California are more likely to be infected with hepatitis C, and those infected have had their infection detected later. A total of 1,567 Hispanic and Caucasian individuals were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C from 2000 through 2013. Interviewers administered the Risk Behavior Assessment.

Comparison of Rapid Point-of-Care Tests for Detection of Antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus.

Background.  Hepatitis C is one of the most prevalent blood-borne diseases in the United States. Despite the benefits of early screening, among 3.

Sensitivity and specificity of point-of-care rapid combination syphilis-HIV-HCV tests.

Background: New rapid point-of-care (POC) tests are being developed that would offer the opportunity to increase screening and treatment of several infections, including syphilis. This study evaluated three of these new rapid POC tests at a site in Southern California.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a testing center in Long Beach, California.

The effect of acculturation on obesity among foreign-born Asians residing in the United States.

This study examined the relationship between acculturation and obesity in foreign-born Asians residing in the United States, using the 2009 California Health Interview Survey secondary data (N = 2,871). Two series of proxies and/or behavioral variables were used to measure level of acculturation: (a) length of US residency (years and percent of life) and (b) English language use and proficiency. It was hypothesized that acculturation measured with both proxies would positively predict obesity among foreign-born Asian adults who live in the United States.

Medical service use among individuals receiving HIV prevention services in Los Angeles County.

Timely provision of medical services among communities at increased risk of HIV infection is crucial to detect the infection and to further prevent the spread of HIV. In the US, about one third of HIV cases were identified in the later stage of infection. The current study utilized the Gelberg-Andersen behavioral model for predicting medical service use among people who were at risk of HIV infection.