Unravelling Delay in Care for Sexually Transmitted Infections-Related Symptoms in a Developing Country Setting (Jamaica).

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and STI treatment remain a challenge in public health. There is little understanding of related factors influencing health seeking behaviour and delay of care among clinic attendees in Jamaica.

Aim: To determine socio-demographic profile of clinic attendees with STI and identify factors associated with delay in seeking care for STI-related symptoms.

Taxi drivers and COVID-19 in Jamaica: Occupationally related income decline and health behaviour.

Income and employment are recognised as social determinants of health. Occupationally related exposures and working conditions impact health behaviours. Taxi drivers have been recognised as an occupationally COVID-19 at-risk group.

Structured internship in health promotion: an approach used in a middle-income developing country - Jamaica.

Internship programmes have the potential to provide learning and professional experiences, build students' competency and strengthen partnerships between community and training institutions. In this paper, we examine the extent to which a structured internship at The University of the West Indies contributed to experience and competency-building, provided focus and met learners' expectations and satisfaction among a cohort of unpaid health promotion interns. The contribution of placements to the strengthening of health education and promotion competencies and interns' feelings about their experiences are included.

Zarit burden interview among caregivers of community-dwelling older adults in a caribbean setting (Jamaica): Reliability and factor structure.

The Zarit Burden Interview has been the most popularly used tool for measuring caregiver burden and with the 60 years and over population in Jamaica and developing countries expected to increase, caregiver burden and its assessment assume increased importance. Establishing the reliability and underlying factor structure of instruments such as the ZBI is critical. This study sought to determine the reliability of the Zarit Burden Interview and to assess its underlying factor structure.

Socio-demographic, Health and Functional Status Correlates of Caregiver Burden Among Care Recipients Age 60 Years and Older in Jamaica.

The provision of care to older persons can impose significant burden on those providing care, burdens influenced by care recipient characteristic, caregiver attributes and availability of social support. This paper focuses on identifying relationships between caregiver burden and the socio-demographic, health and functional status attributes of care recipients age 60 years and older in Jamaica. A nationally representative cross-sectional study was done among persons providing non-institutional care for a single person 60 years and older.

Caregivers of Older Persons in Jamaica: Characteristics, Burden, and Associated Factors.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine and characterize caregiver burden among caregivers of community-dwelling older persons in Jamaica.

Method: A nationally representative cross-sectional study was done among persons providing noninstitutional care for a single person (≥60 years). The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and a structured questionnaire were administered to 180 caregivers from four geographic health regions.

Performance and Receiver Operating Characteristics of the Mini-Mental State Examination Instrument in Detecting Dementia in a Rapidly Aging Developing Country (Jamaica).

Objective: To examine the performance of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in community-dwelling older persons in a developing country (Jamaica) undergoing rapid population aging.

Methods: An embedded validity study was conducted utilizing participants from a nationally representative sample of 2782 older persons. Standardized MMSE scores were obtained for study participants.

Predictors of Health Service Utilization Among Older Men in Jamaica.

Objectives: To determine the relative influence of sociodemographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and health variables on health service utilization in the last 12 months.

Methods: Data were analyzed for 1,412 men ≥60 years old from a 2012 nationally representative community-based survey in Jamaica. Associations between six health service utilization variables and several explanatory variables were explored.

Participation in Social Activities and the Association with Socio-Demographic and Health-Related Factors among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Jamaica.

Social participation is critical for maintaining independence and facilitating active ageing. The aim of this paper is to describe participation in social activities among older adults in Jamaica and to identify independently associated socio-demographic and health characteristics. We analysed data from a nationally representative, community-based survey of 2943 persons 60 years and older.

Cardio-Vascular Disease and Cancer: A Dichotomy in Utilization of Clinical Preventive Services by Older Adults in a Developing Country.

To report the level of utilization of clinical preventive services by older adults in Jamaica and to identify independent factors associated with utilization. A nationally representative, community-based survey of 2,943 older adults was undertaken. Utilization frequency for six preventive, cardiovascular or cancer-related services was calculated.

Non-communicable diseases in an older, aging population: a developing country perspective (Jamaica).

Unlabelled: Changes in the non-communicable disease (NCD) profile of older adults living in a rapidly-aging, developing country are described.

Methods: Data from a 2012 nationally representative survey of 2,943 older adults were used to determine the burden of NCDs important to elder health. Additionally, the percentage change in NCD prevalence over a 23-year period (1989-2012) was determined.

Hypertension and Diabetes Prevalence in Older Persons in Jamaica, 2012.

The Jamaican population is experiencing both a demographic and epidemiological transition. This 2012 study of 2943 community dwelling persons over sixty years of age sought to determine the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and how it has increased since the earlier 1989 study. Hypertension was the most prevalent non-communicable disease with 61.

Ageing of Jamaica's Population -- What Are the Implications for Healthcare?

The 2011 Census has confirmed the ageing of the Jamaican population. The over-60-year-old population has increased while the under 15-year population has decreased. Other demographic changes of note include the largest increase being in the old-old who are predominantly female.

The Educational Needs of Clinicians Regarding Anticoagulation Therapy for Prevention of Thromboembolism and Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

The objective is to identify practice patterns and attitudes of and barriers faced by US physicians assessing thromboembolism/stroke risk and managing anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation (AF) to determine educational needs. Case-based surveys were used to assess practice patterns, guideline use, barriers, and attitudes; 51 cardiologists and 50 primary care physicians (PCPs) were surveyed. Most cardiologists use validated risk scoring systems to assess thromboembolism/stroke risk, and more than half of PCPs use clinical experience.

Assessing the effectiveness of a Grand Rounds CME activity for health-care professionals.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation offers Grand Rounds continuing medical education (CME) activities on specific issues related to advances in the management of patients with lymphoma. The 2012 activity comprised interactive case studies presented by local lymphoma experts. A case-based survey was designed to assess whether the management choices of program participants are consistent with the evidence-based content of the CME activity.

Shaping the research experiences of graduate students using action research.

Background: Nursing research capacity is often not optimal in developing countries. Capacity building at the graduate nurse level presents an opportunity for improved research output. Students pursuing a research methods course at a nursing school in Jamaica expressed fear and anxiety towards the course.

Ageing in place: implications of morbidity patterns among older persons--findings from a cross-sectional study in a developing country (Jamaica).

Aim: This paper describes morbidity patterns among older people, relevant health-care resources in a localised population in a developing country (Jamaica) and implications for ageing in place in the community.

Methods: Local morbidity patterns among older people were determined in Jamaica from a 2007 cross-sectional study involving record searches at major hospitals and clinics. Age-specific morbidity distributions were compiled.

Communication gaps between physicians and patients with postherpetic neuralgia: results from a national study on practice patterns.

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in perceptions of care regarding postherpetic neuralgia, including communication patterns between patients and physicians and levels of satisfaction with therapies and care.

Methods: A survey was developed for physicians (neurologists, internists, and family physicians) and patients with postherpetic neuralgia in order to determine their perspectives on its management.

Results: A total of 142 eligible patient respondents were included in the study, and responses were compared with those of 150 primary care physicians and 76 neurologist respondents.

Chronic disease and ageing in the Caribbean: opportunities knock at the door.

Amidst rapid population ageing, the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases and their sequelae demand reflective and critical looks at the issue and the subsequent development of informed age-sensitive responses. This paper reviews the burden of chronic diseases in the Caribbean, and its relationship to ageing and the demographic transition. Inter-linkages between the social determinants of health, poverty, ageing, and chronic disease are illustrated.

Are parents in tune with music their adolescent children enjoy? Are there missed opportunities for sexual and reproductive health dialogue?

Unlabelled: The perspectives of adolescents were solicited on the issue of sexual and reproductive health messages they received through dancehall music as well as their perceptions of parents' views of such messages and adolescents' indulgence with this genre of music.

Methods: This sequential mixed methods study was completed in 2008. The study's qualitative component was summarized as the novel ALODAC (Ask, Listen and Observe, Discuss, Analyse and Confirm) model, involving a series of steps to engage adolescents 10-19 years to share their perspectives on sexual and reproductive health messages enunciated in the dancehall music to which they listen.

Are women ready to do HIV test?

Objective: To identify the factors that influence the stage of change with regards to HIV testing in women (16- 45-years-old) in Westmoreland using the trans-theoretical model (TTM) of behaviour change.

Design And Methods: A structured interview-assisted questionnaire was administered to 372 pregnant and non-pregnant respondents in urban and rural areas of Westmoreland after random selection of four public health facilities. The trans-theoretical model which suggests that behaviour change process moves through five stages from pre-contemplation to maintenance was used to evaluate readiness for HIV testing.

Competition for adolescents' sexual and reproductive health values: is the media winning?

Objective: This study aimed to understand the sources and content of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information among Jamaican adolescents.

Subjects And Methods: A national survey of adolescents 9-18 years old attending public schools in Jamaica was done using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling techniques. Questions included in a 57-item questionnaire assessed adolescents' awareness of SRH messages promoted by the Ministry of Health (SSRHM) and through Dancehall, (DSRHM).

Prevention for better health among older persons: are primary healthcare clinics in Jamaica meeting the challenge?

Objectives: The study sought to determine the level and type of preventive care offered to older persons (persons 50 years and over) in the primary healthcare system and to identify the barriers to prevention-related activities.

Methods: The study was carried out in three phases utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data were collected over a six-week period from 738 older patients accessing health centre curative services and from 86 health centre staff Focus group discussions were used to obtain information from non-users of health centres.