Childhood diet and growth in boys in relation to timing of puberty and adult height: the Longitudinal Studies of Child Health and Development.

Purpose: To begin to explore the possible roles of childhood diet and growth in prostate cancer (PCa) development, we investigated these exposures in relation to two known/suspected PCa risk factors, earlier pubertal timing and greater attained height, in the Longitudinal Studies of Child Health and Development.

Methods: We used biannual/annual height, weight, and dietary history data to investigate childhood diet, body mass index (BMI), birth length, and childhood height in relation to PCa risk factors (age at peak height velocity (APHV), height at age 13, and adult height) for 64 Caucasian American boys.

Results: In adjusted models, childhood fat and animal protein intake was positively associated with height at age 13 and adult height (P < 0.

Striving to be heard and recognized: nurse solutions for improvement in the outpatient hemodialysis work environment.

One group of nurses not frequently studied but who have felt the burden of shortages of registered nurses (RNs) is that of nephrology nurses. Nurses' valuable insights must be solicited for the accurate assessment of current work environment issues and for their specific solutions. The purposes of this study were to explore nurse satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the work environment in outpatient hemodialysis facilities, to solicit nurses' insights on potential solutions, and to develop national strategies for improvement.

Does increased patient awareness improve accrual into cancer-related clinical trials?

Background: Oncology literature cites that only 2% to 4% of patients participate in research. Up to 85% of patients are unaware that clinical trials research is being conducted at their treatment facility or that they might be eligible to participate.

Objectives: It was hypothesized that patients' satisfaction with information regarding clinical trials would improve after targeted educational interventions, and accruals to clinical trials would increase in the year following those interventions.

The relationships between nurses' perceptions of the hemodialysis unit work environment and nurse turnover, patient satisfaction, and hospitalizations.

While the nephrology nursing shortage persists despite the continued growth of the population of individuals with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, there is a paucity of empirical data regarding nephrology nurses' perceptions of their work environments. Moreover, there are no studies that have examined the relationship of work environment attributes to patient and nurse outcomes in dialysis settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between staff nurses' perceptions of dialysis work environments, nurses' intentions to leave their current jobs, nurse turnover, patient satisfaction, and patient hospitalization rates.

Use of a food frequency questionnaire in American Indian and Caucasian pregnant women: a validation study.

Background: Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have been validated in pregnant women, but few studies have focused specifically on low-income women and minorities. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the Harvard Service FFQ (HSFFQ) among low-income American Indian and Caucasian pregnant women.

Methods: The 100-item HSFFQ was administered three times to a sample of pregnant women, and two sets of 24-hour recalls (six total) were collected at approximately 12 and 28 weeks of gestation.

Language proficiency and the enrollment of Medicaid-eligible children in publicly funded health insurance programs.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of language proficiency on enrollment in a state-sponsored child health insurance program.

Methods: 1055 parents of Medicaid-eligible children, who were enrolled in a state-sponsored child health insurance program, were surveyed about how they learned about the state program, how they enrolled their children in the program, and perceived barriers to Medicaid enrollment. We performed weighted chi2 tests to identify statistically significant differences in outcomes based on language.

Family income and the impact of a children's health insurance program on reported need for health services and unmet health need.

Objective: In an era when expanding publicly funded health insurance to children in higher income families has been the major strategy to increase access to health care for children, it is important to determine if the benefits to higher income children attributable to the receipt of health coverage are similar to those observed for lower income children. This study investigated how the likely impact of child health insurance expansions varies with family income.

Methods: We surveyed parents or guardians of children who were enrolled in a state-sponsored health insurance program (Massachusetts Children's Medical Security Plan [CMSP]) that, before the implementation of the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP), was open to all children regardless of income.