Civic Engagement Among California High School Teens.

This policy brief describes civic engagement among California adolescents in high school. Using data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the study found that the most common civic engagement activity among California high school teens is volunteering. Latino teens and those from low-income families have lower rates of civic engagement.

Disparities in Health Care Access and Health Among Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals in California.

This policy brief examines differences in health care access, health behaviors, and health outcomes by sexual orientation among California adults. Using data from the California Health Interview Survey, the study finds that although lesbian, gay, and bisexual women and men have similar or better rates of insurance coverage compared to straight women and men, they are more likely to experience delays in getting needed health care. Lesbians, bisexual women, and bisexual men have higher rates of smoking and binge drinking than straight women and men; however, gay men are less likely to consume sugary beverages and to be physically inactive.

Few California Children and Adolescents Meet Physical Activity Guidelines.

This policy brief describes physical activity among California children and adolescents. Using data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the study found that only 31 percent of children ages 5-11 and 18 percent of adolescents ages 12-17 meet the physical activity guidelines of engaging in at least one hour of physical activity every day. Neighborhood characteristics, including safety and proximity to parks, are related to physical activity levels among youth.

Walking Among California Adults.

This policy brief describes two types of walking among California adults: walking for transportation and walking for leisure. Using data from the 2013-14 California Health Interview Survey, the study found that the prevalence of both types of walking has increased since 2003. The prevalence of walking for both transportation and leisure varies with age, income, race/ethnicity, and neighborhood safety and cohesion.

Sugary Beverage Consumption Among California Children and Adolescents.

This policy brief examines patterns of sugary beverage consumption among children and adolescents in California. Using data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), this study found that while sugary beverage consumption decreased among adolescents ages 12-17 between 2011-12 and 2013-14, it increased among children under age 12 between 2009 and 2013-14. The trend among children under age 12 may be attributed to a shift in sugary beverage consumption from soda to sports and energy drinks.

Prediabetes in California: Nearly Half of California Adults on Path to Diabetes.

In California, more than 13 million adults (46 percent of all adults in the state) are estimated to have prediabetes or undiagnosed diabetes. An additional 2.5 million adults have diagnosed diabetes.

Engaging Frontline Staff in Performance Improvement: The American Organization of Nurse Executives Implementation of Transforming Care at the Bedside Collaborative.

Background: Process improvement stresses the importance of engaging frontline staff in implementing new processes and methods. Yet questions remain on how to incorporate these activities into the workday of hospital staff or how to create and maintain its commitment. In a 15-month American Organization of Nurse Executives collaborative involving frontline medical/surgical staff from 67 hospitals, Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB) was evaluated to assess whether participating units successfully implemented recommended change processes, engaged staff, implemented innovations, and generated support from hospital leadership and staff.

Role models and social supports related to adolescent physical activity and overweight/obesity.

Positive role models, social and community activities, and school support are protective social factors that promote youth health and well-being. Latino, African-American, Asian, multi-racial, and low-income adolescents are less likely to experience these protective social factors compared to other groups, which may contribute to health disparities. Adolescents who identify a role model, volunteer, participate in organizations outside of school, or experience high levels of teacher or other adult support at school engage in greater physical activity and are more likely to have a healthy weight.

Neighborhood, family and individual characteristics related to adolescent park-based physical activity.

Background: Local parks are an important community resource that may influence levels of physical activity among youth. However, few population-based studies have investigated park-based physical activity among youth.

Purpose: This study examines sociodemographic, family, and neighborhood characteristics associated with park-based physical activity among adolescents.

Physical activity, park access, and park use among California adolescents.

In California, 2.15 million adolescents (62.9%) do not engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity five or more days per week.

Adolescent sedentary behaviors: correlates differ for television viewing and computer use.

Purpose: Sedentary behavior is associated with obesity in youth. Understanding correlates of specific sedentary behaviors can inform the development of interventions to reduce sedentary time. The current research examines correlates of leisure computer use and television viewing among adolescents in California.

Asthma-related school absenteeism and school concentration of low-income students in California.

Introduction: Asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. Previous studies have shown that school absenteeism is related to family income of individual students. However, there is little research examining whether school absenteeism is related to school-level concentration of low-income students, independent of family income.

The influence of integrated electronic medical records and computerized nursing notes on nurses' time spent in documentation.

We investigated nurses' time spent in documentation as it relates to the use of electronic charting. A cross-sectional analysis was completed using time and motion data collected during a nursing process improvement initiative for 105 units in 55 hospitals. Ordinary least squares regression with a cluster adjustment revealed very little difference in time spent in documentation with or without the use of electronic medical records or computerized nursing notes.

Food environments near home and school related to consumption of soda and fast food.

In California, more than 2 million adolescents (58%) drink soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages every day, and more than 1.6 million adolescents (46%) eat fast food at least twice a week. Adolescents who live and go to school in areas with more fast food restaurants and convenience stores than healthier food outlets such as grocery stores are more likely to consume soda and fast food than teens who live and go to school in areas with healthier food environments.

Adolescent physical education and physical activity in California.

In California, more than 1.3 million adolescents (38%) do not participate in physical education (PE) at school, and this rate increases dramatically with age, from just 5% at age 12 to 77% at age 17. In addition, only 19% of teens meet current physical activity recommendations.

Income disparities in obesity trends among California adolescents.

Objectives: We assessed income-specific trends in obesity rates among a diverse population of California adolescents.

Methods: We used data from 17,535 adolescents who responded to the California Health Interview Survey between 2001 and 2007 to examine disparities in obesity prevalence by family income and gender.

Results: Between 2001 and 2007, obesity prevalence significantly increased among lower-income adolescents but showed no statistically significant differences among higher-income adolescents after adjustment for age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Obesity and diabetes: two growing epidemics in California.

The prevalence of both diabetes and obesity has grown significantly in California. Six million adults are obese and an additional 9.3 million are overweight.