Qualitative study informing the development and content validity of the HAND-Q: a modular patient-reported outcome measure for hand conditions.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify and understand the issues that are relevant to patients with hand conditions. The data were used to develop a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for adults with hand conditions (HAND-Q) and refine it with input from patients and clinician experts.

Design: Semistructured qualitative interviews were used to understand what matters to patients.

Implementation of HPV vaccination guidelines in a diverse population in Los Angeles: Results from an environmental scan of local HPV resources and needs.

Research shows that vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most effective methods for reducing risk for cervical cancer; it also protects against other HPV-related cancers. Controversies exist regarding HPV vaccination in several communities; which may in part explain why although rates of HPV vaccination are increasing nationwide, Los Angeles County (LAC) data show that many adolescents are still not vaccinated. These adolescents remain at high-risk for infection.

Implementing and sustaining school-located influenza vaccination programs: perspectives from five diverse school districts.

Local health departments have typically led school-located influenza vaccination (SLIV) programs, assuming resource-intensive roles in design, coordination, and vaccination. This level of involvement is often not financially sustainable over time. Five diverse school districts in Los Angeles County designed, implemented, refined, and institutionalized their own SLIV programs over 3 years by identifying and maximizing their existing resources.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about seasonal influenza and H1N1 vaccinations in a low-income, public health clinic population.

Objective: The Public Health Center Vaccine Survey (PHCVS) examines the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about seasonal influenza and H1N1 vaccinations in a largely low-income, urban, public health clinic population in Los Angeles County, USA.

Design: A cross-sectional survey of vulnerable individuals at risk for severe influenza infection was conducted in one of the nation's largest local public health jurisdictions.

Subjects: A total of 1541 clinic patients were recruited in the waiting rooms of five large public health centers in Los Angeles County from June to August, 2010.

Routine PHQ-9 depression screening in home health care: depression, prevalence, clinical and treatment characteristics and screening implementation.

This study aimed to examine: the prevalence and correlates of depression among adults age 65 and over on admission to diverse home health care programs; nurse compliance with routine screening using the PHQ-9; and concordance between the number of depressed individuals identified by the PHQ-9 and Medicare-mandated nursing assessment following targeted nurse training in identifying depression among the elderly using a standard diagnostic screen. Data are drawn from routine screening of 9,178 patients (a 77% screening compliance rate). Of all patients screened, 782 (8.

Advance supply of emergency contraception: a randomized trial in adolescent mothers.

Objective: To examine whether the advanced provision of emergency contraception (AEC) to parenting youth would increase emergency contraception (EC) utilization, and whether AEC would impact the rates of unprotected sex and contraception use.

Design: Subjects were randomized to receive either information about EC or information and an actual supply of AEC. Subjects were interviewed at baseline, 6 and 12-month follow-up.

Depression, correlates of depression, and receipt of depression care among low-income women with breast or gynecologic cancer.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of depression among low-income, ethnic minority women with breast or gynecologic cancer, receipt of antidepressant medications or counseling services, and correlates of depression.

Patients And Methods: Study patients were 472 women receiving cancer care in an urban public medical center. Women had a primary diagnosis of breast (stage 0 to III) or gynecologic cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage 0 to IIIB).

The return to work experiences of colorectal cancer survivors.

During the past 15 years, the number of colorectal cancer survivors has risen dramatically. While it is unclear how many colorectal cancer survivors were employed at the time of diagnosis, it is reasonable to expect a significant proportion of these survivors were temporarily displaced from the work force. This article describes the return to work experiences of 250 colorectal cancer survivors.