Publications by authors named "Kendall A Leser"

Disease investigation and contact tracing are long-standing public health strategies used to control the spread of infectious disease. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health departments across the country have lacked the internal workforce capacity and technology needed to efficiently isolate positive cases and quarantine close contacts to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2. This article describes an innovative disease investigation and contact tracing program developed through a formalized community partnership between a local county health department and local university.

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Objective: This study sought to evaluate resident demographics and resident understanding of the proper use of potassium iodide (KI) pills as a countermeasure in the event of a nuclear power plant emergency. We also described expected behaviors of community members in the event of a nuclear accident.

Design: The study design utilized a cross-sectional survey with a validated written questionnaire.

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Despite increasing interest in structural (policy, systems, and environmental) changes to improve health, little attention has focused on the adoption, implementation, sustainability, and potential for dissemination of these changes among local community-based organizations. A mixed methods approach was used for this process evaluation. Representatives of nine community-based organizations were surveyed using closed-ended questions and in-depth qualitative interviews to describe 32 policy changes.

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Objectives: Children are at increased risk for experiencing negative physical and mental health outcomes as a result of disasters. Millions of children spend their days in childcare centers or in residential family childcare settings. The purpose of this study was to describe childcare providers' perceived levels of preparedness capabilities and to assess differences in levels of perceived preparedness between different types of childcare providers.

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Background: People with developmental disabilities are not immune from the addictive effects and poor health outcomes associated with cigarette use. Direct support professionals often play a large role in the social environments of people with developmental disabilities and the literature suggests that one's environment can influence behavior.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between the smoking behaviors of people with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers.

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Direct support professionals (DSPs) play a large social role in the lives of people with developmental disabilities (DD) and have the potential to influence their health behaviors. Six qualitative focus groups ( n = 48) were conducted with DD community agency administrators, DSPs, family members and adults with DD to better understand the perceived role of DSPs in the health promotion efforts of those with DD. Findings from this study suggest that DSPs experience several barriers when trying to promote the health of those with DD, one of which is fear of violating the rights of people with DD.

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Objectives: Although assessing individual consumer preferences are an important first step in providing person-centered care, the purpose of this study was to identify the top 10 shared preferences that are important to a majority of consumers receiving long-term services and supports.

Design: A cross-sectional survey design was used.

Setting And Participants: Preference assessment interviews were conducted with 255 nursing home (NH) residents and 528 older adults receiving home and community-based services (HCBS).

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Background: People with developmental disabilities lead more sedentary lifestyles, consume poorer diets, as well as have higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease when compared to members of the general population. Direct support professionals play a large social role in the lives of their clients with developmental disabilities, and thus have the ability to influence the health behaviors of their clients.

Objectives: The overall purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the dietary and physical activity behaviors of direct support professionals and their clients with developmental disabilities, as well as to assess how direct support professionals facilitate the health behaviors of their clients.

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Objectives The United States Department of Agriculture's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides meals and snacks to low-income children in child care. This study compared nutrition and physical activity practices and policies as well as the overall nutrition and physical activity environments in a sample of CACFP and non-CACFP child care settings. Methods A random stratified sample of 350 child care settings in a large Midwestern city and its suburbs, was mailed a survey on obesity prevention practices and policies concerning menu offerings, feeding practices, nutrition and physical activity education, activity levels, training, and screen time.

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Parent-child communication about sexual health is considered an effective strategy for encouraging safe sexual practices among youth. This study used a brief survey to examine mother-child communication among 86 antenatal clinic attendees in Johannesburg, South Africa. Eighty-five percent of mothers reported having enough information to discuss HIV/AIDS prevention with their children, while only 36% reported having enough information to discuss HPV/cervical cancer prevention.

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Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women. Each year there are approximately 250,000 deaths; most of which occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. The purpose of this report is to examine key stakeholders experience and knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer, examine their experiences with the current cervical cancer screening and treatment policy, and identify barriers and facilitating factors to vaccine implementation and uptake.

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