Exploring the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and oral health-related quality of life.

Objectives: Evidence indicates that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have destructive impacts on quality of life, health outcomes, and health-care expenditures. Studies further demonstrate a dose-response relationship between the number of ACEs and risk for experiencing chronic illness, such as oral diseases later in life. Research is scarce on the prioritization of contextualized public health interventions addressing this important threat.

Impact of a community based implementation of REACH II program for caregivers of Alzheimer's patients.

Background: In 2009 an estimated 5.3 million people in the United States were afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative form of dementia. The impact of this disease is not limited to the patient but also has significant impact on the lives and health of their family caregivers.

A qualitative study of patients' goals and expectations for self-management of COPD.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an illness that affects patients on multiple levels, both physically and psychologically. While there is a growing body of evidence for the efficacy of self-management among patients with COPD, little evidence is available on the optimal content and methods for delivering self-management support.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to address gaps in the literature on self-management support by examining patients' responses to questions about goals, needs, and expectations regarding self-management using qualitative methods in a broadly representative sample of patients with moderate to severe COPD.

Do unmet needs differ geographically for children with special health care needs?

The purpose of this study was to identify geographic differences in health indicators for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). It was hypothesized that geographic differences in unmet health care needs exist among CSHCN by region in the United States. Data were obtained from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2005-2006.

What is patient safety culture? A review of the literature.

Purpose: To organize the properties of safety culture addressed by many studies and to develop a conceptual culture of safety model.

Design And Methods: A comprehensive review of the culture of safety literature within the U.S.

Pulmonary impairment after tuberculosis and its contribution to TB burden.

Background: The health impacts of pulmonary impairment after tuberculosis (TB) treatment have not been included in assessments of TB burden. Therefore, previous global and national TB burden estimates do not reflect the full consequences of surviving TB. We assessed the burden of TB including pulmonary impairment after tuberculosis in Tarrant County, Texas using Disability-adjusted Life Years (DALYs).

Social, economic, and political factors in progress towards improving child survival in developing nations.

Child mortality is a persistent health problem faced by developing nations. In 2000 the United Nations (UN) established a set of high priority goals to address global problems of poverty and health, the Millennium Development Goals, which address extreme poverty, hunger, primary education, child mortality, maternal health, infectious diseases, environmental sustainability, and partnerships for development. Goal 4 aims to reduce by two thirds, between 2000 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate in developing countries.

Differences in risk factors for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) receiving needed specialty care by Socioeconomic Status.

Background: The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting CSHCN's receiving needed specialty care among different socioeconomic levels. Previous literature has shown that Socioeconomic Status (SES) is a significant factor in CHSHCN receiving access to healthcare. Other literature has shown that factors of insurance, family size, race/ethnicity and sex also have effects on these children's receipt of care.

Factors for accessing a medical home vary among CSHCN from different levels of socioeconomic status.

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to identify factors that are associated with receiving care in a medical home for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and to identify how these factors vary among different socioeconomic levels.

Methods: Data were obtained from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2000-2002. Access to a medical home was derived using an algorithm.

Physician characteristics and the reported effect of evidence-based practice guidelines.

Objective: To explore characteristics that may contribute to the effect practice guidelines have on the practice of medicine.

Data Sources: From the third round of the Community Tracking Study, Physician Survey, 2000-2001.

Study Design: An ordinal logistic regression model was estimated to capture the full range of responses.

Organizational culture in a terminally ill hospital.

This study analyzed an organizational culture in a community hospital in Texas to measure organizational culture change and its impact on Patient Satisfaction (PS). The study employed primary and secondary data, combining quantitative and qualitative methods for a case study. Participant observation was used and archival data were collected to provide a better understanding of the organizational culture and the context in which change was taking place.

Barriers to women's cardiovascular risk knowledge.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, resulting in a greater emphasis on research and methods for addressing issues relating to this health problem both nationally and worldwide. The authors' purpose was to identify barriers to women's cardiovascular risk knowledge, both personal and organizational, through key informant interviews of health leaders at 10 community health organizations. Analysis showed an overall lack of awareness of CVD risk for women.

The effects of media exposure on alcohol consumption patterns in African American males.

Objectives: The study examined the role of media exposure, ethnicity, mood/affect, socio-demographic factors and religion on alcohol consumption patterns.

Methods: Secondary analysis of the General Social Survey (GSS), 1972-2002 cumulative data file was used to provide quantitative estimates of the relationship between media exposure, ethnicity, mood/affect, socio-demographic factors and religion. The sample consisted of (n = 13,742) White subjects and (n = 2,192) African American subjects.

Salud Para Su Corazon-NCLR: a comprehensive Promotora outreach program to promote heart-healthy behaviors among hispanics.

This article describes results of year-1 implementation of the Salud Para Su Corazón (Health For Your Heart)-National Council of la Raza (NCLR) promotora (lay health worker) program for promoting heart-healthy behaviors among Latinos. Findings of this community outreach initiative include data from promotora pledges and self-skill behaviors, cardiovascular disease risk factors of Latino families, family heart-health education delivery, and program costs associated with promotora time. Participation included 29 trained promotoras serving 188 families from three NCLR affiliates in Escondido, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Ojo Caliente, New Mexico.

Using cost and health impacts to prioritize the targeted testing of tuberculosis in the United States.

Purpose: Evaluation improves efficiency and effectiveness. Current U.S.

Medicaid matters: children's health and Medicaid eligibility expansions.

In the late 1980s, a series of federal laws were enacted which expanded Medicaid eligibility to more of the nation's children. States had a great amount of discretion in how fast and how far these expansions were implemented. As a result, there was great variation among the states in defining who was eligible for the program.