Race/Ethnic Variations in Predictors of Health Consciousness Within the Cancer Prevention Context.

Purpose: Although the literature establishes a link between health consciousness (HC) and prevention behavior, less explored are the individual, social, and health characteristics that are associated with increased HC. Similarly, underexamined is the influence of race and ethnicity on the relationship of these characteristics to higher levels of HC.

Design: This cross-sectional study aims to identify and assess the relative importance of factors associated with higher levels of HC, highlighting the role of race and ethnicity.

Collaboration and Context in the Design of Community-Engaged Research Training.

Collaboration between academic researchers and community members, clinicians, and organizations is valued at all levels of the program development process in community-engaged health research (CEnR). This descriptive study examined a convenience sample of 30 projects addressing training in CEnR methods and strategies within the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) consortium. Projects were selected from among posters presented at an annual community engagement conference over a 3-year period.

An exploratory study of Clinical and Translational Science Award community-engaged research training programs.

Background: The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) institutions are increasing development of training programs in community-engaged research (CEnR) to support translational science.

Methods: This study sampled posters at CTSA national meetings to identify CEnR training approaches, topics, and outcomes.

Results: Qualitative analysis of 30 posters revealed training topics and outcomes focused primarily on CEnR capacity building, overcoming barriers, systems change, and sustainability.

Association Between Perceived Discrimination and Emergency Department Use Among Safety-Net Patients in the Southwestern United States.

Objectives: Patients' perceptions of how they are treated in their interactions with the healthcare system represent important and valid measures of healthcare quality that may influence health utilization, outcomes, and costs. Perceived discrimination or the sense of being treated unfairly is an important patient perception known to adversely affect health, but the relation of such perceptions to health-seeking behaviors related to low-acuity emergency department (ED) use is unclear. The objectives of this exploratory study were to describe the prevalence and nature of perceived discrimination or perceived unfair treatment (PD/PUT), and to examine the association of PD/PUT with healthcare utilization among adult safety-net patients in the southwestern United States who sought ED treatment for low-acuity conditions.

Health Literacy among Youth in Guatemala City.

Health literacy (HL) is recognized as an important health construct that is correlated with various health-related outcomes, but outside of the United States there is limited HL research available, particularly among youth. This study looked at the HL and harmful health behavior (i.e.

Breast cancer knowledge, attitude and screening behaviors among Hispanics in South Texas colonias.

This study examines breast cancer knowledge, attitudes and screening behaviors of Hispanic women living in the South Texas colonias of Maverick and Val Verde Counties. We used the Health Belief Model to analyze the effects of HBM constructs on clinical breast exam (CBE) and mammogram screening. Using a multistage systematic sampling approach we interviewed women living within these colonias.

The role of patient navigators in eliminating health disparities.

Despite many important efforts to increase equity in the US health care system, not all Americans have equal access to health care-or similar health outcomes. With the goal of lowering costs and increasing accessibility to health care, the nation's new health care reform legislation includes certain provisions that expand health insurance coverage to uninsured and underinsured populations, promote medical homes, and support coordination of care. These provisions may help narrow existing health care disparities.

Ethnic and Marital Differences in Family Structure, Risk Behaviors, and Service Requests Among Young Minority Fathers.

The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic and marital status differences in family structure, risk behaviors and service requests among African American and Hispanic adolescent fathers participating in a community-based fatherhood program. Demographic factors, risk behaviors, and service requests were gathered at program entry. The results indicated that each group demonstrated distinct patterns associated with family structure, sexual risk behaviors, substance use, and criminal behavior.