Healthy Food Policies Documented in University Food Service Contracts.

In the United States, there is an opportunity to improve the nutritional health of university students through the campus food environment. This project used a content analysis approach to investigate whether healthy food standards and policies were incorporated into the contract agreements between North Carolina (NC) public universities and their food service management companies. Food service contracts were collected from 14 NC public universities using food service management companies on campus.

Identification of caregiver's knowledge and perceptions of pediatric asthma management: A quality improvement initiative.

Introduction: Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease of childhood. Caregiver knowledge is essential to optimize patient quality and safety. Asthma education is an opportunity that can lead to decreased morbidity and mortality, reduced admission rates, lower cost, and improved outcomes for a child with chronic asthma.

Text Message Intervention for Latino Adults to Improve Diabetes Outcomes.

Determine the effectiveness of a diabetes text message intervention to improve diabetes outcomes in Latino adults at a free clinic in the southeastern United States. A pre-post, one-group design was used with a convenience sample ( = 24) of Latino adults with type 2 diabetes and A1C ≥ 7 who consented to participate. Over 8 weeks, participants were sent 23 educational and motivational text messages that were based on the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) 7 self-care tasks and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes Mellitus (DM).

Improving Self-Efficacy of Patients With a New Ostomy With Written Education Materials: A Quality Improvement Project.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if supplementing the current education process for new ostomates with standardized, health literate written education materials which are initiated preoperatively improves patient self-efficacy for management of their new ostomy.

Design: A convenience sample of 25 patients undergoing new ostomy placement were selected to receive the written education materials. The project occurred in two outpatient clinics and an 874-bed hospital.

ECHO: A Pilot Health Literacy Intervention to Improve Hypertension Self-Care.

Background: Medication adherence and diet and weight control are essential contributors to blood pressure management. Low health literacy is also associated with poor health behaviors and outcomes among adults with hypertension.

Objective: This study aims to pilot test the acceptability and feasibility of a brief health literacy intervention focused on hypertension self-care and to assess changes in self-care activities.

Postpartum Depression Screening and Referrals in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Clinics.

Objectives: To examine the relationships among participants' demographic, social, and health characteristics and positive screening scores for symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD); to examine the feasibility of referring to a case management program women with symptoms of PPD who are accessing Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services; and to identify barriers to screening and treatment programs for women with symptoms of PPD.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study followed by a process evaluation.

Setting: Two WIC clinics in a large southeastern U.

The Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Scholars Diversity and Inclusion Research.

The purpose of this research is to deepen the understanding of DEI training and show how scholars across the nation incorporated DEI leadership into academic roles. Faculty and administrators' experiential experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) plays a role in the success or failure of DEI training. DEI training at institutes of higher learning should include metrics that examine our bias for invisible and overt support for DEI.

Relative and Cumulative Effects of Hypertension Self-Care Behaviors on Blood Pressure.

New recommendations for hypertension (HTN) diagnosis and treatment highlight the role of self-care activities in managing blood pressure (BP). This cross-sectional study investigated the predictive validity of the Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects (H-SCALE) measure and examined the relative and cumulative effects of HTN self-care adherence on BP. We pooled baseline data from three studies ( = 79), resulting in a gender and racially balanced sample.

Using CBPR to Decrease Health Disparities in a Suburban Latino Neighborhood.

Introduction: This project tested the feasibility of using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to deliver health and social resources in two high-risk, suburban neighborhoods.

Method: An established research network was used to engage stakeholders to design and deliver a neighborhood-based intervention targeting a Latino immigrant population. The intervention provided screenings for hypertension, diabetes, and depression; primary care provider visits; and information about navigating health care delivery systems and related community-based resources.

Translation and pilot testing of a measure to assess hypertension self-care activities among Hispanics.

Objective: Hispanics in the US have high rates of uncontrolled hypertension in comparison to non-Hispanic whites. This pilot study reports on the translation of a validated measure, the Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects (H-SCALE), for use with Spanish speakers. The H-SCALE assesses Hispanics' adherence to lifestyle activities that contribute to primary and secondary risk reduction of high blood pressure.

Hispanics' Satisfaction with Free Clinic Providers: An Analysis of Patient-Centered Medical Home Characteristics.

Hispanic Americans are less likely to be insured and they experience cultural and linguistic barriers that may prevent them from obtaining necessary and preventive healthcare. Adoption of Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) concepts in healthcare settings utilized by Hispanics could improve Hispanic patients' satisfaction with their healthcare providers. This study examined the association between Spanish-speaking and non-Spanish-speaking patients' perceptions of PCMH characteristics and satisfaction with the provider.

Accuracy of the Yamax CW-701 Pedometer for measuring steps in controlled and free-living conditions.

Objective: The Yamax Digi-Walker CW-701 (Yamax CW-701) is a low-cost pedometer that includes a 7-day memory, a 2-week cumulative memory, and automatically resets to zero at midnight. To date, the accuracy of the Yamax CW-701 has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of steps recorded by the Yamax CW-701 pedometer compared with actual steps and two other devices.

Associations between perceived value of exclusive breastfeeding among pregnant women in the United States and exclusive breastfeeding to three and six months postpartum: a prospective study.

Background: Successful breastfeeding often starts with prenatally established intention. Yet, few mothers with the intention to exclusively breastfeed achieve their intended breastfeeding duration goal. This study examined the degree to which having a strong value of exclusive breastfeeding is associated with exclusive breastfeeding duration for at least 3 and 6 months postpartum among women who reported prenatal intention to exclusively breastfeed.

Perceived Infant Feeding Preferences of Significant Family Members and Mothers' Intentions to Exclusively Breastfeed.

Background: Breastfeeding intention is a significant predictor of initiation and duration. The decision to breastfeed may be influenced by the opinions of family and friends.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between maternal perception of the infant feeding preferences of the baby's father and the maternal grandmother and the woman's intention to breastfeed.

Initial evaluation of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars program.

Background: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars (RWJF NFS) program was developed to enhance the career trajectory of young nursing faculty and to train the next generation of nurse scholars. Although there are publications that describe the RWJF NFS, no evaluative reports have been published. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the first three cohorts (n = 42 scholars) of the RWJF NFS program.

Evaluation of the Latino food and Fun curriculum for low-income Latina mothers and their children: a pilot study.

This study assessed the 8-week nutrition and physical activity program "Food and Fun," adapted for low-income Spanish-speaking mothers and their children. Fruit/vegetable consumption, physical activity, and other characteristics were measured at baseline and at the end of the program. The final sample consisted of 7 mothers and 13 children.

A trans-disciplinary approach to the evaluation of social determinants of health in a Hispanic population.

Background: Individual and community health are adversely impacted by disparities in health outcomes among disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Understanding the underlying causes for variations in health outcomes is an essential step towards developing effective interventions to ameliorate inequalities and subsequently improve overall community health. Working at the neighborhood scale, this study examines multiple social determinates that can cause health disparities including low neighborhood wealth, weak social networks, inadequate public infrastructure, the presence of hazardous materials in or near a neighborhood, and the lack of access to primary care services.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars Program: an opportunity for junior nurse faculty.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars program provides promising junior faculty extramural funding, expert mentoring, and the training needed to be successful in the academic role. The Nurse Faculty Scholars program, which admitted its first cohort in 2008, is designed to address the nursing faculty shortage by enhancing leadership, educational, and research skills in junior nursing faculty. This article provides an overview of the program, its purpose, and its eligibility requirements.

A health education pilot for Latina women with diabetes.

The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot test nutrition and physical activity educational tools for immigrant Latina women who have type 2 diabetes and low health literacy levels. Participants' ability to use the tools was assessed and a focus group was conducted (n=26). During two classes, the women were taught diabetes concepts related to nutrition and physical activity and were given a pedometer.

Diabetes symptoms, health literacy, and health care use in adult Latinos with diabetes risk factors.

Purpose: This study examined the extent of undetected and untreated type 2 diabetes in a sample of recent Latino immigrants, and looked at the relationships among diabetes symptoms, blood glucose level, diabetes knowledge, health literacy level, and health care use.

Methods: Using a descriptive and correlational design, 144 Latino adults were interviewed.

Results: Many participants had diabetes and reported symptoms, but they were not aware of the disease and were not receiving adequate health care.

Achieving the American dream: facilitators and barriers to health and mental health for Latino immigrants.

Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S. For Latino immigrants, a shift in migration from larger to smaller cities has recently occurred; the Latino immigrant population in Charlotte, North Carolina, has increased by 634% since 1990.

Self-prescription practices in recent Latino immigrants.

Objective: Self-prescription involves the purchase and use of restricted medications without medical advice. Although common in Central and South American countries, little is known about this practice among Latino immigrants in the United States. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore how Latino immigrants obtain and use prescription medications without accessing the formal health care system.

Effects of tangible social support and depression on diabetes self-efficacy.

Although social support has been found to promote health and decrease depression in individuals with diabetes, little research has examined the kinds and sources of support. This descriptive correlational study examined the effects of diabetes-related tangible social support and depression on diabetes self-efficacy in Hispanic older adults. Participants were predominantly Puerto Rican, and many were depressed.