Testing 3 Modalities (Voice Assistant, Chatbot, and Mobile App) to Assist Older African American and Black Adults in Seeking Information on Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias: Wizard of Oz Usability Study.

Background: Older African American and Black adults are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) and have the lowest level of ADRD health literacy compared to any other ethnic group in the United States. Low health literacy concerning ADRD negatively impacts African American and Black people in accessing adequate health care.

Objective: This study explored how 3 technological modalities-voice assistants, chatbots, and mobile apps-can assist older African American and Black adults in accessing ADRD information to improve ADRD health literacy.

Assessing the effectiveness of a diabetes group visit training for health center staff: a pilot study of five Midwestern community health centers.

Background: Diabetes group visits are shared appointments that include diabetes education in a group setting and individual visits with a medical provider. An 18-month pilot study was designed to evaluate organizational capacity and staff preparedness in implementing and sustaining diabetes group visits.

Results: Data were collected and analyzed from pre-post assessments and key informant interviews with community health center (CHC) staff (N = 26) from teams across five Midwestern states.

Integrating Telepsychiatry Into Rural Primary Care for Upstream Prevention: Feasibility Case Study of the Faith Net Program.

Introduction: For decades, there has been a deficit of mental health services in rural areas of the United States. Beyond that longstanding need, the COVID-19 pandemic has reportedly increased the prevalence of unmet mental health needs among adults. Presently, many non-critical but urgent mental health concerns are first identified in rural emergency departments.

A qualitative analysis of vaccine decision makers' conceptualization and fostering of 'community engagement' in India.

Background: Globally, and in India, research has highlighted the importance of community engagement in achieving national vaccination goals and in promoting health equity. However, community engagement is not well-defined and remains an underutilized approach. There is also paucity of literature on community engagement's effectiveness in achieving vaccination outcomes.

Organizational Factors Influencing the Early Implementation Process of Diabetes Group Visits by Five Midwestern Community Health Centers: A Multisite Case Study Analysis.

The objective was to identify facilitators and challenges of implementing diabetes group visits in 5 Midwestern community health center (CHC) settings that care for diverse patient populations. Interview data were collected from July to August 2015. An interview guide was developed to explore health center teams' initial experiences with diabetes group visit implementation.

Correlation Between Personal Health History and Depression Self-Care Practices and Depression Screening Among African Americans With Chronic Conditions.

Little is known about the influence of personal health history and depression self-care practices on screening for depression by health care providers among African Americans with chronic conditions. African Americans (N = 203) aged 18 years or older and living with at least one chronic health condition in a metropolitan city completed a 45-item community perceptions survey. The number of depression symptoms experienced per month was positively associated with screening for depression by a health care provider; perceived ability to identify depression symptoms was inversely associated with screening by a health care provider.

Identifying Factors Underlying the Decision for Sickle Cell Carrier Screening Among African Americans Within Middle Reproductive Age.

Guidelines recommend that African Americans know their sickle cell trait status to inform reproductive health decisions. Few studies have applied a behavioral theory to identify factors associated with sickle cell trait screening to inform intervention targets to increase this behavior. We applied a Sickle Cell Trait Screening Framework to identify factors associated with African Americans' intention to ask for sickle cell trait screening.

Perceived factors influencing hospital-based primary care clinic referrals to community health medical nutrition therapy: An exploratory study.

Primary care clinics provide an array of diagnostic and clinical services that assist patients in preventing the onset or managing acute and chronic conditions. Some chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes require primary care professionals to seek additional medical intervention from registered dieticians. This study explored beliefs, attitudes, and practices of medical and administrative professionals in primary care clinics encountering patients who are potential candidates for ongoing nutrition education or counselling.

Feasibility of a low-cost hearing screening in rural Indiana.

Background: Hearing loss remains a neglected public health issue in the rural and agricultural communities in the United States and therefore, promotion of a low-cost hearing screening may be important for these underserved populations. The major objectives of our study were to assess feasibility of a low-cost telephone-administered hearing test in rural Indiana and to identify the challenges, barriers and viable implementation strategies associated with this test. Also, we evaluated whether a focus group session could change the hearing health attitude of rural residents.

Exploring Proxy Measures of Mutuality for Strategic Partnership Development: A Case Study.

Partnerships between academic and clinical-based health organizations are becoming increasingly important in improving health outcomes. Mutuality is recognized as a vital component of these partnerships. If partnerships are to achieve mutuality, there is a need to define what it means to partnering organizations.

'It means everyone should know their status': exploring lay conceptions of sickle cell trait and sickle cell trait screening among African Americans within middle reproductive age.

Objective: This study examined the meaning of sickle cell trait and sickle cell trait screening from the lay perspective of African Americans.

Design And Methods: African Americans (N = 300), ages 18-35 and unaware of their sickle cell trait status, completed two open-ended questions from a larger survey. One question asked for their understanding of sickle cell trait; the other asked for their understanding of sickle cell trait screening.

Functional Characteristics of Health Coalitions in Local Public Health Systems: Exploring the Function of County Health Councils in Tennessee.

Context: Partnerships are emerging as critically important vehicles for addressing health in local communities. Coalitions involving local health departments can be viewed as the embodiment of a local public health system. Although it is known that these networks are heavily involved in assessment and community planning activities, limited studies have evaluated whether health coalitions are functioning at an optimal capacity.

Measuring Accreditation Activity and Progress: Findings from a Survey of Indiana Local Health Departments, 2013.

A 2013 survey of Indiana local health departments (LHDs) measured accreditation activity and progress. Reported activities were categorized using the Public Health Accreditation Board's (PHAB's) accreditation steps as a guiding framework and matched with selected sociodemographic, organizational, and technical assistance variables. Findings indicated that 42 (59.

Who's who in the crew? Exploring participant involvement in the Active Living Coalition.

Health coalitions serve as an important "vehicle" to strengthen horizontal and vertical ties between organizations, community groups, and individuals whose intent and purpose is to improve wellness. Having a strong and diverse group of participants is essential for highly effective coalitions to carry out their mission in an organized and participatory manner. However, the extent that individuals become involved in coalition operations and activities remains ambiguous.

Methods for managing and analyzing electronic medical records: a formative examination of a hospital-congregation-based intervention.

Electronic medical records (EMRs) can be a valuable tool in evaluating interventions involving faith-based institutions. Working with EMRs is complex. Methodological designs that can be used by public health and health administrators to assess the effectiveness of interventions are lacking.

Institutional and structural barriers to HIV testing: elements for a theoretical framework.

Stigma is a barrier to HIV health seeking, but little is known about institutional and structural expressions of stigma in HIV testing. This study examines evidence of institutional and structural stigma in the HIV testing process. A qualitative, grounded theory study was conducted using secondary data from a 2011 HIV test site evaluation data in a Midwestern, moderate HIV incidence state.

Advantages of coordinated school health portfolios: documenting and showcasing achievements.

Background: Thirteen school district teams from Michigan and Indiana participated in the Michiana Coordinated School Health Leadership Institute with the intent of Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) implementation. The purpose of this study was to determine if portfolios served as an effective approach for documenting teams' accomplishments and health programming efforts.

Methods: Data were gathered through a combined survey/interview process and portfolio analysis.

Assessing gaps in the maternal and child health safety net.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 proposed sweeping changes to health insurance and health care delivery systems. As a result, local health departments, community health centers, and other safety net providers are expected to play a role in providing access to care for millions of individuals. This study examines the availability of population-based services by local health departments and community health centers in the Midwest/Great Lakes region.

A multistate examination of partnership activity among local public health systems using the National Public Health Performance Standards.

This study examines whether partnership-related measures in the second version of the National Public Health Performance Standards (NPHPS) are useful in evaluating level of activity as well as identifying latent constructs that exist among local public health systems (LPHSs). In a sample of 110 LPHSs, descriptive analysis was conducted to determine frequency and percentage of 18 partnership-related NPHPS measures. Principal components factor analysis was conducted to identify unobserved characteristics that promote effective partnerships among LPHSs.

The role of interorganizational partnerships in health services provision among rural, suburban, and urban local health departments.

Context: With limited resources and increased public health challenges facing the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others have identified partnerships between local health departments (LHDs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as critical to the public health system. LHDs utilize financial, human, and informational resources and develop partnerships with local NGOs to provide public health services.

Purpose: Our study had 2 primary goals: (1) compare resources and partnerships characterizing rural, suburban, and urban LHDs, and (2) determine whether partnerships play a mediating role between LHD resources and the services LHDs provide.

A national examination of partnerships among local health departments and faith communities in the United States.

Local health departments (LHDs) can play a major role in partnering with faith-based organizations to enhance the overall health status of the public. This study examines the frequency that LHDs and faith-based partnerships occur, types of activities performed as reported by LHDs, and population and functional characteristics associated with these partnerships. Secondary data analysis of the 2005 National Profile of LHDs study (Profile), developed by the National Association of County & City Health Officials, was conducted on a stratified random sample of 517 LHDs receiving the core questionnaire and a module with questions about partnership and collaboration.