Publications by authors named "S Woolford"

Background: Community access to evidence-based information is critical, especially during a pandemic, as it can impact knowledge and adoption of health behaviors that affect health disparities. The field of dissemination and implementation (D&I) science is ideally positioned to address this need through its focus on reducing the research-to-practice gap through improved distribution of information. The purpose of this paper is to describe the creation of a weekly webinar series about COVID-19 directed toward community members, and the extent to which webinars were found useful and increased awareness of evidence-based information and services.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: In Michigan, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Black and Latinx communities. These communities experienced higher rates of exposure, hospitalizations, and deaths compared to Whites. We examine the impact of the pandemic and reasons for the higher burden on communities of color from the perspectives of Black and Latinx community members across four Michigan counties and discuss recommendations to better prepare for future public health emergencies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Individuals with disabilities experience a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) compared to their counterparts without disabilities; however, there is limited data on whether they are screened for STIs at the same rate. The aim of this study was to determine whether adolescents and young adults with disabilities undergo routine screening for STIs at lower rates than individuals without disabilities.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of female patients aged 16-21 years who were seen between July 2021 and August 2023 by pediatrics, internal medicine/pediatrics, or family medicine at a single institution.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Poor body image is a prominent issue affecting youth. In this nationally representative online survey, we explored parents' concerns about their child's appearance, as well as their perceptions of their child's body image concerns and related behaviors and interactions with others. Among the 1653 respondents, weight was parents' most cited body image concern, while more parents perceived that their child was self-conscious about their weight than there were parents concerned about their child's weight.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered approach aimed at changing behaviors, particularly in managing pediatric obesity.
  • The focus is on facilitating conversations that help patients or parents articulate their reasons for and against making lifestyle changes rather than directly persuading them.
  • MI employs techniques like reflective listening to create a balance between supporting individuals and challenging them, ultimately fostering discussions that promote "change talk" towards healthier behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF