Mantram Repetition With Homeless Women: A Pilot Study.

Women and families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. Negative attitudes of nurses toward homeless women are a major barrier to homeless women seeking health care. This cross-sectional, mixed-methods pilot study, conducted primarily by nurses, tested the Mantram Repetition Program for the first time with 29 homeless women.

Assessing sexual trauma histories in homeless women.

Almost 1 out of every 3 homeless women (32%) in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia has experienced childhood sexual trauma. We assessed lifetime sexual trauma histories among 29 homeless women from three Southern California community sites: one residential safe house and two safe parking areas. More than half of the women (54%) reported a history of sexual trauma.

The Impact of STORY on Depression and Fatigue in African-American Women with Breast Cancer.

The intervention Sisters Tell Others and Revive Yourself (STORY) is a teleconference intervention for African-American women with breast cancer that was studied with a randomized, non-blinded, intention-to-treat trial between 2006 and 2010 in the southeastern United States. This secondary data analysis research measured the impact of STORY on depression and fatigue in African-American women (N = 168) with breast cancer. The were no significant differences in depression or fatigue found between the intervention and control groups based on the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Mantram Repetition Program Decreases Insomnia Among Homeless Women: A Pilot Study.

The current pre-/posttest pilot study recruited homeless women from "safe" car parks and transitional housing to evaluate the use of mantram in regard to insomnia. At baseline, study participants completed measures of cognitive function, depression, and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). In 40 minutes, women were taught three skills of the Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) in the natural environment: (a) silently repeating a mantram several times, several times per day; (b) repeating the mantram slowly every night before sleep; and (c) focusing full attention on the mantram during repetitions.

Chapter 5 mantram repetition: an evidence-based complementary practice for military personnel and veterans in the 21st century.

Today in the digital age, with our advances in modern technology and communication, there are additional stressors for our military personnel and Veterans. Constant dangers exist both on and off the battlefield, unlike prior wars that had clearly-defined war zones. In addition, medical advances have assisted in saving the lives of many more gravely injured troops than ever previously possible.

Informed decision making about prostate cancer testing in predominantly immigrant black men: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Decision support interventions have been developed to help men clarify their values and make informed decisions about prostate cancer testing, but they seldom target high-risk black and immigrant men.

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy of a decision support intervention focused on prostate cancer testing in a sample of predominantly immigrant black men.

Methods: Black men (N = 490) were randomized to tailored telephone education about prostate cancer testing or a control condition.

Antecedents and mediators of community connection in African American women with breast cancer.

Objective: To describe the theory of community connection defined as close relationships with women and men who are members of a neighborhood, a church, a work group, or an organization. Antecedent and mediator variables related to community connection are identified.

Design/methods: A cross-sectional design was used to assess for relationships among theorized antecedents and mediators of community connection in a sample of 144 African American women aged 21 years and older (mean = 54.

Demographic differences in systemic inflammatory response syndrome score after trauma.

Background: Demographic differences in health outcomes have been reported for chronic diseases, but few data exist on these differences in trauma (defined as acute, life-threatening injuries).

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the systemic inflammatory response syndrome score after trauma and race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 600 patients from a level I trauma center (1997-2007) was conducted.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome score and race as predictors of length of stay in the intensive care unit.

Background: Identifying predictors of length of stay in the intensive care unit can help critical care clinicians prioritize care in patients with acute, life-threatening injuries.

Objective: To determine if systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores are predictive of length of stay in the intensive care unit in patients with acute, life-threatening injuries.

Methods: Retrospective chart reviews were completed on patients with acute, life-threatening injuries admitted to the intensive care unit at a level I trauma center in the southeastern United States.

A randomized trial comparing web-based decision aids on prostate cancer knowledge for African-American men.

Objectives: Few decision aids are tailored for African-American men. We sought to determine if web-based decision aids increased knowledge of prostate cancer screening among African men.

Methods: This postintervention, quasiexperimental research measured knowledge of prostate cancer screening among African-American men following receipt of 1 of 2 web-based decision aids: enhanced or usual care.

A decision aid for teaching limitations of prostate cancer screening.

There is minimal research regarding men's knowledge of the limitations of prostate cancer screening. This study measured knowledge of prostate cancer screening based on exposure to one of two decision aids that were related to prostate cancer screening (enhanced versus usual care). The sample consisted primarily of low income (54%) African-American men (81%) (n=230).

Association of HPC2/ELAC2 and RNASEL non-synonymous variants with prostate cancer risk in African American familial and sporadic cases.

Introduction: The RNASEL and HPC2/ELAC2 genes have been implicated in hereditary prostate cancer. Further assessment of the role of these genes in sporadic prostate cancer in African American men (AAM) is warranted.

Methods: Genotyping of HPC2/ELAC2 variants (S217L, A541T), along with RNASEL variants (R462Q and E541D) was completed in 155 African American sporadic and 88 familial prostate cancer cases, and 296 healthy male controls.

Impact of pretest on posttest knowledge scores with a Solomon Four research design.

There is a paucity of research on the effects of pretest measurement with prostate cancer screening. What effect does a pretest measurement have on posttest outcomes? This research reports knowledge of prostate cancer screening among men randomized to an Enhanced decision aid versus an Usual Care decision aid. Using a Solomon Four research design, there were a total of 198 men in 4 groups.

Knowledge of hereditary prostate cancer among high-risk African American men.

Purpose/objectives: To measure knowledge of hereditary prostate cancer in a group of high-risk African American men.

Design: Cross-sectional, correlational pilot study.

Setting: Four geographic sites: Detroit, MI; Houston, TX; Chicago, IL; and Columbia, SC.

Body mass index and intake of selected foods in African American men.

Background: There are minimal data on the relationship between dietary consumption of fats, vegetables, and fruits and body mass index (BMI) in African American men.

Objective: This study tested the relationships between selected dietary consumption and BMI.

Design: The sample was a community-based cohort of 204 African American Southern men who attended a free prostate cancer educational and screening program.

Genome-wide linkage of 77 families from the African American Hereditary Prostate Cancer study (AAHPC).

Background: The African American Hereditary Prostate Cancer (AAHPC) Study was designed to recruit families with early-onset disease fulfilling criteria of >or=4 affected.

Methods: We present a approximately 10 cM genome-wide linkage (GWL) analysis on 77 families including 254 affected and 274 unaffected genotyped.

Results: Linkage analysis revealed three chromosomal regions with GENEHUNTER multipoint HLOD scores >or=1.

Readmission data for outcomes measurement: identifying and strengthening the empirical base.

Hospital readmission is an important indicator of patient care outcomes and is widely used in evaluating the quality of health care provided. However, few definitions of the term "readmission" are listed in the literature, and exact measurement parameters regarding readmission are seldom stated. The term readmission is indiscriminately used and defined, making accurate comparisons of results difficult across studies if not impossible.

Prostate cancer screening in high-risk men: African American Hereditary Prostate Cancer Study Network.

Background: There are scant data available on prostate cancer screening among high-risk African American men with positive family histories. It is important to determine whether or not their screening rates differ from those in the general population.

Methods: This study computed rates of previous digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer in cancer-free (unaffected) relatives age 40-69 years from African American families that had four or more men with prostate cancer.

Improving the quality of life of patients with prostate carcinoma: a randomized trial testing the efficacy of a nurse-driven intervention.

Background: Treatments for clinically localized prostate carcinoma are accompanied by sexual, urinary, and bowel dysfunction and other sequelae that can result in significant distress and reduced well being. Methods capable of improving quality of life are needed that can be integrated into clinical practice. To address this need, a nurse-driven, cancer care intervention was developed and tested.

Knowledge of the limitations associated with prostate cancer screening among low-income men.

This correlational pilot study measured limitations of prostate cancer screening, using a revised Knowledge of Prostate Cancer Questionnaire. Knowledge in 81 low-income men is reported. The Knowledge About Prostate Cancer Screening Questionnaire consists of 12 questions, with scores ranging from 0 to 12.

Intake of selected nutritional supplements by African-American men.

Objectives: To measure the self-reported intake of vitamins, selenium, vitamin E, and saw palmetto supplements in African-American men.

Methods: A correlational study was conducted of 198 African-American men, aged 40 to 70 years old, who attended a community-based free prostate cancer educational and screening program. The rates of supplement use were compared among demographic groups.

Absence of a correlation of androgen receptor gene CAG repeat length and prostate cancer risk in an African-American population.

Shorter androgen receptor gene CAG repeat length has been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, an earlier age of onset, and more advanced stage of disease. Studies comparing the distribution of CAG repeat lengths within different populations have reported that racial groups with higher prostate cancer incidence also have shorter CAG repeat lengths. We evaluated CAG repeat length in 685 black men in Louisiana, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia who were participating in prostate cancer screening, comparing the 118 who were diagnosed with prostate cancer with 567 who had normal serum prostate-specific antigen levels and no evidence of cancer on digital rectal examination.

COX-2 gene promoter haplotypes and prostate cancer risk.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key rate-limiting enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. COX-2 expression is strongly correlated with increased tumor microvasculature density and plays an important role in inhibiting apoptosis, stimulating angiogenesis and promoting tumor cell metastasis and invasion. However, little is known about the role that sequence variation of the COX-2 gene contributes to prostate cancer.

Pica in pregnancy: does it affect pregnancy outcomes?

Purpose: To discover the prevalence of pica, the documentation of pica on medical records, and any relationship of pica to pregnancy outcomes in rural socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant women.

Study Design And Methods: Prospective, descriptive, correlational investigation with 128 women who sought prenatal care from two rural community health agencies. Demographic and sociocultural variables, pica practices, pica substances ingested, and pregnancy outcomes were collected.

Self-reported reasons men decide not to participate in free prostate cancer screening.

Purpose: To determine the reasons why men fail to participate in a free prostate cancer screening.

Design: Survey and secondary analyses using correlational design.

Setting: Community sites in the Southeastern United States.