Greater number of weekly stairs climbed is associated with lower low back pain prevalence among female but not male physical therapists.

Introduction: Certain cardiovascular health benefits of stair climbing are now widely accepted, but no prior studies have as yet been found linking the quantity of stairs climbed to low back pain (LBP) morbidity. Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal impairment, and research has begun to show an association between LBP and gluteus maximus (GM) weakness. With stair climbing being the activity which most activates GM, the aim of the present research was to assess the relationship between stair ambulation and LBP prevalence.

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and mortality in Pennsylvania.

Purpose: Many studies have demonstrated disparities in breast cancer (BC) incidence and mortality among Black women. We hypothesized that in Pennsylvania (PA), a large economically diverse state, BC diagnosis and mortality would be similar among races when stratified by a municipality's median income.

Methods: We collected the frequencies of BC diagnosis and mortality for years 2011-2015 from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry and demographics from the 2010 US Census.

A Coala-T-Cannabis Survey Study of breast cancer patients' use of cannabis before, during, and after treatment.

Background: The goal of this study was to characterize cannabis use among patients with breast cancer, including their reasons for and timing of use, their sources of cannabis information and products, their satisfaction with the information found, their perceptions of its safety, and their dialogue about cannabis with their physicians.

Methods: United States-based members of the Breastcancer.org and Healthline.

Cervical Cancer Patients' Willingness and Ability to Serve as Health Care Educators to Advocate for Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes nearly all cervical cancer. Only half of females and less than half of males receive the recommended HPV vaccine dose. This study explores whether cervical cancer patients may serve as health advocates to adolescents and their parents in encouraging the uptake of the HPV vaccine.

Defining Priorities to Improve Patient Experience in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background: Although approximately 75% of bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) at diagnosis, most research tends to focus on invasive disease (e.g., experiences related to radical cystectomy and urinary diversion).

Rural and urban characteristics impact cardiovascular risk reduction.

Purpose: Our aim was to provide a descriptive analysis of specific differences between rural and urban residents and the interaction between these differences and those who reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in response to intervention versus those who did not.

Methods: This study is a descriptive analysis comparing rural groups with urban groups and those who decreased CVD risk with those who did not. Two hundred five rural (median age = 64.

Drug use patterns and trends in rural communities.

Context And Purpose: This study examines the prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use among adolescents and adults in 3 types of counties: "rural" (nonmetropolitan counties with urban population less than 20,000), "urbanized nonmetropolitan" (nonmetropolitan counties with urban population 20,000 or higher), and "metropolitan" (counties in metropolitan areas).

Methods: Data from the 2002-2004 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health are used to compare residents of the 3 county types. Descriptive findings and a multivariate model of marijuana use among adolescents are presented by county type.

Religious involvement and the use of mental health care.

Objectives: To examine the association between religious involvement and mental health care use by adults age 18 or older with mental health problems.

Methods: We used data from the 2001-2003 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. We defined two subgroups with moderate (n=49,902) and serious mental or emotional distress (n=14,548).

Rural-urban differences in employment-related health insurance.

Context: Rural residents are disproportionately represented among the uninsured in the United States.

Purpose: We compared nonelderly adult residents in 3 types of nonmetropolitan areas with metropolitan workers to evaluate which characteristics contribute to lack of employment-related insurance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS: Data were obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, pooled across 3 panels (1996--1998) to enhance the rural sample size.

Rural-urban differences in usual source of care and ambulatory service use: analyses of national data using Urban Influence Codes.

Background: Rural-urban disparities in access to and utilization of medical care have been a long-standing focus of concern.

Objective: Using the nine-category Urban Influence Codes, this study examines the relationship between place of residence and having access and utilization of ambulatory health services.

Research Design: Data come from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, conducted in 1996.