From the Defense Health Board: Military Accessions and the Continuum of Mental Health Research.

The Defense Health Board conducted a year-long examination of mental health accession screening and related issues. In its August 2020 report, Examination of Mental Health Accession Screening: Predictive Value of Current Measures and Processes, the Board recommends a paradigm shift in how mental health impacts on readiness are understood and addressed. This shift can only occur with the development and implementation of a research plan that follows cohorts of military personnel from recruitment through their military career.

Diagnoses, prevalence, and state-based federal spending for HIV prevention and treatment in the United States, 2006-2009.

Background: In response to an article published in 2012 by officials at the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), an independent analysis of state-based federal resource allocation for HIV was conducted to determine if the funding accurately reflected diagnosis and prevalence rates.

Methods: Total state-based federal funding for HIV, state-based funding for HIV prevention, and state-based funding for HIV treatment were compared to state-based HIV diagnosis and prevalence rates from 2006-2009.

Results: Total state-based federal funding for HIV and funding for HIV prevention and treatment were highly correlated with HIV diagnosis and prevalence rates during the time horizon of the study; however, correlations between state-based HIV prevention funding and state-based HIV diagnosis rates were lower than the correlations between state-based HIV treatment funding and HIV prevalence.

Review of MPH practicum requirements in accredited schools of public health.

Accreditation criteria by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) state that prior to graduation, Masters of Public Health (MPH) students must demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills through a practice experience, commonly called the "Practicum." The purpose of this research was to review those MPH Practicum requirements. Practicum guidelines from US-based schools of public health that were accredited as of October 2011 were reviewed.

Psychometric properties of an HIV knowledge scale administered with populations at high risk for HIV infection.

HIV prevention programs targeting men who have sex with men, Blacks, and young adults commonly use measures of HIV knowledge as an important component of demonstrating overall program effectiveness. These scales, however, are rarely subjected to repeated analysis to confirm reliability and validity and the results of psychometric analysis rarely include subpopulation variations. In this study, we administered an adapted version of a previously validated HIV knowledge scale to participants of a large, city-wide HIV prevention program (n = 5,027) and performed psychometric analysis to determine if differences existed across populations.

Online learning to improve hand hygiene knowledge and compliance among health care workers.

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a hand hygiene guideline for health care workers. The emergence of online learning approaches has introduced new opportunities for providing continuing education regarding hand hygiene.

Methods: This study assessed the effectiveness of an online continuing education program in increasing health care workers' knowledge of hand hygiene practices and guidelines and promoting behavioral change as measured by self-assessment of adherence to guidelines.

Prescription drug abuse among adolescent arrestees: correlates and implications.

This preliminary study examines the correlates of prescription drug abuse in a sample of adolescents in an urban juvenile detention center in Ohio. The study measures risk in 359 incarcerated females (20.1%) and 1,425 males (79.

Brief motivational intervention to reduce HIV risk and to increase HIV testing among offenders under community supervision.

Risky drug- and sex-related behaviors put criminal offenders at high risk for HIV. Intervening with this population under supervision can potentially reduce risk. This study reports a randomized trial that examines the efficacy of brief negotiation interviewing (BNI) compared to usual education activities.

Using computers to reduce medication misuse of community-based seniors: results of a pilot intervention program.

Persons over the age of 65 are at high risk for conditions related to medication misuse. Addressing this issue is important to prevent serious outcomes such as falls, drug interactions, rehospitalization, and addiction. The role of community-based organizations, such as senior centers, in preventing medication misuse can be enhanced by the use of standardized interventions.

Medical education goes to prison: why?

The authors describe a pilot medical education program that developed a new and ongoing correctional medicine curriculum for third- and fourth-year medical students at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. During the first two years of the pilot program (2000-02), a total of 53 students were placed in one-month rotations in prison health care settings. Students received orientations, directed readings, and prison clinic experience under the director of board-certified physician preceptors.