Martha Tamara Schuch Mednick (1929-2020).

Memorializes Martha Tamara Schuch Mednick (1929-2020). Mednick was one of the most influential women in the development of the psychology of women. In 1965, Martha joined and was very active in the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI).

Instagram as a tool for study engagement and community building among adolescents: A social media pilot study.

Objective: Social media has been recognized as a promising tool for delivering health interventions and facilitating study recruitment. However, research is needed to understand how social media might be used to enhance the experiences of adolescent participants in ongoing studies. In a prospective cohort study addressing social and structural influences on health trajectories among 599 adolescents in a California agricultural community, we evaluated the effectiveness of and engagement with a human-centered, Instagram-based outreach campaign, with a focus on study retention, enhancement of participants' experiences, and increasing community awareness of the study.

Attitudes and experiences regarding genetic research among persons of African descent.

Minorities are underrepresented in genetic research. This study examined the attitudes, experiences, and willingness of persons of African descent related to participation in genetic research. A total of 272 persons of African descent completed a questionnaire about attitudes and experiences associated with genetic research.

Improving low health literacy and patient engagement: A social ecological approach.

Objective: This article posits four principal objectives related to the overarching goal of broadening the conceptualization of health literacy. We propose a social ecological approach to health literacy and patient engagement by illustrating how this multilevel approach offers an array of strategic options for interventions.

Discussion: A social ecological approach supports a broader understanding of health literacy that aligns with increased patient engagement.

Prime Time Sister Circles(®)II: Evaluating a Culturally Relevant Intervention to Decrease Psychological and Physical Risk Factors for Chronic Disease in Mid-Life African American Women.

Purpose: This article presents the results of two evaluation studies of the Prime Time Sister Circles(®) (PTSC). The PTSC is a gender, cultural, and age specific, curriculum-based, low-cost, short-term, replicable support group approach aimed at reducing key modifiable health risk factors for chronic illnesses in midlife African American women.

Methods: Study 1 includes an evaluation of 31 PTSCs (N=656 women) documenting changes in psychological and attitudinal outcomes (health satisfaction, health locus of control), behavioral outcomes (healthy eating patterns, physical activity, stress management), and clinical outcomes (weight, BMI, blood pressure, non-fasting blood sugar).

Disparities in Access to Easy-to-Use Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs.

Objectives: Families, clinicians and policymakers desire improved delivery of health and related services for children with special health care needs (CSHCN). We analyzed factors associated with ease of use in obtaining such services. We also explored what were specific difficulties or delays in receiving services.

Evaluation guidelines for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs).

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, currently funds the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs), a national consortium of 61 medical research institutions in 30 states and the District of Columbia. The program seeks to transform the way biomedical research is conducted, speed the translation of laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients, engage communities in clinical research efforts, and train a new generation of clinical and translational researchers. An endeavor as ambitious and complex as the CTSA program requires high-quality evaluations in order to show that the program is well implemented, efficiently managed, and demonstrably effective.

The psychosocial experience of patients with end-stage renal disease and its impact on quality of life: findings from a needs assessment to shape a service.

Background. A needs assessment was conducted on renal patients registered to a leading hospital trust in London in order to explore their psychological, social, and spiritual needs. The aim of the needs assessment was to create an evidence base for the development of a comprehensive health psychology service to run concurrently with a renal counselling support service within the department.

The lives of adults over 30 living with sickle cell disorder.

Objectives: The study investigated the lived experiences of adults over 30 years old living with sickle cell disorder (SCD) and sought to develop a model understanding participants' ability to function.

Design: Over a period of 10 months, in-depth individual interviews were held with nine participants and three focus groups were held with six further participants.

Methods: Grounded theory, a qualitative methodology, was chosen to explore functioning across domains of experience in order to build an explanatory model.

Paradoxes in obesity with mid-life African American women.

Purpose: To examine the relationship among socioeconomic status, psychological factors (ie, health locus of control, health satisfaction), and health behaviors (ie, physical exercise, eating patterns) in a volunteer sample of mid-life African American women residing within Washington, DC.

Methods: The study's sample included 351 African American women who participated in the 12-week Prime Time Sister Circles (PTSC) intervention and completed the initial self-report survey. Of the women completing the baseline survey, clinical assessments were taken on 277 participants.

Pain management and quality of life in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited disease worldwide and is responsible for a massive health burden. Its main clinical feature is severe pain that is unpredictable and recurrent, and this, in addition to the other acute and chronic features of SCD, may have a huge impact on the quality of life of both the patient and their families and carers. We consider medical and psychological methods of pain management in SCD, drawing on recently published UK Standards of Care, and also consider the effect of SCD on quality of life.

Prime Time Sister Circles: evaluating a gender-specific, culturally relevant health intervention to decrease major risk factors in mid-life African-American women.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of Prime Time Sister Circles (PTSC), a curriculum-based, culture- and gender-specific health intervention, in assisting mid-life African-American women to decrease the major risk factors of physical inactivity, poor nutrition and stress.

Methods: One-hundred-thirty-four African-American women were involved in 11 sites across the country in PTSC and comparison groups. PTSC uses a cognitive behavioral modality based on three theoretical approaches to reduce risk factors and promote positive health changes.

Barriers to effective uptake of cancer screening among Black and minority ethnic groups.

Aim: To describe some of the factors that act as barriers to effective uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening services among black minority ethnic (BME) groups living in Brent and Harrow in the UK.

Design: A series of focus groups among African Caribbean, African, Gujarati, Pakistani, Greek and Arabic groups were held to discover their perceptions of cancer screening, the barriers to effective uptake and some strategies for intervention.

Sample: This consisted of 135 participants: 85 women and 50 men.

Communication skills and cultural awareness courses for healthcare professionals who care for patients with sickle cell disease.

Aims: This paper reports a project evaluating the efficacy and impact of a pilot communication skills and cultural awareness course for healthcare professionals who care for patients with sickle cell disease.

Background: Poor communication between patients with sickle cell disease and healthcare professionals causes suspicion and mistrust. Many patients feel that they are negatively labelled by the healthcare system and are sceptical of opening themselves to an unsympathetic system.

"Reduced to nods and smiles": experiences of professionals caring for people with cancer from black and ethnic minority groups.

Despite growing research in the UK suggesting that patients from black and ethnic minority groups feel that they do not always receive the best treatment and care, little is known about how care professionals themselves respond to working with this group. The study, involving focus groups with health and social care staff, was undertaken to learn about their views and experiences. The principal finding was the extent to which staff experience difficulties in caring for patients from black and ethnic minority groups.

The comprehensiveness care of sickle cell disease.

Millions of people across the world have sickle cell disease (SCD). Although the true prevalence of SCD in Europe is not certain, London (UK) alone had an estimated 9000 people with the disorder in 1997. People affected by SCD are best managed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who deliver comprehensive care: a model of healthcare based on interaction of medical and non-medical services with the affected persons.