The Use of Refundable Tax Credits to Increase Low-Income Children's After-School Physical Activity Level.

Objective: The current study investigates the extent to which a refundable tax credit could be used to increase low-income children's after-school physical activity levels.

Methods: An experimental study was conducted evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention offering a simulated refundable tax credit to parents of elementary-school-age children (n = 130) for enrollment in after-school physical activity programs. A randomized controlled design was used, with data collected at baseline, immediately following the 4-month intervention (postintervention), and 6 weeks after the end of the intervention (follow-up).

Creating opportunities for training California's public health workforce.

Introduction: Today there are significant challenges to public health, and effective responses to them will require complex approaches and strategies implemented by a qualified workforce. An adequately prepared workforce requires long-term development; however, local health departments have limited financial and staff resources. Schools and programs accredited by the Council for Education on Public Health (CEPH) are required to provide continuing education but are constrained by the lack of resources, limited time, and geography.

Costs and cost-effectiveness of adolescent compliance with treatment for latent tuberculosis infection: results from a randomized trial.

Purpose: Assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of an incentive-based tuberculosis (TB) program designed to promote adolescents' compliance with treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI).

Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19 years who were referred to one of two participating clinics after being screened for TB and receiving a positive diagnosis indicating LTBI (n = 794) were assigned to one of four groups: usual care, peer counseling, contingency contracting, and combined peer counseling/contingency contracting.

Indices of lifetime polydrug use among adolescents.

The functional equivalency for three indices of lifetime polydrug use was examined in a sample of adolescents (N = 794). The following indices were included in analyses: (a) a count of lifetime self-report of substances used; (b) an index weighted by the severity of the substances used; and (c) a hierarchical index of substance use. Analyses for each index was conducted twice with abstinent youth (no report of substances over their lifetime) included and excluded from analyses.

Assessment of tuberculosis treatment completion in an ethnically diverse population using two data sources. Implications for treatment interventions.

Many adolescents who are prescribed therapy for tuberculosis (TB) infection fail to complete it. This article presents the results of a demographic and epidemiological assessment of TB treatment completion in adolescent populations using (a) surveillance data from the Los Angeles Health County Department and (b) a prospective/retrospective medical chart review from targeted clinics. Patients who did not complete the 6-month recommended medical treatment for latent tuberculosis therapy (LTBI) averaged 13 weeks in care.