Victimization in schizophrenia and its relation to violence.

Background: People with schizophrenia are frequently victims of violence. Previous attempts to examine the reasons for this have mostly used cross-sectional designs that limit the ability to distinguish, among the correlates they identify, potential causes of victimization from its consequences.

Method: We studied patients with schizophrenia participating in the NIMH-funded Clinical Antipsychotic Treatment for Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) trial.

The short-term impact on economic outcomes of SBIRT interventions implemented in reproductive health care settings.

Objective: To estimate the impact of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) administered in reproductive health care settings on a variety of economic outcomes, including general health care utilization, criminal activity, and motor vehicle crashes. Whether and by how much SBIRT affects economic outcomes are important unanswered questions related to the economic impact of this technique.

Methods: We collected data as part of a randomized clinical trial that examined whether SBIRT delivered electronically (e-SBIRT) or by a clinician (SBIRT) is superior to enhanced usual care (EUC) for substance misuse.

Identification of substance use disorders among pregnant women: A comparison of screeners.

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate five self-report, non-proprietary questionnaires in the identification of substance use disorders [including alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and stimulants] among pregnant women.

Procedures: A total of 1220 pregnant women completed the NIDA Quick Screen, CRAFFT, Substance Use Risk Profile-Pregnancy (SURP-P), Wayne Indirect Drug Use Questionnaire (WIDUS), and the 5 Ps, as well as the MINI diagnostic interview for substance use disorders, which served as the reference standard. Measures of merit calculated for each screener included sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC).

Cost-effectiveness of electronic- and clinician-delivered screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment for women in reproductive health centers.

Aims: To determine the cost-effectiveness of electronic- and clinician-delivered SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) for reducing primary substance use among women treated in reproductive health centers.

Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis based on a randomized controlled trial.

Setting: New Haven, CT, USA.

Assessment of an electronic and clinician-delivered brief intervention on cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use among women in a reproductive healthcare clinic.

Background: Women are at highest risk for development of a substance use disorder during their reproductive years. We recently evaluated the efficacy of an electronic screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (e-SBIRT) and a clinician-delivered SBIRT (SBIRT) compared with enhanced usual care (EUC) for reducing overall substance use among women recruited from reproductive health clinics. The present study assessed the impact of the SBIRT interventions within three primary substance subgroups: cigarettes, illicit drugs, and alcohol.

Effectiveness of SMS Technology on Timely Community Health Worker Follow-Up for Childhood Malnutrition: A Retrospective Cohort Study in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: The Millennium Villages Project facilitated technology-based health interventions in rural under-resourced areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Our study examined whether data entry using SMS compared with paper forms by community health workers (CHWs) led to higher proportion of timely follow-up visits for malnutrition screening in under-5 children in Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda.

Methods: Children under 5 years were screened for malnutrition every 90 days by CHWs using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) readings.

A randomized controlled trial of screening and brief interventions for substance misuse in reproductive health.

Background: Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment may reduce substance misuse but has received minimal study among women who are treated in reproductive health settings.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether "screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment" that is delivered either electronically or by clinician are more effective than enhanced usual care in decreasing days of primary substance use.

Study Design: Women from 2 reproductive centers who smoked cigarettes or misused alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription medication were allocated randomly to "screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment" delivered electronically or by clinician or to enhanced usual care.

Sources of education about breastfeeding and breast pump use: what effect do they have on breastfeeding duration? An analysis of the Infant Feeding Practices Survey II.

To examine the association between breastfeeding duration and sources of education about breastfeeding and breast pumps. We analyzed data from the Infant Feeding Practices Survey II (n = 2,586), a national longitudinal consumer-based study. We used χ(2) and ANOVA to contrast categorical and continuous variables, respectively, and logistic regression to model the association between breastfeeding duration and sources of education about breastfeeding and breast pump use.

Text messaging as a tool for behavior change in disease prevention and management.

Mobile phone text messaging is a potentially powerful tool for behavior change because it is widely available, inexpensive, and instant. This systematic review provides an overview of behavior change interventions for disease management and prevention delivered through text messaging. Evidence on behavior change and clinical outcomes was compiled from randomized or quasi-experimental controlled trials of text message interventions published in peer-reviewed journals by June 2009.

Individual decision making in the non-purchase of long-term care insurance.

Purpose: Although prior research suggests that economic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors influence decisions not to purchase long-term care insurance, few studies have examined the interplay among these factors in depth and from the consumer's point of view. This study was intended to further illuminate these considerations, generate hypotheses about non-purchasing decisions, and inform the design of policies that are responsive to concerns and preferences of potential purchasers.

Design And Method: Qualitative study using 32 in-depth interviews and 6 focus groups, following a grounded theory approach.

Lymphoma survival patterns by WHO subtype in the United States, 1973-2003.

With the incidence and prevalence of lymphoid neoplasms increasing, a comparison of survival patterns by subtype may provide critical clues for improving the disease burden. We conducted a comprehensive survival analysis for 254,702 lymphoid neoplasm cases diagnosed during 1973-2003 at 17 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification introduced in 2001. The best survival was observed for Hodgkin lymphoma among young patients, and the worst survival was observed among cases with plasma cell neoplasms, particularly plasma cell leukemia, in all racial groups.

Prevalence of foodborne microorganisms in retail foods in Thailand.

Worldwide, foodborne illness is often associated with consumption of meats and poultry products sold at retail markets. A cross-sectional retail food study was conducted in Bangkok, Thailand to assess the prevalence of bacterial pathogens on retail food samples. Raw chicken, beef, pork, and chicken eggs were purchased from fresh markets and supermarkets and tested for Salmonella spp.

Ultraviolet radiation exposure and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Sun exposure has been suggested to increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The authors analyzed data from a population-based, case-control study of Connecticut women between 1996 and 2000 to study the hypothesis. Women who reported having had a suntan experienced an increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with increasing duration (p(trend) = 0.

Family history of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic malignancies and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Background: Family history of hematopoietic malignancies has been linked to the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The relationship between family history of specific hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic malignancies and the risk of NHL and by NHL subtypes are unclear.

Methods: We analyzed data from a population-based case-control study in Connecticut women.

Impact of race on the professional lives of physicians of African descent.

Background: Increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the physician workforce is a national priority. However, insight into the professional experiences of minority physicians is limited. This knowledge is fundamental to developing effective strategies to recruit, retain, and support a diverse physician workforce.

The impact of spirometry on pediatric asthma diagnosis and treatment.

Research has shown that spirometry is underutilized in the clinical setting. This study profiles the use of spirometry in an asthma management program at an inner-city community health clinic. Eligible subjects included 56 children who presented with an acute asthma exacerbation.

Psychiatric comorbidity and the long-term care of people with AIDS.

Objectives: To examine the association of comorbid psychiatric disorders with admission and discharge characteristics for patients residing at a long-term care facility designated for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Methods: Demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained by systematic chart review for all patients (N = 180) admitted to the facility from its opening in October 1995 through December 1999. Lifetime history of severe and persistent psychiatric disorders (major depression, bipolar and psychotic disorders) was determined by current diagnosis on baseline clinical evaluation or a documented past history.