Disentangling the coping process in White rural men who carry guns.

Affluent White rural men have the highest rates of gun ownership in the United States. However, few studies have specifically examined reasons and motivations for gun ownership and gun behaviors in this population. Therefore, this study sought to examine the relationship between stress variables, namely masculine gender role stress, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and income level, and subsequent pro-gun beliefs and amount of time an individual carried a gun within this population. Results indicated that only two measures of pro-gun beliefs (i.e., believing guns keep one safe, believing guns are present in one's social sphere) were correlated with percentage of time an individual carried. Additionally, ACEs were positively correlated with believing guns influence how others perceive oneself, levels of masculine gender role stress, and income. These results suggest that White rural gun owners who have increased ACEs have decreased income and tend to believe that owning guns impacts their social status with peers. However, increased ACEs do not influence belief about guns keeping one safe, believing guns are present in one's social sphere, or gun carriage. Instead, White rural gun owners without childhood adversity may be more susceptible to believing their safety depends on guns and belongingness within their social sphere. Future research should assess reasons why affluent White rural men find it important to maintain their safety in the context of gun ownership.

Patterns in pro-gun beliefs and weapon carrying behaviors in rural White adolescent.

Weapon carrying among White rural populations is understudied although evidence suggests that rural White boys have high rates of carriage. This study delineated patterns of weapon use and pro-gun beliefs using a latent class analysis on a sample of 32,916 White rural adolescents. Five groups were identified (i.e., Low Gun Risk, Naïve, Social Contagion, Independent, Unsupervised) using pro-gun beliefs, peer risk factors, and weapon carrying items. Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed that identifying as male, age, housing instability, and victimization consistently differentiated group membership between different classes. These results suggest that rural White adolescents vary in their belief systems about guns and weapon carrying behavior and that this heterogeneity can be differentiated by lived experiences of these adolescents.

Institutional violence from police militarization and drug cartel wars as a 'Big Event' and its influence on drug use harms and HIV risk in people who inject drugs on the U.S.-Mexico border.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the US-Mexico Border is one of the largest drug trafficking regions, with Ciudad Juarez (CJ) and El Paso (EP) making up the second-largest border crossing in the world. Border communities are places where the risk of drug use harm and infectious diseases such as HIV are augmented due to the confluence of factors operating across the physical, social, economic and policy environment. Although the two cities are economically, culturally, and socially intertwined, each has distinct criminal justice systems and policy practices aimed at curtailing substance use. Between 2008 and 2011, the CJ/EP region experienced an unprecedented level of violence that stemmed from the intersection of police militarization and drug cartel wars, which profoundly shaped every aspect of life. Little research has documented the impact of drug cartel wars on the drug use and health harms of people who inject drugs (PWID) living in CJ and EP. The purpose of the study is to understand the effect that the drug cartel war had on the drug use harms and HIV risk of PWID. METHODS: We conducted 40 in-depth interviews with people who inject drugs who resided in CJ or EP and had used heroin or crack cocaine in the last 30 days, and asked how police militarization and drug cartel war affected their daily lives. The risk environment framework informed the analysis and interpretation of findings. RESULTS: Findings indicated that the risk environment was profoundly altered as PWID residing in CJ experienced profound changes in their daily lives that promoted engagement in behaviors that increased drug use and health harms including HIV risk, exacerbated trauma, and prevented use of substance use treatment and harm reduction services. The risk environment was also altered in EP, where PWID experienced drug supply shortages, violent policing practices, and reduced availability of harm reduction services. Findings underscore the permeability of risk environments across geographical borders. CONCLUSION: The intersection of law enforcement militarization and drug cartel wars can be conceptualized as a 'big event' because it disrupts the drug market economy, leads to drug shortages, promotes entrance into the drug market economy by people who use drugs, reshapes drug use sites, and constrains the provision of harm reduction services. The stability of the harm reduction system in CJ was negatively impacted and limited the ability of individuals to reduce harm. Our findings show that drug cartel wars render the CJ/EP region extremely susceptible to drug use and health harms, while also creating vulnerability by severely restricting its ability to respond. Traditional recommendations to intervene to limit the impact of risk environments on the drug use harms of PWID need to be reconsidered in the context of drug cartel wars.

Validation of Brief Condom Use Attitudes Scales for Spanish-Speaking People Who Use Crack Cocaine in El Salvador.

People who use crack cocaine (PWUCC) are a population severely impacted by a concentrated epidemic of HIV. Behavioral interventions to prevent and treat HIV among PWUCC have been implemented around the world including in low- and middle-income countries which have been disproportionately affected by HIV. However, few studies have validated and assessed psychometric properties of measures on PWUCC, especially in transnational populations. Our sample was comprised of 1324 PWUCC, Spanish mono-lingual speakers, residing in the metropolitan area of San Salvador, El Salvador. Exploratory factor analysis and subsequent confirmatory factor analysis using statistical softwares SPSS and Amos were conducted on three abbreviated and translated condom use attitude measures (i.e., Condom Use Attitudes Scale-Spanish Short Form, Condom Use Social Norm-Spanish Short Form [CUSN-SSF], Condom Use Self-Efficacy-Spanish Short Form). Convergent validity was examined by computing bivariate correlations between the scales and condom use and sexually transmitted disease diagnosis. Results indicated that a two-factor, 8-item correlated model for the CUAS-SSF scale had an excellent fit and adequate reliability (α = .76). The confirmatory factor analysis for the 5-item CUSN-SSF scale indicated a satisfactory fit with 3 of 6 fit indices indicating adequate fit. Analysis of the two-factor 5-item CUSE-SSF scale indicated satisfactory fit and adequate reliability (α = .84). There were significant correlations between all measures and with self-reported condom use. Results indicate that these brief measures are reliable and valid and can be utilized to assess the effectiveness of HIV risk reduction interventions among Spanish-speaking PWUCC.

Misunderstandings, misperceptions, and missed opportunities: Perspectives on adherence barriers from people with CF, caregivers, and CF team members.

OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in perspectives of people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) and caregivers versus healthcare providers on adherence barriers. Mismatched perspectives may lead to miscommunication and missed opportunities to reduce barriers and improve CF outcomes. METHODS: PwCF, caregivers, and CF providers completed audio-taped, semi-structured interviews about adherence barriers. Interviews were transcribed and coded for themes. Themes were reviewed to identify when PwCF-caregiver perspectives differed from providers'. RESULTS: Participants included 14 adolescents with CF (mean age = 15.89 years, 64 % female, 71 % Caucasian), 14 adults with CF (mean age = 30.03 years, 64 % female, 57 % Caucasian), 29 caregivers (76 % female; 72 % Caucasian), and 42 providers. Four barriers were identified that could generate miscommunication between PwCF-caregivers and providers: Tired = Fatigued/Sleepy versus Tired = Burnout, Vacation and Travel, Knowledge and Skills About CF Regimen, and Daily Habits or Routines. PwCF and caregivers used similar words as providers, but conceptualized barriers differently. PwCF and caregivers discussed barriers pragmatically, however, providers viewed certain barriers more abstractly or unidimensionally, or did not discuss them. CONCLUSIONS: PwCF-caregivers and providers may not align in how they discuss barriers, which may contribute to miscommunication about adherence challenges. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Patient-centered communication strategies may enhance providers' understandings of PwCF-caregiver perspectives on barriers and facilitate adherence interventions.

The Role of Patient-Physician Communication on the Use of Hydroxyurea in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study analyzed the perspective of patients living with sickle cell disease (SCD) on their process of deciding whether to take hydroxyurea (HU), and the role of physician communication in patients' decision-making process. METHODS: From October 2015 to July 2016, we conducted semi-structured interviews among patients with SCD (N = 20) that were audio-recorded and transcribed. Participants were ≥ 18 years old, a patient of an urban adult sickle cell center, able to provide informed consent, and English-speaking. We iteratively developed codes and used thematic analysis to organize the key themes. RESULTS: Most participants were female (65%), middle aged (M = 44, SD = 12.2), and 55% were prescribed HU for an average of 10.4 (SD = 4.7) years. Participants described 3 key factors that influenced their decision regarding HU treatment: (1) lifestyle, (2) health status, and (3) HU characteristics. Four themes emerged about provider communication and HU treatment decisions: (1) provider's advisement, (2) shared decision-making, (3) "wrestled," and (4) not feeling heard. CONCLUSION: Providers who engaged in shared decision-making empowered participants to decide whether to start HU treatment. Participants who felt their providers were not listening to their concerns expressed disengaging from HU treatment. During discussions about HU with patients living with SCD, providers must understand the multi-faceted aspects that impact patients' decision and empower patients to engage in such discussions. Further research is needed to understand the role of shared decision-making among patients with SCD to improve management of SCD.