ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Local health departments (LHDs) need timely county-level and subcounty-level data to monitor health-related trends, identify health disparities, and inform areas of highest need for interventions as part of their ongoing assessment responsibilities; yet, many health departments rely on secondary data that are not timely and cannot provide subcounty insights. OBJECTIVE: We developed and evaluated a mental health dashboard in Tableau for an LHD audience featuring statewide syndromic surveillance emergency department (ED) data in North Carolina from the North Carolina Disease Event Tracking and Epidemiologic Collection Tool (NC DETECT). DESIGN: We developed a dashboard that provides counts, crude rates, and ED visit percentages at statewide and county levels, as well as breakdowns by zip code, sex, age group, race, ethnicity, and insurance coverage for 5 mental health conditions. We evaluated the dashboards through semistructured interviews and a Web-based survey that included the standardized usability questions from the System Usability Scale. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of LHD public health epidemiologists, health educators, evaluators, and public health informaticians. RESULTS: Six semistructured interview participants successfully navigated the dashboard but identified usability issues when asked to compare county-level trends displayed in different outputs (eg, tables vs graphs). Thirty respondents answered all questions on the System Usability Scale for the dashboard, which received an above average score of 86. CONCLUSIONS: The dashboards scored well on the System Usability Scale, but more research is needed to identify best practices in disseminating multiyear syndromic surveillance ED visit data on mental health conditions to LHDs.
Subject(s)
Emergency Service, Hospital , Mental Health , Humans , Public Health , North Carolina/epidemiology , Sentinel SurveillanceABSTRACT
CONTEXT: In order to create a more diverse workforce, there is a need to involve historically excluded youth in public health-related work. Youth involvement in asset-based work experience approaches is especially relevant for rural areas with workforce shortages. OBJECTIVE: To explore the public health workforce development implications of community-based career exploration and asset mapping work experience from the perspective of Black youth. DESIGN: We used qualitative in-depth interviews with youth, aged 14 to 22 years, who participated in a work experience program anchored in several rural counties in southeastern United States. A phenomenological lens was applied for qualitative analyses with iterative, team-based data coding. Participants were also surveyed pre- and postprogram to supplement findings. PROGRAM: A rural community-based organization's work experience program consisted of 2 tracks: (1) Youth Connect-a career exploration track that included work placement within community agencies; and (2) MAPSCorps-a track that employs youth to conduct asset mapping for their community. RESULTS: We interviewed 28 of 31 total participants in the 2 tracks. We uncovered 4 emergent profiles in how youth described shifts in their perceptions of community: (1) Skill Developers; (2) Community Questioners; (3) Community Observers; and (4) Community Enthusiasts. In comparing between tracks, youth who participated in work experience that involved asset mapping uniquely described increased observation and expanded view of community resources and had greater increases in research self-efficacy than youth who participated only in career exploration. CONCLUSION: Asset mapping work experience that is directly placed in rural communities can expose Black youth to and engage them in essential public health services (assessing and mobilizing community assets) that impact their community. This type of program, directly integrated into rural communities rather than placed near academic centers, could play a role in creating a more diverse public health workforce.
Subject(s)
Public Health , Rural Population , United States , Humans , Adolescent , Health Workforce , Staff Development , Black PeopleABSTRACT
Geographic racism gives rise to health inequities that impact communities in detrimental ways. Southern ethnic minority groups, particularly African American/Black semi-rural communities, are subject to especially unjust outcomes in health, education, and wealth. Asset-based community development (ABCD) is a way of engaging with communities in participatory and positive ways that center community voices as expert. Youth can participate in ABCD, are sensitive to the ways in which their communities are structured, and have insights as to how to improve the places they live. We undertook a qualitative interview study which included a cognitive mapping exercise with 28 youth to understand how African American/Black youth who had participated in an ABCD-informed summer program conceptualized community and preferences about where they lived. Using a phenomenological approach to qualitative analysis, our study revealed that many youth defined community as a combination of people and place, enjoyed engaging with unique resources in their communities as well as seeking peace and quiet, experienced hardships as "something everybody knows" when observing constraints on their communities, and were committed to their communities and interested in seeing-and participating in-their flourishing. Our study provides a nuanced and contemporary understanding of the ways in which African American/Black semi-rural youth experience community which can contribute to cyclical asset-based development strategy aimed at empowering young people and improving health outcomes in resilient communities.
Subject(s)
Black or African American , Rural Population , Humans , Adolescent , Ethnicity , Minority Groups , Southeastern United StatesABSTRACT
Objectives: American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have a unique healthcare system uniquely interwoven with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The aim of this study is to document changes in health insurance among AI/AN adults before and after implementation of the ACA.Design: We used data from the American Community Survey from 2008 to 2016 to examine trends in health insurance. We compared to Non-Hispanic Whites and stratified AI/AN adults with and without Indian Health Service (IHS) coverage. We used multivariate regression to evaluate the probability of health insurance post-ACA and included time period and subgroup interaction terms.Results: Public and private health insurance coverage increased post-ACA by 3.17 and 1.24 percentage points, respectively, but the percent uninsured remained high (37.7% of those with IHS coverage and 19.2% of those without). AI/AN in Medicaid Expansion states had a significantly greater percentage point (pp) increase in public insurance (6.31 pp, 95% CI 5.04-7.59) than AI/AN in non-expansion states (p < 0.001). There was a greater increase in private coverage among AI/AN without IHS compared to AI/AN with IHS coverage (p = 0.002).Conclusions: Despite improvements in healthcare insurance coverage for AI/AN, substantial disparities remain. The improvements appeared to be largely driven by Medicaid Expansion. Without specific considerations for AI/AN, future healthcare reforms could intensify health injustices and inequities they face.
Subject(s)
Indians, North American , Adult , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Insurance Coverage , Insurance, Health , Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , United States , American Indian or Alaska NativeABSTRACT
There is clear need for more effective public health policies. Coupled with calls for more effective policies, increasing demand to address public health disparities experienced by systemically marginalized and historically oppressed groups emphasizes the long-standing need for policies that improve public health equity. Such need is highlighted when examining public health issues such as alcohol- and substance-exposed pregnancy (ASEP): Current policies are ineffective at reducing ASEP, and marginalized groups experience disproportionately lower benefits and higher negative consequences as a result of such policies. Powerful strategies to develop more effective policies that can account for the complexity of such issues, such as systems science methods (SSMs), are becoming popular. However, current best practices for such methods often do not emphasize the additional efforts that will be required to develop equitable, not just effective policies. Using ASEP as an example of a crucial complex issue requiring new policy, we suggest additional steps to include in SSM projects for developing more effective policies that will also help stakeholders determine high-equity policies to reduce health disparities. These steps include modeling structural differences experienced by marginalized groups via systemic racism and oppression, incorporating existing cultural and community sources of strength and resilience as key areas for policy development, and evaluating the sustainability of policies as a dimension of efficacy. We also discuss using community-based participatory approaches as a framework for all SSM processes to ensure that policy development itself is grounded in equitable shared decision-making for marginalized individuals.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Developing effective implementation strategies requires adequate tracking and reporting on their application. Guidelines exist for defining and reporting on implementation strategy characteristics, but not for describing how strategies are adapted and modified in practice. We built on existing implementation science methods to provide novel methods for tracking strategy modifications. METHODS: These methods were developed within a stepped-wedge trial of an implementation strategy package designed to help community clinics adopt social determinants of health-related activities: in brief, an 'Implementation Support Team' supports clinics through a multi-step process. These methods involve five components: 1) describe planned strategy; 2) track its use; 3) monitor barriers; 4) describe modifications; and 5) identify / describe new strategies. We used the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change taxonomy to categorize strategies, Proctor et al.'s reporting framework to describe them, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to code barriers / contextual factors necessitating modifications, and elements of the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced to describe strategy modifications. RESULTS: We present three examples of the use of these methods: 1) modifications made to a facilitation-focused strategy (clinics reported that certain meetings were too frequent, so their frequency was reduced in subsequent wedges); 2) a clinic-level strategy addition which involved connecting one study clinic seeking help with community health worker-related workflows to another that already had such a workflow in place; 3) a study-level strategy addition which involved providing assistance in overcoming previously encountered (rather than de novo) challenges. CONCLUSIONS: These methods for tracking modifications made to implementation strategies build on existing methods, frameworks, and guidelines; however, as none of these were a perfect fit, we made additions to several frameworks as indicated, and used certain frameworks' components selectively. While these methods are time-intensive, and more work is needed to streamline them, they are among the first such methods presented to implementation science. As such, they may be used in research on assessing effective strategy modifications and for replication and scale-up of effective strategies. We present these methods to guide others seeking to document implementation strategies and modifications to their studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT03607617 (first posted 31/07/2018).
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care , Implementation Science , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: AA living in rural areas of the southeastern U.S. experience a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Neighborhood environmental factors contribute to this disparity and may decrease the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions aimed at preventing CVD. Furthermore, the influence of neighborhood factors on AA CVD risk behaviors (i.e. physical activity) may be obscured by the use of researcher-defined neighborhoods and researcher-defined healthy and unhealthy places. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of neighborhood environments on AA CVD risk behaviors among AA adults who recently completed a lifestyle intervention. We specifically sought to identify AA adults' self-perceived places of significance and their perceptions of how these places impact CVD risk behaviors including diet, physical activity and smoking. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with AA adults (N = 26) living in two rural North Carolina counties (Edgecombe and Nash, North Carolina, USA). Participants were recruited from a community-based behavioral CVD risk reduction intervention. All had at least one risk factor for CVD. Participants identified significant places including where they spent the most time, meaningful places, and healthy and unhealthy places on local maps. Using these maps as a reference, participants described the impact of each location on their CVD risk behaviors. Data were transcribed verbatim and coded using NVivo 12. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 63 (SD = 10) and 92% were female. Places participants defined as meaningful and places where they spent the most time included churches and relatives' homes. Healthy places included gyms and parks. Unhealthy places included fast food restaurants and relatives' homes where unhealthy food was served. Place influenced CVD risk behaviors in multiple ways including through degree of perceived control over the environment, emotional attachment and loneliness, caretaking responsibilities, social pressures and social support. CONCLUSIONS: As we seek to improve cardiovascular interventions for rural AA in the American South, it will be important to further assess the effect of significant places beyond place of residence. Strategies which leverage or modify behavioral influences within person-defined significant places may improve the reach and effectiveness of behavioral lifestyle interventions.
Subject(s)
Black or African American , Cardiovascular Diseases , Adult , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Female , Humans , North Carolina/epidemiology , Residence Characteristics , Risk-TakingABSTRACT
Cultivating strong partnerships among community and academic stakeholders expedites the translation of research findings into practice and communities by enhancing opportunities for research dissemination and implementation. However, the lack of systematic methods for community stakeholder engagement may decelerate the translational research process. The North Carolina Translational Research and Clinical Sciences Institute implemented an innovative approach to community engagement called the Action Learning Cohort (ALC) Series. The ALC Series, a workgroup extension of a professional conference, used action learning and systems thinking strategies to conceptualize and develop a product aimed at preventing, treating, and controlling hypertension in eastern North Carolina. We evaluated the acceptability and practicality of the ALC Series using survey, focus group, and interview pilot data. Action learning and systems thinking strategies led ALC stakeholders to develop and disseminate The Empathy Building Resource Guide: A Toolkit for Enhancing Patient-Provider Relationships in the Treatment, Management, and Prevention of Hypertension. Stakeholders rated the Series as satisfactory and acknowledged gains in knowledge and desire for engagement with fellow ALC stakeholders beyond the Series. The ALC Series approach is a potentially practical and acceptable model for systematically engaging community stakeholders in translating knowledge into a product that addresses health topics like hypertension.
Subject(s)
Community Participation , Stakeholder Participation , Cohort Studies , Humans , North Carolina , Translational Research, BiomedicalABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Decision makers face challenges in estimating local risk for child maltreatment and how best to prioritize which factors to intervene upon. METHODS: Using US Census and survey data for all US counties (N = 3141), we derived US county profiles characterized by the severity of child maltreatment risk factors observed at the county level, such as parental health, health care access, and economic distress. We estimated how five child maltreatment outcomes would vary across the profiles for North Carolina counties (n = 100): total maltreatment reports (including unsubstantiated and substantiated), substantiated neglect, substantiated abuse, whether services were received, and reported child's race/ethnicity. RESULTS: We derived three profiles of county-level child maltreatment risk: high, moderate, and low risk, denoting that predicted risk factors means within profiles were all high, moderate, or low levels compared to counties in other profiles. One risk factor did not follow this pattern: the drug overdose death rate. It was highest in the moderate-risk profile instead of the high-risk profile, as would have been consistent with other factor levels. Moderate-risk counties had the highest predicted rate of child maltreatment reports, with over 20 more reports per 10,000 residents compared to low-risk counties (95% CI, 1.38, 38.86). LIMITATIONS: We included only factors for which aggregate, county-level estimates were available, thus limiting inclusion of all relevant factors. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest the need for increased family-based services and interventions that reduce risk factors such as economic distress and drug overdose deaths. We discuss the implications for tailoring county efforts to prevent child maltreatment.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse , Censuses , Child , Ethnicity , Humans , North Carolina/epidemiology , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Few studies examine the network structure and function of older women's health discussion networks. We sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of collecting social network data via telephone from 72 women from the Women's Health Initiative study and to describe structural and functional characteristics. Women were socially connected and had dense networks. Women were emotionally close to network members, but their networks were not used to facilitate communication with health-care providers. One-third of network members was not influential on health-related decision-making. Collecting social network data via telephone is feasible and an acceptable, though un-preferred, mode of data collection.
Subject(s)
Social Networking , Social Support , Women's Health , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Feasibility Studies , Female , Health Communication/methods , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Surveys and Questionnaires , TelephoneABSTRACT
Decision-makers need to consider a range of factors when selecting evidence-based programs (EBPs) for implementation, which can be especially challenging when addressing complex issues such as child maltreatment prevention. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) frameworks and tools are useful for evaluating such complex decisions. We describe the development and testing of the first MCDA tool to compare EBPs for child neglect prevention. To develop the tool, we engaged stakeholders (n = 8) to define the problem and identify 13 criteria and associated weights. In a pilot study, we tested the MCDA tool with decision-makers (n = 11) who were asked to rank three evidence-based child neglect prevention interventions both with and without the tool. The MCDA's weighted sum intervention ranking differed from the ranking without the tool in the majority of the sample (55%). Decision-makers provided guidance on criteria that should be clarified or added, resulting in 16 criteria in an iterated tool. The most frequent criterion suggestions related to community acceptance of the intervention, health equity, implementation supports, and sustainability. Decision-maker feedback guided user interface refinements. The MCDA tool was generally well accepted by decision-makers due to their trust in the stakeholder engagement process. More research is needed to understand the acceptability of MCDA approaches in additional contexts and whether EBPs adopted with decision support have different population health impacts compared with EBPs adopted without support. MCDA tools could facilitate evidence-based responses to federal policy and funding opportunities such as the Families First Preventive Services Act.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse , Decision Support Techniques , Child , Child Abuse/prevention & control , Decision Making , Humans , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
Evidence of the effectiveness of community-based lifestyle behavior change interventions among African-American adults is mixed. We implemented a behavioral lifestyle change intervention, Heart Matters, in two rural counties in North Carolina with African-American adults. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of Heart Matters on dietary and physical activity behaviors, self-efficacy, and social support. We used a cluster randomized controlled trial to compare Heart Matters to a delayed intervention control group after 6 months. A total of 143 African-American participants were recruited and 108 completed 6-month follow-up assessments (75.5%). We used mixed regression models to evaluate changes in outcomes from baseline to 6-month follow-up. The intervention had a significant positive effect on self-reported scores of encouragement of healthy eating, resulting in an increase in social support from family of 6.11 units (95% CI [1.99, 10.22]) (p < .01). However, intervention participants also had an increase in discouragement of healthy eating compared to controls of 5.59 units (95% CI [1.46, 9.73]) among family (p < .01). There were no significant differences in changes in dietary behaviors. Intervention participants had increased odds (OR = 2.86, 95% CI [1.18, 6.93]) of increased frequency of vigorous activity for at least 20 min per week compared to control participants (p < .05). Individual and group lifestyle behavior counseling can have a role in promoting physical activity levels among rural African-American adults, but more research is needed to identify the best strategies to bolster effectiveness and influence dietary change. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials, NCT02707432. Registered 13 March 2016.
Subject(s)
Black or African American , Community Networks , Diet , Exercise , Health Promotion , Program Evaluation , Adult , Cluster Analysis , Female , Humans , Life Style , Male , Middle Aged , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
Although screening is effective in reducing incidence, mortality, and costs of treating colorectal cancer (CRC), it remains underutilized, in part due to limited insurance access. We used microsimulation to estimate the health and financial effects of insurance expansion and reduction scenarios in North Carolina (NC). We simulated the full lifetime of a simulated population of 3,298,265 residents age-eligible for CRC screening (ages 50-75) during a 5-year period starting January 1, 2018, including polyp incidence and progression and CRC screening, diagnosis, treatment, and mortality. Insurance scenarios included: status quo, which in NC includes access to the Health Insurance Exchange (HIE) under the Affordable Care Act (ACA); no ACA; NC Medicaid expansion, and Medicare-for-all. The insurance expansion scenarios would increase percent up-to-date with screening by 0.3 and 7.1 percentage points for Medicaid expansion and Medicare-for-all, respectively, while insurance reduction would reduce percent up-to-date by 1.1 percentage points, compared to the status quo (51.7% up-to-date), at the end of the 5-year period. Throughout these individuals' lifetimes, this change in CRC screening/testing results in an estimated 498 CRC cases averted with Medicaid expansion and 6031 averted with Medicare-for-all, and an additional 1782 cases if health insurance gains associated with ACA are lost. Estimated cost savings - balancing increased CRC screening/testing costs against decreased cancer treatment costs - are approximately $30â¯M and $970â¯M for Medicaid expansion and Medicare-for-all scenarios, respectively, compared to status quo. Insurance expansion is likely to improve CRC screening both overall and in underserved populations while saving money, with the largest savings realized by Medicare.
Subject(s)
Colorectal Neoplasms , Computer Simulation , Cost Savings/statistics & numerical data , Insurance, Health , Medicaid , Medicare , Aged , Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Colorectal Neoplasms/therapy , Early Detection of Cancer/economics , Early Detection of Cancer/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Insurance, Health/economics , Insurance, Health/statistics & numerical data , Male , Mass Screening/economics , Medicaid/economics , Medicaid/statistics & numerical data , Medicare/economics , Medicare/statistics & numerical data , Middle Aged , North Carolina , Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , United StatesABSTRACT
Public mobilisation is needed to enact obesity-prevention policies and to mitigate reaction against their implementation. However, approaches in public health focus mainly on dialogue between public health professionals and political leaders. Strategies to increase popular demand for obesity-prevention policies include refinement and streamlining of public information, identification of effective obesity frames for each population, strengthening of media advocacy, building of citizen protest and engagement, and development of a receptive political environment with change agents embedded across organisations and sectors. Long-term support and investment in collaboration between diverse stakeholders to create shared value is also important. Each actor in an expanded coalition for obesity prevention can make specific contributions to engaging, mobilising, and coalescing the public. The shift from a top-down to a combined and integrated bottom-up and top-down approach would need an overhaul of current strategies and reprioritisation of resources.
Subject(s)
Health Promotion/organization & administration , Obesity/prevention & control , Community Networks , Community Participation , Consumer Health Information , Health Policy , Humans , Lobbying , Mass Media , Public Health , Public OpinionABSTRACT
Unanswered questions about racial and socioeconomic health disparities may be addressed using community-based participatory research and systems science. Community-based participatory research is an orientation to research that prioritizes developing capacity, improving trust, and translating knowledge to action. Systems science provides research methods to study dynamic and interrelated forces that shape health disparities. Community-based participatory research and systems science are complementary, but their integration requires more research. We discuss paradigmatic, socioecological, capacity-building, colearning, and translational synergies that help advance progress toward health equity.
Subject(s)
Community-Based Participatory Research , Health Equity , Systems Analysis , Cooperative Behavior , Humans , Social Class , Systems IntegrationABSTRACT
We examined evidence regarding the influence of school physical environment on healthy-eating outcomes. We applied a systems perspective to examine multiple disciplines' theoretical frameworks and used a mixed-methods systematic narrative review method, considering both qualitative and quantitative sources (published through March 2014) for inclusion. We developed a causal loop diagram from 102 sources identified. We found evidence of the influence of many aspects of a school's physical environment on healthy-eating outcomes. The causal loop diagram highlights multilevel and interrelated factors and elucidates the specific roles of design and architecture in encouraging healthy eating within schools. Our review highlighted the gaps in current evidence and identified areas of research needed to refine and expand school architecture and design strategies for addressing healthy eating.
Subject(s)
Diet , Facility Design and Construction/methods , Health Promotion/methods , Schools/organization & administration , Drinking Water , Feeding Behavior , Food Dispensers, Automatic , Food Handling , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A community's readiness for change is a precursor to the effective application of evidence-based practices for health promotion. Research is lacking regarding potential strategies to improve readiness to address obesity-related health issues in underserved communities. COMMUNITY CONTEXT: This case study describes SaludABLEOmaha, an initiative to increase readiness of residents in a Midwestern Latino community to address obesity and adopt healthy lifestyles. METHODS: SaludABLEOmaha emphasized 2 core approaches, youth activism and collaboration among public and private institutions, which we applied to planning and implementing tactics in support of 3 interconnected strategies: 1) social marketing and social media, 2) service learning in schools (ie, curricula that integrate hands-on community service with instruction and reflection), and 3) community and business engagement. Following the Community Readiness Model protocol (http://triethniccenter.colostate.edu/communityReadiness.htm), structured interviews were conducted with community leaders and analyzed before and 2.5 years after launch of the program. OUTCOME: The community increased in readiness from stage 3 of the Community Readiness Model, "vague awareness," at baseline to stage 5, "preparation," at follow-up. INTERPRETATION: SaludABLEOmaha improved community readiness (eg, community knowledge, community climate), which probably contributed to the observed increase in readiness to address obesity through healthy lifestyle. Community mobilization approaches such as youth activism integrated with social marketing and social media tactics can improve community responsiveness to obesity prevention and diminish health disparities.
Subject(s)
Community Health Services/methods , Health Promotion , Hispanic or Latino , Life Style , Obesity/prevention & control , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Reading , Cooperative Behavior , Humans , Nebraska/epidemiology , Obesity/ethnology , Retrospective Studies , Social MarketingABSTRACT
This article describes a pilot youth advocacy initiative for obesity prevention informed by social cognitive theory, social network theory, and theories of community mobilization. With assistance from school and health leaders, adolescent-aged youth led a cafeteria food labeling and social marketing campaign. We implemented an anonymous survey 2 weeks prior to and again at the conclusion of the campaign, and used cafeteria records to track servings of fruits and vegetables. The campaign resulted in a significant increase in youths' confidence to identify healthy foods (OR 1.97, 95 % CI 1.01, 3.84, p = .048), and a significant increase in per person per day servings of fruits (0.02, p = .03) and vegetables (0.01, p = .02). The results of our pilot were promising, and the integration of concepts from multiple theories benefited the implementation process. Obesity prevention initiatives should include strategies that encourage youth to create health promotion community networks and lead changes to their social and physical environments.
Subject(s)
Feeding Behavior/psychology , Food Services/standards , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Promotion/organization & administration , Pediatric Obesity/prevention & control , School Health Services/organization & administration , Social Marketing , Adolescent , Diet Surveys , Food Services/statistics & numerical data , Health Promotion/methods , Humans , Interinstitutional Relations , Logistic Models , Nebraska , Organizational Case Studies , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Pediatric Obesity/psychology , Peer Group , Pilot Projects , Psychological Theory , Self Efficacy , Social Media , Urban HealthABSTRACT
We developed a new tool, Healthy Eating Design Guidelines for School Architecture, to provide practitioners in architecture and public health with a practical set of spatially organized and theory-based strategies for making school environments more conducive to learning about and practicing healthy eating by optimizing physical resources and learning spaces. The design guidelines, developed through multidisciplinary collaboration, cover 10 domains of the school food environment (eg, cafeteria, kitchen, garden) and 5 core healthy eating design principles. A school redesign project in Dillwyn, Virginia, used the tool to improve the schools' ability to adopt a healthy nutrition curriculum and promote healthy eating. The new tool, now in a pilot version, is expected to evolve as its components are tested and evaluated through public health and design research.
Subject(s)
Eating , Nutrition Policy , School Health Services , Health Behavior , HumansABSTRACT
Native American women in the Northern Plains have a high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and high incidence of cervical disease and cervical cancer. HPV vaccination coverage is shown to be lower among nonwhite populations and disparity populations. We assessed HPV knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards HPV and HPV vaccination during a community-based participatory research project among tribal youth, young adults, parents, and health professionals. In 2009, we recruited a total of 73 individuals to participate in four tribal focus groups: tribal health providers, (n=10), Indian Health Service providers (n=7), young adult women ages 19-26 (n=22), girls (14-18) (n=18), and parents (n=16). Of these, 62 (84.93 %) completed a survey, which included 10 healthcare providers, 22 young adults, 14 teens, and 16 parents. We employed a qualitative thematic analysis of focus group transcript data and conducted frequency analysis of survey data, which were both reviewed and triangulated by a Community Advisory Board. Based on the results of this study, the tribal community advisory board identified local tribal settings for interventions to increase HPV vaccination coverage through health education classes and a school-based vaccination clinic. In addition to tribal community-wide education events to increase awareness of HPV disease, the HPV vaccine, provider-specific training was identified as a potential intervention. These community-based focus group findings underscore the importance of locally and cultural tailored educational interventions to further increase HPV knowledge and HPV vaccination among disparate populations like American Indian adolescent and young adult women.