Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 164
Filter
1.
J Cancer Educ ; 37(6): 1589-1597, 2022 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33728872

ABSTRACT

Although there has been an increase focus on recruitment of minority populations at safety-net hospitals into cancer clinical trials, there is still a paucity of research exploring minority participation in cancer clinical trials at safety-net settings. The study utilized a multi-level, qualitative approach to assess the clinical and non-clinical facilitators and barriers to African American participation in cancer clinical trials at a safety-net hospital. From June 2018 to July 2019, cancer survivors (n = 25) were recruited from a cancer center at a safety-net hospital in the southeastern USA and participated in a 60-min focus group. Data was coded and analyzed to identify the most prominent themes. Most participants were female (78%), with a mean age of 56 years. The majority were diagnosed with breast cancer (68%) and disabled or unemployed (55%). Major themes identified were (1) lack of understanding of cancer clinical trials, (2) perceptions and fears of cancer clinical trials, and (3) preferred role and characteristics of patient navigator. The barriers and facilitators to enrollment in cancer clinical trials were more pronounced in the safety-net setting, given the overdue burden of social determinants of health. Study findings yield important insights and essential practices for recruiting and engaging underrepresented Black cancer patients into cancer clinical trials, specifically for safety-net settings. Including patient navigators may help traverse potential barriers to cancer clinical trial participation and will allow for the attention to social determinants of health, and ultimately increase the number of African Americans participating in cancer clinical trials.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Cancer Survivors , Humans , Female , Middle Aged , Male , Black or African American , Safety-net Providers , Social Determinants of Health
2.
Rev Med Interne ; 30(8): 678-85, 2009 Aug.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19100664

ABSTRACT

B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide are biomarkers secreted both in response to myocardial stretch and increased ventricular wall stress. They are now largely used in cardiovascular disease in adults, especially as diagnostic and prognostic tools. This article aims at synthesizing existing data concerning the usefulness of natriuretic peptides in elderly patients. With aging, co-morbidities such as renal failure are common and lead to an increase in circulating concentrations of natriuretic peptides. Nevertheless, their usefulness is relevant in geriatric practice. Their role has been well established in heart failure, not only in diagnosis, using two thresholds to decrease misclassification, but also in prognosis. In the future, natriuretic peptides could be used as prognosis tools in acute coronary syndrome, in cardiovascular risk assessment or in management of heart valve disease. However, further investigations in elderly people are needed before validating these indications in routine geriatric practice.


Subject(s)
Atrial Natriuretic Factor/blood , Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis , Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood , Protein Precursors/blood , Aged , Biomarkers/blood , Cardiovascular Diseases/blood , Humans
4.
Gerontology ; 53(6): 329-39, 2007.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17551260

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP), a nonspecific marker of the inflammatory status, is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors and may be an important feature of the metabolic syndrome (MSX) in middle-aged subjects. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the relationship of CRP levels to specific components of MSX and other potential determinants in apparently healthy elderly subjects living in the South of France. METHODS: In the framework of the population-based POLA (Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age) Study, performed in 2,404 subjects aged 60 years or more, we measured the plasma CRP levels. All subjects with known systemic inflammatory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, and those who were on systemic steroid therapy as well as subjects with CRP levels >10 mg/l were excluded from the study, leaving 1,709 subjects for the statistical analyses. MSX was defined according to NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Program) criteria. Other potential determinants were assessed through interviewer-based questionnaire. RESULTS: We grouped the subjects into three categories based on the 75th and 25th percentiles, corresponding to 3.05 and 0.82, respectively. We compared subjects in the highest quartile, i.e., with CRP >/=3.05 mg/l, with those in the two intermediate quartiles, i.e., with 0.82 < CRP < 3.05, and those in the lowest quartile, i.e., with CRP <0.82 mg/l according to gender. MSX, which had a prevalence of 31%, was significantly associated with elevated CRP levels. Among MSX components, the strongest positive association with the highest quartile of CRP was with waist circumference in males as well as in females (age-adjusted odds ratio OR 3.06 and 95% confidence interval CI 1.82-5.14; OR 7.04 and 95% CI 4.79-10.34, respectively). Each component of the MSX, such as abnormal fasting plasma glucose (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.69-4.99), triglycerides (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.30-2.96), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.61-3.30), and blood pressure (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.12-2.45), was significantly associated with high CRP values in elderly women only. In men, only current smoking was significantly associated with high CRP levels (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.04-2.2). In multivariate analysis, the waist circumference remained significantly associated with high CRP levels, with a graded effect of CRP quartile whatever the gender. In men, current and former smoking remained significantly associated with the CRP levels. In women, the association observed in univariate analysis with fasting glucose or hypertension did not reach statistical significance in the multivariate analysis, while only a weak association could be observed with lipid parameters such as triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal adiposity adds to the variance in plasma CRP levels in elderly patients with MSX. This suggests that weight loss or other interventions targeted at adipocyte-related inflammation may represent an important means to prevent subclinical inflammation in the elderly, bearing a high risk of cardiovascular disease.


Subject(s)
C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Metabolic Syndrome/blood , Waist-Hip Ratio , Aged , Blood Pressure , Cholesterol, HDL/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Sex Factors , Smoking/blood , Triglycerides/blood
5.
Rev Med Interne ; 26(12): 931-7, 2005 Dec.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16236396

ABSTRACT

SUBJECT: There is a lack of scientific data concerning the incidence, clinical signs, risk factors and diagnostic management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the elderly. METHODS: We carried out a prospective case-control study in a geriatric setting. We included one in-patient without clinical signs of deep vein thrombosis for each hospitalised patient with clinically suspected DVT. Clinical signs, risk factors of DVT and a compression ultrasonography of the proximal and distal leg veins were performed in all patients at admission. Also, the clinical probability was assessed by means of the clinical score model described by Wells. RESULTS: There were 102 patients aged over 85 included during the 5 months period of the study. Fifty-one patients have had a clinical suspicion of DVT and 51 patients were clinically asymptomatic. There were 43% symptomatic DVT and 12% asymptomatic DVT. Clinical signs and symptoms of DVT were neither sensitive nor specific. Risk factors associated most frequently with DVT were: immobilisation (prevalence 64%), paralysis of the legs (22%), varicose veins (25%), deshydratation (28,5%), infections (18%). A significant relationship between a risk factor and DVT was found only for immobilisation (P<0,05) and deshydratation (P<0,02). The prevalence of DVT increased with the clinical probability score: 11.4% for the low score, 27.6% for the moderate score and 55% for the high score. CONCLUSION: Incidence of DVT is high among hospitalised elderly patients, especially for the asymptomatic ones. Clinical signs alone do not reliably predict DVT. Clinical probability score could be useful to improve diagnostic management of DVT in this population.


Subject(s)
Venous Thrombosis/diagnosis , Venous Thrombosis/etiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Case-Control Studies , Dehydration/complications , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Immobilization/adverse effects , Infections/complications , Inpatients , Male , Paralysis/complications , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Varicose Veins/complications
6.
J Biol Phys ; 29(2-3): 295-302, 2003 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23345847

ABSTRACT

A Tunable Terahertz Source (TTS) is beingdeveloped for commercial use by VermontPhotonics under exclusive license. The TTSis based on the Smith-Purcell free electronlaser first reported by the late ProfessorJohn E. Walsh and his co-workers [1]. The TTS is continuouslytunable from less than 0.3 Thz to more than3 Thz (10-100 cm(-1)). It can beoperated CW or pulsed, with repetitionrates from DC to kHz. Detailed outputcharacteristics will be presented alongwith examples of use in spectroscopysystems using a grating monochromator, aFourier transform interferometer or ascanning Fabry Perot etalon. A comparisonwith other Thz sources will be given.

9.
Minerva Pediatr ; 53(3): 189-97, 2001 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11455306

ABSTRACT

Violence by adolescents in the United States is of growing concern. Despite a decrease in the rate of violence and death by firearms, firearm injuries are the second leading cause of death among Americans age 15 to 24 and the third leading cause of death among 10- to 14-year-old children. Although there are many factors associated with the use of violence by youths, exposure to violence and victimization has consistently been a predictor of the use of violence, as well as intentions to use violence, carrying a gun, and having attitudes accepting of the use of violence and aggressive behavior to resolve conflict. Adolescents' families, friends, neighborhoods, schools, and the media provide sources of exposure and victimization related to the use of violence. The cultural transmission of deviant behavior theory establishes a framework for understanding the influence of exposure to violence and victimization from these sources on adolescents' use of violence.


Subject(s)
Crime Victims/statistics & numerical data , Violence/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Humans , Mass Media , United States
10.
J Adolesc Health ; 29(2): 125-30, 2001 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11472871

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the internal consistency and 1-week test-retest reliability of the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) among adolescent medical patients. METHODS: A research assistant administered the POSIT to a consecutive sample of 15- to 18-year-old patients arriving for routine medical care at a hospital-based adolescent medical practice. Each subject returned for a retest 1 week later. Internal consistency for each scale on test and retest was calculated using Cronbach alpha, and 1-week test-retest reliability by the intraclass correlation coefficient (r) and the kappa coefficient (kappa). RESULTS: The Substance Use/Abuse, Mental Health Status, Educational Status, and Aggressive Behavior/Delinquency scales had favorable alpha scores (>.70). Others, including Physical Health Status, had lower alpha scores. High intraclass correlation coefficients were found for all 10 POSIT scales (r =.72 to.88), although (r) was lower for males on two of the scales. Kappa coefficients for all scales indicated good reproducibility beyond chance (kappa =.42 to.73). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided supportive evidence for the reliability of the POSIT in primary care medical settings, although some POSIT scales could likely be improved. The 20- to 30-min administration time is most practical in settings that are dedicated to adolescent medicine, and computerized administration and scoring are needed.


Subject(s)
Adolescent Health Services , Primary Health Care , Substance-Related Disorders/diagnosis , Adolescent , Aggression , Female , Humans , Male , Mass Screening , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Risk Assessment , Risk-Taking , Surveys and Questionnaires
11.
J Adolesc Health ; 28(5): 386-93, 2001 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11336868

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate a Social Cognitive Theory-based violence prevention curriculum among sixth-grade students. METHODS: The evaluation was conducted using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. Students were pretested 2 weeks before the intervention started and were posttested 2 weeks after it ended. The study was conducted in four middle schools serving children and adolescents living in or around public housing in a southeastern city. The participants included all sixth-grade students who were predominantly African-American (88.7%), 41% lived in public housing, and 80% lived in homes with an employed head of household. The intervention schools had 292 students, and the control schools 412 students. The Peaceful Conflict Resolution and Violence Prevention Curriculum is a 13-module skills-building curriculum based on Social Cognitive Theory. It taught identification of situations that could result in violence; avoidance, confrontation, problem-solving, and communication skills; conflict resolution skills; the conflict cycle; the dynamics of a fight; and how to express anger without fighting. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome variable was a five-item scale assessing the frequency of fighting and weapon carrying behaviors (alpha =.72) and a scale measuring intentions to use violence in 11 hypothetical situations (alpha = .81). Levels of exposure to violence and victimization (alpha = .82) and depression (alpha = .86) were also assessed. The data were analyzed with general linear modeling with repeated measures. RESULTS: At pretest, the intervention and control groups did not differ in gender, age, depression, exposure to violence, or any other demographic variable. A group x time interaction effect (p = .029) was found in the use of violence scale. From pretest to posttest there was a decrease in the use of violence by students in the intervention group and an increase in the use of violence in the control group. Most of the changes were accounted for by changes in the frequencies of carrying concealed guns and fighting resulting in injuries requiring medical treatment. A group x time interaction effect (p = .002) was also found for the intention to use violence scale. Students in the intervention group did not change their mean scores from pretest to posttest, whereas students in the control group increased in their mean intention to use violence scale scores. Neither interaction effect was influenced by gender, exposure to violence, or level of depression. CONCLUSION: The Peaceful Conflict Resolution and Violence Prevention curriculum appears to have positive short-term effects on self-reported use of violence and intentions to use violence by these middle-school students.


Subject(s)
Curriculum , Violence/prevention & control , Adolescent , Analysis of Variance , Child , Employment , Female , Georgia , Humans , Male , Public Housing , Schools , Surveys and Questionnaires
12.
Pediatrics ; 107(5): 1065-9, 2001 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11331687

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of varying dosing schedules and predictor variables on the seroprotection rates and geometric mean titer levels resulting from the hepatitis B vaccination series among adolescents. METHODS: Adolescents received the hepatitis B vaccination series at varying schedules according to their natural adherence patterns. Data collected included participants' medication use; chronic illness; use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana; age; race/ethnicity; and body mass index. Participants' dates of vaccinations were recorded and titer levels for hepatitis B surface antibody were drawn ~12 and 24 months after study enrollment. The data for 498 participants were analyzed using chi(2) tests, Student t tests, logistic regression models, and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Seroprotection rates among adolescents were not affected by late vaccinations. The only factors affecting the achievement of seroprotection ~12 and 24 months after the first vaccination were body mass index and the number of immunizations received. Increased time between doses 1 and 2 and doses 2 and 3 showed a trend toward correlating with increasing titer levels. CONCLUSIONS: Although adolescents at risk of acquiring hepatitis B should receive the hepatitis B vaccination series in a timely fashion, late doses are not detrimental, and may be beneficial, to achieving high antibody levels against the hepatitis B virus.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Antibodies/biosynthesis , Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage , Hepatitis B Vaccines/immunology , Adolescent , Analysis of Variance , Female , Humans , Immunization Schedule , Logistic Models , Male
13.
J Adolesc ; 24(6): 777-89, 2001 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11790057

ABSTRACT

This study examined young adolescents'intentions to use moralistic violence and their violence exposure, examining male-female differences. Sixth-grade students (n=702) from Georgia middle schools servicing impoverished communities participated. Data were obtained on the students' exposure to violence, family structure and education level, church attendance, gang interest, drug use, and depression status. The dependent variable, intention to use moralistic violence, was measured with an 11-item scale. Linear regression models were run separately for males and females. Males had significantly higher mean intention to use moralistic violence than females (p=0.002). Males reported being exposed to violence more than females, but exposure decreased as attendance to religious services increased. For these 11-12-year-olds, unconventional peer social norms, such as witnessing violence, increased their intention to use violence while involvement in conventional activities, such as church attendance, decreased it. The protective effect was greater for males than females.


Subject(s)
Child Behavior/psychology , Moral Obligations , Psychology, Adolescent , Violence/psychology , Alcohol Drinking , Child , Crime Victims/psychology , Demography , Female , Georgia , Humans , Male , Public Housing , Religion , Sex Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires
14.
Eat Weight Disord ; 5(3): 175-82, 2000 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11082797

ABSTRACT

Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) have hyperactivity of their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sometimes accompanied by elevations of cortisol. We examined whether the normal effects of short-term dexamethasone treatment upon HPA axis suppression and appetite stimulation are observed in these patients. Five young women with AN and ten healthy female controls received one week of high-dose oral dexamethasone (2 mg/m2/d) preceded and followed by hormonal evaluation of sensitivity to glucocorticoids and psychological assessments. No differences in hormone levels of the HPA axis were observed between the two groups and control groups at baseline, after dexamethasone suppression, or following ACTH stimulation testing. However, fasting insulin levels were significantly lower in the AN group, both before and after dexamethasone therapy and their serum leptin levels were also significantly lower. The AN group had significantly lower scores on the Anorexia Nervosa Subtest and the Beck Depression Inventory after dexamethasone compared to controls. On daily analog scales, AN patients had higher anxiety scores while on dexamethasone. Normal sensitivity to glucocorticoids was observed in all parameters examined except for mild abnormalities in pancreatic beta-cell function. These data suggest that AN may represent a state of partial glucocorticoid resistance, as in other states of restricted food intake. Furthermore, these pilot data, including the effects of dexamethasone upon psychological outlook in AN, suggest that glucocorticoids are not an effective therapy for these patients.


Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa , Depression/etiology , Dexamethasone/pharmacology , Dexamethasone/therapeutic use , Glucocorticoids/pharmacology , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Hydrocortisone/metabolism , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/drug effects , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/metabolism , Pituitary-Adrenal System/drug effects , Pituitary-Adrenal System/metabolism , Adolescent , Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/metabolism , Adult , Anorexia Nervosa/drug therapy , Anorexia Nervosa/metabolism , Anorexia Nervosa/psychology , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Depression/diagnosis , Dexamethasone/administration & dosage , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Humans , Insulin/blood , Leptin/blood , Pilot Projects , Treatment Outcome
15.
J Pediatr ; 137(5): 707-13, 2000 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11060539

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships among exposure to violence; tobacco, alcohol, and other substance use; depression; church attendance; and the use of violence among very young adolescents. METHODS: An 86-item confidential questionnaire was administered to 722 sixth grade students (mean age = 11.9+/-0.8 years) attending 4 middle schools serving neighborhoods in and around public housing. RESULTS: Boys had a higher mean violence scale score than girls (P < or =.0001), and students living in public housing had higher violence scale scores than other students (P< or =.0001). Self-reported use of violence was significantly associated with exposure to violence (r =.45); age (r =.28); frequency of church attendance (r = -.14); depression (r =.28); the probability of being alive at age 25 (r = -.09); the frequency of use of cigarettes (r =.39), alcohol (r =.37), and multiple substances (r =.38); and interest in a gang (r =.37). When all of these variables were analyzed with multiple linear regression, multiple substance use, exposure to violence, interest in a gang, male gender, cigarette smoking, and depression level accounted for 49.7% of the variation in the use of violence scale. CONCLUSION: Recent multiple substance use and lifetime exposure to violence and victimization were the strongest correlates with the frequency that these youth reported using violence and carrying weapons.


Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Crime Victims , Violence , Adolescent , Child , Crime Victims/psychology , Crime Victims/statistics & numerical data , Depression , Female , Georgia , Humans , Linear Models , Male , Religion , Risk Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Substance-Related Disorders , Surveys and Questionnaires , Violence/psychology , Violence/statistics & numerical data
16.
Child Abuse Negl ; 24(9): 1241-6, 2000 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11057709

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have concluded that shaken baby syndrome occurs more often among Whites than among Blacks. The purpose of this study was to determine whether race is a predictive factor in Shaken Baby Syndrome when population and referral patterns are considered. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review of closed head injuries due to child abuse during the time period January 1992 to July 1997 was conducted at three pediatric tertiary care medical centers in North Carolina. Patients included children, ages 0-4 years, identified from medical record reviews and child abuse databases. Only North Carolina residents were included. The specific rates of shaken baby syndrome in Whites versus non-Whites in the referral area were computed. RESULTS: The difference in the rate of shaken baby syndrome from the referral area was not statistically significant among Whites versus non-Whites (26.7/100,000 versus 38.6/100,000, p = .089) Most of the perpetrators were male (68%), and most victims (76%), lived with their mothers and biologic father or mother's boyfriend. CONCLUSION: Race was not a significant factor in predicting shaken baby syndrome in the referral area studied, and therefore is not a useful factor in targeting groups for intervention.


Subject(s)
Ethnicity/psychology , Whiplash Injuries/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , North Carolina/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies
17.
Pediatrics ; 105(4 Pt 2): 948-53, 2000 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10742352

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the internal consistency and 1-week test-retest reliability of the Simple Screening Instrument for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SSI-AOD), the CAGE-AA (CAGE questions adapted for adolescents), and 4 modified items from the Drug and Alcohol Problem QuickScreen (DAP-4) among adolescents. METHODS: Fifteen- to 18-year-old medical patients (n = 173) completed screening tests during a routine medical visit and then again 1 week later. Internal consistency for each test and retest was calculated using Cronbach's alpha, and 1-week test-retest reliability was calculated by using Winer's unbiased estimate of the intraclass correlation coefficient (r). RESULTS: The SSI-AOD has good internal consistency (alpha =.83) and the CAGE-AA questions acceptable internal consistency (alpha =.60). Alpha varied with gender and race, and item analysis indicated the CAGE-AA test could be improved. As expected, the DAP-4 had a lower alpha score (.46). All screening instruments studied had high 1-week test-retest reliabilities (range r =.82-.90). CONCLUSIONS: The SSI-AOD is a reliable substance abuse screening instrument among adolescent medical patients. The CAGE-AA questions must be further revised and tested before their use can be recommended. The DAP-4 questions are likely measuring different, but important, constructs.


Subject(s)
Alcohol Drinking , Mass Screening , Substance Abuse Detection , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , Reproducibility of Results
18.
J Adolesc Health ; 26(4): 295-302, 2000 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10734277

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the spectrum of adolescent spirituality and to determine the association between dimensions of spirituality and voluntary sexual activity (VSA) in adolescents. DESIGN: A sample of 141 consecutive youth aged 11-25 years presenting to an urban, hospital-based adolescent medicine clinic completed a 153-item instrument assessing sociodemographics, psychosocial parameters, and eight specific aspects of spirituality including: (1) religious attendance, (2) religious importance, (3) intrinsic and (4) extrinsic religious motivation, (5) belief in God, (6) belief in divine support, (7) existential aspects of spirituality, and (8) spiritual interconnectedness. Adolescents were also asked about VSA. RESULTS: Sixty-one percent of respondents were African-American and 67.4%, female; mean age was 16.0+/-2.4 years. Adolescent religious attendance was equally distributed across the categories from "none" to "weekly or greater" attendance. Over 90% felt religion was somewhat important in their lives. Over 85% reported belief in God. Fifty-six percent of respondents reported a history of VSA. Greater importance of religion (p = 0.035) and higher spiritual interconnectedness with friends (p = 0.033) were inversely associated with VSA. A multiple logistic regression model including age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and specific denomination of religious faith, importance of religion, and spiritual interconnectedness found that spiritual interconnectedness with friends (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.85, 0.99) and age (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.34, 2.28) were independent predictors of VSA. CONCLUSIONS: Spirituality is a common facet of adolescents' lives. Younger age and higher spiritual interconnectedness, particularly interconnectedness among spiritual friends, are independently associated with a lower likelihood of VSA.


Subject(s)
Psychology, Adolescent , Religion and Psychology , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Adolescent , Confidence Intervals , Female , Humans , Male , Odds Ratio , Psychology, Adolescent/statistics & numerical data , Psychology, Social , Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data , Socioeconomic Factors , Statistics, Nonparametric , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urban Population/statistics & numerical data
19.
Pediatrics ; 104(6): 1286-92, 1999 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10585979

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Although dating violence frequently begins during adolescence, few studies have focused on date fighting in middle and high school students. Fewer studies have studied gender differences in date violence. This study examines whether gender-specific patterns of risk behaviors exist among adolescents who report date fighting. DESIGN: The study was conducted on data collected from 21 297 students in grades 8 through 12 participating in the Vermont 1995 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Data were analyzed on 20 724 students (females = 50.1%) who reported: 1) never having been involved in a physical fight (n = 8737); 2) that their last physical fight was with a girlfriend, boyfriend, or other dating partner (n = 432); and 3) that their last fight was with someone other than a dating partner (n = 11 555). Indicators of violence (weapon carrying, being threatened, and fighting), suicide attempts, substance use, sexual behavior, and pregnancy were analyzed with chi(2) tests. Significant variables were analyzed with stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the males, 1.8% and of the females, 4.2% reported that their last fight was with a boyfriend, girlfriend, or dating partner. Risk behaviors significantly associated among females who only experienced date fighting included the number of male sexual partners in the past 3 months (adjusted odds ratio: 1. 48; 95% confidence interval: 1.26-1.74), number of suicide attempts in the past 12 months (1.55; 1.30-1.85), riding in a car with a drinking driver (1.23; 1.10-1.37), injection of illegal drugs (2.87; 1.10-7.50), use of alcohol before last sexual encounter (1.53; 1. 27-1.86), number of pregnancies (1.66; 1.26-2.21), forced sex (2.92; 2.18-3.91), and inhalant use (1.19; 1.06-1.34). Risk behaviors significantly associated among males who experienced only date fighting were sexual activity (4.11; 2.24-7.53), number of male partners in the past 3 months (1.40; 1.12-1.75), number of times of getting someone pregnant (1.68; 1.17-2.40), experiencing forced sex (2.38; 1.11-5.13), and the number of times threatened with physical violence in past 12 months (1.82; 1.53-2.17). When compared with adolescents who reported fighting with someone other than a date, risk factors significantly associated with date fighting among females were the number of male sexual partners in the past 3 months (1.21; 1.10-1.34), older age (1.21; 1.10-1.34), carrying a weapon in the past 30 days (.77;.66-.90), experiencing forced sex (1.70; 1. 30-2.22), condom non-use (1.96; 1.60-2.41), and number of times of being threatened with physical violence in past 12 months (1.11; 1. 01-1.22). The risk factors among males were the number of male sexual partners in the past 3 months (1.43; 1.28-1.60), experiencing forced sex (1.91; 1.02-3.60), and older age (1.34; 1.14-1.57). CONCLUSIONS: The patterns of risk behaviors differed among male and female adolescents reporting dating violence. Females who reported date fighting were more likely than were nonfighters to have attempted suicide, to engage in sexual and human immunodeficiency virus risk behaviors (use of injectable drugs), to have been pregnant, experienced forced sex, and to have ridden in a car with a drinking driver. Sexual behaviors, including same-gender sexual partners, forced sex, and having been threatened with physical violence, were associated with date fighting among males. These findings are important in screening adolescents at risk for date violence.date fighting, adolescence, risk behaviors, gender.


Subject(s)
Risk-Taking , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Violence/psychology , Adolescent , Analysis of Variance , Demography , Female , Humans , Likelihood Functions , Logistic Models , Male , Random Allocation , Risk Factors , Sex Distribution , Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Vermont/epidemiology , Violence/statistics & numerical data
20.
J Adolesc Health ; 25(5): 323-7, 1999 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10551662

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine adolescents' completion rates and factors affecting completion time of hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination. METHODS: Prior to vaccination, participants from a hospital-based and school-based adolescent clinic completed questionnaires assessing sociodemographic variables, family/friend experience with HBV and the vaccine, likelihood of completing the vaccinations, HBV and vaccine knowledge, risk behaviors, chronic illness, and access to clinic. Vaccination times were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-six months after initiation of the study, 72% of 896 eligible participants had completed the vaccination series. The independent predictors of shorter time to completion were: higher estimated mean household income [odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06-1.25), white race (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.01-1.58), female gender (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.31-1.92], and not having smoked cigarettes (OR for smoking in the past 30 days = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.60-0.92). Site of care, risk factors for acquiring HBV, disease and vaccine knowledge, and self-reported desire to complete the series were not associated with completion time. CONCLUSIONS: The primary factors associated with completion of immunization may not be amenable to intervention; mandated strategies for immunization may be more likely to result in protection for adolescents.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage , Hepatitis B/prevention & control , Patient Compliance , Vaccination/psychology , Adolescent , Adolescent Health Services , Adult , Attitude to Health , Boston , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Sex Factors , Social Class , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL