Community health needs assessment: a pathway to the future and a vision for leaders.

There is a need to implement evidence-based public health practice that integrates targeted and specific strategies and actions with community preferences to improve the health of populations. A community health needs assessment (CHNA) is vital to identifying the health concerns of communities, to learn about the factors that influence their health and the assets, resources, and challenges that impact those factors. It is required for tax-exempt entities to conduct a CHNA and adopt an implementation strategy to meet the identified community health needs. The goal of this article is to chart a pathway for health system leaders utilizing a CHNA process to address disparities in racial/ethnic groups and other medically underserved populations and to meet legal requirements. The efforts of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in developing its CHNA will be highlighted to provide clear evidence to health system leaders for why and how to conduct a thorough and compelling CHNA to meaningfully address health disparities locally and respond to longstanding historical health inequities at the health system level.

A systematic review of the factors influencing African Americans' participation in cancer clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review was conducted to synthesize the existing evidence regarding key considerations influencing African Americans' participation in cancer clinical trials (CCTs). METHODS: The PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed publications during the last decade (2002-2011) that met our inclusionary criteria. Our search utilized Boolean combinations of the following terms: "clinical trial"; "cancer"; "neoplasm"; "African American"; "Black"; "caregiver"; "decision making"; "recruitment"; "companion"; "family"; "significant other"; and "social support". RESULTS: A total of 267 articles were identified in the database searches. Of these articles, a total of 31 were determined to meet the inclusion criteria and were retained for review. Key issues that emerged as impediments to a successful recruitment of African Americans to CCTs included negative attitudes towards clinical trials, low levels of knowledge and awareness regarding CCTs, religious beliefs, and structural barriers, such as transportation, childcare, and access to health care. Recommendations from physicians, family members, and friends may promote CCT participation. Multimedia, and culturally-appropriate recruitment approaches may also be effective in soliciting participation among African Americans. CONCLUSION: Existing research underscores the importance of social support from family and friends, cultural appropriateness and sensitivity from physicians and in the design of the CCT, and enhanced education among African Americans in decision-making processes. As African Americans are underrepresented in CCTs, targeted strategies to enhance recruitment efforts and improve cancer treatment outcomes are essential.

Patent urachus complicating pregnancy: a review and report of a case.

A congenital abnormality of the urachus is extremely rare in pregnancy. We reviewed the English literature since 1877 and found only 12 case reports of urachal complications during pregnancy. Eight patients developed complications from a urachal cyst or sinus, and four patients had a patent urachus with urinary fistula. We report an additional case of a patent urachus which uniquely presented for the first time during pregnancy with urinary drainage from the umbilicus. Urodynamic changes in pregnancy which may have produced this complication are discussed. Abdominal wall ultrasonography is extremely helpful in the diagnostic evaluation of suspected urachal tract complications during pregnancy.