Adult Negative Spectator Behavior at Youth Sporting Events.

Due to its competitive nature, youth sports may provide an environment that invites the display of negative parenting behavior and exposes children to adults outside of their own household. This study aimed to quantify the frequency of negative parent and spectator behavior at youth sporting events and compare incidences across different sports and age ranges. Investigators attended baseball, basketball, soccer, and football events in Central O'ahu, Hawai'i for children ages 6 to 10 years. Recorded spectator behaviors included alcohol use, smoking, swearing, and negative language (such as threats and violent language). Negative behaviors were reported at a majority (68%) of events. The 95% confidence intervals of the means (95% CIM) for all negative behaviors observed were overlapping, and we were not able to demonstrate statistically significant differences between the 4 sports. The lack of significance between sports may be due to the younger-player-age group, small sample size, and time of events.

Comparing Impact and Concussion Risk in Leatherhead and Modern Football and Hockey Helmets.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in the modern helmet have demonstrated beneficial effects in reducing concussion risk in football players. However, previous studies yield conflicting results regarding the protective quality of leatherhead football helmets. There is limited research comparing the modern football helmet and the modern hockey helmet, with one previous study demonstrating the football helmet as providing a lower risk of concussion. OBJECTIVE: To compare the head acceleration produced in a leatherhead football helmet vs a modern football helmet vs a modified modern football helmet with softer padding vs a modern hockey helmet in helmet-to-helmet strikes. METHODS: Accelerometers were placed on the frontal, apex, and parietal regions of a Century Body Opponent Bag manikin. Each type of helmet was placed on the manikin and struck by a swinging modern football helmet. The G-force acceleration was determined in three-dimensional axes of 100 total helmet-to-helmet impacts. RESULTS: The leatherhead football helmet was the least protective in reducing G-forces. The modified modern football helmet did not provide a significant difference compared with the modern football helmet. Significantly greater G-forces were produced in a collision between 2 modern football helmets in comparison with 2 modern hockey helmets. CONCLUSION: The leatherhead football helmet was the least protective, and the hockey helmet was the most protective, with the football helmet being intermediate. This study provides additional insight into the inconclusive evidence regarding the safety of leatherhead football helmets and into the design of football and hockey helmets in the future.

Expanding Access to Contraception: Identifying Accessibility Gaps Across Hawai'i Communities.

In 2019, Hawai'i ended its Title X program resulting in a loss of federal family planning funds. Additionally, physician shortages have decreased family planning resources available to patients. The objective of this study was to assess contraception availability by determining the number and location of healthcare providers in Hawai'i that prescribed at least one form of contraception. A list of healthcare providers was compiled using Google searches, major health insurance, and hospital provider directories. Providers were organized by physical location (ie, address). Each location was contacted to inquire about each provider's ability to prescribe different forms of contraception (eg, intrauterine device, implant, injection, pill, patch, or ring). Of the 1,020 locations contacted, 274 prescribed at least one form of contraception. Of the 1,810 providers surveyed at these locations, 744 prescribed at least one form of contraception. In regard to insurance, 201 locations and 609 providers accepted at least one form of Medicaid. Most prescribing providers were located on the island of O'ahu. The majority of providers across the state prescribed the pill, patch, or ring. There are many additional barriers that were not addressed in this study, including factors that affect physician prescribing practices. Identifying these barriers is important to further address gaps in contraceptive accessibility. Consideration of improved support for training in specialties such as Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics can expand access to contraception within primary care settings.