Research has shown that children who exhibit problem behaviors in early childhood will oftentimes continue to experience these issues into adolescence, leading to an increase in negative social and health outcomes such as substance abuse and delinquency. The Family Check Up (FCU) is a proven, targeted intervention that seeks to address these problems at a young age in order to reduce the risk of these negative behaviors continuing into adolescence. The intervention consists of 3 components: 1) an initial interview in which the behavioral health consultant gets to know the family; 2) an assessment that consists of questionnaires and videotaped family interactions; and 3) a feedback session during which the family is provided with feedback unique to their particular situation, as well as appropriate solutions to these issues. The FCU has been shown to be effective in school-based settings in past studies; this study represents the first to test the feasibility of offering the FCU in a pediatric primary care practice. The aims of the study are based upon the RE-AIM framework (Reach; Effectiveness; Adoption; Implementation; and Maintenance), a Decision and Implementation (DamdI) science model that will assist in the evaluation of the utility of the FCU in the pediatric primary care setting. This particular project is focusing on two elements of the framework, Reach and Adoption. The FCU was implemented at East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) Pediatrics Clinic beginning on January 19th, 2015. The parents of patients between the ages of 4 and 5 years old are given the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17), a screener which helps to identify children who may be at risk for emotional and behavioral problems. If a child scores 15 or higher on the PSC-17, they are invited to participate in the components of the FCU. Research is ongoing, with 23 out of 31 patients (74.2%) completing the PSC-17 at their well-child visit. The results of the screeners thus far show that with the average score on the PSC-17 is 6.57, with the lowest score being 0 and the highest score being 19. Only 1 patient scored ≥ 15 on the PSC-17 thus far, possibly indicating the need for an expansion of the inclusion criteria for the remainder of the study. The final results of the project will indicate the rate of Reach and Adoption within the ETSU Pediatrics Clinic as well as provide evidence as to the most successful way to reach a specific population with an evidence-based intervention.

No description available.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine potential differences between two approaches to defining adolescent weight misperception. Specifically, weight status perception was compared with self-reported weight status and actual weight status (based on body mass index percentiles calculated from self-reported and actual weights and heights, respectively). Furthermore, the accuracy of assigning weight status based on body mass index percentiles calculated from self-reported weights and heights was assessed by comparing them with actual weight status. Methods: Data were extracted from Team Up for Healthy Living, an 8-week, school-based obesity prevention program in southern Appalachia. Participants (N = 1509) were predominately white (93.4%) and ninth graders (89.5%), with approximately equivalent representation of both sexes (50.7% boys). Results: The study revealed significant differences between the approaches to defining weight misperception (χ2 = 16.2; P = 0.0003). Conclusions: Researchers should interpret study findings with awareness of potential differences based on the method of calculating weight misperception.

Einleitung: Ultraviolette (UV) Strahlung – sei sie natürlich oder künstlich – kann zu Hautkrebs führen. In Verbindung mit Solarien, einer Hauptquelle künstlicher UV-Strahlung, wird häufig auf die Möglichkeit der Entstehung einer Bräunungssucht (oft auch „Tanorexie“) hingewiesen. Bisherige Instrumente zum Screening auf eine solche Bräunungssucht ergaben sich jedoch als nicht valide. Aus diesem Grund war es unser Ziel, ein in den USA neu entwickeltes Instrument, den Behavioral Addiction Indoor Tanning Screener (BAITS), auf Validität und Reliabilität zu testen. Methodik: Der BAITS ist ein kurzes Screeninginstrument, welches aus sieben Items (Antwortkategorien: ja/nein) besteht. Die englischsprachige Itembatterie wurde in einer fünfstufigen Prozedur ([1] Übersetzung ins Deutsche, [2] Expert Panel, [3] Rückübersetzung ins Englische, [4] kognitive Interviews, [5] Erstellung der finalen Version) übersetzt. Zur Überprüfung der Validität und Reliabilität zogen wir die Daten der ersten Welle des Nationalen Krebshilfe Monitorings zur Solariennutzung (NCAM) bestehend aus einem kognitiven Pretest (n = 15) und einer bundesweiten Repräsentativbefragung (n = 3.000) heran. Ergebnisse: Der kognitive Pretest ergab eine leichte Veränderung in der Formulierung eines Items. Insgesamt wurden in der bundesweiten Befragung 19,7% der aktuellen und 1,8% der ehemaligen Nutzer von Solarien positiv auf Symptome einer möglichen Bräunungssucht gescreent. Es fanden sich signifikante Zusammenhänge zwischen Solariennutzungsparametern und dem BAITS (Kriteriumsvalidität). Die interne Konsistenz (Reliabilität) ergab sich ebenfalls als gut (Kuder-Richardson-20 = 0,854) und der BAITS erwies sich als homogenes Konstrukt (Konstruktvalidität). Schlussfolgerungen: Verglichen mit anderen Kurzinstrumenten zur Messung von Symptomen einer möglichen Bräunungssucht ergab sich der BAITS als valideres und reliableres Tool. Aufgrund seiner Kürze und der binären Items ist er auch in großen Surveys einfach einzusetzen.

Purpose. To identify correlates of combined hormonal contraception and condom use (dual method use) compared with no methods, condoms only or hormonal contraception only. Data are from a baseline assessment of 335 youth (52% female) enrolled in an intervention trial. Multinomial logistic regression identified theory-based factors associated with dual method use. At last intercourse 47% of respondents used dual methods, 29% condom only, 14% hormonal contraception only, and 10% no methods. No method users were less likely than dual-method users to feel “dirty” about pregnancy, to have ask about historical condom use, to have more than two partners, to view condom use as normative for boys and more likely to perceive pregnancy risk as remote. Hormonal-contraception-only users were more likely to have sex weekly and perceive sex as pleasurable for girls, and less likely to view condom use as normative for boys and to ask a partner to use a condom. Condom-only users were more likely to perceive pregnancy chance as remote, and less likely to have more than two partners and to want peers to think they were virgins. Interventions should include benefits of dual methods while counseling about the negative impact of STI and unplanned teen pregnancy.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the West Virginia Prescription Drug Abuse Quitline (WVPDAQ). Descriptive data and inferential analyses are provided for the period of operations from 9/11/2008 to 3/1/2010. Chi-square tests for Independence compared differences between callers completing at least one follow-up survey against callers completing only the baseline intake survey were observed. A Wilcoxon signed rank sum test tested differences between the scores of intake callers and follow-up callers at the one-week (n = 177) and one-month (n = 89) intervals. A total of 1,056 calls were received, including 670 intakes, 177 1st follow-ups, 89 2nd follow-ups, and 36 3rd follow ups, and 84 caller satisfaction surveys. Chi-square analyses determined that callers who only completed the intake survey tended to have initiated drug use at a younger age (< or = 39 years of age, chi2 = 7.63, p = .02). Longitudinal findings indicated significant self-reported declines in daily drug use (p < .0001), increased intentions to quit in the next 30 days (p < .0001), and declines in requesting a referral for treatment (p < .0001) at the one-month follow-up. Finally, approximately 19% (n = 17) of callers reported obtaining a counseling/ treatment appointment as a result of calling the WVPDAQ at the one-month follow up. Preliminary results suggest the WVPDAQ has established itself as a meaningful resource to combat prescription drug abuse in West Virginia. Sustainable funding and greater integration of the WVPDAQ into existing and developing treatment infrastructure could provide more affordable options for the state of West Virginia and its citizens.

No description available.

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) has offered an undergraduate degree in public health for 60 years. Alumni survey data have documented that the majority of the graduates from this program enter the workforce [see accompanying commentary by Wykoff, et al. (1)]. To keep pace with ongoing changes in the workforce, the decision was made to completely review, and, as appropriate, revise and restructure the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) curriculum.

There has been a rapid growth in the number of programs awarding undergraduate degrees in public health and the number of students receiving such degrees (1). There has not, however, been a significant discussion of the purpose of such degree programs. What, if anything, are the recipients of these degrees being trained to do? What careers, if any, are they being prepared to enter? Is the degree designed primarily to prepare students to enter graduate training in public health or some other graduate or health professional programs? Alternatively, does the degree exist because “an understanding of public health is a critical component of good citizenship and a prerequisite for taking responsibility for building healthy societies”? (2).

Indoor tanning (IT) increases risk of developing skin cancer. A social media campaign to reduce mother's permissiveness toward their teenage daughters IT was evaluated. Mothers (N = 869) of daughters aged 14–17 in 34 states without bans on IT by minors were enrolled in a randomized trial with assessments at baseline and 12-months follow-up in 2017–19. A year-long adolescent health campaign was delivered to all mothers. The intervention group received posts on preventing IT and the control group, posts about preventing prescription drug misuse. Daughters (n = 469; 54.0%) completed the assessments at baseline and 12 months. At 12-month follow-up, intervention-group mothers were less permissive of IT by daughters (unadjusted means = 1.70 [95% CI: 1.59, 1.80] v. 1.85 [1.73, 1.97] [5-point Likert scale], b = -0.152), reported more communication about avoiding IT with daughters (4.09 [3.84, 4.35] v. 3.42 [3.16, 3.68] [sum of 7 yes/no items], b = 0.213), and had lower intentions to indoor tan (1.41 [1.28, 1.55] v. 1.60 [1.43, 1.76] [7-point likelihood scale], b = -0.221) than control-group mothers. Daughters confirmed intervention-group mothers communicated about IT (3.81 [3.49, 4.14] v. 3.20 [2.87, 3.53] [sum of 7 yes/no items], b = 0.237) and shared IT posts (unadjusted percentages = 52.4% v. 36.4%, b = 0.438) more than control-group mothers. No differences were found in IT behavior, self-efficacy to refuse permission, and negative attitudes toward IT. A social media campaign may be an effective strategy to convince mothers to withhold permission for IT, which may help increase the effectiveness of state laws designed to reduce IT by minors by requiring parental permission.