The primary goal of this PhD research was to obtain critical information needed to further calibrate the novel glass-based retrospective radon detectors (RRDs) by characterizing the quantitative relationship between radon gas concentrations, the surface-deposited activities of various radon progeny, the airborne dose rate, and various residential environmental factors through both actual field measurements and Monte-Carlo simulation. Radon and radon progeny concentrations were measured, from May 2005 to May 2007, in 38 Iowa houses occupied by either smokers or nonsmokers. The investigation took into account several important indoor environmental factors, which have crucial influences on the radon progeny deposition process in homes. The long-term (3 months) surface-deposited radon progeny by species and implanted 210Po were measured using a RRD. During the 3 months, the short-term (3-7 days) airborne radon progeny by species and bimodal size fraction were measured using a recently developed active detector. Both passive and active detectors are solid state nuclear track detectors. Airborne dose rates were calculated from unattached and attached potential alpha energy concentrations (PAECs) based on both Porstendörfer's effective dose conversion factor and that of James. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to analyze both field study results and Monte-Carlo simulation study results. Temporal and spatial variations among airborne dose rates and surface-deposited radon progeny were also investigated in actual field settings. Overall, deposited radon progeny were useful in predicting airborne dose rate in addition to the radon gas concentration. The occurrence of smoking was the most crucial environmental factor influencing the deposition process. In addition, other environmental factors were identified that served as useful covariates predicting airborne dose rates by smoking status. The results from our current study will greatly aid the future resolution of the final reanalysis of the lung cancer risks for the Iowa Radon Lung Cancer Study (IRLCS) based on radon progeny exposure estimates obtained from RRD measurements. In addition, the results of this study will be used as the basis for a large-scale pooled analysis of the Iowa and Missouri Residential Radon Studies, both of which incorporated the use of the glass-based detectors within their study designs.

Occupationally induced heat-related illnesses (HRI) can play a huge part in the lives of employees working within outdoor kitchens. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH] (2016), “exposure to heat can result in injuries, disease, reduced productivity and death”. When working in outdoor environments, it is important to limit exposure time of direct sun or heat as well as to stay properly hydrated. One way to ensure limited occupational heat exposure is by measuring the Heat Index of the worker's environmental conditions. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there was a difference between the indoor and outdoor Heat Index measurements among various kitchens. Multiple locations within eight, freestanding, take-away service kitchens were sampled over a period of three days. A 3M QUESTemp 46 Heat Stress Monitor was used to sample the outdoor and indoor environmental conditions, specifically capturing the indoor Heat Index measurements. The outdoor Heat Index was reported with meteorological data from Weather Underground linked to the National Weather Service. Multiple statistical analyses were performed to understand and explore the relationships between or among the difference of indoor to outdoor Heat Index measurements, as well as kitchen production levels and forced air ventilation. The results showed that higher production kitchens had a significantly greater increase in Heat Index compared to low production and high production kitchens with forced air ventilation. Due to the small sample size of this study, it is recommended that future efforts to compare indoor and outdoor Heat Index measurements for kitchens include a larger sample size of both kitchens and locations.

Abstract not available

Objectives: Risk associated with needlestick injuries (NSI) in health care workers (HCWs) in Taiwan has not been characterized. We conducted this investigation to study 1) the prevalence and yearly incidence of NSI in HCWs in Taiwan, and the risk factors associated with NSIs; 2) reporting behavior when a NSI was sustained; and 3) seroprevalence of blood-borne pathogens among inpatients. Combination of the above information allowed for risk estimation for contracting hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in HCWs. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey for life-time experience and frequency of NSI was conducted in a random sample from four strata of accredited hospitals according to the number of employees, from July 1996 to June 1997 in Taiwan. All full time employees, including physicians, nurses, technicians, and supporting personnel were recruited. Seroprevalence was examined for HBV, HCV and HIV among inpatients six years in age or older in one teaching hospital during July 1997 to June 1998. Results: A total of 10,469 health care workers were recruited from 16 out of 132 accredited hospitals and 82.6% (8,645) completed the survey, including nurses (61.0%), physicians (16.1%), medical technicians (14.9%), supporting personnel (7.9%). The prevalence of NSI were 93.1%, 86.6%, 78.3%, 61.0% in nurses, physicians, technicians, and supporting personnel respectively. The reported incidence of needlestick and other sharps injuries was 1.30 and 1.21 times per person in the past 12 months. Of the most recent episodes of NSIs, ordinary syringe needles accounted for 80.3% (95% CI, 79.4% - 81.2%) of hollow-bore needles associated incidents, and 74.1% (95% CI, 72.8% - 75.4%) of them were contaminated. The most frequently reported circumstance was the "Breakdown of Universal Precautions", recapping-related behaviors (81.6%, 95% CI 80.3% - 82.9%) of HCWs. More than a quarter (27.8%, 2,399) of HCWs were unprotected (either not vaccinated or having an unknown serological status) against HBV. Seroconversion in stuck HCWs was reported 1.8% for HBV (135), 0.2% (18) for HCV, 0.2% (15) for both HBV and HCV, 0.1% (5) for syphilis and less than 0.1% (2) for HIV. ^M A total of 81.8% of NSIs were unreported. Similarly, high incidence of NSI and low reporting rate were also found in student nurses. Seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV among inpatients were found higher than the reported rate in source patients of this survey. Seroprevalence of HBsAg was 16.7% in hospitalized patients, 1.7% positive for HBeAg, 12.7% for Anti-HCV, and 0.8% for Anti-HIV. Different seroprevalence rates of HBsAb (+), HBsAg (+), Anti-HCV (+), Anti-HIV (+) in different seasons were also found significant (p<0.001). The risk of seroconversion to HBV was thus estimated to be 0.003 ~ 0.008 time per person-year, HCV 0.003 ~ 0.007 per person-year, and HIV 0.4 ~ 1.2 /100, 000 person-year. Considering the number of HCWs in Taiwan, a total of 330 ~ 917 HCWs will seroconvert to HBV (+) in a year, 330 ~ 880 HCWs seroconvert to HCV (+), and less than one to two HCWs seroconvert to HIV (+). Conclusions: Needlestick and sharps injuries were highly prevalent among Taiwanese HCW and across job categories. Risk of seroconversion is real and significant. Preventive measures are warranted for reduction of contracting blood-borne pathogens in HCWs in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES The overall aim of the project were to conduct a survey of the physical and mental health status of prisoners in New South Wales (NSW). A more specific aim, which is addressed in this PhD, was to analyse in detail a number of key health areas which have particular relevance to prisoner populations namely: tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, herpes simplex type 2 virus, childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and drug and alcohol use. METHODS A cross-sectional, random sample of prisoners, stratified by sex, age and Aboriginality was chosen from 27 correctional centres (24 male and 3 female) in NSW in 1996. Screening was conducted by nurses from within the correctional health system. A detailed face-to-face interview was used to collect self-reported information on a range of physical and mental health characteristics, and behavioural issues. The physical health component covered chronic illness, recent symptoms, health services utilisation, medications, and self assessed health status. Mental health issues which were covered included: suicide attempts, self-harm, prior mental illness and psychiatric medication. Standardised screening instruments were used to test for depression, hopelessness and suicidal intent. Behavioural factors sought were drug and alcohol use, gambling, and sexual abuse. Blood samples were taken to screen for a range of infectious diseases and health indicators. These included HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex type-2 virus, rubella, chlamydia, and hepatitis (B, C, and G). A Mantoux skin test was performed to screen for tuberculosis infection. Hearing was assessed using otoacoustic emissions. RESULTS A total of 789 inmates (657 males and 132 females), including 235 Aboriginal people were screened, representing approximately 11% of males and 40% of females in full-time incarceration. For the key areas examined in the chapters we found: Overall health status ???? Overall health status was poor compared with the NSW general population in regard to self-reported chronic illness, recent health complaints, and well-being. Hospitalisation was less frequent in male prisoners than general community males but higher in female prisoners for mental health problems compared with community females. Tuberculosis ???? No previously undetected cases of tuberculosis were found; however, Mantoux positivity was higher in Aboriginal and overseas born prisoners. Viral hepatitis ???? Markers for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and hepatitis G were significantly more common in the NSW prisoner population than in the general community. Significant disparities were found between prisoners???? self-report of past exposure to hepatitis (B and C) and their serostatus. Thirty five percent of inmates who were hepatitis C antibody positive believed that they were negative, and for hepatitis B, 72% of positives reported they were negative. Multivariate analysis identified Aboriginality, long-term injecting, and injecting while in prison as risk factors for HBV. Risk factors for exposure to HCV were female sex, non-Aboriginality, history of childhood institutionalisation, and injecting-related behaviours. For HGV, female sex, and previous imprisonment were significant risk factors but injecting was not; being aged 25-39 years was associated with a decreased risk for HGV as compared to younger and older inmates. Herpes simplex virus type 2 ???? The prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies in this prisoner population was similar to that observed in NSW STD clinic attendees, and was higher in females than males. Exposure was related to: increasing age and Aboriginality for men, and higher reported number of lifetime sexual partners and the presence of hepatitis C antibodies for women. Few prisoners (1%) reported a previous diagnosis of genital herpes. Childhood sexual abuse ???? The prevalence of self-reported childhood sexual abuse was higher in females than males, and similar to that observed in clinical populations. There was an association between CSA and mental health outcomes, including a history of psychiatric treatment and suicide attempts. Male survivors of CSA were more likely to report self-harm, depression, and involvement in violent relationships. Both men and women with a history of CSA were more likely to report having a sexually transmissible disease (STD). Females exposed to CSA were more likely to report subsequent abusive adult relationships involving physical assault, sexual assault, and verbal abuse. Drug use ???? Overall, 64% of prisoners had used illicit drugs at some time in the past with cannabis (males 56%, females 63%) and heroin (males 29%, females 49%) being the most common. Forty four percent of prisoners had a history of injecting drug use, with injecting prevalence significantly higher in females than males (64% vs. 40%). Half of male and female injectors had done so while in prison. Harmful or hazardous use of alcohol was associated with imprisonment for violent crimes, whereas opiate and methadone use were associated with non-violent crimes. Sixty two percent of property offenders had an injecting history. Alcohol intoxication at the time of offending was associated with imprisonment for homicides and assaults. Males were more likely than females to seek treatment in prison for drug problems. IMPLICATIONS Prisoners in NSW have a number of special health needs which are evidenced in the high levels of infectious diseases (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis G, and herpes simplex virus type 2) and exposure to factors (childhood sexual abuse and alcohol and drug use) with a clear relationship to adverse health outcomes. Prisons represent an opportunity for public health interventions to address some of the health problems identified in this study. Potentially valuable programmes include education to prevent the spread of blood borne communicable diseases and STDs, immunisation for vaccine preventable diseases such as hepatitis B, and treatment to alleviate the effects of drug use and childhood sexual abuse. In the case of prison drug use the prison environment itself presents a threat to health in that sterile injecting equipment is not available to prisoners despite evidence that injecting in prison is widespread. The challenge for prison health planners is twofold: to make maximum use of the window of opportunity to improve the health status of this group, and to provide a continuum of care between the community and prison.

Prostate cancer is one of the most prominent diseases in men’s health. It is inherently 'male', given the exclusivity of the prostate gland to men’s bodies and its physiological connection to testosterone and male sexuality. The biomedical complexities of prostate cancer continue to be unravelled and researched and are often connected to identifying causes, the virtues of screening and treatment modalities. However, despite the biological male 'sex' link, most of the prostate cancer research is not connected with research on gender relations, men and masculinities. The net outcome is that men’s lives and illness experiences are absent in much of the prostate cancer research. This PhD thesis Prostate cancer: Anglo-Australian heterosexual perspectives, is an ethnographic study of thirty-five Anglo-Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Participants shared their experiences of living with prostate cancer in the context of health promotion, health services and in relation to their sexuality and intimate relationships. Through participant photographic novella and in-depth semi-structured interviews, rich cultural insights are provided. A social constructionist gender analysis is used in this research that shows how the social constructions of masculinity interconnect and occasionally collide with prostate cancer throughout the illness trajectory.

No description available.

No description available.

Graduation date: 1994

Patient noncompliance to treatment regimen is a common problem for health service providers. Five personality variable subscales of the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory were related to trainer-judged adherence to treatment plans of 50 injured athletes. Multiple regression analysis showed only Somatic Anxiety was a significant predictor of adherence (r = -.427); injured athletes with high scores are less likely to adhere to treatment recommendations. Results suggest the promise of the MBHI as a diagnostic instrument for evaluating injured athletes and enhancing their treatment, and provide evidence for construct validity of the Somatic Anxiety subscale using a previously unstudied population.