Purpose: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs have been shown to promote numerous health benefits among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but little is known about the characteristics of CR programs. Methods: A survey was developed and utilized to collect data on Early Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation programs (EOCR) in the USA. An email with a link to the survey was sent by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) to their members. Program directors/administrators were recruited to provide information about their program in operation during 2009 in the United States. The CR survey contained 13 questions, some with multiple answers, regarding the utilization and patient demographics of an Early Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation (Phase II) program. Results: Responses were received from 138 programs in 44 states. Of the responses, 19,689 patients completed at least one EOCR exercise session. Of the responses, 68% of patients were men and 32% of patients were women. Patients enrolled in EOCR programs had a primary diagnosis of CABG 4,803 (30%); AVR/MVR 1,401(9%); MI 3,583 (22%); PCI/Stent 4,961 (31%); stable angina 965 (6%); heart/lung transplant 53 (0.33%); other 385 (2%). 8.4% complete 0-6 sessions of EOCR; 12% complete 7-12 sessions; 22% complete 13-18 sessions; and 58% complete 19-36 sessions. 35% of patients enrolled in EOCR programs are discharged early. 84% of programs offer an outpatient maintenance CR program. 96% of EOCR programs offer education classes; 89% offer resistance equipment; 72% are AACVPR certified; 62% also offer pulmonary rehabilitation; 23% utilize outcome measurements; 62% are in rural locations; and the average patient-to-staff ratio is 4.2:1. Conclusions: CR programs are used by a minority of eligible patients. There is marked variation in the structure and content of EOCR programs. Alternative strategies to improve standardization and outcomes should be implemented. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Defines blindness and discusses the advances made in recent history to help blind people participate more actively in society. Specific emphasis on education and vocational rehabilitation.

Individuals with blindness or visual impairments as a major cause of disability are at an extreme disadvantage to obtain and maintain employment and thus may seek the assistance of vocational rehabilitation counselors. Information on these individuals, encompassing demographics, disability, public support, and vocational rehabilitation services, is collected by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and becomes a part of the RSA-911 data file. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among demographics, service provisions, competitive employment, and earnings of vocational rehabilitation consumers with blindness or visual impairments. Using a sample of 3,610 cases from the RSA-911 data file from Fiscal Year 2006, logistic regression was utilized to examine the relationships among 20 consumer demographic and 14 case service variables related to competitive employment outcomes. With a sample of 2,320 cases, multiple regression was used to examine which 20 consumer demographic and 14 case service variables predicted weekly earnings at closure for those consumers with competitive employment outcomes. Results from the logistic regression indicated the most important consumer demographic predictors of competitive employment were age, gender, receipt of Medicaid, severity of vision loss, source of referral, and weekly earnings at application. Specifically, those aged 36 or younger who were self-referred, male, had lesser severity of vision loss, and did not receive Medicaid were more likely to find competitive employment. Among case service variables, receiving job-placement assistance and maintenance services were related to competitive employment; receipt of disability-related augmentative skills training and miscellaneous training had a negative impact. Multiple regression revealed that the consumer demographics of gender, higher level of education at closure, receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and weekly earnings at application were important predictors of weekly earnings at closure. Disability-related augmentative skills training was the only case service related to weekly earnings, with a negative impact. Based on these findings, males with earnings at application who did not receive disability-related augmentative skills training were most likely to reach competitive employment outcomes and to have higher earning potential at closure. Limitations of the study as well as implications for practice and future research are discussed. / text

Recidivism rates among ex-offender populations have consistently remained high. With over 600,000 ex-offenders being released from prison each year, reducing the rate of recidivism among the ex-offender class has become a highly debated issue. Ensuring ex-offenders successfully reintegrate into the community post-incarceration may help to reduce recidivism rates. Through a qualitative thematic analysis, this study examined various policies and program that may impact recidivism rates among ex-offenders. The policies and programs reviewed in this study were categorized among six main themes which were identified in prior literature as the most crucial elements needed for successful reintegration. The findings indicate that while many policy changes have been made to positively impact ex-offender reintegration by allowing initial access to services post-release from prison, more should be done to ensure ex-offenders actually receive needed services.

No description available.

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The purpose of this research was to obtain information on the content of education within cardiac rehabilitation programs, methods of administering education, what the barriers are to providing education and which professionals administer education.To reach this goal, a questionnaire was modified from a previous study and a pilot study was undertaken to establish reliability of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was then sent to a sample of 100 directors of cardiac rehabilitation programs belonging to The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The questionnaire focused on 13 established areas of education within cardiac rehabilitation programs.Once the questionnaires were completed, the information was transferred to a table format based upon the 13 content areas. The following conclusions were drawn from the research and the data gathered: 11 of the 13 content areas are offered at least 84% of the time, the major barriers for the 13 content areas were lack of time and lack of interest on the patient's behalf, the most frequent methods of education for all 13 content areas were individual education, print materials, and group education, and the primary educator overall for all 13 content areas was the nurse followed by the exercise physiologist and dietitian/nutritionist. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Air Force Family Advocacy Program and examine the effects that situational dynamics have on recidivism. Although, the high volume of program participants and low recidivism rate demonstrated that the Family Advocacy Program is a valuable resource for treating families referred for spousal domestic violence.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between consumer race and vocational rehabilitation acceptance, services, and reason for closure through the state/federal vocational rehabilitation system for in individuals with specific learning disabilities. The consumers who participated in the study were individuals who applied for services during the 2006 fiscal year with specific learning disabilities (SLD). The study included two different stratified samples of 400 African Americans with SLD and 400 European Americans with SLD. Several variables were held constant in this study. These variables included: (a) gender, (b) age at application, (c) level of education at application, (d) primary source of support at application, participation in special education (as evidenced by an individualized education program), and (e) presence of a significant disability. Related to acceptance, results from the logistic regression indicated that the presence of a significant disability was positively correlated with acceptance for services in both samples. That is individuals with a significant disability were more likely to be accepted for services than were individuals without a significant disability. There were no statistically significant differences found between African Americans with SLD and European Americans with SLD in Sample A. Conversely, statistically significant differences were found in Sample B. In Sample B African Americans with SLD were less likely than European Americans with SLD to be accepted for services. In addition, under the category of educational level at application, individuals with a special education certificate of completion/diploma in attendance were less likely to be accepted for services than other educational categories. Related to services, in Sample A, African Americans with SLD were less likely to receive college training than European Americans with SLD. In Sample B, African Americans with SLD were more likely to receive job readiness and transportation services. On-the-job training was provided more frequently for European Americans with SLD than African Americans with SLD. Related to reasons for closure, the chi-square was not significant in Sample A. However in Sample B statistically significant findings were revealed. African Americans with SLD were found more likely to be closed as 'unable to locate or contact' and 'failure to cooperate'. In addition, Sample African Americans with SLD were more likely to be closed 'other reasons'. By contrast, European Americans with SLD were found to be closed due to either refusal of services or further services and to achieve an employment outcome. Limitations of the study and implications for future research and practice were also discussed. / text