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.

While the majority of studies appeared to focus on health service workers and job satisfaction, there was a substantial lack of literature that explored the relationship of personality traits and burnout specific to behavioral health professionals. Research has indicated that behavioral health professional burnout is a mediating factor in early job exodus primarily due to highly interactive work with people. The purpose of this study was to consider the relationship between behavioral health professional burnout, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Health and Human Service workers, and the big five personality traits, as measured by the NEO Five Factor Inventory. This multiple regression study evaluated 305 behavioral health professionals who were currently licensed and practicing in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Ohio. Results of the study yielded a significant correlation between behavioral health professional burnout and personality traits. The more extraverted, open, agreeable, and conscientious behavioral health professionals are, the less likely they are to experience burnout. The more narcissistic behavioral health professionals are, the more likely they are to experience burnout. In addition, age significantly correlated to behavioral health professional burnout. As age increased, burnout potential decreased. The implications for social change include potential use at the organizational level to implement policy changes, such as regular or preburnout screenings, in order to prevent early exodus from the behavioral health field and increase positive patient outcomes.

This study used an ecological perspective to identify pathological gambling (PG) risk and protective factors, nonclinical resources, and prevention strategies based on the perceptions of Georgia stakeholders. With an ecological perspective, human behavior is perceived as an outcome of the interaction between the individual and various factors in their social environment. The ecological perspective is especially suitable for examining the higher PG prevalence among ethnic minority groups since these populations have been documented as encountering greater exposure to PG social and environmental risk factors (Smedley & Syme, 2000). To assess prevention needs, data were obtained from a 2008 needs assessment where diverse perspectives were collected through semi structured focus groups and interviews. A qualitative approach was used to address the study's aims. Grounded theory was used to guide the data analysis. Findings indicated that community perceptions of risk and protective factors, nonclinical resources, and prevention strategies were present at multiple levels of analyses. Furthermore, data trends also indicated that charitable gambling and other social norms should be considered in prevention.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1996. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-07, Section: B, page: 4723.

The prevalence of mental health disorders in the United States is estimated at 1 in 5 persons in any given year, with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 50% (National Institute of Mental Health, 2016a, 2016b). Despite scientific progress towards effective behavioral and psychopharmacological treatment, nearly 50% of Americans with mental illness do not receive treatment (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2014). This project will identify key geographical and logistical factors restricting recruitment and retention of psychiatric providers (MD or NP) for an underserved region in California. The results of the study will be used to develop a model for effective partnerships aimed at a “grow your own” approach to addressing the shortage of psychiatric providers. In California, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) was approved by the voters as Proposition 63 in 2004, funding expansion of mental health resources and specifically, workforce development (California Department of Health Care Services [DHCS], 2017). National funding also supports the expansion of PMHNP training and capacity through Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) and SAMHSA. Despite administrative and funding resources from MHSA and HRSA, the shortage of psychiatric providers continues in rural and remote areas. While few national studies have included nurse practitioners in the findings, a growing body of evidence suggests that nurse practitioners can serve similar if not the same function as physician colleagues (DiCicco-Bloom & Cunningham, 2014; National Governors Association, 2012; Newhouse et al, 2011). Barriers to mental health services in rural communities include challenges around a) availability, b) accessibility, c) affordability, and d) acceptability (Wilson, Bangs, & Hatting, 2015). Using a descriptive design, this project explores these factors necessary for patient access to psychiatric services in rural areas. A logic model is used to create a summary of the findings, which will be used to propose a clinical training partnership between an urban university-based PMHNP education and a rural clinic-based training to be completed upon conclusion of the project.

No description available.

Adolescents are individuals who are gradually approaching adulthood and begin to experience some changes in their lives owing to their exposure to environmental influences. These individuals also indulge in behaviors that may be harmful to them and will require the guidance of health providers to stay healthy. However, many adolescents have reported unmet health care needs or guidance from health care providers. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of provider anticipatory guidance reported by adolescents in rural Appalachia. The study participants were aged 16 to 19 years and a total of 762 participants in rural Appalachia were recruited from the 2016 Adolescent Community Health Survey. Participants were asked to indicate whether a provider asked them about a series of health behaviors in a 12-month period. Health behaviors included healthy eating/diet, physical activity, school performance/grades, friends, emotions, feeling sad, suicide, chewing tobacco, drug use, use of steroids, risks of drinking, smoking, and the importance of wearing seatbelts whilst driving. Descriptive statistics were conducted using SAS 9.4. Of the 762 study participants, 53.4% were females. Less than 30% of the study participants reported a doctor had talked to them about their weight/ healthy eating in the last 12 months. In the last 12 months,18.3% reported a doctor had talked to them about suicide, 26.4% reported a doctor had talked to them about their moods and emotions. Less than 25% reported a doctor had talked to them about drug use and 22.31% reported a doctor had talked to them about wearing a seat belt while driving in the last 12 months. Adolescents are in need of anticipatory guidance from health care providers. Our studies reveal more than 70% of adolescents report not receiving anticipatory guidance in several areas including drug use, chewing tobacco, use of steroid pills or shots without a doctor’s prescription, weight, school performance, healthy eating/diet, suicide, their emotions and the importance of wearing a seatbelt whilst driving. The prevalence of anticipatory guidance as reported by these adolescents in Appalachia is low. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness amongst healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses, psychologists, etc. to ensure that whilst they treat medical illnesses, they also talk to young adolescents about risky behaviors. This awareness will go a long way in mitigating adolescent risky behaviors. This study also has implications that drive policy decision-making.

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.