Background: More than one-third of adults and 17% of children/adolescents in the US are overweight or obese contributing to significant morbidity and mortality, and healthcare costs. Little is known about obesity patterns in subethnic populations in the US with high prevalence of obesity or overweight reported in Hispanic youth (21.9%) compared to non-Hispanic blacks (19.5%) and non-Hispanic whites (14.7%). The purpose of this study is to assess the association of generation status with adolescent overweight or obesity in Hispanics in the US. Data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health were used to conduct this study, focusing on Hispanic adolescents aged 10 to 17 years. Adolescents were defined as being overweight or obese if they were above 85th or 95th percentile cut-off point values for BMI. Conclusion:Generation status of an adolescent was categorized into three groups depending on the adolescent and the parents’ place of birth. Multivariable models were conducted to test the association of generation status with adolescent obesity in Hispanics, adjusting for potential confounders. Comparing to 3rd generation adolescents, those belonging to 1st and 2nd generations were associated with increased odds of adolescent obesity in Hispanics OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.177 – 1.867 and OR 1.405, 95% CI 1.227-1.610 for 1st and 2nd generation, respectively. Generational status is associated with increased relative odds of overweight or obesity in Hispanic adolescents. Aggregated estimates not accounting for country of origin of an adolescent contribute to significant heterogeneity or disparities in obesity prevalence or patterns, with implications for generation-specific interventions

This article reports the results of a cross-national investigation of patterns of comorbidity between substance use and psychiatric disorders in six studies participating in the International Consortium in Psychiatric Epidemiology. In general, there was a strong association between mood and anxiety disorders as well as conduct and antisocial personality disorder with substance disorders at all sites. The results also suggest that there is a continuum in the magnitude of comorbidity as a function of the spectrum of substance use category (use, problems, dependence), as well as a direct relationship between the number of comorbid disorders and increasing levels of severity of substance use disorders (which was particularly pronounced for drugs). Finally, whereas there was no specific temporal pattern of onset for mood disorders in relation to substance disorders, the onset of anxiety disorders was more likely to precede that of substance disorders in all countries. These results illustrate the contribution of cross-national data to understanding the patterns and risk factors for psychopathology and substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Substance use disorders (SUD) affect approximately 19.3 million adults in the United States. Of adults with SUDs, only 5% perceive the need for SUD treatment and 10% utilize specialty SUD treatment. The literature evidences racial disparities in utilization of SUD treatment yet presents mixed outcomes regarding race/ethnicity (i.e., White, Latinx, and Black/African-American) and gender (i.e., male, female) differences in perceived need for SUD treatment, specialty SUD treatment utilization, and barriers to SUD treatment. In addition, interaction with healthcare systems for chronic medical conditions like diabetes or hypertension may facilitate connection to SUD treatments for individuals with co-occurring SUD and chronic medical conditions, but little research exists that explores this potential facilitator. This dissertation addresses the following questions, with a focus on race/ethnicity and gender, and their interaction: 1.) What characteristics are associated with perceiving a need for SUD treatment among adults with SUD? 2.) What are the characteristics of adults who do not engage in specialty SUD treatment among those who perceived a need for SUD treatment? What were the most commonly reported barriers to specialty SUD treatment? and 3.) Is receipt of a chronic medical condition diagnosis among individuals with SUD associated with a greater likelihood of specialty SUD treatment utilization? METHODS: This study uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from years 2005 through 2017. Simple and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted and interactions were tested using multiplicative terms with race/ethnicity and gender. Analyses adjusted for weights to account for the survey’s complex sampling design. RESULTS: No significant racial/ethnic or gender differences were found in association with perceived need for SUD treatment. Among adults who perceived the need for SUD treatment, less than 20% in any racial/ethnic category utilized specialty SUD treatment services. Black/African-American adults, compared to White, were more likely to utilize specialty SUD treatment and less likely to name stigma as a barrier to treatment. Black/African-American adults with co-occurring chronic medical conditions and SUD were more likely to perceive a need for SUD treatment, but similarly likely to utilize specialty SUD treatment in comparison to White adults. Women and men did not significantly differ on perceived need for SUD treatment, utilization, or barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in SUD treatment utilization patterns exist in association with race/ethnicity, though not with gender. Study findings suggest the presence of specialty SUD treatment utilization disparities, with stigma contributing to lower utilization for Whites compared to Blacks/African-Americans. Higher rates of treatment utilization among Blacks/African-Americans may reflect the presence of strengths uniquely attributed to this group.

Introduction: More than one-third of adults and 17% of children/adolescents in the US are overweight or obese contributing to significant morbidity and mortality, and healthcare costs. Studies have reported the persistence of adolescent obesity to adulthood, resulting in increased risk of chronic diseases such as asthma, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular, and liver diseases. Little is known about obesity patterns in subethnic populations in the US with high prevalence of obesity or overweight reported in Hispanic youth (21.9%) compared to non-Hispanic blacks (19.5%) and non-Hispanic whites (14.7%). Several genetic, uterine, and nutritional factors, and unhealthy behaviors were identified as risk factors. Evidence is emerging about the possible role of generational status in influencing adolescent obesity. The purpose of this study is to assess the association of generation status with adolescent overweight or obesity in Hispanics in the US. Methods: Data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH)were used to conduct this study. Only Hispanic adolescents aged 10 to 17 years were included as study population. Using the age-sex-race specific cut-off points, we defined adolescent as being overweight or obese if they were above 85th or 95th percentile cut off point values for BMI. Generation status of an adolescent was categorized into three groups: a) generation 1 for those who were not born in US or to US citizens abroad, and migrated to US as children, b) generation 2 are those born in US but have at least one parent who is foreign born, and c) generation 3 or higher adolescents are those born in US to native-born parents. Multivariable models were conducted to test the association of generation status with adolescent obesity in Hispanics, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: A total of 5,217 Hispanic adolescents were included in the study. Approximately 1,650 and 31.7% of adolescents reported being overweight or obese. Approximately 857, 2,216 and 2,144 of adolescents are 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Hispanic youth. Comparing to 3rd generation adolescents, those belonging to 1st and 2ndgenerations were associated with increased odds of adolescent obesity in Hispanics OR1.48, 95% CI 1.177 – 1.867 and OR 1.405, 95% CI 1.227-1.610 for 1st and 2nd generation, respectively. Conclusion: Generational status is associated with increased relative odds of overweight or obesity in Hispanic adolescents. Aggregated estimates not accounting for nativity or county of origin of an adolescent contribute to significant heterogeneity or disparities in obesity prevalence or patterns, with implications for generation-specific interventions.

Background: Current recommended treatment options for primary headache disorders are suboptimal in that effective pain relief is untimely and associated with side effects. Objective: The primary aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness and attitudes towards an alternative treatment option, the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block which belongs to a class of procedures known as peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs). Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis studying the effectiveness of PNBs for the treatment of primary headache disorders. We also conducted a national postal survey among Canadian emergency physicians to identify current practice patterns and perspectives on PNBs. Results: We found PNBs are effective for rapid pain relief compared to placebo at 15 minutes (MD = -1.17; 95% CI: -1.82 to -0.51) and 30 minutes (MD = -0.99; 95% CI: -1.66 to -0.32). Only 55.6% of physicians have experience with PNBs (95% CI: 0.48 to 0.65) and we discovered the SPG block is the least commonly practiced type of PNB; the majority of physicians believe these procedures are safe (85%) and effective (55.1%). A future trial is needed to compare the SPG block against standard treatment. Conclusion: The SPG block may be used as an adjunct therapy for faster effective pain relief. Current physicians would consider PNBs as a first-line alternative given evidence from a future trial. A future trial is needed to compare the SPG block against standard treatment.

No description available.

Southern Baptist-Related college faculty attitudes and opinions on areas of higher education most important to the professoriate as identified by the Carnegie Foundation in its 1989 National Survey of Faculty are described in this study and compared with the data from the survey reported by the Carnegie Foundation in The Condition of the Professoriate: Attitudes and Trends, 1989 and Scholarship Reconsidered: Priorities of the Professoriate. The data were compared in the eight areas: goals of collegiate education, academic standards, attitudes about student life, teaching, research, and service, status of the profession, views of the institution, participation in decision-making, and general observations of higher education.

Marijuana is the most common illicit drug that is abused by pregnant women, and recently many states have adopted various levels of relaxed marijuana policies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a potential association between residing in a state that allows medical marijuana use and maternal marijuana usage. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, this study evaluated the prevalence and extent of maternal marijuana use in states that allow and states that do not allow medical marijuana use using the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). It was anticipated that more lenient subjective norms toward marijuana use and increased availability would support an increase of maternal marijuana use. The 2014 NSDUH was queried and analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression. The study revealed an increase of maternal marijuana use in states where medical marijuana was allowed, but the increase was not statistically significant. An increase of heavy users was observed in states where medical marijuana was allowed (54% versus 37%). Consistent with other research findings, this study revealed that young (OR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.379, 9.213; p = 0.009) and unmarried (OR = 6.81; 95% CI: 2.485, 18.661; p < 0.001) pregnant woman were at higher risk for past month maternal marijuana use and had similar results for past year use. The unintended consequences of increased in utero marijuana exposure and its subsequent negative public health effects have been missing from the discussion of the relaxation of statewide marijuana policies. This study will provide policy makers responsible for changing marijuana policy with useful evidence on the unintended consequences of increased maternal marijuana use in areas where medical marijuana is allowed.

This study filled a gap in the higher education literature regarding whether a relationship exists between students’ employment location on or off campus, students’ identification as either native or transfer, and academic success as measured by self-reported grades for full-time seniors between the ages of 20-23 who enrolled in urban colleges and universities. The researcher used the National Survey of Student Engagement survey to collect data. It was administered to students during the 2013 or 2014 administrations at urban colleges and universities, with the purpose of representing the senior cohorts of students at their college or university during the years of administration. The researcher performed a secondary data analysis of the survey responses to the National Survey of Student Experiences of senior students who fit the sampling criterion, with the permission of Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research. The results showed that, for both native and transfer senior student cohorts, as work hours off campus increased, there was a decrease in self-reported grades. In contrast, both native and transfer students who worked on campus enjoyed higher self-reported grades, and students who worked on campus performed better academically than even those students who did not work at all. Finally, the researcher noted no significant difference between the senior native and transfer student populations’ experiences with employment location and grades.

This study contributes to theory and public policy in Canada and globally. It uses mixed methodology and triangulation of evidence through policy documents(Bovey,Rae,Drummond),empirical studies and surveys(ranking,NSSE data,regression), CAUT/AUCC and Statistics Canada sources and qualitative sources - writings of university presidents (Bok,Kerr,Fallis),researchers (Rajagopal, Clark et al.)as well,talks with sessionals,teaching assistants and administrators. The framework consists of Altbach's four factors - democratization, the knowledge economy, globalisation and competition and three ideal types for university development - entrepreneurial, liberal education and deliberative. The thesis contrasts classical college with the modern university system. The results show strong evidence for research domination, mission drift and shift towards the entrepreneurial model. Quality is compromised by lowering requirements, compressed courses, less study time, large classes taught by sessionals and TAs, grade inflation and consumerist behaviour, while critical thinking and moral development are neglected.