A Racial Impact Analysis of HB 1075/SB 201

The economic and social consequences of untreated (or under-treated) substance abuse among minors are significant. This report provides a racial impact analysis of HB 1075/SB 201, legislation approved in the 2012 General Assembly session that seeks to improve access and use of substance and alcohol services by minors. In short, this policy could go a long way to ensure that families are properly educated about these life-changing (and life-saving) programs; however our analysis raises concerns related to cultural competency that may serve to undermine the legislation’s goal. Virginia is incredibly diverse and its communities vary widely with its assets and risks. In this vein, we offer concrete recommendations to maximize the policy’s racial equity. Our analysis also sheds light on the ongoing challenge Virginia’s state agencies have had to address cultural competency within its services. Additional research is necessary to determine what service gaps may exist, which would increase or decrease the racial equity impact. By answering these questions, Virginia will be better prepared to further reduce alcohol and substance abuse by all minors

Mothers' involvement in providing care for their hospitalised sick newborns in Kenya: a focused ethnographic account

Introduction: There is growing evidence that parental participation in the care of small and sick newborns benefits both babies and parents. While studies have investigated the roles that mothers play in newborn units in high income contexts (HIC), there is little exploration of how contextual factors interplay to influence the ways in which mothers participate in the care of their small and sick newborn babies in very resource constrained settings such as those found in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Ethnographic methods (observations, informal conversations and formal interviews) were used to collect data during 627 h of fieldwork between March 2017 and August 2018 in the neonatal units of one government and one faith-based hospital in Kenya. Data were analysed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results: There were marked differences between the hospitals in the participation by mothers in the care of their sick newborn babies. The timing and types of caring task that the mothers undertook were shaped by the structural, economic and social context of the hospitals. In the resource constrained government funded hospital, the immediate informal and unplanned delegation of care to mothers was routine. In the faith-based hospital mothers were initially separated from their babies and introduced to bathing and diaper change tasks slowly under the close supervision of nurses. In both hospitals appropriate breast-feeding support was lacking, and the needs of the mothers were largely ignored. Conclusion: In highly resource constrained hospitals with low nurse to baby ratios, mothers are required to provide primary and some specialised care to their sick newborns with little information or support on how undertake the necessary tasks. In better resourced hospital settings, most caring tasks are initially performed by nurses leaving mothers feeling powerless and worried about their capacity to care for their babies after discharge. Interventions need to focus on how to better equip hospitals and nurses to support mothers in caring for their sick newborns, promoting family centred care

Ethnocultural Minorities in Cardiac Rehab

Background: Patients of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds are underrepresented among participants and, hence, little is known about their outcomes. The objectives of this study were to compare cardiac rehabilitation (CR) utilization, cardiovascular risk factor reduction (blood pressure, lipids, anthropometrics), and functional capacity between white and ethnocultural minority patients participating in CR across Canada. Methods: The study was a retrospective, observational cohort study using the Canadian Cardiac Rehab Registry (CCRR). Participants from an ethnocultural minority (n >= 25) were propensity-matched to white participants based on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. CR outcomes were compared. Results: In the CCRR, 3848 (53.8%) participants had an ethnocultural background reported. Of those, whites (n = 3630) and South Asians (n = 26), Southeast Asians (n = 45), and Arab/West Asians (n = 37) minorities had sufficient representation in the registry to be analyzed. In the matched sample, 364 (97.1%) participants completed a discharge assessment. Southeast Asian participants adhered to (96.5%, P = .02) and completed (88.2%, P = .02) CR more often than white participants (90.2% and 55.6%, respectively). Southeast Asian participants had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure (P = .002) at CR discharge than matched white participants. No other differences in outcomes or functional capacity were observed. Conclusions: Ethnocultural minorities make up a small proportion of CR participants in Canada. However, when they do participate, they achieve similar CR outcomes compared with white participants. CR programs should seek to ensure ethnoculturally diverse patients are referred to their programs and ensure their programs are culturally sensitive to the needs of the preponderant ethnocultural groups in their catchment areas

Bridging the Divide: Unraveling the Knowledge Gap in Data Visualization Research and Practice

Empirical research on perception and cognition has laid the foundation for visualization design, often yielding useful design guidelines for practitioners. However, it remains uncertain how well practitioners stay informed about such crucial visualization design knowledge. In this paper, we employed a mixed-method approach to explore the knowledge gap between visualization research and real-world design guidelines. We initially collected existing design guidelines from various sources and empirical studies from diverse publishing venues, analyzing their alignment and uncovering missing links and inconsistent knowledge. Subsequently, we conducted surveys and interviews with practitioners and researchers to gain further insights into their experiences and attitudes towards design guidelines and empirical studies, and their views on the knowledge gap between research and practice. Our findings highlight the similarities and differences in their perspectives and propose strategies to bridge the divide in visualization design knowledge.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Burden, screening, and treatment of depressive and anxious symptoms among women referred to cardiac rehabilitation: a prospective study

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among women. Women with CVD experience a greater burden of psychosocial distress than men, and practice guidelines promote screening in cardiac patients, especially women. The objectives herein were to describe the burden of psychosocial distress, extent of screening, forms of treatment, and whether receipt of treatment was related to psychosocial distress symptom severity at follow-up, among women. Methods Within a multi-center trial of women randomized to cardiac rehabilitation models, consenting participants were asked to complete surveys upon consent and 6 months later. Clinical data were extracted from charts. This study presents a secondary analysis of the surveys, including investigator-generated items assessing screening and treatment, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-2. Results Of the 128 (67.0%) participants with valid baseline and follow-up survey results, 48 (40.3%) self-reported that they recalled being screened, and of these, 10 (21.3%) recalled discussing the results with a health care professional. Fifty-six (43.8%) retained participants had elevated symptoms of psychosocial distress at baseline, of which 25 (44.6%) were receiving treatment. Regression analyses showed that treatment of psychosocial distress was not significantly associated with follow-up depressive symptoms, but was significantly associated with greater follow-up anxiety. Conclusions Findings reiterate the great burden of psychosocial distress among women with CVD. Less than half of patients with elevated symptoms were treated, and the treatment approaches appeared to insufficiently achieve symptom relief.This research was funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (HSFO), Grant-in-Aid #NA 6682

The Student Movement Volume 107 Issue 23: So Long, Farewell: Students Step Into the Future

HUMANS Advice to Younger Selves, Interviewed by: Anna Pak Finals Stress Management, Gloria Oh Farewell to Pastor Dwight Nelson, Student Movement Staff What does AANHPI Heritage Month Mean?, Grace No ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Currently: Reflecting on the Original Script, Solana Campbell In Memory of K.V. Rathnam, Ysabelle Fernando The Deal Premiers at Sonscreen Film Festival, Solana Campbell Through Their Eyes: AANHPI Expression, Amelia Stefanescu NEWS A Night at AU: SASA Cultural Night, Solana Campbell Interview with Professor Daniel Weber: Envision Magazine, Interviewed By: Brendan Oh Interview with Gloria Oh: Transforming an Idea into Reality, Interviewed By: Brendan Oh IDEAS All at Once: How AANHPI Media Representation Took Over 2023, Bella Hamann Raise A Glass to Freedom?, Terika Williams The Gem Off the Back of a Lorry, Gabi Francisco PULSE Goodbye and Welcome: Letters to the Incoming and Outgoing Presidents, The Andrews University Student Association Senate Honduras Mission, Interviewed By: Abraham Bravo Last Words for the School Year, Elizabeth Dovich In Summer: Professor Olaf Presents You the Ultimate Way to Spend Summer, Gloria Oh LAST WORD Take it from Me Part II, The Student Movement Staffhttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/sm-107/1022/thumbnail.jp

The Student Movement Volume 107 Issue 22: Fulfilled: AU Presents a Story of Redemption

HUMANS Speaking Up With Women, Interviewed by: Grace No What is it Like to Work at the Athletics Department?, Interviewed by: Grace No What is Title IX?. Interviewed by: Caryn Cruz ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Currently: Foreign Film, Solana Campbell Fulfilled: A Musical of Redemption, Aiko J. Ayala Rios NEWS KASA Banquet, Interviewed by: Anna Pak Watchmen A Capella Concert: Unstoppable: A Journey Through Self-Discovery , Gloria Oh IDEAS Charge It!, Alexander Navarro Feminism is for Everybody. Yes-Even You, Dude!, Reagan McCain Tick Tock... for TikTok?, Abby Shim PULSE Dorm Delicacies, Melissa Moore How Have We Grown?, Abraham Bravo What Do We Wish We Did?, Abraham Bravo LAST WORD Take It From Me , SM Section Editorshttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/sm-107/1021/thumbnail.jp

CR Component Attendance & Risk Factors

Purpose: To examine: (1) the rate of clinical events precluding cardiac rehabilitation (CR) continuation, (2) CR attendance by component in those without events, and (3) the association between disease severity (eg, tobacco use, diabetes, and depression) and component attendance (eg, exercise, diet, stress management, and tobacco cessation). Methods: Retrospective analysis of electronic records of the CR program in London, Ontario, from 1999 to 2017. Patients in the supervised program are offered exercise sessions 2 times/wk with a minimum of 48 prescribed sessions tailored to patient need. Patients attending ≥1 session without major factors that would limit their exercise ability were included. Intervening events were recorded, as was component attendance. Results: Of 5508 enrolled, supervised patients, 3696 did not have a condition that could preclude exercise. Of those enrolled, one-sixth (n = 912) had an intervening event; these patients were less likely to work, more likely to have medical risk factors, had more severe angina and depression, and lower functional capacity. The remaining cohort attended a mean of 26.5 ± 21.3 sessions overall (median = 27; 19% attending ≥48 sessions), including 20.5 ± 17.4 exercise sessions (median = 21). After exercise, the most common components attended were individual dietary and psychological counseling. Patients with more severe angina and depressive symptoms as well as tobacco users attended significantly fewer total sessions, but more of some specific components. Conclusions: In one-sixth of patients, CR attendance and completion are impacted by clinical factors beyond their control. Many patients are taking advantage of components specific to their risk factors, buttressing the value of individually tailored, menu-based programming.Dr. Suskin receives support from Western University’s Department of Medicine’s Program of Experimental Medicine. Dr. Prior receives salary support as an associate scientist from the Lawson Health Research Institute