Social and Behavioral Implications of National Collegiate Athletic Association Sickle Cell Trait Screening: The Athletes\u27 Perspective

Background: In August 2010, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented a policy mandating sickle cell trait (SCT) testing for all Division I collegiate athletes. Subsequently, all Division II-III athletes were also compelled to undergo SCT testing. This decision has met with controversy among healthcare providers, researchers, and sickle cell advocates. However, there is little information concerning the athletes’ perspective of this policy. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a qualitative study that explored college athletes’ perceptions of sickle cell trait SCT, NCAA policies on SCT testing, and potential implications of SCT screening. Methods: The participants were eighteen male and female athletes (ages 18-24), members of NCAA-governed teams who were on the study campus from April-August 2010. Athletes participated in focus groups that gathered their perceptions of the SCT, the NCAA SCT policy, and social and behavioral implications of a SCT diagnosis. Results: Athletes lacked knowledge of the SCT and the implications of a positive screening test result, desired health education about SCT, were conflicted about sharing health information, and feared loss of playing time if found to carry the SCT. Conclusions: The study revealed athletes’ perceptions of the SCT and mandated NCAA SCT testing that should be addressed by college health professionals

Social and Behavioral Implications of National Collegiate Athletic Association Sickle Cell Trait Screening: The Athletes’ Perspective

Background: In August 2010, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented a policy mandating sickle cell trait (SCT) testing for all Division I collegiate athletes. Subsequently, all Division II-III athletes were also compelled to undergo SCT testing. This decision has met with controversy among healthcare providers, researchers, and sickle cell advocates. However, there is little information concerning the athletes’ perspective of this policy. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a qualitative study that explored college athletes’ perceptions of sickle cell trait SCT, NCAA policies on SCT testing, and potential implications of SCT screening. Methods: The participants were eighteen male and female athletes (ages 18-24), members of NCAA-governed teams who were on the study campus from April-August 2010. Athletes participated in focus groups that gathered their perceptions of the SCT, the NCAA SCT policy, and social and behavioral implications of a SCT diagnosis. Results: Athletes lacked knowledge of the SCT and the implications of a positive screening test result, desired health education about SCT, were conflicted about sharing health information, and feared loss of playing time if found to carry the SCT. Conclusions: The study revealed athletes’ perceptions of the SCT and mandated NCAA SCT testing that should be addressed by college health professionals

Factors Associated With Pain Frequency Among Adults With Chronic Conditions

Context: Chronic pain affects approximately 100 million Americans, but little is known about the factors associated with pain frequency. Objectives: This article examines participants’ sociodemographics, medical history, health care access and utilization, self-management barriers, and social support associated with pain frequency among a sample of middle-aged and older adults with one or more chronic condition. Methods: Data were from the National Council on Aging Chronic Care Survey. An ordinal regression model was fitted to examine factors associated with self-reported pain frequency. Results: Having more chronic conditions (P \u3c 0.001), taking more medication daily (P \u3c 0.001), and visiting the physician five or more times a year (P = 0.011) were associated with more frequent pain. Always getting the help and support needed to manage their health problems was associated with less frequent pain (P \u3c 0.001). Conclusion: More attention should be given to pain management during interactions with health care providers. Providing resources and support for disease self-management may help reduce pain frequency and self-management in middle-aged and older adults with chronic conditions

Engaging the Underrepresented Sex: Male Participation in Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) Programs

Females are more likely than males to participate in evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs targeted for middle-aged and older adults. Despite the availability and benefits of Stanford’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) programs, male participation remains low. This study identifies personal characteristics of males who attended CDSME program workshops and identifies factors associated with successful intervention completion. Data were analyzed from 45,375 male CDSME program participants nationwide. Logistic regression was performed to examine factors associated with workshop attendance. Males who were aged 65–79 (OR = 1.27, p \u3c.001), Hispanic (OR = 1.22, p \u3c.001), African American (OR = 1.13, p \u3c.001), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR = 1.26, p \u3c.001), Native Hawaiian (OR = 3.14, p \u3c.001), and residing in nonmetro areas (OR = 1.26, p \u3c.001) were more likely to complete the intervention. Participants with 3+ chronic conditions were less likely to complete the intervention (OR = 0.87, p \u3c.001). Compared to health-care organization participants, participants who attended workshops at senior centers (OR = 1.38, p \u3c.001), community/multipurpose facilities (OR = 1.21, p \u3c.001), and faith-based organizations (OR = 1.37, p \u3c.001) were more likely to complete the intervention. Men who participated in workshops with more men were more likely to complete the intervention (OR = 2.14, p \u3c.001). Once enrolled, a large proportion of males obtained an adequate intervention dose. Findings highlight potential strategies to retain men in CDSME programs, which include diversifying workshop locations, incorporating Session Zero before CDSME workshops, and using alternative delivery modalities (e.g., online)