Racial Disparities in Cancer Screening Among Women with Chronic Joint Pain

Chronic pain related disorders and breast and cervical cancer are more prevalent among African-American women compared with non-Hispanic White women. However, few studies address how racial differences in the context of comorbidity may compound these disparities. This study used secondary analysis of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to assess racial differences in breast and cervical cancer screening and patient education among adult women with chronic joint pain conditions. Statistical analyses included chi-square and independent samples t-tests. African-American women compared with non-Hispanic White women were less likely to receive a pap smear or mammogram within the last two years and receive patient education (p\u3c0.01). Due to competing demands, women with chronic joint pain may not receive preventive services. The results of this study can be used to formulate interventions and evaluate approaches to reduce racial disparities in outpatient service delivery in terms of continuity and scope of care

The Community-Driven Approach to Environmental Exposures: How a Community-Based Participatory Research Program Analyzing Impacts of Environmental Exposure on Lupus Led to a Toxic Site Cleanup

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a mechanism to improve environmental quality in communities primarily inhabited by minorities or low income families. A collaborative partnership between the University at Buffalo and the Toxic Waste Lupus Coalition was formed to investigate the high prevalence of lupus in the area and whether cases of disease were linked to chemicals found at a nearby New York State Superfund site in East Buffalo. The purpose of the study was to use CBPR practices to educate impacted residents and enable their participation in efforts to get a nearby contaminated waste site remediated. Community members were active participants in the development of the plan to clean up the toxic site. These methods can be used to better engage the community in research and involve them in actions taken to improve their neighborhood

A geographic information assessment of exposure to a toxic waste site and development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Findings from the buffalo lupus project

The Buffalo Lupus Project was a community-based participatory research partnership formed to address the relationship between an identified hazardous waste site and high rates of lupus and other autoimmune diseases in the surrounding community. Most cases identified began experiencing symptoms and were diagnosed in the periods when the site was inactive. Trends suggest that the impact of the site was more likely due to chronic exposure to waste rather than it being an acute trigger

O Controlo da Atividade de Investigação Criminal na Guarda Nacional Republicana

O presente Relatório Científico procura retratar o controlo da atividade de Investigação Criminal no seio da GNR. O controlo constitui-se como uma forma de colmatar erros que possam estar a ocorrer e simultaneamente prejudiquem o normal desenrolar de determinada tarefa, no sentido da melhoria e do aumento da proficiência para o desenvolvimento de uma atividade, neste caso em concreto, da Investigação Criminal. No final deste estudo, o principal objetivo consiste em concluir como se pode melhorar o controlo da atividade de Investigação Criminal na GNR. São três as fases essenciais que constituem esta investigação. Uma primeira, Fase exploratória, relacionada essencialmente com aspetos de cariz teórico, onde se apresentam os principais conceitos inerentes à realização deste trabalho. De seguida, numa fase mais vocacionada para o trabalho de campo, Fase analítica, são apresentados os resultados estatísticos fruto da análise dos dados obtidos. Posteriormente, na Fase conclusiva, apresentam-se as conclusões obtidas com a realização deste estudo, propondo melhorias que no futuro poderão aumentar a capacidade da instituição nesta área. A recolha de dados efetuou-se com recurso ao inquérito por questionário, sendo que posteriormente esses mesmos dados foram alvo de análise estatística. Conclui-se com este trabalho que existem algumas lacunas no que concerne a esta temática do controlo da atividade de Investigação Criminal, das quais se destaca a formação dos militares com funções nesta matéria, que segundo os resultados obtidos fica aquém do pretendido.Abstract This Scientific Report seeks to portray the control of Criminal Investigation activity within the GNR. The control it is as a manner to overcome errors that are affecting the normal path of a specific task, in order to improve and increase proficiency during the development of an activity, in this particular case, the Criminal Investigation activity. The main objective of this study seeks to demonstrate how the control of GNR Criminal Investigation could be improved. For this specific research were defined three key stages. The first, an Exploratory Phase, primarily related to aspects of theoretical nature, with the purpose to present the main concepts involved in this schoolwork. A second a phase specifically dedicated to the field research, considered as the Analytical phase, where the statistical results of data analysis are presented. And a third phase, at the conclusions of this scientific research, where were also presented some suggestions or improvements that in the future could enhance the capability of the institution in this area of knowledge. The survey questionnaires were the basis for the data gathering that was later submitted to statistical analysis. The principle conclusion of this study points to the facts that are a few shortcomings in the control of the GNR Criminal Investigation activity. The results obtained show that GNR Criminal Investigation specific training is lower than desirable

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Research-Tested Mobile Produce Market Model Designed to Improve Diet in Under-Resourced Communities: Rationale and Design for the Veggie Van Study

Mobile produce markets are increasingly popular retail vendors used for providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables (F&V) in under-resourced communities; however, evaluation is limited due to design and implementation challenges. This protocol presents the original design of a randomized control trial aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the evidence-based Veggie Van (VV) mobile market model. Nine US community partner organizations were asked to partner with four community sites serving lower-income areas. Sites are randomized to either intervention or control. Intervention sites will host a mobile market for one year while the control sites will host planning events, with the goal to open a market afterward. Eligible participants are aged ≥ 18, the primary household shopper, live nearby/regularly frequent the site, and have expressed interest in learning about a mobile market. The primary outcome, F&V consumption, will be assessed via dietary recall at baseline and 12 months and compared between the intervention and control sites. This research advances work on the VV model and methods for mobile market evaluation with the addition of more robust measures and the study design. Determining the effectiveness of the VV model is imperative to justify taking it to scale to enhance the impact of mobile markets

Community Engagement in Academic Health Centers: A Model for Capturing and Advancing Our Successes

Academic health centers (AHCs) are under increased pressure to demonstrate the effectiveness of their community-engaged activities, but there are no common metrics for evaluating community engagement in AHCs. Eight AHCs piloted the Institutional Community Engagement Self-Assessment (ICESA), a two-phase project to assess community-engagement efforts. The first phase uses a framework developed by the University of Rochester Medical Center, which utilizes structure, process, and outcome criteria to map CE activities. The second phase uses the Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH) Self-Assessment to identify institutional resources for community engagement, and potential gaps, to inform community engagement goal-setting. The authors conducted a structured, directed content analysis to determine the effectiveness of using the two-phase process at the participating AHCs. The findings suggest that the ICESA project assisted AHCs in three key areas, and may provide a strategy for assessing community engagement in AHCs

Community-Based Participatory Research: Defining Community Stakeholders

Community-based participatory research requires the participation of community stakeholders to inform the process. The West Side Community Asthma Project, a community-based participatory research program to study the effects of the environment on asthma conducted in Buffalo, N. Y, identified a stakeholders group of community leaders and activists. Creative strategies have been implemented to reach out to other community residents to invite them to participate in the participatory process

Parents’ Experiences and Perceptions of Healthcare Transition in Adolescents with Asthma: A Qualitative Study

Adolescence marks a significant transition from pediatric to adult healthcare, and parents play critical roles in supporting their adolescents with chronic conditions through this process. However, little is known about parents’ experiences, perceptions, and needs during this healthcare transition. This qualitative study explores the experiences and perceptions of parents regarding the care transition of their 16–17-year-old adolescents with asthma. Nineteen mothers participated in either a focus group or individual interviews, and a content analysis was conducted on the data. Parents expressed negative emotions and various concerns about their teens’ transition readiness and asthma management. A need for early transition training for both adolescents and parents was discussed. Overall, the complexity and challenges associated with the healthcare transition of adolescents with asthma take a toll on parents, particularly when their teens are not adequately prepared to manage asthma independently. Parents need appropriate anticipatory guidance regarding the transition and skills to navigate changing roles and negotiate asthma care responsibilities with their teens. Timely interventions and support strategies for both adolescents and parents are needed to ensure the successful healthcare transition of adolescents with asthma

A Case Study of Community Involvement Influence on Policy Decisions: Victories of a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership

The Buffalo Lupus Project was a community-university partnership that investigated associations between exposure to a local waste site and high rates of lupus and other autoimmune diseases. The partnership’s major accomplishment was successful advocacy for containment and clean-up of the site. As a result of community education, the remediation plan suggested by the community was adopted. Additionally, when a local childhood lead poisoning testing program was canceled, community members signed a letter to legislators urging them to replace the funding, which was restored within one week. This demonstrated how coordinated community-based capacity-building efforts can influence health policy