A Comparison of Hospital Utilization in Urban and Rural Areas of South Carolina

Background: Previous studies have described health care utilization based on insurance status and ethnicity. Few investigations, however, have looked at rural populations in relation to distance in securing health care. Methods: The 2008 to 2009 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Database (SID) for South Carolina was used to assess the relationship of living in rural versus urban communities and the demographic variables related to insurance coverage. By use of bivariate and multivariate analyses, patient socio-demographic characteristics were explored for working-aged groups in relation to their income and for payer status (Medicaid or uninsured) relative to those privately insured. Results: Of hospitalizations, 68.89% were for those living in urban areas, 20.52% in large rural areas, 6.57% small rural areas, and 4.02% in isolated rural areas. Blacks lived predominantly in small rural (53.65%) and isolated rural communities (51.55%). As income decreased, the percentage of hospital admissions increased, from 5.83% for those earning $66,000 to 43.29$1 and $39,999. Conclusions: Hospital admissions may not be entirely dependent on race, income or insurance, but could also be influenced by geographic access. Further, having private insurance, higher incomes, and living in urban areas are positive predictors for better health outcomes

E-Cigarette Use Among Undergraduate Liberal Arts and Health Sciences Students: A Study Protocol

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery operated devices that deliver nicotine as an inhaled vapor. Use of e-cigarettes has gained in popularity since 2007, and their use is often promoted as a safer alternative to tobacco smoking. A concern among public health experts is whether e-cigarettes can be used as an alternative method for tobacco cessation or whether they lead to nicotine dependence and use of other tobacco products. Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of use of e-cigarettes among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, but varying results on the association between their use and perceptions of harm. For the present survey, this age group was selected because, in this group, addiction to tobacco and the likelihood for adverse effects would be lower. Thus, for this group, the chances of not starting or consideration for quitting would be higher. The purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about using tobacco products, smoking, and e-cigarettes among undergraduate students on liberal arts and health sciences campuses of a university. Methods: Participants will be invited via email and directed to a secure website where the survey can be completed anonymously. To assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs, the survey will include validated questions based on recommendations by the World Health Organization ((2000) appendix A)). Anticipated Results: We anticipate that the results will show an improvement in the behavioral aspect among undergraduates at the liberal arts and health sciences campuses. We also expect that results will show an improvement in knowledge among liberal arts students but less improvement in knowledge for health sciences students. Finally, we predict an overall improvement in attitudes about tobacco use and e-cigarette use

The 2014 BFA Graduating Class Department of Visual Arts

Congratulations on the opening of this, your graduate exhibition. Your presence in this catalogue not only celebrates your achievements while you’ve been with us, but also serves to signal your transition to the next chapter of your life and career. Whatever your goals, whatever your desire in life, it is my hope that your studies with the visual arts program serve you well, that you continue to explore, search, question, and, it is also my hope that you keep making art. The Division of Fine Arts is extremely proud of all its graduates and this catalogue, and your presence in it, will serve as a reminder over the years that you were here, and that you made a contribution and a difference to the visual arts program. All the very best and please keep in touch

A Comparison of Hospital Utilization in Urban and Rural Areas of South Carolina

Background: Previous studies have described health care utilization based on insurance status and ethnicity. Few investigations, however, have looked at rural populations in relation to distance in securing health care. Methods: The 2008 to 2009 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Database (SID) for South Carolina was used to assess the relationship of living in rural versus urban communities and the demographic variables related to insurance coverage. By use of bivariate and multivariate analyses, patient socio-demographic characteristics were explored for working-aged groups in relation to their income and for payer status (Medicaid or uninsured) relative to those privately insured. Results: Of hospitalizations, 68.89% were for those living in urban areas, 20.52% in large rural areas, 6.57% small rural areas, and 4.02% in isolated rural areas. Blacks lived predominantly in small rural (53.65%) and isolated rural communities (51.55%). As income decreased, the percentage of hospital admissions increased, from 5.83% for those earning $66,000 to 43.29$1 and $39,999. Conclusions: Hospital admissions may not be entirely dependent on race, income or insurance, but could also be influenced by geographic access. Further, having private insurance, higher incomes, and living in urban areas are positive predictors for better health outcomes

Congestive heart failure hospital admissions among non-elderly Medicaid and uninsured working-age adult patients in South Carolina, 2008

Background: Despite significant advances in the quality of care in some areas, hospital admissions for heart failure (HF) continue to rise. Data for this study examined hospital discharge data for South Carolina, 2008. Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to examine the likelihood of admission with a diagnosis of HF versus other diagnoses is higher for African Americans than white individuals. Also to determine the likelihood of admission with a diagnosis of HF versus other diagnoses is higher among 20 to 64 year olds who are uninsured or are Medicaid recipients than those that have private insurance. Methods: Patient sociodemographic characteristics in relation to their income status, geographical location, payer status (Medicaid or uninsured) and age groups to privately insured patients of similar characteristics were compared using bivariate statistical analysis. Patients with HF between the ages of 20-64 were used as the study population. Logistic modeling was used to determine the differences with respect to insurance type, racial distribution, physician type and geographical location. Results: Among the demographic characteristics in persons among 20-64, the likelihood of admission with a diagnosis of heart failure versus other diagnoses was found to be higher for African Americans than white individuals with the exception of geographical location. Those individuals that were discharged with the diagnosis of HF were less likely to have a cardiologist as a discharge physician than those who had a higher median income. Additionally, males were more likely to have higher HF admissions than non-HF admissions for the age group of 45-64 and also higher admissions for HF than females. Those patients with private insurance (53.2%) were found to be more likely to be discharged by a cardiologist than those that were Medicaid (20.0%), uninsured (8.5%)or for those that receive Medicare (18.2%). Conclusion: Many barriers to care can lead to increased hospitalization for HF. The need for transitional care and better utilization of resources to manage chronic diseases at its earlier stage can prove valuable for both patient and state level resources

Multimorbidity patterns and associations with functional limitations among an aging population in prison

© 2018 Objectives: Co-occurring chronic diseases are associated with functional limitations, particularly for the aging population ≥50 years old. Aging offenders (individual who are imprisoned) tend to have greater prevalence of chronic, mental health, and substance use disorders compared to non-imprisoned populations. Our primary aim was to determine patterns of co-occurring conditions associated with functional limitations among aging offenders. Materials and methods: We included all male offenders from one correctional system who were ≥50 years old (n = 2270) and extracted diagnoses for chronic diseases, mental health, substance use disorders, and functional limitations from an electronic health record. We performed a principal factor analysis (PFA) to identify patterns and chi-square to determine if the multimorbid population (≥3 diagnoses) differed from peer groups in regard to functional limitations. Results: Three patterns (chronic diseases, geriatric conditions, and mental health/substance use) emerged from PFA. Functional limitations were associated with the chronic disease pattern (p =.03) where the multimorbid group compared to non-multimorbid peers had 1.5 odds, 95% CI [1.0, 2.1], for having a physical impairment. The geriatric (p =.10) and mental health/substance use disorders (p =.07) patterns were not associated with having a functional limitation compared to the population without multiple diagnoses. Controlling for multimorbidity, functional limitations, and overlapping patterns, increasing age was the only significant factor (p =.02) associated with having a physical impairment. Conclusion: The chronic disease pattern was consistent with investigations that included non-imprisoned populations. However, the geriatric pattern was not significant, which was unexpected

Recent trends in racial and regional disparities in cervical cancer incidence and mortality in United States - Fig 2

<p><b>Trends of age-specific cervical cancer (A) incidence and (B) mortality disparity ratios by region between 2000 and 2012 for US14-NHW, US14-NHB, South-NHW, and South-NHB.</b> Abbreviations: NHW–non-Hispanic white, NHB–non-Hispanic black, US14 –SEER18 registries excluding the 4 southern registries.</p

Age-specific cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in the South by race (2008–2012).

<p>Bar graphs represent incidences rates (gray for NHW and navy for NHB) and line graphs represent mortality rates (gray for NHW and navy for NHB).Abbreviations: NHW–non-Hispanic white, NHB–non-Hispanic black.</p

Age-specific cervical cancer incidence rates of black women pre- and post- US hysterectomy prevalence rate correction (2008–2012).

<p>Abbreviations: NHB–non-Hispanic black.</p