Exploring Medical Marijuana Knowledge and Perceptions among a Community-Based Sample

Exploring Medical Marijuana Knowledge and Perceptions among a Community-Based Sample Abstract Background: The increasing number of states legalizing marijuana suggests that a growing majority of adults now see marijuana as offering more benefits than risks. As use increases, the need to better understand user characteristics and the nature of their beliefs also increases. Purpose: This exploratory study investigates the knowledge and perceptions of medical marijuana among community-based individuals. We theorize that demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, social network, health status, and knowledge about marijuana are associated with the number of conditions the person believes marijuana treats. Methods: The study utilizes a convenience sample, a non-probability technique of individuals attending a local festival (n = 141). The dependent variable for this study is a count of the number of conditions participants believe medical marijuana may be used to treat. The study includes three measures of demographics and two measures of SES. The remaining measures, social network, health status, and marijuana knowledge were operationalized using proxy measures. The data were analyzed using OLS regression. Results: Most respondents (81%) were Black/African American, 77% were females, 38% were 41 years or older, 53% had a salary greater than $30,000, and 87% had private insurance. The regression shows that having private insurance and higher perceived health status are negatively associated with the dependent variable. Having more comorbidities, better perceived mental health, knowing that marijuana may be obtained from a dispensary, and agreeing with its use have a positive association with the dependent variable. Discussion: Knowledge and beliefs about medical marijuana vary by user demographic. While some of the beliefs are accurate, some individuals are more willing to believe in the efficacy of medical marijuana solely based on anecdotal reports. Consumers of lower SES could benefit from targeted educational messages and access to medical-grade cannabis

Exploring the Association of Physician Characteristics to Patient Requests for Genetic Testing

Background: Cancer genomic testing improves health outcomes for individuals at risk, drives cost-efficiency, and facilitates healthcare equity; however, little is known about how physician demographic and practice characteristics influence patient requests for genetic testing. Purpose: To explore whether (and to what extent) physician demographic and practice characteristics are associated with patient requests for cancer genetic testing. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design survey was distributed to 1240 primary care physicians registered with the state health department who had active licenses and main practices in Florida. Primary care physicians were defined as those who practice family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics, and gynecology. The survey tool was developed from a search of the literature and two previously validated surveys. It was administered using a modified Dillmanstrategy. The study sample size was 317 physicians, with an 85% response rate based upon a targeted sample of 372. Statistical calculations were performed using SPSS version 27 and STATA release 17.Results: Logistic regression model found significant associations between patient requests and physicians\u27 race and professional practice size. Physicians identified as White were 1.840 times as likely to have patient requests for genetic testing (p=.036) than physicians whose race was other than White. Physicians whose professional practices were solo or small groups were 2.39 times as likely to have patient requests (p=.001) than physicians affiliated with larger practices. Discussion: Patient requests may be leveraged by physicians, other healthcare providers, and public health professionals; patient requests present a significant opportunity for increasing genetic testing and thus promoting better health outcomes for patients with Lynch syndrome-related colorectal cancer

The effect of staffing variables on nursing home resident outcomes

The relationship between nursing home staffing variables and resident outcomes was investigated using a secondary data analysis. Data from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) was linked with variables obtained from Nursing Home Compare in 2005. Minimum Data Set (MDS) quality indicators of facility-level depression and pain were used as outcome variables. This is a departure from previous studies which used primarily physiological outcome variables. Using a series of regression analyses, NNHS variables related to individual-level job factors, staff benefits, and staff richness were used to predict facility-level pain and depression. It was hypothesized that all three of these constructs would predict better resident outcomes in the form of reduced depression and pain. Staff stability and richness were also investigated as potential mediators. The overall model was not supported, although several interesting relationships were found. As nursing home leadership experience increased, so did facility-level depression scores. The number of volunteers and volunteer hours had a similar relationship to depression. Greater wages, full-time staff turnover, and volunteer duties were associated with decreased depression rates. Staff HPPD, hourly wages, and several control variables were associated with decreased rates of pain. Implications for future studies are discussed, including the need for firsthand data collection and the reduction of measurement bias. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

Risk perceptions and venture creation decisions: establishing the boundary conditions of overconfidence and perceived environmental munificence

This dissertation leverages cognition theory to examine the relationship between risk perceptions and venture creation decisions and seeks to establish overconfidence and perceived environmental munificence as boundary conditions for that relationship. Risk perceptions of the new venture are negatively associated with venture creation decisions. As the threat of possible loss and uncertainty associated with the new venture increase, the likelihood for gains associated with deciding to create the new venture decrease. Overconfidence and perceived environmental munificence are expected to moderate the relationship between risk perceptions of the new venture and venture creation decisions. Overconfidence is a cognitive bias that mitigates the relationship between risk perceptions of the new venture and venture creation decisions because the overconfident, while aware of risks, tend to be less sensitive to the possibilities of loss affecting their new ventures based upon skewed perceptions. Additionally, greater amounts of perceived environmental munificence are expected to weaken the negative relationship between risk perceptions of the new venture and venture creation decisions. The effects of risks on the new venture decision are perceived as less likely in resource-rich environments. The relationship between perceived risks and venture creation decisions is, thus, likely to be influenced by the boundary conditions of overconfidence and perceived environmental munificence. The results provide support for the hypothesized relationship between risk perceptions and venture creation decisions. It also provides evidence that perceived environmental munificence moderates the relationship between risk perceptions and venture creation decisions. However, it does not provide support for the hypothesized boundary condition of overconfidence. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries

An exploration of workforce diversity management principles & practices in nursing homes

There is a lack of research related to workforce diversity (WD) specifically in nursing homes. However, there is a need to understand how WD manifests in nursing homes because nursing homes have several distinct characteristics that are unlike other organizations. The study sought to explore WD among nursing homes. The study aims were to 1) examine how nursing home leaders understand and characterize WD; 2) identify specific diversity management practices currently being implemented in nursing homes; 3) examine how internal factors (i.e. profit status, chain affiliation, Medicaid census, culture change adoption, and workforce racial composition) influence WD management practices; and 4) demonstrate how external factors such as geographic location and community racial composition influence WD management practices. Survey methodology was used to survey 1,111 nursing homes across the Deep South (AL, GA, MS, TN). The 39-item survey included items on participant demographics, racial composition of the staff and residents, knowledge of and attitudes toward WD, culture change adoption, and diversity management practices. The final sample included data for 166 individuals. The sample was predominately Caucasian (90.1%) and 58% female with a mean age of 51 years. The results revealed that managers had positive to neutral attitudes toward diversity and tended to narrowly define diversity using terms more commonly associated with Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) programs, such as race, age gender, and national origin. Recruitment, customer service, and communication/interpersonal skills were most frequently reported as activities associated with diversity. Human resources personnel, administrators, and corporate officers were most likely to initiate diversity management programs. One in five leaders reported having diversity policies that addressed the concept of diversity beyond EEO/AA requirements. The influence of internal and external factors on diversity management perceptions and practices was examined with regression analyses. Among the internal factors, chain affiliation and increasing levels of culture change adoption were found to be significant predictors of diversity management principles and practices. The external organizational factors did not significantly predict diversity management. The current study has implications for long-term care management practice and policy development, as well as diversity management interventions. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries