Courtney Coughenour

Single Entry Communities Increase Trip Distance and May Overestimate Neighborhood Walkability

BACKGROUND Neighborhood walkability is being promoted as an important factor in public health efforts to decrease rates of physical inactivity. Single entry communities (SEC), communities with only 1 entrance/exit, may result in an over estimation of walkability. This design makes direct walking routes outside the community nearly impossible and results in increased trip distance. The purpose of this study was to determine if accounting for SECs resulted in a significant difference in street connectivity. METHODS Twenty geographically different Las Vegas neighborhoods were chosen and the number of true intersections measured in ArcGIS. Neighborhoods were then assessed for the presence of SECs using google maps, ArcGIS land imagery, and field observation. Intersections inside SECs were removed. A paired t test was used to assess the mean difference of intersection density before and after adjustment. RESULTS There was a statistically significant decrease in the number of true intersections after the adjustment (before mean = 57.8; after mean = 45.7). The eta squared statistic indicates a large effect size (0.3). CONCLUSIONS Single entry communities result in an over estimation of street connectivity. If SECs are not accounted for, trip distances will be underestimated and public health efforts to promote walking through walkable neighborhoods may prove less effective.

Effects of Peer Sexual Health Education on College Campuses: A Systematic Review

Objective. College peer health education groups have grown in popularity to provide information about health and wellness topics. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of peer education groups on reducing sexual health risks and increasing sexual health knowledge on a college campus. Method. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed in searching, extracting, appraising, and synthesizing the evidence. A quality assessment was also conducted. The review was conducted in April 2017. Results. The initial search yielded 2,503 records. After critical appraisal, eight articles remained. Peer education was beneficial for increasing knowledge of sexual health topics and creating some behavior change such as increased condom use and HIV testing. Additionally, interventions developed specifically for women were effective. Conclusions. Peer education is an effective way to disseminate sexual health information and can be a reliable resource for college students.

Health impact assessment as an instrument to examine the health implications of education policies

OBJECTIVES Health impact assessment (HIA) is a systematic process that can be used by public health professionals to examine the potential health effects of a policy, plan, program, or project that originates outside of the health sector. This article presents a case study of how an interdisciplinary team utilized an HIA to analyze the potential health impact of full-day kindergarten (FDK) on communities in Nevada. STUDY DESIGN Case study. METHODS With stakeholder and community engagement, we conducted a multistage HIA that included qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, a review of existing literature, and projections. The team considered several pathways through which FDK could impact health in Nevada: (1) school performance; (2) physical development (physical activity and nutrition education); and (3) access to school-based meals and health screenings. RESULTS Findings indicated that access to FDK could enhance opportunities for Nevadas children to harness school-based services, increase physical activity, and promote nutrition education. In addition, based on existing research that suggests relationships between (1) FDK attendance and 3rd and 5th grade math and reading standardized test scores and (2) 3rd and 5th grade test scores and high school graduation, as well as available state and national data, we estimated that access to FDK could increase high school graduation in Nevada by 499-820 students per year. CONCLUSIONS This HIA demonstrated that access to FDK could impact both student and adult health in Nevada. Our engagement of public health professionals along with stakeholders and the community in the HIA process demonstrated that HIAs can be an important tool for public health professionals to examine the effects on community health of policies, programs, plans or projects that arise outside of the health sector.