Janie Canty-Mitchell

Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Urban Adolescents

The psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were investigated in 222 urban, largely African-American adolescents (68%). High internal consistency was demonstrated, and factor analysis confirmed the three subscale structures of the MSPSS: family, friends, and significant other. Correlations with a family caring scale supported the discriminant validity of the Family subscale. These results confirm the reliability, validity, and utility of the MSPSS with an urban, largely African-American adolescent sample. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Enhancing survey data collection among youth and adults: Use of handheld and laptop computers

Tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, early sexual behavior, dietary practices, physical inactivity, and activities that contribute to unintentional and intentional injuries are a significant threat to the health of young people. These behaviors have immediate and long-term consequences and contribute to diminished health, educational, and social outcomes. Research suggests that health risk behaviors exhibited during adolescence and adulthood have their origins earlier in childhood and preventive interventions are less successful after the risk behaviors have begun. Therefore, efforts to prevent health risk behaviors are best initiated in late childhood or early adolescence. However, to document the efficacy of these efforts, reliable, valid, and parent/child-friendly systems of data collection are required. Computerized data collection for research has been found to improve privacy, confidentiality, and portability over the paper-and-pencil method, which, in turn, enhances the reliability of sensitive data such as alcohol use or sexual activity. We developed programming tools for the personal computer and a handheld personal data assistant to offer a comprehensive set of user interface design elements, relational databases, and ample programming languages so that adults could answer 261 items and youth 346 items. The purpose of the article was to describe an innovative handheld computer-assisted survey interview method of collecting sensitive data with children aged 9 to 11. The method was developed as part of a large multisite, national study to prevent substance use.

Childhood obesity: Can electronic medical records customized with clinical practice guidelines improve screening and diagnosis?

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine if customization of the electronic medical record (EMR) using evidence‐based practice guidelines developed by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the Expert Panel recommendations for the prevention, screening, and treatment of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity would improve the rate of screening and diagnosis of obesity in children, 7 to 18 years of age. Data resources: A retrospective review of encounters before and after implementation of customized EMR was conducted in a community health center. Data collected were compared for documentation of body mass index (BMI), completion of growth charts, scoring of risk questionnaire, and diagnosis of overweight or obesity. Conclusions: There was a clear increase in the frequency of recording BMI, completing BMI growth charts, and scoring questionnaires between written and electronic medical records. The number of children diagnosed with overweight or obesity increased with customized EMR but still remains well below the rates of obesity for this community. Implications for practice: Customizing EMR with clinical practice guidelines improved adherence to recommendations for screening and identification of childhood overweight and obesity. Increased recognition and diagnosis will lead to improved interventions and improve outcomes for childhood obesity.

Peer review of teaching in Web-based courses in nursing.

With the explosion of college-level Web-based courses, concern has arisen about the quality of online courses. Peer review of online courses is one method of ensuring that these courses meet the highest standards. Although numerous colleges and universities use peer review for classroom presentations, clinical experiences, and course materials, peer review of an online course may require a different type of expertise. This article describes the process for conducting a peer review of teaching in Web-based courses and explains how documentation of peer review of an online course can be used for faculty development, promotion and tenure decisions, curriculum decisions, and program review.

Strengthening families program (10-14): effects on the family environment.

This study examined whether parent–youth dyads participating in the Strengthening Families Program 10-14 (SFP 10-14) would demonstrate greater postprogram family cohesion, communication, involvement, and supervision and if youth would report less alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs involvement in contrast to a comparison group. From 16 randomly selected schools, we recruited 167 parent–youth dyads: 86 from intervention and 81 from comparison schools. The intention-to-treat analysis found one significant change in family environment. Considering dose, it was found that among dyads receiving a full dose, all the outcomes were in the expected direction and effect sizes were moderate. Among dyads receiving a partial dose, 10 of 18 outcomes were in the direction opposite that expected. Youth participation in alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs was very low and did not differ postprogram. Although the expected outcomes were not realized, findings descriptive of dosage effects make a valuable contribution to the field. Study of factors that distinguish intervention completers from noncompleters is recommended.

college women's preferred HIV prevention message mediums: mass media versus interpersonal relationships.

&NA; One quarter of HIV cases occur in women ages 15–44 years. We investigated preferential HIV prevention message mediums among college women (18–21 years of age) and their association with parent and partner communication. A nonexperimental cross‐sectional survey assessed factors associated with parent and partner communication among 626 single female students who were sexually active in the previous 6 months and attending a 4‐year public university in Florida. Women who perceived themselves to be at elevated risk of acquiring HIV were more likely to communicate with their parents (p < .05), but not their partners. In multivariable analysis, students were more likely to communicate about sexual risk behavior with their parents when mothers were younger and when less influenced by their peers. Reading items on the Internet about intravenous drug use and HIV were independently associated with higher parent and partner communication, respectively. Findings can guide future HIV prevention communication interventions.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Publicly Insured Children With Special Health Care Needs

Our objective was to examine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in publicly insured children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Data were obtained from 183 caregivers of CSHCN (M = 10 years; 54% African American) in urban health clinics. CSHCN had poorer physical and psychosocial HRQOL than children in a normative sample. In regression analysis, children who had more health problems and more health visits in the previous 12 months had poorer physical HRQOL. Poorer psychosocial HRQOL was associated with more health problems and urban life stressors. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

The Caring Needs of African American Male Juvenile Offenders

This naturalistic field study, using ethnonursing methods, was conducted to describe the social and cultural care needs of African American juvenile offenders. This focus is important to consider when planning transcultural nursing care to this group. Data were collected using Leiningers Observation-Participation-Reflection Enabler, and general and key informant interviews with five juveniles (12 to 15 years old) living in a southeastern inner city in the United States. The data analysis revealed a general theme of survival in the face of loss. Losses were conceptualized as the departure or absence of something or someone of value in the juveniles life. Losses were categorized into the domains of family losses, social losses, and self-identity losses. Four categories of losses unique to each domain were a loss of caring, a loss of protection, a loss of discipline, and a loss of support. The threat to survival was the dominant theme of each type of loss. Implications for transcultural nursing care were formulated based on Leiningers three modes of culture care: cultural care preservation, cultural care accommodation, and cultural care repatterning. These care modes guided culturally congruent nursing actions with African American male juvenile offenders who have experienced losses which were a threat to their health, well being, or survival.

Recommended Policy for the Utilization of Indiana Tobacco Settlement Funds

The award of tobacco settlement funds to the state of Indiana provides an opportunity for legislators and other stakeholders to formulate health policies that will prevent tobacco-related diseases and promote primary health care to Indiana’s adults and children. Nurses can be active participants in helping to develop, implement, and evaluate effective health policies surrounding tobacco settlement funds. The authors identify social, economic, ethical, and political aspects of the tobacco settlement funds and recommend several policy alternatives that are possible when considering the use of the funds for health-related programs. Each policy alternative is evaluated based on cost, political, and other criteria. The ultimate goals of any policy should be to prevent further use of tobacco-related products, implement smoking-cessation programs to reduce risks for future health problems, and provide primary health care to people who have chronic debilitating conditions related to tobacco use.