Rebecca A. Brey

Faculty-Graduate Student Mentoring: Implications for Health Education

Abstract This article provides an overview of mentoring literature. It defines “mentor” and “mentoring,” discusses phases of the mentoring relationship, and covers the drawbacks and benefits of mentoring relationships for both the mentor and the protege. Based on mentoring research, several suggestions for mentoring graduate students are provided for health education faculty.

The Psychometric Properties of PHQ-4 Depression and Anxiety Screening Scale Among College Students

Depression and anxiety are some of the most common causes of morbidity, social dysfunction, and reduced academic performance in college students. The combination of improved surveillance and access to care would result in better outreach. Brief screening tools can help reach larger populations of college students efficiently. However, reliability and validity of brief screeners for anxiety and depression have not been assessed in college students. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess in a sample of college students the psychometric properties of PHQ-4, a brief screening tool for depression and anxiety. Undergraduate students were recruited from general education classes at a Midwestern university. Students were given a questionnaire that asked them whether they had been diagnosed by a doctor or health professional with anxiety or depression. Next, they were asked to respond to the items on the PHQ-4 scale. A total of 934 students responded to the survey (response rate=72%). Majority of the participants were females (63%) and Whites (80%). The internal reliability of PHQ-4 was found to be high (α=0.81). Those who were diagnosed with depression or anxiety had statistically significantly higher scores on PHQ-4 (p<0.01). Corrected item total correlations for PHQ-4 were between r=0.66 and r=0.80. PHQ-4 operating characteristics were estimated and area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.835 and 0.787, respectively for anxiety and depression. The PHQ-4 is a reliable and valid tool that can serve as a mass screener for depression and anxiety in young adults. Widespread implementation of this screening tool should be explored across college campuses.

The Delivery of Sexuality-related Patient Education to Adolescent Patients: A Preliminary Study of Family Practice Resident Physicians

Background: Risky sexual behavior among adolescents is one of the leading health behaviors most associated with mortality, morbidity, and social problems. Adolescents need reliable sources of information to help them promote healthy sexual behaviors. Physicians in the United States are often seen by adolescents as a reliable and trustworthy source of accurate sexual information. However, many physicians feel uncomfortable or ill-prepared to deal with sexuality issues among their adolescent patients. Purpose: This study examined the impact of family resident physicians’ sexual attitudes, knowledge, and comfort, on the delivery of sexuality-related patient education to their adolescent patients. Materials and Methods: Pre-post-test scales were administered to 21 physicians. Data were also collected for patient (n=644) charts. Factors that determined the delivery of sexuality-related patient education were analyzed. Results: Results indicate that sexuality-related patient education was rarely provided to adolescent patients. Conclusions: Adolescent sexuality education is not a high priority for physicians. Professional medical organizations should play a leadership role in training physicians on delivering sexuality education to adolescent patients.

Participatory Cohort Group Health Fairs: A New Approach to an Old Standby.

Abstract Health fairs, a component of health education programming for many years, generally offer an unstructured opportunity for participants to gather health information. This manuscript describes an alternative approach to a “traditional” health fair, which involves working with previously assessed and specifically targeted groups of people who move as a cohort cluster through a series of focused health fair booths receiving both in-depth information and skill-oriented opportunities.

The Mayor's Advisory Committee for Health Education: A Unique Partnership among City Government, Community Health Agencies, and Cable Television

Abstract The Mayors Advisory Committee for Health Education (MACHE) in Muncie, Indiana, uses the common denominator of television to provide health education programming to the residents of Delaware County via videotaped programs that air 5 days a week on the local public access cable television channel. This article provides a rationale for and description of MACHE, outlines the history of MACHE, describes challenges faced by the committee, and outlines marketing and promotional efforts.