Veronica G. Parker

Importance of Fatalism in Understanding Mammography Screening in Rural Elderly Women

ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between demographic factors and other correlates of fatalism, and assessed the impact of fatalistic beliefs on the participation in breast cancer screening in rural women. The subjects were 220 women aged 50 and over recruited from 6 large rural counties in South Carolina. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the revised Powe Fatalism Inventory. Results show significant associations between fatalism and increased age (p = 0.005), race (p = 0.0001), doctor recommendation (p =.0034) and decreased educational level (p = 0.001). Fatalism was associated with noncompliance with mammography screening in univariate analysis among African-American women (OR =.362; 95% CI: 1.11, 11.8). After adjusting for possible confounders (age, education, and doctor recommendation), fatalism was not significantly associated with non-compliance with screening. These results illustrate age, race, and education may be important predictors of fatalism and that fatalism may be one barrier that has previously gone unmeasured and unchallenged in understanding screening behavior in older women.

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Motivations Related to HPV Vaccination Among College Women

Little research exists on the factors that affect the uptake patterns of the recently developed Gardasil® vaccine among young women. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of 18–24-year-old female students (n = 1,975) were assessed via an electronic survey. Mean HPV knowledge score, on a 10-point scale, was 6.8. A weak positive correlation (r (1,976) = 0.123, p < 0.001) was found between knowledge score and having received the vaccine. Parent recommendation, doctor recommendation, and perceiving the consequences of HPV as severe and prevalent were strongly related to previous vaccination. Data suggest a need for increased education about the vaccine and the importance of physician recommendation in increasing vaccine uptake.

The LIFE project: a community-based weight loss intervention program for rural African American women.

Obesity continues to be a significant health problem for African American women. While a number of obesity interventions target urban African American women, few target rural ones. The LIFE Project is a 10-week intervention designed to reduce obesity in this rural population. Two different interventions (spiritually based and nonspiritually based) were pilot tested, each utilizing a pretest, posttest design. Results demonstrated that both interventions led to significant reductions in weight, but the spiritually based intervention led to additional improvements. The LIFE Project also demonstrated that churches are appropriate settings to deliver health interventions to these women.

The Effect of Amniotic Fluid Index on the Accuracy of Sonographic Estimated Fetal Weight

The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the amniotic fluid index (AFI) and the accuracy of the sonographic estimated fetal weight (EFW) as substantiated by the actual birth weight. This is a retrospective study where data of the sonographic estimated fetal weight and the birth weight at delivery were collected to calculate range of error when the amniotic fluid index was indicative of polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios, with normal amniotic fluid volumes as a control group. Results revealed significant, fairly strong to strong correlations between the variables within each group. Further analysis compared the mean scores of the three groups. Although differences in the mean values exist, large overlaps existed. This questions the usefulness of the correlation of the EFW and AFI in clinical use.

Promoting success for at-risk African-American youth: perceived barriers and resources in using community-based success criteria.

&NA; A Delphi technique was used to assess service provider and community consensus on program elements essential for promoting the success of at‐risk African American youth. The respondent group consisted of 54 subjects representing three broad groups: service agencies, community leaders and members, and school system participants. The study identified barriers to the use of community‐derived success constructs, opportunities for collaboration between community members and service agencies in the development of programs, and the feasibility of incorporating success constructs into program development and delivery. Although consensus was achieved on key issues, individual variations between counties point to the necessity of targeting intervention programs to the unique problems and expectations found in each community.

Effects of viewing a preferred nature image and hearing preferred music on engagement, agitation, and mental status in persons with dementia:

Background: The purpose of the described exploratory study was to test proactive strategies for enhancing engagement and cognitive ability while diminishing dementia-related disordered behaviors of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Study participants resided in an Memory Care unit of an assisted living community. Method: The researchers measured the effects of exposure to music and nature images on engagement using the Individualized Dementia Engagement and Activities Scale tool, on cognitive ability using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and on agitation using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. Result: The within-subject study design revealed that use of both music and nature images hold promise for reducing undesirable behaviors and improving engagement of residents. Conclusion: The authors suggest caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can effectively use nature images and music to improve engagement and reduce disordered behaviors, thus potentially enhancing quality of life for the care recipient as well as the caregiver while possibly reducing the costs of medications used to control dementia-related undesirable behaviors.

An Interinstitutional Academic Collaborative Partnership to End Health Disparities

Much has been published in the health care literature describing partnerships between academic institutions and community or health care agencies that are designed to improve health outcomes in medically underserved populations. However, little has been published regarding partnerships between minority- and majority-serving academic institutions with this same aim. Key principles of collaborative partnerships are used in a descriptive analysis of the development, functions, and benefits of such an interinstitutional academic partnership that was formed to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities in rural South Carolina. Lessons learned from the partnership parallel other human relationships where mutual respect and trust, open and clear communication, and shared decision and problem solving are important for building and sustaining partnerships.

Cutting Corners Provider Perceptions of Interpretation Services and Factors Related to Use of an Ad Hoc Interpreter

Introduction: This study assessed health providers’ perceptions of factors related to professional interpretation services and the association between these factors and the potential use of ad hoc interpreters. Method: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 150 health services providers at a large, regional health system in South Carolina. Results: Providers rated “ability to communicate effectively during a clinical encounter” as paramount regarding the use of interpretation services. The most important factors related to the likely use of ad hoc interpreters (cutting corners) included locating a qualified interpreter, having to wait for a qualified interpreter, and technical difficulties regarding phone and video technology. Conclusion: Health care organizations may benefit from increasing staff awareness about patient safety and legal and regulatory risks involved with the use of ad hoc interpreters.

Content, Placement, and Acquisition of Cancer Education for Latino Patient Care: A Qualitative Study of Medical and Nursing Students

A focus group study was conducted with five medical and nursing education programs in Southeastern USA. Twenty-five third and fourth year students were queried about their experiences, beliefs, and attitudes regarding Latino patients and cancer care. A general inductive process using open coding and content comparison to identify emerging themes was used to analyze the qualitative data. Investigators used a process of constant comparison to identify emerging themes. Themes included: (1) importance of cultural specificity and relevance in cancer training, (2) timing and placement of cancer education in the curriculum, including classes and/or clinical rotations, (3) anatomical system specificity of cancer training-studying cancer in the context of a specific body system, and (4) the prevention-focused nature of cancer training. Results of the focus groups have been used to inform a web-based survey of medical and nursing students to identify gaps in cancer education specific to Latino populations.