William D. Kernan

Searching for and making meaning after breast cancer: Prevalence, patterns, and negative affect ☆

This study describes the prevalence and patterns of searching for meaning in the aftermath of breast cancer and asks how the search relates to made meaning and emotional adjustment. Women (n=72) reported their level of searching for meaning, made meaning and negative affect at multiple time points in the first 18 months after breast cancer treatment. Over time, four search for meaning patterns emerged: continuous (44%), exiguous (28%), delayed (15%) and resolved (13%). Just over half of the participants reported having made meaning at early and late time points. A higher level of searching for meaning was unrelated to made meaning, but was associated with a higher level of negative affect in longitudinal analyses controlling for baseline levels. Women who engaged in an ongoing, unresolved search for meaning from baseline to follow-up also had a significantly higher level of negative affect at follow-up than women who infrequently or never engaged in a search for meaning over time. These analyses reveal that: a) there is great variability in the prevalence and pattern of searching for meaning in the aftermath of breast cancer, and b) searching for meaning may be both futile and distressing.

Linking Learning and Health: A Pilot Study of Medical Students' Perceptions of the Academic Impact of Various Health Issues.

ObjectiveTo assess medical students’ experience with a wide variety of health concerns and their perceptions of the impact of these health concerns on their academic performance.MethodsThe National College Health Assessment (NCHA) was administered to all students enrolled at a single medical school during the spring term of 2005.ResultsStudents reported the greatest perceived negative academic impact related to experiencing interpersonal concerns (concerns about troubled friends or family members, death of a friend or family member, and relationship difficulty) and mental health concerns (depression/anxiety/seasonal affective disorder and stress). A total of 315 students participated (48% response rate).ConclusionMedical students perceive their experiences with social and psychological concerns as negatively influential to their academic well-being. Strategies that assist students in coping with these issues support the learning mission of the academic medical center.

Nursing students' perceptions of the academic impact of various health issues.

Nursing education is a challenging experience for many students, particularly those facing physical illness or emotional upset. Although we know that stress affects student learning, the impact of other health concerns is less well known. On the basis of their study, the authors discuss the most frequent and threatening health concerns reported by students, including sleep difficulties, interpersonal concerns (concerns about troubled friends or family members, and relationship difficulty), and mental health concerns (depression/anxiety/seasonal affective disorder and stress), and the implications for faculty and the provision of comprehensive student support services follows.

Presence of Candy and Snack Food at Checkout in Chain Stores: Results of a Pilot Study

Community health professionals must use multiple strategies to address the rising rates of childhood obesity in the United States. One such strategy is to address the underlying causes of childhood obesity, including lack of exercise and the consumption of calorically-dense snack foods. This study examines the presence of candy and snack food in the checkout lines of all retail chain stores in a selected community to determine the presence of these products, the ways in which these products are promoted, and the type of physical environment through which customers navigate during the checkout process. The findings confirm that candy, soft drinks, snacks, and ice cream were present in a large majority of these retail stores. Further, this pilot study found that many of these stores “corral” customers through the check-out line in such a way that it is necessary to pass these snack foods directly. Three themes for discussion emerged from the review of the data collected, including product marketing, product packaging, and product placement. Implications for childhood health are presented in the context of these marketing strategies. The results and subsequent discussion provide important insight into the ways in which the presence of candy and snack food at checkout lines might contribute to childhood obesity rates.

When the Levees Broke: A Teaching Tool to Initiate Discussions in Undergraduate Teaching of Health Disparities

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how the documentary film When the Levees Broke can be used to initiate discussions about health disparities in an undergraduate health education course. In the fall semester of 2014, the documentary When the Levees Broke and the companion curriculum Teaching the Levees were used to initiate discussion of health disparities in a health education methods course. Specific units from the Teaching the Levees curriculum were selected for relevance to the training of entry-level health education specialists and the potential for generating meaningful class discussion. Questions from the following units within the Teaching the Levees curriculum were selected due to their relevance to the study of health disparities: Citizenship, Economics, Geography. Two additional novel sets of questions were added that related to Community and the Synergistic Effects of Poverty. Over a 3-week period, students watched the film, completed questions in a written format, and engaged in lengthy discussion during the class period about the lessons learned relative to health education practice. Quotes were compiled and selected to illustrate the discussions that took place. Implications for the training of entry-level health education specialists in recognizing and addressing health disparities are discussed.

Family fun or cultural free-for-all? A critique of the 2015 National Football League Super Bowl commercials

Background: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to enumerate and describe violent and risky behaviors as well as other general health behaviors exhibited in the advertisements during the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl 2015. Methods: Commercials during the NFL Super Bowl 2015 were assessed for violent and risky behaviors. Additional health behaviors were indicated such as the advertisement of unhealthy food, promotion of physical activity, and sexual content. Results: A total of 110 commercials were documented, accounting for 64 minutes of broadcast time. Commercials promoting automobiles, television shows, food, and movies were the most prevalent, representing just over half (53.7%) of all of the advertisements featured. Depictions of unsafe driving were found in 10.9% (n = 12) of the commercials. All 12 commercials contained some sort of risky or wild driving behavior, and speeding was observed in 11 of the 12 commercials. A total of 32 (29.1%) of the commercials were coded as including violent content.Physical activity behavior was present in 3 (2.7%) of the commercials. Conversely, substance use was observed in 3 (2.7%) of the commercials, none of which included health promotion messaging. Of the 110 commercials aired during the 2015 Super Bowl, 12.7% (n = 14) included sexual content. Conclusion: Parents should consider the possibility that their children may observe acts of violence or conflicting safety messages during commercial breaks.

Using Mind Mapping to Identify Research Topics: A Lesson for Teaching Research Methods:

Mind mapping is a brainstorming technique that allows users to deconstruct complex topics by creating a graphical representation of constituent subtopics and related themes. The aim of this article is to illustrate how the mind mapping technique was used to assist undergraduate health education students in developing topic ideas for a descriptive research study. Each fall semester since 2008, a mind mapping activity was used in an introductory undergraduate health research methods course to provide health education students with a structured activity aimed at the identification of a researchable health topic and the selection of a specific aspect of that topic that warrants further study. After the construction of the mind map, students developed structured research questions and a list of key search terms that served as the foundation for a review of the literature and the development of a questionnaire for a descriptive research study. To illustrate this instructional strategy, three example mind maps are provided with detailed commentary. Discussion includes suggestions on how instructors could scaffold the mind mapping activity with individual feedback and collaborative learning to enhance critical thinking.

Evaluating Por Nuestra Salud: A Feasibility Study.

Aims. This feasibility study evaluated the impact of a culturally consistent diabetes educational program, led by a Latino pastor, on Latino community diabetes knowledge levels. Method. Latino adults were recruited from two churches serving Latino populations, one identified as intervention, the other as nonintervention. Both churches received the American Diabetes Association’s booklets on diabetes education, “Four Steps to Control Your Diabetes for Life.” The intervention group also received weekly reviews of the booklet’s information from the church pastor, who was educated about diabetes by a Latino family nurse practitioner. Pre- and postintervention levels of diabetes knowledge were measured using the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire. Results. Mean changes in the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ-24) survey from pretest to posttest indicated a significant increase in knowledge in both groups. Only the grades for the participants from the pastor-led group, however, moved from failure in knowledge to high levels of passing. One hundred percent of intervention group participants reported having read the literature. Conclusions. This pilot study supports the feasibility of a local Latino pastor, as a culturally consistent diabetes educator, to increase Latino parishioner’s knowledge of diabetes.

Ingredients in Children’s Fluoridated Toothpaste: A Literature Review

Childrens fluoridated toothpastes are supplemented with ingredients intended to increase appeal. A comprehensive list of childrens toothpastes and their ingredients was compiled from nine pharmacies in New York City. A broad literature review was then conducted to describe the purpose of the ingredient and the known contamination risks associated with chronic consumption of each ingredient. The final sample size comprised 26 childrens toothpastes and 45 unique ingredients. The purpose and known contamination risks of the 45 identified ingredients were documented. A proportion of ingredients (28.9% [n = 13]) were found to be both unnecessary to improving the oral health of children and solely used to increase their appeal. Of this list of unnecessary ingredients, 69.2% (n = 9) were shown to have contamination risks associated with chronic consumption, including enamel demineralization. The authors recommend that toothpaste manufacturing practices be limited to include only ingredients that are necessary for improved oral health and care and only using natural flavorings when needed.