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Taruskin’s Great Contributions and a Few Shortcomings
Full text linkAmong the most needed, and durable, features of Richard Taruskin’s life’s work was his consistent interpretation of music and music-making within and against their societal and cultural contexts. This stood in contrast to the positivistic methodologies that German, British, and American musicology valued in the 1960s–70s: instances of the latter include the making of reliable critical editions and, in a very different sense, various “the notes only” methods of music analysis.
The breadth of Taruskin’s vision and his command of musical and cultural history are apparent in the enormous “Nationalism” entry in the 2001 edition of Grove (now available at OxfordWesternMusic.com). The origin of that entry, in a suggestion from this article’s author to Grove editor Stanley Sadie, is here told for the first time.
Taruskin’s strongest writings include the article “Resisting the Ninth” (Beethoven’s) and books on Musorgsky and Russian music more broadly. His combination of passionate advocacy and writerly skill is apparent in his writings on the Bach cantatas, in his skewering of the claims of high modernists such as Elliott Carter, and in his identifying the trend of Historical Performance Practice (e.g., “authentic” instruments and a totally steady tempo) as a strongly modernist trend, closely analogous to the highly objective (non-emotive) neoclassicism of Stravinsky and the highly precise and literal performing style that arguably best suited Stravinsky’s music.
Taruskin’s 6-volume Oxford History of Western Music has been critiqued for omitting folk and popular musics as well as jazz. But critics have neglected to point out that OHWM also omits entire genres that rely closely on written scores, such as operetta, Broadway musicals, and music composed for films. These, no less than symphonies or operas, deserve to be discussed as part of the “Western literate tradition.” Taruskin should have addressed this inconsistency or limitation but never did
Community Health Worker Programs for Chronic Disease Management in Urban Settings: A Scoping Review
Full text linkAbstract
Title: Community Health Worker Programs for Chronic Disease Management in Urban Settings: A Scoping Review
Hardik Pipalia 1,
1Director of Research and Evaluation, ANIZ INC, Atlanta, GA; [email protected] ; 0000-0002-1234-5678
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Received: date; Accepted: date; Published: date
Objective: To systematically map the existing literature on community health worker programs for chronic disease management in urban settings, identify key program models and implementation strategies, and determine gaps in current research evidence. Using PEO framework: P (urban residents with chronic diseases), E (community health worker interventions and programs), O (chronic disease management outcomes, program implementation, health service utilization).
Methods: Search Strategy: Comprehensive electronic search conducted across six databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from January 2015 through December 2024. Search strategy developed using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords including: community health worker, community health aide, lay health worker, peer health educator, combined with chronic disease, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, urban health, and city. Additional searches included reference lists of included studies and consultation with subject matter experts.
Eligibility Criteria: Inclusion criteria: (1) studies examining community health worker programs or interventions; (2) focus on chronic disease management including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, COPD, or multiple chronic conditions; (3) participants residing in urban areas or metropolitan regions; (4) any study design including experimental, quasi-experimental, observational, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies; (5) published in English language; (6) peer-reviewed journal articles and relevant gray literature reports. Exclusion criteria: rural-only populations, acute care interventions, pediatric populations under 18 years, conference abstracts without full methodology description, studies published before 2015.
Information Sources: Electronic databases with specified date ranges, final search completed January 2025. Additional sources included clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov), organizational websites of major public health agencies (CDC, WHO, NIH), and manual searching of reference lists from systematic reviews and key articles identified during screening process.
Selection of Sources: Two independent reviewers conducted title and abstract screening using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Full-text screening performed independently with disagreements resolved through discussion and consensus. When consensus could not be reached, third reviewer consultation was used for final decision-making.
Risk of Bias: Consistent with scoping review methodology, formal quality assessment was not conducted as the objective focused on mapping available evidence rather than synthesizing study effectiveness or quality.
Results: Included Studies: From 2,847 records initially identified through database searches, 1,156 underwent title and abstract screening, 284 proceeded to full-text review, and 89 studies met final inclusion criteria. Studies spanned publication years 2015-2024 with increasing frequency in recent years (2020-2024: n=58, 65%). Geographic distribution included North America (n=42, 47%), Europe (n=21, 24%), Asia (n=15, 17%), Australia/Oceania (n=7, 8%), and other regions (n=4, 4%). Study designs comprised randomized controlled trials (n=31, 35%), quasi-experimental studies (n=18, 20%), cross-sectional studies (n=16, 18%), qualitative studies (n=14, 16%), and mixed-methods studies (n=10, 11%).
Synthesis of Results: Five primary categories of community health worker program models were identified: (1) Clinical Support Programs (n=38 studies, 43%): CHWs providing medication management, appointment scheduling, care coordination, and clinical follow-up support in collaboration with healthcare providers; (2) Health Education and Behavior Change Programs (n=34 studies, 38%): CHWs delivering group education sessions, individual counseling, lifestyle modification support, and self-management training; (3) Peer Support and Navigation Programs (n=25 studies, 28%): CHWs with shared chronic disease experience providing emotional support, healthcare system navigation, and social connection facilitation; (4) Home-Based Care Management Programs (n=22 studies, 25%): CHWs conducting home visits for health monitoring, medication adherence support, and family education; (5) Technology-Enhanced Programs (n=18 studies, 20%): CHWs utilizing mobile health applications, remote monitoring devices, and digital communication platforms. Chronic disease focus areas included diabetes (n=52 studies, 58%), hypertension (n=47 studies, 53%), cardiovascular disease (n=28 studies, 31%), multiple chronic conditions (n=24 studies, 27%), and COPD (n=12 studies, 13%). Implementation settings varied including community health centers (n=41 studies, 46%), participants\u27 homes (n=33 studies, 37%), community organizations (n=28 studies, 31%), and healthcare facilities (n=25 studies, 28%). Research gaps identified included limited long-term sustainability studies, insufficient cost-effectiveness analyses, minimal examination of program scalability, and inadequate representation of diverse urban populations including immigrants, elderly residents, and individuals with multiple comorbidities.
Conclusion: Community health worker programs for chronic disease management in urban settings encompass diverse implementation models with varying levels of evidence supporting effectiveness and feasibility. While clinical support and health education programs represent the most frequently studied approaches, significant evidence gaps exist regarding program sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability across different urban contexts. The literature demonstrates growing integration of technology-enhanced approaches, though digital equity considerations remain underexplored. Future research priorities should include rigorous evaluation of long-term program outcomes, comprehensive economic evaluations, examination of implementation factors supporting program sustainability, and enhanced focus on health equity and cultural responsiveness in diverse urban populations. The expanding evidence base provides foundation for evidence-informed program development while highlighting critical knowledge gaps requiring targeted research investment.
Keywords: scoping review, community health workers, chronic disease management, urban health, implementation science, health services research
© 2025 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Associations between socio-demographic and socio-economic factors and meeting the recommended amount of aerobic physical activity in older adults with diabetes in Brazil
Full text linkExploring the Relationship Between Healthcare Access and Osteoporosis Risk in Underserved Communities of South Florida
Full text linkThis abstract reports a cross-sectional study of 73 adults aged ≥50 (66 women, 7 men; mean age 64) recruited at South Florida health fairs (Feb–Oct 2024) to examine how access to primary care relates to osteoporosis risk and knowledge. Participants completed a 16-item survey and had FRAX 10-year probabilities calculated, then were grouped by visit frequency (≥yearly “regular access” v
Exploring The Role of Optimism on Mental Health and Behavioral Outcomes in Sexual Minority Men Who Use Stimulants: Moderating Effects of Positive Affect.
Full text linkObjective: Sexual minority men (SMM) account for over two-thirds of new HIV infections in the United States. Minority stress is associated with multiple adverse physiological, physical, mental health, and behavioral outcomes. Guided by the Broaden and Build theory, the current study aims to examine whether optimism and positive affect (PA) are related to mental and behavioral health among stimulant-using MSM with HIV.
Methods: Cross-sectional data from 254 MSM with HIV reporting stimulant use, who participated in a broader longitudinal study, were analyzed. Study variables were measured using validated psychological instruments, self-report, and viral load. Multiple linear regression models were tested to examine direct effects and the moderation of Optimism PA via interaction. The models were adjusted for HIV diagnosis, age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, relationship status, and incarceration.
Results: Higher optimism and positive affect were associated with lower depression and anxiety symptoms. Optimism moderate vs. low OR=0.42 (95% CI 0.24–0.76), high vs. low OR=0.14 (0.05–0.39), PA OR=0.92 (0.86–0.98). ART adherence showed no significant statistical association with the predictors. Graduate-degree status was related to lower odds of undetectable viral load (β=−1.89, p=.026). Stimulant severity was higher for ages 66–80 vs. 18–35 and for multiracial vs. White participants.
Conclusion: Findings reveal optimism and PA as protective factors for anxiety and depression among stimulant-using MSM. The results identify positive mental health constructs as modifiable targets for intervention. Longitudinal research is needed to examine how structural conditions and multi-level factors affect MSM’s physical, mental, and behavioral health over time
Topic 3: Data Integration Across Sectors: Harnessing Big Data for Chronic Disease Control
No full textJoyful environments: What we need right now
Full text linkAs rewarding as public service can be, it is also quite stressful. It is difficult to be consistently efficient and pleasant and when doing so, staff morale is negatively impacted.There are ways to improve and strengthen staff morale and one of them is providing an environment where they feel appreciated and supported. This session will discuss methods how that may be achieved and more importantly, sustained. It will look at proven activities, individual and joint initiatives and designated areas for staff usage only. These concepts will be presented by a panel of Past Presidents from different eras, each unique in their approach. A Joyful Environment may be described in several ways but it may be understood best that you look forward to coming to work on Monday morning
Overdue for Fun: Mindfulness, Breathing, and Laughter.
Full text linkDuring this tumultuous time of frequent censorship and the politicizing of everything from books to gender, we need to take time to breathe, meditate, and laugh. This presentation will be an opportunity to free ourselves from what seems like never-ending attacks on academic and intellectual freedom and cuts to budgets and staffing so we can have a little fun. The session will begin with a short presentation sharing the evidence-based research on the healing effects of breathing, mediation, and laughter. Attendees will then be guided through laughter yoga exercises (no bending required, no special clothing needed) consisting of playful exercises combined with mindful meditation and deep breathing. They will learn deep breathing and meditation techniques that can be employed for personal relaxation, shared with colleagues, and used in library programming. Playfulness, meditation, deep breathing, and sharing can serve an important role in fostering community building, increasing self-expression and reflection, improving coping skills and stress management, providing respite for those in need, and, above all else, spreading joy to those overdue for joy! The session will be led by a certified Laughter Yoga Lead who has studied and trained in meditation and yoga for more than 15 years. She will bring laughter yoga and meditation together to help participants let go and express themselves freely. Participants will leave inspired to create new initiatives within their libraries that promote mindfulness-based interventions through evidence-based techniques
N. K. Jemisin\u27s Broken Earth Dystopia as a Portal Towards Just Worlds
Full text linkThe purpose of this thesis is to examine the works of N. K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Trilogy for its orientation and vision towards a just world. To understand the vision, I begin by contextualizing where the dystopic works emerge from, drawing from the black radical traditions within the Harlem Renaissance and Weird Fiction, in addition to an Anthropocentric worldview. This highlights the aesthetic dimensions of the Broken Earth’s dystopia. Then, I discuss different aspects of the dystopia’s critical imagination, exploring how it’s world-building, narrators and protagonists are dramatized according to a black radical aesthetic and eco justice premise. These are specifically bolstered by critical and environmental theorists such as Rob Nixon, Emily Ashton and Kathyrn Yusoff. This thesis then concludes that literary works that wish to serve as a portal towards a just future must begin by including relational, eco-centric ontologies and an anti-racist demand
