135 research outputs found
Final_Appendix_copy – Supplemental material for Health-Related Correlates of Demonstrated Smartphone Expertise in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
No full textSupplemental material, Final_Appendix_copy for Health-Related Correlates of Demonstrated Smartphone Expertise in Community-Dwelling Older Adults by Jan Mohlman and Corey H. Basch in Journal of Applied Gerontology</p
Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
No full textMagazines focused on parenting are popular in the United States, and parents may use them to guide decisions about the health of their children. We analyzed issues of 2 popular parenting magazines published in the past 11 years during the months of peak ultraviolet radiation exposure for content related to sun protection and for advertisements for skin products that did and did not contain sun protection factor. Only 24 of 2,594 articles addressed the topic of sun protection for skin cancer prevention. Although advertising is pervasive in these magazines, the extent to which such advertising focuses on products with sun protection factor was low. These findings suggest that parenting magazines can do more to assist parents in making informed decisions about preventing skin cancer risk among youth
Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
No full textUse of artificial tanning may be contributing to the increased incidence of skin cancer. Federal law requires warning signs to inform consumers about health risks. All of the tanning facilities in New York City were assessed for compliance with this law during April and May 2010. More than one-third of the 224 tanning machines observed in 47 of the 85 facilities visited did not have any warning signs posted, and signs were difficult to see in many others
Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
No full textConsistency, quality, and duration of sleep are important determinants of health. We describe sleep patterns among demographically defined subgroups from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System reported in 4 successive biennial representative samples of American high school students (2007 to 2013). Across the 4 waves of data collection, 6.2% to 7.7% of females and 8.0% to 9.4% of males reported obtaining 9 or more hours of sleep. Insufficient duration of sleep is pervasive among American high school students. Despite substantive public health implications, intervention research on this topic has received little attention
Readability of colorectal cancer online information: A brief report
No full textPurpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. A decline in deaths caused by CRC has been largely attributable to screening and prompt treatment. Motivation, shown to influence cancer-related screening and treatment decisions, can be shaped by information from the Internet. The extent to which this information is easily readable on cancer-related websites is not known. The purpose of this study was to assess the readability levels of CRC information on 100 websites. Methods: Using methods from a prior study, the keyword, “colorectal cancer,” was searched on a cleared Internet browser. Scores for each website (n = 100) were generated using five commonly recommended readability tests. Results: All five tests demonstrated difficult readability for the majority of the websites. Conclusions: Online information related to CRC is difficult to read and highlights the need for developing cancer-related online material that is understandable to a wider audience
Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
No full textAdolescents are particularly vulnerable to engaging in poor skin-protection behaviors. The objective of this study was to examine use of sunscreen and indoor tanning devices among a nationally representative sample of high school students during a 10-year period (2001-2011) using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. The percentage of youth who reported using sunscreen declined from 67.7% in 2001 to 56.1% in 2011. The prevalence of using indoor tanning devices was highest among white females: 37.4% in 2009 and 29.3% in 2011. These findings indicate the need for prevention efforts aimed at adolescents to reduce risks for skin cancer
Motivating Factors Associated With Receipt of Asymptomatic Colonoscopy Screening
No full textBackground: Colonoscopy is the preferred screening method for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to identify factors motivating a beneficial health behavior, that is, the decision to complete a colonoscopy.
Methods: We surveyed 91 primarily urban minority health care workers who were ineligible for a large randomized controlled trial due to self-reported asymptomatic colonoscopy screening. Participants were asked an open-ended question about what made them get screened. Responses were classified as external or internal motivations.
Results: The most commonly reported external motivation was a primary care physician′s recommendation (n = 60, 65.9%). Other external motivations were familiarity with CRC or polyps through family or work (n = 16, 17.6%) and pressure from relatives or friends (n = 8, 8.8%). Seventeen respondents were deemed self-motivated; these individuals were more likely have income over $50K/year (P < 0.05) and to be US born (P = 0.05); they were more likely to mention being age-appropriate for screening (P < 0.05); knew more people who had colonoscopies (P < 0.001); they were less likely to believe that most of the age-appropriate population in New York City has been screened (P < 0.01) and less likely to be deterred from colonoscopy by work schedule (P < 0.001) or by having to take a powerful laxative (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: A primary care physician′s recommendation may be the most prevalent motivating factor in patients′ decisions to receive a colonoscopy, but a subgroup seeks CRC screening on their own. Analysis of the motivations of individuals who have sought colonoscopy screening may offer useful insights into motivating those who have not
An analysis of widely viewed youtube videos on anal cancer
No full textBackground: Rates of anal squamous cell carcinoma have increased over recent decades. The aim of this study was to describe characteristics of widely viewed YouTube videos about anal cancer. Methods: A total of 57 videos were identified and reviewed. Videos were assessed and coded with respect to date uploaded, upload source, gender of presenter, number of views, length in minutes, number of likes and dislikes, and selected aspects of content. Each video was assessed to determine if the sole purpose of the video was to provide information regarding anal cancer or existed to serve another purpose. Content related to anal cancer was categorized. Results: The mean number of views was 23,548 (range 1014–440,078), and the average length of videos was 8:14 min. The upload source of 57 videos was 19 (33.3%) by consumers, 12 (21.1%) by professional, and 26 (45.6%) by news-based sources. More than half (n = 30; 52.6%) had the sole purpose of providing information. The most frequently mentioned topics were treatment (n = 25, 43.9%), symptoms (n = 15, 26.3%), encouraging screening, human papillomavirus, and pain, respectively (n = 14, 26.4% for each); only 6 of the 57 videos (10.5%) specifically mentioned prevention. None of 57 most widely viewed videos were uploaded by any agency of the U.S. Public Health Service or by any other U.S. governmental agency. Conclusions: It is important for health practitioners to be aware of the type of information available for their patients on the YouTube platform
Characteristics associated with suboptimal bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy: Results of a national survey
No full textBackground: Inadequate bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy compromises the medical value of the procedure. The aim of this study is to explore the factors associated with pre-colonoscopy sub-optimal bowel preparation from the perspective of the physician.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, we examined the role of various factors thought to be associated with sub-optimal bowel preparation as reported by a sample of practicing Gastroenterologists across the United States. We conducted a survey among active members of the American College of Gastroenterology to assess Gastroenterologists′ perceptions about barriers faced by the patients in the bowel preparation process. Descriptions of factors associated with sub-optimal bowel preparation prior to screening colonoscopy were identified and described, including health conditions, patient cognitive/behavioral characteristics and medication use.
Results: Health conditions (including constipation and diabetes) and particular patient characteristics (including older age) were the most common perceived determinants of sub-optimal bowel preparation. Although some barriers to colonoscopy preparation (e.g., older age), cannot be modified, many are amenable to change through education.
Conclusions: This study indicates the potential value of a personalized approach to bowel preparation, which addresses the specific needs of an individual patient like chronic constipation and diabetes and those with poor literacy skills or poor fluency in English. Development and evaluation of educational interventions to address these factors warrants investment
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