ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: The examination of health disparities among people within Appalachian counties compared to people living in other counties is needed to find ways to strategically target improvements in community health in the United States of America (USA). METHODS: A telephone survey of a random sample of adults living in households within communities of all counties of the state of Virginia (VA) in the USA was conducted. FINDINGS: Health status was poorer among those in communities within Appalachian counties in VA and health insurance did not make a difference. Health perception was significantly worse in residents within communities in Appalachian counties compared to non-Appalachian community residents (30.5 vs. 17.4% rated their health status as poor/fair), and was worse even among those with no chronic diseases. Within communities in Appalachian counties, black residents report significantly better health perception than do white residents. CONCLUSION: Residents living in communities in Appalachian counties in VA are not receiving adequate health care, even among those with health insurance. More research with a larger ethnic minority sample is needed to investigate the racial/ethnic disparities in self-reported health and health care utilization within communities.
Subject(s)
Black People/statistics & numerical data , Diagnostic Self Evaluation , Health Status Disparities , Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data , White People/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Aged , Appalachian Region , Delivery of Health Care/ethnology , Delivery of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Insurance, Health/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Socioeconomic Factors , VirginiaABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: social norms campaigns are a cost-effective way to reduce high-risk drinking on college campuses. This study compares effectiveness of a "standard" social norms media (SNM) campaign for those with and without exposure to additional educational sessions using audience response technology ("clickers"). METHODS: American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment questions are used to evaluate actual and perceived use. Additional survey questions assess individual exposure to the interventions. RESULTS: the authors find "clicker" technology to be more effective than social norms poster media alone in reducing misperceptions of normative alcohol use for those students who attended clicker sessions. CONCLUSION: poster SNM campaigns may be most effective when supported by group "clicker" heath-related sessions.
