Evaluation of short-term multi-component exercise programming on major variables that directly influence fall risk in older women: a pilot study.

Falls are linked to gait and balance inconsistencies influenced by a combination of variables including muscle strength and power. Multicomponent athlete training models that incorporate high-intensity challenging activities have been shown to significantly improve strength, power, and balance. This study evaluated the efficacy of a short-term multi-component dynamic training program on strength, power, and balance in older women. Seventeen women participated in 8-weeks of specialized exercise training. Significant changes were observed in all performance variables from baseline. Results suggest short-term, high intensity multi-component programming can be used safely and effectively to improve major variables that influence falls in older women.

Patients and Partners in Research: Patient and Caregiver Perceptions of Research Engagement and the Role of Their Psychosocial States in Participation.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common, nontraumatic, disabling diseases diagnosed in adults. Self-empowered patients and families are valued members of the MS research team. The objective of this study was to explore patient and family perceptions of the influence of psychosocial state on their willingness to be research partners. Researchers conducted 5 focus groups with MS patients and family from the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The researchers asked questions addressing psychosocial factors influencing ability and willingness to work with MS researchers as partners. Relevant themes were identified including comfort level of individuals in formulating research questions, comfort level engaging in research, understanding of the meaning of research and self-perception about skills, research training, and knowledge needs. The findings of this study support the role of MS patients' perspectives about MS, their understanding of the science of MS, and role of their psychosocial states as all these factors were patient identified as being key to their ability to be active, engaged and willing research participants.

Celebrity Suicide.

Background: Increased suicides following media coverage of celebrities' suicide deaths have been documented in several countries. Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide were published to provide guidance for media professionals when covering suicide. Research indicates guidelines have been poorly followed. Aim: We aimed to determine whether the recommendations were similarly observed when studying two online news organizations' coverage of a celebrity's suicide. Method: In the 3 days following a high-profile celebrity's death, two US cable networks' news websites were studied to compare how the death was reported. Online articles were reviewed using a coding rubric organized by six themes and 21 coding categories. Results: Between the two organizations, 34 articles were published. Regarding the recommendations, neither source followed all of the recommendations, as measured in this study. Source A fared better in providing help-seeking information. Limitations: Only two news organizations were studied for a 3-day period. Online videos, print articles, and social media were excluded. Conclusion: The suicide of a celebrity received repetitive media coverage with little emphasis on prevention or help-seeking. The recommendations were not consistently followed by the two news websites included in this review.

"Girl, just pray ": Factors That Influence Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Black Women in Rochester, MN.

BACKGROUND: Black women in Minnesota and beyond have a greater burden of death due to some cancers than their White counterparts. Delayed screening and treatment may explain these disparate statistics. The purpose of this study was to work in collaboration with a local Black faith-based organization to gain an updated understanding of Black women's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to breast and cervical cancer, and determine to what extent known factors persist as barriers to accessing cancer screening among Black women in Rochester, MN. We also sought to identify unique barriers for Black women residing in a particularly health resource rich community. METHODS: Using a community-based participatory research approach, two academic institutes worked in collaboration with a local Black faith-based organization to conduct focus groups. Focus groups were utilized to identify factors that may limit Black women's access to cancer screening and health care. RESULTS: Forty-five eligible participants attended one of eight focus group sessions. All participants self-identified as Black women and most were born in the United States. Content analysis of participant responses suggested that Black women's health-seeking behaviors related to breast and cervical cancer screening continue to be very much influenced by known factors that serve as barriers to screening services. Four primary themes pertaining to these influential factors emerged from participants' focus group discussions: 1) knowledge of cancer, risk factors, and screening options; and 2) socioeconomic factors, 3) psycho-social factors, including lack of trust of doctors specifically involved in clinical research, and 4) cultural factors, including reliance on religious practice in place of medical intervention. CONCLUSION: Black women face real and perceived barriers to cancer screening even where health resources are abundant. Results reiterate an on going need for culturally appropriate interventions to improve Black women's breast and cervical cancer screening participation by minimizing barriers and engaging entire communities - including Black women, religious leaders, and health care providers.

Case-control study of student-perpetrated physical violence against educators.

PURPOSE: Although prior research focused primarily on student-on-student school violence, educators are also at risk. This study was designed to identify risk factors for assaults against educators. METHODS: Kindergarten-grade 12 educators (n = 26,000), randomly selected from a state license database, were screened for eligibility (6,469, eligible) by mailed questionnaire. Phase 1 (12-month recall) identified eligible assault cases (n = 372) and controls (n = 1,116), June 2004 to December 2005; phase 2 (case-control study; response, 78%) enabled identification of exposures through 1-month recall before student-perpetrated assaults (cases) and randomly selected months (controls). Directed acyclic graphs enabled confounder selection for multivariable logistic regression analyses; reweighting adjusted for potential biases. RESULTS: Risks (odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals) increased for working in: Special Education (5.84; 4.07-8.39) and School Social Work (7.18; 2.72-18.91); kindergarten to second grade (1.81; 1.18-2.77); urban (1.95; 1.38-2.76) schools; schools with less than 50 (8.40; 3.12-22.63), 50-200 (3.67; 1.84-7.34), 201-500 (2.09; 1.32-3.29), and 501-1000 (1.94; 1.25-3.01) students versus more than 1000; schools with inadequate resources always/frequently (1.62; 1.05-2.48) versus infrequently/never; inadequate building safety always/frequently (4.48; 2.54-7.90) versus infrequently/never; and environments with physical barriers (1.50; 1.07-2.10). Risks decreased with routine locker searches (0.49; 0.29-0.85) and accessible exits (0.36; 0.17-0.74). CONCLUSIONS: Identification of assault risk factors provides a basis for further investigation and interventions.

Violence against educators: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the magnitude and risk factors for occupational physical assault (PA) and nonphysical violence (NPV) against Minnesota educators. METHODS: Among 26,000 randomly selected licensed kindergarten to grade 12 educators, 6469 eligible educators reported whether they experienced PA or NPV during the prior year. Multiple logistic regression models were based on directed acyclic graphs. RESULTS: Respective PA and NPV annual rates per 100 educators were 8.3 and 38.4. Work changes resulted among PA (13% to 20%) and NPV (22%) victims. Risks increased for master's prepared or education specialists who worked in public alternative schools and special education. Risks decreased for those working for more than 20 years, part time, and in private schools. Physical assault risk decreased when teaching grades 3 to 12 (vs kindergarten to grade 2), but NPV risk increased. CONCLUSION: Targeted efforts on specific violence risk and protective factors are essential to improve educators' work environments.

School resources, resource allocation, and risk of physical assault against Minnesota educators.

To investigate the relation between schools' resource levels (i.e., annual per student expenditures), school resource allocations, and physical assault (PA) against Minnesota's educators, a study was conducted from the two-phase Minnesota Educators' Study (MES) that incorporated school-level fiscal and demographic data from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The MES examined a randomly selected cohort of employed, state-licensed kindergarten through grade 12 educators. From mailed questionnaires, response rates for both Phase I (comprehensive data collection on violent events) and Phase II (case-control) were 84%. Cases experienced a work-related PA event in the previous 12 months; controls reported no assaults. Based on the school in which they worked the most time and available MDE school-level data, together with MES questionnaire data, analyses were conducted on 238 cases and 640 controls. Multivariate analyses, using directed acyclic graphs to guide selection of confounders, suggested that increased spending (i.e. resources) was associated with decreased risk of PA. Analyses further suggested that the highest quartiles of resource allocations, compared with the lowest quartiles (referents), were associated with decreased risks of PA for: district level administration; regular instruction; special education; student activities and athletics; and pupil support services expenditures. Associations between increased resource allocations to student activities expenditures and decreased risks of PA were the strongest. For example, an allocation greater than 5% of the total annual per student expenditure to student activities programming (referent, less than 0.04%) was associated with a decreased risk of PA (OR=0.30, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.77). Results suggested that allocations of school resources (i.e., expenditures) to key program areas such as student athletics and extracurricular activities may reduce risk of work-related PA against educators. Research to further explore the nature of the relations between disparities in school resources and spending, resource allocations, and PA will be important to the continued development of relevant prevention strategies.