ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Little is understood about using mobile health (mHealth) technology to improve cardiovascular (CV) health among African-American women in resource-limited communities. METHODS: We conducted the Washington, D.C. CV Health and Needs Assessment in predominantly African-American churches in city wards 5, 7, and 8 with the lowest socioeconomic status based on community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles. The assessment measured CV health factors: body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose and cholesterol, blood pressure, fruit/vegetable (F/V) intake, physical activity (PA), and smoking. Participants were trained to use a PA monitoring wristband to measure 30 days of PA, wirelessly upload the PA data to hubs at the participating churches, and access their data from a church/home computer. CV health factors were compared across weight classes. RESULTS: Among females (N = 78; 99 % African-American; mean age = 59 years), 90 % had a BMI categorized as overweight/obese. Across weight classes, PA decreased and self-reported sedentary time (ST) increased (p ≤ 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure and glucose increased across weight classes (p ≤ 0.05); however, cholesterol, glucose, and BP were near intermediate CV health goals. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased PA and increased ST are potential community intervention targets for overweight and obese African-American women in resource-limited Washington D.C. areas. mHealth technology can assist in adapting CBPR intervention resources to improve PA for African-American women in resource-limited communities.
ABSTRACT
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There is no current veterinary information with regard to data entry on a website. We therefore completed a prospective study on use of analgesics in relation to the need for abdominal surgery using a web-based survey instrument. OBJECTIVES: To establish an internet-based data entry system that could be used to record prospective data on horses with colic. HYPOTHESIS: Failure of horses to respond to the initial administration of an analgesic is an indicator of the need for abdominal surgery. METHODS: A survey was developed to determine if the response to administration of an analgesic during a veterinarian's first examination of a horse with colic was related to the need for surgery. Veterinarians were contacted via AAEP and ECN listservs requesting submission of cases using a log-in system at a data entry website. The survey was completed by submission of a data entry page. RESULTS: Twenty-seven veterinarians submitted details of 119 cases of colic, 28 of which required surgery. The need for surgery was significantly associated with moderate or severe pain observed during the first examination compared to mild or no pain, and with constant pain or return of pain after administration of one or more analgesics and the need to administer a second analgesic treatment. Abnormal findings on rectal examination were not associated with the need for surgery, whereas total absence or decrease of intestinal sounds was significantly related to the odds that surgery was needed. The web-based data collection was successful in collecting all data points on the survey for each case. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforced veterinarians' use of response to therapy as a way to determine the need for abdominal surgery. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: When a specific diagnosis has not been made, lack of response or resumption of colic after analgesic administration should be considered as an indicator of the need for surgery. Web-based collection of data allows veterinary practitioners to participate in clinical research by providing prospective data.
