College Health as a Partner in the Care of Pediatric Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Objective: This study reviews an initiative to educate providers on pediatric cancer survivor care and to establish a cancer survivor registry in a college health center. Participants: Participants were University of Georgia (UGA) college health providers. Methods: Providers attended lectures on survivor care and were encouraged to register on Cancer SurvivorLink. Changes in provider familiarity and practice were measured using baseline and follow-up surveys. A survivor registry was created using health entrance forms and medical records abstraction. Results: Twenty-four providers registered on SurvivorLink, and 16 completed both surveys. Familiarity with survivor care (p = .003) and a survivor health care plan (p = .016) increased. Likelihood to deliver survivor care increased (p = .01). UGA follows 95 survivors; 71 diagnosed at < 21 years. Among survivors diagnosed at < 21 years, 91% reported their diagnosis on entrance forms. Conclusions: Through education and optimization of health informatics, college health centers can identify and provide survivor care to this medically vulnerable population.     

Towards best practice: combining evidence‐based research,structured assessment and professional judgement

Limitations of instruments adopting consensus and actuarial approaches are well documented when assessing risk of abusive behaviour. Whilst the consensus approach is flexible and useful for structuring information, it relies upon the practitioner's ability to combine information and apply knowledge of empirical research. The actuarial approach involves a graduated probability measure in the form of a score that determines the likelihood of a particular event occurring; however, this approach focuses upon static risk factors and tends to be inflexible given its necessary reliance on nomothetic factors. A third approach, structured professional judgement comprises evidence‐based risk factors and decision‐making guidelines to inform professional judgement and standardize assessments. Instruments focus upon dynamic risk factors that assist practitioners monitor risk levels and manage risk. This approach is useful for social work practice that commonly requires ongoing risk assessments and risk management. Structured professional judgement has not been meaningfully explored in Australian child protection practice despite it being used successfully for approximately two decades for assessing a range of offending and violent behaviour. Given the complexity of child protection cases, further research on approaches to risk assessment that combine evidence‐based research, structured assessment and clinical judgement, is warranted.     

Spatial Economy and Integrative Labor in Turkey: An Ecological,Modernization, and World-System Investigation

Abstract

General theories about urban primacy and world-system/dependency describe spatial economy in the ideal-typic developing nation as distorted and fragmented. In applying these notions to the experience of Turkey, we conclude that both urban primacy and foreign influence have been on the decline due to the emergence of a strong central government. This research views the spatial economy of Turkey as constrained by the ecological variables of (1) system size and (2) contact technology and by the level of modernization in a province. Three cross-sections of data on provinces are used to uncover the determinants of two indicators of integration: administrative occupations and integrative industries. The data analysis produces three major results. First, there is no systematic relationship between the size of a province and its level of labor performing integrative tasks. Second, more modernized provinces possess proportionately higher levels of integrative activity. Third, contact technology is not a major determinant of the level of integrative activity. Implications of these findings for the perspectives that motivated this research are discussed.     

Actual rejection levels in a certain stepwise test

Continuing me work of Draper, Guttman and Kanemasu (1971) we obtain the appropriate distribution and evaluate some actual probability levels tor entry of variables in stepwise regression when the denominator of the F-statistic is a biased estimate of the residual variance and there are two possible entry candidates.     

Mental Health Treatment Barriers Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Versus White Young Adults 6 Months After Intake at a College Counseling Center

Abstract

Objective: This study examined mental health treatment barriers following intake at a counseling center among racially/ethnically diverse college students. Methods: College students (N = 122) seen for intake at a college counseling center in 2012–2013 completed self-reports of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and mental health treatment barriers 6 months later. Results: Racial/ethnic minority students less often reported previous mental health treatment and treatment after being seen at the counseling center, compared with white students. They also endorsed more treatment barriers—most commonly, financial concerns and lack of time—and more often endorsed stigma-related concerns. Treatment barriers were associated with not following through with counseling center recommendations and with greater depressive symptom severity but not with suicidal ideation during follow-up. Conclusions: Improving mental health treatment seeking among racial/ethnic minority college students should involve decreasing treatment barriers, improving access to affordable options, providing flexible scheduling or time-limited options, and decreasing stigma.,     

Chicks with decks: the female lived experience in poker

Though poker does not inherently discriminate between men and women, the proportion of men in the game is much higher than that of women. The authors describe the female lived experience in poker, including interactional barriers to participation from the moment they step foot in the door, to individual decisions at the table, and through to the time they depart. In-depth qualitative interviews with 13 recreational and professional poker players are used to explore these issues. Strategies women use to overcome the potentially uncomfortable and intimidating environment to persist in poker play are also explored, such as community-building through women-only poker games and adapting to and forming aggressive play strategies. It is suggested that poker be distinguished as a unique example of gender differences in gambling, a complex group interaction that goes beyond the current theory on gendered gambling preferences.