The Association of Survey Setting and Mode with Self-Reported Health Risk Behaviors among High School Students

This study examined whether the prevalence of self-reportedhealth risk behaviors among high school students varied by surveysetting (school versus home) and mode of administration (paperand pencil versus computer). Students in grades 9 and 11 wereassigned randomly to one of four conditions—school paper-and-pencilinstrument (PAPI), school computer-assisted self-interview (CASI),home PAPI, and home CASI. During the spring of 2004, 4,506 studentscompleted identically worded questionnaires based on the YouthRisk Behavior Survey questionnaire. Logistic regression analysescontrolling for sex, grade, and race/ethnicity revealed thatsetting was associated significantly with the reporting of 30of the 55 risk behaviors examined, and mode was associated significantlywith the reporting of 7 of the 55 behaviors. For all behaviorswith a significant setting main effect, the odds of reportingthe behavior were greater among students who completed questionnairesat school than among students who completed questionnaires athome. For all behaviors with a significant mode main effect,PAPI mode students had lower odds of reporting the behaviorthan CASI mode students. Because social measurement researchassumes that higher prevalence estimates are more valid thanlower estimates, methodological factors shown to increase estimates,such as setting and mode, should be considered when planningsurveys.     

Clinical effects of growth hormone on bone: a review

Growth hormone (GH) stimulates bone turnover. Deficiency of GH due to hypopituitarism is related to low bone mineral density and increased fracture risk. GH substitution increases and thus normalizes bone mineral density in these patients, which is one of a number of arguments for GH substitution in hypopituitarism. In contrast, a possible therapeutic use of GH in idiopathic osteoporosis and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is speculative and not established. Reduction of osteoporosis risk is an argument brought up for a use of GH in healthy elderly persons (anti-aging medicine). However, since only very limited data are available yet, this cannot be based on scientific evidence, and there are important concerns about the safety of use of GH in healthy elderly persons.     

从全球人口百年(1950～2050)审视我国人口国策的抉择

基于“人口众多”这一基本国情,我国自20世纪80年代前后采取了严格控制人口增长的政策。对于这一政策应科学、全面地衡量其利害得失。文章利用全球人口资料和我国历次人口普查及人口预测资料,从人口规模、结构的发展变化作实证研究。最终认为,我国的人口国策是利大于弊。     

A Study of An Alternative School for Pregnant and/or Parenting Teens: Quantitative and Qualitative Evidence

In response to multiple problems faced by pregnant and parenting teens, many alternative school-based comprehensive programs have been established throughout the United States. By collecting data from a sample of enrollees of such a school-based comprehensive program and comparing them with data collected from a sample of non-enrollees, the present study systematically evaluates the program. The results of the study seem to suggest that the program participants were more likely to have higher educational aspiration, better reproductive health outcomes, higher contraceptive use, and more breast-feeding practice and intention than those of their non-participating counterparts. The implications of the study findings for comprehensive school-based program for pregnant and/or parenting teens are discussed.Ruhul Amin is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Health Disparities Solutions and Senior Research Scientist in the Institute for Urban Research, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21239. Dorothy C. Browne is the Director of the Institute for Urban Research, Jamir Ahmed is a research assistant at the Center for Health Disparities Solutions and Takanori Sato is research assistants at the Institute for Urban Research, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21239.     

Patients' Evaluations of Gynecologic Services Provided by Nurse Practitioners

Abstract

The development, operating principles, and users' evaluations of a broad-based gynecologic program emphasizing effective birth control on a university campus are discussed. A major feature that is explored is the use of nurse practitioners as the primary service providers. The forces that resulted in the formation of the program and the methods used to enhance its effectiveness are described. The evaluations of 3,527 users over a three-year period are indicated by summarizing responses to a questionnaire covering the following topics; whether providing such a service was helpful, likelihood of arranging for the service elsewhere if unavailable at the health center, attitudes of staff, medical procedures used, availability of services, and the opportunity to thoroughly discuss concerns. The evaluations were seen as extremely supportive of both the program and the use of nurse practitioners in this setting.     

Variables Affecting Patient Satisfaction with Health Care Services in the College Health Setting

Abstract

Patient satisfaction with health care services is an important factor in health care delivery. It will significantly influence whether or not a patient seeks medical care, complies with prescribed treatment, and/or maintains a continuing relationship with a medical practitioner.

A survey questionnaire, relating patient satisfaction with a number of variables identified through a literature review, was mailed to a random sample of 500 students utilizing Student Health Service (SHS) at Kent State University (KSU) during the five week study period. The data obtained would be utilized to help with planning future health care services and staff inservice education programs.

The findings of this survey indicate that patient satisfaction has a statistically significant correlation with perceived technical competence of the practitioner and perceived adequacy of the interpersonal aspects of the practitioner-patient relationship. A significant relationship did not exist between satisfaction and expectations the patient holds of the practitioner's role performance. A statistically significant relationship was found to exist between receiving health information/education related to diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan and satisfaction with health care services. This relationship did not hold for health information/education related to activity restrictions or preventive measures. The study also revealed that time waited during the medical care encounter was inversely related to satisfaction. Last, stepwise regression found that perceived technical competence of the practitioner was the most important variable influencing patient satisfaction with health care services.

This study provides data about factors important to personal satisfaction with health care services for a selected group of college students.     

再论人口健康

本文根据以医院为基础的疾病构成和死亡构成及人口统计资料,再度审视人口与健康的关系,初步界定了人口健康、人口健康储量、健康储量代际交流、人口健康风险比、疾病危害潜力等研究领域的定义。在探讨中国人口转变过程中的潜在健康问题和健康结局的规律的基础上,试图通过疾病发生强度和小概率疾病增扩的研究,在人口健康的研究领域提出进一步的方法学假说。