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CBRA Bulletin - November 2010
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Featured Resource| Current News | Conferences and Opportunities | Featured Science Articles
Group Health, ITHS launch free health literacy e-course
In October President Obama signed into law the Plain Writing Act of 2010. The Act requires that government documents be understandable, in "writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience."
Like the Plain Writing Act, the new Web course is based on the principles of plain language: a communication style centered on the audience's needs, abilities, and levels of literacy and numeracy. The online training will broaden the reach of the Program for Readability in Science and Medicine, or PRISM. The Web course is freely available to anyone. It is a joint project of Group Health Research Institute and the University of Washington's Institute for Translational Health Sciences (ITHS). Researchers can see how to use plain language in study materials through the course's many concrete examples.
Full news release: http://www.grouphealthresearch.org/newsroom/newsrel/2010/101018.html 
Online Training: http://prism.grouphealthresearch.org
Toolkit: http://www.grouphealthresearch.org/capabilities/readability/readability_home.html
- Laboratory Test Results of Cholera Outbreak Strain in Haiti Announced
The Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population has received the results of laboratory testing showing that the cholera strain linked to the current outbreak in Haiti is most similar to cholera strains found in South Asia. More information about this strain, including the possibility that it might be found in other regions of the world, is anticipated from additional studies. The findings were reported as part of laboratory collaboration between the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Haiti and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. The rapid identification of the outbreak strain as Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1, serotype Ogawa and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were reported last week by the NPHL. The lab findings are not unexpected and provide information about the relatedness of the cholera outbreak strain to strains found elsewhere in the world. To read the full article, visit http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2010/r101101.html.
- 2011 National Healthy Homes Conference-Call for Abstracts
The 2011 National Health Homes Conference is a federally-sponsored event bringing together a wide range of sectors to better coordinate efforts in making housing healthy, safe, and environmentally sustainable. This Conference is hosted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Together we are working to help America create and sustain healthy homes and communities for everyone.
The conference is centered around eight program tracts that cover various topics, including health, policy, green building and design, research and outreach. Those who have a presentation that will inspire, educate, and help others to create and sustain health homes and neighborhoods are encouraged to submit a proposal. Take a leadership role in cultivating healthy homes. Share your expertise. Showcase best practices. Submit a presentation for the 2011 National Healthy Homes Conference. Abstract deadline has been extended until November 19, 2010. Notifications of acceptance will be made by December 10, 2010. For more information or to submit an abstract, visit http://www.healthyhomesconference.org/index.htm
. - Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools 2011 National Symposium
The National Environmental Health Association, in cooperation with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), is offering a significant training opportunity for environmental health professionals working in city, county, or state health or environmental protection agencies, or for individuals who have been active with community groups working on school health and safety issues. U.S. EPA will host their 11th Annual Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools National Symposium on January 13-15, 2011, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. Building on last year's success, the symposium will bring together school board officials, administrators, nurses, teachers, facility managers, school and health association members, parents, and others to discuss the effects of indoor air quality in our nation's schools.
NEHA will select up to 13 people for training in Washington, D.C., with all expenses paid. This would include round-trip coach airfare, lodging at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and a per diem allowance for meals. Travel to Washington, D.C. will be on Wednesday, January 12. The symposium will be conducted on the following schedule:
Thursday, Januaray 13, starting at 7:30 a.m. (full day)
Friday, January 14 (full day)
Saturday, January 15 (3/4 of a day)
The return home will be Saturday evening, January 15.Letters of interest must be received no later than the close of business on Wednesday, November 24, 2010. Selections and notification of successful applicants will be made no later than Monday, November 29, 2010. Any questions concerning this project or the application process should be directed to:
Susan Jerles
(847) 563-8242
sjerles@neha.orgTo view the full announcement, visit http://www.neha.org/pdf/research/Application_Announcement.pdf
- CPHA 2011 Annual Conference- Call for Abstracts
The Canadian Public Health Association is pleased to announce the Call for Abstracts for the 2011 Annual Conference. The conference will be held in Montreal, Quebec from June 19-21, 2011. The Conference "Public Health in Canada: Innovative Partnership for Action" will explore the role of partnerships in creating the conditions in which people can create flourishing lives and will showcase innovative collective actions that support the maintenance and improvement of the health of populations. The Conference Steering Committee invites submissions for oral or poster presentations. The deadline for submissions is Monday December 6, 2010. To submit an abstract or for more information, visit http://www.cpha.ca/en/conferences/conf2011.aspx. - 2010 Conference on Modeling for Public Health Action
Registration is now open for the 2010 Conference on modeling for Public Health Action: From Epidemiology to Operations. The conference is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will be held December 9-10, 2010 at the Intercontinental Hotel Buckhead, Atlanta, GA. The purpose of the conference is to promote the exchange of information and ideas about uses of modeling to shape public health action by fostering interest in effective and practical applications of modeling to public health policy and operational decision making, encouraging networking between the public health and modeling communities, and identifying additional areas of public health where modeling could enhance public health policy or practice. Conference topics include: Model Building, Resource Allocations and Distributions, Disease Prevention and Management, Exposure Decisions and Exposure Modeling, and Behavioral/Economic Modeling. For more information or to register for the conference, visit http://www.phmodeling2010conference.com/.
- A participatory approach to assessing refugee perceptions of health services.
World Health Popul. (Volume 11, No 4: 13-22) by Nelson BD, Getchell M, Rosborough S, Atwine B, Okeyo E, Wall E, Greenough PG.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The necessity and value of beneficiary input is widely recognized by the humanitarian community. Nevertheless, limited beneficiary involvement occurs due to various barriers. This study explores the effectiveness of an innovative, participatory approach to assessing beneficiary perceptions in resource-limited settings.
METHODS: A unique hybrid of qualitative and quantitative methodologies assessed perceptions of health programs within five refugee camps in Kenya and Tanzania. A database of perceptions and opinions was established through key-informant interviews, focus group discussions and free-response questionnaires among refugees, community leaders and healthcare providers. Each participant subsequently force-ranked the collected views into quasi-normal distribution according to level of agreement. Responses were analyzed using by-person factor analysis software.
FINDINGS: Eighty-one individuals (96%) successfully completed the participatory exercise. The methodologies identified detailed levels of consensus, rank-ordered priorities and unique sub-population opinions.
CONCLUSION: The authors illustrate benefits and feasibility of qualitative quantitative participatory methodology in assessing beneficiary perceptions of refugee services.
- User involvement: children's participation in a parent-baby group.
Community Pract. (Volume 83, No 8: 17-20) by Maconochie H, McNeill F.
Abstract: According to the National Service Framework, children have a right to participate in the development of healthcare services and yet research suggests that young children are at risk of exclusion from user involvement initiatives. This paper outlines the findings of a participatory action research project conducted with families attending a health visitors' parent-baby group. A combination of participatory research methods were used to ascertain the infants' perspectives of the service and this led to a number of changes in terms of professional attitudes, service provision and working practices. Changes in professional attitudes included acknowledging the importance of social interaction to the children, recognising young children's views as embodied and produced within social interactions, and respecting children as active contributors and not simply as passive recipients of healthcare services. Changes in service provision resulted in redistributing resources, structures and spaces to take account of children's perspectives. Finally, reciprocity and responsiveness were seen as key components in enhancing young children's participation.
- Healthy Lifestyle: a community-based cancer awareness and prevention intervention program.
J Health Care Poor Underserved. (Volume 3 Suppl: 107-18) by Carter VL, Dawkins NL, Howard B.
Abstract: Healthy Lifestyle engages the community in the development of a health behavior modification program to reduce cancer risk among African Americans. The objectives are 1) to assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that affect cancer risk through focus group discussions; and 2) to identify community members to implement programs and practices that facilitate healthy behavior routines. Thirty-four African American focus group participants completed surveys regarding health knowledge and behavioral practices. Results from the focus groups identified three themes: 1) Health and Nutrition; 2) Environment; and 3) Family. The majority of focus group participants (94%) indicated that annual physical exams were important. However, of that group, 47% had not had a physical within the last 12 months and only 44% had scheduled appointments. Of the 79% who indicated they could commit to a two-year study, only 64% felt they could be leaders.
- Using a community partnered participatory research approach to implement a randomized controlled trial: planning community partners in care.
J Health Care Poor Underserved. (Volume 3: 780-95) by Chung B, Jones L, Dixon EL, Miranda J, Wells K; Community Partners in Care Steering Council.
SUMMARY: Quality improvement (QI) for depression in primary care can reduce disparities in outcomes. We describe how community-partnered participatory research was used to design Community Partners in Care, a randomized trial of community engagement to activate a multiple-agency network versus support for individual agencies to implement depression QI in underserved communities.
- A roadmap for authentic community/academic engagement for developing effective community preterm birth education.
Ethn Dis. (Volume 1, Suppl 2:S2-77-82) by Wright K, Jones L, Hogan V.
Abstract: Evidence-based care, behavioral interventions, and new technologies applied during the perinatal period are insufficient by themselves to reduce or eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality. Traditional health and behavioral interventions, and the structures through which they are delivered, do not facilitate adherence to behavioral or health recommendations at home or in the community. The translation of research into practice in the absence of community involvement often results in interventions that are irrelevant to community needs, insensitive to existing culture, inconsistent with the resources available, and strain existing community assets. Using a community-partnered participatory research (CPPR) process, the Healthy African American Families project in Los Angeles developed a multilevel, risk communications strategy to promote awareness about preterm birth in the local community. This paper provides a roadmap, giving insight into the CPPR model and processes involved in the development of the risk communications strategy.