http://hdl.handle.net/2144/1124 2013-05-21T09:37:36Z 2013-05-21T09:37:36Z Abreu, Milagros Hynes, H. Patricia http://hdl.handle.net/2144/3272 2012-01-12T07:01:39Z 2009-09-15T00:00:00Z

The Latino Health Insurance Program: A Pilot Intervention for Enrolling Latino Families in Health Insurance Programs, East Boston, Massachusetts, 2006-2007 Abreu, Milagros; Hynes, H. Patricia BACKGROUND. Thirteen percent of Latinos in Massachusetts lack health insurance, the highest rate of any ethnic or racial group. Families without health insurance are more likely to be in poor or fair health, to lack a regular medical provider, and to not have visited a medical provider in the past year. CONTEXT. The Latino Health Insurance Program is designed as a response both to the high rate of uninsurance among Latinos in Boston and to the multiple obstacles that keep Latino parents from applying for insurance for their families. METHODS. In 2006, we designed and implemented a culturally competent model of health insurance outreach, education, enrollment and maintenance, and referral for primary care and social services for Latino families. CONSEQUENCES. Year 1 results of the Latino Health Insurance Program are promising. Six community members were hired and trained as case managers. A total of 230 children and adults were enrolled or re-enrolled in health insurance programs and received other needed services. Retention was near 100% after 1 year. INTERPRETATION. The Latino Health Insurance Program may serve as a model health insurance access program that can be adapted by community-based organizations and also can be incorporated into public agency programs for Latinos and other immigrant and minority groups. The program continues to serve East Boston residents and was expanded in 2008.

2009-09-15T00:00:00Z Lemon, Stephenie C. Prout, Marianne N. Barnett, Junaidah B. Flynn, Maureen Sullivan http://hdl.handle.net/2144/3273 2012-01-12T07:01:40Z 2009-12-15T00:00:00Z

Developing and Implementing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition Survivorship Summit Lemon, Stephenie C.; Prout, Marianne N.; Barnett, Junaidah B.; Flynn, Maureen Sullivan Cancer survivors face numerous medical and psychosocial challenges, which the medical and public health systems are ill-equipped to deal with. In May 2008, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition conducted a Survivorship Summit to elicit input from cancer survivors and professionals on developing system-level action plans for cancer survivorship issues. We describe how health care and public health professionals can implement similar events. Our results suggest that a cancer survivorship summit can be a valuable tool for cancer coalitions and advocacy organizations in determining survivorship agendas and action plans.

2009-12-15T00:00:00Z Strunin, Lee Douyon, Maisha Chavez, Maria Bunte, Doris Horsburgh, C. Robert http://hdl.handle.net/2144/3274 2012-01-12T07:01:40Z 2010-02-15T00:00:00Z

The GirlStars Program: Challenges to Recruitment and Retention in a Physical Activity and Health Education Program for Adolescent Girls Living in Public Housing Strunin, Lee; Douyon, Maisha; Chavez, Maria; Bunte, Doris; Horsburgh, C. Robert BACKGROUND. Although physical inactivity is a concern for all adolescents, physical activity levels are especially low among minority adolescents and minimal among girls from low-income families. After-school programs can reduce high-risk behaviors and strengthen schools, families, and communities. CONTEXT. We conducted an operational research project that provided free access to a program of regular, organized physical activity combined with health education sessions for adolescent girls in 2 public housing developments in Boston, Massachusetts. METHODS. From July 2002 through October 2005, at each of 2 public housing sites, the GirlStars program participants met each week for two 2-hour sessions, 1 dedicated to physical activity and 1 dedicated to health education. Sessions were led by the project coordinator and a resident assistant at each development. OUTCOME. Participants in the GirlStars program increased their health knowledge, self-confidence, and decision-making skills, but rates of participation were low. Factors that affected participation included safety concerns, lack of community support for the program, interpersonal conflicts, attrition in staff, and conflicts with other activities. INTERPRETATION. Programs in public housing developments that address these barriers to recruitment and retention may be more successful and reach more girls.

2010-02-15T00:00:00Z Kressin, Nancy R Jones, Judith A Orner, Michelle B. Spiro, Avron http://hdl.handle.net/2144/3271 2012-01-12T07:01:39Z 2008-03-15T00:00:00Z

A New Brief Measure of Oral Quality of Life Kressin, Nancy R; Jones, Judith A; Orner, Michelle B.; Spiro, Avron INTRODUCTION. We developed a brief measure of the impact of oral conditions on individual functioning and well-being, known as oral quality of life. METHODS. Among older male veterans (N = 827) and community dental patients (N = 113), we administered surveys consisting of extant oral quality of life items, using clinical dental data from the veteran samples. We assigned each oral quality of life item to a theoretical dimension, conducted an iterative series of multitrait scaling analyses to examine the item-fit with the dimensions, reduced the number of items, and examined the psychometric characteristics of new scales and their association with clinical indices. RESULTS. We developed two brief oral quality of life scales, one consisting of 12 items and the other of 6, the latter a subset of the former. Each demonstrated sound psychometric properties and was sensitive to clinical indices. CONCLUSION. The two brief oral quality of life scales can be used to assess the population-based impact of oral conditions as well as outcomes of dental care.

2008-03-15T00:00:00Z