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Understanding the barriers to antiretroviral adherence is a critical step in improving the effectiveness of HIV treatment and saving lives. We sought to assess, qualitatively, the experiences of HIV-positive persons taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) in North Carolina. Twenty-four people participated in one of six focus groups. A structured interview script included three questions (two open-ended) and eight probes. Each discussion was taped, transcribed, and content-analyzed. Three distinct themes emerged. First, many participants believed that taking ART was lifesaving but missed doses because they feared that taking them in public would reveal their HIV status. Second, as a result, participants often found it difficult to integrate their regimens into the most basic daily activities. Finally, participants stressed the importance of having open, ongoing dialogues about their treatment plans and privacy needs with a wide range of health care workers. Multidimensional, tailored interventions may help persons living with HIV overcome the stigma and other complex barriers they face in taking antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine if sexual behaviors, orgasm, tampon use, and douching during menstruation modify the risk of endometriosis., METHODS: A case-control study was conducted. Subjects (n = 2,012) consisted of members of the Endometriosis Association and friends not affiliated with the organization who completed mailed surveys. Data were analyzed using chi(2), Fisher's exact test, t test, and regression analyses., RESULTS: There was no difference between study groups concerning douching practices. However, cases were less likely than controls to report sometimes or often engaging in sexual behaviors during menstruation (p = 0.002, OR = 1.5), and sexual behaviors during menstruation that included orgasm (p = 0.001, OR = 1.5). Cases were also less likely than controls to report using only tampons (p < 0.0001, OR = 2.6)., CONCLUSION: Sexual activity, orgasm, and tampon use during menstruation may confer protection against endometriosis. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

The Enhancing Data Utilization Skills through Information Technology (EDUSIT) project trained Maternal and Child Health professionals to collect, analyze and interpret data via a year-long web-based course. The overall goal of the project was to strengthen the technology and analytic skills of the public health workforce. This article describes and analyzes a web-based module for training public health professionals to use qualitative research and evaluation methods that was one of six offered within the EDUSIT project. The qualitative module consisted of six units: overview of qualitative methods, planning qualitative studies, conducting field observations, qualitative interviewing, analyzing qualitative data and presenting qualitative findings. Evaluation results found no statistically significant changes in specific knowledge or beliefs about qualitative methods. However, the change in participants' self-efficacy was statistically significant. Participants' self-reports also showed significant changes in perceived skill levels in `collecting qualitative data through an interview' and `analyzing and interpreting qualitative data'. Most participants rated each lesson within the qualitative methods module as valuable, and most found the teaching methods used satisfactory, emphasizing the value of both the didactic teaching and the practical exercises and team project. The most common difficulty reported was finding the time to complete the module requirements while also working full-time. Implications of these findings for web-based teaching of public health professionals are discussed.

Correlates of sexual satisfaction were identified in a sample of older married women. A 70-item questionnaire was mailed to an age-stratified sample of 5,000 married persons, including 1,000 married women over the age of 50. Usable questionnaires were received from 148 participants (14.8% return rate). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis, using sexual satisfaction as the dependent variable, yield ed five predictor variables that accounted for a significant portion of the variation in sexual satisfaction (Cumulative R-2 = .73). These results serve as a reminder that sexual interactions cannot be compartmentalized but must be considered within the context of the overall marriage relationship. Given the low return rate, interpretations should be limited until replication with an adequate sample has been completed.

Occupational segregation by race and gender, though less common now than in the past, continues to be the norm rather than the exception in the sport industry. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, occupational segregation on the baseball playing field, often referred to as stacking, was discussed in light of human capital and social closure theories. Second, an attempt was made to replicate and extend a multivariate analysis of stacking by Margolis and Piliavin (1999) that challenges the dominant social science paradigm for explaining stacking. The present study uses more recent data than the Margolis and Piliavin study, as well as multinomial logistic regression analysis. The results reveal that stacking persists in Major League Baseball. They also reveal that the effect of race/ethnicity on assignments to playing positions is reduced when one controls for skills and physical characteristics such as speed and power hitting. The implications of this finding for sport management are examined.

Objective: To examine whether an educational intervention that focused on physician communication training influenced physician ernpathic expression during patient interactions. Methods: This study used a quantitative research method to investigate the influence of communication training on physician-expressed empathy using two measures (global and hierarchical) of physician empathic behavior. Results: The differences in global empathy scores in the physician training group from baseline to follow-up improved by 37%, and hierarchical scores of physician empathic expression improved by up to 51% from baseline scores for the same group. Conclusions: The results strongly supported the hypotheses that training made a significant difference in physician empathic expression during patient interactions demonstrated by both outside observer measures of global ratings and hierarchical ratings of physician empathic behavior. Practice implications: These findings have significant implications for program design and development in medical education and professional training with the potential to improve patient outcomes. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The introduction of conscience clauses after the 1973 US Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade allowed physicians and nurses to opt out of medical procedures, particularly abortions, to which they were morally opposed. In recent years pharmacists have requested the same consideration with regard to dispensing some medicines. This paper examines the pharmacists' role and their professional and moral obligations to patients in the light of recent refusals by pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives. A review of John Rawls's concepts of the “original position” and the “veil of ignorance”, along with consideration of the concept of compartmentalisation, are used to assess pharmacists' requests and the moral and legal rights of patients to have their prescriptive needs met.

In the United States, the number of HIV/AIDS cases among women of color is increasing, with African American women now comprising 60% of all female AIDS cases. Scholars have attributed this imbalance to social factors. The aim of this study was to explore the impact that relationship power has on heterosexual women's ability to practice safer sex. Five focus groups were conducted with 24 African American women, aged 18-57 years, residing in public housing in rural North Carolina over a six-month period in 2000. Findings suggest that women maintain their independence, despite inequities in relationship power and remain strong to make a better life for their families. Recommendations are made to promote and build upon this social identity that women have in order to help them practice healthier behaviors.

The influence of health and socioeconomic status on perceptions of aging and adaptation strategies of older African/Caribbean-American women was examined. Responses of 38 women (average age = 77.3 years) to: “What do you like and dislike about growing old?” and To what would you attribute your long life? were analyzed. Respondents were classified as: financially independent/healthy, financially dependent/healthy, financially independent/not healthy and financially dependent/not healthy. Narratives revealed declining health and restricted financial resources limited perceptions of opportunities for well-being. Despite differences in health and financial status, groups had some common strategies: avoiding risk behaviors, holding moral beliefs, optimism, altruism and spirituality. It was concluded that health and socioeconomic status had some influence on perceptions of aging and adaptation strategies.

Research has shown that service-learning can increase student-learning outcomes across various disciplines. Service-learning opportunities have been steadily increasing in college settings, especially in health-related fields. This evaluation of an undergraduate public health course at a mid-size, public university in New England sought to understand the impact of service-learning on material retention, internships, and post-graduation public health careers. A 25-item questionnaire was emailed to students who took the course between the Fall 2010 and Spring 2016 semesters with 75 completed (33.3% completion rate). More than half of the respondents noted that their participation in a service-learning project positively affected their internship experience, their first post-graduation job, and their overall career, while also helping them retain the course material after graduation. Open-ended responses provided insight to the qualitative responses. Respondents noted that in addition to having the understanding and ability to put on programs in their community, they also had more confidence in their abilities. The opportunity to practice public speaking skills as well as work collaboratively in group settings, were both noted as essential skills needed to succeed in the public health workforce. It was concluded the project had a positive impact on student's learning and retention in planning, implementing, and evaluating an actual health promotion program as well as how they were able to use those skills in their careers., (C)2021Sage Publications