Browsing by Subject "Mental and Social Health"
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Item 2011 Bibliography of Publications(2012-06-13) Mason, Tim; Lindsey, MarylouiseItem A Cost Analysis of Tuberculosis and its Prevention in Tarrant County, Texas(2007-05-01) Miller, Thaddeus L.; Scott McNabb; Peter Hilsenrath; Jotam PasipanodyaMiller, Thaddeus L. A Cost Analysis of Tuberculosis and its Prevention in Tarrant County, Texas. Doctor of Public Health (Health Management and Policy), May 2007, 232 pp., 29 tables, 2 illustrations, bibliography, 274 titles. Tuberculosis cost has been incompletely described as the cost arising from acute illness and treatment. The societal cost of tuberculosis arises from infection, suspicion of infection, acute and preventive responses, the sequalae of illness (including acute morbidity, drug induced hepatitis, mortality, and disability), and the compounding effects of transmission. This societal cost in unknown however the variable portion of this cost is equivalent to the savings made possible by averting tuberculosis, This study measured the societal cost of tuberculosis in Tarrant County, Texas, for the year 2002. Societal costs were estimated as the sum of known or estimated expenditures and health losses related to tuberculosis and discounted at 3%. Current and future costs will accrue to an estimated net $33.9 2002 USD million for the year 2002 in Tarrant County, Texas. An average of 1.4 QALYs net of 3% social discount were lost per incident case. The greatest burdens of tuberculosis, when analyzed by either cost or health quality, can be averted only by case prevention. Forty-three and 44% of societal cost was generate by secondary transmission and chronic impairment associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. Neither factor is routinely considered in discussions of tuberculosis cost. Acute treatment, hospitalization and direct medical care account for only 2.4% of societal cost. Any intervention that prevents one tuberculosis case will prevent at least a net $295,182 (2002 USD) and individual health quality losses averaging 1.4 net QALYs.Item A Mixed Methods Approach to the Definition of Family Health Promotion Practices for Mexican Sonoran Mothers(2006-12-01) Montiel-Carbajal, Maria Martha; Sue LurieMontiel-Carbajal, Maria M., A Mixed Methods Approach to the Definition of Family Health Promotion Practices for Mexican Sonoran Mothers. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), December 2006, 143 pp., 14 tables, 1 illustration, bibliography, 55 titles. The purpose of this research was to study the family health promotion practices of a sample of Mexican mothers living in the state of Sonora Mexico through a concurrent mixed method approach that included (1) a qualitative component with face to face and in-depth interviews, investigator observations, and analysis of content; (2) a quantitative component consisting of statistical analysis of data from selected selections of the National Survey for the Evaluation of Health Services 2002-2003. For the qualitative component 15 mothers, with mean age of 40 years, mean years of education of 10 years, living with their families were selected to form a purposive sample, and assigned to one of three groups: married working mothers, non-married working mothers, or married non-working mothers. The qualitative component was naturalistic and descriptive using semi-structured interviews with the mothers, and individual questionnaires to collect demographic and housing information. The quantitative component used the survey responses provided by the database of the National Survey for the Evaluation of Health Services 2002-2003, from 404 female adults age 18 and older, living in the urban zone of Sonora. The qualitative component showed that mothers conceptualize the health status of the family as a priority. The specific practices they use depend on the set of external resources and internal strengths of the family in order to overcome the physical, environmental, relational, or economic barriers they found to the promotion of health practices. The participants also reported being unsatisfied with the access and quality of the social health care system. The data from the quantitative component showed that Mexican Sonoran women living in the urban area reported having good health and felt satisfied with their health status; their satisfaction with the social health care system was fair. The group of non-married working mothers was detected to be more at risk for cardiovascular diseases due to a greater proportion of smokers and drinking paired with low amount of exercise. The results provided valuable information to formulate health promotion programs and future policies to be implemented with the target population.Item An Assessment of Treatment Outcomes and Perceptions of Care Amongst a Female Dual Diagnosis Population in Texas(2005-05-21) Garza, Monica J.; Doug A. Mains; T.J. Fairchild; Kristine LykensGarza, Monica J., An Assessment of Treatment Outcomes and Perceptions of Care Amongst a Female Dual Diagnosis Population in Texas. Master of Public Health (Management and Policy), May 2005, 109 pp., 42 Figures, 62 bibliography titles. The purpose of this study was to examine substance abuse services for the female population in Texas to ascertain whether a relationship existed between treatment settings, the severity of specified populations, and reported attitudes/perceptions of care. The study assessed sixty-four variables using an IRB-approved four-page survey instrument completed by 239 women receiving substance abuse treatment at outpatient and residential treatment settings. Statistical analyses included independent sample t-tests, correlations, and descriptive findings. The study found that the outpatient population of women surveyed a greater level of treatment satisfaction. Both study hypotheses were rejected. These evaluations will help Texas policy analysts, acknowledge a greater need for substance abuse trend studies.Item Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action to Female Adolescent Sexual Behavior(2000-05-01) Gilbert-Cronen, Vanessa S.; Rene, Antonio; Goldfarb, Ronald H.; Urrutia-Rojas, XimenaGilbert-Cronen, Vanessa S., Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action to Female Adolescent Sexual Behavior. Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences), May, 2000, 143pp., 25 tables, 8 illustrations, references, 170 titles. Objectives. This study evaluated the Theory of Reasoned Actions for its effectiveness in the prediction of the sexual intercourse intentions of a group of female high school adolescents. An expanded model which included a self-esteem measure was also assessed for its contribution to the model. Additionally, six-month follow up data was used to determine whether sexual intercourse intention predicted reported sexual behavior at follow-up. Methods. Data from the National Urban Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (NUAPPP), a longitudinal study conducted in 1997 and 1998 was used for this study. Tenth grade adolescent high school females (n=235) from two sites in Texas were selected to conduct a partial test of the Theory of Reasoned Action. The TRA model constructs attitudes and subjective norm were operationalized so that beliefs about sexual intercourse, attitudes towards pregnancy, perceived sexual beliefs about friends and parental communication beliefs were evaluated for their individual and combined effectiveness in the prediction of sexual intercourse intention. Results. Logistic analysis of individual model components showed significant associations between sexual beliefs (OR=5.75; 95% CI = 2.75, 11.98), pregnancy attitudes (OR=3.14; 95% CI=1.53, 6.44) perceived friend’s beliefs (OR=3.97; 95% CI = 1.57, 10.04) and sexual intercourse intention. When combined as a model, only sexual beliefs remained a significant predictor of intention (OR=4.02; 95% CI=1.79, 9.04). Evaluation of external variables showed past behavior to be a significant predictor of sexual intercourse intention (OR=32.59; 95% CI=12.56, 84.53). Conclusions. This study found the Theory of Reasoned Action to be inadequate in the prediction of adolescent female sexual intercourse intentions. The facts that individual constructs were significant predictors indicates a need for further research to understand the relationships between attitudes, beliefs, intention and behavior.Item Autism: Association Between Autism and Parenting Stress(2009-12-01) Banini, Simon D.; Bae, SejongAutism is a developmental disorder, whose etiology is still an active research. Objectives of this study are to identify: risk factors of parenting stress; statistical tools for analysis and interpretations of data to ascertain and reinforce risk factors; and recommendations to mitigate parenting stress of autistic children. Data: National Survey of Children with Special Care Needs (NS-CSHCN), 2005-06. Analysis was performed on NS-CSHCN (n=40,723). Among parents with autistic children (n=2,123), the highest adjusted odds of stress were reported associated with primary language (OR= 9.44), insurance (OR=0.34), and Respite care (OR=3.71). Parents with non-autistic children (n=38,133) was the reference population with 467 missing values. Recommendations: Re-evaluation to improve provider language services especially for CSHCN; Family centered public health delivery rather than patient-provider interactive approach.Item Behavioral Disturbances, Chronic Pain, and Cognitive Impairment in Long-Term Care Centers(2004-07-01) Ambavaram, Sukanya; Cipher, Daisha J.; Bayona, Manuel; Coggin, ClaudiaAmbavaram, Sukanya. Behavioral Disturbances, Chronic Pain, and Cognitive Impairment in Long-Term Care. Master of Public Health, July 2004, 45 pp., 8 tables, references. Background- There is increasing interest in finding the relationship between pain, depression, behavioral disturbances and cognitive impairment in patients living in long-term care centers and predicting behavioral disturbances using chronic pain, depression and cognitive impairment as predictors. To date this is the first study identifying the relationship between pain and behavioral problems. Methods- The study population consisted of 412 residents living in 16 long-term care centers in Dallas, TX. Pearson product-moment Correlation was done to find the association between behavioral disturbances and pain, depression and cognitive factors. Multiple regression analysis was performed to obtain best predictors of behavioral disturbances and forward selection procedure to find out best fit model. Conclusion- Statistically significant correlation was achieved between behavioral excess and overall pain. The correlation was statistically significant between behavioral deficit and overall pain, activity interference and depression. Overall pain, activity interference and depression are significantly inter-correlated with each other. Over all pain and activity interference were found to be statistically significant predictors of behavioral excess. Overall pain was found to be statistically significant predictor of behavioral deficit.Item Body Image, Depressed Mood, Weight Concerns, and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Female Adolescents(2006-05-01) Marshall, Khiya J.Marshall, Khiya J., Body Image, Depressed Mood, Weight Concerns, and Risky Sexual Behaviors among Female Adolescents. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), May 2006, 75 pp., 17 tables, bibliography, 90 titles. Adolescence is a time of self-discovery and growth, both emotionally and physically, particularly for adolescent females. The literature lacks specific research pertaining to female adolescent females. The literature lacks specific research pertaining to female adolescent’s body image and other concerns and their association with risky sexual behaviors. Using secondary data from the 2003 Dallas Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS; 9th-12th grade), this study explored the relationship between body image, having a depressed mood, and weight control behaviors and how these may translate into risky sexual behaviors among Dallas Independent School District (DISD) adolescent females. Most respondents were African American and Hispanic. The main hypotheses were: a) African American and Hispanic adolescent females will be more likely to have a depressed mood, an unrealistic body image, or weight control behaviors compared to Caucasian adolescent females; and b) Adolescents with unrealistic body image, depressed mood, and weight control behaviors will be more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, regardless of race or ethnicity. As hypothesized, more African American and Hispanic adolescents had a depressed mood, and more Hispanics had an unrealistic body image compared to Caucasians. The hypothesis that depressed mood and unrealistic body image would be significant predictors of engaging in risky sexual behaviors was corroborated only for depressed mood. Engaging in weight control, although hypothesized as not a significant predictor, was a significant predictor for using alcohol/drugs before his last sexual intercourse. School-based sexual education programs that target adolescent females in DISD should focus on abstinence or consistent condom use if sexually active, weight control behaviors, and depressed mood and its implications.Item Differences in Risk of Injury Between Stimulant-Treated and Untreated ADHD Patients(2006-08-01) Segars, Larry W.; Raghbir Sandhu; Krisine LykensSegars, Larry W., Differences in Risk of Injury between Stimulant-Treated and Untreated ADHD Patients. Doctor of Public Health (Epidemiology), August 2006, 63 pp, 7 tables, 0 illustrations, references, 78 titles. ADHD is a common psychiatric disorder of childhood and adolescence that also occurs in adults and spans the life of the patient. ADHD is characterized by lack of focus, distractibility, and poor concentration. Limited data have been generated focusing on ADHD patients and the association with an increased risk of injury. Unfortunately, no study has been published evaluating the effect of stimulant treatment for ADHD on the risk of injury requiring ambulatory medical care. This research utilized four concatenated years, specifically 1998-2001, of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). This dissertation is comprised of five chapters beginning with a description of ADHD, its characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment. This overview chapter is followed by a complete review of the literature describing the publication’s which assessed the association between ADHD and the risk of injury. The next chapter is a thorough review of the NAMCS and its methodology. The concatenated dataset captured 889 office visits associated with a diagnosis of ADHD, 666 of which were also related to the prescription of a stimulant for the management of ADHD. Using NAMCS’s weight variable these values produced a national estimate of 21,223,391 office visits associated with the ADHD diagnosis and 15,604,329 office visits associated with the prescription of a stimulant for ADHD. This research determined that there was a borderline statistically significant increased association with the prescription of a stimulant for the treatment of ADHD and the risk of injury requiring treatment in an ambulatory medical care setting. Interestingly, compared to patient’s who recorded their race as Caucasian, patients who recorded their race as “Other”; representing the races of Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native, and individuals indicating more than one race, had a statistically significant increased risk of injury necessitating treatment in an ambulatory medical care setting. Potential theories for this unique finding, along with the limitations of this research, are provided in the final discussion chapter.Item Discriminative and Negative Reinforcing Properties of the Periaqueductal Gray and the Medial Hypothalamus(1994-12-01) Jung, Marianna E.; Emmett-Oglesby, Michael W.; Yorio, ThomasMarianna Eunsun, Jung, Discriminative and Negative Reinforcing Properties of Electrical brain stimulation of the Periaqueductal Gray and the Medial Hypothalamus. Master of Science [Biomedical Sciences, (Pharmacology)], December, 1994, 123 pp., 24 figures, references, 137 titles. Electrical brain stimulation (EBS) of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and the medial hypothalamus (MH) is known to serve as a discriminative and a negative reinforcing stimulus (NRS). Using a two-lever food reinforced discrimination paradigm and a switch-off paradigm, the present study investigated the effects of anxiolytic drugs and an anxiogenic drug on these stimulus effects. A prototypic anxiogenic, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) potentiated both discriminative stimulus and NRS effects, whereas the full benzodiazepine (BZD) agonist diazepam (DZP), the partial BZD agonist abecarnil (ABC) and 5-HT1A agonist buspirone (BUS, chronic regimen) attenuated a NRS effect. A BZD antagonist, flumazenil (FLU) blocked the effects of DZP and ABC on the NRS effects. DZP failed to attenuate the discriminative stimulus effect. Thus, present study extended the use of a switch-off paradigm to detect novel anxiolytic ABC (putative) and BUX as well as an anxiogenic PTZ. In addition, under the condition used in this study, the use of NRS in a switch-off paradigm more reliably detected both anxiolytic drugs and an anxiogenic drug than the use of discriminative stimulus in a two-lever food reinforced paradigm.Item Eating Disorders: Best Age for Education and Prevention(2004-05-01) Chasmawala, Jayshri R.; Susan Franks; Susan Eve; Muriel MarshallChasmawala, Jayshri R., Eating Disorders: Best Age for Prevention and Education. Master of Public Health (Dual Degree D.O./M.P.H.), May 2004, 22 pp., 11 tables, 6 illustrations, references, 16 titles. Objective: This study attempts to determine the best age to design a prevention program to prevent the development of eating disorders based on adolescents’ behavior and attitudes towards eating disorders. Methods: Forty students aged 11-17 answered a self-reported questionnaire regarding dieting and weight, identification of emotional states, and general awareness of eating disorders. Age group divided the sample: 13 years of age and younger; and 14 years of age and older. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine existence of any differences between the populations. Results: An overall difference in the age groups exists with statistic significance. The difference in mean values of interoceptive awareness is statistically significant between the age groups. Conclusion: Interoceptive Awareness, not awareness level of eating disorders, is more indicative of the best age for prevention. Younger age children may benefit more from prevention due to lack of emotional maturity which leads to higher risk of development of eating disorders.Item Establishing the Effects of Exercise Schema and Self-Schema on Emotional Distress(2003-08-01) Rodriguez, Leslie R.; Claudia Coggin; Joseph Doster; Daisha CipherRodriguez, Leslie R., BSN, RN, Establishing the Effects of Exercise Schema and Self-Schema on Emotional Distress. Masters of Public Health (Health Behavior), August 2003, 78 pp., 4 tables, references, 81 titles. Chronic diseases’ resulting from anger and depression represents a significant problem. Vast amounts of resources and dollars are expended and utilized. Their link to the development of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes is recognized. Physical activity produces improvements in self-esteem, increased alertness, and decreased anxiety. The purpose of this study was determining the effect exercise and exercise schema has on mood states. College age students (N=198) of a large North Texas University were recruited. Data collection included States of change, the Exerciser self-schema questionnaire, Clinical Analysis Questionnaire, and the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Significance in some mood states of those who were exercising and exercise schematic were found.Item Evaluating the Sustainability of THE NORTH TEXAS SALUD PARA SU CORAZON PROGRAM: Effects of the Program on Promotores and the Partner Organizations(2008-05-01) Kourosh, Elham Rastegar; Lurie, Sue; Balcazar, Hector; Hollen, MaryKourosh, Elham R., Evaluating the Sustainability of the NORTH TEXAS SALUD PARA SU CORAZON PROGRAM: Effects of the Program on Promotores and the Partner Organizations. Doctor of Public Health, May 2008, 117 pp., 1 table, bibliography, 47 titles. In the light of the rapid growth of the Latino population in Texas, the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotion programs for Latinos is becoming apparent. It is essential that these programs address CVD prevention for this population, since the results of an assessment conducted by the City of Fort Worth in 1998 confirmed that the Latino population in the area is heavily burdened by CVD risk factors such as diabetes and lack of physical activity. It is also important, in light of limited resources for health promotion, that the community health impacts of such programs be sustainable. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the sustainability of the North Texas Salud Para Su Corazon program, by examining two major elements of the program for sustainability: (1) the professional development and work-related experiences of the promotores who participated during the 3 years of operation of the program, and (2) the continuation of the activites that were supported by the network of community partner organizations during the initial period. North Texas Salud Para Su Corazon was a heart health promotion program which trained and mobilized promotores in the Fort Worth area from 2001 to 2004. Guided interviews with a key informant (project director), 14 promotores, and nine partner organization representatives were analyzed using qualitative methods and showed that project activities and effects endured beyond the funding period of the project. Promotores continued to disseminate heart health information after the end of the project, and organizational structures are evolving to support promotora activities, enabling the health effects of the project to continue in the community. Recommendations were made for further support of these activities and included university sponsored studies of the promotores’ work, annual conferences and award ceremonies highlighting their service, and the development of funding for continuous education and job creation programs involving promotores in the health care sector.Item Evaluation of Mental Health Association of Tarrant County's School Based Mental Health Curriculum: Focus Group and Results(2005-04-01) Nanji-Bhai, Anila K.; Sue Lurie; Claudia S. Coggin; Kristine LykensNanji-Bhai, Anila K., Evaluation of Mental Health Association of Tarrant County’s School Based Mental Health Curriculum: Focus Group and Results. Master of Public Health (Community Health), April 2005, 31 pp., references. There are presently numerous research findings that indicate the need for mental health education among the adolescent population within the United States. In the last decade, tragedies such as the Columbine school shooting, and most recently the Red Lake school shootings in Minnesota point to the fact that adolescents are facing mental pressures and need assistance. In this study, a mental health curriculum, developed by the Mental Health Association of Tarrant County, was examined through the use of focus groups. The group was asked to analyze and comment on the curriculum, as to the age-appropriateness, the “appeal,” and to suggest improvements or revisions. The qualitative data that was gathered was analyzed using NVivo. Results showed a strong opposition to this type of program being brought into the school setting. As the focus group sessions continued however, the curriculum was adapted based on the participants’ comments and suggestions. In the end, the curriculum was accepted by the participants as a program that would be welcomed in schools. Conclusions were that when the proposed curriculum was modified according to the focus group participants’ comments and suggestions; particularly concerning TEKS objectives, the curriculum became more acceptable and a viable opportunity for the school districts.Item Factors Associated with Difficulty in Using the Community Based Services among Children with Special Health Care Needs(2009-12-01) Talasila, Sreelakshmi; Karan SinghDespite various advances in the health care system, children with special health care needs (CSHCN) face difficulty in accessing required services. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with difficulty in using community based services, individual barriers and institutional barriers for CSHCN. Data were obtained from National Survey of CSHCN 2005-06. The Andersen Health Behavioral Model was used to identify predisposing, enabling and need factors. Logistic regression was performed. Education, region, race/ethnicity, number of children, insurance and satisfaction with services were associated with community based services. Results suggest functional limitations and severity of illness are associated with difficulty in using community based services. Further investigation is required to improve health care system.Item Factors that Motivate Hispanics to Attend Church-Based Health Interventions(2006-05-01) Sanchez, Mary-Katherine; Gonzalez, Adela; Lykens, Kristine; Lurie, SueSanchez, Mary-Katherine, Factors that Motivate Hispanics to Participate in Church-Based Health Interventions. Doctor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), May 2006, 80 p.p., 1 table, bibliography, 62 titles. One of the most important demographic trends taking place in the United States today is the rapid growth of the Hispanic/Latino population (Kostin, 2004). Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority group in the United States (Documet Sharma, 2004; United States Census Bureau, 2003). This rapid growth will have a major impact on social, political and economic issues as well as on the health of the people in the United States (Kostin, 2004). Throughout the country, church-based health interventions are being offered to individuals of differing cultural and ethnic backgrounds, however, retention of participants is often low. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine the roles that social and behavioral factors play in motivating Hispanics to attend church-based health interventions. The study used qualitative methods. Focus groups were conducted at two church sites that were participants in the fall 2005 American Heart Association De Corazon a Corazon program with the highest retention rate of participating parishes. Both focus groups were audio-recorded, and recordings and field notes were then used to translate and transcribe the collected data. All data were entered into NVivo and coded to identify important themes and concepts. Results identified key identified motivating factors that included familiarity with setting, desire to improve health, need to gain information, knowing others in the group, social and motivational factors, monetary benefits such as free health screenings and workshops and questions being answered in Spanish. It was determined that social factors play a major role in motivating Hispanics to attend church-based health interventions. Through increasing our knowledge of motivational factors and influences on Hispanics to attend a church-based intervention, more effective health prevention and intervention programs can be designed and implemented in an effort to better reach this growing minority population and lessen the burden of minority health disparities. This is an area of research that needs to be further examined in order to prevent growing health disparities among the Hispanic population.Item Health Risk, Behavior and Attitudes of Urban African American Men Toward Prostate Cancer Screening(2006-05-01) Samuel, Prattus; Sue Lurie; Kristine Lykens; Sejong BaeSamuel, Prauttus K., Health Risk, Behavior and Attitudes of Urban African American Men Toward Prostate Screening. Master of Public Health (Community Health), May 20, 2006, 84 pp., 10 tables, 1 illustration, 72 references. In Texas, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among non-Hispanic whites and African American (AA) males. This thesis addresses the research questions: what psycho-social characteristics associated with men who participate in prostate screening? What psycho-social and clinical characteristics are associated with reported risk factors? Focus groups were conducted to identify attitudes, perceptions and health beliefs of African American men’s early detection behavior. Existing data from a prostate screening program in Dallas County, Texas was analyzed to determine associations of demographic variables, risk factors variables and screening participation for each subgroup with AA as the group of interest. Comparison of responses and data analysis provided the framework for a conceptual model.Item Hispanic Female Adolescents at Risk for Suicide and the Use of Illicit Drugs(2006-10-01) Luncheon, CecilyLuncheon, Cecily. M.D., M.P.H. Hispanic Female Adolescents at Risk for Suicide and the Use of Illicit Drugs. Doctor of Public Health, Fall 2006, 88 p.p., 31 tables, bibliography, 77 titles. This study examines the hypothesis that Latina adolescents in high school who were at risk for suicide are more likely to use illicit drugs than Non-Latinas in high school who are at risk for suicide. Data was analyzed from the 2003 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavioral Survey. A national sample of 9th-12th grades students participated in a self-administrated questionnaire at school. The study who conducted based on 6,826 Hispanic/Latinas, black, non-Hispanic and white, non-Hispanic female adolescents. Three at risk for suicide, nine frequent illicit drugs and three controlling variables were chosen to conduct the study. Chi-square test assessed the significant of difference between races and binary logistic regression models were utilized to estimate the association between at risk for suicide and drug use. Among the three race/ethnicities who were at risk for suicide, Hispanic/Latinas had the highest drug use prevalence. The first logistic regression model that seriously consider attempting suicide were associated with Latinas (OR= 1/0.68 [95% CI, 1/0.53-1/0/87]), suburban youth (1.28 [1.02-1.63]), marijuana (1.79 [1.49-2.16]), inhalants (2.58 [1/46-3.28]), and steroids without MD’s prescription (1.98 [1.32-2.99]). The second logistic regression model established that those who made a suicide plan were associated with Latinas (OR=1/0.66 [95% CI, 1/0.48-1/0.91]), marijuana (1.40 [1.00-1.95]), inhalants (3.18 [2.05-3.79]), methamphetamines (2.21 [1.42-3.76]), and used a needle to inject any illegal drug (4.24 [1.29-12.66]). While the third logistic regression model found that attempted suicide were associated with Latinas (OR= 1/0.67 [95% CI, 1/0.48-1/0.94]), 11th and 12th grades (0.66 [0.46-0.94]) and (0.40 [0.27-0.60]), marijuana 2.50 [1.99-3.16]), cocaine (1.67 [1.09-2.58]), inhalants (2.69 [1.89-3.82]), methamphetamines, taken steroids without MD’s prescription (1.95 [1.12-3.40]) and used a needle to inject any illegal drug (4.30 [1.16-15.87]). Greater awareness about the physical and mental health status of Latinas are needed to ensure that good mental health programs are available for Latina adolescents.Item Hooper Visual Organization Test (VOT) as a Predictor of Driving Status of Individuals with Dementia(2004-04-01) Budd, Margaret Anne; Doug A. Main; Susan FranksHooper Visual Organization Test (VOT) (Hooper, 1983) items were correlated with driving status of geriatric individuals with dementia to help screen for high-risk drivers. A retrospective review of 87 medical chart on patients, 60-91 years, who underwent a neurocognitive evaluation at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas, with a complete VOT, driving status, dementia diagnosis, and demographic descriptors (age, gender, marital status) were selected for analysis. Of the 55.2% participants who reported a current driving status, VOT scores ranged: 20.8% normal, 43.8% mildly impaired, 31.3% moderately impaired, and 4.2% severely impaired. An item analysis was followed by direct logistic regression analysis which correctly predicted 85% of the drivers and 74% of the nondrivers with an overall success rate of 80.5% (p=.001). The Wald criterion selected 4 VOT items as reliably predicting driving status: items 6 (hammer), 19 (teapot/pitcher), 22 (mouse), and 25 (block). Models run with gender and/or marital status was not reliably different. These 4 items may add to a brief screening test to identify drivers with dementia potentially at risk. In addition, the large number of current drivers scoring in the impaired range suggests that individuals, their families and others are not intervening with driving behavior, possibly placing the individuals and public at risk.Item Interactive Effects of Mental and Physical Stress on Cardiovascular Control(1998-08-01) Westerholm, Erin Carpenter; Smith, Michael; Raven, Peter B.; Shi, XiangrongWesterholm, Erin C., Interactive Effects of Mental and Physical Stress on Cardiovascular Control. Master of Science (Biomedical Sciences, Integrative Physiology), August, 1998, 42 pp., 1 table, 13 figures, 35 references. Mental task and exercise often occur together. Physiological responses to each of these stressors have been studied independently, yet the interactive effects of these stressors are unknown. Hypothesis: Combined mental and physical stress will produce a synergistic interaction. Methods: Twelve healthy subjects were studied by measuring cardiovascular responses to five minutes of static left handgrip alone (25-35% of maximal handgrip strength), mental arithmetic alone, and combined stimuli in random order. Sympathetic nerve activity (SNA, microneurography), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP, Finapres), heart rate (HR, ECG), and vascular resistance (Doppler) were measured. Results: Physical and combined stressors significantly changed SNA, MAP, HR, and FVR. SNA responses to handgrip and the combined stimuli exceeded responses to mental arithmetic alone (p [less than] 0.05), yet no significant difference existed between responses to handgrip alone and the combined stimuli (p=0.33). The three stimuli increased heart rate similarity (p [less than] 0.0006). Conclusion: The data refuted the hypothesis: mental task did not synergistically interact or even add to the stress response elicited by handgrip exercise. Thus these data suggest that mental task and static exercise interact in a redundant manner.