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Mass communication health campaign messages play critical roles in public health, yet studies show mixed effectiveness in reaching and impacting underserved populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of using visual and participatory research techniques toward health message development targeting older Hispanic women. Demographic information and levels of physical activity were first obtained in a sample of older Mexican women (n= 23; ages 71.9 ± 7.6 years) living in the city of Chicago. Perceptions of physical activity were then assessed using a visual research method known as photo-elicitation. Health message concepts promoting physical activity were developed with a subsample of the target population using a participatory approach. Photo-elicitation helped develop a unique understanding into the many factors impacting physical activity among older Mexican women. Follow-up in-depth interviews provided detailed narratives that (a) built upon visual data and (b) identified characteristic differences between physically active and inactive women. Ultimately, these findings were beneficial in constructing new, culturally tailored message concepts. Findings suggest that this method may be a valuable tool in the development of mass communication health messages, extracting rich and meaningful data from target audiences while fostering a sense of partnership between researchers and community members. Tailoring and improving the message design process around the needs of underserved populations is essential in the effort to eliminate the burden of health disparities. This study uses innovative interdisciplinary research techniques to explore new approaches to public health communication in underserved populations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: This qualitative study examines home visitors' perspectives on their practical attempts to establish and maintain relationships with clients while also maintaining fidelity to their evidence-based program model. Drawing from a sample of 85 home visitors from three types of evidence-based home visitation programs in Illinois, our results demonstrate that home visitors often feel compelled to adjust the program curriculum to clients' perceived needs. Home visitors also feel that in order to establish and maintain relationships with clients they need to be flexible in working days and working hours, accept alternative meeting places, use cell phones and text messaging, and address crisis situations before presenting the curriculum. Although they acknowledged paperwork as being important to support fidelity, they also perceived it as harming the natural course of relationships or devaluing the importance of relationships in successful programs. State budget cuts, which led to local program instability, also emerged as a barrier to relationships. The cuts discouraged home visitors from using flexible practices within the context of model fidelity. This paper offers a framework for understanding the tensions between relationships and fidelity and discusses implications for policy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between state vocational rehabilitation counselors' efficacy for executing counseling skills and successful client outcomes (Status 26). Results of negative binominal regression models indicate that neither a linear nor non-linear relationship exists between efficacy for counseling skills and successful client outcomes (N =166). However, efficacy for counseling microskills (e.g., paraphrasing, confrontation) and efficacy for handling difficult client behavior (e.g., clients that lack motivation, clients in crisis) were positively correlated with successful client outcomes. Counselor age was positively associated with self-efficacy levels. Implications for rehabilitation counseling practice are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigated how parents living with HIV/AIDS communicate about HIV prevention with their 10- to 18-year-old children. Semistructured interviews with 76 mothers and fathers were analyzed for (a) their experiences discussing HIV prevention with adolescents and (b) advice for other parents about how to best broach HIV-related topics. Interactive conversations were regarded as particularly effective. A five-step process for interactive communication emerged as a result of these discussions. Parents emphasized that adolescents should have a “voice” and a “choice” in HIV-related talks. Health care professionals can facilitate adolescent sexual health by encouraging parents to actively involve their children in discussions about HIV prevention. Future HIV prevention programs could benefit by providing parents with appropriate tools to foster interactive discussions about sexual health with adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We examine whether teachers' communicator style relates to student engagement, teacher-student relationships, student perceptions of teacher immediacy, as well as observer ratings of delivery skills during the implementation of All Stars, a middle school-based substance use prevention program. Data from 48 teachers who taught All Stars up to 3 consecutive years and their respective seventh-grade students (n = 2,240) indicate that having an authoritative communication style is negatively related to student engagement with the curriculum and the quality of the student-teacher relationship, while having an expressive communicator style improves teachers' immediacy to student needs. Adaptations made by a subsample of teachers (n = 27) reveal that those who were more expressive asked students more questions, used more motivational techniques, and introduced more new concepts than authoritarian teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Children with CHARGE syndrome often experience significantly delayed motor development, which affects their performance in many motor skills and physical activities. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of physical education provided to children with CHARGE syndrome. There were five main areas of focus: (1) physical education setting, (2) modes of communication, (3) modifications, (4) successful units, and (5) difficult units in physical education. Methods: A validated questionnaire was completed by 26 parents of children aged 6-19 with CHARGE syndrome who were attending an international CHARGE conference for families. The questionnaire was used as the primary source to obtain parents' perspectives on the physical education experiences of their children with CHARGE syndrome. The results of the feedback from parents were used to offer practical suggestions for physical education programming. Results: The results revealed that the physical education placement affects children's success and parents' satisfaction with regard to physical education. Also, children who had support staff, such as a teacher's aide, paraeducator, or intervenor in physical education had a more successful experience. A variety of communication methods were used with children with CHARGE syndrome. The physical education units that the parents documented as being successful were swimming, scooters, bowling, fencing, T-ball, dancing, rock climbing, floor hockey, field hockey, and gymnastics. The units that the children struggled with the most were fundamental motor skills, such as skipping, running, hopping, and any sports unit with a fast-moving ball. Discussion: Physical education placements, communication, and modifications must be individualized for each child with CHARGE syndrome. In addition, support staff must be trained specifically for the unique needs of a child and the core curricular area of physical education. Implications for Practitioners: Suggestions for improving the physical education program are included to increase children's involvement in class and success in the specific units that are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which utilized failure modes and effects analysis to evaluate handoff through a risk priority scoring process. The electronic medical record was used to standardize the handoff tool in situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) format for nurses and patient care technicians. The study found notable gains in patient satisfaction and nurse-sensitive outcomes before and after implementation of the process change.