Community outreach

Historically, contributions to scientific knowledge have been perceived as something that only professional scientists have the ability to affect. This has led to the belief that scientific pursuits are done not by everyday people but by individuals who have no connection to the communities that their discoveries might impact. DNA barcoding initiatives have the potential to bridge this gap. Community leaders, students, teachers, and other community members can come together with engaged scientists to solve relevant issues that affect them...

The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement Office has developed an algorithm to aid in identifying catchment area relevant trials. We have developed this tool to capture a catchment area (South Florida) that represents the most racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse region in the US. Unfortunately, the area's tumor burden is also significant with many notable disparities, necessitating a prioritization of trials within Sylvester's catchment area...

PURPOSE: Adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates continue to remain lower than other adolescent vaccines, both nationwide and in Iowa. This study examined predictors of missed opportunities for first-dose HPV vaccine administrations in Iowa in order to conduct more targeted outreach and improve adolescent HPV vaccine uptake. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to identify predictors of missed opportunities for first-dose HPV vaccination in Iowa adolescents using Iowa's Immunization Registry Information System...

Introduction Burn injuries are a major mechanism of trauma worldwide, caused by friction, cold, heat, radiation, chemical, or electric sources. Most often, burn injuries occur due to heat contact from hot liquids, solids, or fire, termed scald burns and flame burns, respectively. These types of injuries are complex and carry major injury and mortality risks, especially in pediatric populations. Burn trauma prevention has been a major focus in the US, with initiatives to increase public health outreach and safety measures...

INTRODUCTION: Robust digital and community-led approaches are needed to combat health misinformation, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such gaps in public health outreach, compounded by systemic health barriers, contributed to higher rates of COVID-19 infection, mortality, and mental health effects among Hispanics during the peak of the pandemic. Thus, we conducted a community-based art-meets-health intervention [Stay Connected Los Angeles (SCLA)] to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hispanic communities...

INTRODUCTION: The rise in global temperatures due to climate change has escalated the frequency and intensity of wildfires worldwide. Beyond their direct impact on physical health, these wildfires can significantly impact mental health. Conventional mental health studies predominantly rely on surveys, often constrained by limited sample sizes, high costs, and time constraints. As a result, there is an increasing interest in accessing social media data to study the effects of wildfires on mental health...

Visual representations of aging have historically relied upon binarized clichés: idealized youthfulness versus frailty and illness. To challenge these oversimplified depictions, graduate students developed a community outreach project titled 'Seniors of Canada'. The aim of this project was twofold: (1) share images and stories of people in later life; and (2) challenge dominant narratives and stereotypes of aging. In this note, we outline the prevailing discourse of what aging 'looks like', how we collected stories and images, and implications for knowledge mobilization and research in Canada...

BACKGROUND: In patients with or at risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease, statins reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events, but the majority of U.S. adults with an indication for statin therapy are not prescribed statins at guideline-recommended intensity. Clinicians' limited time to address preventative care issues is cited as one factor contributing to gaps in statin prescribing. Centralized pharmacy services can fulfill a strategic role for population health management through outreach, education, and statin prescribing for patients at elevated ASCVD risk, but best practices for optimizing referrals of appropriate patients are unknown...

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a leading contributor to the poor health and nutrition of young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Funding constraints are compelling many countries to shift from longstanding campaigns to integrating vitamin A supplementation (VAS) into routine health services. We assessed child VAS coverage and associated factors for integrated delivery systems in Mozambique, Senegal, and Sierra Leone and for a campaign-based delivery strategy in Tanzania. METHODS: Data were obtained using representative household surveys administered to primary caregivers of N = 16,343 children aged 6-59 months (Mozambique: N = 1,659; Senegal: N = 7,254; Sierra Leone: N = 4,149; Tanzania: N = 3,281)...

BACKGROUND: In recent years, health systems have expanded the focus on health equity to include health-related social needs (HRSNs) screening. Community health workers (CHWs) are positioned to address HRSNs by serving as linkages between health systems, social services, and the community. This study describes a health system's 12-month experience integrating CHWs to navigate HRSNs among primary care patients in Bronx County, NY. METHODS: We organized process and outcome measures using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) implementation framework domains to evaluate a CHW intervention of the Community Health Worker Institute (CHWI)...

BACKGROUND: Through pressure from funding and governing bodies, an audit culture invades the rhetoric of the dance medicine and science research community, leading to undue focus on justifying and legitimizing the holistic benefits of dancing. This paper critiques this hierarchical value system which disproportionately favors objective, generalizable, and quantitative research approaches still dominant in dance medicine and science, existing since the founding of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) in 1990...

This study analyzed data from a community-based prostate cancer (PCa) education and screening program (Prostate Outreach Project; POP) to enhance PCa-related knowledge among medically underserved Asian American men. It also examined PCa screening history, clinical abnormalities based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal examination (DRE) results, and follow-up and PCa diagnosis rates. Participants-521 Asian men (251 Vietnamese, 142 Chinese, and 128 South Asians)-were offered PCa screening using PSA tests and/or DRE and an educational session on PCa...

In the United States and elsewhere around the world, people with serious mental illness (SMI) are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Clinical interventions to divert such individuals out of correctional settings, including Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), have been shown to reduce rates of criminal justice recidivism when modified to allow for the use of court sanctions to encourage treatment adherence. However, these interventions are noted to be underutilized as alternative to incarceration (ATI) programs...

BACKGROUND: People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of infectious disease transmission due to congregate living conditions, barriers to healthcare, and excess burden of underlying chronic disease. OBJECTIVES: We are a multisectoral community-academic partnership working to address the intersecting crises of homelessness and health disparities in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. We offer key recommendations for infectious disease preparedness and risk mitigation for homeless populations based on our ongoing community-based participatory research and lessons learned through COVID-19 response and Monkeypox preparations...

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are disproportionately high among rural residents and Medicaid enrollees. OBJECTIVES: To address disparities, we used a modified community engagement approach, Boot Camp Translation (BCT). Research partners, an advisory board, and the rural community informed messaging about CRC outreach and a mailed fecal immunochemical test program. METHODS: Eligible rural patients (English-speaking and ages 50-74) and clinic staff involved in patient outreach participated in a BCT conducted virtually over two months...

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and are central to human, animal, environmental, and planetary health. They play a particularly important role in the food chain and the production of high-quality, safe, and health-promoting foods, especially fermented foods. This important role is not always apparent to members of the public. Here, we describe Kefir4All, a citizen science project designed to provide the general public with an opportunity to expand their awareness, knowledge, and practical skills relating to microbiology, introduced through the medium of producing fermented food, i...

In 2014, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) introduced the Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (MISEV) guidelines to establish standards for extracellular vesicle (EV) research. These guidelines aimed to enhance reliability and reproducibility, addressing the expanding field of EV science. EVs, membrane-bound particles released by cells, play crucial roles in intercellular communication and are potential biomarkers for various conditions. Over the years, the EV landscape witnessed a surge in publications, emphasizing their roles in cancer and immune modulation...

Many individuals with serious mental illness are at high risk for hospitalization or death due to inadequate treatment of medical conditions or unhealthy behaviors. The authors describe demographic and clinical characteristics associated with increased risk in this population. Electronic data were obtained for individuals in treatment at a large Veterans' healthcare system who were at high risk according to a validated model. A random sample of these individuals was assessed in person. Multivariable regressions estimated the effect of numerous demographic, health, and clinical characteristics on risk...

RATIONALE: The shift toward virtual academic detailing (AD) was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the role of external, contextual, and intrinsic programme-specific factors in virtual engagement of healthcare providers (HCPs) and delivery of AD. METHODS: AD groups throughout North America were contacted to participate in semistructured interviews. An interview guide was constructed by adapting the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)...

Cancer screening behaviors in Muslims are under-researched, and there is limited data on how it relates to their unique cultural and religious beliefs. We assessed cancer prevention and screening-related health needs in the Washington DC area. We developed the needs assessment questionnaires and recruitment strategy in collaboration with key faith leaders from four mosques in our catchment area. A total of 203 participants were recruited through community outreach and engagement approaches and were included in the discussion when developing the needs assessment to ensure questions were religiously and culturally sensitive...