Public Health Weblog
collected and organized
by
Laura Larsson
Clinical Faculty, SPHCM
University of Washington

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Alanna Shaikh's Blood and Milk: Public Health in Central Asia

Harry Rutter's Public Health Today
(Blog from the UK)
 eLearning Blogs

Online Learning Update Blog

Educational Technlogy

Online Higher Ed Notebook

eLearningpost
Internettime
More about Blogs and Their Variations

The Art of Blogging - Part 1
Overview, Definitions, Uses, and Implications
by

George Siemens.
December 1, 2002

The Art of Blogging - Part 2
Getting Started, "How To", Tools, Resources
December 6, 2002

From Weblog to Moblog
By
Justin Hall,
Nov 21 2002





June 2003

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June 30, 2003 11:25 AM


Translating Research Into Practice Conference

AHRQ is sponsoring a conference, "Translating Research Into Practice: What's Working? What's Missing? What's Next?" on July 22-24 in Washington, DC. What are the challenges faced when communicating with the public about the results of medical research on evidence-based practice in a way that is both accurate and understandable? How can researchers better use the media to publicize their findings? The 2003 TRIP conference includes two sessions that will consider these questions: "Disseminating and Interpreting the Evidence: The Role of Journalism" and "Disseminating and Interpreting the Evidence: The Role of Advertising." The first in a new annual series sponsored by AHRQ, the TRIP conference also will examine recent successes and current challenges in translating research into practice for patients, communities, physicians, practices, health care organizations, national and local governments, payers, educators and the media. Visit the Web site for more information.

Source: AHRQ Electronic Newsletter, May 30, 2003, Issue #100. Subscribe at: listserv@list.ahrq.gov.


New Evidence Report Summary on Cancer Control Interventions

AHRQ released a new evidence report on Diffusion and Dissemination of Evidence-based Cancer Control Interventions, which was prepared by AHRQ's McMaster University Evidence-based Practice Center. With the support of the National Cancer Institute, researchers examined evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to change behavior in five specific areas: adult smoking cessation, adult healthy diet, screening mammography, cervical cancer screening, and control of cancer pain. Generally, they found that passive approaches, such as mailing of materials to targeted populations, were ineffective. Active approaches, such as train-the trainer models, media campaigns, and educating opinion leaders, were more likely to be effective in promoting change. Select to access the summary.


M.H. West: A Planning and Consulting Firm

Occasionally it might be useful to know about a consulting firm. As I come across folks who provide consulting to public health folks, I'll include them in the blog.

M.H. West provides "consulting and technical services to boost performance and productivity in private and public sector businesses as well as individuals". Working with customers here and internationally, West has been involved with projects that involve "promoting customer service, building and retaining workforces, working with governance executive staff, employees of organizations, analyzing their organizational structure and operations, evaluating programs and services, planning for future relationships, partnerships between management within the organization in its external environment, and undertaking regulatory compliance/impact work.


June 29, 2003 8:35 AM


Public Health News from Google.com

For those of you for whom current news is important, I'd like to introduce you to the Google News Search Engine located at: http://news.google.com/. Here you can find articles from regional, national and international newspapers, radio stations and other news venues.

This is a beta site but seems to work quite well for getting at specific public health content in the news.

To get public health content, type "public health" into the address line of the Google News search engine located at the top of the page:

Note that I used quotes to reduce the number of hits from 21,000 to 8,770.

To get health administration content (64 articles today) type "health care administration" (with the quotes) into the news search engine.

Also try searching "health administration" (with the quotes) to get slightly different content.

To find public health nursing articles, use "public health nursing" as your search phrase. 

Try other topics to see what you come up with.

Warning: Be aware that some news sites may charge you for content once it's gone into their archives and you may have to make a note of the newspaper and date to retrieve it from their archives once it has been taken off the newspaper's Web site.


SARS Coronavirus Resource Available via NCBI Genome Database

The National Center for Biotechnology Information has added Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to its database of viral genomes. This Web resource provides data and information relevant to SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), including links to the most recent sequence data, publications, and results of pre-computed sequence analysis (i.e., genomic, protein, and 3-D structure), as well as links to other SARS-related resources.

Source: The National Library of Medicine New Files for the Week of Jun 23, 2003

Three from MEDLINEplus


June 28, 2003 9:05 AM

We increasingly see our email accounts jugged up with SPAM and it seems to be getting worse. Not only is it costing our health departments and organizations money and filling up our email queues, but it is also consuming our most precious resource, our time.

In a recent TechSoup article (TechSoup is a technology resource for non-profits) the editors asked:

What do TechSoupers do with spam?

Do you
  • delete
  • reply (a VERY bad idea)
  • forward to uce@ftc.gov
  • track down and report abuse with Sam Spade
  • other?
Rather than cut and paste the comments here, I'll just give you the URL and if you are interested, you can see how other non-profit members are attempting to solve the problem of SPAM on this forum page.

It is worth poking around the TechSoup site for other useful computer information. This organization also sends out a free electronic newsletter that you can sign up for.


June 24, 2003 10:06 AM

Monitoring the Future Study

"The Monitoring the Future Survey, conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), at the National Institutes of Health, has tracked 12th graders' illicit drug use and attitudes towards drugs since 1975. In 1991, 8th and 10th graders were added to the study. The 2001 study surveyed more than 44,000 students in 424 schools across the nation about their lifetime use, past year use, past month use, daily use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes and smokeless tobacco."

Review information on common drugs of abuse and related information such as drug testing, prevention research, stress and drug abuse, treatment research, trends and statistics and public service announcements.


June 22, 2003 9:00 AM


Home Computer Security


Given how many of us in public health use our home computers on a daily basis for work-related matters, it is important to know something about keeping our content safe and private from hackers. Using this step-by-step tutorial from CERT, and by starting with the lower-numbered tasks, people can "address the biggest problems [they[ face in securing [their] home computer."

National Weight Control Registry


The myth is that if you lose weight you will gain it all back again - and then some. This project demonstrates that people can be successful in keeping weight off. Inspiring.


June 19, 2003 2:40 PM


Women's Health Matters Resource Database

This Canadian site, available in both English and French, is intended for use by both health care consumers and health care professionals. Women can use the resources presented on the site to make decisions about their health needs. With standardized descriptions of resources, consumers can find reliable, current information about specific diseases available in books and journals, and in audiovisual sources.

A Checklist for Your Next Checkup (men)

A checklist for men to use to take with them to their physicians or other health care providers to make it easier to talk about which screening tests they might need.


June 12, 2003 10:40 AM


SLHI: A Catalyst for Community Health

I found this site by reading signature files found in the various public health lists that I manage. Sig files are a useful source of information on topics of interest from the communities of practice that you're part of and are generally worth exploring for information that you might not otherwise come across in your work.

Based in Arizona, St, Luke's Health Initiatives is a "public foundation committed to improving the health of all arizonans through education, advocacy and service."Of interest is their Community Connect newsletter, the grants that they make available, mental health documents and related information (one of their sponsored Web sites),  and information on community development and organizational capacity. Arizona Health Futures is the "health policy and education arm of SLHI. Its purpose is to conduct relevant and timely policy research..."


Child Health USA 2002

I love HRSA publications almost as much as I do the publications that come from the National Center for Health Statistics. They're so full of great, usable statistics.

This publication looks at population characteristics including children in poverty, school dropouts, working mothers and child care and maternal age at birth. In addition is looks at health status issues of infants, children, adolescents and their mothers. If you are interested in the utilization of health services, health care financing, vaccination coverage and immunization schedules as well as health care visits (including visits by children with activity limitations), this is the site to visit.

State and city data are also available. To get the whole document in the PDF format for printing, visit the HRSA FTP site.

This is a must-have reference for anyone working with infants, children, adolescents or moms.

Task Force Recommends More Research Is Needed to Determine Usefulness of Routine Screening For Dementia

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force found that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening for dementia in older adults. However, primary care clinicians should remain alert to signs of dementia whenever deterioration is suspected based on direct observation, patient report, or concerns raised by family members, friends, or caretakers. The Task Force recommendation appears in the June 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Select to access the press release and select to access the recommendation.  (Source: AHRQ, June 6 eNewsletter)

Fourth Issue of AHRQ WebM&M Is Online Now

The fourth issue of AHRQ WebM&M is now online at Web site. This month's issue features a case of antibiotic overuse, a woman who was mistakenly told she had miscarried when she was still pregnant, a child receiving an overdose of nifedipine, and a suicide attempt by an unsupervised hospitalized patient. This month's Spotlight case describes a young woman whose abdominal pain was misdiagnosed in the ER, which led to a ruptured appendix, multiple complications, and prolonged hospitalization. As always, each Spotlight case is accompanied by a slide set that can be downloaded in a newly redesigned slide presentation format. Cases from previous issues are still available under "Archives."  

A streamed archive of "Surge Capacity Assessments and Regionalization Issues" will be also posted to the Materials and Products page of this Web site in early-July, 2003 along with a full text transcript of the event. (These materials will also be available at AHRQ's Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/ulpdistn.htm). (Source: AHRQ, June 6 eNewsletter)

Surge Capacity and Regionalization Issues: Third Free AHRQ Web-Assisted Audio Conference on Bioterrorism Preparedness

AHRQ announces the third event in its new series of five free Web-assisted audio conference calls on bioterrorism and health systems preparedness. The third Web-assisted audio conference is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., EDT. It will focus on surge capacity assessments and regionalization issues. These 90-minute audio conferences are designed to share the latest health services research findings, promising practices, and other important information with state and local health officials and key health systems decisionmakers. Select to access the Web site to see the agenda and sign up to participate.

A streamed archive of "Surge Capacity Assessments and Regionalization Issues" will be also posted to the Materials and Products page of this Web site in early-July, 2003 along with a full text transcript of the event. (These materials will also be available at AHRQ's Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/ulpdistn.htm). (Source: AHRQ, June 6 eNewsletter)

Conference on the Scientific Basis of Health Services (AHRQ and AcademyHealth)

Conference on the Scientific Basis of Health Services Scheduled for SeptemberThe Fifth Conference on the Scientific Basis of Health Services will be hosted by AHRQ and AcademyHealth, September 20-23, 2003, in Washington, DC. This series has provided an international forum for the exchange of research and experience in the use of health services research to improve access to and the quality of health care systems. The 2003 conference is organized around the following five themes:

  • National Strategies for Organizing Health Services Research
  • Using Evidence to Improve Clinical Practice
  • Using Evidence to Improve Health Services Management
  • Using Evidence to Improve Policymaking
  • Using Evidence to Alleviate the Burden of Specific Diseases

Select to access the Web site for more information.



June 5, 2003 4:36 PM


AgeSource Worldwide (AARP)


The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has created a resource that "describes clearinghouses, databases, libraries, directories, statistical resources, bibliographies and reading lists, texts, and Web “metasites” focusing on aging or closely allied subjects." The information comes from more than 20 countries. A wonderful resource for public health practitioners as well as librarians as you can search by subject, country or region, or by type and language.

National Priorities Project Database

"The NPP Database offers state data on socio-economic needs and federal expenditures, and allows you to create customized tables, graphs and reports." Although access to the database is free you will be asked to register after your first visit. Search by location (state) or issue. Issue topics as listed include: income & poverty, housing, military, basic demographics, hunger, education - spending programs, health and labor.

Compare expenditures over time, graph results (if appropriate) and adjust for inflation.

Love this site.


Public Health Administration
(Virtual Health Library)

Useful collection of content from PAHO in English, Spanish, and Portugese on many health topics. I selected out public health administration to look at but I could have chosen family health, vaccines and immunizations, equity and human development, occupational health, poisoning, health in the aging, travellers' health, or telemedicine.

PAHO Workshop on Health Information and Virtual Media: Quality of Health Information on the Internet

Papers and presentations from the recent Pan-American Health Organization Conference on Health Information and Virtual Media: Quality of health Information in the Internet are available at this site. The workshop took place at
Puebla Mexico, May 8, 2003.

From the site: "Key themes included: Information quality criteria, quality and standards of health information on the internet, strengths and weaknesses of the major quality initiatives world-wide, knowledge exchange developments. The program concluded with a presentation of a Research proposal from the Information Center for Healthcare Decision-Making of the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico".  




Recent Entries

Translating Research Into Practice Conference

New Evidence Report Summary on Cancer Control Interventions

M.H. West: A Planning and Consulting Firm

Public Health News from Google.com


What do you do with spam?

Monitoring the Future Study


Home Computer Security


National Weight Control Registry


Women's Health Matters Resource Database


A Checklist for Your Next Checkup
(men)

SLHI: A Catalyst for Community Health


Child Health USA 2002


Usefulness of Routine Screening For Dementia
AHRQ WebM&M

Surge Capacity and Regionalization Issues: Third Free AHRQ Web-Assisted Audio Conference on Bioterrorism Preparedness

Conference on the Scientific Basis of Health Services (AHRQ and AcademyHealth)

AgeSource Worldwide (AARP)

National Priorities Project Database

Public Health Administration (Virtual Health Library)


PAHO Workshop on Health Information and Virtual Media: Quality of Health Information on the Internet


Alcohol-related Injury and Violence from The Trauma Foundation

Closing the Health Gap(Office of Minority Health)

Breastfeeding Educational Materials in Vietnamese Language (UC, Berkeley Extension)

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Abstracts Database


Pedestrian Summer in Seattle

Good Nutrition Reading List (ADA)
Revised 2002


4People.org

Community Information by Zipcode

Child Health USA 2002

Physical Activity Among Adults: United States, 2000

Immunization Action Coalition

The Reference Guide for Substance-Abuse Prevention form

CDC - Continuation Guidance for Cooperative Agreement on Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism – Budget Year Four

National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program Cooperative Agreement Guidance


Profiles in Science: Fred Lowe Soper

Trends in Unintentional Childhood Injury Mortality 1987-2000

Guides to Creating Safer Schools

Healthy Documents: Important documentsthat impact peoples' health

Children and Weight: What Communities Can Do Kit

AgeSource Worldwide


EurasiaHealth Knowledge Network

National Health Information Infrastructure 2003 (Conference)

New Data on Dietary Protein and Bone

Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf


Health Economics Core Library Recommendations, 2003




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