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D Gorenflo

Publications and source records attributed to D Gorenflo.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Preventive attitudes and beliefs of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the unique health care issues of deaf and hard-of-hearing (D&HH) persons by studying their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward preventive medicine. DESIGN: A self-administered, cross-sectional survey, written in a format comprehensible to persons whose primary language is American Sign Language. POPULATION: One hundred forty D&HH persons recruited from southeastern Michigan, Chicago, Ill, and Rochester, NY, and 76 hearing subjects from southeastern Michigan and Rochester. RESULTS: No significant differences existed between D&HH or hearing persons from different states. However, numerous differences existed between D&HH and hearing persons. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons were less likely to report receiving preventive information from physicians or the media, and more likely to report receiving it from a Deaf club. They rated the following physician-initiated procedures as less important than hearing persons: discussion of alcohol consumption, smoking, depression, and diet, plus screening for hypertension, hearing loss, and cancer. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons often considered a preventive procedure important if it was reported performed at their last health maintenance examination. They were less likely to report being asked about alcohol consumption and smoking, or to having been examined for hypertension, cancer, height, and weight. They were more likely to report receiving a hearing examination, mammogram, and Papanicolaou smear. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons were less likely to report believing that smoking less, exercising regularly, maintaining ideal weight, and regular physical examinations improve health. Differences existed within the D&HH cohort depending on the respondent's preferred language (oral English vs American Sign Language); our sample size was too small for a complete assessment of these differences. CONCLUSIONS: Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons appear to have unique knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding preventive medicine, and their attitudes are influenced by their personal experiences with physicians. Preventive practices addressed during health visits may differ between D&HH and hearing patients. Further research is needed to clarify the reasons for these differences, including within D&HH subgroups, and to develop effective mechanisms to improve the health care of all D&HH persons.

Adult↗

Both food preferences and food frequency scores predict fat intakes of women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether self-reported frequencies of food use were linked to self-reported preferences for the same foods. The hypothesis was that both food frequencies and food preferences can predict nutrient intakes. RESPONDENTS: Participants were adult women patients (n = 339), recruited through the University of Michigan Breast Care Center. The sample included both persons with breast cancer and persons who were cancer-free. DESIGN: All women completed a 98-item food frequency questionnaire and rated preferences for many of the same foods using a 9-point category scale. Percent energy from fat and saturated fat, and intakes of dietary fiber and vitamin C were estimated from analyses of 4-day food records. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Pearson correlations coefficients were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Dislike was a strong predictor of nonuse. In contrast, the more preferred foods were also reported as more frequently consumed. Significant correlations between preference and frequency scores were obtained for virtually all item pairs. Median Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.30 (range 0.04 to 0.56). Correlations improved when foods were aggregated into the chief dietary sources of fat, saturated fat, and vitamin C. Food frequencies and food preferences showed the same strength of association with percent energy from fat and saturated fat (r = 0.20 to 0.25). Food frequencies showed a stronger association with vitamin C intakes than did preferences for vegetables and fruit. APPLICATIONS: Food preferences may provide a potential alternative to the food frequency approach.

Adult↗

Rapid repeat pregnancy and experiences of interpersonal violence among low-income adolescents.

CONTEXT: Rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP) among adolescents, usually defined as pregnancy onset within 12-24 months of the previous pregnancy outcome, has frequently been the target of public health interventions, due to the exacerbation of negative consequences associated with recurrent adolescent pregnancy (and more specifically with childbearing). OBJECTIVE: To examine what, if any, relationship exists between RRP and the experience of interpersonal violence and abuse among low-income adolescents at one semi-urban health center. DESIGN: Case-control study using retrospective chart review. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 100 women aged 13-21 who received prenatal care at one independent nonprofit health center that serves adolescents and their children from June 1994 through June 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and timing of pregnancies, occurrence of physical or sexual abuse; other psychosocial risk factors were evaluated. RESULTS: In this population, the experience of any form of physical or sexual violence during the study interval was associated with RRP within 12 months (p = 0.01, OR = 3.46) and 18 months (p = 0.013, OR = 4.29). Other previously reported predictors of RRP, including family stress, financial stress, and other environmental stressors did not reach statistical significance at either 12 months or 18 months in this sample. Of additional note, young women who experienced any form of abuse during the 12-month study interval were substantially more likely to miscarry than were their nonabused peers, and spontaneous abortion was also very strongly associated with RRP (p < 0.00001; OR = 22.6). CONCLUSIONS: The experience of interpersonal violence is correlated with rapid repeat pregnancy among low-income adolescents. This study strongly suggests a need for both extensive screening for partner and family violence among pregnant and postpartum adolescents, and follow-up safety planning support in combination with family planning interventions.

Adolescent↗

D&HH persons.

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Aged↗