Biomedical subjects

Hector M González

Publications and source records attributed to Hector M González.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The mental health of Black Caribbean immigrants: results from the National Survey of American Life.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Black Caribbean immigrant ("Caribbean Black") and African American populations and the correlates of psychiatric disorders among the Caribbean Black population. METHODS: We conducted descriptive and age-adjusted analyses of the data from the National Survey of American Life--an in-person household mental health survey of noninstitutionalized US Blacks. We assessed psychiatric disorders as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: Compared with African American men, Caribbean Black men had higher risks for 12-month rates of psychiatric disorders. Caribbean Black women had lower odds for 12-month and lifetime psychiatric disorders compared with African American women. Risks varied by ethnicity, immigration history, and generation status within the Caribbean sample. First-generation Caribbean Blacks had lower rates of psychiatric disorders compared with second- or third-generation Caribbean Blacks, and, compared with first-generation Caribbean Blacks, third-generation Caribbean Blacks had markedly elevated rates of psychiatric disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health risks were associated with ethnic diversity within the US Black population. Increased exposure to minority status in the United States was associated with higher risks for psychiatric disorders among Black Caribbean immigrants, which possibly reflects increased societal stress and downward social mobility associated with being Black in America.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Antidepressant class and dosing among older Mexican Americans: application of geropsychiatric treatment guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize patterns and correlates of antidepressant drugs (AD) among older Mexican Americans (MAs). METHODS: This study consisted of a cross-sectional, community-based sample from Northern California. AD class and dosing label information were inventoried and compared with Expert Consensus Guidelines for geriatric depression pharmacotherapy. RESULTS: Overall, 7.1% had been prescribed an AD, but 4.9% were within starting dose ranges. Fewer ADs (3.9%) were consistent with Consensus class and dose guidelines. Depressive symptoms and diabetes were significant positive predictors of ADs. Recent immigrants had lower odds of AD prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: AD prescriptions among older MAs are low. Omitting AD class and dosing information may overestimate pharmacotherapy for geriatric depression.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

PSA testing in office-based clinics: are we testing as much as we think?

BACKGROUND: Self-report studies of widespread use of routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing have fueled concerns about overuse and possible harm. The purpose of this study was to examine use of PSA testing during physician office visits in a national sample of prostate-cancer-free men ages 40 years and older. METHODS: Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models of receiving a PSA test by prostate-cancer-free men ages 40 years and older were performed using the 2000 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. RESULTS: There were 2,709 primary care and urology office visits by prostate-cancer-free men 40 years of age and older, and 10.2% resulted in a PSA test. In a multivariate model, men in their 70s had considerably higher odds (odd ratio, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.11-2.32) and men with multiple medical comorbidities had considerably lower odds (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.10-0.65) of receiving a PSA test. CONCLUSIONS: We report lower use of PSA testing than previously published. Greater insight into use of PSA testing based on clinic and hospital administrative data are required to determine the impact of PSA testing on the cost of health care and prostate cancer incidence and mortality.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

A semantic verbal fluency test for English- and Spanish-speaking older Mexican-Americans.

Currently, there are few semantic verbal fluency tests available with appropriate and adequate normative data for older Latinos of Mexican ancestry. The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of language and socioeconomic variables on a semantic verbal fluency test, derive normative data and develop statistical corrections for the effects of significant variables. A large, community-dwelling sample of Latinos of primarily Mexican ancestry over age 60 was asked to name animals with four legs within 1 min in their preferred language of English or Spanish. The total sum of animals named was influenced by age, education, gender, and, to a much lesser extent, language of test administration. Regression coefficients derived from demographic variables were used to adjust raw scores in a general correction formula, and specific percentile cutoff values were identified for these adjusted scores. Normative data tables stratified on demographic variables are also presented.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Differences in amount of informal care received by non-Hispanic whites and latinos in a nationally representative sample of older Americans.

The objective of this study was to evaluate informal (unpaid) care and its broad determinants for Latinos in a nationally representative sample. A cross-sectional analysis of the 1993 Asset and Health Dynamics Study, a national probability sample of 7,443 older adults aged 70 and older, was performed to determine the independent effect of Latino ethnicity on the receipt of informal care by disabled older individuals. Self-reported race/ethnicity was used to predict the mean daily hours of informal care received for activity of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) assistance after adjustment for predisposing, need, and enabling variables. There was a significant association between informal home care and ethnic group, with 44.3% of Latinos receiving informal care, compared with 33.9% of African Americans and 24.6% of non-Hispanic whites (P<.001). After adjustment, Latinos received 11.0 weekly hours of informal care, compared with 7.5 hours for non-Hispanic whites and 6.3 hours for African Americans (P<.001). The results from this nationally representative sample indicate that Latinos receive significantly more hours of informal care on average than African Americans or non-Hispanic whites for ADL and IADL disability. Clinicians should be alert to the significant amount of informal care and possible associated strain in caregivers of older Latinos.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

A verbal learning and memory test for English- and Spanish-speaking older Mexican-American adults.

Currently, there are significant limitations in word-list verbal learning and memory tests that are appropriate and have adequate normative data for use with older Latinos of Mexican descent. The purpose of this study was to derive normative data for a word-list learning test with English and Spanish versions, the Spanish English Verbal Learning Test (SEVLT), and develop statistical corrections for the effects of significant demographic variables. A large, population-based sample of 1,789 Latinos of primarily Mexican ancestry over age 60 was employed. Individual trial scores, the total number of items recalled in the learning trials, and the delayed recall trial of the SEVLT were influenced by age, education, gender, but not the language of SEVLT administration. Regression coefficients derived from demographic variables were used to adjust raw SEVLT scores in a general correction formula, and specific percentile cut-off values were identified for these adjusted scores. Normative data tables stratified on demographic variables are also presented.

Aged↗