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Kevin Frick

Publications and source records attributed to Kevin Frick.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Engaging older adults in high impact volunteering that enhances health: recruitment and retention in The Experience Corps Baltimore.

Engagement in social and generative activities has benefits for the well-being of older adults; hence, methods for broadly engaging them in such activities are desired. Experience Corps Baltimore, a social model for health promotion for older adult volunteers in public schools, offers insight to such successful recruitment and retention. We report on data over a 4-year period in Baltimore City, Maryland, and describe a five-stage screening process implemented to recruit a diverse group of senior volunteers who would remain in the program for at least 1 year. The sample consisted of 443 older adults expressing an interest in and screened for volunteering. Comparisons were made with Chi-square and Fisher's t-test between those who entered the program and those who did not and those who were retained in the program. Gender, race, age group, and prior volunteering were significant in ultimate volunteer service in the schools. Overall, 38% of 443 persons recruited entered the schools; 94% of participants were over 60 years (p = 0.05) with a mean age of 69 years; 90% were women (p = 0.03), and 93% African-American (p = 0.005); 57% had not volunteered in the past year (p = 0.004). Ninety-two percent were retained in the first year; 80% returned a second year. Among the latter, 83% had <12 years of education (p = 0.001). Participants remained in the program for a second year of volunteering regardless of baseline MMSE score, self-reported health, and motivation for volunteering. In conclusion, it is possible to recruit and retain a diverse pool of older adults to participate in a high-intensity volunteer program, including non-traditional volunteers. Of special note is the success in recruiting African-American women and those with lower education, who may particularly benefit from health promotion.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2005

Determinants of influenza vaccination timing.

New guidelines recommend different influenza vaccination timing for different subpopulations due to the limited availability of flu shots (FS). This study's objectives are to develop a theoretical model to demonstrate why some individuals choose to receive an early FS while others choose a late FS and to empirically explore the determinants of vaccination timing. Empirical results generally supported the theoretical results. Individuals vary their FS timing in response to variations in perceived risks, chronic condition levels reflecting their risk of influenza infection, and opportunity costs, measured by the presence of medical care other than an FS.

Comorbidity↗
PubMed2005

Pediatric Amblyopia Risk Investigation Study (PARIS).

PURPOSE: To assess the learning curve, testability, and reliability of vision screening modalities administered by pediatric health extenders. DESIGN: Prospective masked clinical trial. METHODS: Two hundred subjects aged 3 to 6 underwent timed screening for amblyopia by physician extenders, including LEA visual acuity (LEA), stereopsis (RDE), and noncycloplegic autorefraction (NCAR). Patients returned for a comprehensive diagnostic eye examination performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. RESULTS: Average screening time was 5.4 +/- 1.6 minutes (LEA), 1.9 +/- 0.9 minutes (RDE), and 1.7 +/- 1.0 minutes (NCAR). Test time for NCAR and RDE fell by 40% during the study period. Overall testability was 92% (LEA), 96% (RDE), and 94% (NCAR). Testability among 3-year-olds was 73% (LEA), 96% (RDE), and 89% (NCAR). Reliability of LEA was moderate (r = .59). Reliability of NCAR was high for astigmatism (Cyl) (r = .89), moderate for spherical equivalent (SE) (r = .66), and low for anisometropia (ANISO) (r = .38). Correlation of cycloplegic autorefraction (CAR) with gold standard cycloplegic retinoscopic refraction (CRR) was very high for SE (.85), CYL (.77), and moderate for ANISO (.48). CONCLUSIONS: With NCAR, physician extenders can quickly and reliably detect astigmatism and spherical refractive error in one-third the time it takes to obtain visual acuity. LEA has a lower initial cost, but is time consuming, moderately reliable, and more difficult for 3-year-olds. Shorter examination time and higher reliability may make NCAR a more efficient screening tool for refractive amblyopia in younger children. Future study is needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of NCAR and other screening methods in detecting amblyopia and amblyopia risk factors.

Amblyopia↗
PubMed2004

Racial variations in causes of vision loss in nursing homes: The Salisbury Eye Evaluation in Nursing Home Groups (SEEING) Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and causes of low vision in a large sample of nursing home residents. METHODS: Twenty-eight nursing homes on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware were enrolled in a clinical trial to assess the impact of vision restoration/rehabilitation on nursing home residents. Visual acuity was measured using both recognition charts and preferential looking techniques. An ophthalmologist examined all residents with visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye and determined the primary cause for decreased vision. Results are reported for the better-seeing eye. RESULTS: Of 2544 eligible residents, 1591 (63%) participated, but 286 residents were unable to respond to visual acuity testing. Of the remaining 1307 residents, 496 (37%) had best-corrected visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye. Causes were ascribed for 412 subjects. Rates of low vision were similar between African American subjects and white subjects (39% and 38%, respectively; age-adjusted P =.18). Cataract was the leading cause of low vision, responsible for 37% of low vision among white subjects and 54% of low vision among African American subjects. Macular degeneration was responsible for 29% of low vision among white subjects but only 7% among African American subjects. Glaucoma caused low vision in 4% of white subjects and 10% of African American subjects. Refractive error was not a frequent cause of low vision in nursing home residents. CONCLUSIONS: Low vision is highly prevalent among nursing home residents, with 37% having visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye. Differences in causes of low vision between African American subjects and white subjects were noted, with African American subjects more likely to have vision loss on the basis of cataract, a readily treated condition. Appropriate interventions for nursing home residents, who face significant obstacles in accessing eye care services, have the potential to improve the quality of life of this at-risk older population.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Factors influencing private health providers' technical quality of care for acute respiratory infections among under-five children in rural West Bengal, India.

In many developing countries, private health practitioners provide a significant portion of curative care for diseases which are of public health importance. Currently, health sector reform efforts in these countries are fostering increased participation of private providers in the delivery of health services, including those of public health importance. Guaranteeing good technical quality of care is critical to the process. However, little is known about private providers' technical quality of care (disease management practices) and the factors influencing these services. The purpose of this study was to contribute information on this topic. The study was conducted among private providers in rural West Bengal, India and focused on providers' disease management practices for acute respiratory infections (ARI) among under-five children. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for ARI case management were used as the expected standard of care. Observations of patient-provider encounters and interviews with the providers and mothers were the main sources of data. The study found that private health providers in rural West Bengal have inadequate technical quality of care. The problem was related both to low levels of performance (limited potential) and inconsistency in performance (within-provider variation). Limited potential for good technical quality for ARI among the providers was related to lack of knowledge (technical incompetence). One of the important factors influencing within-provider variation was patient load. Since rural private providers operate on a fee-for-service payment system, there are incentives related to seeing many patients. The study concluded that to bring about sustainable improvements in private providers' ARI disease management practices, training programs and interventions that improved compliance were necessary.

Acute Disease↗