Biomedical subjects

Susan Elliott

Publications and source records attributed to Susan Elliott.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Meeting health need, accessing health care: the role of neighbourhood.

Much of what we know about the determinants of access to health care comes from studies undertaken at a large scale, such as between cities, regions/counties/provinces/states and countries. This paper examines local level variations in access to and utilization of health care services across four distinct neighbourhoods in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Survey data (n = 1500) were analysed using logistic regression to explore the potential relationships between neighbourhood and health care utilization and unmet health care need. Results show some relationships between neighbourhood of residence and levels of reported utilization as well as unmet need, even when controlling for predisposing, enabling, and need factors (i.e. Age, gender, household composition, income, education, perceived gp visit time) as well as health status. Findings from this empirical study suggest a finer lens is required to examine the mechanisms through which place impacts access to and utilization of care, one that recognizes the roles of compositional, contextual and collective aspects of neighbourhood.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Heterogeneities in the production of health: smoking, health status and place.

The harmful effects of smoking on health are well-established. However, little attention has been given to possible variations in the size of the association within populations. In this paper, we test for neighbourhood variation in the smoking-health relationship. We estimate equations to explain variations in self-reported health using data from a survey of adults in four distinct neighbourhood clusters in Hamilton, Ontario. After controlling for neighbourhood composition, the probability of being unhealthy remained significantly higher in the two lower socioeconomic status neighbourhoods (North East and Downtown) than in the rest of the city. The smoking-health association was not the result of more smokers living in less healthy neighbourhoods. In the Downtown neighbourhood, the relative odds of being unhealthy among smokers compared to non-smokers was less than one-half of the corresponding relative odds in the rest of the city. Although smoking represents a health risk for individuals in all neighbourhoods, for individuals living in the Downtown neighbourhood the size of this risk is substantially smaller than for individuals in other neighbourhoods.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Who you know, where you live: social capital, neighbourhood and health.

This article examines the degree to which relationships between social capital and health are embedded in local geographical contexts and influenced by demographic factors, socio-economic status, health behaviours and coping skills. Using data from a telephone survey of a random sample of adults (N=1504 respondents, response rate=60%), the article determines if relationships between involvement in voluntary associations and various measures of individual health are associated with neighbourhood of residence in the mid-sized city of Hamilton, Canada. Associational involvement and overweight status (assessed by body-mass score) were weakly but significantly related after controlling for the other variables; involvement had relationships with self-rated health and emotional distress before but not after controlling for socio-economic status, health behaviours and coping skills. Relationships between neighbourhood of residence and two health outcomes, self-rated health and overweight status, were statistically significant before and after controlling for the other characteristics of respondents; neighbourhood of residence was not a significant predictor of number of chronic conditions and emotional distress in multivariate models. The neighbourhood and associational involvement relationships with health were not dependent upon one another, suggesting that neighbourhood of residence did not help to explain the positive health effects of this particular measure of social capital.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Analysis of microbial components using LC-IR.

Characterization of bacteria is currently an important research area in the medical, military, food, and agricultural sciences. In recent years, FT-IR has found an application as a microbiological detection method and as a general research tool. When coupled with a liquid chromatographic system, a new facet of research has evolved. By utilizing the separation ability of typical liquid chromatography systems, matrix elimination is possible, therefore allowing for clean spectra of cellular components. Information about the compositional makeup of various bacteria enhances the overall understanding of biology at the cellular level, provides a quantification of the chemistry of cellular processes, and can be used as a general identification tool. Both whole cells and lysed Escherichia coli cells were investigated in the present study. The cellular components consisting of proteins, glycoproteins, phospholipids, fatty amides and acids, and genomic materials were separated, isolated, and identified by FT-IR.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2003

The impact of alcohol use in community-dwelling older adults.

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of alcohol in community-dwelling older adults and to consider differences in physical and mental health, function, cognitive status, and social supports between those who drink minimal (1 to 3 glasses weekly), moderate (4 to 7 glasses weekly), or no alcohol. A total of 3305 older adults with a mean age of 81.6 -/+ 6.0 participated in the study. Twenty-two percent (n = 709) of the participants had 1 to 3 drinks weekly, only 1% (n = 18) reported 4 to 7 drinks weekly, and none of the participants admitted to 8 or more drinks. There was no difference in drinking behavior with regard to age (F = 1.1, p >.05) or social supports (F =.39, p >.05). There was a difference in drinking behavior with regard to physical health (F = 4.9, p <.05), functional status (F = 7.7, p <.05), cognitive status (F = 11.8, p <.05), and mental health (F = 6.9, p <.05). Health care providers should use an individualized approach to alcohol use in older adults and help these individuals establish, as appropriate, safe drinking habits that will augment health and quality of life.

Activities of Daily Living↗