Biomedical subjects

Thomas R Simon

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas R Simon.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Can we talk? Importance of random-digit-dial surveys for injury prevention research.

Prevention research in public health requires quality data. In injury prevention research, "official" data sources, such as medical or law enforcement data, often do not possess the required depth or completeness. Self-reported data can fill this gap. Such data allow us to understand knowledge, attitudes, exposures, and behaviors associated with injury risk. Self-reported data are also needed to understand outcomes that are often missing from official sources, such as victimization by an intimate partner that is not reported because of concerns about legal consequences and less severe injuries from suicide attempts that go untreated. Data on risk and protective factors and specific types of violence exposures can often only be obtained by directly asking those affected. In addition, "official" data sources are rarely representative. Random-digit-dialing (RDD) surveys are a method of obtaining representative self-reported data. The RDD approach is relatively cost effective, handles non-English-speaking households with relative ease, and possesses a well-developed theory for constructing sample weights. However, there are significant challenges to using RDD surveys. These include declining participation rates; possible self-selection bias, since potential respondents can choose to opt out of the survey; and, with sensitive topics such as intimate partner violence, the need to anticipate potential risks for participants. This theme issue provides suggestions for how we can improve the design and implementation of RDD surveys in a manner that is both practical and ethical.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System↗

PubMed2006

Sensitive topics, survey nonresponse, and considerations for interviewer training.

This paper discusses current challenges in achieving higher survey participation rates in random-digit-dial telephone surveys and proposes steps to address them through interviewer training to avoid refusals. It describes features of surveys that contribute to respondent reluctance to participate and offers a brief overview of current refusal aversion training methods to reduce nonresponse. It then identifies what challenges that unique features of random-digit-dial telephone surveys on sensitive topics might contribute to nonresponse. Recommendations are then proposed for changes in refusal aversion training, standard survey introductions, and informed consent procedures. Finally, further research is called for to identify which methods best balance the need to improve response rates with respondent safety and privacy in surveys with sensitive questions.

Domestic Violence↗

PubMed2006

The association between self-reported lifetime history of forced sexual intercourse and recent health-risk behaviors: findings from the 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

PURPOSE: To expand the understanding of the association between recent health-risk behaviors and a history of forced sexual intercourse, using a nationally representative sample of female and male high school students. METHODS: Data were from the 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a nationally representative biennial survey of U.S. high school students. Lifetime history of forced sex, recent physical dating violence, and health-risk behaviors (substance use, diet-related behaviors, violence-related behaviors, and health promoting behaviors) were assessed. Analyses were stratified by gender and controlled for grade and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Of students surveyed, 8.9% reported ever being forced to have sex. One in eight females and one in 16 males experienced forced sex in their lifetime. For females and males, a history of forced sex was associated with experiencing physical dating violence and suicidal ideation in the 12 months preceding the survey and with substance use in the previous 30 days. Female victims were not as likely as female nonvictims to have participated in team sports during the previous 12 months. Male victims were more likely than male nonvictims to have fasted for more than 24 hours to lose weight during the previous 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: A lifetime history of forced sex is associated with recent dating violence and participation in unhealthy behaviors. Services and intervention programs for victimized youth should address health concerns that have been linked to sexual assault. Such programs would provide opportunities for early intervention with lasting implications for improved health.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Validity of teacher ratings in selecting influential aggressive adolescents for a targeted preventive intervention.

This study describes a method for using teacher nominations and ratings to identify socially influential, aggressive middle school students for participation in a targeted violence prevention intervention. The teacher nomination method is compared with peer nominations of aggression and influence to obtain validity evidence. Participants were urban, predominantly African American and Latino sixth-grade students who were involved in a pilot study for a large multi-site violence prevention project. Convergent validity was suggested by the high correlation of teacher ratings of peer influence and peer nominations of social influence. The teacher ratings of influence demonstrated acceptable sensitivity and specificity when predicting peer nominations of influence among the most aggressive children. Results are discussed in terms of the application of teacher nominations and ratings in large trials and full implementation of targeted prevention programs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Telephone survey respondents' reactions to questions regarding interpersonal violence.

Concerns have been raised regarding the appropriateness of asking about violence victimization in telephone interviews and whether asking such questions increases respondents' distress or risk for harm. However, no large-scale studies have evaluated the impact of asking such questions during a telephone interview. This study explored respondents' reactions to questions regarding violence in two large recently completed telephone surveys. After respondents were asked about violence, they were asked if they thought surveys should ask such questions and whether they felt upset or afraid because of the questions. In both surveys, the majority of respondents (regardless of their victimization history) were willing to answer questions about violence and were not upset or afraid because of the questions. More than 92% of respondents thought such questions should be asked. These results challenge commonly held beliefs and assumptions and provide some assurance to those concerned with the ethical collection of data on violent victimization.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Alcohol-consumption behaviors and risk for physical fighting and injuries among adolescent drinkers.

This study examined the associations between specific alcohol-use measures and physical fighting, injuries received, and injuries inflicted on others while fighting. We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) limiting our analyses to adolescent drinkers (n=8885) between the ages of 12 and 21 years. Results revealed that adolescent drinkers who reported problem drinking and peer drinking were more likely to engage in physical fighting, being injured, and injuring others in fights than drinkers who did not report these drinking behaviors even after controlling for drinking frequency and binge drinking. The findings highlight the need for violence prevention programs that focus on the reduction of alcohol use among adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Evaluating the impact of interventions in the Multisite Violence Prevention Study: samples, procedures, and measures.

This paper discusses the procedures and measures that were developed and utilized to evaluate the impact of the GREAT (Guiding Responsibility and Expectations in Adolescents Today and Tomorrow) programs in the Multisite Violence Prevention Project (MVPP). First, we describe the three different samples used to examine the impact of the programs, and the different sources of data used to assess these samples. Next, we outline procedures used to collect and manage the data. In the last section, we summarize the final set of measures selected for use in this study. Throughout the paper, we highlight ways in which the participating institutions collaborated to develop consistent procedures for use across the four sites. Overall, the paper provides important information related to the evaluation of violence prevention efforts, particularly for working effectively in multisite collaborative studies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Involvement in physical activity and risk for nearly lethal suicide attempts.

BACKGROUND: Although substantial research suggests that involvement in physical activity is associated with mental health benefits, relatively little is known about the association between physical activity and suicidal behavior. This study compared reports of recent physical activity among those surviving a nearly lethal suicide attempt to reports from community controls. METHODS: Analyses were conducted on data collected between November 1992 and July 1995 for a population-based, case-control study of nearly lethal suicide attempts among people aged 13 to 34 years. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between suicide attempts and physical activity, including the intensity, frequency, and duration of activity, while controlling for demographic factors and potential explanatory variables, such as depression, alcoholism, and the presence of a serious medical condition. RESULTS: Suicide attempters were far less likely than controls to report involvement in physical activity in the past month (48% vs 85%, respectively). Intensity, frequency, and duration of activity did not affect this association. The association persisted after adjusting for demographics and potential explanatory variables. CONCLUSIONS: Additional research is needed to explain the process through which the association occurs. The strong protective association observed is consistent with other research on the mental health benefits of physical activity and recommendations of involvement in regular physical activity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Effect of the incident at Columbine on students' violence- and suicide-related behaviors.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the impact that the violent incident at Columbine High School may have had on reports of behaviors related to violence and suicide among U.S. high school students. METHODS: Nationally representative data from the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Students who completed the 1999 YRBS after the Columbine incident were more likely to report feeling too unsafe to go to school and less likely to report considering or planning suicide than were students who completed the 1999 YRBS before the incident. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight how an extreme incident of school violence can affect students nationwide.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Assault victimization and suicidal ideation or behavior within a national sample of U.S. adults.

Data from a nationally representative sample of 5,238 U.S. adults were used to examine the extent to which physical assault victimization was associated with suicidal ideation or behavior (SIB). The results from multivariable logistic regression analyses indicate that physical assault victimization was positively associated with SIB after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and alcohol use (OR = 3.6; 95% CI = 2.4-5.5). Those who were injured during the most recent physical assault (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.2-6.0) and those who were assaulted by a relative (OR = 3.4; 95% CI= 1.0-11.0) or intimate partner (OR = 7.7; 95% CI = 2.7-22.5) were significantly more like to report SIB than victims who were not injured or were assaulted by a stranger. Also, those who were victimized but not injured (OR = 5.6; 95% CI = 3.8-8.2) and those who were victimized by a stranger (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.4-6.0) were more likely to report SIB than non-victims. These results highlight the need for legal, medical, mental health, and social service providers to address the co-occurrence of violent victimization and suicidal ideation, particularly, but not exclusively, victimization by family members and intimates.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of a substance-abuse-prevention curriculum on violence-related behavior.

OBJECTIVE: To test the impact of a school-based substance-abuse-prevention program, Project Towards No Drug Abuse (TND), on risk for violence. METHODS: Logistic regression analyses tested whether victimization, perpetration, or weapon carrying differed for intervention students relative to control students within a sample of 850 continuation high school students followed over 12 months. RESULTS: We observed a higher risk for victimization (OR=1.57) among male control students. No intervention effect was observed for female students or for perpetration among males. CONCLUSION: The findings provide limited support for a generalization of TND's preventive effect.

Adolescent↗