to view the program - Society for Public Health Education

in schools and Tribal council members inviting further discussion
about sacred vs. commercial tobacco use. Ms. Delavan will describe the
methods for obtaining community input when developing the project,
tools needed, the benefits to the state and Tribal tobacco control programs,
evaluation methods, lessons learned, and the unexpected results
of the project. She will share the resulting photo essays and next steps.
This project was implemented in three Tribal areas in Idaho.
12. Nutritional habits among youth in a U.S.-Mexico border community:
Assessing and responding to neighborhood level data
Luisa Esquivel, University of Texas at El Paso, Hispanic Health
Disparities Research Center; Jose Guevara, BS, The University of
Texas at El Paso; Holly Mata, MS, PhD (c), University of Texas at
El Paso; Joe Tomaka, PhD, The University of Texas at El Paso
Health disparities in the U.S.-Mexico border region are the focus of
significant research and health promotion efforts. As part of a project
to reduce smoking prevalence and susceptibility among Hispanic
youth in neighborhoods with low educational attainment and high
poverty rates, we collected data on nutritional habits and exercise
frequency in addition to smoking related data. More than half of
Hispanic 9th graders in Texas do not get the recommended amount of
physical activity (compared to 36% of non-Hispanic Whites [NHW’s]
),and 35% are considered overweight or obese compared with 19% of
NHW. Communities located on the U.S.-Mexico border have even
higher rates of obesity compared with non-border communities.
According to Social Ecological Theory, health promotion intervention
efforts are most effective when implemented through multiple levels
(individual, relationship, community, organizational, and social/public
policy). Our project was designed to reach youth who are most at risk
for unhealthy behaviors in community settings, and highlights the
potential for additional levels of intervention. As part of our ongoing
research into the efficacy of the smoking prevention intervention
program, all participants answered questions similar to several key
indicators assessed in the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. We
compare our data collected in specific neighborhoods in the border
region with state-level data collected in school settings. As expected, in
our sample soda consumption was negatively correlated with exercise
frequency and positively associated with average daily time spent
watching TV or playing video games. Less than 10% of participants
reported eating more than 7 servings of fruit in an average week.
Relationships between self-reported degree of affiliation with Mexican
culture and nutritional habits are explored, as are relationships between
smoking susceptibility and nutritional habits. We describe our intervention
and the feedback from participants regarding their perceptions
of the relevance of the USDA food pyramid to themselves and their
families. Suggestions for multifaceted interventions through community
youth programs tailored for youth and families are offered, as are
strategies for improved neighborhood access to recreation and healthy
foods based on our experience and collaboration with key community
partners.
13. Health Care Providers’ prescribing authority during emergencies:
challenges for the management of chronic mental health
conditions
Lainie Rutkow, JD, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health; Jon Vernick,
JD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health;
Lawrence Wissow, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School
of Public Health; Christopher Kaufman , MHS, Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health; James Hodge, JD, LLM; Sandra
Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
Background: Lessons learned from recent natural and man-made
disasters have led to heightened preparedness efforts at the local, state,
and national levels. However, some individuals may find it difficult or
impossible to access mental health services (e.g., therapeutic interventions;
prescription of psychotropic medications) during and immediately
after emergencies. Therefore, access to legally authorized prescribers,
during and after emergencies, is critical for individuals with
chronic mental health needs. Theoretical framework: This research
relies upon a modified version of the health competence model, which
suggests that the legal environment influences both initial health
outcomes and sustainable health outcomes. Hypothesis: The legal environment
presents barriers to the timely prescription of medications
for chronic mental health conditions during and after emergencies.
Methods: We used legal research methods to identify and analyze relevant
laws, regulations, and judicial opinions at the federal, state, and
local levels. This research was supplemented with a systematic search
of the “gray” literature to identify pertinent guidelines and other materials.
Results: Laws can prevent individuals with chronic mental health
needs from receiving needed prescription medications during and after
emergencies. Licensure laws for providers and regulations that govern
controlled substances may impede the prescription of psychotropic
medications. To facilitate the treatment of those with chronic mental
health needs during and after emergencies, existing laws may be
altered by emergency laws and policies. But, these emergency laws, too,
may unintentionally impede the prescription of psychotropic medications
to those with chronic mental health conditions. Conclusion:
Laws and regulations impose important and complex requirements
that may obstruct the prescription of needed psychotropic medications.
Our findings indicate that some aspects of the legal environment
should be altered to improve the care of those with chronic mental
health needs during and after emergencies. Implications for practice:
We developed multiple recommendations to alter the legal and policy
environment to improve the care of individuals with chronic mental
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SOPHE-NACDD 2011 Joint Academy and Midyear Scientific Meeting