Assessment of health risk behaviors A tool to inform consumers, providers, health care organizations, and purchasers

Abstract Background: Outpatient clinic visits are a window of opportunity to address health risk behaviors and promote a healthier lifestyle among young people. The HEADS (Home, Education, Eating, Activities, Drugs [i.e. substance use including tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs], Sexuality [including contraception], Safety, Self-harm) interview is a feasible way of exploring health risk behaviors and resilience. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how often HEADS topics were addressed according to young patients and staff in pediatric and adult outpatient clinics. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey among young patients and health care professionals at a tertiary university hospital. Young patients reported on their cumulative experience and staff reported on their usual practice. Results: A total of 290 young patients aged 12–22 years (78% having a chronic condition) and 97 health care professionals participated. We found only small reported differences between staff and young patients regarding whether home, education, and activity were addressed. However, staff reported twice the rate of addressing smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception compared to young patients. Young patients reported that smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception were addressed significantly more at adult clinics in comparison to pediatric clinics. After controlling for age, gender and duration of illness, according to young patients, adjusted odds ratios for addressing smoking at adult vs. pediatric clinics was 2.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26–4.83), alcohol 2.84 (95% CI:1.45–5.57), illegal drugs 4.20 (95% CI:1.69–10.44), sexuality 3.54 (95% CI: 1.67–7.50), contraception 3.68 (95% CI:1.61–8.41), and any of the above 2.95 (95% CI: 1.47–5.91). Conclusion: According to young patients, smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, sexuality, and contraception were not routinely addressed at a tertiary hospital, and especially at paediatric clinics, these issues were seldom addressed.

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The Impact of Unemployment on Mental and Physical Health, Access to Health Care and Health Risk Behaviors

ISRN Public Health ◽

10.5402/2012/483432 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Jennifer R. Pharr ◽

Sheniz Moonie ◽

Timothy J. Bungum

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Risk ◽

Risk Behaviors ◽

Access To Health Care ◽

Health Risk Behaviors ◽

Unemployment Duration ◽

Health Access ◽

Access To Health ◽

The Impact

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of employment status and unemployment duration on perceived health, access to health care, and health risk behaviors. Data from Nevada's 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed. We compared participants who were unemployed (greater than and less than one year) to those who were employed and those who were voluntarily out of the labor force (OLF). Unemployed participants had significantly worse perceived mental health profiles, were more likely to delay health care services due to cost, and were less likely to have access to health care than employed participants and OLF participants. OLF participants were not significantly different from employed participants. Contrary to previous findings, unemployed participants in this study were not more likely to binge drink, smoke, or be physically inactive. Findings from this study suggest that the impetus for unemployment, be it voluntary or involuntary, may significantly impact a person's mental health.

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