Browsing by Subject "prevention"
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Item An Evaluation of Early Reading First on Emergent Literacy Skills: Preschool through Middle of First Grade(2010-10-12) Tani-Prado, SophiaEarly Reading First is a federal initiative that seeks to buffer against the detrimental effects of poverty on children?s academic outcomes by incorporating all of the elements supported by scientifically-based reading research to address the present and future reading gaps of high-risk preschool children. The tenets of ERF are teacher professional development, high quality language and print-rich environments, the teaching of emergent instruction of emergent literacy skills based on scientifically based reading research (SBRR) and the early identification of reading problems through the informed use of appropriate assessment measures. The present study was designed to assess the effectiveness of ERF enriched preschool classrooms located in a small city in a Southwestern state on both short- and mid-term early literacy outcomes of high risk preschoolers in a treatment condition and a comparison group. A total of 239 children participated in the study; 110 children in the ERF treatment group and 129 children in the "practice as usual" contrast group. The longitudinal effect of the ERF intervention on participating students (from pre-kindergarten through the middle of first grade) was investigated via multilevel modeling. Four multilevel models were developed for two subtests of the Tejas Lee (Francis, Carlson, and Cardenas-Hagan, 2006): Spanish alphabet knowledge (i.e, identificaci?n de las letras) and Spanish story comprehension (i.e., comprensi?n auditiva); and two subtests of the Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI; Center for Academic and Reading Skills, 2004): English Alphabet Knowledge and English Story Comprehension. Results of the present study support the findings reported by similar prior studies, indicating that while ERF effectively increases students' alphabet knowledge, greater effort is necessary toward programming for increasing student outcomes on story comprehension.Item Eating disorder prevention research: a meta-analysis(Texas A&M University, 2005-08-29) Fingeret, Michelle CororveThe purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the overall effectiveness of eating disorder prevention programs and to investigate potential moderating variables that may influence the magnitude of intervention effects. Meta-analysis was used to conduct a comprehensive and systematic analysis of data across 46 studies. Effect size estimates were grouped into outcome sets based on the following variables: knowledge, general eating pathology, dieting, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, negative affect, and self-esteem. Q statistics were used to analyze the distribution of effect size estimates within each outcome set and to explore the systematic influence of moderating variables. Results revealed large effects on the acquisition of knowledge and small net effects on reducing maladaptive eating attitudes and behaviors at posttest and follow-up. These programs were not found to produce significant effects on negative affect, and there were inconsistent effects on self-esteem across studies. Population targeted was the sole moderator that could account for variability in effect size distributions. There was a tendency toward greater benefits for studies targeting participants considered to be at a relatively higher risk for developing an eating disorder. Previous assumptions regarding the insufficiency of "one-shot" interventions and concerns about the iatrogenic effects of including information about eating disorders in an intervention were not supported by the data. These findings challenge negative conclusions drawn in previous review articles regarding the inability of eating disorder prevention programs to demonstrate behavioral improvements. Although these findings have implications for the prevention of eating disorders, it was argued that a clear link between intervention efficacy and a decreased incidence of eating disorders was not demonstrated. Rather, only direct information was offered about the ability to influence eating disorder related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Specific recommendations related to intervention content, reasonable goals/expectations, and outcome criteria were offered for improving research in this area.Item Exploring direct and indirect antecedents of self-reported ecological behaviors(2012-05-12) Weber, Alisa; Weber, Alisa Jeannette; Stenmark, Cheryl; Schell, Kraig; Cordell-McNulty, Kristi; Purkiss, Christine; Angelo State University. Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work.The current study examined the direct and indirect antecedents of participation in ecological behavior. Specifically, it was hypothesized that promotion and prevention orientation would both significantly predict ecological behavior, and that hope and optimism would partially mediate these relationships. The results revealed that a promotion orientation significantly predicted pro-social behavior, but the hypothesized mediation was not significant. However, post-hoc analyses revealed that hope predicted pro-social behavior and that the relationship was mediated by a promotion orientation. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are also discussed.Item Integrating Thin-Ideal Internalization and Self-Objectification within Eating Disorder Prevention for Women(2012-02-14) Kroon Van Diest, Ashley MichelleA cross-sectional and longitudinal examination of thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification was conducted within the context of an eating disorder prevention program. The sample consisted of 177 undergraduate women enrolled in a sorority between the ages of 18 and 22 who participated in a dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program. Participants completed self-report assessments at baseline, post-intervention, 5-month, and 1-year follow-up. Measures included the Ideal-Body Stereotype Scale-Revised, Self-Objectification Questionnaire, Body Shape Questionnaire, and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. A cross-sectional path analysis indicated that thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification predict each other and both predict body dissatisfaction, which in turn, predicts eating disorder symptoms. A longitudinal examination of the prevention program indicated that participants showed significant reductions in thin-ideal internalization, self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorder symptoms after participating in a cognitive dissonance eating disorder prevention program. Significant reductions of all symptoms were maintained at 1-year follow-up, with the exception of self-objectification, which had a significant reduction up to the 5-month assessment. A longitudinal path analysis indicated that post-intervention thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification predicted body dissatisfaction at 5-month follow-up assessments which in turn predicted eating disorder symptoms at this same time point. This model was replicated for 1-year follow-up body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms with the exception of the direct path from self-objectification to body dissatisfaction. Assessment of temporal sequence of change between self-objectification and thin-ideal internalization revealed that neither variable significantly predicted meaningful change in the other variable. Finally, individuals who showed meaningful change in self-objectification before showing meaningful reduction in thin-ideal internalization from baseline to post-intervention assessments had greater reductions in eating disorder symptoms 1-year following the intervention. Collectively, these results suggest that eating disorder prevention programs should focus on targeting both thin-ideal internalization and self-objectification simultaneously to increase further the reduction of eating disorder symptoms.Item Masculine Ideology and College Men's Reactions to a Sexual Assault Prevention Program(2012-10-19) Caver, KellySexual assault in the United States continues to be a major societal problem which often results in serious long-term consequences for the survivors, with perpetrators most commonly being men. Sexual assault prevention programs for college men often lack theories to guide the research and demonstrate mixed results. Previous research has demonstrated that more traditional male gender role identity is linked to sexual assault supportive attitudes and behaviors, suggesting that masculine ideology could be a contributing factor to college men?s reactions to a sexual assault prevention program. The purpose of this study was to test a model of how male gender role identity constructs influence college men?s reactions to a sexual assault prevention program through the Elaboration Likelihood Model. Participants were 97 college men, ages 18 to 22. They completed measures of adherence to masculine ideologies, then participated in an hour long sexual assault prevention program focused on bystander prevention, and finally completed measures of central route processing and outcome variables. Structural equation modeling was used to test a model of how masculine ideologies and central route processing contributed to outcome results. These results indicated that men who adhered to more traditional masculine ideologies were less likely to engage in central route processing, a thoughtful processing of the information provided in the prevention program. Additionally, less adherence to traditional masculinity predicted more behavioral intentions to change as a result of the program and less acceptance of rape myths. More engagement in central route processing also predicted more positive outcomes such as behavioral intentions to change and less rape myth acceptance. Results from hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that central route processing was more influential on the outcome variables than masculine ideology. Implications for this research include support of sexual assault prevention programs based on the Elaboration Likelihood Model as being potentially effective regardless of the men?s existing masculine ideologies.Item Missing children: law enforcement's proactive response in decreasing child abduction(Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), 2009) Nelson, Ivan B.Item Safety and efficacy of NovaSil clay as a dietary supplement to prevent aflatoxicosis(Texas A&M University, 2006-04-12) Afriyie-Gyawu, EvansIt is well documented that aflatoxin contamination in foods presents significant economic and public health burdens worldwide. Aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), have been implicated in the etiology of disease and death in many parts of the world, necessitating research initiatives for intervention strategies designed to diminish biological exposure. Calcium montmorillonite clays (e.g. NovaSil Plus, NSP) have been found to tightly bind and inactivate aflatoxins in the gastrointestinal tract of multiple animal species. In the future, the hypothesis is that this strategy may also be appropriate for humans. Thus, the overall research goal was to investigate NSP suitability for human use through in vitro characterization followed by in vivo evaluation of NSP-AFB1 sorption and most importantly, safety of the clay. The first objective was to characterize the in vitro and in vivo sorption efficiency of NSP-AFB1 sorption and determine potential interactions with vitamin A (VA). Isothermal analysis suggested that NSP binds AFB1 with high capacity, affinity, and specificity in aqueous solution and further indicated that NSP does not appear to interact with VA. Subsequent short-term studies in Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats and broiler chicks indicated that dietary inclusion of NSP (0.25%) significantly reduced AFB1 bioavailability without exerting overt toxicity. The second objective was to evaluate potential adverse effects of chronic ingestion of dietary NSP using male and female S-D rats in the absence of aflatoxins. Although statistically significant changes to a few parameters were noted, the differences did not appear to be NSP- or dose-dependent, suggesting that NSP at dietary inclusion levels as great as 2.0% (w/w) does not produce overt toxicity. Thus, this information increases the feasibility for using NSP in human trials in populations at high risk for aflatoxicosis. The third objective was to establish representative baseline data on human exposure to aflatoxins by collecting and quantifying urinary AFM1 in volunteers living in four separate communities in Ejura district of Ghana. Results revealed that urinary AFM1 in the study population was substantially high (mean = 1,850.86 ?? 274.59 pg/mg creatinine), indicating that this particular population was highly exposed to aflatoxins and could be used for future intervention trials.Item Testing Mediators of a Couple-based Eating Disorder Prevention Program(2012-10-19) Ramirez, Ana LorenaBody image dissatisfaction and eating disorders are more prevalent in today?s society than ever, making the prevention of eating disorders and its symptoms crucial for women?s health. A couple-based eating disorder prevention program was developed based on the dual pathway model of eating disorders and some efficacy has been established. The current study explored the program?s mechanisms of change by testing mediators (thin ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction) expected to mediate the effects of the program on three outcome variables (dieting, negative affect, and bulimic symptoms). Although none of the mediated paths were significant, results of the study were overall consistent with previous research and provided further support for the efficacy of the prevention program. In addition to these variables, effects of the prevention on relationship variables (relationship satisfaction, attachment anxiety and avoidance, and commitment) were explored. Finally, relationship intimacy, measured by an event-contingent interaction, was found to have an effect on an important eating disorder risk factor. Implications of the present study and future directions for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders are discussed.Item The Five-Year Effectiveness of the Texas First Dental Home Program(2014-08-06) McFarland, Taylor BHThis study examined the Texas Medicaid First Dental Home (FDH) program in rural and urban private pediatric dental practice settings and evaluated its five-year impact on caries severity, age of onset of decay, and treatment location. Comparisons were made between FDH participants and traditional Medicaid recall participants who were seen prior to the inception of the FDH program. Statistical analysis of the total subject pool (N=492) demonstrated that the average age of the first dental visit differed significantly between recall and FDH groups, at 18.2 months and 13.4 months, respectively (p<0.0001). For those subjects with caries, both the average age and the average decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) score at the first decay episode differed significantly. The FDH children were 3 months younger (p=0.05) when decay was first identified, and their average dmft was 1 point higher (p=0.02). The location for providing treatment did not differ significantly between groups (p=0.3). The rural group on average visited the dentist for the first time 1.5 months later than the urban group (p=0.008), and the first decay episode on average occurred 6 months later in the rural subjects compared to the urban subjects (p=<0.0001). Data were stratified based on the age of occurrence of the first decay episode, and significant results were found for the 0-36 month age group (N=68). In this age group, no significant difference was found between rural and urban practice settings. There was a significant difference between dmft scores for the recall and FDH groups (6.0 for recall and 3.7 for FDH, p=0.007). The location of treatment also differed significantly between the recall and FDH groups, with 15 subjects (65%) of the recall group and 15 subjects (33%) of the FDH group requiring treatment in the operating room rather than in-office (p=0.012). These results suggest that for those Medicaid patients who did experience decay episodes before the age of 36 months, the FDH program is reducing the severity of decay as judged by dmft. Additionally, the FDH program resulted in a reduction in the use of the operating room for treatment of those decay episodes.Item Tuberculosis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Control in the United States and Worldwide(2013-06-03) Calderon, Veronica Elena; Mayhall, C. Glen; Arcari, Christine; de Boer, MelanieTB is one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide. Approximately one-third of the world’s population is infected with TB. In 2011, there are about 9 million new infections and almost 1.4 million deaths. Furthermore, TB is the leading cause of death in HIV-positive individuals. With the global HIV pandemic and the emergence of MDR- and XDR-TB, new diagnostics and treatments are urgently needed for the control and prevention of TB. Ultimately, the coordinated efforts of international and national government agencies, non-government agencies, healthcare professionals, and the public is needed to ensure the implementation and adherence of control strategies that will lead to the eradication of TB. This capstone will focus on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of TB, and the TB prevention and control measures as recommended by national and international organizations. The objectives of this project were accomplished through the direct observation of TB control and prevention measures in the hospital (UTMB) and public health (Galveston County Health District) settings. In addition, an extensive literature review was performed to gain a complete understanding of TB epidemiology, diagnostics, treatments, and prevention and control strategies.