Author Archives: allisonwm

Public health nerds, rejoice!

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Image courtesy of the CDC.

I consider myself part of the community of ‘public health nerds’ who live, eat and breathe public health. I don’t mind calling myself a nerd in this sense. Public Health is my chosen career field, and I absolutely love it, but I also enjoying finding it in the world around me (e.g. walking paths, tobacco-free parks, hand washing stations at festivals, etc); I think that’s just a part of what makes me a public health nerd.

The CDC recently embraced the ‘public health nerd’ community on Facebook with a series of cute graphics; APHA put together the series of images here. If you’re a public health nerd looking for a laugh, check out Upworthy’s public health montage, “Your Unhealthy Love For Public Health in 14 Images.”

#PHNerd : Are you one too? =)

TEDMED hosts series of “Great Challenges” Google+ Hangouts

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While I consider myself to be fairly savoy as far as social media goes, I haven’t ventured much into Google+ and Google+Hangouts. I tried it out yesterday for the first time with a “TEDMED Great Challenges: Where Health Begins” Hangout on Social Determinants. Let me tell you, if you like TED talks (which I do), and you have a hour to tune in and participate, it’s definitely worth it. The speakers were great and so were the questions from the audience (coming in via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+). If you missed it, you can check out yesterday’s video below. The next TEDMED Great Challenges Hangout is “Shopping for Health” on September 19, 11am EST. Check out their Google+ page for more information, or learn more about the TEDMED Great Challenges here.

Melodic asthma education resonates with physicians

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A young doctor in Britain took a creative approach to educating fellow physicians on the asthma guidelines by setting his lyrics to the tune of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (by Deep Blue Something), hoping to improve the use of asthma guidelines at the University Hospitals of Leicester. The tipping point that prompted the video was a survey that revealed that less than half of physicians were following the hospital’s new guidelines for asthma management. In a second survey conducted two months after the guidelines revealed that all of the doctors who responded were aware of the guidelines, and approximately 80% of them were following the guidelines.

The video is lighthearted and funny (in my opinion), likely part of the reason many physicians watched it. Although the video was not developed as a part of a study of continuing medical education (CME), the pre- and post-video surveys seem to show promise for using these methods–songs, youtube videos,  and humor– as ways to convey short CME messaging to providers. For a good (and informative) time, check out the video below!

Related sources:

Shute, N. (September 12, 2013). How a ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s video Improved Asthma Treatment. Shots – Health News: NPR. Accessed September 13, 2013: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/09/10/221025847/breakfast-at-tiffanys-improved-doctors-asthma-treatment

When role models are wrong

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As an avid cook, baker and self-proclaimed foodie, I can’t help but love Julia Child. She revolutionized cooking for the American home-cook, but for me it’s more than that. She changed careers late in life, proved herself in a field dominated by men, and her career was her passion. But, she also washed her chicken. I can see the logic in it, that washing chicken before cooking would perhaps wash away bacteria, make it easier for a breading or sauce to stick or be absorbed, result in a better taste…I mean reasons that don’t sound awful, do they? Well, regardless, those nasty chicken germs are 1) still likely going to be on the chicken when you’re done washing it with water, and more importantly 2) will likely spray all over yourself and your kitchen. Even after teaching children about hand washing, disease prevention and germs over the course of a summer, I hadn’t really thought about the spray until NPR’s article “Julia Child was Wrong: Don’t Wash Your Chicken, Folks” came out a couple days ago. Check out the “germ vision” video put together by Drexel University to see what I mean:

Although I’d love to think of Julia Child as the expert on all things cooking, her use of butter and other ingredients certainly didn’t lend her to being a nutrition expert of any kind, or in the case of washing chicken, a public health expert. Although in her defense, she never claimed to be either!

Other recommended resources:

Say goodbye to the dreaded “D” word

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When I say the dreaded “D” word, I’m talking about “Diets.” Considering the word diet, I think of restricted calories, no junk food, and a number of brands where you can purchase branded snacks, meals, supplements, capsules, cookbooks, etc. I’ve also always thought of a diet as being a temporary thing, like you diet before a wedding to fit into a dress, before swimsuit season to look great in a two-piece, etc. But if we’re talking about a long-term change to lose weight (and keep it off!), then a temporary solution won’t work, as researchers Sherry L. Pagoto, PhD and Bradley M. Appelhans, PhD argue in the August 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Their viewpoint in this issue points to evidence supporting long-term lifestyle changes, not temporary diets, to support weight loss and more importantly better health.

As someone who is CHES-certified, this news doesn’t come as a shock. Health education theories are also often called “behavioral theories” that address human/health behavior. If you’re planning a health education program for the community, one of the ways you might evaluate success is behavior change, such as do individuals demonstrate a certain skill (vs. number of pounds lost). In the case of a lifestyle change, this skill could be portion control, recognizing hunger cues, maintaining an exercise routine, etc. Personally, it’s where I’ve found the most success in reaching a healthy weight; cutting out sugary drinks or just increasing my exercise was never enough. It takes me portion control and moderation, balancing those good ‘ole food groups, exercising (to where it’s become a part of my daily routine), and choosing foods that are balanced in nutrients to provide the right energy for my body. And it’s definitely been different from “diets” of the past because it’s an ongoing process (to change my lifestyle), and remarkably more successful than anything else I’ve tried.

But if viewpoints from these researchers, my own personal anecdote or experience in health education aren’t enough, consider the success of evidence-based programs. The CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and the Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) BOTH emphasize lifestyle changes to improve health outcomes. The DPP is a 16-week program facilitates diabetes prevention through weight-loss, by reducing fat intake and increasing physical activity over the long term. This program also has monthly follow-up sessions for 6-8 months after the initial 16-weeks. So it doesn’t promote a one-time diet, but a long-term change in eating and activity. And guess what? It’s evidence based, since it’s demonstrated a weight reduction in participants that aids in preventing the onset of diabetes even beyond the follow-up sessions. The CDSMP program facilitates managing one or more chronic diseases, and includes healthy eating and physical activity as components of that. This program is also evidence-based, and has shown improved health outcomes in participants, including reductions in hospitalizations when followed over time.

So, what does this all mean? It’s not a diet that’s going to make a difference, it’s a change in lifestyle. It is a more dramatic change, but it is also a more successful and longer-lasting approach to a healthy weight and healthy life.

 

Other Recommended Resources:

 

Dove gives another lesson in body image

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I feel that body image isn’t a topic often considered a public health issue, but when you consider that bullying (a hot topic now) can cause poor body image, and that eating disorders (still an important issue in public health and medicine) can result from poor body image, maybe it’s something we need to pay more attention to. But who is to blame for setting our “body” standards? Often the media and marketing, who show thin models and stars in ads for clothes, makeup and other products. And often times these women are made to look even thinner through Photoshop, so that we’re not even seeing a “real” thin, but an altered version.

As much as I’ve love to blame marketing for a lot more of the public health issues today (direct marketing to children using cartoon characters on unhealthy food products, distortion of portion sizes, tobacco products, tanning, etc.), I’ll just focus on body image for now. One company that often defines beauty not as thin but as being healthy (healthy skin in particular), is Dove. In their latest ad they spoof Photoshop users attempting to manipulate photos so the subjects look more beautiful (more radiant, as if sun-kissed). Will their ad effect dramatic societal change? I doubt it. But maybe it will at least attract a little attention, as it did in my case. Check out the Dove Canada ad (above) and let me know your thoughts below!

Related articles:

Berkowitz, J. (March 6, 2013). Dove Canada uses Photoshop Trojan horse to shame potential body shamers. Accessed August 4, 2013: http://www.fastcocreate.com/1682534/dove-canada-uses-photoshop-trojan-horse-to-shame-potential-body-shamers

Foster, S. (March 7, 2013). Dove Canada’s Photoshop ‘action’ reverts airbrushed, edited photos. Accessed September, 2013: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/07/dove-canada-photoshop-hack_n_2828962.html

What brand is your state most known for?

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I find the recent trend of national and state info graphics amusing at best…which regions say soda/pop/cola (note: none say “water”), what region of a state claims what food (New York, for example, has Chicken Wings from Buffalo and wine from the Finger Lakes region, among other regional foods), etc. Today I came across one that featured brands. Being from New York, I was almost disappointed that we were known for Verizon. Not because I dislike them, I do in fact very much, as I’ve been a customer of theirs for the past nine years, but because Verizon isn’t something you crave, like your favorite clothing store, coffee joint, etc. When I considered this from a public health perspective though, I have to be glad that my state wasn’t known for sugar sweetened beverages (besides New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to restrict their sales) or a fast food franchise. Curious what your state’s “claim to fame” is? Check out the brand info graphic here.

Technology presents different kind of access barrier for outreach workers

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In an age of phone apps for health, electronic medical records and other tools and devices designed to improve health, it’s surprising that technology could also take us a step backward. But then again, anything is possible. In India, where brothels long-proved to be a challenge for AIDS outreach workers, they at least prove easier to reach traditional clients. Now the greatest challenge is reaching sex workers with cell phones, those who do not rely on brothels and can now take their business mobile, literally. By not seeing clients in only one place, it makes it harder for outreach workers to provide education and condoms to them. Further, some studies have found that those who are more mobile and not associated with a brothel are less likely to use a condom. More information on this and the full story can be accessed at The New York Times.

Although this presents a challenge to reaching individuals at risk of HIV and other STDs, sex workers relying on mobile technology may present an interesting opportunity for relief workers. Perhaps the use of an anonymous text line, where sex workers could either text for information or receive health education messages from, would prove beneficial and could help increase condom use in this population. A text line could also send messages or information on where to get condoms, although this relies on sex workers traveling to a clinic or other site to receive condoms, versus outreachworkers coming directly to the point of service, brothels, to deliver condoms to those at risk. In time, perhaps a smart phone app could provide the same type of information. Although this does not as easily get condoms into the hands of sex workers, it is a step toward continued or increased communication with and education for groups at risk.

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Harris, G. (24 November, 2012). Cellphones reshape prostitution in India, and complicate efforts to prevent AIDS. The New York Times. Retrieved 25 November from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/world/asia/indian-prostitutes-new-autonomy-imperils-aids-fight.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20121125