Community-based Events Research Articles

Modeling the influence of social ties and transportation choice on access to oral healthcare for older adults

The current U.S. demographic shift toward an older population and the importance of intervening before conditions become severe warrant a concerted effort to ease the burden of access to healthcare for older adults. With regard to oral healthcare, more integrated services for older adults are needed to effectively serve their complex medical and dental needs. Using an agent-based simulation model, this paper examines the influence of social ties and transportation mode choices on opportunities for older adults to participate in community-based preventive screening events and access needed oral healthcare. This approach accounts for the heterogeneity of behavior that arises for a population exhibiting diversity in terms of social factors, including socioeconomic means and social support. In the context of older adults living in urban environments, the availability of different transportation modes ought to be taken into consideration. To explore alternative scenarios for the accessibility of preventive screening events offered at senior centers in northern Manhattan, an agent-based model (ABM) was created with a geographic information system (GIS) to simulate the influence of social ties and transportation choices on older adults seeking preventive screening services and oral healthcare. Results of simulation experiments indicate preferences for public transportation and inequities in accessibility that may be mitigated with social support. This simulation model offers a way to explore social support as an important factor in making transportation mode choices that mediate oral healthcare accessibility and thus oral health outcomes for older adults.

Benefits of disease-specific summer camps: Results from quantitative and qualitative studies at Roundup River Ranch

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to examine the benefits of disease-specific summer camps (DSSC) for children with chronic and/or life-threatening illnesses. MethodsParticipants were children (11–17 years) attending DSSC during summer 2015. The quantitative study evaluated positive affect, meaning/purpose, and peer relationships at three time points (before camp, one week after camp, and three months after camp). Linear mixed models assessed changes in outcomes before and after camp for new and returning campers. The qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with questions about camper mood, goals, and peer interactions, both at camp and at home. A two-phase thematic analysis was utilized with operational definitions of themes derived from Social Comparison Theory and Psychosocial Development Theory. ResultsCampers reported more positive affect, greater meaning and purpose, and improvement in quality of peer relationships one week after camp; however, changes were not maintained three months after camp. The most common benefit of DSSC identified in the interviews was self-efficacy, followed by emotional support and positive mood. Social comparisons were made by 74% of campers. Acceptance (i.e., by peers, of self, of illness) was the most common benefit maintained after camp. ConclusionsStudy results provide greater insight into the social, emotional, and developmental benefits of attending DSSC, and highlight avenues for future intervention or program development (e.g., community-based camp events, school/peer education programs). Further, results can be used to assist camp directors and planners with age and disease-specific programming as well as support fundraising efforts for DSSC.

Abstract P360: Comparison of Screening Electrocardiogram and Transthoracic Echocardiogram Abnormalities With ASCVD Risk Score Among Community Dwelling Women

Background: Increased detection of heart disease in women has been advocated nationally in recent years. The atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score was validated as determinant of the 10-year risk for first occurrence of nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease death, or fatal or nonfatal stroke in 2013. While measurement of blood pressure, glucose, and lipid levels are common in screening, the utility of non-traditional methods such as electrocardiogram (ECG) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) remains unknown. We examined the association of ECG and TTE abnormalities with ASCVD risk score among asymptomatic women from a community-based event. Methods: Data were gathered from 355 women (mean age 53±13 years, 24.2% African American, 59.7% Caucasian, 6.2% Hispanic, 9.9% Others) from a voluntary cardiovascular community screening event sponsored by the 2BigHearts Foundation and Rush University Medical Center in February 2007 and May 2008. Demographics, lipid panel, blood pressure, self- reported medication lists, co-morbidities, screening TTE, and ECG were obtained. The 10-year ASCVD risk score was ascertained for the cohort (283 persons, 79.7%). Chi-square testing was used to determine association of ECG and/or TTE abnormalities with ASCVD risk score. Results: The average ASCVD risk score for the entire cohort was 5.49%, with a range from 0.1-49.2. The mean ASCVD risk score was elevated in patients with either ECG or TTE abnormalities compared to those with normal findings (ECG: 7.59±9.46 vs. 4.62±5.39, p<0.0014; TTE: 8.19±10.12 vs. 4.81±5.73, p<0.037). The presence of both ECG and TTE abnormalities was associated with a higher mean ASCVD risk score compared to having either ECG or TTE abnormalities alone (ECG+TTE: 13.07±14.32 vs. ECG: 5.7±6.19 vs. TTE: 5.27±4.65, p<0.006). Conclusion: Detection of ECG and/or TTE abnormalities are associated with elevated ASCVD risk scores in this cohort of asymptomatic women and could potentially identify patients at higher risk for cardiovascular events, and facilitate aggressive risk factor modification. Further studies are needed to confirm ECG and TTE as viable additional screening tools to traditional risk screening.

Uncovering the Motives and Experiences of Locally Sourced Volunteers at Two Events in Metropolitan Perth, Western Australia

This study sought to venture beyond the scope of previous research by examining two 2016 events that incorporated elements of different event types. The material events—the ISPS Handa Perth International golf tournament and the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival—were large-scale events with international stature and appeal. Both of those events present concomitant event characteristics: the golf tournament could be labeled as a sporting event and a community event or even a corporate event, while the fashion festival could be deemed as a community event and also a form of cultural celebration or possibly a business event. Notwithstanding that the events are dissimilar in terms of function and goal, the authors assert that the common defining characteristic was that the event volunteer recruitment was geographically localized using local area bounded recruitment drives. Consequently, those events were almost exclusively supported by Perth residents who identified the events as community events because of their considerable contribution. This study sought the opinions and perspectives of the volunteers of the two events with a specific focus on volunteering motivation. This research is timely given the worrying trend of diminishing rates of event volunteering due to attrition in the volunteer base. The outcomes of this study will provide event managers involved in organizing community-based events, where the focus of recruitment is on local volunteers, with more in-depth knowledge about the diversity of motivational factors brought about by the inherent heterogeneity in the volunteer base. Furthermore, insight is gained on the volunteer decision-making process and the factors volunteers take into consideration in deciding to commit themselves to an event.

Diaspora as aesthetic formation: community sports events and the making of a Somali diaspora

ABSTRACTThis paper uses the concept of aesthetic formation to examine the practices through which diasporic imaginations become tangible and experienced as ‘real’. The authors interpret sport as an embodied aesthetic practice through which diasporas materialise, with important implications for identification and belonging. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork on a transnational community-based sports event, the Amsterdam Futsal Tournament, the paper discusses how articulations of Somali diasporism become tangible and embodied in subjects who participate in this event. The authors conclude that these materialisation practices can simultaneously elicit multiple forms and levels of belonging that also foster a sense of integration and belonging to the nation.

“Figuring Out the Age Gap”: Youth Reflections on a Youth–Adult Partnership

Recreation professionals are often charged with providing positive youth development (PYD) initiatives for youth. The interaction between recreation professionals and youth participants are central to these efforts. The current article presents reflections from youth participants after partnering with aspiring recreation professionals to plan a community-based recreation event. Responses from pre- and post-partnership focus group sessions were assessed to understand youth’s perception and experiences of working with adult participants. The results highlight key components for engaging youth voice and the importance of supportive relationships during youth-adult partnerships (Y-AP). Youth responses represent a conformity to social norms and highlight the need for adults to create supportive relationships when partnered with youth. Discussion and implications of the findings contribute to the support of Y-AP among recreation professionals seeking PYD programming initiatives. Subscribe to JPRA

Health Care Access, Utilization, and Cancer Screening Among Low-Income Latina Women.

Cancer screening reduces mortality rates for breast, cervical, and colon cancer. Yet cancer screening rates for Latina women are lower than for non-Latino Whites, and below Healthy People 2020 goals. Additionally, Latinos face many health care access barriers. This study examined health care access and utilization in relation to cancer screening among low-income Latina women recruited from a high-risk area and enrolled in a navigation-plus-education intervention. Latina women considered rarely or never screened for breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer were recruited from community-based organizations and events (N = 691). We gathered self-reported survey data on insurance status, usual source of care, health care utilization, and cancer screening behavior. We conducted multivariable logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios of receipt of at least one cancer screening test. Overall, 28% of women received at least one cancer screening test. Results indicated that women without insurance (odds ratio [OR] = 2.08; confidence interval [CI] = 1.09, 3.98) and without a doctor's visit in the past year (OR = 2.02; CI = 1.28, 3.18), compared with their counterparts, had greater odds of receiving at least one screening test. Findings highlight the continued need to explore ways to support uninsured individuals' screening efforts and further investigate barriers among insured women who are not up-to-date with screenings.

Everyday watching and learning in an Indigenous Australian community

Abstract In Indigenous communities around the globe, the time and space needed for the learning of language, ways of being, cultural practices and beliefs, and local history have been limited by changes brought on by formal education, modernity and globalisation. However dynamic these factors and processes may be, introduced Western institutional practices, values and expectations have nonetheless eroded the learning that occurs in the everyday environment, and schooling has reduced the time spent acquiring culturally-specific knowledge systems, languages and worldviews. Research has demonstrated that shared cultural practices and beliefs are vital for identity strengthening in Indigenous Australia. However, studies of the process of this learning and teaching remain few. Examined here are three learning events embedded in the everyday social context of a remote Aboriginal community in Australia. Based on an anthropological and art historical research project that investigated the creative, social and cultural world of an Aboriginal community, this paper focuses on community-based learning events in the quotidian environment. Revealed here are the immediate needs and desires of community members and the manner in which local-specific values, practices and knowledge are transmitted intergenerationally. We argue that these events are a key factor in identity strengthening, cultural continuity and cultural renewal.

The Irish World Music Café: Performing and Recording as Tools for Sustainable Social Integration

This arts-based and ethnographic research comprises two video submissions; ‘Elikya’ and ‘Irish World Music Café’ as well as an accompanying paper exploring the potential contribution of live musical performance and video recording to sustainable social integration for new migrant communities. The research is anchored in an exploration of an initiative called The Irish World Music Café in Limerick city, Ireland. The café is a community-based event promoting social singing for new migrants and Limerick residents in the heart of the city. The paper discusses the growing body of evidence concerning the role played by music (particularly singing) in supporting sustainable social integration. It also presents two video-based projects: the first captures the live performances of the café with the second focusing on Elikya, a Congolese music group associated with the café. The paper also discusses the growing importance of video documentation in supporting and disseminating live performance events such as the café. Using Turino’s categories of cultural formations and cultural cohorts (2008), it argues for the role of the café, both as a live event and a recorded phenomenon, in contributing to the development of alternative values and social change.

Viability of Nonresident Open Water Swimming Event Competitors as a Target Market: A Case Study

No research has been published on the characteristics and behavior patterns of athletes traveling to compete in open water swimming events, despite the growing popularity of such events. This article fills this gap by profiling nonresident competitors in the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, an iconic community-based event held annually on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Data were collected in an intercept survey of swimmers shortly after they finished the race. Nonresident competitors in the event were found to be a viable market segment according to established criteria for such viability. Their significant numbers and high incomes evidenced their potential profitability and their high levels of affiliation with swimming organizations suggested that personal selling to the organizations' leaders and advertising via the organizations' newsletters and websites might be effective channels through which to reach them. In addition, their high levels of education, athletic identity, experienced "flow," involvement with open water swimming, and importance ascribed to swimming "the famous Waikiki coastline" suggested that advertisements directed at them should be designed to resonate with well-educated, accomplished, and committed athletes, include reminders of the psychological and social benefits of race participation, and explicitly mention the event's unique and attractive geographic and historical setting.

Impact of a Rural Community-Based Event for Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) often have difficulty demonstrating appropriate communication, social skills, behavior, and sensory responses; thus, it can be challenging for families, particularly those in rural areas, to find suitable community-based opportunities. The Au-some Evenings program was developed at a local children’s museum to provide an inclusive, age-appropriate, nonjudgmental recreational activity for families with children with ASD. The present study examined parent perceptions of the Au-some Evenings events. Results demonstrated high levels of parent satisfaction with the program. The authors include a discussion of the implications, limitations, and directions for future research and practice.

An Intervention Using Gamification to Increase Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in California: Rationale and Design of Stick To It.

BackgroundIn the United States, young men who have sex with men (YMSM) remain disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Although routine HIV/STI screening is pivotal to the timely diagnosis of HIV and STIs, initiation of appropriate treatment, and reduced onward disease transmission, repeat screening is underused. Novel interventions that incorporate elements of games, an approach known as gamification, have the potential to increase routinization of HIV/STI screening among YMSM.ObjectiveThe study aims to test the hypothesis that an incentive-based intervention that incorporates elements of gamification can increase routine HIV/STI screening among YMSM in California.MethodsThe study consists of a formative research phase to develop the intervention and an implementation phase where the intervention is piloted in a controlled research setting. In the formative research phase, we use an iterative development process to design the intervention, including gathering information about the feasibility, acceptability, and expected effectiveness of potential game elements (eg, points, leaderboards, rewards). These activities include staff interviews, focus group discussions with members of the target population, and team meetings to strategize and develop the intervention. The final intervention is called Stick To It and consists of 3 components: (1) online enrollment, (2) Web-based activities consisting primarily of quizzes and a countdown “timer” to facilitate screening reminders, and (3) in-person activities that occur at 2 sexual health clinics. Participants earn points through the Web-based activities that are then redeemed for chances to win various prizes during clinic visits. The pilot study is a quasi-experimental study with a minimum of 60 intervention group participants recruited at the clinics, at community-based events, and online. We will compare outcomes in the intervention group with a historical control group consisting of individuals meeting the inclusion criteria who attended study clinics in the 12 months prior to intervention implementation. Eligible participants in the pilot study (1) are 18 to 26 years old, (2) were born or identify as male, 3) report male sexual partners, and 4) have a zip code of residence within defined areas in the vicinity of 1 of the 2 implementation sites. The primary outcome is repeat HIV/STI screening within 6 months.ResultsThis is an ongoing research study with initial results expected in the fourth quarter of 2017.ConclusionsWe will develop and pilot test a gamification intervention to encourage YMSM to be regularly screened for HIV/STIs. The results from this research will provide preliminary evidence about the potential effectiveness of using gamification to amplify health-related behavioral change interventions. Further, the research aims to determine the processes that are essential to developing and implementing future health-related gamification interventions.Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT02946164; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02946164 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ri3G4HwD)

Celebration of heritage: linkages between historical re-enactment festival attributes and attendees’ value perception

ABSTRACTCommunity-based festivals celebrate a sense of community and place. Communities across the United States (US) and elsewhere have turned to various community-based events to celebrate local heritage and culture. This study investigates the relationship between the attributes of a historical re-enactment festival and participants’ perceived value. Drawing on means–end theory and event experience literature, we examined event attributes, perceived benefits, and attendees’ perceived value in the context of a historical re-enactment festival in the Midwestern US. The results highlighted the importance of four attributes of historical re-enactment festivals, namely historical re-enactment, social interactions, event design, and physical facets. Each factor contributed differently to attendees’ perceived value of such a festival experience. In addition, perceived benefits of attending such an event mediated the relationships between event attributes and perceived value. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.

Assessment of human papillomavirus awareness in association with head and neck cancer at a screening event.

To assess the baseline awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection as a cause of head and neck cancer (HNC) to design improved targeted screening and education efforts. Retrospective review of collected survey at a cancer screening event. This was a screening event at three hospitals and one community center in Miami, Florida. Participants were recruited throughout the Greater Miami area. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic characteristics of those who were aware of HPV and those who were not. Adjusted odds ratios, odds ratios, and χ2 tests were used in statistical analysis. A total of 196 women and 112 men were screened across four sites, with 187 participants at hospital-based events and 124 participants at the community-based event. Forty percent of respondents had heard of HPV, and 28.0% identified HPV as a risk factor for HNC. Non-Hispanic and Hispanic respondents were 3.309 and 2.445 times, respectively, more likely than Haitian respondents to have heard of HPV. Women were 2.488 times more likely than men to be aware of HPV. College graduates were 2.268 times more likely than those with less than a college degree to be aware of HPV. Younger respondents were more likely to be aware of HPV. Of those who identified HPV as a risk factor for HNC, 95.4% also correctly identified smoking and 75.9% also correctly identified alcohol as risk factors. Disparities in HPV and HNC awareness were noted between gender, age, education level, and ethnicity. NA. Laryngoscope, 128:386-392, 2018.

Early Preservice Teachers’ Experiences of the Environment: A Case Study of Participation in a Community Outdoor Event

AbstractClean Up Australia Day is the country's largest community-based environmental annual event when participants work in teams to remove rubbish from their local environment. This article describes an interpretive study in which a sample of preservice primary teachers’ (n = 30) responses to questions about their involvement in the event were evaluated to determine their developing knowledge and understanding about environmental and sustainability issues. The study evaluated a university assessment task for its ability to identify and challenge preservice primary teachers’ views as consumers of manufactured products, environmental citizens, and future teachers. The data were drawn from students’ written work that formed part of the assessment task. Results indicate that students found participation in this community event to be a significant, valuable part of their learning about the environment that contributed to their understanding about sustainability and highlighted the power of positive community participation as a force for good.

Premarathon Evaluations: Is There a Role for Runner Prerace Medical Screening and Education to Reduce the Risk of Medical Complications?

There is irrefutable evidence that regular participation in physical activity has substantial health benefits, and as such participation in mass community-based sports events should be supported. However, with the promotion of physical activity comes the potential risk of medical complications during an acute exercise session, with this risk varying according to the risk factor profile of an individual and the nature of the event. The demographics of marathon race entrants changed over the past two to three decades, and currently about 50% of runners are older than 40 yr. A consolidated view of previously published research shows that in a marathon with a field of 50,000 runners for example, the medical staff will, on average, encounter a sudden death every 2 to 3 yr, a sudden cardiac arrest every year, 25 runners that present with a serious medical complication requiring specialized management or hospitalization, and 1000 runners that require medical attention. Runners may have several intrinsic risk factors that can predispose them to serious acute cardiovascular or other serious noncardiac medical complications on race day. This intrinsic risk can be exacerbated by several extrinsic risk factors as well. As health care professionals, we are obliged to give the best medical advice to individuals who wish to participate in moderate- and high-intensity endurance activities, and at the same time reduce their risk of a medical complication during exercise. Preliminary data indicate that an online prerace medical screening and targeted educational intervention program can be successfully implemented and is effective in reducing the risk of acute medical complications during a race.

Perceived Water Quality and Reported Health among Adults during the Flint, MI Water Crisis

Background and Purpose: In April 2014, the municipal water source for Flint, Michigan was changed from Lake Huron to the Flint River. Although residents reported concerns about the quality of tap water and resulting health problems, officials insisted that the water was safe. This study examined relationships between self-reported tap water quality during the water crisis and health conditions among Flint residents. Methods: Participants from each residential Census Tract in the City of Flint were recruited via address lists, online social media, and community-based events. The survey included mental and physical health items from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and an item on tap water quarter quality experiences. Analyses were weighted to be demographically representative. Results: Participants (N = 277) rated their tap water quality (taste, smell, appearance) as Poor (57%), Fair (20%), Good (13%), Very Good (6%), and Excellent (3%). Controlling for age, gender, years of education, whether respondents were African American or Hispanic/Latino/a, and population demographics, lower perceived tap water quality was associated with worse mental and physical health across all indicators. Conclusion: This study demonstrates associations of tap water quality experiences with reported poor physical and mental health among adults in Flint during the Flint Water Crisis.

Increasing Social Integration for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Increasing numbers of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are entering postsecondary education; however, many report feeling lonely and isolated. These difficulties with socialization have been found to impact students' academic success, involvement within the university, and overall well being. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess, within the context of a multiple-baseline across participants design, whether a structured social planning intervention would increase social integration for college students with ASD. The intervention consisted of weekly meetings to plan social activities around the student with ASD's interests, improve organizational skills, and target specific social skills. Additionally, each participant had a peer mentor for support during the social activities. The results showed that following intervention all participants increased their number of community-based social events, extracurricular activities, and peer interactions. Furthermore, participants improved in their academic performance and satisfaction with their college experience. Results are discussed in regards to developing specialized programs to assist college students with ASD.

Abstract P381: Vascular Inflammation as a Subclinical Marker of Atherosclerosis Demonstrates High Cardiometabolic Risk in a Resource-limited, Community-based Population

Background: Vascular inflammation (VI) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) events among populations with inflammatory disease. Less is known about VI among populations in communities characterized by lower neighborhood-level socioeconomic status and limited resources for physical activity and dietary intake, particularly those identified as having CV risk factors through community-based (CB) efforts. Specifically, no comparisons exist of VI between CB cohorts and populations with known inflammatory disease associated with CV risk, such as psoriasis (PSO). Hypothesis: We hypothesized that VI by 18-FDG PET/CT would be similar in a resource limited CB cohort compared to a matched mild/moderate PSO cohort. Methods: In the Washington, DC CV Health and Needs Assessment, we evaluated CV risk factors among participants of a day-long, CB event in resource-limited Washington, DC areas (NCT01927783). Those having at least one CV risk factor (obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes) underwent 18-FDG PET/CT to measure VI for cardiometabolic phenotyping. Cardiometabolic markers were compared between the CB cohort and PSO cohort; VI between the cohorts was also compared using linear regression modeling. Results: The CB cohort was African-American, middle-aged, and predominantly female, and the PSO cohort was half female and mostly Caucasian. Both cohorts were obese and pre-hypertensive with elevated lipid levels. There was no significant difference in VI between the CB cohort and the PSO cohort in both unadjusted (beta 0.25, p 0.15) and adjusted models including age, BMI, and race (beta 0.21, p 0.14). Conclusion: Populations with CV risk factors in resource-limited communities have comparable VI to those with known inflammatory PSO. These findings highlight a need for 1) CB efforts to identify individuals at high CV risk who might not otherwise be seen in a clinical setting and 2) targeted CB interventions to reduce CV risk for these populations. However, larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Parental Knowledge of Cardiovascular Screening and Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Youth Athletes.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in youth athletes. Survival from out- of-hospital SCA depends on prompt initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). This study evaluated parental knowledge, experience, and attitudes related to cardiovascular screening, SCA, and CPR/AED use in youth athletes and made comparisons between parents who are employed in healthcare and parents who are not employed in healthcare. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to evaluate knowledge, experiences, and attitudes of 91 parents of youth athletes who attended a community-based cardiovascular screening event. Although cardiovascular screening can reduce the risk of SCA, we found that 36% of parents incorrectly thought cardiovascular screening could prevent SCA and there was no difference in knowledge between the two groups of parents. This initial evaluation of parental knowledge of cardiovascular screening issues in youth athletes should guide educational efforts to prevent and respond to SCA in youth athletes.