Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education
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The authors evaluate obstetricians-gynecologists' (OB-GYNs') anxiety about clinical uncertainty and patient, physician, and organizational factors associated with their selection of HIV-related educational activities for high-risk and low-risk written case simulations. A total of 117 U. S. ⋯ Overall, informants were much less likely to educate in response to the low-risk simulation; however, more informants who were anxious about uncertainty were more likely to do so in a model that included supportive institutional policies, willingness to educate despite patient barriers, and comfort with the topic. OB-GYNs were more likely to educate in response to the high-risk simulation given greater willingness to discuss HIV despite organizational barriers, supportive policies, and comfort. Findings suggest a need to better understand the role that anxiety about uncertainty plays in HIV prevention and the need to promote organizational policies that support and remove barriers to clinically based education.
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Although resources are available to inform researchers of the many technical skills necessary to conduct qualitative research, individuals working in applied field settings often encounter ethical, moral, and sociopolitical dilemmas that cannot be resolved through the application of technical skills. The purpose of this article is to present examples of dilemmas faced by qualitative research methodologists studying sexual behavior in applied field settings. Possible solutions to these dilemmas are discussed within a theoretical and conceptual framework. The examples and discussion are organized around four broad topic areas: informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, and personal relationships.
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The California Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) was conceived in 1993 as a 5-year, $35 million comprehensive community, media, research, and policy advocacy effort to reduce violence among youth. The VPI included an emphasis on three broad policy areas: shifting society's definition of violence to include a public health perspective, reducing access to alcohol and other drugs, and limiting availability of handguns. ⋯ Now, there are bans in 41 California jurisdictions, including major population centers. After two vetoes of a statewide legislative ban by the former governor, an SNS ban was signed by a newly elected governor.