J Natl Med Assoc
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This retrospective review of eight years of trauma registry data at an inner-city level-1 trauma center was undertaken to discover at what age urban children start to become at high risk of being victims of either a major gunshot wound or stabbing. We reviewed data from 2,191 patients who were the victim of either a gunshot wound or stabbing, were 18 years of age or under, and met pre-established criteria to qualify as a major trauma victim. There was a rise and subsequent fall in both overall crime and intentional injury rates during the eight-year period. Nevertheless, in each of the eight years studied, the risk of being a victim of a major gunshot wound or stabbing rose abruptly at age 14 (p<0.01) and the incidence continued to rise sharply through age 18.
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The John Henryism hypothesis posits that individuals who actively cope with psychosocial stressors in the face of low socioeconomic resources are more likely to exhibit higher blood pressure levels than those with greater socioeconomic resources. It has been proposed that John Henryism may contribute to the disproportionately high rates of hypertension among blacks. Previous studies which support the John Henryism hypothesis have been conducted among blacks who reside in primarily southern rural settings. ⋯ The results of the study confirmed that there is indeed a relationship among John Henry Active Coping, years of education, and blood pressure among urban blacks in south Florida. Upon closer examination, higher John Henry Active Coping scores were associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure among higher educated men, and John Henry Active Coping scores were associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure among women with lower levels of education. The findings are discussed in terms of sociocultural factors that may influence the coping styles of black men and women in different communities and environments.
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This study estimated smoking prevalence and identified factors associated with initiation among preteens in Nashville, TN. An anonymous, self-administrated questionnaire was given to 238 fifth- and sixth-graders in a middle-class neighborhood school. The mean age at initiation was 8.5 years (range 6-11 years). ⋯ Few ever-smokers had a complete understanding of the health risks. Targeted messages and curriculum should be developed to teach preteens about the short- and long-term dangers of smoking. Clinicians can play a major role in educating their clients about the risks of smoking.