When I googled text messaging and health, numerous articles and websites turned up. The first one I found was an article talking about a nanny who used a text messaging service which told her what kinds of fish contained PCBs, and the different levels each of them had. PCBs are toxic substances that fish can carry, so the lowest levels possible are ideals. With a quick text, the nanny had all the information she needed. The article also talked about women in England using text alerts to remind them to take their birth control pills at the same time everyday. San Francisco uses billboards to promote a phone number people can text with common health related questions. In New Zealand they use text messaging to accompany tobacco cessation programs with young smokers. The trial has said that it has doubled the rate of quitting.
I think that these different text messaging programs sound like great ideas. They give helpful information and tools to all sorts of different people with different issues. The one problem I see is that there is not enough regulation among text messaging with young kids. Some programs might want to adopt some kind of parental release before kids under the age of 18 can text to the certain number. I think that this would eliminate a lot of angry parents.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Adventures in Whyville
I chose to go to Whyville to create my avatar. I thought that this site had some positive aspects and some negative. I found it hard to "chat" with the other avatars and some of the activities were difficult using a computer. Sometimes people would not reply to my questions or hello's. I did enjoy the fit zone area. It had fun activities and good information. If you go to the right area of Whyville you can find useful tools and knowledge, I think that fitness is best addressed in Whyville. I also really enjoyed visiting the food court and doing the WhyEat activity. It gave me useful tips and made it seem quite real (minus really eating). I think that these virtual worlds can really come in handy for people who want a fun alternative to learning about healthy behavior. I think that this program should target middle school to high school students because at this age they are very likely to enjoy the similarities of online gaming/chatting.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Philosophies of Health Care
I looked at 3 different websites for my blog this week, they included the CDC, NIH, and OHSU. Listed below are their visions and/or mission statements.
CDC
From the Director
Welcome to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Each day at CDC, we try to imagine a safer, healthier world. A world where infants are born healthy and cared for -- so, as children, they can arrive at school safe, well-nourished, and ready to learn. A world in which teenagers have the information, motivation, and hope they need to make healthy choices about their lifestyles and behaviors. A world in which adults enjoy active and productive lives in safe communities where they can remain independent and engaged with family and friends throughout their senior years.
CDC′s Mission is to collaborate to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.
CDC′s Vision for the 21st Century is "Health Protection…Health Equity"
NIH
NIH Mission
NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.
OHSU
A Vision for the Future
As the state of Oregon’s only health and research university, OHSU is a unique resource for Oregonians and the place where healing, teaching and discovery come together to serve the entire state. We train the healthcare professionals that Oregon communities need. We provide care to those with the most difficult health challenges. And our faculty works every day to come up with new discoveries that help save lives.
When going over these statements I noticed that the CDC and NIH are more focused on prevention and education. OHSU is a hospital, so it is going to have less focus on prevention. It is a teaching institution and does mention teaching in their vision. After analyzing all of these websites, I would most love to work for the CDC. That is somewhere I have wanted to work since first becoming interested in public health. When I do look for my career choice, I will definitely look into which ever company I am interested, and see how their philosophy lines up with my values and what I want to accomplish in my career.
CDC
From the Director
Welcome to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Each day at CDC, we try to imagine a safer, healthier world. A world where infants are born healthy and cared for -- so, as children, they can arrive at school safe, well-nourished, and ready to learn. A world in which teenagers have the information, motivation, and hope they need to make healthy choices about their lifestyles and behaviors. A world in which adults enjoy active and productive lives in safe communities where they can remain independent and engaged with family and friends throughout their senior years.
CDC′s Mission is to collaborate to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.
CDC′s Vision for the 21st Century is "Health Protection…Health Equity"
NIH
NIH Mission
NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.
OHSU
A Vision for the Future
As the state of Oregon’s only health and research university, OHSU is a unique resource for Oregonians and the place where healing, teaching and discovery come together to serve the entire state. We train the healthcare professionals that Oregon communities need. We provide care to those with the most difficult health challenges. And our faculty works every day to come up with new discoveries that help save lives.
When going over these statements I noticed that the CDC and NIH are more focused on prevention and education. OHSU is a hospital, so it is going to have less focus on prevention. It is a teaching institution and does mention teaching in their vision. After analyzing all of these websites, I would most love to work for the CDC. That is somewhere I have wanted to work since first becoming interested in public health. When I do look for my career choice, I will definitely look into which ever company I am interested, and see how their philosophy lines up with my values and what I want to accomplish in my career.
LGBT
What does the acronym LGBT stand for?
LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
What are some of the modifiable risk factors influencing the health of people who identify as LGBT?
Some of the modifiable risk factors include, promiscuous sexual behavior, abusing alcohol and/or drugs, and not practicing safe sex habits.
What are some of the social risk factors influencing the health of people who identify as LGBT?
Some of the social risk factors include, suicide, as well as depression from being alienated by homophobics.
What are some of the primary disease and/or health concerns of those who identify as LBGT?
Some of the primary health concerns are: HIV/AIDS, syphilis, drug abuse, depression, and tobacco usage.
Provide three possible solutions to the problems addressed in the questions above.
I think that these can be solved by practicing safe sex, and promoting healthy behavior among peers. Also, more things need to be done with getting the word out to homophobic people that there is nothing wrong with being associated with LGBT.
LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
What are some of the modifiable risk factors influencing the health of people who identify as LGBT?
Some of the modifiable risk factors include, promiscuous sexual behavior, abusing alcohol and/or drugs, and not practicing safe sex habits.
What are some of the social risk factors influencing the health of people who identify as LGBT?
Some of the social risk factors include, suicide, as well as depression from being alienated by homophobics.
What are some of the primary disease and/or health concerns of those who identify as LBGT?
Some of the primary health concerns are: HIV/AIDS, syphilis, drug abuse, depression, and tobacco usage.
Provide three possible solutions to the problems addressed in the questions above.
I think that these can be solved by practicing safe sex, and promoting healthy behavior among peers. Also, more things need to be done with getting the word out to homophobic people that there is nothing wrong with being associated with LGBT.
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