Findings demonstrate that infant-toddler hearing screening in FQHCs is feasible to conduct, and it may effectively identify cases of postnatal hearing loss. This is one of the first studies in a primary care setting using OAE technology coupled with tympanometry, allowing physicians to better triage patients for immediate audiology referral.

A low rate of mammogram screening exists among low-income Hispanic women. To address this disparity, an experimental intervention containing audiovisual and written media was conducted using the health belief model as a framework. The purpose of this study was to determine if low-income Hispanic women, more than 40 years of age, who received targeted cancer prevention education (n = 105) had a significantly greater perceived threat of breast cancer, greater benefits and lower barriers to screening, and stronger intentions to obtain mammograms compared to a control group (n = 105). Intervention participants reported significantly greater perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and mammogram screening intentions than the control group. Predictors of mammogram screening intentions, when controlling for covariates, included receiving the intervention, and having greater perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and lower barriers. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of a low-cost, theory-based intervention aimed at increasing mammogram screening to assist in the monitoring of Healthy People 2020 objectives.

Wellness programs based on therapeutic lifestyle change (TLC) interventions have recently demonstrated potential in combating stress and anxiety disorders. Despite this trend, a limited evidence-base exists on whether charging a fee for such programs impacts participant behavior by increasing attendance and retention. This pilot study therefore determined if attendance rate differed for a fee-based program as opposed to a free program amongst a heterogeneous group of participants who had previously experienced significant benefits from an identical stress reduction program. The design was a quasiexperimental, non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest. Data were analyzed using an independent samples t-test. Our preliminary findings demonstrated that participants in the fee-based group had a significantly higher mean of program attendance than those in the free attendance group. Charging fees for wellness programs may be a promising behavior change strategy, increasing attendance and participation, and maximizing program benefits. Nevertheless, more in-depth research is needed to examine participant attitudes toward paid versus free programs.

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About one-fourth of all toddlers and preschool children in the United States are overweight or at risk of being overweight. Child care providers have the opportunity to influence children’s nutrition early in their development, given the amount of time providers spend with them, particularly during meals. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Academy of Pediatrics have addressed the importance of increasing nutrition education. Implementing policy change to promote training among child care providers is one method to address childhood obesity. AB 290, a bill on child care licensing, was signed into law. This will require incoming child care providers to take 1 hour of early childhood nutrition, as part of the licensing process. The bill will require nutrition training to include information on age-appropriate meal patterns and on participation in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. The passage of AB 290 will help to increase nutrition training among providers, as nutrition education is currently not required. Other states should consider amending child care licensing laws related to nutrition training. Effective childhood obesity prevention legislation addressing the importance of nutrition is one small step that can be taken to combat the obesity epidemic.