Papers by Robert McDermott
Depression and Health Behavior of Adolescents
Psychological Reports, Aug 1, 1987
This study examined the relationship between two sets of variables, symptoms of depression and he... more This study examined the relationship between two sets of variables, symptoms of depression and health behaviors of adolescents. Analysis using canonical correlation produced two significant canonical variates. Results suggest that addressing symptoms of negative mental health in adolescents may be an important step toward facilitating positive health behaviors in this age group.
Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 2015
Background: Given the increasing evidence of its negative health effects, including contributions... more Background: Given the increasing evidence of its negative health effects, including contributions to both infectious and chronic diseases, waterpipe tobacco smoking raises public health concerns beyond even those presented by traditional smoking. Methods: Identification of Clean Indoor Air Acts (CIAAs) from each of the 50 United States and District of Columbia were retrieved and examined for inclusion of regulatory measures where waterpipe tobacco smoking is concerned. Several instances of exemption to current CIAAs policies were identified. The cumulative policy lens is presented in this study. Results: States vary in their inclusion of explicit wording regarding CIAAs to the point where waterpipe tobacco smoking, unlike traditional smoking products, is excluded from some legislation, thereby limiting authorities' ability to carry out enforcement. Conclusion: Consistent, comprehensive, and unambiguous legislative language is necessary to prevent establishments where waterpipe tobacco smoking occurs from skirting legislation and other forms of regulatory control. Stricter laws are needed due to the increasing negative health impact on both the smoker and the bystander. Actions at both the federal and state levels may be needed to control health risks, particularly among youth and young adult populations.
The objective of this study was to examine attributes assigned by university undergraduates to 12... more The objective of this study was to examine attributes assigned by university undergraduates to 12 contraception options, determine if dimensions used to evaluate options differed for women and men, and assess whether these dimensions have changed over time. This study was cross-sectional and involved a written survey. The sample (N=792) was drawn from two large universities in the southeastern United States and data collection was completed in classroom settings. Students rated 12 methods on 40 semantic differential scales. Scale scores were summed and a principal components analysis was performed, yielding separate factor structures (evaluative dimensions) for men and women. Three factors emerged for women accounting for 40.85%, 8.00%, and 5.78% of the variance respectively. Three factors also emerged for men accounting for 37.39%, 8.51%, and 7.15% of the variance respectively. Manipulating item loading criteria increased factor interpretability. In contrast to some previous research, the interpretative schemes of men and women for assessing contraception options held more similarities than differences. This apparent confluence in evaluating contraception may facilitate improved negotiation and agreement about the eventual choice of methods.
A health assessment of older Americans: Some multidimensional measures
Preventive Medicine, 1988
This study examined the relationships among self-reported health practices and self-reported heal... more This study examined the relationships among self-reported health practices and self-reported health status variables for 126 older adults drawn from a population of senior center participants, homebound elderly, and nursing home residents. Canonical correlation was used to determine significant relationships among linear combinations of the health variable set and the health practices-demographic data variable set. One significant canonical variate indicated that older adults who were more satisfied socially, free of or low in depression, had fewer or no physical disabilities, an internal locus of control, higher self-esteem, and fewer or no symptoms of aging, also tended to report engaging in current and lifelong exercise, sleeping 7 or 8 hr per day, having a higher educational attainment, and being in the younger age group of elderly. Current health practices of older adults were related to important health status variables. This finding contradicts some earlier investigations and suggests that older adults are indeed appropriate targets for health education and health promotion activities.
Health Education Research, 2011
Creating community-based opportunities for youth to be physically active is challenging for many ... more Creating community-based opportunities for youth to be physically active is challenging for many municipalities. A Lexington, Kentucky community coalition designed and piloted a physical activity program, 'VERBä summer scorecard (VSS)', leveraging the brand equity of the national VERB TM -It's What You Do! campaign. Key elements of VSS subsequently were adopted in Sarasota County, FL. This study identified characteristics of Sarasota's VSS participants and non-participants. Students in Grades 5-8 from six randomly selected public schools completed a survey assessing VSS participation, physical activity level, psychosocial variables, parental support for physical activity and demographics. Logistic regression showed that VSS participants were more likely to be from Grades 5 to 6 versus Grades 7 and 8 [odds ratio (OR) 5 6.055] and perceive high versus low parental support for physical activity (OR 5 4.627). Moreover, for each unit rise in self-efficacy, the odds of VSS participation rose by 1.839. Chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis suggested an interaction effect between grade and school socioeconomic status (SES), with a large proportion of seventh and eighth graders from high SES schools being non-participants (76.6%). A VSS-style program can be expected to be more effective with tweens who are younger, in a middle SES school, having high self-efficacy and high parental support for physical activity.
Can high technology make self-care a social movement?
Family & Community Health, 1986
APA PsycNET Our Apologies! - The following features are not available with your current Browser c... more APA PsycNET Our Apologies! - The following features are not available with your current Browser configuration. - alerts user that their session is about to expire - display, print, save, export, and email selected records - get My ...
American Journal of Public Health, 2011
Objectives. Although eye injuries are common among citrus harvesters, the proportion of workers u... more Objectives. Although eye injuries are common among citrus harvesters, the proportion of workers using protective eyewear has been negligible. We focused on adoption of worker-tested safety glasses with and without the presence and activities of trained peer-worker role models on harvesting crews. Methods. Observation of 13 citrus harvesting crews established baseline use of safety eyewear. Nine crews subsequently were assigned a peer worker to model use of safety glasses, conduct eye safety education, and treat minor eye injuries. Safety eyewear use by crews was monitored up to 15 weeks into the intervention. Results. Intervention crews with peer workers had significantly higher rates of eyewear use than control crews. Intervention exposure time and level of worker use were strongly correlated. Among intervention crews, workers with 1 to 2 years of experience (odds ratio [OR] = 2.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11, 7.55) and who received help from their peer worker (OR = 3.73; ...
American Journal of Health Education, 2009
Background: Participation in free-time play, including individual and group activities, is import... more Background: Participation in free-time play, including individual and group activities, is important during youth as patterns of physical activity established then persist into adulthood. The VERB Summer Scorecard (VSS) intervention is an innovative physical activity promotion initiative that offers tweens (8-13 year-olds) opportunities to be active during the summer months when increased sedentariness can occur, leading to weight gain and a predisposition for further inactivity. Purpose: This study identified factors associated with intentions to participate in VSS among tweens previously exposed to the intervention. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,063 middle school youth using a 39-item survey and performed a multi-level analysis. Results: Being female (OR=1.43), having tried a new physical activity (OR=1.59), not currently participating in out-of-school activities but wanting to (OR=2.60), and self-monitoring of physical activity (OR=4.42 to 7.50) were associated with future intention to participate in VSS. Discussion: Adoption of the VSS seemed to inspire some tweens to initiate and sustain activity. VSS appealed to tween girls, an especially important priority audience because of the observed tendency of girls' physical activity to decline during the teen years. Moreover, VSS offered youth the opportunity for trying a variety of games, sports, and other activities. Additionally, the tangible practice of monitoring physical activity (via the scorecard) appeared to have a favorable impact on intention to participate again in VSS. Translation to Health Education Practice: Implications for school and community based physical activity interventions include structures that incorporate trialabilty and observability as mechanisms for increasing likelihood of intervention adoption.
Depression and Health Behavior of Adolescents
Psychological Reports, 1987
This study examined the relationship between two sets of variables, symptoms of depression and he... more This study examined the relationship between two sets of variables, symptoms of depression and health behaviors of adolescents. Analysis using canonical correlation produced two significant canonical variates. Results suggest that addressing symptoms of negative mental health in adolescents may be an important step toward facilitating positive health behaviors in this age group.
The better model to predict and improve pediatric health care quality
Health Care Management Review, 2012
The perpetual search for ways to improve pediatric health care quality has resulted in a multitud... more The perpetual search for ways to improve pediatric health care quality has resulted in a multitude of assessments and strategies; however, there is little research evidence as to their conditions for maximum effectiveness. A major reason for the lack of evaluation research and successful quality improvement initiatives is the methodological challenge of measuring quality from the parent perspective. Comparison of performance-only and importance-performance models was done to determine the better predictor of pediatric health care quality and more successful method for improving the quality of care provided to children. Fourteen pediatric health care centers serving approximately 250,000 patients in 70,000 households in three West Central Florida counties were studied. A cross-sectional design was used to determine the importance and performance of 50 pediatric health care attributes and four global assessments of pediatric health care quality. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five dimensions of care (physician care, access, customer service, timeliness of services, and health care facility). Hierarchical multiple regression compared the performance-only and the importance-performance models. In-depth interviews, participant observations, and a direct cognitive structural analysis identified 50 health care attributes included in a mailed survey to parents(n = 1,030). The tailored design method guided survey development and data collection. The importance-performance multiplicative additive model was a better predictor of pediatric health care quality. Attribute importance moderates performance and quality, making the importance-performance model superior for measuring and providing a deeper understanding of pediatric health care quality and a better method for improving the quality of care provided to children. Regardless of attribute performance, if the level of attribute importance is not taken into consideration, health care organizations may spend valuable resources targeting the wrong areas for improvement. Consequently, this finding aids in health care quality research and policy decisions on organizational improvement strategies.
The ITT VLSI Design System: CAD Integration in a Multi-National Environment
22nd ACM/IEEE Design Automation Conference, 1985
ITT has developed and implemented a flexible CAD system strategy which solves major problems in i... more ITT has developed and implemented a flexible CAD system strategy which solves major problems in integrating VLSI design aids. The complexity of current generation VLSI CAD and the proliferation of commercial and internally generated design aids necessitates a coordinated approach to CAD system integration. This need was recognized early at ITT where it is compounded by a multi-national design environment comprising 14 major VLSI design centers and a growing number of smaller design centers each with its own specific set of needs and constraints. The CAD system integration strategy described achieves flexibility through a neutral data format tool interface architecture, a software language standard, and multi-source-able design rules. The paper describes the strategy and the semi-custom and full custom design systems developed following the strategy.
Switch Directed Dynamic Causal Networks -- A Paradigm for Electronic System Diagnosis
Proceedings of the 24th Acm Ieee Design Automation Conference, Jun 28, 1987
Mediator measurements after daily instillation of allergen: Increased IL-5 and decreased IFN-gamma
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Mar 1, 2008
This study was designed to measure symptoms, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma, and eosinophilic cationic pro... more This study was designed to measure symptoms, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma, and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in nasal secretions from subjects experiencing an artificial allergy season and to look for evidence of priming. Clinically relevant allergen was administered intranasally out of season to 12 asymptomatic individuals with seasonal allergic rhinitis. These individuals were then randomized to receive allergen or saline daily for the next 7 days. Nasal secretions and scrapings of nasal epithelium were obtained at baseline (day 1), 24 hours after the initial allergen administration (day 2), and 24 hours after the last instillation of allergen or saline (day 9). Nasal symptom scores (p < 0.0002), IL-5 mRNA (p = 0.03), and ECP (p < 0.02) increased after receiving the first challenge (day 2 compared with day 1). In the six subjects randomized to receive seven sequential daily challenges with allergen, symptom scores remained elevated (p < 0.02), IL-5 protein increased (p = 0.02), and IFN-gamma (p = 0.02) levels decreased (day 9 compared with day 1). In the six subjects randomized to receive seven sequential daily challenges with placebo, symptom scores, IL-5, and IFN-gamma levels were not significantly different (day 9 compared with day 1). Compared with the findings at day 2 (n = 12), the treated subjects (n = 6) had no further increase in symptoms but did show a further increase in IL-5 (p = 0.01) and a decrease in IFN-gamma (p = 0.02) at day 9. Daily instillation of moderate doses of allergen intranasally is characterized by persistent symptoms, elevation of IL-5, and reduced levels of IFN-gamma.
Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Mar 3, 2015
Noise and Directionality in a SLUG Microwave Amplifier for Superconducting Qubit Readout TED THOR... more Noise and Directionality in a SLUG Microwave Amplifier for Superconducting Qubit Readout TED THORBECK, SHAOJIANG ZHU, ED-WARD LEONARD, ROBERT MCDERMOTT, University of Wisconsin -Josephson parametric amplifiers have been widely used for low-noise dispersive readout of superconducting qubits. However, multiple stages of cryogenic isolation are required to protect the qubit from the strong microwave pump tone and from the high temperature noise of downstream gain stages. We want to remove circulators and isolators from the measurement chain because they are bulky, expensive, and magnetic. The SLUG (superconducting low-inductance undulatory galvanometer) is a microwave amplifier that achieves broad bandwidth, low added noise, and high gain. In this talk we discuss measurements of the SLUG added noise (less than photon system added noise). We describe theoretical and experimental investigations of the SLUG reverse isolation. Finally, we discuss backaction of the SLUG on the measured qubit, and we present strategies for the suppression of SLUG backaction.
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Papers by Robert McDermott