Katherine C. Smith

Bio: Katherine C. Smith is an academic researcher from Johns Hopkins University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cancer & Qualitative research. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 22 publications receiving 1355 citations. Previous affiliations of Katherine C. Smith include Memorial Medical Center.

Patient safety incident reporting: a qualitative study of thoughts and perceptions of experts 15 years after ‘To Err is Human’

Abstract: One of the key recommendations of the Institute of Medicine9s (IOM) report, To Err is Human , 15 years ago was for greater attention to incident reporting in healthcare, analogous to the role it has played in aviation and other high-risk industries. With the passage of time and maturation of the patient safety field, we conducted semistructured interviews with 11 international patient safety experts with knowledge of the US healthcare and meeting at least one of the following criteria: (1) involved in the development of the IOM9s recommendations, (2) responsible for the design and/or implementation of national or regional incident reporting systems, (3) conducted research on patient safety/incident reporting at a national level. Five key challenges emerged to explain why incident reporting has not reached its potential: poor processing of incident reports (triaging, analysis, recommendations), inadequate engagement of doctors, insufficient subsequent visible action, inadequate funding and institutional support of incident reporting systems and inadequate usage of evolving health information technology. Leading patient safety experts acknowledge the current challenges of incident reports. The future of incident reporting lies in targeted incident reporting, effective triaging and robust analysis of the incident reports and meaningful engagement of doctors. Incident reporting must be coupled with visible, sustainable action and linkage of incident reports to the electronic health record. If the healthcare industry wants to learn from its mistakes, miss or near miss events, it will need to take incident reporting as seriously as the health budget.

Best practices in mixed methods for quality of life research.

Abstract: There is a growing priority in all areas of health research to develop new methodologies to improve the quality and scientific power of data, and this is leading to an extraordinary surge in methodological diversity. This diversity reflects the nature of the problems facing health sciences and health care delivery, such as disparities among populations, age groups, ethnicities, and cultures; poor adherence to recommended treatments; behavioral risk factors contributing to disability and health; and the translation of research findings into applied settings. The diversity in methodology also signals a growing acceptance of behavioral and social science perspectives in clinical research, the formation of interdisciplinary research teams, and use of multi-faceted approaches. Such approaches are important to investigations of complex health problems, which call for incorporating patient and family point of view, and cultural models of illness and health. Contributing to this interest in methodological development has been the increased methodological sophistication of mixed methods research, and practices related to combining quantitative and qualitative research. Researchers are using approaches such as in-depth interviews, field observations, and patient records to understand individual experiences, participant involvement in interventions, and barriers to and facilitators of treatment. These qualitative approaches are often combined with data from clinical trials, surveys of attitudes and beliefs, economic or medical data to better understand health problems [1]. Evidence in the published literature attests to the current use of mixed methods approaches in health-related research, from cardiology [2], pharmacy [3], family medicine [4], pediatric oncology nursing [5], mental health [6, 7], disabilities [8] and nutrition [9], in both clinical settings [10] and in the social context of daily activities and relationships [11]. Scientists and clinicians working in the area of quality of life broadly, and more specifically in health outcomes assessment, have found mixed methods to be increasingly important for both theoretical and methodological reasons. Quality of life researchers often examine questions that have multiple epistemological, scientific, and clinical foci and are faced with integrating diverse perspectives, types of evidence, and audiences or stakeholders. Data may range from biological data from a patient’s clinical record, to health care delivery indicators and costs, to household and community-level outcomes such as loss of productivity, and regional or national policies. The journal Quality of Life Research has a long-standing commitment to publishing high-quality research that brings both qualitative A. C. Klassen (&) Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA e-mail: ack57@drexel.edu

"I Always Felt I Had to Prove My Manhood": Homosexuality, Masculinity, Gender Role Strain, and HIV Risk Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Abstract: Objectives. We explored gender role strain (GRS) arising from conflict between homosexuality and cultural conceptions of masculinity among young Black men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods. We conducted a categorical analysis (a qualitative, 3-stage, iterative analysis) of data from studies conducted in 2001 to 2006, which interviewed 35 men aged 18 to 24 years in 3 New York cities and Atlanta, Georgia. Results. Participants described rigid, often antihomosexual expectations of masculinity from their families, peers, and communities. Consistent with GRS, this conflict and pressure to conform to these expectations despite their homosexuality led to psychological distress, efforts to camouflage their homosexuality, and strategies to prove their masculinity. Participants believed this conflict and the associated experience of GRS might increase HIV risk through social isolation, poor self-esteem, reduced access to HIV prevention messages, and limited parental-family involvement in sexuality development and early sexual decision-making. Conclusions. Antihomosexual expectations of masculinity isolate young Black MSM during a developmental stage when interpersonal attachments are critical. GRS may influence sexual risk behavior and HIV risk and be an important target for HIV prevention.

Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis

Abstract: การวจยเชงคณภาพ เปนเครองมอสำคญอยางหนงสำหรบทำความเขาใจสงคมและพฤตกรรมมนษย การวจยแบบการสรางทฤษฎจากขอมล กเปนหนงในหลายระเบยบวธการวจยเชงคณภาพทกำลงไดรบความสนใจ และเปนทนยมเพมสงขนเรอยๆ จากนกวชาการ และนกวจยในสาขาสงคมศาสตร และศาสตรอนๆ เชน พฤตกรรมศาสตร สงคมวทยา สาธารณสขศาสตร พยาบาลศาสตร จตวทยาสงคม ศกษาศาสตร รฐศาสตร และสารสนเทศศกษา ดงนน หนงสอเรอง “ConstructingGrounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis” หรอ “การสรางทฤษฎจากขอมล:แนวทางการปฏบตผานการวเคราะหเชงคณภาพ” จะชวยใหผอานมความรความเขาใจถงพฒนาการของปฏบตการวจยแบบสรางทฤษฎจากขอมล ตลอดจนแนวทาง และกระบวนการปฏบตการวจยอยางเปนระบบ จงเปนหนงสอทควรคาแกการอานโดยเฉพาะนกวจยรนใหม เพอเปนแนวทางในการนำความรความเขาใจไประยกตในงานวจยของตน อกทงนกวจยผเชยวชาญสามารถอานเพอขยายมโนทศนดานวจยใหกวางขวางขน

Breast Cancer Statistics

Abstract: Among U.S. women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (excluding skin cancers) and the second leading cause of cancer death, following lung cancer. In 2012, an estimated 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 39,510 breast cancer deaths are expected to occur among U.S. women. Breast cancer rates vary largely by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES), and geographic region. Death rates are higher in African American women than in whites, despite their lower incidence rates. Historically, breast cancer was recognized as a disease of western countries. However, over the past 20 years, breast cancer incidence and mortality rates have been increasing rapidly in economically less developed regions. According to 2008 GLOBOCAN estimates, half of the new worldwide breast cancer cases (1.38 million) and 60 % of the breast cancer deaths (458,000) occurred in developing countries. This chapter reviews breast cancer incidence and mortality patterns among women in the U.S. and worldwide, and the possible explanations for these patterns.

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria

Abstract: Race and Racism w “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” featuring Dr. Beverly Tatum’s book. w “Recovering from Racism: Redefining What it Means to be White.” w “50th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education.” w “The Mis-Education of the Negro” featuring Dr. Carter Woodson’s book. w “Moving Past the Margins: Creating successful strategies for Black males on campus,” presenting the Black Male Development Initiative (BMDI). w “He had a Dream... What is Yours?” Addressing Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and its current relevance in our society. w “Demystifying Malcolm X.” w “Racial Stereotyping and Responses to Terrorism.” w “Racial Stereotyping – Responding to Fear.” w “Free, White and (over) 21: Being White in a Multicultural World.” w “Constructing Race and Ethnicity in the 21st Century.” w “How did I Learn about Culture and Race?” Sharing your personal experiences and memories of moments where you become aware of similarities and differences among people. w “ABC: American-Born... and Confused?” w “The Invisible Asian: Where are the Asians in Diversity?” w “100 Years of Race Talk: Is It Enough?”

Autosomal Dominant Inheritance of Early-Onset Breast Cancer: Implications for Risk Prediction

Abstract: Background. Improvements in screening techniques have made significant contributions to the early detection of breast cancer. Physicians thus face the task of providing appropriate screening schedules for their patients. One group for whom this is particularly important are those women with a family history of breast cancer. Methods. In this report, data from the Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study, a population-based, case-control study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, are used to provide age-specific risk estimates of breast cancer for women with a family history of breast cancer. The data set includes 4730 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer age 20–54 years and 4688 control subjects who were frequency matched to patients by geographic region and 5-year age intervals. The data set also includes family histories of breast cancer in mothers and sisters of both patients and control subjects. Results. Genetic models fit previously to these data by the authors have provided evidence for a rare autosomal dominant allele that results in increased susceptibility to breast cancer. In addition, these models predict that women who carry the allele are at greater risk of developing breast cancer at any age than are women who do not carry the allele. The increase in risk in carriers versus noncarriers does, however, decrease with increasing age. Based on the parameters of this model, age-specific risks for a woman with one or more relatives affected with breast cancer at various ages at onset are given. Conclusions. These tables can be used for the purpose of counseling women at high risk of breast cancer development, that is, women with a family history of breast cancer.