These results suggest that augmenting a standard behavioral treatment program for obese women with NIDDM with a motivational interviewing component may significantly enhance adherence to program recommendations and glycemic control. Preliminary data warrant further investigation with larger samples and a longer follow-up.

Epilepsy is a significant public health problem among Medicare beneficiaries. Efforts are necessary to target groups at higher risk, such as minorities or the very old, and to provide the care necessary to reduce the negative effects of epilepsy on quality of life.

The public health objective to improve the diet of Americans includes increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V). The availability of F&V in the home has been suggested but not confirmed as one environmental factor that influences the types and quantities of F&V eaten by family members. Using a model of parental and child influences on a child's intake of F&V, the authors investigated F&V availability as a moderating variable for the relationships between the model constructs and how the relationships might change with varying levels of F&V availability. Path analysis and multigroup structural equation modeling were the analytic tools. Results indicated that homes with more F&V available had a richer and generally stronger set of motivating factors for parent and child F&V consumption than homes with low F&V availability. Findings have implications for parental involvement in interventions to enhance the diet of fourth-grade children.

Few studies have investigated community clinic-based interventions to promote mammography screening among rural African American women. This study randomized older low-income rural African American women who had not participated in screening in the previous 2 years to a theory-based, personalized letter or usual care; no group differences in mammography rate were evident at 6-month follow-up. Women who had not obtained a mammogram were then randomized to a tailored call delivered by community health care workers or a tailored letter. There were no group differences in mammography rates after the second 6-month follow-up. However, among women who had never had a mammogram, the tailored call was more effective in promoting mammography use. Tailored counseling may be an effective screening promotion strategy for hard-to-reach rural African American women with no history of screening. Further research into this strategy may facilitate efforts to reduce health disparities in underserved low-income rural African American populations.

Objective-While self-efficacy plays an important role in physical activity, relatively little research has examined this construct in minorities. This study identified theoretical correlates associated with self-efficacy amongst insufficiently active, hypertensive Black women.Methods-Correlates of self-efficacy to: (1) overcoming barriers to physical activity; (2) making time for activity; and (3) "sticking with" physical activity were studied.Results-Sixty-one women (M = 50.48 ± 4.2 years) participated. We accounted for 32% of the variance in confidence in overcoming barriers. Women confident in overcoming barriers reported less worry about physical activity. The TTM processes of change were also in the model: consciousness raising, environmental reevaluation, counter conditioning, and self liberation. We accounted for 16% of the variance in "making time" self-efficacy. An aversiveness barrier (e.g., physical activity is boring, physical activity is hard work) was the dominant variable in the model. Confidence to 'stick with' physical activity was associated with self-reevaluation (i.e., reflection on how personal values correspond to behavior). Social support and competing demands were not associated with self-efficacy.© 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Conclusions-Consistent with Social Cognitive Theory, results suggest that self-efficacy is behavior specific and each measure likely provides unique information. Conflict of interest: None NIH Public AccessPractice Implications-Interventions should be tailored to address specific self-efficacy types.