Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Millions of Americans access the Internet for health information, which is changing the way patients seek information and how they often treat certain medical conditions. It is estimated that there may be as many as 100,000 health-related Web sites. The availability of so much health information permits consumers to assume more responsibility for their own health care. At the same time, it raises a number of important issues that need to be addressed. The health information available to Internet users may be inaccurate or out-of-date. Potential conflicts of interest result from the blurring of the distinction between advertising and professional health information. Also, potential threats to privacy may result from data mining. Health care consumers need to be able to evaluate the quality of the information provided on the Internet. Various evaluative mechanisms such as codes of ethics, rating systems, and seals of approval have been developed to aid in this process. The effectiveness of these solutions, however, needs to be evaluated. Finally, the last issue this paper attempts to address is the importance of including patients in developing standardized quality assurance systems for online health information.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate a two-city (Lexington, Kentucky, and Knoxville, Tennessee) televised public service announcement (PSA) campaign aimed at increasing condom use in risk-taking young adults (aged 18-26). The study used messages targeted toward high sensation-seeking impulsive decision-makers (HSSIDMs), and utilized an interrupted time series design with a control community. N=100 individuals were surveyed randomly in each city each month (for a period of 21 months) regarding their safer sexual beliefs and behaviors. In Lexington, a three-month televised campaign took place, while no such campaign took place in Knoxville. Time series regression analyses indicated that condom use, as well as condom use self-efficacy and intentions increased significantly (p<.05) among HSSIDMs in Lexington. Increases in condom use were of reasonable magnitude as well, with an effect size of d=.26. No such changes took place in Knoxville. The results suggest that a mass media campaign using only televised PSAs can change safer sexual behaviors as well as attitudes and beliefs. The implications of these results are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to quantitatively synthesize the growing literature on the relationship between safer sexual communication (SSC) among sexual partners and condom use, and to systematically examine a number of conceptual and methodological moderators of this relationship. Data from 53 articles published in 27 journals met criteria for the study. Fifty-five independent effect sizes coded from samples totaling N=18,529 were meta-analyzed. Results indicated that the mean sample-size weighted effect size of the SSC-condom use relation was r=.22. A number of conceptual variables moderated this relationship, while methodological moderators tended to be unrelated to effect size. Implications for the future study of safer sexual communication as well as the importance of emphasizing communication skills in HIV preventive interventions are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: With the recent anniversary of
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, reports of a lonely young
man who shipped himself as cargo from New York to Dallas, and reporters
smuggling depleted uranium through security in checked baggage,
questions have once again been raised about the lack of security
improvements at America's airports. The delays in training cockpit
crews so that they can carry firearms, as well as first the cutting and
then raising of the air marshals budget highlight serious security
concerns despite the significant improvements in our aviation and
transportation security in the past two years. In this paper I review
both the proposed aviation and security changes proposed and
implemented in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Comparisons are then made between the federalization of
aviation/transportation security and law enforcement with normal state
and local level security and law enforcement. I then propose an
alternative policy for the creation of locally trained and deputized
aviation and transportation police to provide security and law
enforcement at airports, cruise ship ports, and commercial shipping
ports in the US.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: It is largely assumed that crime can be prevented through a focus on physical environment. Does crime prevention through environmental design really work? This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of CPTED through a comprehensive meta-analysis. Two hypotheses will lead this article: first, environmental design can be successful in reducing crime by lessening criminal opportunities for criminals. Second, reducing crime through redesigning the built environment can be more effective if it is implemented with other crime prevention policies. The data provides support to conclude that CPTED is a successful to fight with crime and it is more effective if implemented with other crime prevention strategies.