Kalahn Taylor-Clark - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kalahn Taylor-Clark

Journal of Health Communication, 2010

The influence of news media on audience cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors in the realm of poli... more The influence of news media on audience cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors in the realm of politics, race relations, science, and health has been extensively documented.Agenda setting and framing studies show that news media influence how people develop schema and place priorities on issues, with media stories serving as a major source of issue frames. Although news media are an important intermediary in the translation of scientific knowledge to different publics, little has been documented about the production of health news and factors that may predict media agenda setting and framing in health journalism. We used data from a 2005 national survey of U.S. health reporters and editors to examine predictors of source, resource, story angle, and frame usage among reporters and editors by variables such as organizational structure, individual characteristics of respondents (such as education and years working as a journalist),and perceptions of occupational autonomy. Multivariable l...

HIV remains a critical health issue in the Black community. Black men who have sex with men and w... more HIV remains a critical health issue in the Black community. Black men who have sex with men and women (BMSM/W)--also known as men on the "down-low" (or "DL")--are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and have recently become the focus of scholarly and media attention. This paper synthesizes the existing empirical literature on HIV prevalence and risk factors in the BMSM/W population, discusses the shortcomings of available research, proposes recommendations for future studies, and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of existing intervention strategies for this subgroup. INTRODUCTION Black men who have sex with men and women (BMSM/W)--also known as men on the "down-low" (or "DL")--have recently become the focus of scholarly and media attention. (1) MSM/W are defined as men who consider themselves heterosexual but engage in homosexual behaviors, which are typically not openly discussed or acknowledged. (2) The goal of this paper is three-fo...

Journal of Community Health, Dec 30, 2009

News coverage of health topics influences knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors at the individual l... more News coverage of health topics influences knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors at the individual level, and agendas and actions at the institutional and policy levels. Because disparities in health often are the result of social inequalities that require community-level or policy-level solutions, news stories employing a health disparities news frame may contribute to agenda-setting among opinion leaders and policymakers and lead to policy efforts aimed at reducing health disparities. This study objective was to conduc an exploratory analysis to qualitatively describe barriers that health journalists face when covering health disparities in local media. Between June and October 2007, 18 journalists from television, print, and radio in Boston, Lawrence, and Worcester, Massachusetts, were recruited using a purposive sampling technique. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone, and the crystallization/immersion method was used to conduct a qualitative analysis of interview transcripts. Our results revealed that journalists said that they consider several angles when developing health stories, including public impact and personal behavior change. Challenges to employing a health disparities frame included inability to translate how research findings may impact different socioeconomic groups, and difficulty understanding how findings may translate across racial/ethnic groups. Several journalists reported that disparities-focused stories are "less palatable" for some audiences. This exploratory study offers insights into the challenges that local news media face in using health disparities news frames in their routine coverage of health news. Public health practitioners may use these findings to inform communication efforts with local media in order to advance the public dialogue about health disparities.

Journal for healthcare quality : official publication of the National Association for Healthcare Quality

This study is a systematic review of a national sample of hospital-led population health programs... more This study is a systematic review of a national sample of hospital-led population health programs in place at essential hospitals and academic medical centers in the US from 2012 to 2014. We conducted a content analysis of abstracts describing 121 population health initiatives to understand how hospital leaders are translating population health objectives into action. Intended patient population, services provided, and outcomes measured are described. The programs' relationship to an adapted conceptual model of population health as part of a culture of health was assessed. Nearly all programs in the study were hybrids, in that they possessed features belonging to each of the model's two program types (healthcare system and health community system). The majority were focused on patients already attributed to a particular hospital system, but many involved partnerships with community-based or social service resources. This finding reflects the missions of essential hospitals a...

Medical Care Research and Review, 2011

Collection of race, ethnicity, and primary language data of health plan members is a recognized i... more Collection of race, ethnicity, and primary language data of health plan members is a recognized important step in addressing disparities in health care. The authors conducted six focus groups to examine perceptions of Massachusetts consumers about collection and use of race/ethnicity and language data by health plans, preferences for how and when the data should be collected, and preferences for racial/ethnic categories. Consumers understood the utility of collecting primary language data from members but expressed concerns about the collection of race/ethnicity data. Despite these concerns, they provided suggestions for using the data to improve care. Their preferences for racial/ethnic categories suggested that they wanted a balance between simplicity and reasonable granular detail. Ultimately, consumers wanted to be assured that the information they provided to health plans would be used to improve quality, and they wanted to be able to provide this information without undue burd...

Communication research suggests that as more health information flows to the general public, unde... more Communication research suggests that as more health information flows to the general public, underserved racial/ethnic minority women may benefit less compared to women who are better off because of differential access to and ability to utilize information. This finding has significant implications for preventing human papilloma virus (HPV) among the underserved. For example, a recent study reported that a prior HPV diagnosis was strongly associated with awareness of HPV after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics. While African American women (83%) were more likely than White (80%) or Latina (75%) women to report having had a Pap smear in the past 3 years, Black (33%) and Latina (28%) women were still significantly less likely than white women (44%) to have heard of HPV, despite being at least as likely to be diagnosed with disease. Such differential awareness could be the result of poor provider-patient communication or lower access to, and trust in information on HPV ...

American Public Opinion and Health Care, 2011

N Engl J Med, 2003

Background The potential for a bioterrorist attack involving smallpox has led to a debate about w... more Background The potential for a bioterrorist attack involving smallpox has led to a debate about what national precautions should be taken. What is unclear is the public's knowledge of smallpox and views about precautions. Methods We conducted a national survey of 1006 adults selected by means of randomdigit dialing. Respondents were asked about their knowledge of and beliefs about the smallpox virus and the vaccine, their possible reactions to a bioterrorist attack involving smallpox, and a number of proposed state emergency powers. Results The majority of the respondents have a number of beliefs about smallpox and smallpox vaccination that are false. The majority believe that there is an effective treatment for smallpox, that there have been cases of smallpox in the past five years, and that there is not enough smallpox vaccine to vaccinate everyone in the United States. Thirty percent believe that vaccination earlier in their lives would protect them from the disease. The majority of respondents said they wanted to be vaccinated; however, only 21 percent would want to be vaccinated if physicians declined vaccination. There was strong support among the respondents for several proposed state emergency powers. Conclusions Our results suggest the need for public education about smallpox. These data also point to the importance of a discussion in the medical community about the advisability of vaccination of individual physicians at this time. Government intelligence reports warn of the possibility of bioterrorist attacks involving smallpox. This possibility, coupled with the potential for military action against Iraq, which is thought to have biologic weapons, has raised the question of what national precautions against a smallpox attack should be taken. 1,2 The ongoing debate, 3,4,5,6 which has been covered extensively in the media and professional journals, centers on three issues: whether front-line health care workers should be vaccinated now, 7 whether it is appropriate to make smallpox vaccination available to the general public, 8,9,10,11,12 and whether states should be given additional emergency powers to respond to bioterrorist attacks. 13,14 What is not known is how the general public views these issues. Prior research has shown that public opinion can strongly influence policy decisions. 15,16,17 Also, should there be an outbreak of smallpox, the public response will be based on people's current knowledge and beliefs. 18 To aid public health officials and physicians in planning for a possible outbreak, we conducted a national survey of Americans to learn their views on each of these questions and to discuss their implications.

Health Communication, 2010

We evaluate effects of low socioeconomic position (SEP) and social networks among Black Hurricane... more We evaluate effects of low socioeconomic position (SEP) and social networks among Black Hurricane Katrina victims on access to and processing of evacuation orders, and abilities to evacuate before the storm hit. We also explore whether SEP, moderating conditions, and communication outcomes affected risk perceptions of the storm&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s severity and compliance with evacuation orders. We conducted stepwise logistic regression analyses using survey data collected in September 2005 among Black respondents in shelters throughout Houston, TX. Having few social networks, being unemployed, and being of younger age were significantly associated with having heard evacuation orders and whether victims&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; perceived having heard clear orders. This study provides implications for targeted public health emergency campaigns and future research to understand the effects of sociodemographic influences on communication inequalities and public health preparedness.

Social science & …, 2007

National survey data reveal that while public awareness of healthcare inequalities in the USA has... more National survey data reveal that while public awareness of healthcare inequalities in the USA has increased, the public have become less supportive of federal responsibility to address healthcare inequalities. Agenda setting literature suggests that news coverage ...

… of health care …, 2007

Despite a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards in lower socioeconomic positions (SEP)... more Despite a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards in lower socioeconomic positions (SEP) and racial/ethnic minority communities, research suggests that such communities may have concerns about environmental risks different from those of their higher SEP and White counterparts. These groups also face disproportionate barriers to accessing and utilizing public health information. Little work has focused on the environmental risk communication barriers that low-SEP minorities face. This paper reports on the results of seven focus groups conducted in three low-SEP Massachusetts communities, with an over-sample of racial/ethnic minorities. We explored (1) definitions of the environment, (2) perceptions of environmental health effects, (3) information-seeking behaviors around these issues, and (4) challenges to accessing and utilizing information. The local environment shapes these communities&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; perceptions of environmental risks; they face considerable barriers to accessing, understanding, and utilizing other sources of information about environmental health risks. We discuss the implications for future targeted campaigns to reduce negative impacts of environmental health risks.

Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science, 2005

In response to the possibility of a bioterror attack using smallpox, many states have updated and... more In response to the possibility of a bioterror attack using smallpox, many states have updated and revised their current public health laws in line with the Model Act, which would effectively give states the right to invoke mandatory state health powers, such as quarantine or vaccine. Previous studies have supported the importance of allying with the public in creating and implementing effective bioterror response policies. Historical case studies and recent research suggest that when the public is not supportive of government health policies, they may be less willing to comply. In this study we analyze a recent survey to determine the effects of a set of variables, including aspects of trust in government that have been found in previous studies to influence public opposition to compulsory government health policies, on opinions about compulsory vaccination and quarantine.

Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2004

Using data from 13 surveys of the public, this article compares the public's response to severe a... more Using data from 13 surveys of the public, this article compares the public's response to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Ontario (specifically, Toronto), the other Canadian provinces, and the United States, which had substantial differences in the number of SARS cases. Findings suggest that, even at a relatively low level of spread among the population, the SARS outbreak had a significant psychological and economic impact. They also suggest that the success of efforts to educate the public about the risk of SARS and appropriate precautions was mixed. Some of the community-wide problems with SARS might have been avoided with better communication by public health officials and clinicians.

Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 2014

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is highest among Black women and women of low socio economi... more Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is highest among Black women and women of low socio economic position (SEP). These groups face inequities in access to health information on HPV. Our study sought to understand key information channels for delivering health information regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine to Black women of low SEP in Boston, Massachusetts. We anticipated that, owing to a legacy of experiences of discrimination, Black women of low SEP would prefer information from trusted and accessible sources, including friends, family, and community agencies, rather than clinical providers. We conducted a qualitative analysis using focus groups. We conducted five focus groups among 25 women in Boston, Massachusetts. Contrary to what we anticipated, we found that women in all of the focus groups preferred to receive information from a physician or health center. Participants preferred to receive print materials they could triangulate with other sources. Notably, study participants had high access to care. Our study suggests that physicians are trusted and preferred sources of information on HPV for Black women of low SEP in Boston. Our data underscore an important avenue for intervention: to improve dissemination of HPV-related information through physicians, including outreach in community settings.