This paper aims at showing how beneficial it is to use an analysis grid as a guide to evaluate the dynamics of an online community and, on the basis of this grid, to develop agent-based models to explore each of the dimensions characterizing online communities within this grid. Several models from different perspectives have been proposed to study the dynamics of online communities (socio-techn...

OBJECTIVE Mental health is an essential component for positive adaptation that enables people to cope with adversity to achieve their full potential and humanity. In this study, using a community based approach, the social determinants of mental health in Iranian women were extracted; and in addition, priority setting for interventional programs according to analytical framework of WHO was impl...

Rigorous evaluation of community-based programs can be costly, particularly when a representative sample of all members of the community are surveyed in order to assess the impact of a program on individual health behavior. Community-level indicators (CLIs), which are based on observations of aspects of the community other than those associated with individuals, may serve to supplement individu...

BACKGROUND Despite the growth of palliative care programs in many urban areas, palliative care programs remain less common in rural communities. As more community-based programs emerge, particularly in rural areas, it will be important to establish a standard set of quality measures that are useful for improving care and feasible for program evaluation. OBJECTIVES The study's objective was to...

PURPOSE This study aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction model to examine the characteristics that are associated with participation in community-based physical activity programs in Brazil. METHODS We used pooled data from three surveys conducted from 2007 to 2009 in state capitals of Brazil with 6166 adults. A risk prediction model was built considering program participation as an ...

Community-based distribution (CBD) programs are the optimum way of reaching people in rural areas of developing countries where conventional methods of delivery do not exist or fail. This paper reviews findings and experiences from over 30 years of efforts to implement CBD of family planning methods around the world. Although research suggests that community-based service delivery can contribut...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Our nation faces unprecedented challenges in caring for older adults. Geriatricians who provide care and teach geriatrics are underrepresented in the workforce, especially in non-metropolitan communities. In Michigan, geriatricians and geriatrics fellowship (GF) programs are clustered in the Southeast, suggesting that training site demographics may influence fellows' c...

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PURPOSE As consensus emerges concerning the need to extend publicly funded home- and community-based services that support the independence of seniors, studies have reported the efficacy and cost effectiveness of assistive technology (AT). This article presents the latest available national AT expenditure and participation trends (1999-2002) for Medicaid 1915(c) waivers, the largest Medicaid ho...