Cultural Competence

BARRINGTON, Ill. – The term "red state" takes on a new meaning when one looks not at politics, but at the incidence of a widespread but poorly understood skin disorder that causes reddening of the face.

Attention, community pharmacists! How well do you know your patients?

A new study from a Canadian sociologist sheds new light on the health habits of middle-aged Americans, and asserts that those with higher educational levels are significantly more likely to pursue healthier behaviors than their less-educated peers.

PHOENIX — Arizona last week launched what it is billing as the first-ever comprehensive program aimed at helping adolescents and young adult smokers called “The Cignal.” The program uses a website (TheCignal.com) with customized tips and advice for young smokers and a toll-free helpline (1-800-55-66-222) where they can talk to quit coaches for free.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Walmart Foundation is donating $1.29 million to the Institute for America's Health to expand its anti-obesity program at schools in major cities, the IAH said.

The organization said it would use the money to expand the program at 30 elementary schools in Atlanta, Chicago and Washington and fund a statewide expansion of the program in Alabama. The Walmart Foundation donated $1 million to fund the program last year as well.

QUEBEC CITY, Quebec — Shoppers Drug Mart, which operates under the Pharmaprix banner in Quebec, has announced that Canada's first and only national women's and girl's running race series expanded to six cities.

The Pharmaprix Run for Women Series consists of a 5K, 10K and Little Steps Girls 1K, and includes a motivational talk from an iconic Canadian Olympian in each city. A portion of proceeds and participant donations will go towards women's mental health programs in each of the six race cities.

WASHINGTON — Better-educated middle-aged Americans are less likely to smoke and more apt to be physically active than their less-educated peers. They also are more inclined to make healthy changes and adhere to them, according to a new study in the September issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

NEW YORK — While a multitude of drugs have come on the market for treating HIV, the disease continues to disproportionately affect African-Americans and Hispanics, prompting a recent seminar in New York that included pop singer Alicia Keys, New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel and others.

RICHMOND, Va. — The American Lung Association in Virginia and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are supporting smokers in Richmond, Va., in their efforts to quit for good through the “Quitter in You” smoking-cessation campaign, the companies announced Friday. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield awarded the American Lung Association in Virginia $72,000 as part of a total $1.5 million donation to the American Lung Association by Anthem’s parent company in support of the program.