HI - Binge Drinking (Binge Drinking Disparities Among Women of Reproductive Age)
State: HI

Skill Area: Data Analysis and Monitoring

Internship summary
The Family Health Services Division (FHSD) is located within the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH). FHSD is responsible for several important data sets related to maternal and child health in Hawaii including the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Sytstem (PRAMS), Women Infant and Children (WIC), Birth Defects registry, Newborn Metabolic and Hearing Screening, works with the Office of Health Status and Monitoring, and other departments to promote data utilization.

Purpose
FHSD is seeking a graduate student intern to do data analysis on Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). In particularly, we would like a student to look at binge drinking among reproductive aged women. Preliminary work shows frequency of binge drinking in Hawaii to be a concern. The intern would have the opportunity to provide valuable input into prevention activities for the State of Hawaii related to binge drinking among reproductive aged women.

Goals
This project would include familiarization with the BRFSS dataset, recoding and creating new variables for in depth analysis of binge drinking, and submission of an abstract for a national conference based on the secondary data analysis findings.

New research questions have arisen regarding binge drinking amongst reproductive-aged women in Hawaii. Preliminary analyses of BRFSS data from 2006-2008 has shown that frequency of binge drinking amongst these women falls into two categories: infrequent bingers and heavy bingers. We are interested in looking at this data further to include: types of alcohol consumed; regression analyses to make predictions regarding who is at increased odds of heavy binge drinking; as well as looking further into issues of utilization of care and how it may correlate to binging. In addition, analyses on demographic stratifications have not been done on the national dataset. It would be interesting for a GSIP intern to compare the Hawaii generated results to the rest of the mainland. Finally, given the results of the analyses, the intern could help the Hawaii Family Health Services Division craft policy recommendations regarding screening for binge drinking. An intern could gain the following skill set: 1) familiarity with a national dataset and its uses at the state level, 2) using SAS/SUDAAN to analyze weighted data, 3) formulation of regression models, and 4) submission of an abstract to a national or regional conference.

Objectives
1. Expand knowledge of basic public health and health service practices
2. Apply public health training learned in the courses
3. Increase awareness of the complexity of public health problems and concerns
4. Increase appreciation of cultural differences in diverse population served by public health
5. Increase self-confidence as a professional in public health arena

Data or analytic tasks and activities involved
1. Understand principles of telephone-based survey
2. Develop skills in analyzing a telephone-based state wide survey
3. Development and Testing of Hypotheses
4. Preparation of reports including oral and written formats for dissemination of findings

Required data or analytic skills
Experience with SAS and understanding of basic epidemiological principles

Begin date
06/21/10

Housing assistance available?
Will provide information related to area, university in area, but Hawaii is expensive so advance planning recommended

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