Digital Commons Network^™

Differences In Mental Health Education Across Baby Boomers, Generation X, And Millennials, Ashlyn M. Avera

Honors College Theses

There is no denying that mental illness has gained a strong prevalence in the United States. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately one in five adults in the United States experiences a mental illness in any given year. Although mental health stigmas have played a role in the past, it does not mean they must continue to play the same role in the future. Research is now looking toward ways to decrease mental health stigma through increasing mental health knowledge. This study examines the starting point for which a society becomes literate in mental health. Using a …

Evaluation Of Trends In Diabetes Care In A Patient-Centered Medical Home, Ashley N. Saucier, Danielle Mcmechan, Julie Dahl-Smith, Carla Duffie, Denise M. Hodo, Holly E. Andrews, Joseph Hobbs

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a model used in primary care to achieve effective management of chronic diseases. The Augusta University Health Family Medicine Center (AUFMC), a PCMH recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, has implemented strategies to manage its patient population with diabetes. The present study evaluated the effects of these interventions through trend analysis of selected diabetic core measures by use of a qualified clinical data registry, the Practice Partner Research Network.

Methods: For this retrospective study, de-identified data were abstracted for adult patients with diabetes for the period of 2013-2015. Process and outcome …

Pubh 3130 - Substance Use And Abuse (Net), Moya L. Alfonso

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course will explore legal and illegal drug use in modern society. Issues related to the social, cultural, political, economic impact of drug use will be addressed. The recurrent theme throughout the course will be on prevention. This will include discussions on the best ways to postpone the initiation of substance use and abuse among school aged persons as well as the cessation of use and treatment for abuse among adult populations. Substance use and its abuse effects ALL of us and does NOT discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or income.

Hspm 7135a - Public Health Policy Development & Evaluation, Jeffery A. Jones

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course introduces students to health policy development, analysis and management by examining issues in the health sector. It fosters an appreciation of the complexity of policy problems and provides the basic tools used in public health policy design, implementation and evaluation.

Cohe 7234 - Community Health Analysis And Assessment, Moya L. Alfonso

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course familiarizes students with concepts and approaches for community health assessment and analysis. This includes discussion of social action, organizational development, policy advocacy, capacity building, community diagnosis (needs assessment), social networking and coalition formation to bring about health and quality of life improvement. Special focus will be placed on the application of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods and CBPR approaches for assessment.

Pubh 6541 - Categorical Data Analysis, Haresh Rochani

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

(taken from 2012-13 Course Catalog): This course introduces statistical methods for analyzing both univariate and multivariate categorical data and count in medical research and other health-related fields. The course will introduce how to distinguish among the different measurement scales, the commonly used statistical probability distribution and inference methods for categorical and count data. Emphasis will be placed on the application of the methodology and computational aspects rather than theory. The students will learn how to apply SAS procedures to data and interpret the results.

Assessing A Comprehensive Approach To Prevent Sexual Violence On Campus: Implications For Program Improvement, Chinwe Ejikeme, Kia Powell-Threets, Mosi Bayo, Kia L. Toddle, Jean O'Connor

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: On college campuses, sexual violence (or sexual assault) is at epidemic proportions. As many as one in four college women experience sexual assaults, most of which are not reported, likely due to the adverse reactions stemming from social norms and attitudes about rape. To prevent sexual violence on college campuses, the multi-level factors influencing it necessitate implementation of a holistic approach channeled at all levels. The present multi-method study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a peer educator (PE)-facilitated program implemented as part of a comprehensive sexual assault prevention program in three small Georgia colleges.

Methods: Student participants (N=128) …

Efficacy Of Chronic Disease Self-Management Among Low-Income Black Males With Behavioral Health Disorders: Pilot Study, Carol Collard, Vanessa Robinson-Dooley, Frances Patrick, Kayla Farabaugh

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study examined the effectiveness of Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-management Program (CDSMP) among men living with co-morbidities of chronic physical health disease and behavioral health disorders.

Methods: The study was conducted at a community-based, non-profit organization in partnership with a large suburban university. Two pilot studies were completed with the population of interest. Low-income adult males with behavioral health disorders were recruited to participate in the program provided by a local behavioral health agency. Facilitators trained in the CDSMP program administered it at the agency site, and participants attended weekly meetings. Descriptive data collected included health history, demographic …

Chronic Disease Prevention As An Adaptive Leadership Problem, Jean O'Connor

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

This is an invited editorial.

2484: Establishment Of The Tennessee-Sickle Cell Disease Network As A Mechanism For Engaging A Rare Disease Population In Patient Centered Outcomes Research, Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, Velma Mcbride Murry, Michael R. Debaun

Department of Health Policy and Community Health Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Despite the high prevalence of individuals diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Tennessee, comprehensive care and education for patients with SCD is not as widely available as healthcare services for individuals managing other chronic illnesses. We aimed to engage SCD stakeholders in patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) as a mechanism for advancing care and translational research for this rare disease population. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Through a partnership with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee, we implemented Community Health Ambassadors to systematically engage patient partners with SCD and their caregivers, aged 18–50 from rural and urban communities throughout Tennessee, in …

Cahost: An Excel Workbook For Facilitating The Johnson-Neyman Technique For Two-Way Interactions In Multiple Regression, Stephen W. Carden, Nicholas S. Holtzman, Michael J. Strube

Department of Psychology Faculty Publications

When using multiple regression, researchers frequently wish to explore how the relationship between two variables is moderated by another variable; this is termed an interaction. Historically, two approaches have been used to probe interactions: the pick-a-point approach and the Johnson-Neyman (JN) technique. The pick-a-point approach has limitations that can be avoided using the JN technique. Currently, the software available for implementing the JN technique and creating corresponding figures lacks several desirable features–most notably, ease of use and figure quality. To fill this gap in the literature, we offer a free Microsoft Excel 2013 workbook, CAHOST (a concatenation of the first …

Associations Between Multi-Level Contextual Factors And Mental Health Service Utilization In Adolescents With Comorbid Depression And Substance-Use: Moderating Role Of School Connectedness On Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Service Utilization, Kate Thornton

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Comorbid depression and substance use has been a prevalent issue in adolescent health. Although rates have remained relatively stable, their level is still alarming and efforts to see a decrease have led leaders and organizations to call for research to better understand factors related to both depression and substance use as well as how these factors may change when these disorders occur together.

Methods: Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were utilized to pursue the research objectives for this study. The NSDUH is an ongoing cross-sectional survey of the civilian and non-institutionalized population of …

Solo Practice Physicians In Georgia, Fedelis Mutiso, Emmanuel Akowuah, Samuel T. Opoku, Bettye A. Apenteng

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Office-based physicians can practice in a solo or group setting. Solo physician practices are staffed by a single physician who is responsible for all the care of the patients. Physicians in solo practices are also responsible for the infrastructure, personnel and investment cost of their practices. Further, evidence suggests that physicians in solo practices are more likely to be dissatisfied with their medical career compared to those in group practices. Given these challenges, current trend suggests a shift away from solo physician practices. However, there are still physicians in solo practices in Georgia but little is known about them. …

Analysis Of Hypertension Control Rates Among Participants In The Georgia Hypertension Management And Outreach Program, Sara Byers, Jean O'Connor, Kia Powell-Threets, Brittany Taylor, Kia Padgett, Melissa K. Hallow

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study utilized health department electronic medical records retrospectively to evaluate hypertension control rates achieved by the Georgia Hypertension Management and Outreach Program (HMOP), an education, screening, and treatment control program that provides services, including blood pressure screening and assessment, referral to physicians, counseling, educational material, disease case management, and treatment.

Methods: Hypertension control rates after at least 6 months of study participation were determined for patients participating in the program for at least 6 months between 2010 and 2014, and for African American and uninsured subgroups.

Results: The overall hypertension control rate was 61.1%, above the 2012 national …

The Association Between Nutrition, Physical Activity, And Weight Status Among Adults In Georgia, Trang Nguyen, Janani R. Thapa, Donglan Zhang, Elizabeth Pullekines

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Obesity is classified as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 and is associated with higher risks of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart diseases, hypertension, and other adverse health outcomes. In 2015, the prevalence of self-reported obesity among adults in Georgia was 30.7. The present study focused on how, in 2015, lifestyle factors, specifically nutrition and physical activity levels, related with weight status in Georgia.

Methods: The dataset used for this analysis was from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The association between weight status (as measured by BMI) and nutrition and physical activity levels was …

Geographic Variation Within The Military Health System, Linda G. Kimsey, Samuel Olaiya, Chad Smith, Andrew Hoburg, Stuart R. Lipsitz, Tracey Koehlmoos, Louis L. Nguyen, Joel S. Weissman

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Background: This study seeks to quantify variation in healthcare utilization and per capita costs using system-defined geographic regions based on enrollee residence within the Military Health System (MHS).

Methods: Data for fiscal years 2007 – 2010 were obtained from the Military Health System under a data sharing agreement with the Defense Health Agency (DHA). DHA manages all aspects of the Department of Defense Military Health System, including TRICARE. Adjusted rates were calculated for per capita costs and for two procedures with high interest to the MHS- back surgery and Cesarean sections for TRICARE Prime and Plus enrollees. Coefficients of variation …

The Association Between Dental Coverage And Self-Reported Health In Older Adults Jgpha, Frances M. Yang, Solon T. Kao, Jordan S. Lundeen

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: For the older population of the United States, lack of dental insurance coverage is a substantial health problem. The purpose of the present study was to examine the longitudinal relationship between dental coverage and self-reported health among older adults.

Methods: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative biennial cohort study of community-dwelling individuals, includes 19,595 adults (aged 50 and older) living in the United States. For the 2010, 2012, and 2014 waves, the independent variable of dental coverage and the outcome of self-reported health were examined.

Results: At each time point, dental coverage for older adults had …

Social Networks As Predictors Of Colorectal Cancer Screening In African Americans, Ernest Alema-Mensah, Selina A. Smith, Mechelle Claridy, Victor Ede, Benjamin Ansa, Daniel S. Blumenthal

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Early detection can reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality by 15%–33%, and screening is widely recommended for average-risk adults beginning at age 50 years. Colorectal cancer mortality rates are higher in African Americans than in whites, while screening rates are somewhat lower. Individual social networks can reduce emotional and/or logistical barriers to healthpromoting but distasteful procedures such as CRC screening. The aim of this study was to examine social network interactions, and their impact on CRC screening among African Americans. We hypothesized a positive association between social network index (SNI) scores and CRC screening.

Methods: In a community intervention trial …

Factors Associated With The Utilization Of Community Dental Services Among Newly Incarcerated Adults, Whitney C. Graves, Starla Hairston Blanks, Lee S. Caplan, Katherine A. Erwin, Cynthia S. Ditslear, Henrie M. Treadwell

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Given the high rates of risky behaviors and health conditions among incarcerated individuals and the relationship between oral and general health, receipt of quality dental care is essential to the overall health and well-being of this population. However, few recent studies have focused on access to care and the state of oral health among incarcerated populations in the U.S. For the current study, a secondary data analysis was conducted to: 1) assess factors associated with the use of dental services among a newly incarcerated prison population in Georgia and 2) consider barriers related to utilization of dental services pre- …

I Am More Than My Label, Taylor L. Teichman, Enid Melendez

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This workshop will offer experiential activities for youth allies to explore the foundational intersections between LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and sexual violence. Introducing a framework of concrete tools, participants will identify at least three core resiliency factors of LGBTQ youth and be able to identify at least three concrete components for fostering community-wide support for these youth.

Using Ranked Auxiliary Covariate As A More Efficient Sampling Design For Ancova Model: Analysis Of A Psychological Intervention To Buttress Resilience, Rajai Jabrah, Hani Samawi, Robert Vogel, Haresh Rochani, Daniel Linder

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Drawing a sample can be costly or time consuming in some studies. However, it may be possible to rank the sampling units according to some baseline auxiliary covariates, which are easily obtainable, and/or cost efficient. Ranked set sampling (RSS) is a method to achieve this goal. In this paper, we propose a modified approach of the RSS method to allocate units into an experimental study that compares L groups. Computer simulation estimates the empirical nominal values and the empirical power values for the test procedure of comparing L different groups using modified RSS based on the regression approach in analysis …

Health & Kinesiology News, Georgia Southern University

Health and Kinesiology, Department of - News (2015-2023)

• College of Health and Human Sciences’ Faculty Attend NAKHE

Reported Self-Care Practices And Perceptions Of Well-Being In Caregivers Of Children With Cancer, Rachel S. Siclare

Honors College Theses

Thousands of American children are diagnosed with cancer annually. Cancer does not only affect these children, but also those that care for them. This study examined quality of life issues facing caregivers of children with cancer as a beginning effort in the investigation of this ongoing problem. Caregivers were surveyed at a pediatric hematology-oncology clinic. The surveys assessed caregiver burnout and level of self-care. Data was assessed using IBM SPSS software to determine signs of distress and decreased well-being in these participants. The results of this project will hopefully inspire other individuals to continue research in this field of study.

Practicing Therapeutic Recreation In A World Of Differences, Morgan Herrington

Honors College Theses

Therapeutic recreation (TR) services are available to any individual who wishes to increase quality of life and improve functioning. The profession is based on many conceptual foundations, including quality of life; perceived freedom; intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and self-determination; health, wellness, and disability; and recreation and leisure. However, these Western-ideological perspectives may hinder the introduction and practice of TR in countries with other worldviews. This study was designed to explore different worldviews and to evaluate the conceptual foundations of TR with respect to these differences. Findings attempt to identify ways to adapt and shape TR foundations so that it may be …

Exploring Job Satisfaction And Preceptorship Capacity Among Applied Epidemiologists, Jessica C. Arrazola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Job satisfaction is important to consider when developing strategies for recruitment and retention. The Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) conducted in 2014 was the first nationally representative assessment of the state public health workforce. Prior to this assessment, the job satisfaction of state agency public health workers and preceptor capacity had not been measured. This study fills the current research gaps by studying the job satisfaction among the applied epidemiology workforce, identifying factors influencing job satisfaction, and the describing the preceptorship capacity among epidemiologists. This research is based on the 2014 PH WINS data. The analysis …

Goal Orientation, Motivational Climate, And Exercise As Predictors Of Eating Disorder Risk Factors Among College Students, Carly Wahl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College is a transition period in a young adult’s life in which eating disorder symptomology is especially prevalent. Additionally, motivation-based factors such as goal orientation and motivational climate can influence these eating disorder-like behaviors, especially in a physical activity setting. The present study aimed to examine how goal orientation, motivational climate, and exercise could be used to predict a college students’ eating disorder symptomology. Participants included 276 college-aged males and females from a university in the southeastern United States. These participants had experience using the university recreation activity center and were recruited from a required healthful living course. Each participant …

Validity And Reliability Of The Balance Tracking System™ During Static Stance, Cody L. Grotewold

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The Balance Tracking System™ (BTrackS™) is a balance board designed to quickly analyze postural control through center of pressure (COP) analysis.

Purpose: Examine concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of the BTrackS™ during static stance.

Methods: A convenience sample of 51 healthy collegiate students between 18 - 25 years old (21.8 ± 3.1 years) completed four, 20 second (s) trials of feet together static stance during both eyes open and closed trials. Data was simultaneously collected on the BTrackS™ and a laboratory force plate to establish concurrent validity. A second testing session was administered 48 - 72 …

Differences In Trunk And Hip Flexion/Extension Strength, Jasmin Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: The definition of the “core” within the literature is misconstrued: some researchers believe the core only involves muscles of the trunk while others believe it also includes muscles of the hip. Core strength tests typically include exercises that activate hip flexors and extensors without a firm definition of the “core” including the muscles of the hip. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to differentiate between the strength of the trunk and hip during flexion and extension.

Methods: Participants included 28 Division I collegiate athletes from a single university (12 males, 16 females, height (in.) = 69.14 ± 4.81, …

An Exploration Of The Underlying Mechanisms Causing Spasticity In Young People With Cerebral Palsy, Alexis Carnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background and Objective(s): Spasticity is a common symptom experienced by individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Spastic CP is often accompanied by hypertonia. Currently, there is a limited understanding of the contributions of spasticity to hypertonia which can in turn hinder the development of new rehabilitative measure to improve these conditions. Additionally, clinical evaluation of spasticity is limited to observational techniques such as the Ashworth scale. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in passive joint torque in the upper extremity between individuals with severe, spastic CP (MACS III-V) and healthy, age-matched controls at different speeds during passive stretching. …

Variability And Stability Of 13 To 19 Month Olds Infants' Gait Affect By Wet And Dry Diaper And Underwear, Sally Marie Futch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research has been conducted on the effect of diaper perturbation versus unclothed on gait, but there is little research on different diaper perturbations on gait. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine how physical perturbations (dry and wet diaper and underwear) affected 13 to 19 month old infant’s gait. METHODS: Sixty infants (13-19 month old) were recruited for the study. Five trials for 3 conditions (dry and wet diaper and underwear) were conducted on a GaitRite walkway. Step length (m/step), cadence (steps/s), support base (m) and stance time (sec) were analyzed. A mixed model with repeated measures along …