Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Affecting The Use Of Food Pantries By California State University Students, Beyza Aktepe

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Food insecurity is one of the major public health issues world-wide including the United States. A significant proportion of students within the California State University (CSU) system, approximately 41.6%, experience food insecurity. The purposes of this study was 1) to determine the factors and barriers that affect the use of campus food pantries by university students on seven CSU campuses, 2) to determine the improvements that can be implemented in the on-campus food pantries, 3) to evaluate the effectiveness of the management of food pantries, and 4) to evaluate the effectiveness and utilization of nutrition education services provided in conjunction …

Syphilis And Congenital Syphilis Among Women In San Bernardino County, Valerie Alfaro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that mostly affects individuals from a lower income status. San Bernardino County has a high poverty rate and a high rate of Congenital Syphilis. Pregnant women who test positive for Syphilis run the risk of passing the infection on to the fetus. Babies born with Congenital Syphilis may experience many complications, and therefore, the treatment is more intense. The best prevention for Congenital Syphilis is regular screening during pregnancy.

Methods: This study used quantitative research based on secondary data collected from San Bernardino County, Department of Public Health. Data were gathered by an …

Assessing Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Among College Students Regarding Second-Hand And Third-Hand Smoke, Laura Y. Rebolledo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The tobacco epidemic has been a constant since the popularization of tobacco products. However, with the introduction of non-combustible products that include e-cigarettes and vapes, the usage of tobacco products has continued to increase. Tobacco exposure can stem from first-hand (FHS), second-hand (SHS), and third-hand smoke (THS), with the last two impacting even non-smokers. The health effects from all types of tobacco exposure can be detrimental. These effects include the risk of cancer in any organ of the body, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases.

Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design through an anonymous web-based survey given …

Examing The Knowledge, Perception, And Utilization Of Mental Health Sevices Among College Students, Giselle Rojas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Mental health illness is an urgent public health crisis impacting an estimated 1 in 3 adults aged 18-25 in the United States (NAMI, 2022). College students have seen a more than 50% increase in mental health problems since 2013 (Lipson et al., 2022). Growing rates of mental health illnesses create a greater need for mental health services. However, a National College Health Assessment conducted in 2021 found that only about 41% of college students were identified as having sought mental health services through their college campus (ACHA, 2022).

Methods: This study utilized quantitative data to examine the knowledge, attitudes, …

Examining The Marketing Strategies Of Campus Mental Health On A Minority Student Population, Rochelle Bernarte

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Public health, particularly mental health services aimed at making a positive impact can be difficult to market to populations. Promoting mental health services to a target demographic of predominantly minority students at a university comes with its own set of unique variables making the task especially tough. This can be concerning as studies have shown that minority students experience greater amounts of stress than their White counterparts but are less likely to seek mental health services (DeFreitas et al., 2018; Duffy, 2019; Lipson, et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to gauge the Attitudes and Practices …

Pandemic-Related Caregiver Burden Among Public Health Workforce: A Mixed-Method Analysis, Tony Lee

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a highly contagious novel virus called SARS-CoV-2, has led to significant global morbidity and mortality. The healthcare workforce (HCW) is disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is more likely to report depression, burnout, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and post-traumatic stress. However, research among the public health workforce (PHW) remains limited. Given the burden of COVID-19 itself, coupled with the work-related pressure of rapid pandemic management strategies, risk of exposure, potential fatigue, etc., understanding the mental health needs of PHW and related professionals is critical. As such, the purpose of this study is to …

The Effectiveness Of Best Management Practices Implemented At Lake Gregory, Crestline, Ca, Devin Darrow

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Water quality deterioration of recreational surface waters from excess pollution inputs is a significant concern for the health of the public and aquatic ecosystem. This study will examine the effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in reducing pollution inputs into Lake Gregory, Crestline, CA. The effectiveness of the BMPs was examined by testing for water quality parameters including dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), total coliform, and Escherichia coli on weekly to bi-weekly basis for a period of 1 year. A statistical analysis involving descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, the Efficient Ratios (ER) and Percent Removal Rates …

The Prevalence Of Iron Deficiency And Obesity Among Young Children In The United States, Mirriam Abunaja

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background The coexistence of obesity and iron deficiency among children is one manifestation of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) and is a public health concern. This study aims to provide useful insight on public health knowledge by presenting a current snapshot of the coexistence of obesity and iron deficiency among pre-school aged children as well as specific risk factors.

Methods This analysis utilizes secondary data from a publicly accessible, national database, the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES). The data examined were retrieved from the years 2015-2016 and 2017-2018. Chi-squared tests were used to test each thesis question. …

Burden Of Food Insecurity Among College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Saba Sami

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Food insecurity is lack of access to proper nutrition for an individual to obtain a healthy lifestyle. The goal of this research is to determine the frequency of food insecurity among college students at a four-year college institution during COVID-19 pandemic in association to mental and physical health status.

Methods: This study was conducted among college students using cross-sectional study method. All data were collection virtually and kept anonymous. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 28 with (p<.05), denoting significance.

Results: In the study there were a total of 98 participants who were being analyzed. All the participants were …

Pandemic And Substance Use: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Vanessa E. Ermilio

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The COVID-19 Pandemic called individuals to stay at home which may have impacted individuals to become not only physically, but socially isolated as well. With social isolation, comes an increase in mental health complications which may lead to an increase in substance use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential association between COVID-19 social isolation and substance use among college students.

Method: The present study’s data was collected from a public, four-year university located in Southern California. The survey was disseminated through instructors at the university and students were incentivized with extra course credit to participate. …

Pandemic And Sleep Health: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Among College Students, Jasmine Mitchell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The purpose of this study seeks to address sleep health among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design. Data in this study were collected from college students through a virtual survey at a public university in Southern California. Data was collected with SPSS version 28 to conduct crosstabs and chi-square, as well as descriptive statistics.

Results: The study presented key findings that call attention to college students and poor sleep health. Results showed most of the participants (62.8%) reported getting less than 7 hours of sleep on an average school night. 45.7% of …

Sleep Health And Academic Performance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Rushil Gumasana

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Sleep health is an important public health topic that is often overlooked by college students who are trying to juggle between school, work, and social life. Sleep is seen as a luxury and as a result, most often sacrificed for other activities. The purpose of this thesis is to make a connection between the factors that lead to poor sleep quality and its influence on academic performance.

Methods:The study utilized the cross-sectional approach to evaluate sleep health and identify the relationship that exists with academic performance among college students. All data were collected virtually and kept anonymous. All …

Sexual Health Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Thomas C. Roland

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created a unique situation for healthcare providers worldwide. The highly infectious nature of the COVID-19 virus required many countries to impose strict lockdowns and limit access to select health services such as sexual health services. The present study was designed to explore the role of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare services, specifically sexual health services.

Methods: A cross- sectional study design was selected to evaluate the burden of the pandemic on sexual health services. Participants responses were obtained anonymously using an online survey. Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses using IBM SPSS version …

Relationship Between University Students’ Demographics And Drinking & Driving Behaviors, Carlos Razo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In the U.S. there continues to be public health concerns behind alcohol related motor-vehicle accidents, as the yearly death continues to remain high. University students are a population of interest, as the age group found in these institutions closely matches the age range of most alcohol related accidents. University students already experience health related problems with their drinking & driving behaviors. Literature supports that university students are more susceptible to drinking and driving when compared to those that don’t attend. This study focused on determining whether a relationship existed between university demographics (age, gender, and student classification) and their drinking …

Pre-Migration To Post-Migration – Mental Health Problems In Unaccompanied Migrant Children From The Northern Triangle Of Central America, Paola Zuniga

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background - The number of unaccompanied migrant children arriving at the U.S. southern border has significantly increased. Each year, children are forced to flee from their native countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. These countries form the Northern Triangle region of Central America, which is recognized as “one of the most dangerous places on earth” according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Children from this region, experience significant trauma during their pre-migration, in-transit, and post-migration journey. This raises significant concerns about potential mental health problems. For this reason, access to mental health services for UMCs is …

Barriers To The Use Of Palliative And Hospice Care Among The Latino Population, Diana Ramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Patients suffering from irreversible and terminal illnesses may benefit from the services provided by Palliative and Hospice Care to control any symptom burden and assist in navigating complex medical decisions. Many patients may express hesitation in accepting and enrolling to this service due to misconceptions. Language barriers may add an additional layer of complexity. This study explored the challenges Palliative Care providers encounter when introducing concept of hospice to Spanish-speaking patients their families for the first time. This study implemented qualitative research methods by using semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Ten members of an In-patient Palliative Care Team at a University Hospital …

Injection Drug Users (Idus), Blood-Borne Diseases, And The Role Of Needle Exchange Programs, Lilibeth Guzman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: Needle exchange programs are designed to educate injection drug users of healthy drug behaviors and establish a controlled environment to prevent blood-borne diseases through clean needles and provide treatment to reduce blood-borne diseases and become drug-free. This study observed the prevalence of blood-borne diseases among injection drug users as well as the general population. The study used publicly available data of drug use to assess differences by race/ethnicity, and participation in needle exchange programs.

Methods: Quantitative methods were used with the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Analysis began with descriptive statistics, followed by regression analyses to …

Preventing Intimate Partner Violence Through Healthy Relationship Education, Jessica Naranjo Larios

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health crisis and is defined as behavior by a current or former partner who causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm (WHO, 2021). The age demographic experiencing the highest rates of IPV is those between 18-24 years old (Brewer et al., 2018). Since many college students fit this demographic, colleges must implement effective evidence-based IPV prevention programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of healthy relationship education among college students using the KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice) model tool.

Methods: This study utilized quantitative research methods to assess …

Mental Health Burden Among College Students During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jeffrey Bao Truong

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant public health issue and has negatively burdened the general population’s health, though assessment among vulnerable groups remain limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic among college students.

Method:This study utilized a cross-sectional approach. Courses across multiple departments were used to collect data in order to ensure a diversity of majors. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 28 with p <.05 denoting significance.

Results: A total of 98 study participants were included in analyses. Among study participants, 32%reported feeling their mental health worsened due to COVID-19 …

Promoting Health Equity Among Racial And Ethnic Minorities During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alexandra Viramontes, Deserry Salgado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Racial and ethnic minorities experience disproportionate health outcomes during a pandemic, yet preparedness plans have failed to address the social determinants of health that produce the most severe impact. By examining social workers’ perspectives on the health disparities faced by racial and ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study provides insight into the ways in which services can be improved in a future health crisis. In this exploratory study, a qualitative approach was utilized where social workers were asked to participate in interviews consisting of open-ended questions. The qualitative data was obtained in the form of interview transcripts, which …

Mental Health Awareness Training Manual: For Faculty To Help Students, Ricardo Vega

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Mental health issues and stigma can affect students in many ways. The teacher-student relationship can be affected by the fear and inconsistent thoughts to be successful in college settings caused by mental health issues. First-generation college students face mental health issues due to support, education degree expectations, inhibition of uncertainty, and resources (Pascarella et al., 2004). This project is about providing communication strategies for faculty to help reduce stigma and provide students with resources to support their mental health.

Using Population Health Management To Reduce Heart Diseases And Health Disparities Among African Americans: A Narrative Review, Adolfo Gonzalez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The integration of Population Health Management (PHM) within the U.S. health care system may effectively decrease heart disease and health disparities among African American adults. Population Health Management strategies look at whether the health care system is meeting the needs of health care access, medical coverage, quality of care, and to reducing health disparities within specific population. Population Health Management strategies could be used to mitigate and reduce health disparities.

The purpose of this study is to discuss the potential impacts of Population Health Management within our health care system and how its influence can reduce heart diseases among African …

Are School Lunches Contributing To The Obesity Epidemic Among Children?, Luis Chavez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Childhood obesity is a major public health issue in the United States (U.S.) and recent data have shown that the incidence and prevalence have been increasing over the past 20 years. Poor dietary habits are often attributed to these increasing rates. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides meals and snacks to over 30 million students. Therefore, determining whether an association exists between student participation in the NSLP, and their respective body mass index (BMI) is critical. Few studies have examined a family’s economic stability and the child’s race as potential moderating variables. This study aimed to investigate …

Treatment Access For Dual Diagnosis Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders, Pedro Banuelos

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In 2018, of 1.3 million Latinx adults in the United States facing concurrent issues with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders (MHD) 93% remained untreated for either diagnosis. This is concerning since Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) data reveals that this population is at greater risk for suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. They also face structural barriers such as employment, housing, legal involvement, and insurability that further impede access to treatment.

This study’s purpose was to examine barriers to accessing treatment for Latinx populations confronting co-occurring SUDs and MHDs. This study used a qualitative design …

Educational Needs Associated With The Level Of Complication And Comparative Risk Perceptions In People With Type 2 Diabetes, Youngji Hwang, Dongsuk Lee, Yeon Sook Kim

Nursing Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the educational needs of people with type 2 diabetes according to risk perceptions and the level of severity of complications. Methods: There were 177 study participants who were outpatients of the internal medicine department at a university hospital located in the Republic of Korea, who consented to participate in the survey from December 10, 2016 to February 10, 2017. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, ANOVA with post-hoc comparison, and multiple regression analysis. Type 2 diabetes complications were classified into 3 groups: no complications, common complications, and severe complications. …

The California Healthy Youth Act: A Policy Analysis On California's Comprehensive Sex Education Mandate, Rae Chelle D. Gabriel

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The California Healthy Youth Act is the policy that mandates California public schools to implement comprehensive sex education in middle and high school. Since its enactment in 2016, sexually transmitted infections have reached its highest rates with young people accounting for half of all new cases. Likewise, teen dating violence and sexual violence (including sex trafficking) continue to burden adolescents, especially among minorities. Policy enhancements are recommended to bridge the gaps in implementation to ensure compliance and sustainability of the policy.

Methods: A policy analysis was conducted using Bardach’s 8-fold path and a SWOT analysis. Data was gathered through …

A Case Study Of Factors That Influence The Implementation Of Full Spectrum Contraceptive Care In A University Student Health Center, Cecile Dahlquist

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Large, prospective cohort studies such as The Contraceptive Choice Project have been conducted regarding safety, efficacy, satisfaction, and usage of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) such as the Contraceptive Implant (Nexplanon) and Intrauterine Contraception (Winner, Peipert, Zhao, Buckel, Madden, Allsworth & Secura (2012). Despite these findings, access and financial barriers remain for many women, and less than 7 percent of women utilize the most effective methods of contraception in the United States (Winner et al., 2012). Barriers to effective LARC methods exist at a higher rate with our young, poor, and non-white marginalized populations (Finer & Zolna, 2016).

Unplanned pregnancies have …

Digital Technologies As Antecedents To Process Integration And Dynamic Capabilities In Healthcare: An Empirical Investigation, Tulika Chakravorty, Karunakar Jha, Sunil Barthwal, Samyadip Chakraborty

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Healthcare has been in focus over the past decade due to its criticality and continuous revolution. In this digital era, with the advent of various technologies, healthcare is undergoing a massive transformation. This study attempts to analyze the impacts of three major digital technologies which are being adopted in the healthcare sector which are electronic medical records (EMR), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and internet-of-things (IoT) enabled medical wearables in the hospital context. Focusing towards analyzing the impact of these technologies towards process-integration and further towards dynamic capabilities like quality, agility and responsiveness; the study framework is well-grounded by two theoretical-underpinnings …

The Effects Of Fall Health Belief And Knowledge Of Fall On The Prevention Of Fall In The Elderly: Mediating And Moderating Effects Of Fall Fear, Insun Jang, Seungmi Park, Phoebe (Yeon) S. Kim

Nursing Faculty Publications

Purpose: This descriptive study investigated the mediating and moderating effects of fear of fall on the relationships between health belief on fall, fall-related knowledge and fall prevention behaviors among older adults Methods: We enrolled 229 older adults residing in a senior citizen hall and community welfare center, and investigated their health belief on fall, fall-related knowledge, fall prevention behavior, and fear of fall. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-test were used to analyze differences in variables. Pearson correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate mediating and moderating effects of the fear of fall on the relationships between health belief on …

Gender-Based Body Image Perceptions Among College Students, Aleka Arredondo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: This study sought to examining the gender-based expectations of an ideal body, for self and opposite gender, among college students.

Methods: The study used a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Common words and phrases were first identified and later grouped into category, through open and axial coding respectively. Next, central theme was identified using selective coding.

Results: This study examined a total of 145 student participants responses of which 94 were self-identified women and 51 were self-identified men. The results reveal that men’s ideal body perception for a woman is different than women’s expectations for women. For example, women’s …