Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Exposure To E-Cigarette Advertising On Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Paayal Patel

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: With the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents rising dramatically in the past few years (Surgeon General, 2016), e-cigarettes have become “a major public health concern” (Surgeon General, 2016). E-cigarettes are now more frequently used among youth than conventional cigarettes (Surgeon General, 2016), with approximately 4 of every 100 middle school students (4.3%) and 11 of every 100 high school students (11.3%) reported past 30-day use in 2016 —a substantial increase from 2011 (CDC, 2017). Although CDC recently reported that for the first-time e-cigarette use rates declined in 2016 (CDC, 2016), more than 2 million U.S. middle and high school …

Relationships Between Physical Activity And Neighborhood Walking Characteristics: Analysis Of The 2015 National Health Interview Survey, Colby Brown

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Adults engage in walking and other physical activity for a variety of reasons. Previous research has shown that neighborhood characteristics play a role in the decision-making process to walk or participate in physical activity in one’s local neighborhood. Neighborhood characteristics may include access and nearby availability to sidewalks, paths, trails, markets, libraries, theaters, public transportation, and parks.

AIMS: The purpose of this work is to examine the association between neighborhood characteristics and participation in physical activity

METHODS: The 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data was used. Participant data consisted of demographics and measures of physical activity. Neighborhood characteristics …

Branched Chain Amino Acids: Causal Or Predictive Of Type 2 Diabetes, Jency George

Public Health Capstone Projects

Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) have been associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. However, there is not concrete understanding on whether BCAA is playing a causal factor or a predictive factor for type 2 diabetes. The aim of this review is to understand how Branched Chain Amino Acids act as a predictive biomarker of type 2 diabetes (T2D) or causal factor in insulin resistance. Two mechanisms have been proposed, but not enough studies have been done to prove which is true. There is still a lot of unknowns in BCAA mechanisms and how it affects metabolic disorders. Future …

Incorporating Health Activities Into The Friends Of The Park Agenda: A Health Program Plan Framework, Hayley Hamilton

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Rates of chronic disease continue to increase every year, affecting one in every two U.S. adults. Healthy lifestyle behaviors can help prevent chronic disease. Parks have a vast opportunity to contribute to public health by providing places and resources for people to get active. Despite all the health opportunities that parks provide, research finds that park users do not entirely capitalize on the potential health benefits of parks because most park users participate in sedentary recreational activities. As a support system for their local park, established park organizations like Friends of the Park have the capacity to engage the …

A Grant Proposal To Evaluate The Effect Antibiotic Tb Treatment Has On The Gut Microbiota And On Metabolic Functions Of Pediatric Tb Patients In Dekalb County, Oluwatobiloba Adeola Akingbade

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: This capstone project is modeled after a National Institutes of Health R21 grant application to evaluate the relationship between tuberculosis (TB) antibiotic treatment and 1) gut microbiota and 2) long-term metabolic functions among pediatric patients less than five years old or greater than five years old, residing in Dekalb county.

AIM: The proposed study specific aims are to 1) determine the relationship between standard drug-sensitive antibiotic TB regimens on the gut microbiota (total density and taxa) at the time of TB treatment completion and one-year after treatment completion; 2) determine the relationship between standard drug-sensitive antibiotic TB …

From Coverage To Care Implementation Plan, Michelle Mavreles

Public Health Capstone Projects

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was created to provide healthcare to all Americans in an affordable manner to reduce healthcare spending and disparities in health care. However, simply having health insurance coverage is not enough. It is necessary for individuals to understand how to use their health insurance to access care and as a result reduce spending and disparities. The purpose of this project is to design an implementation plan for the initiative, From Coverage to Care, in the State of Georgia to help increase insurance consumers’ health literacy, ability to navigate the healthcare system and engagement …

Lessons Learned And Recommendations For Conducting Research On The Effects Of A Child Neglect Prevention-Focused Parent-Child Interaction Module (Safecare Pci) On Home Language Environment And Toddler Expressive Language, Ambra Noble

Public Health Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to generate recommendations for developing an informed research plan to examine the effects of the SafeCare PCI module on the language environment and expressive communication of toddlers in low socioeconomic homes. A summary of an applied research experience is presented as a foundation for highlighting challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for future research on the effectiveness of child neglect prevention focused interventions for addressing the 30-million-word gap and improving child language outcomes.

My applied research experience involved piloting research procedures for a case study of a child neglect prevention focused intervention, the SafeCare …

Evidence Of Injury Following Sexual Assault: A Research Proposal, Brea Echard

Public Health Capstone Projects

The prosecution of rape in the United States often relies on the evidence of genital injury. However, because rape is a crime of lack of consent, evidence should only be used to corroborate a storyline rather than to prove or disprove consent. The objective of this incidence density case-control study examining participants after consensual intercourse as well as victims of rape is to prove that both groups have an equally low prevalence on genital injury. Participants will include 300 victims on non-consensual sexual intercourse and 300 participants of consensual sexual intercourse interviewed and examined for genital injury using macrovisualization, speculum, …

Effectiveness Of Pharmacist Delivered Medication Reconciliation Interventions On Hospital Readmission Rates: A Literature Review, Charles S. Lee

Public Health Capstone Projects

Introduction: Unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions can expose individuals to potential risks such as unnecessary treatment and can be costly to both hospitals and to patients. Approximately one in every five hospital discharges of Medicare patients is readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge and the annual cost of unplanned hospital readmissions is about $17.4 billion. Under the ACA provision, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reduces payments to hospitals that have excess 30-day readmission rates. Therefore, hospitals are particularly focused on reducing hospital readmission rates. Pharmacist-delivered interventions may be one strategy that hospitals can implement …

Geographic Information Systems Analysis Of Walkability Data For The Atlanta Beltline Communities, Michale Kanchik

Public Health Capstone Projects

A MASTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH CAPSTONE PROJECT:

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF WALKABILITY DATA FOR

THE ATLANTA BELTLINE COMMUNITIES

By

MICHALE HAIA KANCHIK

July 21, 2017

INTRODUCTION: As a means of combating the growing obesity epidemic in the United States, public health experts are promoting the building of walkable communities. Using walkability data initially collected for the CDC’s Atlanta Beltline Project, this study will examine select features of the built environment and their relationship to active people. This capstone is seeking to explore factors present in the built environment that are related to physical activity

AIM: Using the Atlanta Beltline …

Framework Analysis: Potential Repatriation And Mental Health System Recovery In The Mena, Yasmin Othman

Public Health Capstone Projects

During the last decade and a half we have seen the culmination of what is perceived to be the biggest refugee and humanitarian crises the world has witnessed since World War II. The parts of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are in turmoil, and we are witnessing an outpouring of people fleeing the violence through precarious means. It is unknown when stability will return to parts of the MENA, but this does not mean the global health community cannot be proactive in planning for post-conflict health system recovery. With the vast number of today’s refugees originating from the …

A Systematic Review On The Association Between Hormonal Contraception And Antiretroviral Therapy In Hiv-Positive Women, Evan Graham

Public Health Capstone Projects

Providing women with safe and effective means of contraception is important when assessing women’s health needs. Women with HIV can spread the disease to their baby through vertical transmission but this may be curtailed by the use of antiretroviral therapy. Additionally, providing women who have HIV with safe contraception options improves women’s overall health. However, there is concern that some hormonal contraceptives may affect the metabolism with certain antiretrovirals. A literature search was conducted using the databases Medline, PubMed, and Global Health. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were then assessed. Thirteen peer-reviewed articles were identified. Several studies indicated that there …

A Qualitative Review Of Healthcare Provider Interventions On Osteoporosis-Related Care And The Improvement On Patient Outcomes, Cayla Roby

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: The older adult population is one of the largest and fastest growing population segments within the United States. With this rise in the older adult population, healthcare systems should work to prevent and treat conditions that disproportionately affect the elderly. Of the many conditions that typically begin onset in older adulthood, osteoporosis is one of the most prevalent. As the number of older adults rise, so will the number of osteoporosis cases. The clinical outcomes of osteoporosis, such fragility fractures, are associated with increased risk of death and an impaired quality of life and ability to interact with others …

Methodology To Cultivating Hand Hygiene Compliance In Healthcare Facilities, Ugo Okeke

Public Health Capstone Projects

Studies have indicated a concern for the level of hand hygiene compliance throughout hospital facilities. The disturbing levels has caused alarm on whether the lack of hand hygiene practice affects the overall healthcare provided to patients. There is also a growing concern about healthcare workers and patients potentially spreading nosocomial infections through frequent contact with patients. Evidence proves that nosocomial infections are an apparent problem that need immediate attention. Medical officials and healthcare leaders are taking steps to improve the level of hand hygiene compliance and minimizing cases of nosocomial infections by implementing initiatives aimed towards pushing the practice of …

Factors That Contribute To The Disproportionate Rates Of Hiv Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men (Msm): A Systematic Review, Santanna S. Comer

Public Health Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT

Factors That Contribute to The Disproportionate Rates of HIV among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): A Systematic Review

By

Santanna Sharay Comer

May 2017

BACKGROUND: Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are becoming infected with HIV at considerable rates. Research has shown that the HIV disparity among this population is not explained by a single individual risk factor, but may be explained by factors specific to this population.

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review of research articles with regards to factors other than individual risk factors that …

A Historical And Political Review Of The Response To The 2015-2016 Zika Outbreak In Puerto Rico, Laura Riquelme

Public Health Capstone Projects

The Zika virus was first identified in 1948 but was relatively unknown until 2015, when Brazil began to report a significant increase in the numbers of babies with congenital defects. It is a virus that is primarily transmitted by mosquitos and primarily effects the nervous system. With its tropical climate and constant mosquito presence, Puerto Rico was the location of a massive outbreak during 2015-2016. However, the response to the outbreak faced several hurdles despite Brazil already reporting an increase in microcephaly. The purpose of this review is to examine the political and historical factors that hampered the initial response …

A Review Of The Relationship Between Screen Time And Low Levels Of Physical Activity With Obesity And Sedentary Behaviors In Children And Adolescents, Christal S. Oliver

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of childhood obesity currently lies at 17% in the United States alone and continues to increase each year. Obesity generally is a result of an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. The increase of childhood obesity prevalence may have adverse morbidity and mortality implications in adulthood, including increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, insulin resistance, and more. Multiple factors contribute to childhood obesity, including parental behaviors, socioeconomic factors, and media influence. Studies have shown that sedentary behaviors, such as watching television and playing video games, are a major contributor to obesity …

Bicycling For Transportation At Georgia State University: Findings And Recommendations For The Georgia State University Bike Plan, Sarah Braunstein Mccartha

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Bicycling is a form of physical activity that can be used for transportation as a motor vehicle alternative. Bicycling has become a popular transportation method on university campuses.

AIM: The aim of this capstone is to illustrate student residential demographics and bike count trend data, evaluate the Georgia State University Touch the Earth Bike Share program, and generate recommendations for the Georgia State University Bicycle Plan. The overall goal is to increase bicycling at Georgia State University and improve the health of the Georgia State University population.

METHODS: Multiple methods were used in this capstone. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) …

Categorizing Vending Machine Snacks At Gsu For Metabolic Syndrome Dietary Recommendations, Allie Micheli

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic Syndrome is a group of disorders, abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting blood sugar, that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases which is currently the leading cause of death in the US. Healthy eating behaviors are one modifiable risk that can prevent and even reverse some metabolic disorders. In college settings, vending machines are a popular way for students to access snacks between classes. However, frequently, nutritional information is not visible to students who use vending machines to purchase snacks.

AIM: The purpose of this capstone was to identify snacks and …

Encouraging Recruitment Of Under-Represented Groups In Clinical Studies: A Sponsor's Perspective, Stephanie Stennett

Public Health Capstone Projects

Researchers must strive to equally distribute both the costs and benefits of human subjects’ research among the population they serve. In the past, research studies disproportionally targeted convenient populations; participants were usually low-income and often minorities. Through a series of controversial and well known studies, protections were developed to better protect participants in research. However, these protections may have inadvertently caused a shift in the populations targeted for research. In recent history, women and minority groups have become under-represented in clinical research, particularly randomized controlled trials. This capstone seeks to explore the implications of under-representation of certain groups in research …

An Evaluation Of A School-Based Behavioral Health Initiative In Three Rural Counties, Bianca Anderson

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: In the United States, one in five children will experience a mental or behavioral health disorder in their lifetime. Of these children, only approximately half receive mental health services and support (Moon, Williford, & Mendenhall, 2017). School-based behavioral health services are identified as one way to increase access to behavioral health services, particularly for youth in rural areas where services are sparse (Moon et al., 2017).

AIM: The purpose of this evaluation is to examine the effectiveness of a school-based behavioral health initiative designed to improve behavioral health outcomes among school-aged children living in three rural counties.

METHODS: This …

Exploring Strategies To Increase Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Among Students In A School Cafeteria, Abigail Furtner

Public Health Capstone Projects

Childhood obesity has become a major public health concern and currently affects 17% of 2-19 year olds in the United States (Ogden, Carroll, Fryar, & Flegal, 2015). Children who are overweight or obese have higher odds of becoming overweigh or obese as adults, thus putting these individuals at a higher risk for several health problems including heart disease, type two diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cancer, and asthma (Gordon-Larsen & Adair, 2010). A major component of preventing obesity is a healthy diet. Recently, data analyzed from NHANES found that children were not getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diet (Kim et …

The Legacy For Children™ Program-- A Capstone On Fidelity Monitoring And Certification, Camille Kramer

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Child poverty in the United States results in severe adverse outcomes affecting child health, well-being, and mental and physical development. A burgeoning problem, researchers have sought primary prevention methods such as parent programs that target low income mothers. Legacy for Children™, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is an evidence-based parent program designed for communities affected by poverty. The evidence-based outcomes of Legacy rely heavily on fidelity monitoring to ensure program efficacy and adherence to the tested model. As an Atlanta Legacy site is implemented, it presents an opportunity to improve the fidelity monitoring processes …

An Evaluation Of Asthma Surveillance Packaging And Dissemination Efforts In Georgia, Lauren Potts

Public Health Capstone Projects

Asthma is a serious chronic disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Due to the prevalence rates among children, asthma is a priority public health concern in the state of Georgia. The Georgia Asthma Control Program (GACP) seeks to improve asthma control by maximizing comprehensive asthma services. Surveillance is one of the ways this is done. This evaluation sought to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of asthma surveillance product packaging and dissemination efforts. The findings will be used to gain recommendations on how to improve surveillance products, reports, and the efforts that are made to disseminate the information. …

A Comparison Analysis Between The State Of Georgia And Israel: Heath Outcome Disparities Of Low Birth Weight Infants, Dionne Spears

Public Health Capstone Projects

Despite the Unites States having the largest national expenditures on health care in the world, Israel outranks the U.S. in infant health outcomes. In the past 20 years. Israel's neonatal health outcomes have improved rapidly in part by providing universal access to care to all citizens. Israel is not without its maternal health challenges, although the state of Georgia has a weak maternal health infrastructure, a high number of uninsured women, and infant health outcomes poorer than the U.S. aggregate mean. Georgia provides less equitable healthcare to women and as a result has stark neonatal differences between populations.

Epidemiology Of Type 2 Diabetes In Populations Of African Descent, Kenyatta Bruce

Public Health Capstone Projects

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) is a significant public health problem among populations of African descent around the world. In the United States alone, African descent populations are disproportionally affected by the growing epidemic of T2D and are greatly impacted by T2D-related complications. Over the last decade, there have been major advancements in access to care for minority populations. Despite these advancements, this population has the second highest prevalence of T2D compared to any other minority group. The objective of this literature review is to identify the burden of Diabetes Mellitus in the United States among populations of African descent. …

Evaluating The Role Of Health Literacy In Communities: A Review Of Community Health Needs Assessments Of Georgia Hospitals, Brittany Robinson

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Per the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), local public health departments, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) hospitals, and federally qualified health centers are all required to conduct community health needs assessments (CHNAs) every three years. Recently, hospitals under pressure from accrediting bodies have been strongly advised to attend to health literacy due to its major implications for poorer health status. Health literacy has been linked with many facets of population-level health, including behavioral health, sociodemographic factors and health disparities.

OBJECTIVE: The broad purpose of the study was to evaluate the perceived importance of health literacy through review of prioritized health-related …

Street Medicine: A Program Evaluation, Ariel L. Edwards

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Homeless individuals have poorer health outcomes than their housed counterparts, yet there are many barriers to receiving consistent medical and behavioral health care. Street Medicine is a method of health care delivery in which a multidisciplinary group of health care providers bring health care to people living on the streets. Street Medicine could be a promising solution to meeting the unmet health needs of people experiencing homelessness.

AIM: The purpose of the evaluation was to examine the effectiveness of Mercy Care’s Street Medicine program at engaging their homeless patients in consistent care and decreasing the number of patients that …

Analysis Of The Quality, Integration, And Cost-Effectiveness Of Primary Care, Electronic Health Records, And End Of Life Care: Lessons From The American Healthcare System To Inform National Health Insurance In The Bahamas, Brittney Jones

Public Health Capstone Projects

The Bahamas is faced with the challenge of delivering cost-effective and quality healthcare within an integrated system. About 70% of the population is uninsured, making primary care out of reach to those who cannot afford to pay out of pocket (Understanding NHI, 2016). Despite healthcare accounting for 7.7% of the country’s GDP in 2014, the quality of care and access to care are still challenging in The Bahamas (Health Expenditure, n.d.). As the population continues to age, chronic non-communicable diseases are also the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The lack of access to primary care due to persons being …

A Program Evaluation Of A Peri-Urban, Multi-Location Care Coordination Program In Georgia And Comparative Analysis Of Other United States Care Coordination Programs For Uninsured, High-Risk Patients To Develop Promising Practice Recommendations, Amanda Parker

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Having access to care allows individuals to enter a healthcare system and receive medical care that improves their quality of life. Unfortunately, access to care and health outcomes are typically related to one’s insurance status. Care coordination programs work to reduce this barrier for high-need patients. One such program is the Sams Care Coordination Program, which connects local hospitals with charity clinics to expand the clinics' capacity by stabilizing staffing, enhancing communication through the shared use of the Epic electronic medical records (EMR) system and providing intensive case management through the use of licensed medical social workers.

PURPOSE: This …