Digital Commons Network^™

Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors And Screening Intention Among Recreational Sport Athletes, Aldenise P. Ewing

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The recreational sports arena provides a venue for young adults to increase physical activity and engage in a socially supportive environment. These are both important ways to decrease the risk for chronic diseases. It is assumed that physically active individuals lead healthier lifestyles and are more attuned to their long-term health needs. Recreational sport athletes also engage in risks for adverse cancer outcomes through increased sun exposure, intake of unhealthy diets, and recreational tobacco and alcohol use. It was of interest to assess cancer-related risk factors, cancer knowledge, and theory of planned behavior constructs in this group.

This study involved …

Least Of My Worries: Food Security, Diet Quality, And Antiretroviral Adherence Among People Living With Hiv, Charlotte Ann Noble

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

More than forty years into the epidemic, HIV continues to impact the health and well-being of millions of people – nearly 37 million across the globe and in excess of 1 million in the U.S. – more than 44% of which live in the Southern United States. HIV continues to disproportionally affect marginalized populations, and vast amounts of money, time, and effort have been spent to understand how to slow the rate of new infections and improve health outcomes for People Living with HIV (PLWH). This study aims to understand the experience of living with and managing HIV while on …

“Man Plans But Ultimately, God Decides”: A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Contextual Family Planning Beliefs Of Recently Resettled Congolese Refugee Women In West Central Florida., Linda Bomboka Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Existent demographic changes in the United States are largely a result of the current international refugee crisis. Within the past three years, there has been an influx of refugees who were affected by the wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Congolese refugees were the highest number of all refugee groups to arrive in the United States in Fiscal Years 2016-2018, yet little is known about their lived experiences, particularly as they apply to reproductive health and family planning in general. Congolese refugee women who resettle in the United States are unique because many lived in refugee camps for …

“We Can Learn Some Things From Them, But They Can Learn Some Things From Us Too”: Intergenerational Perceptions Of Shared Infant Feeding Information, Alexis L. Woods Barr

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Breastfeeding is associated with unparalleled benefits for infants, mothers, families and society. In light of the breastfeeding disparities and health disparities experienced by the African American community, their women and children stand to gain the most from breastfeeding practices compared to other first-food feeding methods. Moreover, African American mothers are constantly exposed to messages, images, and stereotypes about motherhood (from multiple channels of communication) which influences their infant feeding practices. Many of these exposures send mixed messages and tend to be cultural contradictions of Black motherhood. What complicates this issue is the shortage of research that investigates the intergenerational infant …

Understanding The Family Planning Care Experiences Of Young Black Women Using An Intersectionality Mixed Methods Approach, Rachel G. Logan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Black women in the U.S. disproportionately experience unintended pregnancy, particularly as compared to their white counterparts. When racial and ethnic disparities in reproductive health are combined with other marginalized identities, such as low social status and young age, Black women’s risk of negative health outcomes may increase and further produce disadvantage.

Objective: The overall objective of this research was to understand the family planning care experiences of young Black women.

Methods: This study used a transformative mixed methods design to understand young Black women’s most recent family planning care experience in the last 12 months through Intersectionality, Psychological Reactance, …

An Assessment Of The Role Of Florida Pharmacists In The Administration Of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine To Pregnant Women, Oluyemisi O. Falope

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The influenza vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine in preventing influenza infection in the general population. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that pregnant women receive influenza inactivated vaccine (IIV) due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with influenza infection in pregnant women. Despite the recommendation, the U.S. national influenza vaccine uptake rates among pregnant women continue to remain low. Studies have shown barriers to influenza vaccine uptake in pregnant women to include issues with access, unavailability of vaccine, and lack of time during prenatal visits. These barriers can be overcome using pharmacists because, among healthcare providers, …

Epidemiological Analysis Of Malaria Decrease In El Salvador From 1955 Until 2017, Tatiana I. Gardellini Guevara

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The disease of malaria is complex, with clinical presentation that ranges from severe and complicated to mild and uncomplicated or even to asymptomatic malaria. A recent effort made by several world organizations has shown important advances in the effort to control and eradicate malaria. Following the general ordinance established by the trans-border organizations, each country has tried to define, according to their local geopolitical scenario, individual ¨road maps¨ to succeed in reducing the morbidity and mortality caused by malaria. Moreover, it is now accepted universally that these road maps need to be revised and appropriated in order to correct actions …

Evaluating The Effect Of Temperature On A Human Parasite And Its Intermediate Snail Host: Implications For A Changing Climate, Karena H. Nguyen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Global climate change is impacting the emergence, re-emergence, prevalence, and incidence of infectious diseases worldwide, including parasitic diseases of humans (Blum and Hotez 2018). Neglected tropical diseases, defined as a group of parasitic diseases affecting developing countries in the tropics (Hotez et al. 2007), are of particular concern because these diseases occur in areas that are also expected to experience rapid population growth and agricultural development in the coming decades. As human population and food demand increase, the greater the likelihood of humans encountering intermediate hosts that either inhabit agricultural areas or are impacted by agricultural development, which will influence …

Isokinetic Sampling Efficiency Differences For Blunt Edge Vs Sharp Edge Sampling Probes, Cory A. Treloar

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project aims to determine if sampling efficiency differences are present between a sharp edge probe and a blunt edge probe during isokinetic sampling. To answer this question, isokinetic sampling was performed inside a wind tunnel. Sampling was performed with the sharp edge probe and compared to data previously obtained using the blunt edge probe. Two different particle sizes were used, 0.50 m and 2.00 m, at air velocities of 0.5 m/s, 1.0 m/s and 2.0 m/s in the wind tunnel. Results showed that there is a difference in sampling efficiency between the two probes and a larger difference in …

Sundaas Story: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Household Sanitation Provisioning In Urban Informal Housing In India, Sarita Vijay Panchang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aims of this research were to examine sanitation insecurity in urban informal housing through the lens of the built environment, social disparities, and health implications. While the Millennium Development Goals for halving the global proportion of people without access to safe drinking water were met ahead of schedule, progress fell short for sanitation, creating new objectives for the Sustainable Development Goals to be met in 2030. Much research in the Global South is dedicated to community-level sanitation promotion, but often presumes a rural rather than urban setting. Urban informal housing settings constitute a unique challenge due to the range …

The Relationship Between Continuous Glucose Monitor (Cgm) Derived Metrics And Indices Of Glycemic Control, Ryan Bailey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Both hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) are common among individuals with type 1 diabetes and are associated with severe medical complications, therefore it is essential that health care providers are able to accurately measure glycemic control. Measures derived from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may provide more accurate measurements of glycemia than the commonly used HbA1c blood test.

Methods: Data from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) clinical trial to assess the efficacy of continuous glucose monitoring was used to estimate the ability of CGM composite scores to predict time in range, time in hyperglycemia and …

Mitigating Barriers To Chronic Disease Risk Factor Prevention And Management In Disadvantaged Communities, Krys M. Johnson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The incidence and prevalence of chronic disease (CD) has increased in recent decades due to the advent of CD management and life-extending technologies. To address this burden on the population and healthcare system, evidence-based CD prevention programs have been developed to reduce the incidence and therefore the prevalence of these diseases. Despite the development and dissemination of effective interventions, African-Americans and Hispanics have disproportionately higher prevalence of CD and associated risk factors and disproportionately lower participation in CD prevention programs. Overweight/obesity and CDs may have intergenerational effects, with overweight adults being more likely to have overweight children who are …

The Tampa Gym Study: An Ethnographic Exploration Of Gyms, Female Gym-Goers And The Quest For Fitness In Tampa, Fl, Danielle Reneé Rosen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Tampa Gym Study was an ethnographic examination of veteran women exercisers, their workout routines, and their attitudes towards the workouts that they undertake in two Tampa area gyms. The study’s principle objective was to study “fitness culture” in these facilities and the manner in which that culture is embodied in the language women use to describe themselves and their exercise behaviors.

The obesity crisis in the United States has been significantly responsible for an increase in membership in gyms and fitness facilities nationwide. The “culture of fitness” as it is embodied in these facilities has impacted women and their …

Risk And Resilience Pertaining To Mental Health Of Youth Attending A College In Kathmandu Who Were Exposed To The 2015 Earthquakes During Their Adolescence: A Mixed Method Study, Vinita Sharma

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Adverse mental health outcomes have been previously reported among survivors of natural disasters. Available studies mostly focus on risk factors and not resilience. In 2015, a series of earthquakes caused massive loss of lives and livelihood in Nepal. Epidemiological data pertaining to youth mental health in Nepal is limited. Information about the post-earthquake mental health of youth who were exposed to earthquakes during their adolescence in Nepal is scarce.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to address risk and resilience factors related to mental health among college-attending Nepali youth (18-20 years) exposed to the 2015 earthquake during their …

Understanding The Implementation Of Integrated Care For People Living With Hiv, Vickie A. Lynn

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The integration of physical and behavioral health services is an innovative method of delivering health care services for persons dual or triply diagnosed with HIV, mental health and/or substance use disorders. Reducing the fragmented delivery of health services by integrating services into one setting is essential to providing holistic patient-centered care and address the complex health needs of this population. Although research shows integrated care improves health outcomes, little is known about the implementation of integrated care in real-world settings because the perspectives and experiences of those delivering and receiving integrated health and social services are underrepresented in the …

The Relationship Between Hand And Wrist Musculoskeletal Disorders And Hand Activity And Posture, Warren M. Henry

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Musculoskeletal disorders are common in many industries such as automotive, manufacturing and line assembly. Risk factors include high frequency or hand repetition, long duration of work activities with short rest periods, unsustainable postures which put strain on the body and muscles, and activities that require significant force to fulfill duties. The current ACGIH TLV for hand activity uses hand activity level (HAL) and normalized peak force (NPF) to assess an individual’s risk of developing an MSD. The purpose of this study is to propose the use of Posture as an alternative to NPF and couple it with HAL to assess …

Evolutionary Dynamics Of Influenza Type B In The Presence Of Vaccination: An Ecological Study, Lindsey J. Fiedler

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of influenza type B in human hosts is a public health concern as we strive to minimize the disease burden in seasonal epidemics. Vaccination is considered the best defense against contracting influenza, and everyone over the age of 6 months is advised to get vaccinated before each season. The effect that vaccine-acquired immunity has on the evolution of influenza B remains unclear. In the U.S., vaccine-uptake is irregular across the states, and the differing coverages present an opportunity to study how vaccination influences viral evolution. This thesis analyzes the evolutionary patterns of influenza B in the …

Exploring Young Women’S Choice To Initiate Use Of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: A Mixed Methods Approach, Helen Mahony

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The United States has the highest rate of unintended pregnancy compared to any other developed country. Unintended pregnancy is associated with negative health outcomes for both parents and children. It is estimated that government expenditures for unintended pregnancy total $21 billion each year. Women ages 18-25 years old have the highest rate of unintended pregnancy. This age group is categorized as emerging adulthood, and this is a unique developmental period in a person’s life. Given the high rate of unintended pregnancies and the associated negative outcomes, increasing the use of more reliable methods of birth control is a public …

Using Predicted Heat Strain To Evaluate Sustainable Exposures, Samantha L. Thacker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The most commonly used exposure assessment for heat stress is based on Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), and the limits are based on empirical relationships that demonstrate a sustainable exposure. The ISO 7933 (2017) describes Predicted Heat Strain (PHS), which is a rational model for heat stress assessment that is used to assess time-limited exposures. Investigators have examined PHS validity under a variety of time-limited conditions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate if PHS can predict sustainable exposures.

The data used for this study were from two previous heat stress studies using a progressive heat stress protocol. The …

Using A Stress Process Model To Examine Longitudinal Racial Differences In Well-Being And Health: Results From A Population-Based Study Of Caregiving, Adrian N. S. Badana

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the older adult population of the United States increases over the next decade, many family caregivers will be needed to provide care for aging loved ones. The growing diversity of the population may also mean that more racial/ethnic minority caregivers will be providing care to older family members. Most of the studies examining race and caregiving have focused on racial differences in stress, coping, well-being and health among White and Black family caregivers. However, previous research examining racial differences in caregiving has often been limited to smaller convenience samples of caregivers, which limit generalizability of study findings. In this …

Localization Of Five Target Proteins In Tachyzoites Of Toxoplasma Gondii, Abigail M. Kaiser

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Five target genes were selected in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites for localization studies. These five genes, detected through proteomics studies, included TgME49_227450, TgME49_223080, TgME49_262390, TgME49_230940, and TgME49_269620. Localization of these five target proteins is a first step to confirm their interaction with TgCrk2 and understand their function and role in TgCrk2 regulation of the tachyzoite cell cycle. Gene models for the targets were analyzed using ToxoDB and ApE analysis tools. Endogenous tagging constructs were created for each target. Transgenic parasites were created. Finally, localization analysis of the target proteins in tachyzoites was completed using immunofluorescent microscopy following. One protein was found …

Understanding The Adoption Process Of An Hpv Vaccine School-Entry Requirement In Puerto Rico, Coralia Vázquez-Otero

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the US. Infection with low-risk HPV (i.e., 6 and 11) can cause genital warts, and persistent infection with high-risk HPV types (i.e., HPV 16 and 18) can progress to cancer. Currently, there is an HPV vaccine that is recommended for boys and girls, aged 11 to 12. Healthy People 2020 established a national objective of 80% completion of HPV vaccination among children aged 13 to 15 years old. Although the HPV vaccine is proven to be a safe and effective primary prevention strategy, uptake and completion rates remain …

Using The Consolidated Framework For Implementation Research To Investigate Daily Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Df) Implementation Via Community-Based Hiv Testing Sites In Florida, Deanne E. Turner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill that can reduce a person’s chances of acquiring HIV. HIV testing and counseling is a critical point during which non-clinical staff could intervene, discuss and/or refer clients for PrEP. However, not all HIV testing/counseling staff take part in PrEP implementation in the same way. This study investigated: 1) the underlying PrEP implementation subgroups of staff who perform HIV testing and 2) PrEP implementation as a function of key constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Methods: This study was a mixed methods concurrent triangulation design, in which qualitative and quantitative …

A Retrospective Study Of The Opioid Epidemic And Fentanyl Related Overdose Fatality Cases In A Florida West Coast Medical Examiner District Population, Anne Terese Powell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Opioids are scheduled by the propensity for misuse and abuse with a high rate of dependency and risk of fatal overdose. Opioids can be divided into different classes, including, natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic. Opiates are naturally occurring and come directly from the opium poppy plant; whereas the semi synthetics opioids are chemical modifications of the poppy plant. Synthetic opioids attach to the opioid receptor but contain no part of the poppy plant. The increased variety and frequency in opioid prescriptions contributed to an opioid epidemic in the United States which is still on going.

According to the CDC, the opioid …

Effects Of Medications With Anticholinergic Properties And Opioids On Cognitive Function And Neural Volumetric Changes In Elderly Australians, Malinee Neelamegam

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Multiple comorbidities are common among older adults. Pharmaceutical interventions are the most common form of medical management of the multiple health conditions that the older adult population faces. Almost 90% of adults aged 65 years and above take at least one prescription medication. Polypharmacy (5 medication or more) occurs with 50% of the older adult population. Most medications used to treat common ailments affecting the geriatric population have anticholinergic properties. These medications are known to cause a range of side effects from peripheral effects to central nervous system effects. These adverse effects are of particular concern in the older …

Respiratory Infections And Risk For Development Of Narcolepsy: Analysis Of The Truven Health Marketscan Database (2008 To 2010) With Additional Assessment Of Incidence And Prevalence, Darren Scheer

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background and Significance: Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder. These patients experience various psychiatric and physical comorbid diseases and mortality at an increased rate compared to the general population. Additionally, patients with narcolepsy experience approximately a doubling of various annual healthcare related facility visits, transactions, and costs comparatively. Narcolepsy with cataplexy is generally believed to be more prevalent than narcolepsy without cataplexy. However, incidence and prevalence estimates of narcolepsy (with or without cataplexy) vary widely with few large epidemiological studies conducted worldwide and none in the U.S evaluating these proportions in both children and adults utilizing a large health care …

Effects Of An Academic Enrichment Program On Elementary-Aged Students' Performance, Lauren E. Nieder

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to develop a greater understanding of the effectiveness of enrichment programs outside of the school setting. This study was also intended to contribute to the broader understanding of the mechanism of student school-related stress, reported by parents, as it relates to student academic performance, specifically in a population which primarily consists of students and parents who are of Asian-Indian-American descent. With rising standards and intensifying pressure on students to be academically successful, it is necessary to examine the stress students experience due to their academics, as well as its effects on their academic performance. …

Investigating Air Pollution And Equity Impacts Of A Proposed Transportation Improvement Program For Tampa, Talha Kemal Kocak

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Transportation infrastructure is important for human mobility and population well-being. However, it can also have detrimental impacts on health and equity, including through increased air pollution and its unequal social distribution. There is a need for better understanding of these impacts and for better approaches that improve health and equity outcomes of transportation planning programs. In this study, we are investigating the air pollution and health equity impacts of an ongoing large-scale metropolitan transportation improvement program, Tampa Bay Next (TBNext). Specific objectives are: 1) to characterize and quantify the air pollution levels and population exposures resulting from the roadway expansion …

The Ability Of The U.S. Military’S Wbgt-Based Flag System To Recommend Safe Heat Stress Exposures, David R. Almario

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. military currently uses a flag system based on wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and metabolic rate to recommend heat stress exposure limits. This paper addresses the ability of the flag system to recommend safe heat exposures in a non-military population.

Two progressive heat stress studies provided data on 528 observations of safe or unsafe exposures of 4 hours over a range of WBGT conditions and metabolic rates using 29 participants wearing woven cotton clothing. For the two studies, range of WBGT conditions was 25 to 42C, and the range of metabolic rates was 100 to 650 watts. These exposures …

Self-Collected Sampling Methods For Chlamydia And Gonorrhea Screening Among College Women: Exploring Patient-Centered Intervention Characteristics, Stacey B. Griner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Young adults are disproportionately burdened by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea; however, STI screening rates are low among this population. Given the barriers associated with screening, self-sampling methods used at home may be an innovative solution to improve STI screening rates.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing chlamydia and gonorrhea screening among college women. This study had two aims: (1) assess factors associated with STI screening among college women and (2) identify informational needs and key intervention characteristics to inform the development of a patient-centered STI screening intervention.

Methods: Guided …