Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluability Assessment Of “Growing Healthy Communities,” A Mini-Grant Program To Improve Access To Healthy Foods And Places For Physical Activity, Christiaan G. Abildso, Angela Dyer, Shay M. Daily, Thomas K. Bias

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Mini-grants have been used to stimulate multisector collaboration in support of public health initiatives by funding non-traditional partners, such as economic development organizations. Such mini-grants have the potential to increase access to healthy foods and places for physical activity through built environment change, especially in small and rural towns in the United States. Although a promising practice, few mini-grant evaluations have been done. Therefore, our purpose was to conduct an Evaluability Assessment (EA), which is a process that can help promising programs that lack evidence advance toward full-scale evaluation. Specifically, we conducted an Evaluability Assessment of a statewide mini-grant program, …

Pilot Gwas Of Caries In African-Americans Shows Genetic Heterogeneity, E. Orlova, J. C. Carlson, M. K. Lee, E. Feingold, D. W. Mcneil, R. J. Crout, R. J. Weyant, M. L. Marazita, J. R. Shaffer

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in the US and disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minorities. Caries is heritable, and though genetic heterogeneity exists between ancestries for a substantial portion of loci associated with complex disease, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of caries specifically in African Americans has not been performed previously.

Methods

We performed exploratory GWAS of dental caries in 109 African American adults (age > 18) and 96 children (age 3–12) from the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia (COHRA1 cohort). Caries phenotypes (DMFS, DMFT, dft, and dfs indices) assessed by dental exams were tested for association …

Relationship Between Pre-Pregnancy Maternal Bmi And Optimal Weight Gain In Singleton Pregnancies, Pierre-Yves Robillard, Gustaaf Dekker, Malik Boukerrou, Nathalie Le Moullec, Thomas C. Hulsey

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Background: There is a peculiar phenomenon: two separate individuals (mother and foetus) have a mutually interactive dependency concerning their respective weight. Very thin mothers have a higher risk of small for gestational age (SGA) infants, and rarely give birth to a large for gestational age (LGA) infant. While morbidly obese women often give birth to LGA infants, and rarely to SGA. Normal birthweight (AGA) infants (>10th and investigate the interaction between maternal booking BMI, gestational weight gain (GWG) and neonatal birthweight centiles. Methods: 16.5 year-observational cohort study (2001e2017). The study population consisted of all consecutive singleton term (37 weeks …

Beyond Weight Loss: A Qualitative Exploration Of Participant Expectations And Strategies For Measuring Progress During A Weight Management Program, John Spencer Ingels, Adam Hansell, Sam Zizzi

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Objectives:

Previous research with participants in weight management has primarily focused on participant weight-loss expectations. The purpose of this study was to explore participant expectations and strategies for measuring progress during a community-based weight management program.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were completed with 22 participants with overweight or obesity, who were currently enrolled in a 2-year weight management program in order to understand their expectations and strategies for measuring their progress.

Results:

Aside from weight loss, participants’ expectations included improved health, fitness, and mood, gaining support, and developing new habits. Participants discussed measuring their success by focusing on weight loss and …

Eb4cast: An Evidence-Based Tool To Promote Dissemination And Implementation In Community-Based, Public Health Research, Melissa D. Olfert, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Makenzie L. Barr, Oluremi A. Famodu, Jessica M. Rubino, Jade A. White

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

eB4CAST, evidence-Based forecast C-capture, A-assemble, S-sustain, T-timelessness (eB4CAST), framework was developed from existing dissemination and implementation (D & I) constructs as a dissemination tool to promote community-based program usability and future application in targeted populations. eB4CAST captures and transforms research findings into a dissemination report that shows program need and impact to endorse program continuation and expansion. This is achieved through direct and indirect data collection of community factors and program impact that can showcase the need for program sustainability and potential for future dissemination sites. Testimonials, individual feedback, and program process and outcomes contribute to the direct data while …

Examining The Process Of Shared Use Through Community-School Partnerships, Brooke C Towner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

No abstract provided.

Cross-Jurisdictional Sharing Of Public Health Services In West Virginia, Eric Bowen

Bureau of Business & Economic Research

No abstract provided.

Co-Constructing Food Access Issues: Older Adults In A Rural Food Environment In West Virginia Develop A Photonarrative, Lauri Andress, Sunah Hallie

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This photovoice study examined the hypothesis that photos and narratives produced by older adults would facilitate the co-construction of a shared narrative about the food access issues in a rural county in West Virginia. For older adults, living in rural areas, several factors decrease access to healthy, nutritious food relative to the general population of older adults. Methods: Qualitative data from interviews, written narratives, dialogues, and photos from older adults living in a rural county of West Virginia. Was collected. Using directed content analysis, transcripts of written data were broken down into meaningful quote segments. All written data and …

Forgetting Health Disparities: A One Size Fits All Narrative, Lauri Andress

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This qualitative synthesis explores a public health narrative and events in the US that may have contributed to the prominence of a one-size-fits all communications frame and public health tool that excludes the significance of social status. An analysis of past events is used to carry out a textual analysis of two communications framing studies. One central narrative is found to be more effective than other potential themes on equality, social conditions, and health inequities. The potential impacts of this narrative on disadvantaged, older communities are explored. Consequently, the current claim that the built-environment narrative is “good for everyone” is …

Functional Characterization Of Phosphodiesterase-4a In Behavior And Obesity, Rolf T. Hansen Iii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Cognitive disorders such as depression, anxiety, and senescent-induced memory loss are a growing pandemic in the world. Anxiety is the most common psychiatric disorder in America, affecting upwards of 50 million people a year; depression has a lifetime prevalence of 20% of the population, and it's predicted pathological memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) will reach exponential levels by the year 2050. While there are treatments for anxiety and depression, far less success has been reached with therapeutics for AD. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) may be a potential novel target for future therapeutics aimed at combatting these psychiatric illnesses and neurodegenerative …

Identification Of School Physical Activity Leader Competencies Using Concept Mapping, Kiel M. Illg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Background/Purpose: Various public health and educational organizations have called for the implementation of comprehensive approaches at the state, district, and school levels to promote physical education and physical activity among children and adolescents. Proponents have argued that physical education teachers are positioned to assume the role of director of physical activity in the school setting; however many physical educators do not see directing comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAP) as their responsibility, nor have they been formally trained to provide this measure of leadership. Furthermore, there is limited research on CSPAPs and the associated leadership roles integral to planning, implementing, …

Stoking The Flames Of Wellness: An Exploration Of Factors That Influence West Virginia Firefighters' Health Behaviors, Chelsea B. Wooding

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The concern over health and wellness among firefighters in the US has escalated recently due to increasing obesity rates, on-duty cardiovascular event risk, and job stress. Besides unique aspects of the work, a number of other barriers to health and wellness have been identified within the firefighter culture. Using a qualitative approach with multiple sources of data, the current study sought to answer the question, "what impacts the health of firefighters in West Virginia?" Eight focus groups, and Photovoice data from nine participants were inductively analyzed using guidelines from consensual qualitative research. House tours were also done to provide ethnographic …

Smoking Cessation And Breastfeeding Promotion Education For Prenatal Providers In West Virginia, Kimberly Greenfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Background: West Virginia has the highest prenatal smoking cessation rate in the United States and is among the states with the lowest breastfeeding rate in the nation. West Virginia also faces health disparities and limited prenatal health resources, especially in at-risk areas. In an effort to improve resources in at-risk areas of the state, the "Health Education for Prenatal Providers in Appalachia (HEPPA), using the ACOG 5As smoking cessation intervention and breastfeeding promotion, was developed for delivery to interprofessional providers. Method: The HEPPA program delivered to healthcare and social service providers in four contiguous counties was evaluated by comparing pre-test …

An Evaluation Of State Employees' Preferences For Worksite-Based Physical Activity, Nutrition, And Stress Management Programs, Peter Kadushin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Worksite wellness programs (WWPs) have evolved over the last several decades as a way to positively impact employees' health, and to manage rising healthcare costs. Despite the impact that WWPs can have both clinically and financially, participation rates in many programs remain low. Some research has reported success in increasing participation and engagement through tailoring programs to fit employee preferences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the wellness programming preferences of state employees in West Virginia. A secondary purpose was to identify how these preferences differ by health risk, worksite wellness participation, age, and gender. Respondents (N = …

Association Of Individual And Combined Metabolic Risk Factors With Cancer, Ruchi Bhandari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Introduction: The prevalence of metabolic risk factors (MRFs), individually and in the aggregate, is growing rapidly. There is limited biologic and epidemiologic evidence indicating an association between MRFs and cancer. The goal of this dissertation was to examine the association between individual and combined MRFs with subsequent risk of overall and site-specific cancers of the breast, digestive system, and lung.;Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis on the association between metabolic syndrome (a cluster of MRFs) and breast cancer was conducted. In addition, associations between MRFs and risk of overall and site-specific cancers were assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression …

Effect Of Head Width, Head Height And Clamp Force On The Noise Reduction Provided By Two Different Styles Of Earmuffs, Jonathan R. Lewin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Earmuffs provide necessary protection from the hazardous effects of noise for workers and the general population. The wearability and effectiveness of these devices is crucial for protection of hearing in noisy conditions. One component critical to the function of the earmuff is the clamp force that keeps the earmuff securely against the head and around the pinna. This clamp force must be high enough to provide a good seal, but not so high that it makes the muff uncomfortable. This study investigated the relationship between noise reduction (NR) and the force on the ear. This force was incrementally varied by …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Healthy Me A Nutritional And Exercise Program For African American Adolescents In An Urban School Utilizing The Cope/Teen Program, Patricia D Setlow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Background.;Obesity, a preventable and reversible condition, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, while decreasing both life expectancy and quality of life (U.S. Department of Health And Human Services, 2001). The national obesity rate for adolescents ages 12-19 years was 18.1% in the 2007-2008 period, a significant change from 6.1% in the early 70's (CDC, 2009). According to Barlow (2007) these figures have sounded alarms for all involved in the health care of children and adolescents.;Objectives.;The purpose of this pilot program was to assess the effectiveness of providing nutritional education and exercise opportunities for African American adolescents …

Examination Of Factors Associated With Obesity, Physical Activity And Income In Metropolitan Areas Of The United States, Ahadu T. Tekle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly in the past three decades. Obesity and inadequate physical activity are the major contributors to health problems. In addition to understanding the contribution of biological and psychological factors in the growth of obesity rates, there is a growing interest in understanding the impact of environmental factors on obesity. This study examines the relationship between obesity, socioeconomic factors, environmental factors and physical activity. The study is focused on metropolitan areas and relied on metropolitan county level built environment, natural amenities and outdoor recreational opportunities measures. Individual level socioeconomic and location information is from the …

Evaluation Of The Bond Strength Of Asphalt Overlays, Seth Knihtila

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The objective of this study was to develop a test method and testing device for measuring the bond strength between pavement layers. The research evaluated tack coat materials and mix designs for the West Virginia Department of Highways. The project included a laboratory and a field phase. For the laboratory work, 9.5 mm and 19 mm NMAS mix designs were evaluated. NTSS-1HM and SS-1h tack coats were evaluated. Two surface conditions were simulated; the interface was either cut HMA or milled HMA. Also, the effect of the AASHTO T-283 conditioning was evaluated as a subsidiary to the laboratory testing.;In the …

Colorectal Cancer Disease In Appalachia: Symptom Interpretation And Cancer Worry Predictors, Omar F.S. Attarabeen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In the Appalachian region, many cultural, religious, and psychological factors have been identified to affect health. These factors are expected to play a role in health disparities, such as higher rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality. Appalachia-specific factors such as geographic isolationism, poverty, and Appalachian stereotypes have been reported to negatively affect preventive health care including CRC screening. Although previous research has investigating the impact of some of these Appalachia-specific factors on seeking health care, impact of symptom interpretation and psychological states of the Appalachian population on health care seeking behavior needs to be clarified. The objective of …

Characterization Of Atmospheric Particulate Matter In Mountaintop Mining And Non-Mining Areas In West Virginia With Known Health Differences, Laura M. Kurth

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Introduction: Mortality and morbidity rates in the Appalachian region are higher than in the national population. People who live in Appalachian areas where coal mining is prominent have increased health problems compared to people in non-mining areas of Appalachia. Health disparities remain higher in mining areas even after adjusting for lifestyle and demographic effects illustrating that additional factors, such as environmental influences, are associated with adverse health outcomes. Coal mines and coal mining activities result in the production of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), which is associated with environmental and human health effects. Environmental studies of air and water quality in …

Predictors Of Distress During The Breast Diagnostic Period, Mariann M. Harding

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide (Warner, 2011). Mortality from breast cancer in the United States has been decreasing in part due to advances in therapy and the detection of the disease at earlier stages. As a result, more than 1.6 million U.S. women will undergo a breast biopsy in 2013 with approximately 232,340 of these being diagnosed with cancer. Although distress in women undergoing a breast diagnostic evaluation has been recognized as having the potential to alter treatment outcomes in those diagnosed with cancer, few …

An Examination Of Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis In Rural Youth, Molly R. Matthews-Ewald

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Weight gain among United States' children, adolescents and adults has become a pandemic problem, and is of great public health concern, given the increased risk for myriad chronic health problems and associated medical expenditures. It is well established that increased energy expenditure through physical activity may reduce weight and improve health. However, the predominant focus of this research has been with moderate to vigorous levels of activity (MVPA). A growing body of evidence suggests that activity levels below this (i.e., light levels), may also be beneficial. Specific to light activity, a recent area of focus has been on non-exercise activity …

The Role Of Tobacco Cessation Counseling In Physical Therapist Practice And Education, Rose M. Pignataro

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The goal of this research was to promote the use of evidence-based TCC guidelines in physical therapist practice and education by applying principles of knowledge translation as defined by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). According to the NIDDR, research should be framed so that knowledge gained is ultimately applied in a manner geared towards improving the lives of people with disabilities.;Study 1 resulted in a perspectives paper which established a sound clinical rationale for the inclusion of TCC as a component of physical therapist practice. This rationale is based on the pathophysiologic effects of smoking on …

Healthcare Quality And Expenditure Benchmarks Along The Continuum Of Care: The Role Of Primary Care Use And Community Healthcare Resources, Tricia Lee Wilkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Objective: The current studies examined the relationship between lapses in quality (ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations and all cause 30-day readmissions) and patient-level, provider-level, and county-level healthcare resources. Specific attention is paid to the association between patient-level primary care use and provider-level care coordination. One of the studies also evaluated the association between chronic complex illness and lapses in quality after adjusting for individual-level, provider-level, and county-level characteristics within a longitudinal and unified framework. Yet another study evaluated whether avoiding poor quality outcomes can be achieved below an expected expenditure benchmark.;Study Design: The study used a retrospective cross-sectional as well as …

Occupational Risk Factors In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Bent C. Doney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes increased disability and mortality in the U.S. population. Approximately 15% of cases of COPD can be attributed to occupational exposure. There are gaps in the knowledge of the relationships between occupational exposure and COPD and further investigation can provide information helpful in improving COPD preventive strategies in the workplace. The objective of this project was to assess COPD prevalence in population based studies and characterize the relationship between COPD and occupational exposure.;Methods/Results: Three separate U.S. population-based cross-sectional studies of COPD were conducted. In the first study, a COPD job exposure matrix (JEM) was …

Thrombelastography Parameters Versus Classical Coagulation Profile In Trauma Patients: A Retrospective Study, Abdulraouf Y. Lamoshi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The West Virginia University Guide to the Preparation of Masters Theses Abdulraouf Y. Lamoshi Thrombelastography Parameters versus Classical Coagulation Profile in Trauma Patients: a Retrospective Study Background: Thrombelastography (TEGTM, Hemoscope, Niles, IL) is increasingly utilized. As TEG depicts overall coagulation it may be more comprehensive and capable to detect any coagulation abnormalities in comparison to classical coagulation tests (CCT: PT, PTT, INR, platelets). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is thought to contribute to coagulopathy. The primary aim was to compare TEG parameters of TBI vs. Non-TBI patients. The secondary aim was to identify TEG vs. CCT parameters associated with outcome (mortality, …

Hiv/Aids Intervention In Ghana: A Constructivist Approach To Understanding Aids Policy, Nat Papa Kobina Markin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This study is about how donor policy, NGO policy and public policy work together in Ghana's national strategic response to HIV and AIDS. The dissertation touches on two areas of public policy - development policy and health policy specifically relating to HIV/AIDS to determine congruity of the policy approaches of the three groups. Based on a survey done in Accra, Ghana in summer 2010 and on documentary sources of data collection, the study captures areas of agreement and disagreement of the three groups and discusses their effects on policy implementation. In broader terms, it analyzes assistance for HIV/AIDS in the …

Impact Of Diabetes On Colorectal Cancer Outcomes, Neel A. Shah

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic comorbid condition seen in elderly CRC patients. Outcomes of CRC patients with diabetes specifically stage at diagnosis, emergency condition for CRC surgery, survival, and mortality have been insufficiently explored. The aims of the study were to investigate the association between diabetes and stage at diagnosis of CRC in elderly Medicare beneficiaries; to check the association of diabetes with presenting as an emergency condition for CRC surgery in the elderly and; to explore the effect of diabetes on survival of elderly Medicare beneficiaries with CRC. Using the SEER-Medicare data from 2003-2005, patients newly …

The Social Context Of Smoking: Measuring Social Capital Among College Students, Traci Dawn Jarrett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Social capital is an ecological theory that explains access to resources as a result of social relationships between individuals and communities. The appeal of social capital across scientific disciplines, including public health, lies in its ability to account for multiple individual and ecological factors in relation to health outcomes, economic and social disparity, and social empowerment as a result of social connections. However, scientists do not agree on the most appropriate indicators of social capital, and a panel of experts tasked with developing a methodological approach to measure social capital indicate that measurement should be context specific. Currently, there are …