Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Viral Gastroenteritis In Charleston, West Virginia, In 2007: From Birth To 99 Years Of Age, Carolyn M. Wilhelm, Samantha L. Hanna, Christine A. Welch, Haider Shahid, Linda L. Minnich, Shane B. Daly, John N. Udall

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.