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Drug Use And Harm Reduction: Community Readiness As Pathway To Well-Being And Reintegration, Lauretta Ekanem Omale

Dissertations

Drug abuse negatively impacts the life and well-being of those who use drugs; this harm often extends to their loved ones, communities, and society. One presumptive set of psychological explanations for drug abuse is an addictive personality, a psychological susceptibility resulting from challenging family relationships, inadequate reinforcement, the absence of healthy role models, conflicting parental expectations, and a lack of love and respect. Harm reduction is a public health approach that focuses on minimizing the harmful effects of drugs and reducing judgment. It aims to meet people where they are in life and provide judgment-free, empathetic, supportive, and needed medical …

The Positive Impact Of Gender Affirming Care On Mental Health Outcomes Among Transgender & Nonbinary Lgbtq+ Adolescents And Young Adults, A Review Of Global Literature, Bartosz Skiba

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults (AYA) continue to face an increased burden of adverse mental health outcomes, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation. Among this group, transgender and gender nonbinary (TNB) individuals experience a disproportionate burden of these outcomes. Citing the positive impact of gender-affirming care in TNB adults, this literature review aims to examine the role of gender-affirming care in the context of mental health outcomes, specifically in the TNB AYA population.

A review of global literature was conducted by searching four databases (Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo). Eligibility criteria include studies that reported mental health …

The Dearth Of Knowledge Of Health Insurance Literacy Within The United States, Katherine A. Conzet

Honors Thesis

This literature review and cross-comparison were conducted to combine resources that bring to light the lack of knowledge on health insurance, the impact of this low health insurance literacy (HIL), and the lack of research being done in this subject field. This thesis analyzes and compares different research that measures HIL levels and compares these findings. At the same time, this thesis presents the complex history of health insurance and how this understanding can contribute to lower population HIL and proposes different ways to accurately measure HIL. The purpose is to show the necessity for more research into the field …

Medicaid Eligibility Loss Among Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries Before And During Covid-19 Public Health Emergency, Yanlei Ma, Eric T Roberts, Kenton J Johnston, E John Orav, Jose F Figueroa

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Medicaid coverage loss can substantially compromise access to and affordability of health care for dual-eligible beneficiaries. The extent to which this population lost Medicaid coverage before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and the characteristics of beneficiaries more at risk for coverage loss are currently not well known.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the loss of Medicaid coverage among dual-eligible beneficiaries before and during the first year of the PHE, and to examine beneficiary-level and plan-level factors associated with heightened likelihood of losing Medicaid.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This repeated cross-sectional study used national Medicare data to estimate annual …

Public Health Consequences Of Appellate Standards For Hostile Work Environment Claims, Lauren Krumholz

Washington Journal of Social & Environmental Justice

No abstract provided.

Shaping The Future Of Global Access To Safe, Effective, Appropriate And Quality Health Products, Raffaella Ravinetto, Rodrigo Henriquez, Prashant N Srinivas, Hazel Bradley, Renier Coetzee, Theresa J Ochoa, Jean Claude Semuto Ngabonziza, Jean-Baptiste Mazarati, Wim Van Damme, Remco Van De Pas, Nico Vandaele, Els Torreele

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Assessing Preventive Care Utilization For Cardiovascular Disease Among U.S. Latinos, Melanie Helena Paredes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Accounting for nearly 19% of the United States population in 2020, Latinos and Hispanics represent the second largest racial/ethnic group in the United States, totaling roughly 62.1 million people. Given the growing population size and longer life expectancy estimates amongst the U.S. Latino/Hispanic community, healthcare practitioners and public health officials are increasingly emphasizing the healthcare needs and outcomes of this population. Alarmingly, current literature has highlighted significant disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and risk factors among U.S. Latinos/Hispanics. As CVD continues to be one of the leading causes of death amongst all racial/ethnic groups across the United States, risk …

Quality Of Life Of Patients With Covid-19 Infection Undergoing Cardiac Surgery, Shymaa Mamdouh Mohamed Abdu Sh.M, Abdel-Hady El-Gilany Ah.E, Mohammad Abdallah

Menoufia Medical Journal

Background

The effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on quality of life (QOL) have been reported in different populations.

Objective

to describe effect of COVID-19 on QOL of patients undergoing cardiac surgery and its associated factors in Egypt.

Participants and methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients with COVID-19 waiting for cardiac surgery. The socio-demographic and quality of life data were collected. The COV19 – Impact on Quality of Life (COV19-QOL) was used to measure QOL of COVID-19 patients before cardiac surgery. Student’s t-test was used for testing significance between groups.

Results

The mean overall QOL score …

Bridging Bone Health: Osteoporosis Disparities In The Rio Grande Valley, Ryan P. Bialaszewski, John M. Gaddis, Blake Martin, Philippe J. Dentino, John Ronnau

School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Introduction: Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass and decreased bone quality, leading to increased bone fragility and risk of fractures. The number of fractures due to osteoporosis is projected to increase to over three million by the year 2025 and cost $25.3 billion annually. It ranks highly among diseases that cause patients to become bedridden with serious complications and reduced quality of life. Additionally, osteoporosis disproportionately affects Hispanics, which comprise most of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) population. Therefore, our primary objective was to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis within the RGV. Additionally, we had secondary objectives to determine …

Opportunities For Mental Health Interventions In Rural Mississippi Communities During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Analysis, Brice Fortinberry

Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 presented unique challenges for rural Mississippi communities including impacts on the mental health of rural individuals. This research study aimed to identify opportunities for mental health interventions to provide health promotion professionals with quantitative data on the accessibility and the likelihood of engagement with mental health-fostering behaviors. A secondary objective of this research was to categorize these behaviors within the constructs of the Social Ecological Model. Demographics for rural Mississippi communities were collected and displayed, and using multivariate analyses including Spearman’s correlation and a Mann-Whitney U test the correlation between mental health fostering behaviors and demographic factors was obtained. …

The Population-Centered Medical Model: A Theory Of Practice For Public Health And Preventive Medicine, Sudit Ranade

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction

Public health physicians occupy a unique place in the fields of both medicine and public health. Trained in each field, and often holding positions of authority in public health systems, public health physicians are sometimes challenged to identify their roles in either field of practice. Public health physicians work to achieve population health, but there has been limited theoretical development in this field of practice.

Objectives

The objective of this research was to develop an empirical theory of practice for public health physicians.

Methods

A literature review of current practice models applicable to public health physicians was performed. A …

Formative Evaluation And Adaptation Of A Hypertension Extension For Community Health Outcomes Program For Healthcare Workers Within The Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, Abigail S Baldridge, Nadia Goldstar, Grace C Bellinger, Abigail T Denoma, Ikechukwu A Orji, Gabriel L Shedul, Rosemary C B Okoli, Nanna R Ripiye, Adaora Odukwe, Olabisi Dabiri, L Nneka Mobisson, Dike B Ojji, Mark D Huffman, Namratha R Kandula, Lisa R Hirschhorn

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) model has been used extensively to link care providers in rural communities with experts with the aim of improving local patient care.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this qualitative research study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, perceived needs, and contextual factors to guide implementation of a hypertension focused ECHO program for Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.

METHODS: From September 2020 to December 2020, key informant interviews were performed with seven global organizations (hubs) providing ECHO training focused on cardiovascular disease or nephrology to identify contextual factors …

Methodological Analysis Of A Community-Based Training Initiative Using The Epis Framework: An Ongoing Initiative To Empower 10 Million Bystanders In Cpr And Bleeding Control, Asma Altaf Hussain Merchant, Sheza Hassan, Mirza Noor Ali Baig, Huba Atiq, Sana Mahmood, Adil H. Haider, Zia Ul Haq, Deeba Shehnaz, Rizwan Naseer, Junaid Razzak

Medical College Documents

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and life-threatening bleeding from trauma are leading causes of preventable mortality globally. Early intervention from bystanders can play a pivotal role in increasing the survival rate of victims. While great efforts for bystander training have yielded positive results in high-income countries, the same has not been replicated in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to resources constraints. This article describes a replicable implementation model of a nationwide program, aimed at empowering 10 million bystanders with basic knowledge and skills of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and bleeding control in a resource-limited setting.
Methods: Using the EPIS …

Emergency Room To The Courtroom: Providing Abortion Care Under Emtala And State Abortion Bans, Natasha Rappazzo

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

After the Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, states began to broadly criminalize abortion. Abortion is criminalized and restricted even in situations that constitute an emergency medical condition under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (“EMTALA”). State abortion bans with limited medical exceptions conflict with EMTALA’s protections for emergency screening and stabilization. Legal challenges to the scope of EMTALA show a growing divide and uncertainty on emergency abortion care in the United States. This Comment will discuss why physicians cannot confidently provide quality and competent abortion care without the …

Strategies For Strengthening The Resilience Of Public Health Systems For Pandemics, Disasters, And Other Emergencies, Benjamin Ryan, Mayumi Kako, Rok Fink, Perihan Şimşek, Paul Barach, Jose Acosta, Sanjaya Bhatia, Mark Brickhouse, Matthew Fendt, Alicia Fontenot, Nahuel Arenas Garcia, Shelby Garner, Abdülkadir Gunduz, D Mike Hardin, Tim Hatch, Lashonda Malrey-Horne, Makiko Macdermot, Ryoma Kayano, Joshua Mckone, Chaverle Noel, Shuhei Nomura, Jeremy Novak, Andrew Stricklin, Raymond Swienton, Ismail Tayfur, Bryan Brooks

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize strategies for strengthening public health system resilience for pandemics, disasters, and other emergencies using a scorecard approach.

METHODS: The United Nations Public Health System Resilience Scorecard (Scorecard) was applied across 5 workshops in Slovenia, Turkey, and the United States of America. The workshops focused on participants reviewing and discussing 23 questions/indicators. A Likert type scale was used for scoring with zero being the lowest and 5 the highest. The workshop scores were analyzed and discussed by participants to prioritize areas of need and develop resilience strategies. Data from all …

Impact Of 10-Week Evidence–Based Falls Prevention Program On Outcomes Related To Falls Risk In Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Mark A. Schafer, Paula Upright, Jana Michalik, K. Jason Crandall

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(7): 1131-1141, 2023. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the impact of a 10-week evidence-based falls prevention program (Bingocize®) on self-reported fear of falling, general health, physical activity, social isolation, and avoidance behavior, in community-dwelling older adults in Virginia. Participants > 60 years of age (n= 481) attended Bingocize® group sessions twice per week for 10 weeks. The program combined conventional bingo with periodic strength, balance, flexibility exercises, and fall prevention education. Pre and post assessments gauged participants' self-perception of fear of falling, general health, physical activity, social isolation, and avoidance behavior. 481 participants attended at least 80% …

Spatial Epidemiology Of Prediabetes And Diabetes In Florida, Md Marufuzzaman Khan

Doctoral Dissertations

The burden of diabetes and diabetes-related Emergency Department (ED) visits has increased in Florida. However, Diabetes Self-management Education (DSME) Program participation remained considerably low. Little is known about disparities of DSME participation, diabetes complications, and ED use by diabetes patients in Florida and yet this information is important for guiding health programs aimed at reducing diabetes burden. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate: (a) disparities of diabetes prevalence and DSME participation; (b) disparities of diabetes-related ED visit risks; and (c) prevalence and predictors of stroke among persons with prediabetes and diabetes.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and …

Simulation As A Key Training Method For Inculcating Public Health Leadership Skills: A Mixed Methods Study, Keren Dopelt, Itamar Shevach, Ofek Eliad Vardimon, Katarzyna Czabanowska, Jascha De Nooijer, Robert Otok, Lore Leighton, Osnat Bashkin, Mariusz Duplaga, Hagai Levine, Fiona Macleod, Maureen Malowany, Leah Okenwa-Emegwa, Shira Zelber-Sagi, Nadav Davidovitch, Paul Barach

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Successful management of public health challenges requires developing and nurturing leadership competencies. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of training simulations to assess public health leadership and decision-making competencies during emergencies as an effective learning and training method.

METHODS: We examined the effects of two simulation scenarios on public health school students in terms of their experience (compared to face-to-face learning) and new skills acquired for dealing with similar emergent situations in the future. A mixed-methods design included developing a validated and pre-tested questionnaire with open-and closed-ended questions that examined the simulation impact and the degree of student satisfaction …

Language Laws And Regional Identity: A Case Study Of Euskera In The Basque Country, Jenna Ebel

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the interconnectivity between language laws and regional identity, focusing on education, public health, and transnational systems. Through this case study of the Basque Country, the context and wording of the language laws in the subregions within the Basque Country are utilized to understand how they affect the usage and understanding of the Basque language, “Euskera.” Through this, the study is then focused on the Spanish autonomous community of the Basque Country to understand the effects of a minority language on educational systems, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the connections to both the EU and the UN. Through a …

What More Can Be Done? Childhood Obesity In Glassboro, Nj, N. Mirmanesh, Seth Spicer, Stephen Acheampong, Mary K. Duggan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern in the United States, with an estimated 20% of American children being obese. In New Jersey (NJ), 9% of high school students are obese, and there are disparities in obesity rates based on gender, sexual identity, and race/ethnicity. In Gloucester County, NJ, limited data is available on childhood obesity rates, but 36.4% of adults are obese, and lower SES is related to higher rates of obesity in youth. To address this issue, this research poster proposes a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Glassboro to provide nutritional resources and create …

Social Reproduction And Covid-19, Caroline I. Donovan

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

As Covid-19 rips across the world we are collectively asked to examine the structures of society to see what is working and what we can change. What can we learn from the roughly 6.9 million deaths (and counting) worldwide? How can we prevent something like this from happening again? This paper follows the course of Covid-19 from its birth in Wuhan, China, to the present day of mid-April 2023. By looking at the ways in which we have reacted to the pandemic, we are able to look forward and imagine new ways of tackling future pandemics and other pressing problems …

Program Evaluation: Utilizing Health Department’S Community Health Needs Assessment Data To Improve Emergency Preparedness Plans, Kathleen Gottschalk

Capstone Experience

Public health officials conducting emergency response plans must know how to easily identify the vulnerable populations in their community or jurisdiction. It is beneficial for access and functional needs appendices to include information and resources directed at the identified vulnerable groups before an emergency event to improve health outcomes. Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) can provide population-level statistics and information needed to easily identify vulnerable or at-risk groups. This report aims to evaluate the use of the CHNA data to guide the development of inclusive emergency response plans that account for vulnerable populations in local health department jurisdictions. The 2021 …

The Need For Racial And Ethnic Health Disparity Curriculum In Genetic Counseling Programs, Yusra Aziz

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Racial and ethnic health disparities (REHD) exist across all organized medicine, including the spectrum of genetic counseling, particularly in genomic testing and access to care. While cultural competency and health disparities have been included as a part of the Standards of Accreditation for Genetic Counseling, there have not been previous efforts to define what topics related to REHD are most important to include in graduate program curriculum. Therefore, this study aimed to determine what topics related to REHD should be taught in genetic counseling program curriculum by assessing what topics genetic counselors (GCs) learned about and in what settings, …

Pandemics And The Protection Of Privacy And Personal Information: Issues Concerning The Restriction On The Right To Privacy In Emergencies, Fumio Shimpo

Japanese Society and Culture

This article focuses on issues which need to be considered in aiming to ensure both the effectiveness of infectious disease control measures and the protection of the right to privacy from the following perspectives.

(1) Issues regarding the restriction of the right to privacy in emergency situations, including (i) the types of measures taken in emergency situations and issues with respect to the restriction of the right to privacy in emergency situations, (ii) the normalisation, constancy and fixation of exceptional measures in emergency situations, (iii) dual-use and use for purposes different from those originally intended, (iv) acquisition of secondary information …

Socioecological Factors Linked With Pharmaceutical Incentive-Driven Prescribing In Pakistan, Muhammad Naveed Noor, Afifah Rahman-Shepherd, Amna Rehana Siddiqui, Wafa Aftab, Sadia Shakoor, Rumina Hasan, Mishal Khan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Pharmaceutical marketing through financial incentivisation to general practitioners (GPs) is a poorly studied health system problem in Pakistan. Pharmaceutical incentivisation is seen to be distorting GPs prescribing behaviour that can compromise the health and well-being of patients. We draw on a conceptual framework outlined in the ecological system theory to identify multiple factors linked with pharmaceutical incentivisation to GPs in Pakistan. We conducted qualitative interviews with 28 policy actors to seek their views on the health system dynamics, how they sustain pharmaceutical incentivisation and their effect on the quality of care. Our analysis revealed four interlinked factors operating at different …

Understanding The Relationship Between Undergraduate Students’ On-Campus Employment Status And Their Reported Sense Of Belonging To The Campus Community Post The Covid-19 Pandemic, Samantha Martinez

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Belonging has been studied for decades with many researchers concluding that humans have an inherent need to belong. Although each person’s level of need to belong differs, it is a deeply rooted human motivation that impacts a person’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Individuals develop a sense of belonging when they feel connected to others. The postsecondary journey allows for unique experiences and opportunities that foster a sense of belonging, which can assist college students to flourish in many aspects of their lives. Research has shown that belonging significantly impacts student well-being and academic achievement, making the topic imperative to continue …

Saftey Of Covid-19 Vaccines In Real World Studies, Khawla Amar Mohamed Gammudi

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Background: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been present since its outbreak in 2019. Despite global efforts to fully halt its spread, new strains are emerging daily. Various efforts have been undertaken to slow down the infection's spread by implementing different restrictive measures and policies, such as lockdowns, social distancing, and mask-wearing. However, the most effective approach to controlling this disease is through vaccinations (Chen, 2021). Substantial efforts have been dedicated to encouraging people in the United States to receive COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses. As of December 7, 2022, approximately 68.5% of the world's …

Sun Exposure And Protective Behaviors Among U.S. Hispanic Farmworkers, Claudia Marie Delgado Cebollero

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sun exposure increases the risk of sun-related illnesses and skin cancer among U.S. Hispanic farmworkers. Reinforced by the health belief model, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between socio-demographic factors (i.e., age, educational attainment, gender, income, and marital status) and skin cancer with the level of sun exposure (sun’s effect on skin, sunburn reported) and protective behaviors (use of cap/visor, use of sunscreen) among adult Hispanic farmworkers in the United States. The study included Hispanic farmworkers aged 21 or older (N = 112) who responded to the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. Ordinal logistic regression showed …

Issue Of Data Imbalance On Low Birthweight Baby Outcomes Prediction And Associated Risk Factors Identification: Establishment Of Benchmarking Key Machine Learning Models With Data Rebalancing Strategies, Yang Ren, Dezhi Wu, Yan Tong, Ana Lopez-De Fede

Publications

Background: Low birthweight (LBW) is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in the United States and a major causative factor of adverse health effects in newborns. Identifying high-risk patients early in prenatal care is crucial to preventing adverse outcomes. Previous studies have proposed various machine learning (ML) models for LBW prediction task, but they were limited by small and imbalanced data sets. Some authors attempted to address this through different data rebalancing methods. However, most of their reported performances did not reflect the models’ actual performance in real-life scenarios. To date, few studies have successfully benchmarked the performance of ML …

Association Of Hospital Incentive Care Management Partnerships For Uninsured Patients With Emergency Department Utilization, Sarah Gareau, Ana Lopez-De Fede, Zhimin Chen, Nathaniel Bell

Publications

IMPORTANCE The South Carolina (SC) Healthy Outcomes Plan (HOP) program aimed to expand access to health care to individuals without insurance; it remains unknown whether there is an association between the SC HOP program and emergency department (ED) use among patients with high health care costs and needs. OBJECTIVES To determine whether participation in the SC HOP was associated with reduced ED utilization among uninsured participants. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study included 11 684 HOP participants (ages 18-64 years) with at least 18 months of continuous enrollment. Generalized estimating equations and segmented regression of interrupted time-series analyses …