Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Radon, From The Ground Into Our Schools: Parent/Guardian Awareness Of Radon Levels In Vermont Schools, Kathryn Grenoble, Florence Lambert-Fliszar, Kirsten Martin, Scott Neary, Kyle Remy, Shawn Sanford, Ethan Witt, Rebecca Ryan, David Kaminsky, Jan Carney

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Ex- posure to radon in schools may be harmful to schoolchildren, faculty, and staff, but there is currently no legislation mandating testing or mitigation of radon levels in Vermont schools.

Objectives. The goal of our study was to assess Vermont parents’ awareness of radon’s harmful effects, as well as awareness of and support for testing and mitigation of radon levels in their children’s schools.

Methods. We distributed paper and online surveys to Vermont parents of children grades K-12. 126 surveys were received and quantitatively analyzed. We held a …

Impact Of Deferral For Low Hemoglobin On Donor Return, Ashley Aiken, Alexander Disciullo, Cyrus Jalai, Nektarios Konstantinopoulos, Tyler Oe, Mark Fung, Jan Carney, Jenny Lamping

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. A consistent blood supply to support life-saving transfusions relies on regular and repeat volunteer blood donations. In this study, we focused on donors previously deferred for low-hemoglobin (Hb) levels to better understand the value of supplying post-deferral educational information, and the actions donors took based on their deferral.

Methods. An anonymous national survey of active and inactive donor groups (10,000 each) was conducted. The survey questions assessed post-deferral donor actions, preferences regarding post deferral education, understanding of their deferral, and demographic information. Chi-square analysis was performed to compare categorical survey results between donor groups with p < 0.05 denoting statistical significance.

Results. The survey …

Patient Perspectives Of The Doctor-At-Home Service, Daniel De Los Santos, Erin Hunt, Scott Mitchell, Rachel Munoz, Monica Rodgers, Gregory Roy, Danielle Smith, Jolie Lavigne, Karen Lounsbury, Jan Carney, Karen Sokol

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Home health care has been established as an effective model for reducing mortality in the elderly. The Doctor-at-Home Service at the Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB) has offered home health care to Burlington residents since January 2015. Dr. Karen Sokol, MD, alone provides care to 176 patients at their homes, including at-home palliative care. CHCB hope to expand this program by hiring more providers.

Objective. To understand the impact of the Doctor-at-Home Service from the pa- tients’ perspective.

Methods. A survey was administered to a cohort of eighteen patients over an 8- week period and addressed topics such …

Health And Nutrition In Vermont Children, Gesca Borchardt, Kyna Donohue, Anthony Gallegos, Wilson Huang, Hannah Johnson, Samuel Logan, Patrick Saunders, Paula Tracy, Tina Zuk

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. The AHA (American Heart Association) supports legislation in Ver- mont ensuring that restaurants’ children’s menu meals meet certain nutritional standards. This study investigated Vermont parents’ attitudes towards both dining at restaurants with their children and potential legislation to improve nutritional standards of restaurant food.

Methods. An anonymous 21-question survey for parents with children under age 18 was distributed electronically to local organizations via Facebook groups and email, and as paper questionnaires at the Community Health Center of Burlington. Questions probed parents’ overall attitudes surrounding their children’s health, habits pertaining to eating at restaurants, and attitudes towards legislation to ensure …

Assessing Barriers To Health Care Access For New Americans, Dylon Gookin, Megan Kawasaki, Isabelle Mason, Cole Shapiro, Patricia Wang, Caleb Watkins, Molly Moore, Taylor Puckhaber

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Healthcare within the United States has been at the forefront of public discussion and political representation in recent years, particularly as it relates to healthcare access and barriers to said access. Focus has been placed on low-income groups that most generally represent the face of the average American, but this leaves the question: How are new Americans faring, and do their struggles match those faced by the rest of the country? The new Americans of Burlington, Vermont serve as a small window into a unique refugee population’s experiences with healthcare in the United States.

Methods. A focus group consisting …

Engagement And Disengagement In Art Interventions With Memory Impairment, Nana Agyepong, Karamatullah Danyal, Lauren Gaffaney, Nicole Jedrqynski, Michael Rodriguez, Matthew Sommers, Andrew Wick, Judith Christensen, Ellen Meagher

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Studies have shown art intervention to be an effective therapy for patients with memory impairments, leading to overall positive behaviors, increased quality of life and decreased caregiver burden. We conducted a preliminary study to evaluate and compare the effect of participation in weekly art appreciation and painting sessions on the behavior of memory impaired residents in an assisted living facility.

Methods. Residents’ behaviors were observed during art appreciation and active painting sessions over a six-week period. Each session consisted of either viewing and discussing artwork or actively painting in the style of the artist discussed. Positive and negative behaviors …

Health And Housing Trends Of Single Homeless Adults In Chittenden County, Vermont, Alexa Arvidson, Harshal Athalye, Pamela Derickson, Gregory Johnston, Elizabeth Mcleod, Elizabeth O'Neill, Andrew Pham, Christopher Brzovic, Virginia Hood

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Homeless individuals are at an increased risk for both physical and mental health comorbidities compared to those with stable housing. Prior studies have demonstrated that many of these individuals do not seek or receive proper medical care. This study provides a landscape analysis of health characteristics in the single adult homeless population in Chittenden County, Vermont.

Methods. Interviews were conducted using a modified version of the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool to determine vulnerability indices across a range of different health and social wellness domains. Single home- less adults were sampled from community self-help clinics and …

Nutrition Knowledge Assessment Of Lund Family Center Residents, Nathan Dreyfus, Caleb Knight, Jennifer Morris, Kathryn Patton, Melissa Romero, Jackie Tsao, Christopher Veal, Sarah Mccarthy, Jessilyn Dolan

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Staff at the Lund Family Center report that there may be knowledge deficits, with regards to nutrition, among the Center’s residents—primarily pregnant/ parenting women with substance abuse and mental health issues. Before considering intervention options, we wanted to identify the specifics of the residents’ knowledge gaps.

Methods. We administered paper versions of a revised General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ-R) Section 2 to 21 Lund residents to explore nutri- tion knowledge as compared to groups more representative of the general population. The GNKQ-R Section 2 is an externally validated, efficacious tool that specifically as- sesses knowledge of food groups and …

Supporting Vermont Families In Packing Healthy Lunches For Children In Childcare, Nathan Benner, Isabella Kratzer, Arjun Patel, Purvi Shah, Kinjal Thakor, Alejandra Vivas Carbo, Alison Howe

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Partnering with Hunger Free Vermont, an organization that works to end hunger and malnutrition across the state, we investigated the nutritional value of the packed meals parents provide for their children in early childcare. The USDA's "My Plate" resource was used as a measure to assess variety, dividing foods into five groups: grains, dairy, vegetables, fruits, and protein. The results will help Hunger Free Vermont design nutrition education materials for childcare centers to provide to the families they serve.

Methods. Online surveys were distributed, asking parents to report the foods they recently provided for their children in packed lunches, …

Eliminating Barriers: Connecting Seniors To Services In Chittenden County, Benjamin Flinn, Anna Lidofsky, Charles Nicoli, Eva Petrow, Zachary Silberman, Laura Thompson-Martin, Stephen Everse, Ryan Torres

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Physical activity programs for older adults help to improve physical, social, and emotional health and reduce impairments in activities of daily living1. In Chittenden county, less than 1⁄3 of older adults participate in programs, while 48% report that they would like to exercise more. Our aim was to identify barriers to participation in physical activity programs by older adults in Chittenden county, such as accessibility, transportation, health, affordability, and social isolation, and to identify strategies to overcome these barriers.

Methods. 144 paper and electronic surveys were administered in Chittenden County, Vermont to assess use of group programs among older …

Farm To Early Care And Education In Vermont, Ramin Badiyan, Nicole Becher, Nicholas Bompastore, Stephen Daniels, Katherine Price, James Rohwer, Heather Link, Cynthia Greene

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) is a program of the Nation- al Farm to School Network that aims to extend the core elements of Farm to School into ECE settings with the goal of improving the health of children ages zero to five and enhancing their educational experience with food and nutrition. The purpose of this project was to gather baseline Farm to ECE data for Vermont.

Methods. The 2015 National Survey of Early Care and Education Provider was used to create a 23-question survey. The survey was built with SurveyMonkey and distribut- ed through the Child …

The 2017 Vermont Opioid Prescribing Rules: Prescriber Attitudes, Zana Bowden, Jinal Gandhi, Sarah Natasha Jost, Hanna Mathers, Chad Serels, Daniel Wigmore, Timothy Wong, Jan Carney, Charles Maclean, Elizabeth Cote

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. In July of 2017, Vermont enacted new rules on acute opioid pre- scribing to reduce misuse, addiction, and overdose associated with prescription opioids. The new rules include requirements of non-opioid therapy use when possible, querying VPMS, patient education and informed consent, and co-prescription of naloxone. Our study objective was to gain insight into the perspectives of opioid prescribers on the new rules.

Methods. The 17-item survey included closed and open-ended questions addressing prescriber perceptions about the new rules as well as demographic information about respondents. The survey was sent to Vermont-based opioid prescribers via email, to multiple healthcare organizations …

Transportation Barriers To Healthcare In Adults 65+ In The Greater Burlington Area, Britta Kilgus, Michael Persaud, Nicholas Selig, Harris Syed, Vanessa Trieu, Danielle Wall, Wendy Hou, Yiping Hou, Leah Soderquist, Jeanne Hutchins

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Missed appointments often lead to poorer health care outcomes for patients and pose a major economic burden on medical centers. Transportation is an obstacle to accessing medical care for elderly patients in Vermont and results in delayed medical appointments.

Methods. We surveyed senior citizens in Chittenden county to determine both the type of transportation barriers and medical care missed due to the lack of transpor- tation. An original survey assessing the impact of transportation to health care was distributed in person and through an online platform. Participants were asked to identify the following in the past year: how often …

Needs Assessment Of Suicide Prevention In Vermont Middle And High Schools, William Earle, Eli Goldberg, Mary Griffin, Amanda Kardys, Nikolas Moring, Elias Schoen, Emily Vayda, Jill Jemison, Rajan Chawla, Kristin Fontaine

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Adolescent suicide is epidemic. 17% of high school students con- sidered suicide and 8% attempting to take their lives in 2015 nationwide. Vermont has seen a 2% increase within the last two years according to the VT Youth Risk Behavior Survey. School is one of several settings where effective suicide interventions could take place. Previous studies have identified means prevention as an effective way to combat adolescent suicide. This study aims to identify training levels and comfort of school staff in dealing with suicidality.

Methods. A survey was emailed to all schools in Vermont covering grades 6-12. The survey …

Role Of The Dental Community In Hpv Vaccination Promotion, Thomas Luke Arnell, Maeve Donnelly, Alexis Nadeau, Laura Till, Collin York, Pedram Zargari, Alan Howard, Wendy Davis, Christine Finley

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. With increasing awareness that human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), dental providers may play an important role in promoting HPV vaccination and preventing cancer. Our goal was to assess knowledge and current HPV vaccine counseling practices among Vermont dentists and dental hygienists to identify potential targets for state-level interventions to increase vaccine coverage.

Methods. We developed a survey to assess knowledge, beliefs, practices and barriers regarding HPV vaccination, and distributed it via email to practicing Vermont dentists and dental hygienists. Free responses were analyzed using a coding framework generated from three key informant interviews.

Results. 90% of …

Barriers Encountered By Syringe Exchange Clients In Vermont, Ava Bakhtyari, Jennifer Boccia, Pooja Desai, Zachary Ehret, Jacob Lehman, Benjamin Lin, Caroline Vines, Peter Jacobsen, Jerry Larrabee

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction and Aims. Vermont CARES is a nonprofit HIV prevention and advocacy organization which provides a needle exchange program for intravenous drug users. Services are focused on education, prevention, testing, and harm reduction. The Syringe Support Program (SSP) offers clients clean syringes to reduce intravenous transmission of disease.

Although SSP are proven avenues for harm reduction, barriers prevent users from utilizing services. Clients are limited by social, economic, and personal obstacles de- scribed in similar populations across the country. This project seeks to identify the barriers Vermont CARES clients face in accessing the SSP, determine needs, and evaluate interest in …

Health Professionals And Public Awareness Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In Vermont, C. Wesley Cubberley, Julia Hannigan, Lee Hiromoto, Michael Carlo Nilo, Conner Soderquist, Eleanor Stedman, Tom Delaney, Razelle Hoffman-Contois, Jan Carney, William Irwin

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Introduction. Carbon monoxide (CO) is the second leading cause of non-medical poisoning death in the United States. Between 1999 and 2012, Vermont saw the highest rates of CO poisoning deaths in New England. Public education and the use of CO alarms have been identified as important prevention strategies. We developed and distributed a survey to assess public and health professional knowledge of CO.

Methods. A 21-question survey was designed, based on the validated Chicago Lead Knowledge Test, to assess knowledge about sources of CO exposure and symptoms and treatment of poisoning. Fifteen additional questions collected occupational and demographic information and …

Diet Management For Adult Onset Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Michael A. Persaud

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

In Southbury, Connecticut, diabetic diet management is an issue that perturbs both primary care providers and their patients. This project seeks to ameliorate the lack of readily available resources for diabetic dietary considerations. A brochure was made including helpful dietary information for patients that are unable or unwilling to see a Certified Diabetic Educator. As the incidence of diabetes continues to rise, patient education will be a powerful tool to help patients manage their diabetic care.

Out-Of-Pocket Cost For Individuals Being Treated For Opioid Dependence In Rutland County, Vermont, Christopher T. Veal

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Each day more than 140 Americans die from drug overdoses, 91 specifically due to opioids. In Vermont, more than 50 people die each year from opioid poisoning. With insurance coverage being a critical component of Opioid Dependence Recovery, many people seeking treatment are unaware of the financial barriers to recovery- namely the out-of-pocket costs associated with treatment. This study sought to provide insight on the financial impact of Opioid Dependence Treatment on the patient, and provide financial assistance information to the Rutland County community.

Window Of Opportunity For Opiate Dependence, Scott C. Mitchell Ii

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Opiate dependence is a prevalent problem and there is a need for current regional information for those seeking to break opiate dependence. There is a small window of opportunity for these patients to seek and find help before they give up and return to using. This project provides a pamphlet with current resources for opiate dependent individuals to get help in a rapid period of time for the Bangor, Maine area.

Aces And Resilience: Increasing Patient Knowledge Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Stress Coping Techniques, Mary Griffin

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

At The Health Center, a federally qualified health center in Plainfield, Vermont, providers have begun an initiative to screen patients during routine clinic visits for their Adverse Childhood Experiences score. In a population subject to the social, economic, and health-related challenges of rural Vermont, providers have identified the screening process as a vital tool for better understanding their patients' health. To better aid in both provider comfort and patient education during said interactions, a pamphlet was created to guide provider conversations concerning ACEs. The pamphlet details information about ACEs and health consequences, the importance of the relaxation response in dealing …

Ace’S Contextualization For Healthcare Workers, Nektarios Konstantinopoulos

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

There is a well-established causative relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and pathology. Despite strong supporting evidence, some healthcare workers are unaware of how deep this relationship is. I conducted an educational session surrounding ACEs targeting healthcare workers in an attempt to contextualize the relationship between ACE’s and consequent disease.

Physical Activity And Fall Prevention In Older Adults, An Educational Intervention, Caleb Daniel Knight

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Falls in adults over 65 years of age constitute a significant health burden in our country, and this age group is growing rapidly. Falls are addressed with a multifactorial approach, addressing comorbidities, medications, and the physical environment, however, an effective point of intervention accessible by most older adults is physical activity. A brief educational presentation about the morbidity and mortality associated with falls, and the protective effects of physical activity, was provided to Meadowbrook Healthcare subacute nursing home residents in Plattsburgh, NY. Questions were encouraged and answered afterwards, and copies of the presentation were left for the residents to review …

Provider Opinion: Should We Screen And Counsel Parents Of Teen Drivers Regarding Texting/Distracted Driving?, Daniel Lambert

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Adolescent texting and driving has been directly responsible for the deaths of 11 teenagers every day. 33% of teenagers in Vermont admit to texting and driving making it one of the most prevalent risky behaviors in their age group. Currently there is no routine screening recommendation for parents with adolescent drivers addressing texting and driving. Mobile application information can improve parental monitoring and prevent texting and driving habits from forming in adolescents.

Marijuana And The Teenage Brain: Public Health Impact, Katie C. Warther

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

This project explores the neurobiological impact of teenage marijuana use, and the ways that public health interventions can help educate adolescents and delay the onset of use.

Smoking Prevention Program For Adolescents: A Hands-On Approach, Sean Closs

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

This project is an initial pilot idea for hands-on experiences to reinforce smoking prevention in adolescents. The proposed idea is to have students specifically those identified 'at-risk', being given opportunities to interact with pathology specimens on-site at the hospital, introduce spirometry, and real-world panel discussions. The resources of the hospital provide a unique opportunity for promotion of this public health goal.