Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Automated Ecological Assessment Of Physical Activity: Advancing Direct Observation., Jordan A. Carlson, Bo Liu, James F. Sallis, Jacqueline Kerr, J Aaron Hipp, Vincent S. Staggs, Amy Papa, Kelsey Dean, Nuno M. Vasconcelos

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Technological advances provide opportunities for automating direct observations of physical activity, which allow for continuous monitoring and feedback. This pilot study evaluated the initial validity of computer vision algorithms for ecological assessment of physical activity. The sample comprised 6630 seconds per camera (three cameras in total) of video capturing up to nine participants engaged in sitting, standing, walking, and jogging in an open outdoor space while wearing accelerometers. Computer vision algorithms were developed to assess the number and proportion of people in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous activity, and group-based metabolic equivalents of tasks (MET)-minutes. Means and standard deviations (SD) …

A Course On Patient Safety: Pharmacy Student And Community Partner Perceptions, Maryam Noureldin, Chelsea M. Anderson, Patricia L. Darbishire

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

The authors of this article developed and piloted a three-week intensive elective course for students in their third professional years in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. The goal of this course was to provide students with an opportunity to apply patient safety concepts in a real-world setting using service-learning as the pedagogy and to evaluate student perceptions of the course for potential implementation in the curriculum. Seven pharmacy students were enrolled in the pilot course and divided into three groups. Each group of two to three students was assigned to one of three predetermined community partner sites. Students were instructed …

Pololeo Y Protección: Las Barreras De Acceso A Métodos Anticonceptivos Para Adolescentes Vulnerables En La Comuna De Macul, Santiago De Chile / Pololeo Y Protección: Barriers To Access Contraceptive Methods For Vulnerable Adolescents In The District Of Macul, Santiago De Chile, Louisa Boswell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

El embarazo adolescente sigue siendo un problema de salud pública al nivel nacional en Chile. Aunque por ley, todos tienen el derecho a una educación sexual y a elegir un método de control de fecundidad, todavía existen casos de embarazos no planificados, particularmente entre adolescentes. Este estudio investigó las barreras que limitan el acceso a métodos anticonceptivos para adolescentes, enfocando primariamente en el sistema público en la Región Metropolitana. Específicamente, la investigación consideró las adolescentes de la comuna de Macul, utilizando muestras de un colegio local y dos centros de salud familiar para hacer conclusiones. La investigadora entrevistó a matronas …

Attending To Systemic Racism : Advancing Public Health's Approach To Youth Violence Prevention., Billie Faith Castle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how the field of public health addresses the impact of systemic racism on health and how that informs public health’s approach to youth violence prevention. Beginning with an overview of youth violence, it breaks down the concepts of race and racism and how they are addressed within the science. It also reviews concepts that contribute to risk and protective factors of youth violence. The dissertation is written from a Critical Race Theory approach, argues that the social environment contributes to why youth violence is pervasive in certain neighborhoods, and promotes action from a macro-level approach. Seven chapters …

The Public Health Harms Of Pornography: The Brain, Erectile Dysfunction, And Sexual Violence, John D. Foubert

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Ethical Issues Of Parental Vaccine Hesitancy And Resistance To The Mmr Vaccine, Harlie Silver

Honors Theses

In this thesis I present a brief history of vaccination, the anti-­vaccine movement, the measles virus, and the associated risks to children and adults. I then discuss the factors contributing to parental vaccine hesitancy and resistance, consider issues of under-vaccination, herd immunity, and the underlying ethical issues. Finally, I address exemptions to school-­required immunizations and argue for the elimination of both philosophical and religious exemptions, while examining parental moral responsibility when it comes to the health and safety of one’s own children and those with whom they may come in contact.

Who's Hungry In San Diego, Alison M. Schurman, Kathy S. James

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objective: Food insecurity (FI) is a lack of access to nutritious food. FI has been linked to multiple preventable diseases from behavioral disorders to asthma to obesity and its sequelae. In San Diego County, 14 percent of families are food insecure. The AAP recommends screening for FI at all well appointments using the two-question FI screening tool. The aim of this project was to implement this tool at a multi-clinic, low income population community health center where ninety-five percent of patients meet qualification for SNAP benefits.

Methods: Stakeholders chose one week to screen all patients presenting to clinic for FI …

Reducing Tobacco-Related Health Disparities : Exploring The Barriers And Facilitators To Smoking Cessation Among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness., Bernadette Guzman Antoon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the prevalence of smoking has declined in the U.S., vulnerable populations continue to suffer from tobacco-related health disparities. An estimated 68.0-80.0% of homeless adults are current cigarette smokers compared to 15.1% in the general population. The large gap in smoking rates suggests that current tobacco cessation programs designed to reduce smoking have little impact among individuals experiencing homelessness. The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation among the homeless. The second aim of this study was to explore if the barriers and facilitators to tobacco cessation differed among male smokers experiencing homelessness …

Colorectal Cancer Fit Screening In The Hope Vi Population Of Jefferson County, Kentucky., Jeffrey D. Stone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using pre-post survey data collected from 209 randomly selected African American people from the population of former residents of Clarksdale and Sheppard Square public housing areas, this study explores the relationship between individual characteristics and colorectal cancer screening behavior, measured by the uptake of the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) and by prior colorectal screening, while controlling for neighborhood factors and geographic proximity to healthcare facilities. This particular public housing population is of interest because of their relocation from the downtown area, where healthcare facilities are within walking distances, to other public housing units either in large apartment complexes or scattered …

Madagascar : Plague In Madagascar, Matthew Donald Hesch

Global Public Health

This public health brief calls attention to a disease issue in the country Madagascar. We show reasons as to why Madagascar has such a problem with the plague and what they should do to solve the issue. Madagascar has many areas that are high poverty because of a political crisis and this results in the easy spread of the plague. We show that Madagascar needs an increase in funds so that they can get out of the political crisis and begin fixing the plague issue. I offer ideas on how Madagascar could use the extra funds to overcome the plague …

New Zealand : Mumps Outbreak, Kathryn Evans

Global Public Health

The purpose of this Health Brief is to discuss the outbreak of mumps in New Zealand during the summer of 2017. The year saw more cases than the past sixteen years combined. The reason that New Zealand, a high-income country that generally does not struggle with communicable diseases, may be experiencing this outbreak is low vaccination rates in the 1990’s. It appears that there was a decline in coverage for the MMR immunization at this time due to several factors. These include a transition in the timing of the second dose of MMR, a change from four years to eleven …

Afghanistan : Tuberculosis, Emily Fulk

Global Public Health

Afghanistan, a country in the Middle East, faces the epidemic of an infectious bacterial lung disease called Tuberculosis, or TB. Tuberculosis is fairly easy to spread, as the bacteria that causes it are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes. Despite the widespread amounts of individuals affected with TB, it is known to be easily curable using a six month treatment. And so public health officials have implemented a program called DOTS, or Directly Observed Treatment Short Course in Kabul City to test the effectiveness of this treatment. The DOTS …

Puerto Rico : Zika Virus, Rachel Cybulski

Global Public Health

Puerto Rico has had an epidemic of Zika virus within the past few years. Considering the close distance to America, the U.S. has been up-to-date in stopping the spread of Zika from Puerto Rico to the states. In 2016 particularly, the United States declared Puerto Rico to be in a state of emergency due to the heavy presence of the virus. Although this specific outbreak has been terminated, the likelihood of another such occurrence is high, so it is important to learn about the effects of Zika and ways to prevent the spread. The major result of having the virus …

Liberia : Maternal Health & Ebola, Chelsey Hernandez

Global Public Health

Throughout the world, many low-income countries suffer from poor nutrition, lack of health resources, and little to no access to other valuable resources. Previous research has demonstrated the poor state of health in Liberia as a result of these various socioeconomic factors. Although Liberia faces many public health issues, the 2014 Ebola epidemic reversed whatever progress was made. Maternal and child health in particular has severely decreased, especially in recent years. This brief focuses on the impact of the 2014 Ebola epidemic had on maternal health.

Ukraine : Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Elizabeth Paris

Global Public Health

Ukraine is a middle- to low- income country run by a semi-presidential republic, after the banning of the Communist party in the early 1990's. While the nation faces various internal and external challenges, including unemployment rates and war with Russia, Ukraine also continues to face a major public health issue that originated in the 1980's. In 1986, an explosion was triggered at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine. The explosion released radioactive iodine into the ground, water, and air, and it was discovered soon after that this had a long-lasting effect on health. It has been observed that rates …

Gabon : Hiv/Aids, Amanda Lindau

Global Public Health

Gabon is a country in West Africa that has a population of 1.8 million and is a relatively poor nation. It has had quite a few public health and political problems in the last couple of years. These problems include water and electricity shortages along with HIV/AIDS. HIV seems to be one of the biggest public health problems in Gabon at this moment. There is quite a bit of the population that is living with this virus. However, there are many people that are living with this virus but either do not understand the severity of it or just do …

Vietnam : Dengue Fever, Brittany Hatlestad

Global Public Health

This brief covers political structure, internal challenges, and external challenges in Vietnam, as well as epidemiology, identification, intervention, challenges, and suggestions regarding dengue fever throughout Vietnam. Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, is a leading cause of illness and death in tropical and subtropical countries. Climate variability and change has significantly increased the vector population in Vietnam, and the effects are most significant in peri-urban/rural urban areas. Dengue-related signs include flu-symptoms, leading to undiagnosed dengue fever. The citizens of Vietnam encounter challenges including lack of quality public health insurance and care, extremely high cost of treatment, prime environment for vectors, …

Marketing Research Report: Lead Poisoning Dilemma In Scott County, Hoang Nguyen, Brendan Gould, Trace Timmons

2017-2018: Scott County, Iowa Health Department

Research was contracted from August-October 2017 by Augustana College students to examine opportunities for improving media engagement regarding the prevalent dilemma of lead poisoning within the Scott Community area. In particular, we conducted research to discover why Scott County residents are not testing their children for lead poisoning. The purpose of the research is to enhance Scott County Health Department’s media outlets in order to demonstrate the seriousness of this issue and hopefully persuade as many parents as possible into getting their children tested.

The Development Of Insights On Priority Audiences And Awareness Messages For Child Lead Poisoning, Andrew Kladiva, Austin Whelan

2017-2018: Scott County, Iowa Health Department

The purpose of this project is to assist the Scott County Health department (SCHD) in gaining further insights into public opinion regarding child lead poisoning by investigating the public knowledge of lead poisoning and more specifically how knowledgeable members of Scott County are of the issue. To assist the SCHD to develop a marketing campaign regarding how to increase the perceived importance and knowledge of child lead poisoning for the average Scott County resident, we conducted research to explore why a large percentage of the population in Scott County doesn’t know about the dangers of lead poisoning. Some of our …

Lead Poisoning Awareness Final Report For Scott County Health Department, Andrew Kladiva, Austin Whelan, Amanda Whelan

2017-2018: Scott County, Iowa Health Department

The following study looks to address the public knowledge of lead poisoning and more specifically how knowledgeable members of Scott County are of the issue. We were approached by Scott County Health Department to assist them in developing an idea on how to increase the perceived importance and knowledge of child lead poisoning for the average Scott County resident. We conducted research to determine why a large percentage of the population in Scott County doesn’t know about the dangers of lead poisoning. Some of our hypotheses were low awareness, lack of education on the subject, and differing opinions among age …

Christians’ Cut: Popular Religion And The Global Health Campaign For Medical Male Circumcision In Swaziland, Casey Golomski, Sonene Nyawo

Anthropology

Swaziland faces one of the worst HIV epidemics in the world and is a site for the current global health campaign in sub-Saharan Africa to medically circumcise the majority of the male population. Given that Swaziland is also majority Christian, how does the most popular religion influence acceptance, rejection or understandings of medical male circumcision? This article considers interpretive differences by Christians across the Kingdom’s three ecumenical organisations, showing how a diverse group people singly glossed as ‘Christian’ in most public health acceptability studies critically rejected the procedure in unity, but not uniformly. Participants saw medical male circumcision’s promotion and …

Consequences Of Community Water Fluoridation Cessation For Medicaid Eligible Children And Adolescents, Jennifer Meyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oral health impacts general health and well-being throughout the lifespan. Recent trends in the United States towards cessation of community water fluoridation (CWF) may increase disparities in oral health. The purpose of this quantitative retrospective cohort study was to analyze Medicaid dental claims records for caries related procedures among 0 to18-year-old patients during an optimal CWF year 2003 (n = 854) and compare them to claims records from 2012 (n = 1,053), 5 years after CWF was ceased. The theoretical framework of this study was the diffusion of innovations theory. Statistically significant results included higher mean number of caries related …

Beliefs, Costs, And Policies Influencing African American Men's Decisions On Psa Screening, Mary Frances Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the growing concerns about routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in men, little is known about the societal and economic impact of screening among the African American population. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore beliefs among African American men about PSA screening, funding for screening, and the role of the United States Preventive Service Task Force in addressing the problem. Guided by rational choice theory, data collection consisted of completion of a health beliefs survey, face-to-face interviews, field notes taken during interview, and interview audio recording. The population for the study included African American men residing …

Vermont Food Insecurity: Implementing Screening Tools And Interventional Assistance At Thomas Chittenden Health Center, Quinn Self

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Hunger Free Vermont estimates that over 11% of Vermonters experience Food insecurity defined as a lack or access to adequate nutritious food due to lack of money or other resources. Food insecurity has been linked with numerous health problems including obesity, depression, poor school performance, heart disease, anemia and increased number of hospitalizations. Despite the adverse health outcomes associated with food insecurity, primary care providers don't usually screen for it. There are short validate tools to screen with high sensitivity and specificity for food insecurity. The goal of this project was to generate a screening poster for waiting rooms and …