Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Dealing With West Nile Virus: Evaluate, Re-Evaluate, Respond, Rosmarie Kelly

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Dealing With West Nile Virus: Evaluate, Re-Evaluate, Respond

Evaluation Of Food Access And Food Security Concerns Among Public Health Housing Residents, Cheryl L. R. Gaddis, Brad Lian, Nicole Watts, Leontyne Thompson

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In 2012, food insecurity affected 14.5% of the households in the U.S and 20% in the state of Georgia. Individuals who are food-insecure can experience malnutrition, and social and physical problems. The purpose of this study was to assess food access and security concerns in two counties of the North Central Health District 5-2 (NCHD 5-2) in Georgia and to aid in devising interventions to increase food access and reduce food insecurity.

Methods: Data collection involved surveying 399 public housing residents within two NCHD 5-2 counties using the Household Food Security Survey developed by the US Department of Agriculture. …

Impact Of The Georgia Charitable Care Network On Cost Savings From Lowering Blood Pressure And Decreasing Emergency Department Use, Phaedra Corso, Rebecca Walcott, Justin Ingels

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The Georgia Charitable Care Network (GCCN) is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is to foster collaborative partnerships to deliver compassionate health care to low-income, uninsured individuals. Hypertension screening and management is a service provide by 90+ clinics in the GCCN statewide.

Methods: With data from N=1661 patients who were screened and treated for hypertension at n=12 clinics in 2013, the impact of hypertension management on blood pressure levels, the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, and utilization of emergency departments (EDs) were examined. The resulting changes in healthcare utilization were converted to changes in healthcare costs …

Missed Opportunities For Diagnosing Hiv Via Routine Screening In An Inner- City Primary Care Clinic, Abigail Hankin, Sara Turbow, Jennifer Spicer, Heather Freiman, Bijal Shah, Natasha Travis

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Although routine, opt-out HIV screening has been recommended for nearly a decade, clinical practice has not kept pace. Here, we examine missed opportunities for HIV screening among patients newly diagnosed with HIV via a routine non-targeted opt-out HIV screening program in a primary care clinic at an inner-city safety-net hospital.

Methods: Select demographic and clinical data were analyzed for all persons with a new HIV diagnosis between July 9, 2013 and August 31, 2015. Retrospective reviews of medical records were performed to identify missed opportunities for HIV screening in the year prior to HIV diagnosis.

Results: Among 6,582 patients …

Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Haitian Americans, Steven S. Coughlin, Erica I. Lubetkin, Jennifer L. Hay, Renald Raphael, Selina A. Smith

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Few studies have examined colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans, although striking disparities in colorectal cancer screening and mortality are well-documented among U.S. Blacks. Race, socioeconomic status, and place of birth are factors associated with colorectal cancer incidence and mortality patterns.

Methods: In this article, we summarize published studies on colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans, identified through bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL through August 2015, and offer recommendations for further research.

Results: Only one qualitative study and three quantitative surveys have examined colorectal cancer screening among Haitian Americans. A qualitative study found important differences in perceptions of …

Sexual Health Education In Georgia: A Role For Reducing Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Adolescents, Madison L. Gates, Veronica Walker, Nancy C. Webb

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In Georgia, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a substantial health issue, particularly among young adults in vulnerable and minority populations. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that sexually active adolescents and at-risk adults receive behavioral counseling and education in primary care settings, community organizations, departments of health, and schools.

Methods: The present approach used in Georgia for educating adolescents at high risk for STIs about these diseases was assessed. The data collected included standards for sexual health education, survey results from educators and students, and observations from a pilot study with adolescents detained by the juvenile justice …

Use Of Geographical Information Systems To Identify Counties In Georgia With High Risk For Childhood Lead Poisoning, R. Christopher Rustin, Christy Kuriatnyk, Byron Lobsinger, Simone Charles

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: For children in Georgia, lead poisoning is a substantial public health problem. Primary risk factors include low socioeconomic status and poor-quality housing built prior to 1978. The Environmental Health Team of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) utilized geographical information system (GIS) technology and census housing data to identify counties in which children have high risk for lead poisoning. The purpose of this research was to update and refine previous maps developed with older technology and on a different geographic scale so that targeted public health interventions can be developed.

Methods: Data related to stratified and median housing …

Differences In Health Literacy Knowledge And Experiences Among Senior Nursing Students, Sharon S. Williamson, Joanne Chopak-Foss

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Low health literacy has been identified as a significant public health problem. Also, higher expenditures due to longer hospital stays have been reported for persons with low health literacy. Nurses can assist patients with low health literacy to reduce their hospital stays and increase compliance with discharge instructions.

Methods: A quantitative, descriptive research design was employed to assess knowledge and experiences of 192 senior nursing students. These students were administered the Health Literacy Knowledge and Experiences Survey (HL-KES), a 2-part survey that included assessment of knowledge about health literacy and experience in working with populations of low health literacy. …

Social And Behavioral Implications Of National Collegiate Athletic Association Sickle Cell Trait Screening: The Athletes’ Perspective, Raymona H. Lawrence, Alison Scott, Carlton Haywood Jr., Kayin Robinson, Mondi Mason

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In August 2010, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented a policy mandating sickle cell trait (SCT) testing for all Division I collegiate athletes. Subsequently, all Division II-III athletes were also compelled to undergo SCT testing. This decision has met with controversy among healthcare providers, researchers, and sickle cell advocates. However, there is little information concerning the athletes’ perspective of this policy. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a qualitative study that explored college athletes’ perceptions of sickle cell trait SCT, NCAA policies on SCT testing, and potential implications of SCT screening.

Methods: The …

Racial And Socioeconomic Disparities In Melanoma Incidence Rates In Georgia: 2000-2011, Marybeth Culp, Sara W. Robb, A. R. Bayakly, John E. Vena

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The objective of this research was to investigate melanoma incidence rates and health outcomes in Georgia over time and by race, socio-economic status (SES), and gender.

Methods: Age-adjusted melanoma incidence rates were obtained from the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry SEER*Stat Database (2000-2011). To compare incidence rates across counties, and public health districts and by race, SES and gender, maps were generated using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A cluster analysis was performed by use of SaTScan, and maps were created to visualize clusters of melanoma cases.

Results: In Georgia, from 2000-2011, age-adjusted incidence rates for melanoma were higher among Whites …

Variations In Public Health Governance, Jeff Jones, Ankit Bangar, Patrick Chang, Yelena Tarasenko

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Studies of public health departments have found mixed results regarding the relevance of governance through local boards of health (LBOHs). Some studies find that LBOHs can be an important component in higher performance by local health departments. Other analyses, however, find no advantage for local health departments having or not having a LBOH. The hypothesis was that a typology of LBOHs nationwide can define different types of LBOHs based on their powers and responsibilities.

Methods: Using national profile sample data from the National Association of Local Boards of Health, LBOHs were categorized using 34 variables based on four domains …

Ebola: Working Through Fear, Brenda Fitzgerald

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Ebola: Working Through Fear

Community-Based Participatory Research Principles For The African American Community, Selina A. Smith, Mary S. Whitehead, Joyce Q. Sheats, Benjamin E. Ansa, Steven S. Coughlin, Daniel S. Blumenthal

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Numerous sets of principles have been developed to guide the conduct of community-based participatory research (CBPR). However, they tend to be written in language that is most appropriate for academics and other research professionals; they may not help lay people from the community understand CBPR.

Methods: Many community members of the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer assisting with the Educational Program to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening (EPICS) had little understanding of CBPR. We engaged community members in developing culturally-specific principles for conducting academic-community collaborative research.

Results: We developed a set of CBPR principles intended to resonate with African-American …

Increased Perception Of Mosquito Problems During A Stormwater Restoration Project, Rosmarie Kelly

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

In 2008, a plan for improvement of the McDaniel Branch Watershed was prepared for the city of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management. This included the construction of ponds in a kudzu-covered area at Bowen Circle. There is a perception that wetlands create mosquito problems. In point of fact, most of the vector and nuisance species in Atlanta are either container breeders or floodwater species, and do not breed in ponds. Because there is an average of 5 cases of West Nile virus (WNV) reported in Fulton County per year, most of these near Combined Sewer Overflow streams, county residents are …

Using Our Voices-And Using Our Science, Johanna M. Hinman

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Using Our Voices-and Using Our Science

Substance Use-Related Brief Interventions With Emergency Department Patients Reduce Mental Health Co-Morbidities, J. Aaron Johnson, Amanda J. Abraham

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Research on screening and brief interventions (SBIs) has shown that, in addition to reducing alcohol use, interventions delivered in healthcare settings can reduce trauma readmissions, hospitalization days, driving offenses, and future healthcare utilization and costs. Mental health co-morbidities often accompany unhealthy alcohol and drug use, but few studies have examined the impact of SBIs on the mental health of patients. The present study determined if SBIs focused on reducing alcohol or drug use affected the mental health status of patients at a six-month follow-up.

Methods: Participants (N=1152) were randomly sampled from patients receiving SBIs for at-risk alcohol or drug …

Venomous Spiders Of The Southeastern Us: An Unexpected Threat, Alex Collins, Oreta Samples

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Environmental health specialists recommend that residents of the Southeastern US, including Georgia, have the ability to identify the three venomous spiders indigenous to this area. It is necessary to recognize the black widow, brown widow, and brown recluse spiders and to be familiar with the likely habitats of these insects and with the symptoms of bites. The primary author, who serves as an Environmental Health Specialist and is a hobbyist who works with distressed wood, frequently encounters all three of these spiders.

Methods: A literature review supports the fact that these three venomous spiders are indigenous to Georgia.

Results: …

Spiritual Health: The Often-Overlooked Dimension Of Health, Clarence E. Riley, Peter Imoyera, Oreta Samples, Gregory Green

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Spiritual health, one of the six dimensions of health (physical, social, intellectual, emotional, environmental, and spiritual), is often overlooked and has become less prominent in the literature and in public forums. This once-touted dimension of health is now seldom considered.

Methods: A review revealed that literature on spiritual health is sparse and, when found, is dated.

Results: The existing literature indicates that spiritual health relates to various aspects of well-being, including medical/physical health, mental/psychological health, and educational/intellectual health. It is likely that the decline of consideration of spiritual health is due to the decrease in public discussion of spiritual …

E-Cigarette Use Among Undergraduate Liberal Arts And Health Sciences Students: A Study Protocol, Vivian G. Dicks, Rebecca B. Stone

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery operated devices that deliver nicotine as an inhaled vapor. Use of e-cigarettes has gained in popularity since 2007, and their use is often promoted as a safer alternative to tobacco smoking. A concern among public health experts is whether e-cigarettes can be used as an alternative method for tobacco cessation or whether they lead to nicotine dependence and use of other tobacco products. Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of use of e-cigarettes among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, but varying results on the association between their use and …

Understanding The Role Of Social Norms In Organ Donation Decision Making Among African American Adults, Briana M. Lucido

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: African Americans (AAs) comprise a disproportionate number of those waiting on the national transplant list and are underrepresented among registered organ donors. While barriers to organ donation are well understood, little research has explored factors that facilitate interest in donation. Because AAs are often characterized by strong extended relationships and shared decision-making, social norms may be an influential factor in donation behavior. Utilizing the Theory of Reasoned Action, this study demonstrated the application of theory to understand the role social norms play in donation decisionmaking, among AAs.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 425 AA adults residing in the …

Nonprofit Hospitals And Community Health Needs Assessments, Beth Stephens

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires all hospitals filing as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years. Many Georgia hospitals published their first CHNAs in 2012 and 2013. The goals of this research and policy project were to assess compliance with the new CHNA requirements for nonprofit hospitals, provide recommendations to hospital administrators and policymakers, and encourage hospitals to engage in meaningful ways with community-based organizations and local public health departments in the next round of CHNAs.

Methods: With funding from the Healthcare Georgia Foundation, Georgia Watch reviewed …

Tapping The “Town And Gown” Potential For Correctional Health Research Collaborations, Madison L. Gates, Michelle Staples-Horne, Nancy C. Webb, Ronald L. Braithwaite, Beverly Hastings

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Collaborations between juvenile justice systems (town) and academia (gown) promise to significantly enhance what we understand about high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) found among detained populations, particularly African American young women. However, research related to the sexual health of adolescent detainees has not occurred in proportion to the magnitude of issues found in the population. While there are many challenges to conducting research with this population, there are also lessons learned and best practices from other studies that may provide guidance.

Methods: In 2015, we implemented a pilot project with young women in a detention center to …

Perceptions Of Hiv/Aids Testing Among Urban And Rural African American Church Members, Roblena E. Walker

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to affect African Americans (AA) disproportionately. The purpose of this mixed methods study, guided by the health belief model, was to examine associations linking church and ambient social environment with knowledge and perceptions of HIV/AIDS testing amongst urban and rural AA church members.

Methods: Multiple regressions and t tests were used to compare perceptions of HIV/AIDS testing and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among 236 participants selected from two AA churches located in a large city (n = 122) and in a rural town (n =114) in the Southern U.S.

Results: The …

Reflections On Mental Health Advocacy Across Differing Ecological Levels, Nancy J. Thompson, Robin E. Mcgee, Elizabeth R. Walker, Leslie C. Munoz

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: According to the World Health Organization, mental health advocacy is comprised of a range of actions designed to change aspects of attitudes and structures that impede the achievement of positive mental health in populations.

Methods: According to the World Health Organization, mental health advocacy is comprised of a range of actions designed to change aspects of attitudes and structures that impede the achievement of positive mental health in populations.

Results: We have proposed interventions and advocacy effort for each ecological level. Project UPLIFT, a distance-delivered intervention for mental health is presented as an example of an effort that can …

86th Annual Georgia Public Health Association Meeting & Conference Report, Selina A. Smith, Regina Abbott, Christy Sims

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

The 86th annual meeting of the Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) and joint conference with the Southern Health Association was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 13-14, 2015, with pre-conference (April 12th) and post-conference (April14th) Executive Board meetings. As Georgia’s leading forum for public health researchers, practitioners, and students, the annual meeting of the GPHA brings together participants from across the state to explore recent developments in the field and to exchange techniques, tools, and experiences. Historically, the GPHA conference has been held in Savannah (n=24); Jekyll Island (n=20); Atlanta (n=16); Augusta (n=4); and Gainesville (n=1). There was no annual …

Promoting Policy And Environmental Change In Faith-Based Organizations: Organizational Level Findings From A Mini Grants Program, April Hermstad, Kimberly R. Jacob Arriola, Shauna St. Clair, Sally Honeycutt, Michelle L. Carvalho, Sabrina T. Cherry, Tamara Davis, Sheritta Frazier, Cam Escoffery, Michelle C. Kegler

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: High rates of heart disease, cancer, and stroke exist in rural South Georgia, where Emory’s Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network provided mini-grants and technical assistance to six faith-based organizations to implement policy and environmental changes to promote healthy eating (HE), physical activity (PA), and tobacco use prevention (TUP). Drawing from a Social Ecological Framework, we hypothesized that church members would perceive an increase in messages, programs, and the availability of facilities to support HE, PA, and TUP over a 1-year period.

Methods: Members (N=258) completed self-administered questionnaires that assessed perceptions of the existing church health promotion environment relative …

A Multisite Evaluation Of Pediatric Asthma-Related Treatment In Accordance To The 2007 National Heart, Lung And Blood Institute Expert Panel Report — 3 Guidelines, Emeka Oraka, Brittani Robinson, Trevor Ousley, Francesca Lopez, Leroy Graham

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: To determine if Georgia-based healthcare providers who received continuing education on pediatric asthma as described by 2007 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Expert Panel Report – 3 guidelines demonstrated improvements in asthma-related treatment.

Methods: We used a multi-site, cross-sectional design. Data were collected via surveys administered to healthcare providers and via randomized medical chart abstractions. Chart abstraction occurred at 12 months prior to intervention (n = 149); one month post-intervention (n = 208); and three months post-intervention (n = 123).

Results: Substantial improvements were observed among the providers who used pre/post bronchodilator spirometry (5% at baseline, 12% at …

Evaluation Results Of An Innovative Pilot Program To Increase Access To Fresh Fruits And Vegetables In Cobb County, Ga, Rebecca C. Woodruff, Rebecca Shipley, Agnes F. Brown, Anne-Marie Coleman, Jennifer Munoz, Sally Honeycutt, April K. Hermstad, Lorna Loh, Michelle C. Kegler

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This abstract describes a public health practice initiative called the Farm Fresh Market (FFM) and presented pilot evaluation results.

Methods: The FFM, developed by Cobb and Douglas Public Health, the McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA, and Cobb2020, sold low-cost fruits and vegetables to families living in the 30168 zip code of Austell, Georgia. The evaluation focused on documenting to what extent the FFM reached its intended population and increased perceived access to fresh fruits and vegetables among customers. A convenience sample of 100 returning FFM customers completed self-administered, written intercept surveys at the end of the 2014 market season.

Results: …

The Role Of Perception In Developing Healthy Lifestyles And Community Engagement, Anne Marie Coleman, Anne Hicks-Coolick, Agnes F. Brown

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department and the Cobb2020 partnership, sponsored by the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnering program, facilitated six focus groups in Cobb County to ascertain residents’ perceptions of healthy behaviors. The purpose of the research was to assist in the development of programs to increase healthy behaviors.

Methods: Purposive sampling was used to choose fifty-eight participants, who were divided into six groups in different geographic locations. The focus group questions concerned healthy living, health communications, and community health. Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to generate themes and categories across and within groups. …

Childhood Cancer Incidence In Georgia: Descriptive Epidemiology, Geographic Trends, And Disparities In Insurance Coverage, And Health Care Access, Florence A. Kanu, Sara Wagner Robb, Rosemary Corriero

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Limited research has been conducted concerning childhood cancer (CC) incidence in Georgia, which is a leading cause of death for children in the US. The purpose of this study was to determine if county-level CC incidence rates differed by geography or race and if health care access disparities exist.

Methods: Incidence data were obtained from the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry for 2000-2011. Age-adjusted incidence rates per 100,000 were analyzed by sex, race, and county. Hotspots and coldspots of CC incidence were analyzed using the Getis-Ord GI* statistic. Health care access data for children under 19 were obtained using US …