Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Changes In Public Health System Capital And Long-Run Health And Economic Outcomes: 1998 To 2014, Glen P. Mays, Cezar B. Mamaril

Health Management and Policy Presentations

Research Objective: The Affordable Care Act created new resources and incentives for hospitals, insurers, public health agencies, and others to contribute to disease prevention and health promotion activities, potentially changing the structure of public health delivery systems and expanding the implementation of strategies that improve population health. This study uses data from the 1998-2014 National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems to examine: (1) the extent and nature of change in inter-organizational contributions to public health activities, which we use as indicators of public health “system capital”; and (2) the effects of these changes on preventable mortality and resource use. …

Cost Estimation In Public Health Services & Systems Research, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

Considerable uncertainty persists about the resources required to implement public health programs and policies, and about the factors that drive variation in resource needs and utilization across community and institutional settings. This paper reviews several alternative approaches to cost estimation that we have used in the field of public health services & systems research (PHSSR). This review was prepared for an expert panel meeting convened as part of a study commissioned by the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) to estimate the costs associated with public health emergency preparedness capabilities.

Iarc Monographs: 40 Years Of Evaluating Carcinogenic Hazards To Humans, Neil E. Pearce, Aaron Blair, Paolo Vineis, Wolfgang Ahrens, Aage Andersom, Josep M. Anto, Bruce K. Armstrong, Andrea A. Baccarelli, Frederick A. Beland, Amy Berrington, Pier Alberto Bertazzi, Linda S. Birnbaum, Ross C. Brownson, John R. Bucher, Kenneth P. Cantor, Elisabeth Cardis, John W. Cherrie, David C. Christiani, Pierluigi Cocco, David Coggon, Pietro Comba, Paul A. Demers, John M. Dement, Jeroen Douwes, Ellen A. Eisen, Lawrence S. Engel, Richard A. Fenske, Lora E. Fleming, Tony Fletcher, Elizabeth Fontham, Francesco Forastiere, Rainer Frentzel-Beyme, Lin Fritschi, Michel Gerin, Marcel Goldberg, Philippe Grandjean, Tom K. Grimsrud, Per Gustavsson, Andy Haines, Patricia Hartge, Johnni Hansen, Michael Hauptmann, Dick Heederik, Kari Hemminki, Denis Hemon, Irva Hertz-Picciotto, Jane A. Hoppin, James Huff, Bengt Jarvholm, Daehee Kang, Margaret R. Karagas

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Programme for the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans has been criticized for several of its evaluations, and also for the approach used to perform these evaluations. Some critics have claimed that failures of IARC Working Groups to recognize study weaknesses and biases of Working Group members have led to inappropriate classification of a number of agents as carcinogenic to humans.

Objectives: The authors of this Commentary are scientists from various disciplines relevant to the identification and hazard evaluation of human carcinogens. We examined criticisms of the IARC classification process …

Barriers To Implementation Of A Health, Hygiene, & Sanitation Program: Chennai, India, Kelsey A. Steffen

Master's Theses

In India poor sanitation accounts for 1,600 daily deaths of children under the age of five (Dasra, 2012). The societal and environmental conditions in India and many other developing countries have continuously stood as barriers to facilitating changes in sanitation behavior. Efforts made to improve hygiene have continuously faced opposing forces including major gaps between the supply and demand of sanitation. This paper will focus on one pilot program conducted in Chennai, India over the summer of 2014. This program was designed to teach school children safe sanitation and hygienic habits by providing a guiding tool to teachers. The study …

Patient Engagement In Transitional Care, Sheeree Dela Pena

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Clinical Nurse Leader Master’s project was conducted about a public health program called the Transitional Care Program that was working in partnership with a county hospital system, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. The specific aim was to reduce hospital re-admissions of high-risk patients by supporting patient motivation and engagement in the Transitional Care Program by May 2015. Over a four-month period, data was collected through ten client visits, interviews with two public health nurses, information available about the program, and current research conducted on transitional care, hospital discharges, and patient engagement. Various aspects of the program were assessed, such …

Jefferson's New Smoking Policies: Steps Toward A Healthier Work Environment, Russell K. Mcintire Phd,Mph, Amber Bowie Mph Student

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Vaccine Education And Compliance Statistics In The Greater Indianapolis Area, Matthew Brennan Budi

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Background: Recently, rates of certain vaccine-preventable diseases have increased and outbreaks have occurred. For example, in 2014, the incidence of measles in the United States reached a record high since 2000, with 644 total cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Increases such as this may likely be due to widespread public fears that vaccines can cause serious adverse events.Therefore, due to their accessibility, pharmacists can play a crucial role in lessenning these public fears through proper education.

Study objective: The primary objective of this study was to dispel …

Family And Child Development Education For Harrisonburg Adolescents, Mollie M. Moran, Jennifer E. Corser, Julia M. Glauber

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The pregnancy rate among 15- to 17-year-old women in Harrisonburg is double Virginia's state rate (Townsend, 2008). While meeting administers and guidance counselors of Harrisonburg High School we learned that Harrisonburg High School views this issue as one that cannot be addressed by teaching abstinence in their public school. They have found that because of cultural beliefs, abstinence is not an effective tool for preventing teenage pregnancy. Instead, HHS teaches their students about safe sexual practices and how to have a healthy pregnancy in the event they were to become pregnant. The high school offers a class called “Child and …

Diagnostics And Model Selection For Generalized Linear Models And Generalized Estimating Equations, Chelsea Boquet Deroche

Theses and Dissertations

The use of generalized linear models and generalized estimating equations in the public health and medical fields are important tools for research, specifically for modeling clinical trials, evaluating preventive measures, and secondary data analysis. It is important for these researchers to have the necessary tools to analyze and model their data correctly. This dissertation focuses on a penalized maximum likelihood estimation method for generalized linear models, measures of association such as the coefficient of determination and R² for generalized estimating equations, and a modified quasi-likelihood information criterion for generalized estimation equations.

Common problems that arise during estimation of generalized …

Examining The Role Of Consciousness And The Absurd In Suicide, Alexandra R. Azevedo

Senior Honors Projects

In order to emphasize the significance of suicide as a subjective experience, this research project explores suicide through a philosophical lens, primarily focusing on the absurdist school of thought that gained prominence with the twentieth century French philosopher and writer Albert Camus. Despite recent advances in the scientific study of suicide, I argue that many of the historically divisive questions surrounding suicide are rooted in philosophy. My original work attempts to rectify the current disconnect between suicidality and philosophy through the analysis and application of Camus’ chief work on the subjects, The Myth of Sisyphus. Recognizing the efficacy of …

Understanding Perceptions Of Genetically Modified Food Among Natural Food Shoppers In Southern Nevada, Christian Murua-Aceves

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Today, 85% of corn, 93% of soybeans, and 88% of cotton in the U.S. are genetically modified (GM). Using laboratory methods, genes from one species, such as a plant, can be transferred to an unrelated species, such as an animal. Genetically modified crops may lead to higher yields, have improved food quality, texture, and nutritional value, and have an increased shelf life.

Despite these promising benefits, the potential health risks relating to the consumption of GM food remain inadequately assessed. Genetically modified food is not subjected to rigorous safety testing, such as epidemiologic studies, to identify potential health risks. Two …

Making The Blue Zones: Neoliberalism And Nudges In Public Health Promotion, Eric Carter

Eric D. Carter

This paper evaluates the ideological and political origins of a place-based and commercial health promotion effort, the Blue Zones Project (BZP), launched in Iowa in 2011. Through critical discourse analysis, I argue that the BZP does reflect a neoliberalization of public health, but as an "actually existing neoliberalism" it emerges from a specific policy context, including dramatic health sector policy changes due to the national Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare; a media discourse of health crisis for an aging Midwestern population; and an effort to refashion Iowa cities as sites of healthy and active living, to retain and …

Assessing Changes In Safety Net Providers Since The Passage Of The Affordable Care Act, Arlesia Mathis, Julia Burke, Gulzar H. Shah

Health Policy and Management Faculty Presentations

The passage of the Affordable Care Act presented opportunities and challenges for safety net providers. Significant investments in provider capacity promised much needed expansion of services; and in 2014, the law extended coverage to millions of previously uninsured Americans. However, safety net providers are concerned that changes to financing brought about by changes in the ACA may threaten their ability to provide services to millions more who still lack insurance. This is a preliminary study of changes occurring with maternal and child health services among safety-net providers.

Pink Goes Red For A Day: Is Your Heart Healthy?, Quierra W. Jones

Honors College Theses

There is a major lack of public health education among college aged students at many colleges and universities across the country. Even further, many minority college students are unfamiliar with one of the most life-threatening health issues that affect them the most: heart health. As a nursing student and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., I strive to uphold our “service to all mankind” motto and also educate the public about important heart health matters. On February 4, 2014, I presented a program through my sorority entitled Pink Goes Red for a Day in which I educated the primarily …

Evidence-Informed Advocacy: Non-Profit Organizations Use Of Evidence For Policy Influence In Public Health - A Case Study Of Wash Org Uganda, Carolyne Esther Nabalema

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in lobbying governments for policy changes besides engaging in direct service delivery. Improved utilization of research and other evidence in health policy and practice will help save lives and improve quality of life. This case study of WashOrg International in East Africa was informed by two major questions 1) how is evidence on water, sanitation and hygiene being used by non-profit organizations to shape policy advocacy activities 2) what kinds of internal capacity exist in WashOrg International to use water, sanitation and hygiene evidence to inform policy advocacy? Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, …

Recipe For Life - Health Awareness, Courtney Thrower

Collection of Engaged Learning

The design of this project was two-fold; the research component included examination of data from a previous investigation and compared it with data collected in a community service project. In each, the aim was to assess the health habits of underserved Spanish communities and provide information and opportunity for engagement with health education. Data were collected from voluntary participants in Panama and West Dallas. The purpose of the investigation was to learn more about perceptions of health habits and provide hands-on learning regarding what it means to be healthy and practice a wellness lifestyle. Specifically, to help participants in underserved …

Bios 6136 - Topics Of Inference In Biostatistics Ii, Lili Yu

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

The course will introduce large sample theory, such as law of large numbers and the central limit theorem; sampling distributions of estimators; the basis for inferences derived from hypothesis testing and confidence intervals; and simulation methods. Emphasis will be placed on how these techniques are used in biostatistical problems and applications using examples from the pharmaceutical industry.

Bios 7231 – Clinical Trial Methodology, Karl E. Peace

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

Students are introduced to regulatory, scientific, statistical and practical aspects of methods inherent in design, monitoring and analysis of clinical trials. Clinical trials in many areas of drug development are presented, discussed and critiqued.

Bios 9132 - Advanced Clinical Trial Methodology, Karl E. Peace

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

Students are introduced to regulatory, scientific, statistical and practical aspects of methods inherent in design, monitoring and analyzing clinical trials. Clinical trials in many areas of drug development are presented, discussed and critiqued.

Bios 6332 - Experimental Design In Biostat, Jingjing Yin

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course introduces the methods for analyzing biomedical and health related data using ANOVA methods. The course will involve one-way and two-way ANOVA with fixed or/and random effects and sample size/power calculation. And Logistic and Poisson regression models will also be addressed. The students will learn how to apply SAS procedures PROC POWER, PROC GLM, PROC MIXED, PROC GENMOD and PROC GLIMMIX and interpret the results of analysis. Emphasis will also be placed on the development of critical thinking skills.

Bios 7131 - Survival Analysis, Lili Yu

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course introduces statistical methods for analyzing data collected on the time to an event, referred to as survival data, in medical research and other health-related fields. Emphasis will be placed on the application of the methodology and computational aspects rather than theory. The students will learn how to apply SAS procedures to data and interpret the results.

Chbe 9630 - Doctoral Seminar In Community Health, John S. Luque

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course will provide students with the opportunity to analyze the history and current applications of social and behavioral science theories, approaches, models and strategies (learned throughout the curriculum) to public health practice and research. This seminar will examine the breadth of epistemologies employed as we develop effective methods to create change across the ecological spectrum, from individual to policy levels. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking skills to help students engage in dialogue about what will be effective research and practice in diverse public health settings over the next 10 years.

Cohe 6130a - Research Methods In Health Science, Dziyana Nazaruk

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

Introduces students to research methods in health science. Development and presentation of practicum and research proposal will be the focus of the course. Additional emphasis will be placed on Community- Based Participatory Research for Health.

Cohe 7233 - Ecologically Focused Program Evaluation, Moya L. Alfonso

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course provides an overview of the principles of program evaluation. It explores the methods associated with systematic evaluation of public health education programs. Students will learn the skills needed to plan, conduct, and critique evaluation research. The content of the course includes: program logic models, formative, process, impact, outcome, and summative evaluation; theory driven evaluation; a review of validity issues as they relate to evaluation; sampling in a complex context; operationalizing variables; assessment of measurement instruments; and analysis of quantitative evaluation designs. In addition, issues that impact evaluation across the ecological model, specifically the importance of context and equity …

Cohe 7238a - Communication For Change, John S. Luque

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course is designed to familiarize students with the history and current applications of health communication theory and strategies to public health practice and research. This course examines how to structure, develop and evaluate social marketing, media advocacy, risk communication and advocacy skills for change. In addition, systematic qualitative data collection processes such as interviewing skills, participant observation and focus groups will be developed. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking skills to help students analyze and utilize these skills in research and practice.

Cohe 7237 - Rural Community Health Issues, Ashley Walker

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

A study of social, economic, political, and cultural influences that impact the health of individuals and families in rural communities. Designed for health professionals, this course focuses on improving health status and developing culturally appropriate and effective interventions and services in rural settings.

Envh 7231 - Air Quality, Simone M. Charles

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

Introduces students to chemical, physical, and biological principles of air quality, as well as potential sources of contamination and the resulting effects. The course will also introduce environmental policies pertinent to air issues along with current remediation strategies to ameliorate pollution.

Envh 7237 - Risk Assessment And Communication, Marina E. Eremeeva

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

Course introduces students to the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary to evaluate the probability of injury, disease, or death in individuals or in the general population from exposure to environmental contaminants. Hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response evaluation, and risk characterization processes are emphasized. Risk communication training includes developing practical skills in assessing health concerns and explaining potential health risks or risk management to the general public.

Envh 7232a - Water Quality, Asli Aslan

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course is designed for graduate students and it will provide students with an introduction and overview of the key areas of water quality and health. Students will gain an understanding of the physical, chemical and biological principles of water quality, the potential impact on health of water pollution, and local, national and international environmental policies pertinent to water issues along with current treatment and remediation strategies to ameliorate pollution. The major topics include introduction to water quality and health; physical and chemical agents in water, emerging infectious diseases related to water quality, drinking and recreational water quality criteria, drinking …

Epid 7131 - Epidemiology Of Chronic Disease, Jian Zhang

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Syllabi

This course is designed to introduce the student to the ever-expanding area of chronic disease epidemiology. Students will be introduced to the current status of chronic disease and control programs, methods used in chronic disease surveillance, intervention methods, and modifiable risk factors. Some of the major chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes and arthritis will be discussed in detail.