Public Health Commons^™

Increasing Physical Activity In Women With Obesity To Promote Weight Loss, Ashley N. Kohler

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Obesity is a chronic disease associated with a multitude of lifelong chronic illnesses. Obesity impacts more than 42% of the United States population (CDC, 2021b). Physical inactivity is a major determinant of obesity (Muerer et al., 2019). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to promote a greater reduction in body mass index (BMI) of the participants enrolled in an existing wellness program at the EBP practice site by increasing the physical activity level of the participants compared to standard protocol. The existing wellness program’s standard protocol included diet modifications, physical activity encouragement, and medication management. The EBP …

Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors, And Outcomes Among A Large Midwestern U.S. Cohort Of Patients Hospitalized With Covid-19 Prior To Vaccine Availability, Viviana Zlochiver, Ana Cristina Perez Moreno, Michael Peterson, Khalil Odeh, Ashley Mainville, Katherine Busniewski, Jon Wrobel, Mohamed Hommeida, Blair Tilkens, Payal Sharma, Hlu Vang, Sara Walczak, Fekadesilassie Moges, Kritika Garg, A. Jamil Tajik, Suhail Q. Allaqaband, Tanvir Bajwa, M. Fuad Jan

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented demands on health care. This study aimed to characterize COVID-19 inpatients and examine trends and risk factors associated with hospitalization duration, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized at an integrated health system between February 2, 2020, and December 12, 2020. Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were obtained from medical records. Backward stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors of ICU admission and in-hospital mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate relationships between ICU admission and in-hospital …

Vitamin D Level Testing In An Urban Midwest Clinic: To Test Or Not To Test?, Daniel Mundt, Marianne Klumph, Kayla Heslin, Wajih Askar

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is significantly higher among urban populations in the U.S. Midwest, with African Americans being disproportionately affected. There is ongoing debate surrounding who and how often individuals should be screened for VDD. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of VDD, associated risk factors, and discrepancies in testing at an urban-based internal medicine residency clinic. Data were retrospectively collected on all adult patients seen by the clinic during 2018 and descriptive statistical analysis performed. Among 3976 total patients (mean age: 53 years), 18% (n = 698) had vitamin D levels analyzed, with deficiency found in 71% of …

Reliever-Triggered Inhaled Glucocorticoid In Black And Latinx Adults With Asthma, Alex Colon

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Application And Efficacy Of Color-Coded Learning Models, Parker Grossman

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 Ramifications And Effects, Landon Ledingham

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 Variant, Vaccine And Booster, Manas Mandal

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Rna Sequencing Reveals That Cyp3a5 Sirna Treatment Induces Cell Cycle Blockade And Senescence In Mdapca2b Human Prostate Cancer Cells, Jeetesh Sharma

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Appropriate Initiation And De-Escalation Of Piperacillin-Tazobactam In Hospitalized Patients At An Acute Care Hospital, Ivy Yang

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Student Perception On The Implementation Of An End-Of-The-Day Quiz And Its Impact On Student Learning And Class Attendance In A Three-Year Accelerated Doctorate Program Of Pharmacy., Desiree Chong, Jousef Alandy0dy, Arup Chakraborty

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Participation In Curriculum And Cultural Ambassador Group To Enhance Student Belongingness, Jake Tuft, Jacob Schvaneveldt

Annual Research Symposium

COVID-19 negatively impacted students' abilities to participate in live, in-person events; students were unable to interact with peers or build relationships critical to success and well-being. Quarantine, social distancing and video conferencing did not create this problem however, it simply amplified the fact that dental students seemingly lack camaraderie and a sense of belongingness. The Curriculum and Cultural Ambassador group was created to allow students to bond over shared goals in the hopes of improving their experiences within dental school. This group gives students the ability to “Be the Change” on campus and enact real-time change to foster a sense …

A Standardized Approach To Blood Pressure Training In First-Year Medical Students, Andrew Romney

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Identifying Bias In Healthcare And Creating Intervention Strategies At Colleges Of Medicine And Other Healthcare Professions, Cameron Chalmers, Emmanuel Oyalabu

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Current Trends In The Sars-Cov-2 Pandemic During The Emergence Of The Omicron Variant, Benjamin Mennell

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Number Of Active Social Media Users As Predictors Of Hipaa Infringements, Alexander Sheppert, Taylor Purcell, Nathaniel Hill, David Sant

Annual Research Symposium

HIPAA Infringements Correlate Linearly with Number of Social Media Users.

Social media use has made information sharing much easier – including protected health information. Interestingly, as social media has become more popular over the years, HIPAA violations have also become more common.

The calculated R and P values suggest a strong correlation exists between social media use and HIPAA complaints.

Potential Cost Savings With Implementation Of Systemwide Rasburicase Protocol, Parker Gundersen, Adalyn Lee

Annual Research Symposium

Purpose: Tumor Lysis Syndrome is a condition that takes place when apoptosis in cancer cells occurs within a short time period. This condition can lead to organ dysfunction and even death. Rasburicase is used to treat high uric acid levels in patients that are experiencing tumor lysis syndrome and is expensive. Dosing and frequency of rasburicase varies across health care institutions. This project evaluated if adherence to a systemwide rasburicase protocol could help reduce drug waste and reduce costs across a healthcare system.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective data analysis reviewing rasburicase doses administered across Intermountain Healthcare over the course …

Developing A Sexual Health Consent Strategy For Refugees: A Qualitative Approach, Amita Tuteja, Elisha Riggs, Lena Sanci, Lester Mascarenhas, Anna Power, Di Vanvliet, Katrina Sangster, Kimberley Mcguinness, Meredith Temple-Smith

The Qualitative Report

We report the development of a strategy for obtaining a truly voluntary and informed consent for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research with Burma-born refugees settled in Australia. Using a qualitative descriptive research design, we interviewed 29 providers of refugee services (PRS) including health care professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives), bilingual supporting staff (interpreters, social workers, settlement workers, community liaison officers) and administrative staff (practice managers, reception staff) who provide primary care services to refugees. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and subjected to thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (a) unique values of Burma-born people, (b) unfamiliarity with Western concepts of research, …

Evaluating Patient Experience At A Novel Health Service For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Prisoners: A Pilot Study, Lachlan Arthur, Ana Herceg, Heidi Shukralla, Jason Payne, Julie Tongs Oam

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Background
The Winnunga Alexander Maconochie Centre Health and Wellbeing Service (AMCHWS) is the first prison health service operated by an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in Australia. This pilot study developed and implemented a patient experience survey to evaluate the novel model of healthcare delivered by the Winnunga AMCHWS to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners.

Methods
Patients accessing the Winnunga AMCHWS between February and May 2020 were invited to participate in the study. Descriptive data were analysed and compiled for demographics, patient satisfaction, patient perception of care quality, cultural safety, and patient thoughts on the Winnunga AMCHWS.

Findings
Sixteen …

Clinical Outcomes Of Immunomodulatory Therapies In The Management Of Covid-19: A Tertiary-Care Experience From Pakistan, Noreen Nasir, Salma Tajuddin, Sarah Khaskheli, Naveera Khan, Hammad Niamatullah, Nosheen Nasir

Section of Internal Medicine

The pharmacological management of COVID-19 has evolved significantly and various immunomodulatory agents have been repurposed. However, the clinical efficacy has been variable and a search for cure for COVID-19 continues. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 916 patients hospitalized with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 between February 2020 and October 2020 at a tertiary care academic medical center in Karachi, Pakistan. The median age was 57 years (interquartile range (IQR) 46–66 years). The most common medications administered were Methylprednisolone (65.83%), Azithromycin (50.66%), and Dexamethasone (46.6%). Majority of the patients (70%) had at least two or more medications used in …

The Emergence Of Covid-19 Associated Mucormycosis: A Review Of Cases From 18 Countries, Martin Hoenigl, Danila Seidel, Agostinho Carvalho, Shivaprakash M. Rudramurthy, Amir Arastehfar, Jean-Pierre Gangneux, Nosheen Nasir, Alexandro Bonifaz, Javier Araiza, Nikolai Klimko

Department of Medicine

Reports of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis have been increasing in frequency since early 2021, particularly among patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Patients with diabetes and hyperglycaemia often have an inflammatory state that could be potentiated by the activation of antiviral immunity to SARS-CoV2, which might favour secondary infections. In this Review, we analysed 80 published and unpublished cases of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis. Uncontrolled diabetes, as well as systemic corticosteroid treatment, were present in most patients with COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, and rhino-orbital cerebral mucormycosis was the most frequent disease. Mortality was high at 49%, which was particularly due to patients with pulmonary or disseminated mucormycosis or …

Perceived Risk And Distress Related To Covid-19 In Healthcare Versus Non-Healthcare Workers Of Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Adeel Abid, Hania Shahzad, Hyder Ali Khan, Suneel Piryani, Areeba Raza Khan, Fauziah Rabbani

Medical College Documents

Background:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) have found themselves and their families more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. This puts them at a higher risk of psychological distress, which may compromise patient care. In this study, we aim to explore the risk perceptions and psychological distress between HCWs and non-healthcare workers (NHCWs) in Pakistan.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire. Psychological distress was assessed through The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Comparisons were made between HCWs (front/backend, students/graduates) and NHCWs related to risk perceptions and stress levels related to COVID19. Following tests for normality (Shapiro–Wilk test), variables …

A Fond Farewell, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

In this From the Editor introduction to Volume 9, Issue 1, the retiring editor-in-chief of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews recalls the history and initial aims of JPCRR, discusses the contents of articles in the current issue, and says good-bye.

Bridging The Patient Engagement Gap In Research And Quality Improvement Utilizing The Henry Ford Flexible Engagement Model, Heather A. Olden, Sara Santarossa, Dana Murphy, Christine C. Johnson, Karen E. Kippen

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: This paper was intended to share a flexible engagement model (FEM) for organizing a structure to obtain patient input regarding health care operations and research, provide greater detail on recruitment, retention, and dissemination strategies, and demonstrate successes and potential applications in other health care settings.

Methods: Utilizing a pragmatic approach, the Patient-Engaged Research Center (PERC) at Henry Ford Health System developed the FEM, a 7-step process to introduce interested patients/caregivers to the patient advisor program and to follow up with placements. PERC developed a meeting evaluation to measure participant satisfaction. Retention and dissemination methods to keep participants …

Prevalence Of Infectious Diseases Among 6078 Individuals With Down Syndrome In The United States, Veronica Fitzpatrick, Anne Rivelli, Sagar Chaudhari, Laura Chicoine, Gengjie Jia, Andrey Rzhetsky, Brian Chicoine

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

A recent disease prevalence study of the largest documented Down syndrome (DS) cohort in the United States strongly suggested significant disparity in general infectious disease conditions among individuals with DS versus those without DS. In this follow-up retrospective analysis, we explored these differences in greater detail by calculating prevalence of 52 infectious diseases, across 28 years of data among 6078 individuals with DS and 30,326 age- and sex-matched controls, abstracted from electronic medical records within a large Midwestern health system. We found that the DS cohort had higher prevalence of pneumonias (including aspiration, viral, bacterial, pneumococcal, and unspecified/atypical); otitis externa; …

The Role Of Emergency Departments For Antimicrobial Stewardship In Covid-19 Pandemic; The Time Is Now, Madiha Ismail, Nazeer Najeeb Kapadia, Sara Usman

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

The File Of Life: A Lifeline For First Responders In Fairfield County, Ct, Brittany Gilmore

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

During a medical emergency, it can be difficult for first responders to obtain crucial medical information about their patients for a variety of reasons. The patient may be unconscious, have an altered mental status, or simply not know their medical history. This project aimed to increase awareness of the File of Life program, which many local Fire and EMS departments are implementing to improve their ability to deliver life-saving care.

Listen To Her Heart: Bridging The Gap In Recognizing, Preventing, & Treating Ascvd In Women, Stephen J. Foley

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is traditionally considered a male disease, yet it is the leading cause of death in women. This may be associated with the significant lack of research of ASCVD in women, leading to poor recognition, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. The American Heart Association reports that a majority of women experience prodromal symptoms more than one month before a heart attack or stroke, and these symptoms are often underestimated. This project intends to help address the question: How can earlier detection of ASCVD risk in women reduce missed signs of acute myocardial infarction/stroke and thereby reduce preventable ASCVD …

Return To Play Following Covid-19, Tyler Landman

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Covid-19 infections among adolescents have led to significant decreases in physical activity and fitness. Many adolescents have been subject to return to play clearance before being able to get back to their sport. Protocols are not only a moving target but are also different from school to school, and county to county. Many patients are not involved in the decision making process of when they get to play again, and furthermore end up being out of sport longer than they need to due to the ordering of unnecessary tests, and long wait times for them. The aim of this study …

Peri-Operative Optimization: Social Determinants Of Health, Adam F. Kohutnicki

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

This project investigated how clinicians at a rural Vermont family medicine practice observed various social determinants of health (SDOH) of their patient population affected patients' preparedness for surgery. Two clinicians involved in the community, a practicing family medicine physician and a practicing social worker, were interviewed to collect qualitative data on how various SDOH they have observed through their clinical practice have influenced patients' preparedness for surgery. This information was then utilized to create a "dot-phrase" that clinicians can use as part of a patient's pre-operative visit in the outpatient setting to assess SDOH and plan subsequent targeted interventions to …

Improving Identification Of Dermatological Conditions In Skin Of Color, Sam Afshari B.S., Simran Kalsi M.S.

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Vermont primary care practitioners are less likely to have experience diagnosing dark skin tones given that the state population is 94.2% white. Only 4.5% of images in general medicine textbooks and 4-19% of images in dermatology textbooks depicted darker skin. Black patients are significantly less likely to see a dermatologist, which highlights the importance of diagnosis at the primary care office.