Public Health Commons^™

Supervisor Workplace Violence Against Young Workers By Victim's Race/Ethnicity, Camryn Lopez

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Working is often seen as an integral aspect of growing up in the United States. Due to the increased desire for independence and financial gain, many adolescents decide to pursue the expansion of their job skills by entering the labor force. Adolescents crave financial independence and freedom. However, many are unaware of the risks that accompany working. The perpetrators of adolescent workplace violence are generally thought to be customers or coworkers. But what if it was the supervisor?

The main objective of the study is to determine whether abusive supervision of young workers differs depending on the worker’s race/ethnicity. Using …

Unheard Victims Of Covid-19: The Impact Of Mask Use On Communication For D/Deaf And Hard Of Hearing People, Kym Couch

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Masks are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19, but they also impact communication for d/Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) people. This research is a mixed methods approach to analyzing the impact that the widespread use of masks in response to COVID-19 has had on DHH people. Building on the allowance for nuance and paradox presented by Deborah Stone in her book Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making (2012) and holding to the Social Model of Disability, this research involves the qualitative and quantitative analysis of a survey of one-hundred and ninety-eight (198) DHH people, interviews with …

An Exploratory Study On Institutional Belonging And Its Effects On Mental Health Outcomes And Academic Success, William Cooney

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND

Belonging in higher education is a growing field of research, however there is limited available literature. Institutional belonging encompasses many factors of the college campus environment such as social relationships, extra-curricular activities, academics, institutional support and how they affect a college student’s sense of belonging (Hausmann et al., 2007). The purpose of this exploratory study is to further understand institutional belonging and its relationships with mental health and academic success.

METHODS

This study utilized data from the ACHA-NCHA III, Spring 2020 survey that was randomly given to undergraduate and graduate students (N=5,000) attending a Northwest regional state university. The …

The Theory Of Mattering: Implications For Adolescent Depression And Suicidal Ideation, Josie Lucretia Bryan

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies have suggested that mattering may influence both self-esteem and depression, and the perception of not mattering can lead to suicide ideation, attempts, or completion. When young people perceive they matter to those in their social environment, that sense of mattering can act as a protective factor. Existing research supports the notion that mattering is salient to adolescent development and, importantly, potentially malleable which could make it a prevention/intervention factor. The current study endeavored to identify contributing factors to adolescent perceived mattering and to test the Theory of Mattering in an adolescent population when predicting mental health outcomes. A …

Movement Integration In Classrooms: Factors Associated With The Adoption And Implementation Of Physical Activity In Us Elementary Schools, R. Blake Densley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The intentional integration of movement in elementary school classrooms—including both brief instructional breaks for physical activity, or the integration of physical activity with lessons—can benefit children’s physical health and education outcomes. Teachers are key implementation agents, but despite movement integration (MI) being considered an educational best practice, many classroom teachers do not regularly use it. The aim of this study was to obtain updated nationally-representative prevalence estimates in US public elementary schools, regarding four key outcomes pertaining to teachers’ implementation of physical activity: 1) school adoption of physically active lessons (PALs); 2) school adoption of physical activity breaks (PABs); 3) …

Relationships Between Intimate Partner Violence, Pregnancy, Maternal Mental Health And Infant Care Behaviors, Brooke Ambrose

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a public health issue that is known to have deleterious health effects for pregnant women and their babies. Women who experience IPV during pregnancy are also likely to develop and exacerbate already existing mental health conditions. Experiences with IPV are thought to impact health behaviors, particularly how a mother copes or cares for her baby. The objective of this study is to explore the potential relationships between experiencing IPV (before and/or during pregnancy), maternal mental health, and health-related infant care behaviors (i.e., breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding duration, well-child visits).

Methods: Data from phases 6 (years …

Adolescent Substance Use: Risk And Protective Factors Of Family, School, Peer, And Leisure, Tara Woodward

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND

Adolescent substance use has long been a global public health issue. In this study, we explored developmental contexts that correspond with protective and risk factors associated with adolescent substance use. The developmental contexts of interest are the family domain, the school domain, the peer domain, and the structured and unstructured leisure domains. The leisure domain is of particular interest as it often corresponds with protective and risk factors different from those associated with the other domains. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the identified domains are associated with adolescent alcohol use and cannabis use.

METHODS

This …

Agricultural Workplace Compliance With The Environmental Protection Agency's Worker Protection Standard: An Idaho Analysis, Rachel Phinney

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural workers are at high risk for occupational pesticide exposure and pesticide-related illness. The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is the primary federal regulation aimed at reducing pesticide exposure among agricultural workers. Agricultural employers are responsible for complying with the nearly 100 WPS requirements, including the provision of pesticide safety training, personal-protective equipment, and decontamination supplies to employees.

Despite the potential health implications of WPS violations, information is limited regarding compliance levels in Idaho. We aim to fill this gap by describing compliance trends according to WPS inspection results archived by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). We analyzed 557 …

Communication In Healthcare Settings: Access And Barriers To Care Experienced By Deaf Patients, Elizabeth Schniedewind

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Deaf persons who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary form of communication are members of a cultural and linguistic minority that experiences significant health disparities yet are not recognized as a health disparity population by the National Institutes of Health. Studies have reported ineffective communication in healthcare interactions and reduced access to care experienced by Deaf patients. Requests for sign language interpreters in healthcare encounters are frequently denied, despite federal mandates to provide effective communication. Comprised of three articles, this dissertation investigates the diminished access to communication in healthcare settings experienced by Deaf patients and qualitative research methods …

The Presence Of Legionellae In Respiratory Devices: Convenience Sampling Of Idaho Long Term Care Facilities, Andrew Nutting

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Legionella is a bacterium found naturally in moist environments. Persons can become infected when they inhale airborne droplets of water containing such bacteria. Legionellosis cases associated with the use of respiratory devices such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) units, jet nebulizers, portable room humidifiers, and respiratory ventilation equipment have been identified in context of a Legionellosis outbreak. However, a systematic search for the presence of Legionella bacteria in respiratory devices outside of a Legionellosis outbreak has not been reported. The goal of this study was to carry out such a survey on different types of respiratory devices in long …

Pharmacist Perceptions Toward Screening, Brief Intervention, And Referral To Treatment For Prescription Opioid Misuse: Initial Instrument Reliability And Validity, Tara Fouts

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Prescription opioid misuse has become a growing problem in the United States, and there has been a significant increase in the number of nonfatal overdose and overdose deaths since the 1990s. Idaho has also experienced an increase in the number of drug-induced deaths over time, increasing nearly 30% from 2012 to 2016. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates overprescribing and dispensing of prescription opioids is a main driver to the increase in overdoses. Evidence-based early intervention methods, such as screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT), can be utilized in health care settings to identify risky behaviors …

Effects Of The Fitdesk On Work Performance In College Students, Brittany Maxine Price

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Being sedentary is a behavior that is practiced far too often by individuals. This is worrisome because evidence suggests that uninterrupted periods of sitting can be harmful to one’s health. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a cycling workstation, the FitDesk, on work performance, blood pressure, heart rate, and the energy expenditure of college students. It was hypothesized that pedaling with the FitDesk would not have an effect on college students’ typing performance, reading comprehension, and attention/information processing when compared to those sitting at the FitDesk. In addition, an acute reduction in blood pressure, increase …

Integration Of Medical And Dental Services: Case Study Of The Terry Reilly Health Services Latah Clinic Experience, Kylie B. Pace

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Although evidence has demonstrated the link between oral and overall health, full integration of medical and dental services in practice is rare in the United States. The current research was designed to describe the development and implementation of the Terry Reilly Health Services (TRHS) Latah Medical-Dental-Behavioral Health integrated clinic (Latah Clinic). Data was collected through structured interviews with a purposive sample of employees from TRHS; observations of a Latah Clinic care team meeting; an environmental scan of facility space; and an analysis of intake forms used at the Latah Clinic. Seven employees from TRHS were invited to participate in structured …

Short-Term Outcome Evaluation Of Healthy Habits, Healthy U: A School-Based Cancer Prevention Program, Alicia Anderson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Healthy Habits, Healthy U (HHHU) is a school-based cancer prevention program. This program is a collaborative effort among Boise State University, St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute, and the Boise School District. HHHU started in April 2013 as a community outreach initiative designed to teach and reinforce positive health habits in students. HHHU lessons target eighth-grade students and offer a unique approach highlighting the relationships among nutrition, physical activity, sugar-sweetened beverages, and cancer risks, through a variety of educational materials.

The purpose of this study was to assess program efficacy by evaluating short-term outcomes. The study evaluated the effectiveness of …

Project Phit: A 10-Week University Intervention Improves Health-Related Variables, Physical Activity, And Nutrition, Jennifer Ashley Summers

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Despite increasing evidence regarding the benefits of regular physical activity and healthy nutritional habits, a large percentage of the population does not participate in regular exercise or eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Previous studies have identified the use of social support as a means to modify health behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a 10-week Project PHIT intervention on university employees’ health behaviors. Grounded in social support theory, Project PHIT was designed to help employees improve health behaviors such as physical activity and nutritional intake, and increase fitness. It was …

Assessment Of Satisfaction And Sustainability: The Idaho Healthy Eating, Active Living Network, Kristine E. Balisciano

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there has been in increased focus, at local, state, and national levels, on addressing health disparities. The purpose of the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Idaho Network is to create an environment that allows all its residents access to healthy food options and opportunities for physical activity. The HEAL Idaho Network initiative seeks to accomplish this goal through an expanding collaborative network of organizations, agencies, businesses, and individuals that are concerned about improving the health education and overall well-being of all Idahoans.

The purpose of this study was to assess HEAL member’s levels of satisfaction with the …

Elders With Diabetes: Implications For Depression Screening, Cynthia Clinkingbeard

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes has been concluded to be a global epidemic (Wild, Sicree, Roger, King & Green, 2004). By the year 2030, it is predicted that depression will become the second leading cause of disability worldwide (World Health Organization [WHO], 2007). The relationship between diabetes and depression is likely not casual.

Those with diabetes are twice as likely to develop depression (Eaton, Armenian, Gallo, Pratt & Ford, 1996; Kawakami, Shimizu, Takatsuka, & Ishibashi, 1999). Conversely, diabetes doubles the likelihood of comorbid depression (Anderson, Clouse, Freedland & Lustman, 2001). The intersection of these two devastating diseases is far from benign. Black, Markides and …