Public Health Commons^™

Examining Young Adult E-Cigarette Users By Device Type: A Latent Class Analysis, Mufazzela Tabassum

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Examining Young Adult E-Cigarette Users by Device Type: A Latent Class Analysis

Purpose. This study examined which factors influence the type(s) of e-cigarette devices someone uses and if there are heterogeneous groups of young adult e-cigarette users.

Methods. This study first quantitatively explored if there are heterogeneous groups of e-cigarette users by utilizing data from an online cross-sectional survey. E-cigarette users (n = 595) were able to participate in the survey if they were 18-29 years of age, used an e-cigarette for 1-5 days in the past 30 days, own their own e-cigarette, and live in the United States. Participants …

Modeling An Infection Outbreak With Quarantine: The Sibkr Model, Mikenna Dew, Amanda Langosch, Theadora Baker-Wallerstein

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal

Influenza is a respiratory infection that places a substantial burden in the world population each year. In this project, we study and interpret a data set from a flu outbreak in a British boarding school in 1978 with mathematical modeling. First, we propose a generalization of the SIR model based on the quarantine measure in place and establish the long-time behavior of the model. By analyzing the model mathematically, we determine the analytic formulas of the basic reproduction number, the long-time limit of solutions, and the maximum number of infection population. Moreover, we estimate the parameters of the model based …

Gut Feelings: A Literature Review On The Gut-Brain Axis And Its Potential Influence On Mood, Grace Johnson

University Honors Theses

In recent decades, research on the gut-brain axis has evolved due to an increasing interest in the connection between gut health and mental health. The gut-brain axis presents a new frontier of health for both medical professionals and psychologists as there is expanding evidence illustrating the comorbidity of gut disorders and mood disorders. Due to the complex nature of studying the gut-brain axis and the myriad of influences on mood disorders such as depression, research has yet to find significant results definitively tying the two together. Nonetheless, the current body of literature on the topic provides a promising outlook on …

A Dual-Angle Exploration Towards Understanding Lapses In Covid-19 Social Responsibility, Sean T. H. Lee, Jerome J. X. Mah, Angela K. Y. Leung

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Breaking infection chains requires not just behaviours that allow individuals to stay healthy and uninfected (i.e. health protective behaviours) but also for those who are possibly infected to protect others from their harboured infection risk (i.e. socially responsible behaviours). However, socially responsible behaviours entail costs without clear, immediate benefits to the individual, such that public health-risking lapses occur from time to time. In this important yet understudied area, the current exploratory study sought to identify possible psychological factors that may affect people's likelihood of engaging in socially responsible behaviours. Assuming that self-perceived infection should provide an impetus to engage in …

Determining The Feasibility Of A Codesigned And Personalised Intervention (Veg4me) To Improve Vegetable Intake In Young Adults Living In Rural Australian Communities: Protocol For A Randomised Controlled Trial, Katherine M. Livingstone, Jonathan C. Rawstorn, Stephanie R. Partridge, Yuxin Zhang, Eric O, Stephanie L. Godrich, Sarah A. Mcnaughton, Gilly A. Hendrie, Kate Dullaghan, Gavin Abbott, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Ralph Maddison, Scott Barnett, John C. Mathers, Laura Alston

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

INTRODUCTION: Diets low in vegetables are a main contributor to the health burden experienced by young adults in rural communities. Digital health interventions provide an accessible delivery model that can be personalised to meet the diverse preferences of young adults. A personalisable digital vegetable intake intervention (Veg4Me) was codesigned to meet the needs of young adults living in rural communities. This study will determine the feasibility of delivering a personalised Veg4Me programme and compare preliminary effects with a non-personalised Veg4Me (control). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A 12-week assessor-blinded, two-arm, parallel randomised controlled trial will be undertaken from August 2023 until April …

County-Level Trends And Potential Disparities In The Suicide Rates In Virginia, 2020 – 2022, Sharon A. Olowoyo, Oluwatosin M. Oduneye, Glodi B. Bokanya, Ayooluwa G. Olowoyo, Coralie E. Mugenga, Yuhan Yan, Robyn L. Anderson

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

Abstract

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the influence of social determinants of health (SDH) on suicide patterns in the state of Virginia.

Methods

A secondary statistical analysis was conducted using publicly accessible data from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps database for Virginia. Data from 2020 to 2022 were analyzed, focusing on age-adjusted suicide rates and SDH factors, including % rural, mental health provider rate, median household income, high school completion, and unemployment rates. Multiple regression analysis and visualizations were employed for data interpretation.

Results

The analysis revealed that SDH factors significantly predicted suicide rates across the study period. …

Predictive Power Of Wastewater For Nowcasting Infectious Disease Transmission: A Retrospective Case Study Of Five Sewershed Areas In Louisville, Kentucky, Fayette Klaassen, Rochelle H. Holm, Ted Smith, Ted Cohen, Aruni Bhatnagar, Nicolas A. Menzies

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Epidemiological nowcasting traditionally relies on count surveillance data. The availability and quality of such count data may vary over time, limiting representation of true infections. Wastewater data correlates with traditional surveillance data and may provide additional value for nowcasting disease trends. Methods: We obtained SARS-CoV-2 case, death, wastewater, and serosurvey data for Jefferson County, Kentucky (USA), between August 2020 and March 2021, and parameterized an existing nowcasting model using combinations of these data. We assessed the predictive performance and variability at the sewershed level and compared the effects of adding or replacing wastewater data to case and death reports. …

A Case Study In Program Evaluation, Kayla Shepherd

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

A program evaluation of a case study presented by the College of Public Health. This case study included a fictitious MRSA outbreak at a Kentucky high school football camp and the response of the Fayette County Public School System (FCPS) and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (LFCHD). Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Framework for Program Evaluation, I evaluated the Educational Infectious Disease Program designed by the FCPS and LFCHD. I provided recommendations to help improve the success of the program.

Team Up Against Overdose Deaths, Mary Elizabeth Pendergrass

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

This grant proposal describes a community collaboration strategy for reducing overdose deaths. Utilizing a Community Advisory Board, the goal of the project is to increase awareness, knowledge, and usage of the Good Samaritan Law to obtain emergency medical care.

Influenza Prevalence And Risk Factors: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Kiran Ganesh Balakrishnan, Mohd Rizal Abd Manaf, Mohd Rohaizat Hassan, Mohd Kamarul Imran Musa, Azizul Rahman Mohamad Jamil, Norhaslira Abdul Rahim, Umi Kalsom Satariah Ali, Rahman Jamal

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Influenza infection can lead to mortality and morbidity. In densely populated Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the transmission of influenza-like illness (ILI) is high. This study assessed the prevalence and epidemiology of influenza in the target population.

Methods: A cross-sectional convenience sample study was conducted in government clinics of Cheras, Malaysia, from November 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. Consent was sought from patients older than 18 years with symptoms of ILI (fever, cough, and onset within 10 days). A nasopharyngeal swab preceded an influenza rapid test. Logistic regression was used in SPSS 22.0 to evaluate the data.

Results …

Physical Therapy Professionals’ Opioid Knowledge And Attitudes In A Midwestern State: A Cross Sectional Survey, Steven G. Kinney, John D. Kiesel

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To determine perspectives towards opioid use, knowledge on managing an opioid overdose, and awareness towards individuals who use opioids of Indiana physical therapy (PT) professionals. Methods: An online questionnaire was disseminated to PT professionals in Indiana from various practice settings. This questionnaire included two standardized measures, the Opioid Overdose Knowledge Scale (OOKS) and the Opioid Overdose Attitude Scale (OOAS). An additional 12 questions regarding the role of PT and other groups in the opioid crisis as well as opioid education were included. These questions were developed by discussion between investigators as well as feedback from another rehabilitation professional. Descriptive …

The Importance Of Triple Panel Testing For Hepatitis B And The Burden Of Isolated Anti-Hepatitis B Core Antibodies Within A Community Sample, Catherine Freeland, Vivek Sreepathi, Richard Hass, Jonathan Fenkel, Jessie Torgersen, Kenneth Rothstein, Chari Cohen, Robert Gish

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Within the United States (US), 2.4 million individuals are living with chronic hepatitis B, but less than 20% are diagnosed. Isolated anti-hepatitis B core (iAHBc) antibodies indicate serology in an individual that is positive for anti-HBc antibodies, while negative for surface antigen (HBsAg) and surface antibodies (anti-HBs). A result of iAHBc could indicate a chronic occult bloodstream infection, necessitating further testing. This study assesses the prevalence and risk factors associated with anti-HBc and iAHBc within community high-risk screening in Greater Philadelphia. Participants (n = 177) were screened for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc during community screening events in 2022. Chi-square tables …

Predictors Of Lung Cancer Screening Recommendation In Virginia Using The Community Health Assessment Survey, Aashish Batheja, Carrie Miller, Sunny Jung Kim, Bernard Fuemmeler F., Rajsh Balkrishnan

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to determine the factors that may influence the probability of being recommended a lung cancer screening by a health professional in Virginia.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Community Health Assessment Survey conducted by the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System and Cancer System in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Cancer Center. SAS software was used to conduct a logistic regression with the following variables: age, sex, race, current smoking status, cancer history, education level, income level, insurance, and rurality.

Results: Statistically significant positive predictors included being a current smoker (OR: 3.504, …

Changing The Playbook For Immigrant Health, Cheryl Bettigole, Patricia C. Henwood, Sage Myers, Maura Sammon

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Philadelphia’s response to welcoming Afghan evacuees during the COVID-19 pandemic suggests the need for a new approach to immigrant health care.

Greater Traditionalism Predicts Covid-19 Precautionary Behaviors Across 27 Societies, Theodore Samore, D. M. T. Fessler, A. M. Sparks, C. Holbrook, L. Aaroe, Norman P. Li, Kai Lin Lynn Tan, Et Al

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

People vary both in their embrace of their society’s traditions, and in their perception of hazards as salient and necessitating a response. Over evolutionary time, traditions have offered avenues for addressing hazards, plausibly resulting in linkages between orientations toward tradition and orientations toward danger. Emerging research documents connections between traditionalism and threat responsivity, including pathogen-avoidance motivations. Additionally, because hazard-mitigating behaviors can conflict with competing priorities, associations between traditionalism and pathogen avoidance may hinge on contextually contingent tradeoffs. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a real-world test of the posited relationship between traditionalism and hazard avoidance. Across 27 societies (N = 7844), we …

Combat Covid-19 At National Level Using Risk Stratification With Appropriate Intervention, Xuan Jin, Kar Way Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In the national battle against COVID-19, harnessing population-level big data is imperative, enabling authorities to devise effective care policies, allocate healthcare resources efficiently, and enact targeted interventions. Singapore adopted the Home Recovery Programme (HRP) in September 2021, diverting low-risk COVID-19 patients to home care to ease hospital burdens amid high vaccination rates and mild symptoms. While a patient's suitability for HRP could be assessed using broad-based criteria, integrating machine learning (ML) model becomes invaluable for identifying high-risk patients prone to severe illness, facilitating early medical assessment. Most prior studies have traditionally depended on clinical and laboratory data, necessitating initial clinic …

The Social Determinants Of Health And Genocide: Towards A Public Health Integrated Framework Of Genocide And Mass Violence, Sian Persad, Cheng Xu

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This paper makes a normative argument about transformations of public health as a necessary condition required in any transitional justice process. We seek to bridge the gap between the fields of genocide and public health to understand the recursive relationship between genocide and the social determinants of health. We show that structures and institutions established during genocide create enduring impacts on the public health outcomes of victim and survivor groups even after the ousting of the original perpetrators. Our comparative analysis of the Rwandan Genocide and the colonial genocide of Indigenous communities in Canada surveys the available public health literature …

Conference Proceedings: Select Abstracts Presented At 2023 Advocate Aurora Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This abstract supplement includes findings presented at the 49th annual Advocate Aurora Scientific Day on May 24, 2023. The Scientific Day symposium provides a virtual forum for the sharing of preliminary results from research and case studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and other health professionals associated with Illinois-based Advocate Health Care and Wisconsin-based Aurora Health Care.

How Does The Us Media Frame Personal Experiences Of Termination Of Pregnancy, Christina Relacion

Student Works

Limited studies have examined the lived experience of those facing termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly in the U.S., particularly after the 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. There exists a body of research elsewhere around the world studying how the media frames these experiences, but little is known about the role American media organizations play as health educators for critical reproductive healthcare topics, such as the termination of pregnancy. This critical analysis sought to understand how the U.S. media frames personal accounts of those who have experienced termination of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly, or …

Community Exercise Program Participation And Mental Well-Being In The U.S. Texas-Mexico Border Region, Alma G. Ochoa Del-Toro, Lisa A. Mitchell-Bennett, Michael Machiorlatti, Candace A. Robledo, Amanda C. Davé, Rebecca N. Lozoya, Belinda M. Reininger

School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Hispanics are disproportionately affected by low rates of physical activity and high rates of chronic diseases. Hispanics generally and Mexican Americans specifically are underrepresented in research on physical activity and its impact on mental well-being. Some community-based interventions have been effective in increasing physical activity among Hispanics. This study examined data from a sample of low-income Hispanic participants in free community exercise classes to characterize the association between self-reported frequency of exercise class attendance, intensity of physical activity, and participant well-being. As part of two cross-sectional samples recruited from a stratified random sample of community exercise classes, 302 participants completed …

The Prevalence Of Covid-19 Misinformation Among High School Students And Its Influence On National Public Health Perception, Isha Patel

International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

The global COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to national public health perception and the detriments of medical misinformation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent to which susceptibility to common COVID-19 virus and vaccine misconceptions correlate with the high school students’ perception of public health. A survey was distributed to 61 high school students, and it was found that there is a weak negative correlation between acceptance of COVID-19 virus and vaccine misconceptions and national public health perception. The results, however, indicated a prevalence of misconceptions surrounding COVID-19 among participants. Overall, 52.5% of participants rate public health as …

Locked Up: A Look Into Healthcare Behind Bars, Ella Davis

BUHealth

The United States incarceration rate is the highest in the world. Incarcerated individuals are guaranteed a right to healthcare but, it falls short in many correctional facilities, as systemic barriers and inadequate funding often result in substandard care and poor health outcomes. There are multiple challenges that come with providing healthcare in prisons such as limited resources, lack of funding, and staff shortages. Prisoners at every level of the correctional system are known to be less healthy than the general population, and despite multiple efforts to improve healthcare, many prisoners still receive inadequate healthcare. Improving prison healthcare and increasing funding …

Addressing Cervical Cancer Disparities In Texas: Expansion Of A Community-Based Prevention Initiative For Medically Underserved Populations, Samantha H. Batman, Melissa L. Varon, Maria Daheri, Tony Ogburn, Saul D. Rivas, Laura Guerra, Paul Toscano, Monica Gasca, Lori Campos, Savanah Foster

School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Although cervical cancer is preventable, significant disparities exist in access to screening and prevention services. In medically underserved areas (MUAs) of Texas, these rates are 55% higher compared to the remainder of the US. In 2019, we expanded a multicomponent, comprehensive program to improve cervical cancer prevention in partnership with 13 clinics and mobile vans in MUAs of Texas. Our multicomponent intervention program consists of community education and patient navigation coupled with a training/mentoring program for local medical providers to perform diagnostic procedures and treatment for patients with abnormal screening results. Hands-on training courses to learn these skills are coupled …

A Logistics Approach To Improve Medication Reconciliation In The Outpatient Clinic Setting, Aysha Khan, Demetra Antimisiaris, Madison Perkins, Luz Fernandez

The Cardinal Edge

Medication reconciliation (MR) is the process of determining the most accurate account of medication the patient is taking. Although MR seems simple, research has shown that 25% of medical errors are related to lack of medication reconciliation [1]. In the community clinic setting, the task of medication reconciliation falls on the Medical Assistants (MAs). A preliminary study of MR accuracy in an outpatient clinic found an average of 5.8 discrepancies in the chart medication list [2]. The most notable were incomplete directions, wrong directions, or wrong frequency of dosing. Unoptimized medication use is estimated to result in 275,869 deaths per …

"I Believe More In The Ability Of The Small Person To Make Big Changes": Innovation And Social Entrepreneurship To Promote Public Health In Israel., Keren Dopelt, Nila Mordehay, Shir Goren, Aviya Cohen, Paul Barach

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Social entrepreneurship has grown worldwide in recent decades as it attempts to create and implement innovative solutions to social and environmental issues through business strategies. The aim of this study was to explore what motivates public health social entrepreneurs to act, the challenges and barriers they face, achievements, and competencies required for success. As such, we interviewed 15 social entrepreneurs in Israel. Budget issues, regulatory barriers, and struggles against powerful companies were the frequent barriers to success. The interviewees indicated several achievements at the health policy level by positioning and becoming an authority in the field, positively influencing other people's …

Public Health Ai Assignment, Amber Lyon-Colbert

AI Assignment Library

This assignment utilizes course foundational knowledge: Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities. This assignment addresses and strengthens our CEPH Competency #5 D2-11 Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Adaptability In Community-Based Participatory Research: Comparisons Of Coalitions In The Deep South, Candace Forbes Bright Phd

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Health inequities in the Gulf states are complex issues to resolve, and no single solution or strategy can improve the health rankings in each state. Yet, using grassroots approaches and building community partnerships are promising strategies to identify important health issues and opportunities for policy change. Purpose: This paper illustrates how the Gulf States Health Policy Center coalitions in four different locations used the same community-based participatory research model, but with distinct differences in processes, across nine projects to address issues that negatively affected population health. Methods: Recognizing that communities have unique needs, resources, and complementary health efforts, we …

Strategies For Strengthening The Resilience Of Public Health Systems For Pandemics, Disasters, And Other Emergencies, Benjamin Ryan, Mayumi Kako, Rok Fink, Perihan Şimşek, Paul Barach, Jose Acosta, Sanjaya Bhatia, Mark Brickhouse, Matthew Fendt, Alicia Fontenot, Nahuel Arenas Garcia, Shelby Garner, Abdülkadir Gunduz, D Mike Hardin, Tim Hatch, Lashonda Malrey-Horne, Makiko Macdermot, Ryoma Kayano, Joshua Mckone, Chaverle Noel, Shuhei Nomura, Jeremy Novak, Andrew Stricklin, Raymond Swienton, Ismail Tayfur, Bryan Brooks

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize strategies for strengthening public health system resilience for pandemics, disasters, and other emergencies using a scorecard approach.

METHODS: The United Nations Public Health System Resilience Scorecard (Scorecard) was applied across 5 workshops in Slovenia, Turkey, and the United States of America. The workshops focused on participants reviewing and discussing 23 questions/indicators. A Likert type scale was used for scoring with zero being the lowest and 5 the highest. The workshop scores were analyzed and discussed by participants to prioritize areas of need and develop resilience strategies. Data from all …

Critical Issues In Community Health Course At Kingsborough Cc (Coh 1200) - Fall 2023, Jose Nanin

Open Educational Resources

This syllabus includes OER materials and college policies for a fully online course that exposes students to a range of topics and methods that health specialists use to research health disparities in affected communities. Through readings and videos, as well as online course assignments and discussions, students learn about library/database research methods, credibility of health information, and the health disparities most commonly occurring in modern society.

Low-Cost Pm2.5 Sensors Can Help Identify Driving Factors Of Poor Air Quality And Benefit Communities, Tim Keyes, Rea Domingo, Samantha Dynowski, Royal Graves, Martha Klein, Melissa Leonard, John Pilgrim, Alison Sanchirico, Kate Trinkaus

WCBT Faculty Publications

Air quality is critical for public health. Residents rely chiefly on government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States to establish standards for the measurement of harmful contaminants including ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and fine particulate matter at or below 2.5 μm. According to the California Air Resources Board [1], “short-term PM2.5 exposure (up to 24-h duration) has been associated with premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for heart or lung causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, emergency room visits, respiratory symptoms, and restricted activity days”. While public agency resources …