Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons^™

Development Of A Pharmacy Service-Learning Course About Vulnerable And Underserved Patient Care, Josephine P. Aranda, Jeffrey D. Luke, Kimberly S. Plake

Engagement & Service-Learning Summit

No abstract provided.

Dietary Fat Intake And Reproductive Hormone Concentrations And Ovulation In Regularly Menstruating Women, Sunni L. Mumford, Jorge E. Chavarro, Cuilin Zhang, Neil J. Perkins, Lindsey A. Sjaarda, Anna Z. Pollack, Karen C. Schliep, Kara A. Michels, Shvetha M. Zarek, Torie C. Plowden, Rose G. Radin, Lynne C. Messer, Robyn A. Frankel, Jean Wactawski-Wende

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Emerging evidence suggests potential links between some dietary fatty acids and improved fertility, because specific fatty acids may affect prostaglandin synthesis and steroidogenesis.

Objective: The objective of this exploratory study was to evaluate associations between total and specific types of dietary fat intake and 1) hormone concentrations and 2) the risk of sporadic anovulation in a cohort of 259 regularly menstruating women in the BioCycle Study.

Design: Endogenous reproductive hormones were measured up to 8 times/cycle for up to 2 cycles, with visits scheduled with the use of fertility monitors. Dietary intake was assessed with up to …

Childhood Obesity Prevalence, Determinants, Disparities, And Interventions: A Review Of The Current Literature, Robin M. Mertens

Kinesiology and Public Health

No abstract provided.

Maternal Leisure-Time Physical Activity And Risk Of Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Mira Kahn, Loretta Dipietro, Kimberly Robien

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant death and regular physical activity may reduce the risk for preterm birth because of its beneficial effects on pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, excessive weight gain, and gestational diabetes. On average, however, pregnant women report lower levels of physical activity compared with those who are not pregnant. This systematic review examined low, moderate and vigorous leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy and the outcome of preterm birth.

Methods: Key words related to preterm birth and physical activity were used to search relevant databases (Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Sports Discuss and Scopus). Studies …

Predictors Of Malnutrition In Different Geographic Regions Of Peru, Elizabeth Lacroix

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Malnutrition is responsible for over 3 million childhood deaths each year. Those who survive early nutritional deficiencies and the subsequent growth failure face life-long consequences, including long-term deficits in cognitive development, decreased academic achievement, and reduced economic opportunities later in life. Low height for age, or stunting, indicates chronic malnutrition, while low weight for height (wasting) indicates acute malnutrition. Caloric deficiencies, micronutrient deficiencies, intestinal parasites, and diarrheal diseases all directly contribute to acute and chronic undernutrition.

Peru is an ethnically and geographically diverse country that has experienced great economic growth and dramatic health improvements in the last decade. Nationally, stunting …

Promotion Of Drinking Water Among Latino Immigrant Youth, Nicole Barrett, Allison Elkins, Uriyoan Colón-Ramos, Ivonne Rivera, W. Douglas Evans, Mark Edberg

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Objective: To design an innovative intervention to increase drinking water behaviors among Latino immigrant youth.

Methods: We conducted two rounds of focus groups, totaling 10 sessions (n=61), with Latino immigrant youth, aged 6-18 years, living in Langley Park, Maryland. Participants were stratified into focus groups by age group (elementary, middle, and high school) and language preference (Spanish and English). A professional, bilingual-speaking moderator used a semistructured discussion guide to examine: (1) what youth preferred to drink in different settings and why, (2) their reactions to promotional messages, (3) slogans that would entice them to drink more water in school and …

Smoking Characteristics And Psychiatric Comorbidities Of Pregnant Smokers: An Analysis Of Quit4baby Randomized Controlled Trial, Shawn Chiang, Lorien C. Abroms, Jennifer M. Schindler-Ruwisch, Leah E. Leavitt

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Text messaging or short message service (SMS) programs have been shown to be effective in helping adult smokers quit smoking (Abroms et al., 2014). However, to our knowledge, no prior research has examined psychiatric comorbidities associated with smoking in the text messaging context. The risk of smoking has been shown to increase as a function of the number of psychiatric illnesses with which a person is diagnosed (Aubin, Rollema, Svensson, & Winterer, 2012). The current study examined this association and other correlates of smoking-psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of U.S. pregnant smokers enrolled in Quit4Baby, a smoking cessation text …

Community Health News, Georgia Southern University

Community Health Department News (2011-2018)

• Georgia Southern Examines Racial Disparities in Emotional Distress among Cancer Survivors

The Public Health Information Technology Maturity Index: An Approach To Evaluating The Adoption And Use Of Public Health Information Technology, Kenyon Crowley, Robert S. Gold, Sruthi Bandi, Ritu Agarwal

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: Public health information technology (PHIT) has the potential to improve the effective and efficient use of information in achieving public health objectives. Information technology maturity models have been extensively used in other domains to guide information technology assessment and planning, but an information technology maturity model tailored for public health departments has heretofore been unavailable.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a Public Health Information Technology Maturity Index.

Methods: An extensive literature review and content analysis was conducted of information system adoption, use, and maturity in general and in the public health systems and services research …

Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Perspectives Of Key Players From Social Networks In A Low-Income Rural Us Region, Nancy E. Schoenberg, Kathryn Eddens, Adam Jonas, Claire Snell-Rood, Christina R. Studts, Benjamin Broder-Oldach, Mira L. Katz

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Social networks influence health behavior and health status. Within social networks, “key players” often influence those around them, particularly in traditionally underserved areas like the Appalachian region in the USA. From a total sample of 787 Appalachian residents, we identified and interviewed 10 key players in complex networks, asking them what comprises a key player, their role in their network and community, and ideas to overcome and increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Key players emphasized their communication skills, resourcefulness, and special occupational and educational status in the community. Barriers to CRC screening included negative perceptions of the colonoscopy screening procedure, …

Evidence For The Role Of Resource-Sharing Networks In Coalition Development, Margaret Mcgladrey, Angela Carman Drph

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Background: Accreditation bodies and sponsors of community health projects increasingly require the use of health coalitions in community health planning efforts to ensure buy-in, leverage resources, and distribute health information. Despite a substantive body of research documenting the characteristics of successful health coalitions, little is known about how team dynamics in these coalitions evolve.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to employ social network analysis techniques to evaluate whether coalitions’ relative stages in Tuckman’s stages of team development model were associated with specific patterns of advice-, information-, and resource-sharing among the eight coalitions participating in a region-wide …

Transportation And Retention In Outpatient Drug Abuse Treatment Programs, Peter Friedmann, Stephenie Lemon, Michael Stein

Peter D. Friedmann MD

To determine whether certain types of transportation assistance improve outpatient treatment retention beyond thresholds shown to have therapeutic benefits, we analyzed data from 1,144 clients in 22 outpatient methadone maintenance (OMM) programs and 2,031 clients in 22 outpatient drug-free (ODF) programs in the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes Study (DATOS), a national, 12-month, longitudinal study of drug abuse treatment programs. Directors' surveys provided information about provision of car, van, or contracted transportation services or individual vouchers/payment for public transportation. Chart-abstracted treatment retention was dichotomized at 365 days for OMM and 90 days for ODF. Separate multivariate hierarchical linear models revealed that …

Hospital Discharge Planning In Medicare: Current Requirements And Proposed Changes, Sally Coberly

National Health Policy Forum

Medicare's specific minimum health and safety standards for hospitals, known as conditions of participation, include requirements for discharge planning for patients who need such services. Discharge planning is intended to ensure smooth transitions from hospital to home or other health care facility. This publication reviews the current discharge planning requirements for hospitals as well as changes included in a proposed rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on November 3, 2015. Key proposed changes include an expanded definition of which patients must receive discharge planning services, a requirement that providers responsible for follow-up care receive timely …

Community Health News, Georgia Southern University

Community Health Department News (2011-2018)

• Georgia Southern Examines Latinos’ views of Co-Morbid Chronic Disease and Minor Depression

A Model For Hiv Disclosure Of A Parent's And/Or A Child's Illness, Gary J. Burkholder Jr, Grace Gachanja

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

HIV prevalence in Kenya remains steady at 5.6% for adults 15 years and older, and 0.9% among children aged below 14 years. Parents and children are known to practice unprotected sex, which has implications for continued HIV spread within the country. Additionally, due to increased accessibility of antiretroviral therapy, more HIV-positive persons are living longer. Therefore, the need for HIV disclosure of a parent's and/or a child's HIV status within the country will continue for years to come. We conducted a qualitative phenomenological study to understand the entire process of disclosure from the time of initial HIV diagnosis of an …

Piscataquis Thriving In Place Collaborative Year 1 Evaluation Report, University Of Maine Center On Aging

Maine Center on Aging Education and Training

The Piscataquis Thriving in Place Collaboration's mission is to improve regional services and supports that help adults with chronic health conditions remain in their homes avoid unnecessary hospitalization. The following report presents evaluation results from Year 1 of the Piscataquis Thriving in Place Collaborative gained through survey work and Ripple Effects Mapping. sessions conducted with project workgroups. Project outcomes during the first year were diverse, but can be roughly categorized into the areas of increased knowledge of community needs among collaborative members, increased knowledge of available resources to support thriving in place, and expansion of services and supports in response …

Using Capture-Recapture Methods To Estimate The Population Of People Who Inject Drugs In Washington, Dc, Monica S. Ruiz, Allison O'Rourke, Sean T. Allen

Prevention and Community Health Faculty Publications

No current estimates exist for the size of the population of people who inject drugs (PWID) in the District of Columbia (DC). The WHO/UNAIDS Guidelines on Estimating the Size of Populations Most at Risk to HIV was used as the methodological framework to estimate the DC PWID population. The capture phase recruited harm reduction agency clients; the recapture phase recruited community-based PWID. The 951 participants were predominantly Black (83.9 %), male (69.8 %), and 40+ years of age (68.2 %). Approximately 50.3 % reported injecting drugs in the past 30 days. We estimate approximately 8829 (95 % CI 4899 and …

Assessing Syringe Exchange Program Access Among Persons Who Inject Drugs (Pwid) In The District Of Columbia, Sean T. Allen, Monica S. Ruiz, Jeff Jones

Prevention and Community Health Faculty Publications

Prior research has explored spatial access to syringe exchange programs (SEPs) among persons who inject drugs (PWID), but these studies have been based on limited data from short periods of time. No research has explored changes in spatial access to SEPs among PWID longitudinally. The purpose of this research is to examine spatial access to SEPs among PWID who accessed services at a SEP in Washington, District of Columbia (DC), from 1996 to 2010. The geometric point distance estimation technique was used to calculate the mean walking distance PWID traveled from the centroid point of their zip code of home …

Rural Opioid Abuse: Prevalence And User Characteristics, Jennifer D. Lenardson Mhs, John A. Gale Ms, Erika C. Ziller Phd

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

This study examined the prevalence of non-medical use of pain relievers and heroin in the past year in rural and urban areas and the socio-demographic and economic characteristics associated with their use. Additionally, we examined opioid use by age at first use as well as dependence and abuse; treatment history and perceived need for treatment; use of alcohol and other drugs; perceived risk of using drugs and availability of drugs; problems resulting from the use of drugs; driving under the influence; and illegal activities and arrest records.

Theory-Driven Longitudinal Study Exploring Indoor Tanning Initiation In Teens Using A Person-Centered Approach, Joel J. Hillhouse, Rob Turrisi, Michael J. Cleveland, Nichole M. Scaglione, Katie Baker, L. Carter Florence

ETSU Faculty Works

Background

Younger indoor tanning initiation leads to greater melanoma risk due to more frequent and persistent behavior. Despite this, there are no published studies exploring the predictors of indoor tanning initiation in teen populations.

Purpose

This longitudinal study uses latent profile analysis to examine indoor tanning initiation in indoor tanning risk subgroups from a national sample of female adolescents.

Methods

Latent profile analysis used indoor tanning beliefs and perceptions to identify indoor tanning initiation risk subgroups. The teens in each subgroup were reassessed on indoor tanning initiation after a year.

Results

Three subgroups were identified: a low risk, anti-tanning subgroup …