Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Public Health Nurses’ Perceptions Of Syringe Services Programs In Southern Rural Areas, Joel Lowery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public health nurses are potentially key stakeholders in syringe services program (SSP) implementation in rural areas, where they can act as liaisons between public health, private healthcare, and the community. However, little research reflects an in-depth understanding of how public health nurses perceive SSPs in rural areas. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of syringe services programs held by public health nurses practicing in rural areas with no existing SSPs in southern states and ascertain their potential roles in facilitating harm reduction for people who inject drugs. This study was guided by a conceptual framework …

2025 Celebration Of Scholarship, Creativity, And Engagement, Todd Bruns, Jaime Pedigo, Jennifer Smith, Patty Watson, Heather Wohltman, Amanda Wolf

Programs

Each year, Eastern Illinois University proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of our faculty in research, creativity, and engagement. This collection of accomplishments reflects the dedication of an engaged faculty committed to excellence and the continual pursuit of knowledge. Many of these successes were made possible through meaningful collaboration with our students, who contribute as co-authors, research assistants, and partners in bringing ideas to life. Some of these professional milestones represent years of effort, demonstrating remarkable persistence and determination. We offer our heartfelt congratulations on this wide range of achievements, which bring distinction to our departments, colleges, and the University as …

“The Gout: A Medical Microcosm In A Changing World”, Dorian Haskard

History of Medicine Seminar

Topics discussed in this session:

• The Gout in the Eighteenth Century
• Food availability
• Gout as a modern medical microcosm
• Causes of hyperuricaemia and gout

A Case Study Of Ai-Enabled Software As A Medical Device Cleared By The Fda For Assessing Hemorrhage Risk Index (Appraise-Hri) After Trauma, Andrew Frock, Jeffrey T Robbins, Francisco G Vital-Lopez, Valmik Desai, Gheorghe Doros, Barry E Sands, Arunkumar Prabhakaran, Christopher Nemeth, Gregory T Rule, Jason L Sperry, Francis X Guyette, Stephen R Wisniewski, Ernest E Moore, Martin Schreiber, Bellal Joseph, Chad T Wilson, Bryan Cotton, Daniel Ostermayer, Brian G Harbrecht, Mayur B Patel, Suzanne Tamang, Sanjay Malunjkar, David A Spain, Andrew T Reisner, Jonathan D Stallings, Jaques Reifman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death on the battlefield, yet combat medics lack clinical decision support systems to help stratify hemorrhage risk in trauma casualties. We previously trained the Automated Processing of the Physiological Registry for Assessment of Injury Severity - Hemorrhage Risk Index (APPRAISE-HRI) software to associate patterns in vital signs (heart rate and blood pressure) collected from trauma patients with three HRI levels: I (low), II (average), or III (high). To independently validate APPRAISE-HRI and obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance, we collected trauma registry and continuous vital sign data from 5895 trauma patients …

Type I Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Randomised Controlled Trial To Address Intergenerational Impact Of War Trauma And Resilience Among Second-Generation Refugee Children In The Usa: Resettled Refugee Families For Healing (Rrf4h) Study Protocol, Nhial T Tutlam, Tewodros W Liyew, Theresa S Betancourt, Byron J Powell, Shenyang Guo, Mary Mckay, Fred M Ssewamala

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Children from refugee families resettled in the USA face higher risks of serious mental health challenges compared with their native-born peers. Research shows that refugee youth in high-income countries frequently suffer from trauma-associated disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. The high prevalence of trauma-associated mental health problems among these youth may be attributed to their own trauma exposure, especially if born in conflict zones, and post-resettlement challenges like poverty, acculturation difficulties, racism and discrimination. However, they may also suffer from the effects of intergenerational trauma, where parental war trauma impacts them. This study aims to …

Promising Practices For Increasing The Number Of Equity-Owed Lifeguards In Canada And The United States Of America, Sofia Pantano, Audrey R. Giles

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Currently a shortage of lifeguards exists in Canada and the United States (US) (Frommer, 2023; Santucci, 2024), and those who are working as lifeguards often do not reflect the diversity of the communities they serve (Martinez, 2020). Increasing the number of lifeguards from equity-owed groups is a potential way of increasing the lifeguard workforce and decreasing the shortage of workers in these important roles, as well as a moral imperative. In this paper I explore challenges to and promising practices aimed at increasing the representation of members equity-owed groups in lifeguarding. I begin with an overview of lifeguarding in Canada …

J Am Coll Dent 2022 89 2

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Journal of the American College of Dentists (JACD) publishes scholarly articles, editorials, essays, and reflections addressing the ethical, professional, and social dimensions of dentistry. The Journal serves as a forum for advancing ethics, professionalism, leadership, and excellence within the dental community. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and perspectives, JACD provides readers with insights that encourage ethical, professional practice, lifelong learning, and service to the public, reinforcing dentistry’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare and the common good.

J Am Coll Dent 2020 87 3

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Journal of the American College of Dentists (JACD) publishes scholarly articles, editorials, essays, and reflections addressing the ethical, professional, and social dimensions of dentistry. The Journal serves as a forum for advancing ethics, professionalism, leadership, and excellence within the dental community. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and perspectives, JACD provides readers with insights that encourage ethical, professional practice, lifelong learning, and service to the public, reinforcing dentistry’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare and the common good.

J Am Coll Dent 2019 86 3

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Journal of the American College of Dentists (JACD) publishes scholarly articles, editorials, essays, and reflections addressing the ethical, professional, and social dimensions of dentistry. The Journal serves as a forum for advancing ethics, professionalism, leadership, and excellence within the dental community. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and perspectives, JACD provides readers with insights that encourage ethical, professional practice, lifelong learning, and service to the public, reinforcing dentistry’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare and the common good.

Fear Of Covid-19 And Hygiene Behaviors: A Study Of Secondary School Students In İstanbul ​, Zozan Göksu, Hayri̇ye Kirkoyun Uysal, Mehmet Demi̇rci̇, Di̇lek Dülger, Seda Eki̇ci̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: This study investigates the relationship between fear of COVID-19, measured using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and the hygiene behaviors of secondary school students, assessed with the Hygiene Behavior Scale (HBS).

Materials and methods: Included in this cross-sectional study were 206 secondary school students. The study data were analyzed using multivariate linear regression.

Results: No relationship was found between the fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S) score of the student sample and the mean total HBS and subdimension values (p > 0.05). It was noted that positive hygiene behaviors decreased as the scale score increased. Students with retired mothers scored …

A Social Media Campaign And Web-Based Survey About Prostate Cancer Genetics: Mixed Methods Study, Amy Leader, Stacy Loeb, Preethi Selvan, Ashley Hunter, Rebecca Hartman, Scott Keith, Veda Giri

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Germline genetic variants are important for prostate cancer (PCa) management and hereditary cancer risk assessment, but testing is underused. Furthermore, patients are often unaware of the genetic connections to PCa. Social media is increasingly serving as a source of awareness for health information and a method to gather data from a large population.

OBJECTIVE: There were three objectives: to (1) create and test social media messages related to PCa genetics and genetic testing, (2) determine which social media message was most engaging, and (3) assess knowledge of and attitudes toward PCa genetic testing through an online survey using the …

Advancements In Prenatal Genetic Screening And Testing: Emerging Technologies And Evolving Applications, Mona M Makhamreh, Mei Ling Chong, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Advancements in genomic technologies have transformed prenatal genetic testing, offering more accurate, comprehensive, and noninvasive approaches to reproductive care. This review provides an in-depth overview of current methodologies and emerging innovations, including expanded carrier screening (ECS), cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and sequencing-based diagnostics. We highlight how next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized carrier screening and fetal genome analysis, enabling detection of a broad spectrum of genetic conditions. The clinical implementation of cfDNA has expanded from common aneuploidies to include copy number variants (CNVs), and single-gene disorders. Diagnostic testing has similarly evolved, with genome sequencing outperforming traditional …

Problem-Solving Training To Improve Caregiver Burden And Depressive Symptoms Among Dementia Caregivers: Personal And Clinical Factors Of Responders Vs. Non-Responders, Shannon B. Juengst, Matthew Lee Smith, Kristin Wilmoth, Brittany Wright, Gang Han, Charlene Supnet, Gladys Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Metacognitive strategy training interventions, like Problem-Solving Training/Descubriendo Soluciones Juntos (PST/DSJ), have efficacy for improving caregiver burden and depressive symptoms. We previously demonstrated that PST/DSJ improved caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among caregivers of adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD), regardless of the number of sessions or boosters received. However, these results did not examine factors characterizing those who responded (improvement in caregiver burden or depressive symptoms) or did not respond to the intervention.

Objective: To identify key personal and clinical factors associated with response to PST/DSJ. Personal factors included age, gender, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, and employment …

Alternative And Traditional Schooling On Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Alaska Native Youth In The Lower Kuskokwim, Nathaniel Hebert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alaska Native youth experience disproportionately high rates of sexual risk, yet disaggregated data and school-contextual analyses remain limited. Understanding how school type (alternative vs. traditional) and individual factors influence sexual risk among Alaska Native youth is essential for informing targeted, culturally responsive health interventions and addressing ongoing health disparities. This quantitative study aimed to examine the association between three behaviors (condom use, multiple sexual partners, and substance use) by school type, controlling for gender, grade level, body mass index, and afterschool activity. Guided by the social-ecological model, this cross-sectional study provided new insights into the relationship between school type and …

Physical Activity, Cultural Tourism And Social Inclusion For Persons With Down Syndrome, Dana Ioana Cristea, Anca Cristina Pop, Corina Florina Tătar, Raluca Buhaș, Dariusz Jacek Olszewski-Strzyżowski, Mirela Ștef

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) need customized attention. By providing an inclusive environment and tailored cultural support, meaningful and enjoyable tourism experiences can be created for them. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the daily energy expenditure of DS individuals after undertaking a walking tour and the impact on their physical activity level. Methods: In the current study, three questionnaires were completed by the DS participants and their parents to assess the walking tour satisfaction level and social integration, the daily energy expenditure as a result of walking depending on an adapted cultural route, and the …

Propelling Aging-Related Initiatives In A Next-Gen Cooperative Extension System: Editors’ Introduction To The Jhse Special Issue On Aging, Erin L. Martinez, James S. Bates

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Volume 13, Number 2, James S. Bates, Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Erin L. Martinez

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 34, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

FEATURES

4 | Jordan Robison Profile

6 | LLUSN Mission Service— A Living Legacy

10 | Steps to a New School

12 | Entry Level Master’s at Murietta

LLUSN HIGHLIGHTS

14-21 | ALUMNI NEWS

22-27 | ACADEMICS

28-33 | HOMECOMING

34-37 | FACULTY UPDATES

Accelerating Precision Exercise Medicine In Cancer Patients Using Pooled Individual Patient Data: Polaris Experience, Laurien M. Buffart, Marlou Floor Kenkhuis, Robert U. Newton, Anne M. May, Daniel A. Galvão, Kerry S. Courneya

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Numerous exercise oncology trials have been completed, greatly informing exercise recommendations for patients with cancer. Exercise medicine can be administered in various types, doses, and schedules at various time points. Advancing precision exercise medicine requires understanding of how the effects of different exercise interventions vary by characteristics of individual patients. The Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) study provides an international infrastructure and shared database to perform pooled analyses of individual patient data (IPD) from multiple randomized controlled trials. This commentary aims to highlight the value of pooled IPD analyses, summarize key findings from published pooled IPD analyses …

Epidemiology Of Lower Extremity Amputations In The United States: An Analysis Of The Global Burden Of Disease Database From 1990 To 2019., Peter B Spencer, Cameron J Sabet, Gabrielle Dykhouse, Taylor J Manes, Phillip C Mckegg, Ambrose Loc T Ngo, Ayah Ibrahim, Jack Weick

Surgery Articles

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are medically, psychologically, and functionally devastating. The objective of our study was to evaluate region- and sex-specific differences of unilateral and bilateral LEAs across the United States (US) from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease database was used to analyze years lived with disability (YLDs), prevalence, and incidence rates per 100,000 people for LEAs in the US from 1990 to 2019. Data were stratified into four US Census Bureau-defined regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Differences between regions and sexes were assessed, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS: From 1990 to …

Healing Right Way: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Aiming To Enhance Quality Of Life For Aboriginal Australian Survivors Of Stroke And Traumatic Brain Injury, Elizabeth Armstrong, Tapan Rai, Judith M. Katzenellenbogen, Sandra J. Thompson, Meaghan Mcallister, Natalie Ciccone, Deborah Hersh, Leon Flicker, Dominique A. Cadilhac, Erin Godecke, Graeme J. Hankey, Neil Drew, Colleen Hayward, Deborah Woods, Mel Robinson, Ivan Lin, Sanita Kratina, Jane White, Juli Coffin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To determine the effect of cultural security training (CST) for health professionals and access to an Aboriginal Brain Injury Coordinator (ABIC) for Aboriginal Australians with stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial; the intervention package consisted of CST for hospital professionals and 6-month access to ABICs providing education, support, liaison and advocacy; the commencement order of the intervention phase was randomised. Setting: Four urban and four rural hospitals in Western Australia, 2018–2022. Participants: Aboriginal adults ≥ 18 years hospitalised with stroke or TBI. Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome was quality of life …

Pan-Uk Biobank Genome-Wide Association Analyses Enhance Discovery And Resolution Of Ancestry-Enriched Effects, Konrad J Karczewski, Rahul Gupta, Masahiro Kanai, Wenhan Lu, Kristin Tsuo, Ying Wang, Raymond K Walters, Patrick Turley, Shawneequa Callier, Nirav N Shah, Nikolas Baya, Duncan S Palmer, Jacqueline I Goldstein, Gopal Sarma, Matthew Solomonson, Nathan Cheng, Sam Bryant, Claire Churchhouse, Caroline M Cusick, Timothy Poterba, John Compitello, Daniel King, Wei Zhou, Cotton Seed, Hilary K Finucane, Mark J Daly, Benjamin M Neale, Elizabeth G Atkinson, Alicia R Martin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Large biobanks, such as the UK Biobank (UKB), enable massive phenome by genome-wide association studies that elucidate genetic etiology of complex traits. However, individuals from diverse genetic ancestry groups are often excluded from association analyses due to concerns about population structure introducing false positive associations. Here, we generate mixed model associations and meta-analyses across genetic ancestry groups, inclusive of a larger fraction of the UKB than previous efforts, to produce freely-available summary statistics for 7,266 traits. We build a quality control and analysis framework informed by genetic architecture. Overall, we identify 14,676 significant loci (p < 5 × 10−8) in the meta-analysis that were not found in the EUR genetic ancestry group alone, including novel associations for example between CAMK2D and triglycerides. We also …

Acute Care Of Patients With Moderate Respiratory Distress: Recommendations From An American College Of Emergency Physicians Expert Panel., Christopher W Baugh, Jim F Neuenschwander, Jesslyn Lenox, Jennifer Hoh, Kara Ward, Sara Muramoto, John Casey, Antonio Anzueto, Hajirah Ishaq, Jared Mount, Peter M Deblieux

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

INTRODUCTION: Patients with respiratory distress are frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). Efforts to assess, initiate treatments, and stabilize these patients require a systematic and rapid response. Emergency physicians need a comprehensive and efficient approach for evaluating, treating, and managing patients presenting to the ED with moderate respiratory distress.

METHODS: The American College of Emergency Physicians convened an expert panel of academic and community emergency physicians, critical care specialists, respiratory therapists, hospitalists, and pharmacists to develop and subsequently disseminate consensus recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with moderate respiratory distress presenting to the ED.

RESULTS: A digital …

Toward A Clinically Actionable, Electronic Health Record-Based Machine Learning Model To Forecast 90-Day Change In Hemoglobin A1c In Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: Feasibility And Model Development Study, Erin M. Tallon, David D. Williams, Cintya Schweisberger, Colin Mullaney, Brent Lockee, Diana Ferro, Craig Vandervelden, Mitchell S. Barnes, Angelica Cristello Sarteau, Anna R. Kahkoska, Susana R. Patton, Sanjeev Mehta, Ryan Mcdonough, Marcus Lind, Leonard D'Avolio, Mark A. Clements

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Clinicians currently lack an effective means for identifying youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who are at risk for experiencing glycemic deterioration between diabetes clinic visits. As a result, their ability to identify youth who may optimally benefit from targeted interventions designed to address rising glycemic levels is limited. Although electronic health records (EHR)-based risk predictions have been used to forecast health outcomes in T1D, no study has investigated the potential for using EHR data to identify youth with T1D who will experience a clinically significant rise in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥0.3% (approximately 3 mmol/mol) between diabetes clinic visits. …

Quality Improvement Project Optimizing Opioid Screening: The Impact Of Staff Education In A Pain Management Clinic., Khairunnisa Khan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Chronic pain is a complex condition that often requires long-term opioid therapy, creating challenges for safe prescribing and patient monitoring. Inadequate screening for opioid misuse risk can contribute to unsafe practices, regulatory noncompliance, and patient harm. Validated instruments such as the Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) and the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) are available to guide risk assessment, yet their use in everyday practice remains inconsistent. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate whether targeted staff education improved compliance with opioid risk assessment documentation in a rural pain management clinic. A pre-/post-intervention design was …

Validation Of The Jefferson Health-Related Social Needs Screener, Sara Beachy, Kristin L. Rising, Richard W. Hass, Terry Hyslop, Isabella Muti, Mackenzie Kemp, Rhea E. Powell, Cara Martino, Baligh R. Yehia, Joseph G. Cacchione, Patricia C. Henwood

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

INTRODUCTION: Screening for health-related social needs (HRSN) is a growing national health priority. While multiple HRSN screening tools currently exist, none to our knowledge have been evaluated using robust statistical analyses. The goal of this work is to provide results from a validation study of the Jefferson HRSN screener conducted across inpatient and outpatient settings.

METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional psychometric study included HRSN assessments conducted across inpatient and outpatient settings with adult patients from March 2023 to May 2024. The study was conducted across a 17-hospital academic health system serving a diverse community in a 9-county area crossing two states …

A Case Study Of Long-Term Disease Burden In A Rural Community Near An Open Burn Facility, Arundhati Bakshi, Liana Baconguis, Md Abdullah Al-Mamun, Qingzhao Yu, Jennifer Richmond-Bryant, Stephania A. Cormier

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Open burning and open detonation (OB/OD) of explosive and hazardous wastes creates various toxic waste products, including particulate matter, that is released into the atmosphere and capable of generating significant health impacts upon exposure. The last commercially run OB/OD thermal treatment facility in operation in the United States is located near the rural community of Colfax in central Louisiana. To evaluate the community’s concerns about the potential health impacts from air pollution due to the facility’s regular open burning of explosive and hazardous wastes, we examined the disease burden in Colfax compared to the surrounding parish and state. In a …

Legends, Lies, & Rewritten Lives: After The Little Bighorn: Forgotten Struggles Of Those Who Walked Away, Thomas B. Davidson

DU Textbooks

This Narrative is about an event that occurred on June 25, 1876, on the banks of the Little Bighorn River in what is now the state of Montana. Seen from a 21st century perch, it tells a story of a contest between the armed representatives of two different civilizations, each of which fought in the manner of its society. The narrative will attempt to balance the truth of what happened while also relating an engaging story, but without drifting into sensationalism. The narrative will go beyond a focus on the meeting of the soldiers from either group to explore the …

How Medical Mistrust Serves As A Barrier To Mental Health Treatment In The African American Community, Nicholas Young

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Throughout history, research has depicted the notion that African Americans do not make use of mental health treatment, even when their mental health status may deem it clinically necessary. One of the most prevalent deterrents to African Americans seeking treatment is the mistrust of the medical system. In the African American community, medical mistrust has a longstanding history that stems from the discrimination, racism, lack of representation in the field, and medical mistreatment that African Americans received as test subjects by the medical community over time. Various instances, throughout history, of African Americans being unjustly treated— for the sake of …

Community Mobilisation For Adoption Of Clean Cookstoves And Clean Fuel To Reduce Household Air Pollution And Blood Pressure In Lagos, Nigeria: Protocol For A Cluster-Randomised Trial, Ololade Wright, Juliet Iwelunmor, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: In Africa, 75% of households are exposed to household air pollution (HAP), a key contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In Nigeria, 90 million households rely on solid fuels for cooking, and 40% of adults have hypertension. Though clean fuel and clean stove (CF-CS) technologies can reduce HAP and CVD risk, their adoption in Africa remains limited.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation and Sustainment framework, this cluster-randomised controlled trial evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of a community mobilisation (CM) strategy versus a self-directed condition (i.e., receipt of information on CF-CS use without CM) on adoption of CF-CS …