Digital Commons Network^™

Co-Constructing Food Access Issues: Older Adults In A Rural Food Environment In West Virginia Develop A Photonarrative, Lauri Andress, Sunah Hallie

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This photovoice study examined the hypothesis that photos and narratives produced by older adults would facilitate the co-construction of a shared narrative about the food access issues in a rural county in West Virginia. For older adults, living in rural areas, several factors decrease access to healthy, nutritious food relative to the general population of older adults. Methods: Qualitative data from interviews, written narratives, dialogues, and photos from older adults living in a rural county of West Virginia. Was collected. Using directed content analysis, transcripts of written data were broken down into meaningful quote segments. All written data and …

Perceptions, Beliefs, And Behaviors Toward Breast Cancer Screening Of Filipino Women In Saudi Arabia, Cherry Rose Aguilar Fronda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the existence of breast cancer screening that could promote early diagnosis and survival of breast cancer, high mortality rates of breast cancer persist among Filipino women. The purpose of the qualitative study was to describe the perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors of Filipino women working as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 Filipino women between the ages of 40 to 60 years who were recruited voluntarily using purposeful sampling technique. Guided by the structures of health belief model (HBM), the study used an inductive coding technique to elicit common themes from the raw …

Forgetting Health Disparities: A One Size Fits All Narrative, Lauri Andress

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This qualitative synthesis explores a public health narrative and events in the US that may have contributed to the prominence of a one-size-fits all communications frame and public health tool that excludes the significance of social status. An analysis of past events is used to carry out a textual analysis of two communications framing studies. One central narrative is found to be more effective than other potential themes on equality, social conditions, and health inequities. The potential impacts of this narrative on disadvantaged, older communities are explored. Consequently, the current claim that the built-environment narrative is “good for everyone” is …

Does Adalimumab Effectively Treat Moderate To Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis In Adults?, Anthony J. Audia

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does adalimumab effectively treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adults?”

STUDY DESIGN: This review is based on two randomized controlled trials and one retrospective study. The studies compared the efficacy of adalimumab in reducing the body surface area affected by plaque psoriasis.

DATA SOURCES: All articles used in this review are peer reviewed journals, published in English, and found using PubMed and Ebscohost.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: For all studies, the effectiveness of adalimumab on moderate to severe plaque psoriasis was evaluated using …

Hydrogen Sulfide Regulation Of Kir Channels, Junghoon Ha

Theses and Dissertations

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels establish and regulate the resting membrane potential of excitable cells in the heart, brain and other peripheral tissues. Phosphatidylinositol- 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is a key direct activator of ion channels, including Kir channels. Gasotransmitters, such as carbon monoxide (CO), have been reported to regulate the activity of Kir channels by altering channel-PIP2 interactions. We tested, in a model system, the effects and mechanism of action of another important gasotransmitter, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) thought to play a key role in cellular responses under ischemic conditions. Direct administration of sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS), as an exogenous H2S source, …

Palynological Investigation Of Mummified Human Remains, Karl Reinhard, Marina Milanello Do Amaral, Nicole Wall

Karl Reinhard Publications

Pollen analysis was applied to a mummified homicide victim in Nebraska, U.S.A., to determine the location of death. A control sample showed the normal ambient pollen in the garage crime scene. Ambient windborne types, common in the air of the region, dominated the control. Internal samples were analyzed from the sacrum, intestine, and diaphragm. Microfossils were recovered from the rehydrated intestine lumen. The intestinal sample was dominated by Brassica (broccoli). The sacrum sample was high in dietary types but with a showing of ambient types. The pollen from the diaphragm was dominated by ambient pollen similar to the control samples. …

Exploring Spatial Patterning And The Impact Of Obesogenic Built Environments For Youth Obesity, S. Morgan Hughey

Theses and Dissertations

Youth obesity is a major public health concern due to an array of physical, social, and psychological health consequences. Residential location, often referred to as ‘place’, has continued to emerge as a key health determinant with studies showing that where a child lives impacts their health. Environments where it is easy for individuals to have low levels of physical activity – either by discouraging active behavior or promoting sedentary behavior – and easy for individuals to consume unhealthful foods – either by the limited availability of healthful foods or increased availability of unhealthy foods – have been coined ‘obesogenic’. Additional …

Simulation-Based Interprofessional Education In A Rural Setting, Ann D. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a simulation-based IPE experience for pre-licensure nursing, pharmacy, and medical students on a rurally-located campus. Using a mixed-methods, explanatory sequential approach, this project: 1) examined the feasibility of implementing a simulation-based IPE experience using telehealth tools; and 2) evaluated student perceptions of inter-professional teamwork, roles and responsibilities, and patient outcomes for collaborative practice, both pre- and post-scenario.

Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS. Results revealed 94% agreed/strongly agreed the IPE experience resembled a real-life situation. 100% of nursing/medical students and 80% of the pharmacy students indicated they …

Internet Speed And The Effect On Health Information Technology Adoption, Matthew W. Yuen

Theses and Dissertations

Background. The Internet has become pervasive in everyday life; the Pew Research Center reported over 84% of Americans use the Internet either on their phone or a computer. However, due to the methods by which the Internet was created, an Internet digital divide was created. The Internet digital divide is the disparity in access and speed of Internet of certain populations. This study looked into the disparity between urban and rural populations and their Internet access in two forms: e-prescriptions adoptions and Internet health information seeking behavior (HISB) through their mobile devices.

Methods. This study used 4 datasets, …

Recovery From Design, Cassandra J. Ellison

Theses and Dissertations

Through research, inquiry, and an evaluation of Recovery By Design, a ‘design therapy’ program that serves people with mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities, it is my assertion that the practice of design has therapeutic potential and can aid in the process of recovery. To the novice, the practices of conception, shaping form, and praxis have empowering benefit especially when guided by Conditional and Transformation Design methods together with an emphasis on materiality and vernacular form.

“An Uphill Battle”: Psychosocial Health And Self-Care Among Advocates Who Work Against Gender-Based Violence In South Carolina, Ebru Cayir

Theses and Dissertations

Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most pressing public health and human rights issues in the United States overall, and more specifically, in South Carolina (SC). SC consistently ranked among the highest in the nation in terms of female homicide rates. Non-profit organizations (NPOs) that focus their work specifically on GBV constitute an essential component of prevention and mitigation efforts in SC. Advocates who work for GBV-specific NPOs experience a wide range of psychosocial health and well-being benefits and risks due to their work. This study aimed to: 1) Identify the relationships between engaging in paid GBV-specific advocacy and …

Adult Acute Sinusitis Antimicrobial Stewardship Program In A Primary Care Setting, Katelyn M. Hellman

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is a well-documented global health crisis (Centers for Disease Control, CDC, 2013). Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) is the purposeful selection of the correct drug, dose, route and duration of antimicrobial treatment to decrease microbial resistance, adverse drug effects and cost while improving patient outcomes (Dellit et al., 2007; CDC, 2016). Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) are multidisciplinary programs designed to improve AS.

PURPOSE: To describe baseline prescribing patterns and evaluate the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) for adult acute sinusitis on provider knowledge and antibiotic prescribing practice. among primary care providers in an internal medicine clinic …

Health Aid In Africa: Placement, Service Utilization, And Benefit, Carrie Dolan

Theses and Dissertations

While the health sector has attracted significant foreign aid, evidence on the effectiveness of this support is mixed. This dissertation examines the allocation of health aid within the context of placement, service utilization, and benefit. The first paper examined the sub-national allocation of Chinese development aid projects across Africa. I determined how political preferencing of Chinese aid specifically, allocating aid to the birth region of the current political leader differs across sectors such as health, education, and transportation. I find some evidence that aid, more broadly defined, is subject to political preferencing in recipient countries, which could potentially limit its …

Molecular Epidemiology Of Human Enterovirus In Various Clinical Specimens With Suspected Enterovirus Infection, Jira Chansaenroj

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Many infectious diseases have been well recognized caused by several genotypes of human enterovirus species which significantly in public health. Publications worldwide have reported on the emerging and re-emerging of enteroviruses. Until now, epidemiological surveillance data, clinical complication and evolutionary history regarding these viruses in actual on the Asia continent are still limited. To address these concerns, this study aimed to establish comprehensive population-based surveillances, and provided evidence for the evolution in many diseases such as acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, herpangina, hand foot mouth disease, acute gastroenteritis, poliovirus and meningitis caused by enteroviruses. Employing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing approaches …

Residential Environment In Relation To Respiratory And Asthma Symptoms Among Primary School Children In Din Daeng District Bangkok Thailand, Nawarat Apichainan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: Environmental factors have played important role to children health. Limited studies were focused on residential environments and respiratory symptoms among children living in urban area. Our study sought to 1) estimate prevalence of respiratory and asthma symptoms, and 2) examine the association between children characteristic / residential environments with the symptoms among primary school children in urban area of Bangkok, Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 658 primary school children aged 6 to 10 years between April and May 2018. Self-reported questionnaire from child's parent was used as a measurement tool. Children's history of respiratory and asthma …

Detection And Distribution Of Enterotoxin And Adhesin Genes Of Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius Isolated From Dog, Human, And Environment, Nathita Phumthanakorn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

To obtain the information of virulence factors associated with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius pathogenicity, host survival and adaptation, the study of staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) genes and cell wall-associated (CWA) protein genes in S. pseudintermedius isolates from dogs, humans, and environment were performed. Human methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) harbored the hightes number of SE genes at 12 out of 17 genes compared to those from dogs at 5 and environmental isolates at 3 gene types. For CWA protein genes or S. pseudintermedius surface proteins (sps), there was no an easy and fast method to detect them. Therefore, this study develop the multiplex PCR …

Aedes Aegypti And Dengue In The Philippines: Centering History And Critiquing Ecological And Public Health Approaches To Mosquito-Borne Disease In The Greater Asian Pacific, Maria R. Pettis

Pomona Senior Theses

The global incidence of dengue has increase 30-fold over the past 50 years in the western or Asian Pacific, this region is also a contemporary epicenter for resource extraction and ecological destabilization. Dengue is addition to yellow fever, chikungunya and most recently zika virus, are transmitted by the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti- a domesticated mosquito adept at breeding in artificial household containers and within homes. The history of the domestication and global distribution of Aedes aegypti is intrinsically linked to European expansion into and among tropical worlds. Contemporary population genetics research suggest the westward expansion of the mosquito vector …

Broad-Scale Redistribution Of Mrna Abundance And Transcriptional Machinery In Response To Growth Rate In Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium, Andrew D. S. Cameron, Shane Dillon, Carsten Kröger, Laurens Beran, Charles Dorman

Articles

We have investigated the connection between the four-dimensional architecture of the bacterial nucleoid and the organism's global gene expression programme. By localizing the transcription machinery and the transcriptional outputs across the genome of the model bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium at different stages of the growth cycle, a surprising disconnection between gene dosage and transcriptional output was revealed. During exponential growth, gene output occurred chiefly in the Ori (origin), Ter (terminus) and NSL (non-structured left) domains, whereas the Left macrodomain remained transcriptionally quiescent at all stages of growth. The apparently high transcriptional output in Ter was correlated with an enhanced …

Associations Of Food Environment, Mediterranean Diet And Obesity In United States: A Geographic Information System (Gis) Analysis, Meifang Chen

All ETDs from UAB

Given the growing obesity epidemic in the U.S., modifying current obesogenic food environment, and identifying and promoting an obesity-modifying dietary approach that fits in the food environment context are urgent. Emerging evidence indicates that Mediterranean diet (MD) could be a beneficial dietary pattern to protect against overweight/obesity. However, as a relatively new dietary pattern in the U.S., how the unique food environment influences MD adherence, and whether consuming a MD can mediate the relationship between food environment and obesity among the population remain unknown. This dissertation, applying Geographic Information System (GIS) and path analytical methods using data from the REasons …

The Effectiveness Of Clinical Integration: The Relationship Between Evidence-Based Clinical Processes, In-Network Utilization And Clinical, Service And Efficiency Outcomes, Patrick D. Falvey

All ETDs from UAB

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLINICAL INTEGRATION: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EVIDENCE-BASED CLINICAL PROCESSES, IN-NETWORK UTILIZATION AND CLINICAL, SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY OUTCOMES PATRICK D. FALVEY EXECUTIVE DOCTORAL PROGRAM – SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS ABSTRACT The evolving U.S. health care system continues to steer healthcare organizations and integrated healthcare delivery networks (IDNs) to function as population health networks and ACOs. Policymakers, payers, health care leaders and consumer groups are advocating that IDNs clinically integrate processes and structures under the assumption that they will improve the clinical outcomes for a population, reduce the health care spend, and enhance the patient experience. Relatively little research has …

Knowledge, Perceptions, And Facilitators To Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African American Men In Mobile, Alabama, Ruben Franklin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American (AA) men in the state of Alabama are affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) more than all other races. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain understanding of colorectal cancer screening health benefits in AA men in Mobile, Alabama. The health beliefs model (HBM) developed by Hochum, Rosemstock, and Kegels was used to to explore the barriers and facilitators to CRC screening in AA men with health insurance in Mobile, Alabama. The research questions explored knowledge, perceptions, and facilitators to CRC screening among AA men age 40 to 75. Participants were selected using purposive sampling and data …

Narratives Of Men Living With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Kimberly Vandermark Lynch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been traditionally viewed as a woman's disease, SLE impacts men as well. Although most research on SLE has concentrated on how it affected women, little is known about how it impacts men. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how men who live with SLE perceive its psychological impact. Using the lens of the biopsychological theory, common themes were examined pertaining to how men with SLE perceive the impact that SLE has on their cognitive and emotional functioning. Data were collected via interviews with 9 men with SLE, and the data were …

Assessment Of Postoperative And Postdischarge Wound Infection After Abdominal Hysterectomy, Jinni J. Amin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common healthcare-associated infection. Approximately 2% to 14% of surgical patients are diagnosed with SSI, which may extend length of stay in the hospital or lead to readmission and may necessitate another surgical procedure. Patient readmission due to SSI costs health care industries about $3,000 to $29,000 per case and a total of $10 billion per year. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional retrospective study was to examine the association between SSI and teaching status, hospital ownership, and number of beds in the hospital. The epidemiological triad was used as a framework to describe …

Empowerment Of Home Health Care Case Managers, Linda B. Melodia, Barbara Penprase, Linda L. Strong

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Job satisfaction and feelings of empowerment positively impact home health care nurses by improving patient safety and patient outcomes. The project objective determined whether an empowerment educational module improved the feelings of empowerment and job satisfaction of registered nurses at a home health care agency. Methods: A quantitative, pre-test/post-test research study was conducted to measure the success of an empowerment educational module. Laschinger’s (2008) Nursing Worklife questionnaire was administered to 92 participating nurses, 46 were assigned to an experimental group and 46 were assigned to a control group. Participants in the experimental group were queried about their perceptions towards …

The Unmet Needs Of Aboriginal Australians With Musculoskeletal Pain: A Mixed Method Systematic Review, Ivan B. Lin, Samantha Bunzli, Donna Mak, Charmaine Green, Roger Goucke, Juli Coffin, Peter B. O'Sullivan

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) conditions are the biggest cause of disability and internationally, Indigenous peoples experience a higher burden. There are conflicting reports about Aboriginal Australians and MSP. We conducted a systematic review to describe the prevalence, associated factors, impacts, care access, health care experiences, and factors associated with MSP among Aboriginal Australians.

Methods: A systematic search of quantitative and qualitative scientific and grey literature (PROSPERO number: CRD42016038342). Articles were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Due to study heterogeneity a narrative synthesis was conducted.

Results: Of 536 articles identified, 18 were included (14 quantitative, 4 qualitative), of high …

Young Adults In Transition: Factors That Support And Hinder Growth And Change, Mona Treadway

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Young adults between 18 and 24 years of age with mental illness are significantly less likely to receive mental health services than adults in older age groups.Nationally, higher rates of depression, substance abuse, and psychiatric issues are reported in this age group.A therapeutic model referred to as young adult transition programs has emerged to better address the unique developmental challenges found in this age group.This study examined 317 critical incidents that supported or hindered young adults in a therapeutic transition program.The research design used a combination of an instrumental case study and critical incident technique (CIT).Using interviews and the Outcome …

Rural Community Health Needs Assessment Findings: Access To Care And Mental Health, Sabrina Cherry, Ayanna Robinson, Jared Jashinsky, Grace Bagwell-Adams, Michelle Elliott, Marsha Davis

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This article highlights the qualitative results from focus groups conducted as part of a Community Health Needs Assessments in two rural Georgia communities. Four 1-hr focus groups were facilitated with 32 community stakeholders. Sessions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis identified two primary themes: mental health and barriers to accessing health care. Focus group participants discussed mental health challenges as they related to substance abuse and suicide. Participants acknowledged barriers to access, including no health insurance, cost, eligibility gaps for government-sponsored programs, the low availability of specialty care, and poverty. Addressing mental health and access to care in …

Food Insecurity And Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Among Regional And Remote Western Australian Children: Determinants, Prevalence And Predictors, Stephanie Louise Godrich

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Living in a community with adequate availability of nutritious food, and the capacity to access and utilise it, are key food security determinants (FSD). However, inequities relating to these determinants exist between regional and remote Western Australian (WA) communities, particularly regarding fruit and vegetables (F&V). This negatively impacts vulnerable populations, especially children. In order to understand determinants, prevalence and predictors of F&V and food security (FS), three concepts were explored in this PhD; (1) F&V consumption among regional and remote WA children (including determinants of F&V consumption, quantities, types, varieties of F&V consumed); (2) FS among regional and remote WA …

Unintended Pregnancies Among Married Women In Sindh Pakistan: Role Of Lady Health Workers, Sumera Aziz Ali, Unaib Rabbani

Community Health Sciences

Background: Unintended pregnancies, which pose substantial risks to both mothers and children, account for 24% of all pregnancies in Pakistan. Door to door visits and service provision by lady health workers (LHWs) may be related to the reduction of such pregnancies, particularly in rural areas. This study aimed to determine the association of knowledge about Lady Health Visitors (LHWs) and door to door visits by LHWs with unintended pregnancies among rural women.
Methods: We conducted a community-based, nested case-control study of 800 pregnant women, identified from the database of an active surveillance mechanism, which registers and follows all pregnant women …

Comparative Investigation Of Some Behavior Traits Of Honamlı,Hair, And Saanen Goats In A Mediterranean Maquis Area, Aykut Asim Akbaş, Özkan Elmaz, Mustafa Saatci

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The study was conducted to investigate comparatively some behavior traits (grazing, resting, bipedal stance, agonistic behavior, rumination, and browsing) of Honamlı, Hair, and Saanen goat breeds in the morning and afternoon periods between April and September in maquis shrublands. A total of 30 two-year-old goats including 10 from each goat breed were used. While grazing behavior of Saanen goats was observed mostly in April and May as 75.45%-71.65% and 73.16%-78.25% for morning and afternoon in these months, respectively, these values were respectively 62.52%-64.23% and 59.94%-67.67% for Hair goats and 60.12%-62.94% and 46.42%-54.78% for Honamlı goats. It was observed that Hair …