Digital Commons Network^™

Experiences Of Older African American Women With Breast Cancer Screening And Abnormal Mammogram Results, Marshalee George

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even with access to well-known breast cancer treatment centers, older African American women continue to have higher breast cancer mortality compared to their European American counterparts. Researchers have theorized relationships among diagnostic delay, socioeconomic status (SES) factors, beliefs, culture, and breast cancer mortality in African American women ages 40 to 64, but these same relationships among African American women ages 65 to 80 have not been investigated. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe older African American women's experiences with abnormal mammograms. The quality-caring model and critical race theory were used through narration to show the association of …

Diabetes And The Socioeconomic And Built Environment: Geovisualization Of Disease Prevalence And Potential Contextual Associations Using Ring Maps, John E. Stewart, Sarah E. Battersby, Ana Lopez-De Fede

Publications

Efforts to stem the diabetes epidemic in the United States and other countries must take into account a complex array of individual, social, economic, and built environmental factors. Increasingly, scientists use information visualization tools to "make sense" of large multivariate data sets. Recently, ring map visualization has been explored as a means of depicting spatially referenced, multivariate data in a single information graphic. A ring map shows multiple attribute data sets as separate rings of information surrounding a base map of a particular geographic region of interest. In this study, ring maps were used to evaluate diabetes prevalence among adult …

Self-Insurance And The Potential Effects Of Health Reform On The Small-Group Market, Kathryn Linehan

National Health Policy Forum

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as amended by the Health Care Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 makes landmark changes to health insurance markets. Individual and small-group insurance plans and markets will see the biggest changes, but PPACA also affects large employer and self-insured plans by imposing rules for benefit design and health plan practices. Over half of workers—most often those in very large firms—are covered by self-insured health plans in which employers (or employee groups) bear all or some of the risk of providing insurance coverage to a defined population of workers and their dependents. As PPACA …

Racial Disparities In Healthcare: Challenges Faced By Hispanic Populations, Kaitlin Mcdowell

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

The Ingredients Of Change: A Political Ecology Approach To Diabetes In The Somali Community Of Minnesota, Mina Tehrani

Geography Capstone Projects

In the early 1990’s, due to political circumstances at home, Somali immigrants and refugees began arriving in the state of Minnesota in large numbers. Over the past two decades, Somali immigrants have come to comprise one of the most populous ethnic groups in the Twin Cities, and are the largest Somali population in the world outside of Eastern Africa. Although quantitative data is unavailable, qualitative evidence and testimonies of healthcare professionals support the conclusion that Somali immigrants in Minnesota suffer from higher rates of diabetes than non-immigrant groups and than they likely did before migration. Why might this be the …

Replicating Success: Developing An Educational Process For Improving Nursing Accuracy When Using A Patient Classification System, Dewey M. Moulton

Theses and Graduate Projects

The use of patient classification systems (PCS), within hospitals has been and still is utilized primarily for determining staffing requirements, based upon the projected needs of the patient. Since its conception in the 1950's, health care management has worked to develop a system that accurately depicts those needs to provide good patient care. Recently, a major tertiary health care center located in the Midwest region of the United States implemented a revised patient classification system within its acute care setting. Nurses were provided various levels of education regarding its use. Because of this, accuracy by nurses using the patient classification …

The Multilevel, Multicultural, And Multi-Temporal Ecosocial Framework Of Population Health : How Neighborhoods, Culture, And History Impact Health Outcomes And Produce Health Disparities, Lawrence Tarves Brown

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

According to findings in the field of genetics, it has now been established that the impact of race on health is mostly a function of a people's lived experience, not their genetic make-up. Due to this, the role of race in the study of health outcomes and health disparities has traditionally been specified improperly in statistical models due to confounding with ethnicity. Additionally, the role of geography or the impact of neighborhoods on health is often not specified properly.

Thus, the author proposes a multilevel, multicultural, and multi-temporal ecosocial framework that explains the impact of neighborhoods on health and the …

Spatial Epidemiology Of Birth Defects In The United States And The State Of Utah Using Geographic Information Systems And Spatial Statistics, Samson Y. Gebreab

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Oral clefts are the most common form of birth defects in the United States (US) and the State of Utah has among the highest prevalence of oral clefts in the nation. The overall objective of this dissertation was to examine the spatial distribution of oral clefts and their linkage with a broad range of demographic, behavioral, social, economic, and environmental risk factors through the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial statistics. Using innovative linked micromaps plots, we investigated the geographic patterns of oral clefts occurrence from 1998 to 2002 and their relationships with maternal smoking rates and proportion …

Racial, Ethnic, And Socioeconomic Disparities In Exposure To Fast Food In Hillsborough County, Florida, Dana Oppenheim Stein, Jayajit Chakraborty

Florida Public Health Review

Recent studies have linked the alarming obesity epidemic in the U.S. to the growth of the fast-food restaurant industry, which offers convenient service alongside inexpensive and high-calorie food. As the number of fast-food outlets increases, research demonstrates that their geographic location plays a significant role in creating obesogenic environments, potentially exposing socially disadvantaged groups to unhealthy nutrition choices provided by these outlets. Whereas previous studies have examined the distribution of positive health amenities such as supermarkets and health-food stores, there is a growing need to evaluate the socio-demographic characteristics of neighborhoods that contain negative health entities such as fast-food outlets. …

Intestinal Epithelial Serum Amyloid A Modulates Bacterial Growth In Vitro And Pro-Inflammatory Responses In Mouse Experimental Colitis, Erik R.M. Eckhardt, Jassir Witta, Jian Zhong, Razvan Arsenescu, Violeta Arsenescu, Yu Wang, Sarbani Ghoshal, Marcielle C. De Beer, Frederick C. De Beer, Willem J.S. De Villiers

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute phase protein of unknown function. SAA is mostly expressed in the liver, but also in other tissues including the intestinal epithelium. SAA reportedly has anti-bacterial effects, and because inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) result from a breakdown in homeostatic interactions between intestinal epithelia and bacteria, we hypothesized that SAA is protective during experimental colitis.

METHODS: Intestinal SAA expression was measured in mouse and human samples. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis was induced in SAA 1/2 double knockout (DKO) mice and in wildtype controls. Anti-bacterial effects of SAA1/2 were tested in intestinal epithelial …

What's Going On Here? Deconstructing The Interactive Encounter., Janice P Burke

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Eleanor Clarke Sagle Lecture

Our Health Matters: Promoting The Health Of Sexual Minority Women In The New Media Landscape, Brenda Kane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The shifts occurring in the mediascape and the field of public health offer new opportunities for promoting the health and wellness of sexual minority women. As a population that has historically been underserved by the healthcare system, sexual minority women face multiple barriers to achieving positive health outcomes. They are often less likely to access preventive healthcare services and more likely to engage in risky behaviors that are detrimental to health than heterosexual women. Despite the significant health disparities among sexual minority women, studying this population has not been a priority in health research and there is little research-based evidence …

Ada News - 11/01/2010, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Phenotypic And Genotypic Analysis Of In Vitro Selected Artemisinin Resistant Plasmodium Falciparum, Matthew Scott Tucker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Artemisinin and its derivatives provide faster clearance of parasitemia than any other antimalarial drugs and these drugs are part of frontline combination therapies in areas where drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum exists. Clinical resistance to artemisinins is emerging on the Thailand-Cambodia border, making it imperative to investigate mechanisms of artemisinin resistance. Previous work in our laboratory showed ring-stage parasites enter a dormant state after exposure to artemisinin. We hypothesize that this period of dormancy is directly related to recrudescence and prolonged parasite clearance times in patients, and possibly resistance. The target of artemisinin is currently unknown, and potential resistance mechanisms are not …

Preventive Care Utilization Among Black Women : Perceived Beliefs, Benefits And Barriers To Mammography Screening, Rowandalla Y. Dunbar

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Blacks, in comparison to other racial or ethnic groups, suffer higher rates of illness and death from many preventable or treatable diseases. Despite the significantly higher rates of mortality and disease, Blacks are least likely to utilize clinical preventive care services. Black women, who are more likely to have advanced breast cancer at time of diagnosis (Chu, Lamar, & Freeman, 2003) are least likely to seek mammography screening (National Health Interview Study, 2000). Allen, Bastani, Bazargan and Leonard (2002) examined predictors of mammography screening among women 40 years old and older residing in the South Central area of Los Angeles, …

Finding The Right Fit: Unique Challenges Faced By Health Ngos In The Health System Of Lamu District, Lauren Hartel

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study examines how nongovernmental organizations and community-based organizations in Lamu District interact with the governmentally structured health care system at the district level. This is done through participatory observation, interviews and removed observation of NGOs, CBOs and government officials. From these observations, this study then identifies major challenges faced by health NGOs that inhibit them from performing to the best of their ability, and at times even compromise the health of the people they are trying to help. The results of this study show that in Lamu District, the most relevant challenges are continuity of care, dissemination of information, …

Chironian Fall/Winter 2010, New York Medical College

The Chironian

No abstract provided.

The Future Of Tradition: An Ethnographic And Comparative Study Of Social Preference And Medicine In Rural Ghana, Shannon Dick

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In Ghana, there are currently two prevalent forms of medical treatment: traditional and Western medicine. Since Ghana was colonized by the British, Western medicine has spread throughout the country, essentially from south to north. In this ethnographic study, two rural villages are compared, one located in the Central Region and the other in the Upper West Region, in order to evaluate what type of medical treatment people prefer and the reasons for their decisions. The research assesses the social inclination in terms of medicine in these two locations, indicators of Western influences, and gleans a sense of what the future …

Crouching Tiger Hidden Goiter Belt: A Critique Of Health Care And Universal Salt Iodization In The Tsum Valley, Julian Goetz, Vanessa Soetanto

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The Tsum Valley, opened to visitors in 2008, has only recently begun the process of modernization. The health of the population is still not stable with regards to nutrition, and the health care system is still inadequate due to geographic conditions of remoteness and difficulty of access. The health condition is further exacerbated by political interactions affecting iodine consumption. This paper presents original information collected via interviewing processes throughout the valley and in Kathmandu over the course of a four-week period. The results include the inadequacy of health care facilities in treating endemic health issues and of the failure of …

Injury In Nevada, Michelle Chino, Jonathon Lavalley, Darlene R. Haff, Deborah A. Harris, Andrea R. Rivers

School of Public Health Faculty Research

Injury is a major threat to health and safety. In a typical day in the US, 400 people will die as the result of an injury, 7,500 will be hospitalized due to an injury, and more than 150,000 will suffer an injury severe enough to restrict activities and seek medical attention. Many of these deaths, hospitalizations, and disabling events will be the result of motor vehicle crashes. Others will result from vio­lence, falls, drowning, and poisoning – all of which are considered injuries.

The costs of injury are high. In the United States, the cost of injuries is estimated to …

Rural America: A Look Beyond The Images, John A. Gale Ms

Access / Insurance

The issues faced by patients and providers in rural health care differ greatly from those of urban counterparts. They also differ across rural communities. Understanding these differences, and the differences among rural populations across America, is critical to providing health services to rural Americans, who are often impeded by economic factors, cultural and social differences, educational shortcomings and isolation in their efforts to lead normal, healthy lives. The challenges provide opportunities for Catholic health care to make a difference in the lives and health of some of the nation's most vulnerable citizens.

Comparing Narratives Of Personal And Preferred Partner Characteristics In Online Dating Advertisements, Elizabeth M. Morgan, Tamara C. Richards, Emily M. Vanness

Psychological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study explored online personal ads of 294 heterosexual and homosexual men and women in the United States through a qualitative analysis and comparison of participant-generated “personal” and “preferred partner” narratives. Nine characteristics were identified and combined into three overarching categories: physical, lifestyle, and personality characteristics. These three personal and preferred partner characteristics were examined for difference by gender, sexual orientation, age and desired relationship type of the advertisers. Main effects emerged for all four predictors, most notably for age and desired relationship type. Additionally, this study explored the possibility that personal and preferred partner narratives contained similar constellations of …

Envisioning Nevada’S Future: Goals & Strategies For Advancing Our Quality Of Life, Nevada Vision Stakeholder Group, Moody’S Analytics

Brookings Mountain West Publications

Nevada’s severe downturn has brought to light many of the long-term challenges facing the state. Not only is its economy subject to painful swings, but Nevada’s primary drivers— consumer services (primarily gaming, hospitality and housing) and resource extraction—will provide less support than they have in past business cycles. Less economic vitality will make it harder to offer Nevadans the quality of life they expect.

The importance of the economy to quality of life is equally clear—quality of life is a hollow promise without a healthy and supportive economy. Similarly, a proper fiscal structure—both in terms of spending and revenues—is critical …

What's New In Spine Surgery, Keith H. Bridwell, Paul A. Anderson, Scott D. Boden, Alexander R. Vaccaro, Jeffrey C. Wang

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Samoan Speech Audiometry: Developing Word Recognition Materials For Native Speakers Of Samoan, Emma Lilian Kruger

Theses and Dissertations

Hearing can be evaluated through the presentation of tones or speech. Speech audiometry determines an individual's speech recognition threshold and word recognition score. Traditionally these materials were developed using familiar, frequently used, monosyllabic words. Currently, there are various types of word recognition materials including those which use word lists, short half-lists, and materials which use sentences level stimuli with competing noise. Word recognition materials were first developed in Standard American English; today, materials are now readily available in many other languages. When possible, word recognition materials are developed digitally to standardize their presentation. Currently, no recorded word recognition materials are …

The Role Of Unrealistic Optimism In Explaining Preventive Behaviors In High Versus Low Endemic Malaria Settings In Belize, Daniel G. Handysides

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Of all the diseases an individual can encounter in the world, malaria is one of the most destructive. Simple measures like sleeping under a bednet would greatly reduce the burden (Abeku, 2007). When people estimate their risk relative to others, they are most often unrealistically optimistic, which may explain why those at risk often fail to perform behaviors, such as using a bednet that will reduce their risk. However, one study showed that people at high risk for malaria held pessimistic perceptions of their risk for the disease, but the reasons for this finding are unclear (Morrison, Ager, & …

Assessing Mississippians’ Preparedness For Disasters Using The Citizen Corps National Survey 2009, Carl Huston Mangum Ii

Dissertations

Disaster preparedness, a shared responsibility of all citizens and disaster agencies, is the most critical component in minimizing risk and damage from disaster. Mississippi has been affected by some of the most devastating disasters in American history, both in terms of physical destruction and human life. The purpose of this study was to assess Mississippians’ disaster preparedness by replicating The 2009 Citizen Corps National Survey (CCNS). The 65 question 2009 CCNS was slightly modified to survey 678 randomly selected Mississippians about the Citizen Corps Personal Disaster Preparedness Model: Demographics, Volunteering, Drills/Exercises, Community Plan, Household Plan, Disaster Supplies, Prevention, Self-efficacy, Reliance, …

Assessing Economic And Hrql Burden Of Food Allergy And Anaphylaxis In The U.S., Dipen Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Food allergy, an abnormal immunologic response to food protein, has an estimated prevalence of 6% in young children and 3.7% in adults in the U.S. The only proven therapy for food allergy is strict elimination of the offending allergens. As a result, caregivers and patients could experience constant anxiety and stress that affects their quality of life. Additionally, food allergy can lead to significant economic impact on the health care system, since severe reactions often lead to ED visits and hospitalizations. Objectives: The first major objective was to determine the economic burden of Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis (FAA) patients …

Examining The Interrater Reliability Of The Comprehensive Inventory Of Mental Health And Recovery And Rehabilitation Services (Cimhrrs), Robert W. Johnson

Department of Psychology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation is one step in the continuing development, evaluation, and validation of the Comprehensive Inventory of Mental Health and Recovery and Rehabilitation Services (CIMHRRS). The CIMHRRS is an instrument to guide comprehensive assessment of programs that provide integrated services to people with serious mental illness (SMI).

The project described in this dissertation evaluated three key aspects of its performance in real world application: practical feasibility, internal consistency and reliability, and ability to distinguish between different programs. Investigators utilized a combination of principles and methods, associated with psychometric scale development, field methods, and program evaluation. Using a structured site review …

The Development And Use Of A Geographic Information System For Evaluating The Association Between Pesticide Exposure And Prostate Cancer, Kristen Wells

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract 1 – A Geographic Information System for Evaluating Residential Pesticide Exposure and Prostate Cancer Incidence Agricultural pesticide exposure is hypothesized to be a risk factor for prostate cancer, and such exposures are of particular concern for men living in farming communities where large-scale pesticide applications occur. Prostate cancer incidence data were obtained from the State Health Registry of Iowa for the years 1996 through 2006, and county and census tract level age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated. Historical crop-specific land use records and pesticide sales data for the state of Iowa during 1990 were integrated into a geographic information system …