Digital Commons Network^™

A Pilot Test Of A Mobile App For Drug Court Participants, Kimberly Johnson, Stephanie Richards, Ming-Yuan Chih, Tae Joon Moon, Hilary Curtis, David H. Gustafson

Health and Clinical Sciences Faculty Publications

The U.S. criminal justice system refers more people to substance abuse treatment than any other system. Low treatment completion rates and high relapse rates among addicted offenders highlight the need for better substance use disorder treatment and recovery tools. Mobile health applications (apps) may fill that need by providing continuous support. In this pilot test, 30 participants in a Massachusetts drug court program used A-CHESS, a mobile app for recovery support and relapse prevention, over a four-month period. Over the course of the study period, participants opened A-CHESS on average of 62% of the days that they had the app. …

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.

Health In Housing - Exploring The Intersection Between Housing & Health Care, Bill J. Wright, Grace Li, Keri B Vartanian, Maggie Weller

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Access To Essential Medicines In African Countries: An Introduction, Peter G. Danchin, Diane Hoffmann

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Animal Cruelty And Elder Abuse, Edward F. Ansello

Director's Editorials from Age in Action

Continuing and expanding the American Psychological Association's guidance that those in counseling roles be alert to and ask questions about care of animals could provide some early warnings, perhaps in time to avoid harm to both animals and people. Encouraging our children to interact with kindness towards animals can’t help but pay dividends over the life course. We need to pay attention to the link of indifference or neglect of pets leading to the same with humans, with those in later life.

Computerized Tailored Interventions To Enhance Prevention And Screening For Hepatitis C Virus Among People Who Inject Drugs: Protocol For A Randomized Pilot Study., Ryan P Westergaard, Shawnika J. Hull, Alana Merkow, Laura K Stephens, Karli R Hochstatter, Heidi K Olson-Streed, Lisa M Baker, Timothy M Hess

Prevention and Community Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a growing problem among people who inject drugs. Strategies to reduce disease transmission (eg, syringe exchange programs) and facilitate HCV screening and linkage are available but are under-utilized in many communities affected by injection drug use. Novel approaches to increasing the use of these strategies are needed.

OBJECTIVE: The goals of this project are to (1) develop and pilot test a computerized tailored intervention for increasing HCV screening and decreasing risky drug use behavior among people who inject drugs and (2) determine the feasibility of disseminating such an intervention using peer-based referrals in …

M.S. In Disaster And Emergency Management Curriculum, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Addressing Unhealthy Alcohol Use In Maine: Provider And Practice Attitudes Towards Integrating Alcohol Screening And Brief Intervention Within Rural Primary Care Practices, Mary Lindsey Smith Phd, Jennifer Pratt Aa, Rachel M. Gallo Mph, Katie Rosingana Ba, J Keller, Mark Richards Bs

Substance Use Research & Evaluation

No abstract provided.

Process Evaluation On Crisis Services In Northern Idaho, Claudia G. Miewald

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Idaho ranks last of all states for per capita spending on mental health treatment (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). In Idaho, individuals in crisis who suffer from mental illness or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) have few options for care. They often utilize the most expensive treatment through the emergency department, inpatient services, or by going to jail. Idaho has the 7^th highest suicide rate in the nation (Suicide Prevention Action Network of Idaho, 2015), while Region 1 of Idaho has the second highest suicide rate in the state from 2010-2014 (Suicide Prevention Action Network of Idaho, 2015).

Methods: This …

Five Rivers Family Health Center Community Health Needs Assessment, Kara Yutzy

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objectives: To conduct a community health needs assessment (CHNA) on the three zip codes around Five Rivers Family Health Center (FRFHC) in order to guide healthcare professionals in creating goals and priorities for needed health services in their health center’s targeted community.

Methods: The investigator gathered zip code specific data from the American Community Survey, Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, the Dayton Police Department, and other online sources for the FRFHC CHNA zip codes. Data on the targeted zip codes was compared to data from Montgomery County, Ohio, and the United States.

Results: The greatest disparities between the …

2016 Annual Report, Center For Applied Research On Substance Use And Health Disparities

Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Effectiveness And Scalability Of Unicef-Sponsored Projects To Prevent Violence Against Children And Women In Papua, South Sulawesi, And Central Java., Marc C. Edberg, Hina Shaikh, Leah Keller

Center for Social Well-Being and Development

No abstract provided.

News Stories Of Intimate Partner Violence: An Experimental Examination Of Participant Sex, Perpetrator Sex, And Violence Severity On Seriousness, Sympathy, And Punishment Preferences, Matthew W. Savage, Jennifer A. Scarduzio, Kate Lockwood Harris, Kellie E. Carlyle, Sarah E. Sheff

Health Policy Publications

This study experimentally examines the effects of participant sex, perpetrator sex, and severity of violence on perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) seriousness, sympathy toward the victim, and punishment preferences for the perpetrator. Participants (N = 449) were randomly assigned to a condition, exposed to a composite news story, and then completed a survey. Ratings of seriousness of IPV for stories with male perpetrators were significantly higher than ratings of seriousness for stories with female perpetrators. Men had significantly higher sympathy for female victims in any condition than for male victims in the weak or strong severity of violence …

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #2: Police, Crime, Offender Rights, And Attitudes Regarding The Homeless And Mentally Ill In Hampton Roads, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

[Introductory paragraph]

This report examines regional and sub-regional perceptions of crime and police from the 2016 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2016) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center. Data from prior years is also provided when available to show comparisons in responses over time. Responses were weighted by city population, race, age, gender, and phone usage (cell versus land-line) to be representative of the Hampton Roads region.

Investigating Disparities In Behavior And Care Between Alaska Native And Non-Hispanic White Victims Of Sexual Violence: The Importance Of Culturally Competent Nursing Care, Danielle Koster

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

The purpose of this research was to determine the existence of health care disparities experienced by Alaska Native women victims of sexual violence and to address the need for sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) to provide culturally competent care. This was a secondary data analysis of research collected from over 1,600 Alaska SANE surveys between 1996-2006. Variables investigated included: behaviors during examination, condition during assault, time from assault to report, hospital admittance, injuries sustained, and victim-suspect relationships. Alaska Native women were described as having less controlled behavior, being less cooperative, and less likely to be sober; they also often suffered …

Preventing Reincarceration Of Women With Mental Illness, Anne M. Dolmovich

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Since deinstitutionalization of state hospitals began almost 50 years ago, there has been an increase in the population with mental illness seen in the prison system. A combination of factors were looked at when studying causes behind incarceration, including active symptoms of mental illness, socioeconomic status, social support systems, history of trauma, history of drug abuse, police education on mental illness, and public perspective on mental illness. This study is a literature review focusing on people with mental illness in the prison system, with particular attention to women.

It is costly to house inmates for any extended period of time. …

Evaluating The Implications Of Parental Mental Illness For Children Using An Ecological Perspective, Jessica Elizabeth-Rose Carroll

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have extensively studied the experiences and potential consequences of being a child whose parent has a mental illness (COPMI). However, there is no consensus on the best way to support these children, in general or in schools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the effects of parental mental illness on children by using an ecological approach. Researchers have used ecological theory to illustrate the importance of internal characteristics, skills, and supports for children to enhance resiliency. This study looked at whether COPMI differed significantly from the children of parents of parents with no current or past …

Veterans Treatment Courts: Pure Pretextualism Or A Venue For Veterans' Needs?, John William Erickson Jr.

School of Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

The intended goals of Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) are consistent with what drove the establishment of Drug Courts and Mental Health Courts in the ‘90s. That is, a recognition that the traditional criminal justice system is geared toward punitive court dispositions; not the unique characteristics of addicts and/or mental health defendants (G. Lerner-Wren, personal communication, January 12, 2015). For example, In Dade County, Florida, a former U.S. Attorney, then the Dade County State Attorney, recognized that reform was necessary to avoid the criminalization of drug addiction; given the high prevalence of cocaine abuse. Today, U.S. Military Veterans returning from Iraq …

Restoring Trust: A Grounded Theory Study Of Cyberbullying Among Young Women, Nancy H. Camp

Dissertations

Cyberbullying is a global and national public health issue with the potential to affect the healthy social and emotional development of adolescents and young adults. There has been an 80% increase in social media use in 18-29 year olds between 2004 and 2014 (Gahagen, Vaterlaus, & Frost, 2016). In a study of 14-24 year olds (MTV/AP, 2011), 76% identified cyberbullying as a serious problem, with more than 56% reporting they have experienced cyberbullying. Cyberbullying research has been conducted predominantly with adolescents (ages 11-18 years), however scant research has been conducted with older adolescents and young adults (ages 18-30 years). This …

Comorbid Substance Use Diagnoses And Partner Violence Among Offenders Receiving Pharmacotherapy For Opioid Dependence, Cory A. Crane, Robert C. Schlauch, Susan Devine, Caroline J. Easton

Psychology Faculty Publications

While previous studies find mixed evidence of an association between opioid use and intimate partner violence perpetration among community samples, initial evidence has detected increased rates of partner violence among individuals receiving pharmacological intervention for opioid dependence. The current study evaluated the role of current comorbid substance use diagnoses, a robust risk factor for violent behavior, on the likelihood of perpetrating partner violence among a high risk sample of offenders receiving pharmacological intervention for opioid dependence. The authors analyzed self-report data provided by 81 (55 male) opioid dependent offenders during a court-ordered substance use interview. Approximately one-third of the sample …

Association Between Incarceration History And Hepatitis C Virus In People Who Inject Drugs In Five Regions Of Ukraine, Anna Meteliuk

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Exploring The Association Between Perceived Safety Of Household Children In The Neigborhood And Levels Of Depressive Symptoms Among Spanish Speaking Latina Adults Living In A High Crime, Low Income Neigbhorhood, Randall Stetson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Previous research has confirmed that neighborhood level social factors (e.g. crime, safety) present chronic stressors that increase risk for depression in residents of economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. U.S. Latinos experience higher levels of poverty and thus are more likely to live in poor neighborhoods. In this study it was hypothesized that adult Latina women who reported (1) higher levels of worry regarding the general safety of their household children in the neighborhood, (2) higher levels of worry regarding influence of bad friends on their household children, and (3) higher levels of worry regarding their household children being exposed to drugs and …

Kinship Care In Lauderdale Lakes: An Option To Detention, Lessep Duncan

Florida Public Health Review

This paper focuses on the City of Lauderdale Lakes identifying its large African American and significant Caribbean population as faced with Disproportionate Minority Contact and high juvenile detention rates. Statistics indicate the City has a high rate of poverty and crime in comparison with state and national averages with a high county rate of racially disproportionate arrests, convictions, and detentions. Ameliorating these concerns requires culturally aware approaches that include community involvement, and reducing alienation in an attempt to serve an at-risk population. An underutilized service – kinship care - is proposed to address disproportionate detention rates. Evidence points to kinship …

Analysis Of Firearm Legislation And Law Enforcement Suicides In Nvdrs-Funded States, Meagan L. Hurst

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

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate firearm-related suicides among law enforcement members and identify potential differences between decedents and firearm legislation grades from National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) funded states

METHODS:

Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted using suicide data from 820 decedents who worked within law enforcement at the time of death. Data were collected over a ten-year period (2003-2013) from the NVDRS. Multivariable logistic regression and Pearson’s chi-square were used to identify if differences existed among firearm-related suicides and other means using variables such as age, marital status, occupation, mental health, and firearm legislation …

Service Training And Recovery (Star) Program: An Interdisciplinary Community-Based Project To Mitigate Rr-Ptsd Among Kentucky Women, Margaret Melissa Brown

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

Background: Kentucky has greater prevalence of sexual assault compared to the US overall, 37.5% versus 35.6% of all assault crimes respectively, translating to roughly 638,000 victims within the Commonwealth [1].Research identified sexual violence as the number one factor in development of PTSD among women. There are four times the prevalence of PTSD in victims of sexual violence versus other forms of trauma. [2, 3] The STAR program utilizes skills-based training methods to empower participants through improving a sense of safety and security, self-confidence, and self-efficacy to mitigate RR-PTSD symptoms leading to negative health outcomes.

Literature Review: Existing research …

Study And Analysis Of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among Students At The University Of Central Florida, Deberly M. Anzueto

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms can be caused by many different diseases and can present themselves in many different forms and range in intensity depending on the person. In previous research, upper gastrointestinal symptoms have been correlated with stress, smoking, alcohol intake, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), among others. The purpose of this study will be focusing on finding any association between these risk factors mention and symptoms of upper gastrointestinal disease among college students. The study will utilize an Izumo scale questionnaire for the assessment of abdominal symptoms and Quality of Life (QOL). The questionnaire was built using Survey Monkey and …

Open Educational Resources Textbook List, Zachariah Claybaugh, Chelsea Stone

Librarian Publications

Discipline specific OER textbook list for departments at SHU, compiled by Zach Claybaugh and Chelsea Stone.

Federal Health Care Fraud Statute Sentencing In Georgia And Florida, 2011-2012, Lisa Walker Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The financial costs of U.S. federal health care fraud continue to increase, and as health care payments due to fraudulent claims increase, the portion of The Medicare Trust Fund available to pay for legitimate health care expenses decreases. Prosecution is one of several fraud management life cycle components that contributes to and can alter the course of increasing health care fraud; however, despite this recognition, there is a gap in the literature regarding the consistency of prosecution for federal health care fraud across different judicial districts. The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory multiple case study was to explore the federal …

College Of Osteopathic Medicine Overview, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Improving The Health Of African Americans In The Usa: An Overdue Opportunity For Social Justice, Allan S. Noonan, Hector Eduardo Velasco-Mondragon, Fernando A. Wagner

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Osteopathic Medicine

Using a modified social ecological model, we conducted a review of the literature and nationwide statistics on African American health. We discuss the main social determinants of health and main health disparities, risk factors, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and access to health services for blacks in the USA. The mechanisms through which social determinants, including racism, exert their deleterious effects on black health are discussed at the macro and individual levels. Incarceration and mental health care issues are highlighted as priorities to be addressed. African Americans remain the least healthy ethnic group in the USA, a somber …