Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Campus Safety And Campus Carry Among Student Veterans, Kerwin J. Flaherty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student veterans are an essential population for research but remain consistently underexamined in the literature. Similarly, veterans carrying firearms are an essential but under-examined topic in the literature. This study sought to address gaps in both domains by investigating student veterans’ perspectives on safety and firearms on campus, or “campus carry”. Campus carry refers to a set of policies that vary by jurisdiction but generally allow individuals to legally carry concealed firearms on all or some parts of a public university or college campus. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how student veterans in Texas perceive campus safety and how these …

2025 Abstract Book (Pdf), School Of Public Health

School of Public Health Delta Omega Honors Day Poster Sessions

The collection of abstracts for the 2025 Delta Omega Honors Day Poster Session.

Methods For Community-Engaged Data Collection And Analysis In Implementation Research, Lawrence A. Palinkas, Benjamin Springgate, Leopoldo J. Cabassa, Michelle Shin, Samantha Garcia, Benjamin F. Crabtree, Jennifer Tsui

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Community engagement is widely recognized as critical to successful and equitable implementation of evidence-based practices, programs, and policies. However, there are no clear guidelines for community involvement in data collection and analysis in implementation research. METHODS: We describe three specific methods for engaging community members in data collection and analysis: concept mapping, rapid ethnographic assessment, and Photovoice. Common elements are identified from a case study of each method: 1) selection and adaptation of evidence-based strategies for improving adolescent HPV vaccine initiation rates in disadvantaged communities, 2) strategies for implementing medication for opioid use disorders among low-income Medicaid enrollees during …

A Cross-Sectional Analysis: Employment And Its Impact On Physical Activity, Academic Performance, And Quality Of Life Among Bellarmine University Students, Orlando Exposito Nuñez

Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Half of undergraduate students are employed, meaning they must balance work with academics, physical activity (PA), and personal responsibilities. This study examines the potential negative impact of employment on PA, academic performance, and quality of life (QOL) among college students. Methods: The cross-sectional survey comprised 125 Bellarmine University students (Age 21.07 ± 3.40; 52% female, 48% male). Measures included the RAND SF-36 for QOL, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and a custom academic and employment questionnaire. Racial and ethnic demographics included White (75.2%), Black or African American (11.2%), Hispanic or Latino (15.2%), Asian (4.8%), Multiracial (4.8%), …

Lived Experiences Of Seropositive Msm Who Face Intersectional Stigma Regarding Hiv-Prevention And Care In California, Sagar Bedi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals who are positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and identify as MSM (men who have sex with men), a population disproportionately affected by this disease, face complex struggles due to interplay between multiple forms of stigma, disclosure, and HIV risk behaviors. This results in delayed testing, poor treatment adherence, and decreased engagement in care. Despite the growing body of research on HIV among MSM, very few studies have explored the complex ways in which multiple forms of stigma intersect and impact the lives of Seropositive MSM. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perception and lived …

Clinical Practice Guideline For The Improvement Of Care Compliance Of Children Affected By Obesity, Denise Vaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity is diagnosed in children with a weight that is above the normal levels for their age and height. This diagnosis can be made if the child's body mass index (BMI) percentile is equal to or above 95% for age and sex. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2024), BMI, an anthropometric index of weight and height, is calculated by dividing a person's weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in meters), is used to assess if a child is underweight, overweight, obese or of healthy weight. The Cleveland Clinic (2024) noted that BMI …

No Vaccine? Why Not: Causes Of Vaccine Hesitancy And How Governments Can Stop It, Alexander (Alec) Mccarty '25

Honor Scholar Theses

Vaccine hesitancy is a term that has entered the spotlight since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With concerns about efficacy, safety, and individual choice, many people have developed a hesitancy toward receiving any vaccine, creating concerns for public and global health. Through responses from local and state health departments about their actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and through analysis of state vaccine rates based on political affiliation, this study suggests that vaccine hesitancy is a current issue that is likely politically motivated. States that are Republican affiliated have lower rates of vaccine uptake, and in turn they have higher …

Building Empathy Through Storytelling: A Living Library Program Focused On Women’S Health, Jess King, Belinda Boelter, Catherine Medici-Thiemann

Posters and Presentations: Leon S. McGoogan Health Sciences Library

An academic health sciences library hosted a grant-funded living library program titled “Bringing Stories of Women’s Health to the Forefront.” With a campus that is increasingly focused on incorporating the humanities into medical education, the library added to this momentum by offering a program which encouraged empathy through the art of storytelling. The program was delivered via three routes: an in-person event for the city’s metro community, a virtual event for the university community and their clinical partners, and oral interview video recordings that are hosted on the library website. In order to host a successful event that met the …

Social Support And Treatment Outcomes Among Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis And Persons Living With Hiv In Nigeria, Abiodun Olusegun Hassan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An estimated 40% of people with tuberculosis (TB) are missed due to underdiagnosis, and among those previously treated TB cases, about a quarter develop drug-resistant TB in Nigeria. The emergence of multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is stalling the effort towards TB’s control and eradication. Few studies have examined the impact of the psychosocial effect and support systems for TB, particularly for MDR-TB. In this quantitative, cross-sectional study, the predictive relationship between social support given to MDR-TB patients and their treatment outcomes was examined using secondary data of 594 MDR-TB cases enrolled between January 2018 and December 2021. The theoretical framework for …

Findings From A Qualitative Analysis: Social Media Influencers Of Color As Trusted Messengers Of Hpv Vaccination Messages, Amelia Burke-Garcia, Erin Cutroneo, Dasha Afanaseva, Kayla Madden, Angela Sustaita-Ruiz, Preethi Selvan, Estefany Rivera Sanchez, Amy Leader

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite HPV vaccination reducing the prevalence of cervical cancer by 90%, vaccination rates remain lower among communities of color due to vaccine hesitancy and mistrust in traditional public health messengers. The emergence of social media influencers, a newer kind of messenger, presents a unique opportunity to share immunization messages in new ways with a variety of communities. This paper reviews the qualitative findings from a study aimed at assessing influencers' perceptions of and approaches to sharing messaging about the HPV vaccine.

METHODS: Guided by several theories (Theory of Planned Behavior, Narrative Theory, and Opinion Leader Theory), the study team …

The Role Of Churches In Enhancing Cancer Screening Adherence: A Focus On Faith-Based Health Literacy Among African American Women, Miranda I. Goodson, Genevieve Murray

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: It is estimated that cancer is the second leading cause of death for African American women in the United States. One study revealed that Black women have a 1 in 3 chance of developing cancer with a 1 in 6 chance of mortality. Research has shown a lower breast cancer screening adherence among women in cultural minorities and faith-based communities. The importance of spirituality and religion as an influential factor on Black community members’ beliefs about health and medicine must be considered as churches are pillars of social support within Black American communities.

Methods: A search for studies about …

Growing The Good: A Communal Garden Case Study Among Marginalized, Rural Populations, Claire Barbier

LSU Master's Theses

Community and Communal gardens (CG) have been documented as early as the late 1800s during periods of economic recessions and high food insecurity (The MIT Press Reader, 2022). However, C.G. adoption rates are expanding on a global scale as communities and municipalities see the potential for the tool to bring relief to environments in dire need of additional resources. Utilizing a communal garden can be used to address a surplus of systemic barriers a community faces; it has a significant opportunity to bring forth the interconnected tiers of public health altogether (Twiss et. al, 2003). Modernized C.G projects bring forth …

A Mapping Review And Critique Of The Literature On Translation, Dissemination, And Implementation Capacity Building Initiatives For Different Audiences, Ana A Baumann, Danielle R Adams, Laura-Mae Baldwin, Rachel G Tabak, Sara Malone, Maura M Kepper, Anita D Misra-Hebert, Kathleen R Stevens, Maria E Fernandez, Sunil Kripalani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Capacity building is critical for research and practice as the fields of dissemination, implementation and translation science continue to grow. Some scholars state that capacity building should be grounded in competencies. However, the fields are unclear in determining which competencies are relevant for whom, including the content and appropriate level of information and skills for different roles. The goal of this study was to catalogue competencies across current D&I capacity building initiatives.

Methods: We conducted a mapping review to examine to what extent are theories or frameworks used to guide capacity building, who is being trained, to what extent …

Oral Hygiene And Cardiovascular Health, Md. S. Zaman, S. M. Golam Alam, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

The human oral microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining oral and systemic health. This diverse microbial community includes over 700 bacterial species, some of which are implicated in developing systemic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Research highlights a strong association between periodontal disease and increased cardiovascular risk, suggesting that good oral hygiene practices may reduce the incidence of CVDs. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum drive chronic inflammation in periodontal disease; these bacteria can extend beyond the mouth and contribute to systemic inflammatory responses. The inflammatory factors, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins (IL-1, IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), damage …

The Impact Of Long Covid On Language Proficiency Across Different School Levels In Hong Kong, Shebe S. Xu, Yixun Li, Wanyi Li, Catherine M. Capio, Winnie W.Y. Tso, Derwin K.C. Chan

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Long COVID, where symptoms persist after recovering from COVID-19, can affect cognitive functions like language. However, little is known about its impact on children’s language skills, especially across different school levels. This study investigated the impact of long COVID on language proficiency among 1244 children (Asian; 53.5% boys) from kindergartens (N = 408, Mage = 4.42 ± 1.26 years), primary schools (N = 547, Mage = 9.69 ± 1.96 years), and secondary schools (N = 289, Mage = 14.97 ± 1.85 years) in Hong Kong. Language proficiency was assessed using the Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q), which measured speaking, …

Reevaluating Informed Consent: Integrating Shared Decision-Making Into Spinal Surgery For Better Patient Outcomes., Jeffrey N Wang, Mohamed A Elhakeem, Matthew J Mesimer, Paul G Mastrokostas, Salman Ahmad, Tim Reed, Brandon Klein, Lucas E Bartlett, Adam D Bitterman, Andrew Megas

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Study Design: Narrative review.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to answer the following questions: (1) What is the quality of informed consent in spine surgery, including both neurosurgery and orthopaedic spine surgery? (2) What limitations impede the ability of surgeons to engage in effective shared decision-making (SDM) and obtain adequate informed consent? (3) What strategies and solutions may improve the quality of informed consent and SDM? (4) What factors decrease the incidence of litigation in spine surgery?

Methods: N/A.

Results: SDM is a collaborative process where patients are involved in their treatment choices through open communication about risks, …

Implementation Of Performance-Based Budgeting For Public Health Care Service Delivery In An Emerging Economy, Isaac O. Randa, Christine A. Adere

Southern African Journal of Policy and Development

This study investigates the determinants and implications of the implementation of performance-based budgeting (PBB) on public health care service delivery at the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) in Windhoek, Namibia. Using a cross-sectional survey research design targeting 100 respondents, this study employed a quantitative research approach involving MoHSS's budgeting and health care services departments. Data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Communication, bureaucratic structures, and implementers’ disposition significantly influenced PBB implementation alignment, thereby enhancing service delivery. However, resource utilisation showed no significant effect. Additionally, implementation alignment effectively mediated the relationship between latent exogenous variables and …

Prevalence And Risk Factors Associated With Postpartum Hemorrhage Among Postpartum Women In Selected Health Facilities In Machakos County - A Case-Control Study, Daniel Kyalo Muthiani

MSc in Advanced Practice Midwifery

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) refers to blood loss ≥500mls after vaginal birth and ≥1000mls after cesarean section. PPH is of concern in low and middle-income countries and is estimated to cause maternal mortality every 10 minutes, with a prevalence of 25% and 34% in Uganda and Kenya, respectively. Despite efforts to address this issue, the prevalence of PPH remains high and is associated with maternal and fetal risk factors that can present along the continuum of birth. Understanding the risk factors is necessary in designing appropriate interventions for their prevention.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, maternal and fetal risk factors …

Addressing Informal Caregiver Burnout In The United States: Policies, Interventions, And Recommendations, Michael Blampye

Master's Projects and Capstones

Informal caregiver burnout has been and will continue to be a significant public health concern in the United States, necessitating a comprehensive analysis of initiatives and policies to reduce its negative impacts. This paper provides an overview of existing approaches to address caregiver burnout at the individual, community, and national level, identifying critical gaps in policies and programs. By highlighting successful approaches in other developed countries, this paper presents comprehensive program and policy recommendations to strengthen informal caregiver support systems in the United States. Prioritizing these proposals can guide policymakers in creating a more supportive environment that values the crucial …

The Stigma Surrounding Sex And Sexuality In American Culture, Sophia L. Pollock

Senior Theses

An important question to examine is the origin and implications of the taboo against sex and sexuality. The stigma against these topics encourages negative public health implications like poor sex education, high rates of sexually transmitted infections, and teen pregnancy. History of sexual stigma was examined through physical media and digital articles from the Thomas Cooper Library databases. The background and global perspective of these stigmas are covered, examining how past and distant cultures deal with sex. How sex is portrayed in the media, why a healthy sex life is important, and the subject of sex education are also addressed. …

Barriers To Telehealth Uptake And Use: A Scoping Review, Mackenzie Kemp, Kristin L. Rising, Gregory Laynor, Jessica Miao, Brooke Worster, Anna Marie Chang, Andrew J. Monick, Amanda Guth, Tracy Esteves Camacho, Kiana Mcintosh, Grace Amadio, Lindsey Shughart, Tingann Hsiao, Amy E. Leader

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a scoping review to identify barriers to telehealth use and uptake from the perspective of patient, provider, and system that were documented in the literature. In addition to identifying and categorizing the barriers, we aimed to assess how barriers differed for studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how barriers differed between the United States vs internationally based studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comprehensive searches of the PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus databases conducted on December 29, 2021 yielded 17 887 results, with 11 221 potentially eligible documents after duplicates were removed. The team conducted an initial …

Lead Telecommunications Cables: A Call For Concern?, Zachary Young

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

From the late 1800s until the 1950s, telecommunication companies across the United States utilized lead casing to protect their telecommunication lines. As technology developed and different types of plastic coatings were created, telecommunication companies phased out the use of lead cables. However, the lead cables remain in the air and buried in the ground, even continuing to provide telephone service for some. The failure to remove these cables, most of which are not in use anymore, has generated a slew of issues for the modem-day telecommunication companies that have inherited these cables from their predecessors. As the protective casing decays, …

Tobacco Package Health Warnings About Product Manipulations: An Experimental Study Among Australian Adults Who Smoke, Emily Brennan, Claudia Gascoyne, Kimberley Dunstone, Amanda Vittiglia, Gayathri Srinivasan, Jim Thrasher Ph.D., Ma, Ms, Janet Hoek, Melanie Wakefield, Sarah Durkin

Faculty Publications

The tobacco industry manipulates cigarettes to provide sensory cues that mislead people who smoke. We assessed the effectiveness of health warnings (HWs) focussed on the impact of misleading product attributes, including filter ventilation, menthol, and roll-your-own tobacco, which were called Product Attribute HWs. Australian adults who smoke (n = 2544) were randomly assigned to view: control medication warnings; new Standard HWs with smoking harm images; Product Attribute HWs; or Product Attribute HWs plus a video. At baseline, participants were exposed to seven condition-specific warnings (+ video for those in the Product Attribute HWs + Video condition), then they were …

Science And Politics In Public Health Regulation, Samuel R. Bagenstos

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Much of American public discourse takes for granted a distinction between science and politics. People describe and understand that distinction in contradictory ways, however. And those contradictions themselves underscore how closely entwined science and politics actually are.

Food For Thought: The Impact Of The Gut-Brain Axis On Mental Health, Emily S. Miiller

Honors Thesis

Research regarding the role of the human microbiome has grown over the years as professionals develop a better understanding of the gut-brain axis. New studies and expanding knowledge on the relationship between the nervous system and gut microbiome promote a deeper understanding of the impact of diet on mental health. Diet plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy balance between the gut and the brain. Incorporating nutritional modulators, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamins, is crucial for supporting the gut-brain axis by influencing neurotransmitter production, managing inflammation, and promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. On the other hand, …

Exploring The Web And Language Accessibility Of Medical Tourism Providers’ Websites: Implications For Online Marketing And Patient Recruitment Practices, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Kristen Livingston, Treyton Meyers

Faculty Submissions

Background: Web accessibility as an attribute of the digital presence of organizations has been studied across domains and contexts. Our study aims to add to existing lines of research inquiry by examining the web and language accessibility of medical tourism provider (MTP) websites commonly used to market and promote international medical tourism treatments and services globally.

Objective: This study aims to (1) systematically analyze the web and language accessibility of MTP online health messages and (2) discuss challenges and implications for medical tourists’ user experiences when seeking health information online.

Method: We conducted an exploratory quantitative content analysis of web …

South Dakota Department Of Health: Office Of Community Engagement Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2025-2028, Julia E. Platt

Honors Thesis

The goal of a strategic plan is to ensure that resources are used effectively and efforts are focused where they are most required by means of direction and concentration. The South Dakota Department of Health Office of Community Engagement Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2025-2028 contains objectives and goals aimed at maximizing the use of resource allocations and solutions to best meet the needs of the OCE and its partners. In order to create those goals and objectives, internal and external needs assessments, along with key informant interviews, were conducted and analyzed to pull data into actionable SMART objectives. Alignment with …

The Impact Of Discretion On Human Service Workers Supporting The Health Of Unaccompanied Minors In Foster Care, Diana M. Clark

Senior Theses

Unaccompanied children (UCs) are a vulnerable population that enters government custody and accesses healthcare via the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)'s system of care. While prior research has focused on generating policy recommendations to improve healthcare services available to UCs both in ORR custody and following release from custody, this thesis will instead expand upon the experiences of staff members working at ORR-contracted agencies. These workers make decisions that have short- and long-term implications on the health and wellbeing of UCs. Drawing from 65 in-depth interviews with human service workers in ORR-contracted voluntary agencies, this thesis uses street-level bureaucracy framework …

Cultural And Religious Perspectives On Suicide And Healing, Arielle Friedman

be Still

This essay is built off of a paper I wrote in a college global health course on culture and mental illness. I have always been fascinated by cultural interpretations of illness & believe that as a future physician, it is my responsibility to educate myself and others on the complex interplay between religious ideologies & recognition/management of biological disease in order to provide appropriate patient-centered care.

The Lived Experience Of Acute Stroke Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (Aprn) Working In Expanded Roles: A Mixed Methods Study, Terri-Ellen Kiernan

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction. Nurse practitioners have made credible gains through the six decades since inception to cover the growing need for outpatient family care. Nurse practitioners are now working in all aspects of medicine by continuing to fill gaps with healthcare needs that persist due to physician shortages. Stroke neurology is a medical specialty plagued by a shortage of physician specialists in hospital acute care which can limit acute stroke diagnosis and treatment capabilities. Stroke nurse practitioners (SNP) are vascular neurology trained specialists who fill relatively new hospital roles to assume traditionally physician-based responsibilities in an expanded role. This study aims to …