Digital Commons Network^™

A Retrospective Descriptive Profile Of Cancer Patients Seeking Homoeopathic Care In A Semi-Rural South African Setting, Radmila Razlog

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Patient profiling renders valuable information about the population's healthcare-seeking behaviours, critical for effective patient management. Khula Natural Health Centre (KNHC) in South Africa provides healthcare to rural communities, within the scope of Homoeopathy. Objective: The study aimed to create a preliminary cancer patient profile of KNHC from April 2017 to August 2024. Method: This retrospective study adopted a descriptive, exploratory design. Anonymised patient data was extracted from the KNHC database. Data that met the inclusion criteria were descriptively analysed to summarise and describe the dataset. Results: Forty-six participants' data, presenting a range of cancers, consulted at KNHC for homoeopathic …

Faktor-Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Kejadian Prediabetes Pada Perawat Di Rumah Sakit X Tahun 2025, Putri Nurhaliza, Chandrayani Simanjorang, Agung Raharjo

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Prediabetes dapat berkembang menjadi diabetes melitus dan meningkatkan risiko penyakit kardiovaskular. Selain itu, beban ekonomi juga meningkat akibat tingginya biaya pelayanan kesehatan dan penurunan produktivitas kerja. Salah satu kelompok berisiko prediabetes adalah perawat karena karakteristik pekerjaannya, seperti penerapan sistem kerja sif serta tingginya beban dan tekanan kerja yang dapat memicu stres. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor yang berhubungan dengan kejadian prediabetes pada perawat di Rumah Sakit X pada tahun 2025. Desain studi yang digunakan adalah cross-sectional dengan sumber data primer yang dikumpulkan melalui pengisian kuesioner dan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari laporan hasil medical check-up tahun 2025. Populasi dalam …

Impact Of Sexual Orientation On Syphilis Diagnosis Among African American Men In Colorado, Emmanuel Bhatti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Syphilis remains an ongoing public health concern among African American men. Elevated rates during the COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the need for focused attention on this population. The risk factors driving syphilis diagnosis among African American men during a pandemic like COVID-19 remain poorly understood. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the association between sexual orientation and syphilis diagnosis among African American men in Colorado. Social cognitive theory was applied to understand the interaction among sexual orientation, HIV status, age, and syphilis diagnosis. Sexual orientation categories include men who have sex with men (MSM), men who …

Harmonies Of Healing: A Secondary Data Analysis On Music Engagement And Quality Of Life In Older Adults, Theophilus Eben Nartey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional secondary data analysis was to examine the relationship between music engagement and self-reported quality of life among adults aged 60 years and older, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Guided by the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) framework, the study explored whether music engagement significantly predicted perceived well-being in later adulthood while accounting for chronic health conditions. Secondary data from the HRS public-use dataset were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 29. The final analytical sample consisted of 1,582 adults aged 60 years or older with complete data on all variables included in the …

Barriers And Facilitators To Health Literacy Among Black Americans With Overweight And Obesity In South Carolina: A Mini-Ethnographic Study, Shelly Campbell-Timmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative mini ethnography adapted from traditional ethnography with limited time and scope, was to explore and understand perceptions of barriers and facilitators to health literacy among Black Americans with overweight and obesity in three South Carolina counties. Population data showed that approximately 40.3% of U.S. adults are obese. Moreover, Non-Hispanic Black communities are disproportionately affected by overweight and obesity despite efforts to combat the weight-related health risk. Still, limited health literacy should be the focus of public health strategies like teach-back and plain language communication, to address overweight and obesity prevalence and disparities. The study was …

Progress, Poetry, And Peace: Romantic Ideals And The Present Day, Kristen Dawn Morgan Hess

Masters Theses

In the busy, technologized, and mechanized life that most people live today, it can be difficult to find true rest, comfort, and peace because the very technology and machinery that is marketed as providing these 21st-century amenities often fall short in their delivery. Taking a look backward at the Romantic era ideals presented in the poetry of William Wordsworth can offer people today the chance to gradually improve their mental, physical, and emotional health by slowing down, minimalizing, and moderating their lifestyles. This thesis talks about the historical background of three of Wordsworth’s poems— “Lines Written in Early Spring,” “The …

Degree Assortativity And Estimation Of Degree Distribution In A Contact Network Of People Who Inject Drugs, Peter Geissert

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation analyzes data from a respondent driven sampling (RDS) study of people who inject drugs in Portland, OR.  The objective was to assess assumptions for the use of weighted estimators to estimate a population physical contact (syringe sharing) network degree distribution.

Visualization of degree distribution for social and physical networks, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests of difference, and kernel tests of equivalence were used for comparison of distributions. Spearman's rho and GAM non-parametric regression models were used to test for association and assess non-monotonic relationship. The validity of Markov chain assumptions for RDS was assessed using a transition matrix, Markov chain graphs, …

Integrating Public Health Into Communication Sciences And Disorders Curriculum, Whitney D. Perkins, Yalanda M. Barner, Jennifer Wiles, Brandi Newkirk-Turner

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The field of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is increasingly integrating public health into its practice and research. This is because less than 10% of speech-language pathology and audiology graduate programs are housed within Colleges or Schools of Public Health (PH), reducing the likelihood that students in CSD have the opportunity for coursework and co-curricular activities that integrate PH and CSD. In this paper, we discuss the holistic approach we used to integrate PH into a CSD program at a Historically Black University. The approach was guided by PH and CSD accreditation standards and involved a didactic course, CSD courses …

A Mixed Methods Study Of Inpatients’ Experiences, Priorities, And Health-Related Quality Of Life During High- Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy, Cintamani H. Ellsworth, Rebecca S. Bartlett

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is an oxygen delivery method with numerous benefits for severely ill patients. There is a paucity of research focused on the perspectives of patients receiving HFNC oxygen therapy. This study aimed to engage with patients to gain a clearer understanding of their experiences, priorities, and health-related quality of life.

Methods: A cross-sectional, mixed methods study was completed with 10 adult inpatients who had received HFNC oxygen therapy during their hospital admission. Semi-structured interviews and the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health Scale were used to identify participant perceptions of their physical and …

Under Pressure And Underrecognized: The Role Of Social Workers And Case Managers In Screening For Social Determinants Of Health In The United States, Melissa L. Habrat, Lindsay D. Nelson, David A. Nelson

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Social determinants of health (SDOH) screening is increasingly embedded in clinical care, yet the work of asking, documenting, and responding to social needs often falls to social workers and nurses or professional case managers who operate under significant time, staffing, and system constraints. We conducted a narrative review to examine how SDOH influence outcomes, identify systemic and emotional barriers to effective screening, and synthesize evidence-informed strategies that support implementation. Across included sources, findings clustered into three domains: challenges in integrating screening (policy and accreditation pressure, staffing and resource constraints, EHR documentation and interoperability limits, closed-loop referral and cross-sector partnership gaps, …

Prostate Cancer Survival Among Young Males Within The United States, Maxine M. Findlay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prostate cancer incidence has increased among younger men in the United States, and treatment affects both patient survival and family well-being. This quantitative retrospective study examined survival among young men diagnosed with prostate cancer who received chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or prostatectomy, while accounting for socioeconomic factors of residence and ethnicity. Social cognitive theory was the framework. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine whether treatment method, socioeconomic factors of residence and ethnicity predicted survival among young men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Data was sourced from the National Cancer Database Participant User File 2004-2021 specific to prostate cancer. The study cohort …

Socioecological Factors Associated With Advanced Primary Tumor Category At Diagnosis Among Adults With Head And Neck Cancer Residing In Pennsylvania And New Jersey, Diane Elizabeth Crawford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disparities in head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnosis may contribute to poorer outcomes among socially and economically disadvantaged populations. This quantitative secondary data analysis examined associations between socioecological factors and advanced primary tumor category among adults with HNC residing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Guided by the socioecological model, deidentified data (N = 350) from two Fox Chase Cancer Center research protocols were analyzed using three domain-specific multivariable logistic regression models. Primary tumor category was classified as lower (Tis–T2) or advanced (T3–T4) based on tumor size and/or local extent. Black participants had greater adjusted odds of advanced primary tumor category …

Strengthening Health System-Community Partnerships To Address Pediatric Social Needs: A Qualitative Study, Joy Friedman, Melissa A. Alderfer, Kelsey Higgins, Aaron Carpenter, Jennifer Sciolla, Sarah E. Wawrzynski

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IntroductionStructural and social conditions influence pediatric health outcomes. Successful implementation of social needs screening and referral programs depends on community-based organizations (CBOs) to provide resources that address health-related social needs (HRSN). We explored current practices and perspectives of health care workers and CBO representatives on improving health system-CBO partnerships.MethodsParticipants were purposively recruited from a variety of health care settings involved in HRSN screening and CBOs delivering resources in the community. Participants completed semi-structured interviews. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to summarize data.ResultsTen key informants participated (six health care workers and four CBO representatives). Four themes were identified: 1) mismatches in …

Editorial: Invisible Hazards, Lasting Impact: Airborne Toxicants And Systemic Disease From Environmental And Occupational Exposures, Tammy Butterick, Julie Tomáška, Pamala Ginex, Janeen Trembley, Paul Barach

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Association Between School Prevention Programs And Adolescents’ Opioid Abuse In The United States, Lida Moazezi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined adolescent opioid misuse in the United States and the role of school-based prevention. Guided by the health belief model, the purpose was to test whether participation in school-based drug prevention lessons was associated with past-year opioid misuse among adolescents ages 14–17 and whether race and gender moderated that association. This quantitative, cross-sectional, nonexperimental secondary analysis used the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 8,965). Analyses included weighted descriptives, chi-square tests, and complex-samples logistic regression controlling for age and socioeconomic status. The sample included adolescents ages 14–17 with complete data on school-based prevention participation, …

Discovering Repurposable Drugs For Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias: Target Trial Emulation Using Decentralised Real-World Data, Qiong Wu, Lu Li, Yuqing Lei, Ting Zhou, Huilin Tang, Bingyu Zhang, Yiwen Lu, Maxwell Salvatore, Dazheng Zhang, Jiayi Tong, Tingyin Wang, Siqi Chen, Haoyang Li, Zhenxing Xu, Yu Huang, Yu Hu, Na Hong, Yujia Zhou, Fongci Lin, Kyra O'Brien, Yong Chen, Ruowang Li, Hua Xu, Fei Wang, Jiang Bian, David Wolk, Yong Chen

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect nearly 6.9 million Americans, with the number expected to triple by 2050, while disease-modifying therapies remain unavailable. Drug repurposing, which identifies new indications for already approved medications, offers a more efficient and cost-effective pathway to accelerate development of effective therapies for ADRD. The aim of this study is to identify potential drug repurposing signals by systematically screening routinely prescribed drugs for associations with progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to ADRD.

METHODS: We conducted a multi-site target trial emulation using electronic health record (EHR) data from four decentralised databases: INSIGHT Clinical Research …

From Readiness To Transformation: The Mediating Role Of Digital Maturity In Linking Ai Readiness To Organizational Change In Hospitals, Muhammad Ryan Adi Putra, Giovanni Reynaldo, Dewi Sri Surya Wuisan

Journal of Health Research

Background: Organizational readiness is essential for AI-enabled digital transformation as healthcare organizations increasingly integrate artificial intelligence (AI). However, empirical evidence regarding the relationship between AI readiness and organizational change, the mediating role of digital maturity, remains limited in healthcare settings. This study investigated the mediating role of digital maturity in the relationship between AI readiness and organizational change.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 300 healthcare professionals from two Indonesian hospitals: Persahabatan Hospital (n = 165) and St. Carolus Hospital (n = 135). Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess …

Defining Evidence-Based Practices From A Practitioner Perspective: An Analysis Of How The Peer Assisted School Transition (P.A.S.T.) Project Fits Within The Evidence-Based Practices Continuum, Afiya King, Hillarie Wise, Nakia Cross, Donna Dent, Andrew Jordan Williamson, Maysa Osman, Carlos A O Pavao

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study examines the implementation and evaluation of the Peer Assisted School Transition (P.A.S.T.) Project, an evidence-informed, peer-led intervention designed to prevent substance misuse among youth during key educational transitions. The study explores the effectiveness of the program in strengthening protective factors, reducing risk factors, and enhancing skills related to substance misuse prevention.

Methods: A mixed-methods evaluation design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-surveys administered to fifth- and eighth-grade students to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups, interviews, and observations to provide contextual insight into program implementation …

Precision Approaches Improve Community Health, Roger A. Rennekamp, David Buys

Journal of Extension

Recent advances in data science provide Extension practitioners with access to data sorted by zip code, census tract, or neighborhood. Such hyper-local data now allows Extension personnel to assess community needs and assets at a more granular level and focus their work on the people and communities of greatest need. In this article, we introduce an approach we refer to as precision public health. Using such a precision approach to community assessment and, ultimately, programming can save money, increase the likelihood of producing measurable results, and create more manageable workloads for county-based Extension personnel.

Systematic Review Of Sports Safety Best Practice Implementation In Non-Scholastic Youth Sport Organizations, Katie Sniffen, Hayley J. Root, Richelle M. Williams

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Non-scholastic youth sports organizations offer competitive and recreational activities to millions of children each year but lack centralized oversight for health and safety policy. Despite the benefits of sport participation, there are inherent risks, including cardiac-, concussion-, heat-, and musculoskeletal-related conditions. Therefore, it is important to understand how youth sports safety policies are implemented in non-scholastic youth sport organizations. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the current literature on the implementation of youth sports safety policies in non-scholastic youth sport organizations in the United States. Methods: A computerized search of Cochrane, CINHAL, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus …

State-Level Implementation Of Health And Safety Policies In Mississippi Secondary Schools, Heather L. Shirley, Valerie J. Moody

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: State-level investigations of health and safety policy implementation in secondary school athletics highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring student-athlete safety that aligns with evidence-based best practices. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine current state-level implementation of health and safety policies in Mississippi secondary schools from the perspective of athletics/activities directors, athletic trainers, and other school administrators. Methods: In May 2025, a 26-item web-based questionnaire was distributed to 226 athletic directors and 114 athletic trainers across Mississippi secondary schools. The survey assessed participant demographics, access to healthcare resources, emergency action planning (EAP), required coaches’ health and safety training, …

Mda Public Relations Grant Program Opens Applications For 2026 Cycle, Timothy Rath

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Michigan Dental Association is opening applications for its 2026 Public Relations Grant Program, offering individual grants of up to $5,000, with $30,000 in total funding, to support component dental societies. The program funds creative community-focused initiatives scheduled for 2027 that educate the public and promote oral health, excluding purely charitable clinical care. Eligible projects emphasize relationship-building and community engagement. Highlighted success stories from previous cycles include oral health kit distributions, youth-focused educational events, and the expansion of the 'Give Kids A Smile' exams and preventive care clinics across Michigan.

New York City Women’S Experiences With Perinatal Depression Inquiries, Diagnosis, And Treatment Initiation, Caterina Pisciotta

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Perinatal depression represents a significant public health concern, yet many women who experience depression symptoms during the perinatal period (either during pregnancy and/or after birth) do not receive treatment. Initiatives, such as ThriveNYC, were designed to address these gaps by screening and treating perinatal women for maternal depression, integrating screening into routine perinatal care and strengthening pathways to treatment. Using representative survey data collected between 2016 and 2021 via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), this study examined trends in perinatal depression inquiries (a proxy for “screening”) and postpartum diagnosis, as well as …

Underfunded And Undervalued: Community-Based Health Promotion Practitioners’ Experiences Of Western Australia’S Prevention Sector, Ruth M. Wallace, Leesa N. Costello, Elizabeth J. Cook

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Prevention is a central policy focus of contemporary health promotion, offering cost-effective strategies to reduce disease burden and improve population well-being. Despite this, Australia allocates a small proportion of its health budget to prevention, with funding models characterized by short-term cycles and competitive tendering. While the consequences for public health are well documented, the impact on the health promotion workforce remains underexplored. Workforce health and stability are critical for program delivery, ethical practice, continuity of relationships with communities, and the capacity to sustain long-term prevention efforts. This qualitative study examined the experience of 19 community-based health promotion practitioners in Western …

Cardiovascular Disease Incidence And Cancer Risk In Two Large European Prospective Cohorts, Emma Fontvieille, Vivian Viallon, Laia Peruchet-Noray, Quan Gan, N. Charlotte Onland-Moret, Yvonne Koop, Anne Tjønneland, Nicola Bondonno, Verena Katzke, Rudolf Kaaks, Matthias B. Schulze, Catarina Schiborn, Calogero Saieva, Vittorio Simeon, Claudia Agnoli, Rosario Tumino, Fulvio Ricceri, Leila Luján-Barroso, Maria José Sánchez, Conchi Moreno-Iribas, Konstantinos K. Tsilidis, Marc J. Gunter, Adam Butterworth, Elio Riboli, Heinz Freisling, Pietro Ferrari

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Our study investigated the association between incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and subsequent cancer risk in two large European prospective cohorts. We included 568,926 adults from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition and United Kingdom Biobank, all of whom were free of CVD, cancer and type 2 diabetes at baseline. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate cancer hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in relation to incident CVD events. CVD was treated as a time-varying exposure, and models accounted for time since CVD diagnosis and other lifestyle factors. Study-specific estimates were pooled using …

Determinants Of Multimorbidity Among Stroke Patients For Epidemiological Management In Indonesia's Agro-Coastal Communities, Krish Naufal Anugrah Robby, Isa Ma'rufi, Farida Wahyu Ningtyias, Latifatul Izzah, Nurjazuli Nurjazuli, Suhartono Suhartono, Muchlis Achsan Udji Sofro, Ida Srisurani Wiji Astuti, Olivia Listiowati Prawoto, Dedek Sutinbuk, Taufik Kurrohman, Elhoussin Ouassou

Kesmas

Multimorbidity remains a major public health challenge among stroke patients, particularly in agro-coastal communities characterized by socioeconomic vulnerability, limited healthcare access, and lifestyle changes. This study aimed to analyze the determinants of multimorbidity among stroke patients in agro-coastal communities. A quantitative observational analytical design was employed, involving 45 stroke patients selected through total sampling in Jember District, Indonesia. Data were collected through structured interviews, anthropometric measurements, and secondary health records. The model included biological, socioeconomic, healthcare access, and lifestyle as exogenous variables, with multimorbidity as the endogenous variable. Data were analyzed using PLS-SEM, including evaluation of measurement and structural models …

Beyond The Binary: Strengthening Nursing Students’ Proficiency Of Equitable Health Promotion, Martha K. Findley

Theses

Background: Sexual and gender diverse (SGD) populations continue to experience significant health inequities, yet prelicensure nursing curricula often lack structured, evidence‑based training to prepare students for equitable care.

Purpose: This study evaluated whether a targeted, transgender‑focused simulation could improve nursing students’ clinical knowledge and preparedness for providing equitable health promotion to SGD populations.

Methods: A pre‑/post‑intervention design was used with senior‑level nursing students who completed a transgender patient simulation emphasizing communication, assessment, and equitable health promotion. Students completed a validated survey measuring knowledge and preparedness in caring for SGD patients.

Results: Significant improvements across most survey items demonstrated that the …

Building On A Strong Foundation: Celebrating Our Past And Looking Toward The Future, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

No abstract

Responding To Medetomidine In Philadelphia: Narrative Summary Of The Public Health Response To A New Psychoactive Substance, Tareva Warrick-Stone, Serge-Emile Simpson, Phil Durney, Dennis Goodstein, Catherine Abrams, Raymond Bobb, Kory London, Daniel Teixeira Da Silva

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: Despite the emergence of medetomidine as the dominant adulterant in Philadelphia's illicit opioid supply, coordinated public health responses are limited or non-existent in the literature. Thus, we summarize a recent Summit in Philadelphia of outpatient and inpatient service providers who specialize in the care of persons who use drugs to discuss medetomidine response readiness and building ongoing community readiness for potential destabilizing drug supply changes.

PURPOSE: Describe a public health intervention that distributed information about practices across health care settings and mobilized key informants to identify and address barriers to treatment.

METHODS: Descriptive summary of the in-person Summit organized …

Understanding Oral Habits And Malocclusion In School-Aged Children: Insights From Parental And Child Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices, Maria Laurentia Sanjaya, Evan Raditya Pratomo, Markus Santoso, Agrippine Putricia Asaeli, Eveline Yulia Darmadi, Joy Janny Thenarianto, Jennifer Regina Putri Purwono, Eunike Jacquelyn Widarto

Kesmas

Malocclusion is a prevalent oral health problem in children associated with oral bad habits, yet the extent to which parental and child knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) influence orthodontic status remains insufficiently understood. This cross-sectional study investigated relationships between parental and child KAP, oral habits, and malocclusion in school-aged children, involving 67 child–parent pairs from an elementary school in Surabaya, Indonesia. Parental and child KAP as well as child-reported oral habits were assessed using a validated questionnaire. Children subsequently underwent standardized clinical orthodontic examinations, including alginate jaw impressions to produce dental study models, which were evaluated using the Index of …