Digital Commons Network^™

Knowledge Of Parents About Thalassemia In Tabuk City: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sawsan Mohammed Alblewi, Amirah M. Alatawi, Ehab Mahmoud Hanafy, Faisal Mayudh Althobaiti, Abdulelah Hamad Al-Balawi, Faisal Mohammed Alamrani, Yazeed Mahmoud Ajwah, Omar Muslih Albalawi, Mohammed Majed Alquayr, Sultan Ibrahim Alhamdi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Thalassemia is a common inherited blood disorder and remains a significant public health concern in Saudi Arabia. Parental knowledge is essential for effective prevention, screening, and early intervention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of thalassemia among parents in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia, and identify factors associated with knowledge levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 parents residing in Tabuk City between March and May 2025. Data were collected using a validated Arabic questionnaire distributed online. Knowledge was assessed using 21 items covering general thalassemia knowledge, thalassemia major, carrier status, and prevention. Knowledge levels …

Osteoporosis Knowledge, Health Beliefs, And Calcium Intake Among Malaysian Chinese Adults In Perak: A Cross-Sectional Study, Thean Hui Ru, Nurul Aimi Ab Kadir, Fatin Izzaty Mohd Shahrin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The Malaysian Chinese population records the highest national prevalence of osteoporotic hip fractures. This study investigated the relationships between osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, and calcium intake among Malaysian Chinese adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 205 Malaysian Chinese adults in Kampar, Perak, using the adapted Osteoporosis Prevention and Awareness Tool (OPAAT), Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS), and a 30-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).

Results: Participants demonstrated low osteoporosis knowledge (6.84 ± 2.92), with low perceived susceptibility (14.87 ± 5.00), moderate perceived seriousness (17.81 ± 5.20), and barriers to calcium intake (15.61 ± 4.15), and …

E-Health Literacy And Cyberchondria Severity Among Adolescent High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, Seyda Çavmak, Adem Bilgin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Amid rapid digitalization and the growing use of artificial intelligence-based search engines, adolescents increasingly seek health information online. This study examined the relationship between high school students' e-health literacy and their cyberchondria tendencies.

Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional study included 683 students from public high schools in Mersin, Türkiye. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the e-Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and the Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-12). Descriptive statistics, comparative tests, and Pearson correlation were applied (p < 0.05).

Results: Students' e-health literacy and cyberchondria severity were moderate. Significant positive correlations emerged between e-health literacy …

E-Cigarette Awareness, Usage Patterns, And Sociodemographic Determinants Among Malaysians Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study, Izdihar Kamal, Nabilah Mohd Abd Wahab, Nurul Mawaddah Mohammad, Rashidi Ahmad, Muhammad Khalis Abdul Karim, Hatikahaty Mohd Diah, Munirah Ahmad Dahari, Nur Biha Mohamed Nafis, Mohd Faris Abdullah Sani, Sulayman Muhammad Kabeer, Nur Biha Mohamed Nafis, Juliana Mohd Radzi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among Malaysian adolescents is rising rapidly, raising significant public health concerns. This study assessed awareness, understanding of risk, and e-cigarette use among secondary school students in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, and identified sociodemographic predictors of use.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 323 students from three government secondary schools using a validated questionnaire. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results: Nearly one-third (31.9%, N = 103) reported prior e-cigarette use. Although 63.2% (N = 204) demonstrated good awareness, only 14.6% (N = 47) understood associated health risks. Peers …

Assessing Healthcare Access Among Overweight And Obese Individuals In Türkiye Using Latent Variable Modeling, Banu Beyaz Sipahi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Overweight and obesity are critical determinants of healthcare access, yet evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped these dynamics in Türkiye remains limited. This study investigates whether the early post-pandemic recovery period altered healthcare access patterns for individuals with excess weight.

Methods: Using nationally representative microdata from the 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2022 Turkish Health Surveys, we constructed a latent Healthcare Access Index based on six indicators of unmet care needs. Probit models were estimated to assess associations between BMI categories and healthcare access, controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors. The 2022 wave serves as the early …

Physical Activity Intensity And Memory In Middle-Aged And Older Adults In China, Simi Tang, Yucheng Gao

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Memory decline represents a major challenge in aging populations, and physical activity may help preserve cognitive function. However, evidence on whether different activity intensities are associated with memory remains inconclusive.

Methods: Using five waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2020), this study investigated the association between physical activity intensity and memory among middle-aged and older adults in China. Individual fixed-effects models were applied to control for unobserved time-invariant heterogeneity. The outcome was memory score, and the main predictors encompassed high-, moderate-, and low-intensity physical activities.

Results: Based on 52,135 person–wave observations from 21,423 …

Frailty As A Framework To Understand Tuberculosis Severity, Recovery, And Sequelae, Yoscelina Estrella Martinez-Lopez, Benjamin W. Black, Jessica Lee, Brian J. Buta, Lisa Y. Armitige, William A. Fountain, Rafael Samper, Aanand D. Naik, Joanne Turner, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Tuberculosis (TB) causes profound systemic illness, and many survivors experience long-term sequelae associated with disability and premature mortality. Current TB severity indicators capture isolated aspects of disease and may not reflect the integrated physiological impact of infection on the host. Frailty, a multidimensional syndrome characterized by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, predicts adverse outcomes and guides clinical management in geriatrics. We propose frailty as an integrative framework for understanding the systemic effects of TB across the life course, encompassing disease severity, recovery, and long-term sequelae. We discuss biological mechanisms through which Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection may erode physiological …

Fall Risk In Community-Dwelling Adults: A Comparison Of English And Spanish-Speaking Individuals, Jesus D. Gomez

Dissertations, 2020-current

Falls are a leading cause of injury-related mortality among middle-aged and older adults. Although vestibular dysfunction, hearing loss, behavioral factors, and social determinants of health have been associated with increased fall risk, few studies have examined these relationships. Furthermore, limited research in audiology and vestibular science has investigated fall-risk vulnerability among Spanish-speaking individuals.

This study aimed to: (1) estimate the prevalence of fall risk among community-dwelling adults and compare prevalence between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking participants; (2) assess the prevalence of previously undiagnosed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and compare prevalence between language groups; and (3) develop predictive models of fall …

Ai-Based Pilot Fatigue Monitoring For Enhanced Aviation Safety, Joshua Henderson, Alexander Landau, Braxton Moor, Jacky Yang, Caleb Difabio

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Pilot fatigue remains a persistent systemic operational hazard in commercial aviation because it can degrade attention, reaction time, decision-making, and crew coordination during safety-critical phases of flight. Although regulatory duty-time limits and Fatigue Risk Management Systems provide baseline protections, these controls rely heavily on voluntary reporting and post-event analysis, which may fail to detect fatigue in real time. The purpose of this project was to design and evaluate an artificial intelligence-enabled fatigue monitoring concept intended to reduce undetected pilot fatigue risk within the airline Safety Management System framework. The study applied a structured research approach including a literature review to …

Cone Vs. Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (Vmat) Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Srs) Planning For Multiple (7) Brain Targets: Dosimetric Tradeoffs And Clinical Decision Guidance, Juan Garcia

Masters Projects

Purpose: This study compared cone-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and single-isocenter volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for multiple (7) intracranial targets to evaluate differences in target coverage, conformality, dose falloff, and normal brain exposure.

Methods: A phantom-based study was performed using progressively increasing configurations of 10-mm spherical targets, from one to seven targets. Cone-based SRS and VMAT plans were evaluated using D99, CI100, CI50, gradient index (GI), maximum dose, V12Gy, and V5Gy.

Results: Both planning techniques achieved similar target coverage. Cone based SRS produced a steeper dose gradient, with a mean GI of 2.99 compared with 4.66 for VMAT ( …

What Do Children Think About Bouncy Bands: A Mixed Methods Examination Of Bouncy Bands' Influence On Attention And Physical Activity, Ken Murfay, Sarah Collins

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: To examine how bouncy bands put onto elementary students’ classroom desks influenced students’ physical activity and attention/concentration, in addition to exploring students’/teachers’ opinions of the bands. Methods: Students within both experimental and control groups wore pedometers to assess movement during instruction and completed the d2 test for attention. Results: The group with bouncy bands on the desks had significantly more movement compared to the control group. For d2 scores, there was no significant difference between the two groups, nor was there a significant linear relationship between movement and d2 scores. Interviews were conducted with the students in the experimental …

Prenatal Health Factors Of Pregnant People Associated With Second Degree Postpartum Hemorrhage Across The United States, Elizabeth Simpler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Secondary postpartum hemorrhage (SPPH) is a significant contributor to maternal morbidity in the United States and occurs after hospital discharge during the postpartum period. Persistent disparities in terms of maternal outcomes suggest access to prenatal care alone may not adequately address clinical and social factors associated with SPPH. Guided by the Social Ecological Model, which recognizes that health outcomes are influenced by a collective approach to examining health. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between SPPH, prenatal care access, and social determinants of health from 2019 to 2022 while controlling for maternal age, race, and delivery type. …

Improving Diabetes Self-Management Through A Partnership Between Clinical Providers And Community Educators In Appalachian Communities, Soghra Jarvandi, Lydia Hoskins, Karen Carver, Andrew May

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: The burden of diabetes is an increasing public health challenge, especially in the Appalachian Region.

Purpose: This study assessed the impact of a community-based diabetes education program on glycemic control.

Methods: Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) is a 4-month diabetes education program offered by Extension educators in collaboration with clinical providers. Participants’ data were collected via phone interviews at baseline and after completing the program. Assessments included self-reported HbA1c, socio-demographics, diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-management behaviors. Data were analyzed by SAS software using paired analyses.

Results: Of the 105 participants in the program, 87 (83%) completed the post-assessment. Among …

School-Centered Tobacco Retailer Exposure And Neighborhood Opportunity Across Urban And Rural Tennessee, Sima Namin Dr, Jacob Black, Jennifer Ferris, Robert E. Heidel Dr

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Tobacco retailer availability contributes to youth tobacco use, and retailers are concentrated in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. However, few studies have examined how school-centered retailer exposure intersects with neighborhood opportunity in a predominantly rural Appalachian state.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the association between neighborhood opportunity and school-centered tobacco retailer exposure across Tennessee (TN), including differences by rurality and Appalachian status.

Methods: We constructed a tract-level, school-centered youth tobacco exposure index for TN using tobacco retailer locations and public and private K-12 school data. The index incorporated retailer proximity, density, and distance-decay accessibility measures. Child Opportunity …

Deaths Of Despair Among Cancer Survivors In Rural/Urban Appalachia (2000-2022), Jason Semprini, Anders Erickson, Nosa Osazuwa-Peters

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Rising deaths of despair (premature deaths from suicide, overdose, alcohol, and violence) in adults under age 65 persist across the United States, especially in Appalachia. People diagnosed with cancer may face elevated risks of such deaths due to pain, psychosocial distress, and financial hardship.

Purpose: Deaths of despair trends were compared among adults with cancer across Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions, stratified by sex and rurality.

Methods: Analyzing SEER-21 Incidence-Based Mortality data (2000–2022), deaths caused by suicide, cirrhosis of the liver, or accidents (includes overdose) were identified among adults aged 20–64 years. Annual mortality rates per 100,000 total population were …

Medical Tourism Patient Guidance: A Content Analysis Of Risk Reduction Guidelines Available To Global Health Seekers., Alicia Mason, Angela Ashmore

Faculty Submissions

This study examines medical tourism (MT) patient guidance messages intended to reduce procedural risks—those directly related to biomedical treatments—and process risks, which involve logistical, administrative, and interpersonal challenges of seeking healthcare abroad. The analysis focuses on print and digital publications authored by individuals independent of the MT industry, including policy researchers, travel health experts, lifestyle reporters, and consumer-focused medical travel writers. Using a two-phase digital and database search strategy, 27 publications from 2009 to 2024 were identified and analyzed using exploratory content analysis methods. Findings reveal important differences in the scope and depth of guidance aimed at reducing risks for …

Plan Of Day | Plan Of Stay: How Inter-Disciplinary Communication Improved Patient Experience And Hospital Throughput, Theresa Jean Dionne, Felicia Hurst, Danna Qunibi, Lauren Lazar, Sydney Mccurdy, Ashlyn Coenraad, Brittney Ward, Whitney Black, Ashley Nelson, Judd Salem, Luisa Restrepo

Patient Experience Journal

Background: Effective communication among healthcare team members is critical for delivering high-quality, patient- and family-centered care while optimizing hospital operations. This case study examines the implementation of a structured ``Plan of Day | Plan of Stay'' model, leveraging bedside whiteboards to enhance inter-disciplinary communication in a pediatric hospital setting. By providing a clear, visual summary of daily care plans, care team members, and discharge goals, whiteboards foster transparency, empower patients and families, and facilitate coordinated clinical decision-making. Purpose: This quality improvement initiative evaluated the implementation of a standardized Plan of Day | Plan of Stay communication model on a pediatric …

Self-Medication Experience And Healthcare Trust Among Youth: A Regionally Concentrated Digital Survey In Indonesia, Wahyudi Wahyudi, Azra Muzaiyana Nasution, Arini Dwi Rahmadani, Alysa Rahmadani Hasibuan

Patient Experience Journal

Self-medication has become a central experience for youth transitioning toward independent medical decision-making. In the digital era, young people must navigate a complex landscape of health information while seeking independent health solutions. This study investigates self-medication experiences and healthcare trust among youth, utilizing a regionally concentrated digital survey approach in Indonesia. Data were collected via a cross-sectional approach using digital platforms (Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X), facilitated by 76 trained enumerators. While respondents from all 38 provinces participated, the sample (N = 2,790) exhibits a major geographical concentration in the Sumatra region. The study employed a validated 16-item instrument to evaluate …

From Hospital To Home After Lower-Extremity Open Reduction And Internal Fixation: Patients' Experiences Of Pain Self-Management And Trust-Building Discharge And Follow-Up Support, Sahrudi Sahrudi, Achmad Fauzi Kamal, Masfuri Masfuri, Kasiyah Junus

Patient Experience Journal

After lower-extremity open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), patients often return home while pain, wound care, mobility restrictions, medication routines, and follow-up needs are still evolving. During this transition, trust in discharge information may shape how patients interpret symptoms, use analgesics, mobilise, involve family members, and decide when to seek help. This qualitative descriptive study explored patients' experiences of pain self-management after lower-extremity ORIF in an Indonesian public hospital context, with attention to trust-building needs across discharge and early follow-up. Eighteen adults participated in individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews at an orthopaedic outpatient clinic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed …

Nurses' Perceptions Of Medical Services In Acute Care Hospitals In The Post-Covid-19 Era, Yoko Nakano, Tomoya Yokotani, Rika Nakajima, Hidemi Yoshii

Patient Experience Journal

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify nurses' perceptions of healthcare services in acute care hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based questionnaire was conducted using SurveyMonkey. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. The survey included questions about the participants' basic attributes and the 22-item M-SERVQUAL scale (a modified multiple-item scale for measuring consumer perceptions of medical service quality). Data analysis involved age-based comparisons using the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni method. The significance level was set at p < 0.01. Results: The survey was distributed to 1,542 participants, yielding 566 valid responses, with an effective response rate of 36.7%. …

Pathways To Patient-Provider Conflict In Nigeria: A Structural Equation Model Of Expectations, Communication, Trust, And Organizational Constraints, Akaninyene O. Unaam, Christie Divine Akwaowo, Edidiong A. Unaam

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: This study empirically investigated the drivers of patient-provider conflict and tested a conceptual model linking treatment expectations, communication, trust, and organizational constraints to conflict intensity in Nigerian tertiary care. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 400 patients (response rate 82.3%) and 150 healthcare providers (response rate 71.2%) from three Nigerian tertiary hospitals was conducted using stratified random sampling. Validated, culturally adapted scales measured unrealistic treatment expectations, communication barriers, organizational constraints, trust, and conflict intensity. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation and bootstrapping for mediation testing. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis established measurement invariance across samples. …

A Modern Playbook For Trust Across The Health Ecosystem, Erin O'Malley

Patient Experience Journal

Public trust in health care delivery, public health, and biomedical innovation is at a historic low. While many place the blame on the COVID-19 pandemic and the proliferation of social media, the reality is that distrust is a deeply rooted structural challenge that has plagued the U.S. for centuries. It is tied to historical movements for medical freedom and centuries of systemic discrimination and earned mistrust among minoritized communities. Today, this crisis is compounded by a lack of shared values and facts and the rising dominance of tribal identity over objective science. The Coalition for Trust in Health & Science …

An Online Epilepsy Self-Management Tool For Patients With Epilepsy: A Formative Usability Study, Katarzyna Czerniak, Ross Shegog, Refugio Sepulveda, Robert Addy, Youngran Kim, Sahiti Myneni, Alejandra Garcia-Quintana, Kimberly Martin, David M Labiner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Epilepsy is a serious chronic neurological condition with no permanent cure. Continual self-management is important to mitigate seizure frequency and optimize quality of life in people with epilepsy who have greater disparities in accessing epilepsy care. The Management Information & Decision Support Epilepsy Tool (MINDSET [UTHealth, University of Arizona, and Radiant Digital]) was developed to enhance accessibility to epilepsy self-management (ESM) assessment and treatment. The purpose of this formative usability pilot study was to assess the user experience and functionality of MINDSET 2.0, an enhanced cross-platform online version of MINDSET, among a sample of patients with epilepsy prior to …

Public Perceptions Regarding Surveillance Of Lyme Disease In Tennessee, Shaheena Yasmin Asad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lyme disease (LD), a tick-borne illness, has been a growing concern in the state of Tennessee. Studies have established environmental concerns regarding a growing tick population and identified a gap between reported cases and disease burden in Tennessee. Despite this information, it remains classified as a low-incidence reporting state, raising concerns about underreporting that indicate an ineffective current surveillance system. Because the public perception regarding surveillance of LD is unknown, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how adults in Tennessee perceived LD as a credible public health threat within the context of the current surveillance system. Guided …

Conceptual Framework And Key Considerations For Field-Based Infrastructure In Food Is Medicine Research, Shreela V Sharma, Colleen Tewksbury, Christopher R Long, Colleen Spees, Ronit A Ridberg, Reshma Gupta, Erin P Ferranti, Naomi Tice, Eric Peterson, Brian Levine

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In 2023, the American Heart Association launched the Healthcare by Food (HCXF) initiative to establish a rigorous evidence base for Food Is Medicine (FIM) programs, so that patients with acute or chronic disease could access FIM programs as a covered benefit under their health insurance. The HCXF initiative is engaging in research, advocacy, and education to support the development and testing of interventions that improve health outcomes. The HCXF initiative launched 9 task forces aligned with research progress, including the Field-Based Infrastructure task force designed to examine broader questions to help support either earlier or later stages of the HCXF …

The Effects Of An Educational Intervention To Enhance Knowledge And Awareness Of The Prevention Of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among College Students, Darcy Yates

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose

The DNP student implemented a single group pretest-postest design underpinned by the Health Belief Model to address the PICOT question: Among a purposive sample of college students at a mid-west college (Population) to what degree does participation in an evidence-based intervention providing information about STIs (Intervention), compared with before that intervention (Comparison), result in to an increase in knowledge and awareness regarding STI infections and associated risks and treatment options (Outcomes) over a six-week period (Time)?

Methods

The pretest and postest scores of 15 students for the 27 items in the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ) were evaluated. …

Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation Of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Chest Radiograph Interpretation For Tuberculosis Screening In Rural Health Units In The Philippines, Harold Henrison C. Chiu, Bryan Christopher C. Lao, Gloanne C. Adolor

Graduate School of Business Publications

Background: Tuberculosis remains a major public health burden in the Philippines, where diagnostic delays are amplified by limited radiology capacity in rural health units (RHUs) and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chest radiograph interpretation may shorten the screening pathway and reduce reliance on scarce specialist readers. However, its economic value for RHUbased tuberculosis screening has not been fully evaluated.
Methods: We developed a decision-tree cost-effectiveness model in Microsoft Excel 365 to compare AI-assisted chest radiograph interpretation with conventional manual radiologist or teleradiology interpretation among a theoretical annual cohort of 1,000 presumptive tuberculosis …

Computable Phenotypes For Research Using Real-World Data: Experiences From The Nih Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory, Marisa L Conte, Judith M Schlaeger, Guilherme Del Fiol, James R Campbell, Andrea L Cheville, Keith Marsolo, Kari A Stephens, Miriam O Ezenwa, Andrew D Boyd, Juanita E Darby, Nadine S Matthie, P Michael Ho, Alice Pressman, Morgan Justice, Carol Reynolds Geary, Keturah R Faurot, Alex Fist, Karen Staman, Hulin Wu, Rachel L Richesson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Embedded pragmatic clinical trials (ePCTs) are conducted as part of routine clinical care and therefore use data collected from real-world data sources, such as electronic health record systems and administrative claims. A common approach for using these types of data across all phases of trial conduct is to create a computable phenotype (an explicitly defined data query data, including specified data types, data codes, and logical parameters) to capture patients with a clinical condition, exposure, symptom, characteristic, treatment, or outcome of interest.

Materials and methods: The Electronic Health Record (EHR) Core Working Group of the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory …

Fuimos Olvidados Y Descuidados [Forgotten And Neglected]: Lessons Learned And Findings From On-Farm Covid-19 Education And Vaccine Clinics For Agricultural Workers And Their Multigenerational Families In Texas, Anabel Rodriguez, David I Douphrate, Ana L Pineda Reyes, Susana Zavala, Lus Chavez, Sofia Nicole Lopez, Andrea V Cabrera Cruz, Annie J Keeney, Nora Hernandez, Brenda Berumen-Flucker, Eva M Shipp, Matthew W Nonnenmann, Shannon P Guillot-Wright, Bethany Boggess Alcauter, G Lopez Ixta, Paula M Cuccaro, Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez, David Gimeno Ruiz De Porras

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Despite being deemed essential non-healthcare workers, agricultural workers were excluded from COVID-19 vaccine prioritization in Texas. This professional practice report describes the multifaceted worker health and safety approaches to protecting agricultural workers and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Between March 2020 and January 2025, several outreach, education, and training grants from various funding agencies were leveraged to deliver training, personal protective equipment, vaccines, and economic relief to agricultural workers in partnership with community-based organizations, industry, local public health departments, and academic institutions.

Findings: Timely funding efforts led to the distribution of 1,000 PPE kits, with more than …

Prevalence Of Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors Among Landscaping Workers In El Paso, Texas, Valeria Fontes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant public health challenge worldwide, yet little is known about the prevalence of diabetes risk factors among landscaping workers, an understudied occupational group. The purpose of this pilot study was to estimate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes risk factors among landscaping workers in El Paso, Texas. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 20 landscaping workers. Participants completed a structured questionnaire and underwent anthropometric measurements, blood pressure assessment, point-of-care lipid and glucose testing, and vitamin D screening. Sixteen type 2 diabetes risk factors were assessed across seven domains: …