Digital Commons Network^™

Development And Pilot Testing Of A Low Literacy Handout For Hispanic/Latino Caregivers To Promote Breastfeeding And Introduce Age Appropriate Foods For Infants, Judith C. Rodriguez, Nancy Correa-Matos

Florida Public Health Review

Based on input from four focus groups the authors developed a culturally and linguistically appropriate material (CLAM) that used a pictorial format to promote breast feeding and age-appropriate introduction of solids for Hispanics/Latinos that attended a public health clinic in the northeast region of Florida. The handout focused on five key, but simple educational messages. Clients were randomly assigned to receive 1) the physician's usual oral instruction or 2) instruction that incorporated the use, and provision of, the handout. Among the group (n=12) that received the handout the mean month for introduction of solids was 5 months compared to 4.07 …

Community-Based Long-Term Care In Milwaukee: Wisconsin Still Ahead, Judith D. Moore, Carol O'Shaughnessy, Lisa Sprague

National Health Policy Forum

The National Health Policy Forum has made two site visits to Wisconsin in two years. The first, in August 2007, focused on an overview of Family Care, the state's managed long-term care program, and looking at service delivery in a rural setting. The August 2008 site visit focused on the operations of MCOs and Family Care service providers in the urban environment of Milwaukee. Issues examined included the link between housing and social services, care management, capitation and rate-setting, measuring quality, and integrating people with disabilities into a program that initially targeted the elderly.

Relationship Of Lactobacillus Casei To Prevention Of Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea Due To Clostridium Difficile, Kayal K. Chandramohan

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to study the effectiveness of Lactobacillus casei in preventing the occurrence of antibiotic associated diarrhea related to Clostridium difficile. Twenty-six patients, above the age of sixty years, who were prescribed antibiotic therapy and admitted to the Rehabilitation or Orthopedics Units at Union Hospital and who met the eligibility criteria were recruited for the study. Equal numbers of patients (13 in each group) were assigned to the Control and the Experimental group based on their admission date to the hospital and their willingness to consume a probiotic yogurt type drink. The patients in the experimental …

Effects Of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy And Whole-Body Hypothermia On Neonatal Auditory Function: A Pilot Study, Ulrike Mietzsch, Nehal A Parikh, Amber L Williams, Seetha Shankaran, Robert E Lasky

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We assessed the effects of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and whole-body hypothermia therapy on auditory brain stem evoked responses (ABRs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). We performed serial assessments of ABRs and DPOAEs in newborns with moderate or severe HIE, randomized to hypothermia ( N = 4) or usual care ( N = 5). Participants were five boys and four girls with mean gestational age (standard deviation) of 38.9 (1.8) weeks. During the first week of life, peripheral auditory function, as measured by the DPOAEs, was disrupted in all nine subjects. ABRs were delayed but central transmission was intact, suggesting …

Perceptions Of Quality Of Life Of Latinos With Diabetes Living In The U.S.: Variations By Geographic Region Of Origin, Janice M. Long

Dissertations

The Latino population, the largest ethnic minority in the United States, is a diverse group originating from numerous geographic regions of Latin America. Latinos vary in the risk for type 2 diabetes, a condition that exacts a costly burden on those who suffer with it. With the Latino population diversity, diverse strategies are needed. One strategy is to improve outcomes of life quality by improving knowledge of those who deliver health services to Latinos with type 2 diabetes. Through measurement of quality of life (QOL), the more precious aspects of living, how one feels about living with diabetes, can be …

The Association Of Maternal Intention To Breastfeed, Early Skin-To-Skin Mother/Infant Contact, And Exclusive Breastfeeding During The Maternity Hospital Stay, Leslie Mary Bramson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Breastfeeding is the optimal method to nourish and nurture an infant. Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the United States have reached the goal of Healthy People 2010 that 75% of mother's breastfeed in the immediate postpartum period. Yet, less than 35% of San Bernardino county mothers and 47.7% of Riverside county mothers are exclusively breastfeeding during their maternity hospital stays, with as many as 50% of the infants being weaned from the breast in the first 14 days of life.

This prospective study examined archived data collected by Perinatal Services Network (PSN) of Loma Linda University Medical Center/Children's Hospital for the …

Exposure To Smoking Imagery In Popular Films And Adolescent Smoking In Mexico, James F. Thrasher, Christine Jackson, Edna Arillo-Santillán, James D. Sargent

Faculty Publications

Background: Exposure to smoking imagery in films in consistently associated with smoking behavior and its psychological antecedents among adolescents in high-income countries, but its association with adolescent smoking in middle-income countries is unknown.

Methods: In 2006, a cross-sectional sample of 3876 Mexican adolescents in secondary school was surveyed on smoking behavior, smoking risk factors, and exposure to 42 popular films that contained smoking. Participants were classified into quartiles of exposure to smoking imagery across all films they reported having seen. Models were estimated to determine associations among quartiles of film-smoking exposure, smoking behavior, and the psychological antecedents of smoking, adjusting …

Cities Of Consumption: The Impact Of Corporate Practices On The Health Of Urban Populations, Nicholas Freudenberg, Sandro Galea

Publications and Research

The increasing concentration of the world's population in cities and the growing accumulation of political and economic power by corporations create new threats to health and opportunities for improving global health. By considering the intersection of these two fundamental social determinants of well-being, we elucidate some of the mechanisms by which they influence the health of urban populations. After reviewing the changing historical impact of corporations on cities, we focus on the growth of consumption as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity and describe how the food, tobacco, automobile, and other industries promote unhealthy behaviors and lifestyles in urban …

Association Between Muscular Strength And Mortality In Men: Prospective Cohort Study, Jonatan R. Ruiz, Xuemei Sui, Felipe Lobelo, James R. Morrow Jr., Allen W. Jackson, Michael Sjöström, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine prospectively the association between muscular strength and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in men.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Aerobics center longitudinal study.

Participants: 8762 men aged 20-80.

Main outcome measures: All cause mortality up to 31 December 2003; muscular strength, quantified by combining one repetition maximal measures for leg and bench presses and further categorised as age specific thirds of the combined strength variable; and cardiorespiratory fitness assessed by a maximal exercise test on a treadmill.

Results: During an average follow-up of 18.9 years, 503 deaths occurred (145 cardiovascular disease, 199 cancer). Age …

Clark County Child Death Review: 2007 Annual Report, Nevada Institute For Children’S Research And Policy

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

The primary goal of all Child Death Review Teams is to prevent future child deaths. The child death review process enables jurisdictions to come together in a collaborative, multidisciplinary forum to openly discuss detailed circumstances in an effort to gain a better understanding of child deaths. The team provides a venue for representatives from a variety of both public and private agencies as well as community organizations to share information in a confidential and non-threatening environment. The National Center for Child Death Review (hereinafter, National Center), which is supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department …

Working Report On The Status Quo Of Nanomaterials Impact On Health And Environment, Harald Krug, Margarita Apostolova, Marite Arija Bake, Gordon Chambers, Horia Chiriac, Eva Herzog, Victoria Hand, Jürgen Höck, Peter Hoet, Nicoleta Lupu, Declan Mccormack, Maja Remskar, George Robillard, Jamila Smisterova, Jan Stetkiewicz, Speranta Tanasescu, Aris Tsatsakis, David Vaughn, Peter Wick, Jörg Wörle-Knirsch

Articles

Nanotechnology is regarded as one of the key technologies of the future and associated with high expectations by politics, science and economy. Artificially produced nanosized particles and nanoscale system components have new properties which are of importance for the development of new products and applications. Such new properties of materials and substances result from the special properties of surfaces and interfaces and in part, from the geometric shape of the material. In theory nanoparticles (NPs) can be produced from nearly any chemical; however, most NPs that are currently in use today have been made from transition metals, silicon, carbon (single-walled …

Heart Rate Variability Characteristics In Sedentary Postmenopausal Women Following Six Months Of Exercise Training: The Drew Study, Conrad P. Earnest, Carl J. Lavie, Steven N. Blair, Timothy S. Church

Faculty Publications

Background: Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with a higher risk of mortality. Overall, postmenopausal women have lower levels of HRV than premenopausal women, which may be additionally complicated by lifestyle related behaviors such as physical inactivity and obesity. Though cardiorespiratory exercise training increases HRV, little is known regarding the exercise dose necessary to promote improvement.

Methodology/Principle Findings: Our primary aim was to measure HRV in post-menopausal women following 6-moths of exercise training. We examined supine resting HRV in 373 post-menopausal women (45-75 y) after 6-months of randomly assigned and double-blinded administered exercise training exercise training at 50%, 100% …

What Are The Individual Preparations For Children With Special Health Care Needs In The Event Of An Emergency?, Karen Sue Barcelo

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Children with special health care needs are one of the most vulnerable groups in the event of an emergency. Natural and manmade disasters or emergency events occur on a daily basis. Government agencies, schools and day care centers have begun developing emergency disaster plans; fewer plans have been developed for children with special needs. One explanation for the lack of specific planning for children is that agencies may believe that plans for adults are not different from plans for children. There may be many reasons why parents who have children with special needs may not have an emergency plan in …

Commencement Program 2008, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | 2008 Events of Commencement

3 | The Academic Procession

4 | Significance of Academic Regalia

5 | The Good Samaritan

6 | The Speakers

14 | The University Honorees

24 | The School Honorees

35 | The Programs

36 | School of Medicine

47 | School of Pharmacy

52 | School of Dentistry

62 | School of Science and Technology and School of Religion

70 | School of Nursing

76 | School of Allied Health Professions - Physical Therapy

82 | School of Allied Health Professions

91 | School of Public Health

Cultural Beliefs About Health Professionals, Attributions For Mistreatment, And Continuity Of Cancer-Related Care, Jennifer Anne Tucker

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This research examined attributions for health care mistreatment, related emotions, and the role of cultural beliefs about health care professionals as determinants of cancer-related continuity of care among Anglo and Latino women in Southern California. This research was guided by Betancourt’s model of culture adapted for the study of health behavior (Betancourt & Flynn, 2008) and Weiner’s (1996) attribution theory of motivation and emotion. As predicted, higher levels of negative cultural beliefs about health professionals resulted in lower intentions for continuity of care indirectly through mediating psychological perceptions of intentionality for mistreatment, controllability of its causes, and anger toward the …

Hiv Risk Among Nursing Students In Rwanda : Self-Efficacy, Knowledge And Attitudes, Jacqueline Wosinski

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. With a prevalence rate of 3.1% in 2006, Rwanda is one of the hardest hit countries. Nurses are often the leading health professionals in rural communities and at the forefront of the fight against the HIV pandemic. Little has been written on how nurses are prepared to intervene successfully along the continuum of HIV prevention and care. A mixed-methods sequential exploratory approach was used to explore this question.

In the first phase, cognitive, socio-psychological, and environmental factors of nursing education in Rwanda in regard to HIV …

Partner Communication And Factors Associated With The Decision To Obtain An Hiv Test Among Chinese/Chinese American Community College Students In Northern California, Sang Leng Trieu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

HIV testing and counseling is considered the cornerstone of a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention and education. Little is known, however, about HIV prevention, including HIV testing rates for Asian Pacific Islander (API) women, because data for this ethnic group is aggregated, thus limiting specific data for Chinese/Chinese American population or other API subgroups. This dissertation research examined factors associated with the decision to obtain an HIV test among Chinese/Chinese American community college women and explored the association among relationship status, partnership communication, and discussions of HIV testing.

Using constructs of the health belief model, an online and paper-pencil, crosssectional …

Psychosocial Support, Newborn Readmissions, And Postpartum Follow-Up, Dora Barilla

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Women and their infants are being discharged as soon as 24 hours after giving birth without proper follow-up care. The Maternity Department at San Antonio Community Hospital established the Family Care Center (HBFCC) in November 2000 in response to a higher than expected newborn readmission rate, shorter maternity hospitalizations, and a lack of postpartum follow-up. A comprehensive program was offered to support new families in the form of developmental assessment and intervention, breastfeeding, infant and toddler nutrition, health promotion and education, and referrals to appropriate agencies when indicated. In 2004, due to inadequate funding, the hospital reduced the intervention …

A Geospatial Approach For New Perspectives On Satisfaction With Health Services In Malawi, Gideon Mazinga

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This dissertation explored the spatial pattern of user satisfaction with health services and factors, including policies that potentially explain the variation in the district-level of user satisfaction with health services. Nationwide secondary data was extracted from the 2002 Core Social Welfare Indicators Survey and the National Health Services Statistics databases obtained from National Statistics of Malawi. The National Health Facilities inventory obtained from the Malawi diffusion project was also geocoded to display the distribution of health care facilities in the country. Spatial autocorrelation and regression modeling techniques were applied on the national representative data set.

The spatial autocorrelation test revealed …

Knowledge, Perceptions, Beliefs And Behaviors Related To The Prevention Of Hypertension Among Black Seventh-Day Adventists Living In London, Maxine A. Newell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study was a cross-sectional survey of the hypertension (HTN) knowledge and risk behaviors of Black Seventh-day Adventists (SDA) in London. Recruitment took take place in 17 predominantly Black SDA churches in London. A questionnaire assessed knowledge and lay-beliefs about HTN and perceptions towards HTN using the health belief model (HBM) constructs of susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale was incorporated into the questionnaire. Blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference were and current lifestyles practices were evaluated for the presence of HTN risk factors.

Of the 312 volunteers, ages 25 to 79, 55% were born …

Maximal Exercise Electrocardiography Responses And Coronary Heart Disease Mortality Among Men With Diabetes Mellitus, G. William Lyerly, Xuemei Sui, Timothy S. Church, Carl J. Lavie, Gregory A. Hand, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Background - An abnormal ECG during maximal exercise testing has been shown to be a powerful predictor of future coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in asymptomatic men. However, little is known about the relationship between exercise ECG responses and CHD risk in men with diabetes mellitus.

Methods and Results - We examined the association between exercise ECG responses and mortality in 2854 men with documented diabetes mellitus (mean age 49.5 years) who completed a maximal treadmill exercise test during the period from 1974 to 2001 and who were without a previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) event at baseline. Mortality due to …

The Guacamole Fund Presents...

Native American Forum on Nuclear Issues

Special Bonnie Raitt Benefit Tickets

Socioeconomic Determinants Of Hiv Status In Kenya, Kimberly Fletcher

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is one of the greatest threats to stability and development in Kenya. The country's infection rate is estimated between seven and eight percent, making it one of the highest in the world. Several studies have been done that examine subpopulations such as truck drivers, sex workers, and migrants. However, to date there is little research that examines who, across the country, is contracting HIV. Kenya's 2003 Demographic and Health Survey includes data that make it possible to determine which groups have the highest odds of being infected. The question of who is contracting …

Screening And Assessing Immigrant And Refugee Youth In School-Based Mental Health Programs, Dina Birman, Wing-Yi Chan

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools

According to the 2000 Census, 1 of every 5 children in the United States is a child of immigrants – either a child who is an immigrant or has at least one immigrant parent. While most children who experience mental health problems have limited access to help, children who have migrated to this country, especially under difficult circumstances, face particular challenges. Providers may be unfamiliar with their culture or the way that their culture understands mental health issues; children and their caregivers may not speak English, and the tools developed to identify and treat children with mental health needs may …

Across The Pond: Ea-Ohp— Sohp Summit Meeting, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Jonathan Houdmont

Publications and Research

On March 6, 2008 at the APA/NIOSH/SOHP Conference on Work, Stress, and Health in Washington, DC, the executive committees and other involved members of the Society for Occupational Health Psychology and the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology held a summit meeting. The gathering was the latest in an ongoing series that began at the EA-OHP Dublin 2006 conference. The main discussion points and outcomes of interest to members are presented here.

Predictors Of Depressive And Anxiety Symptoms Among African American Hiv-Positive Women, Nina Katherine Sublette

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This descriptive correlation study had four purposes: describe depressive and anxiety symptom levels in pregnant and non-pregnant African American (AA) HIV-positive women, examine the association between underlying vulnerabilities and depressive symptoms in HIV-positive AA women, determine the association between underlying vulnerabilities and anxiety symptoms in AA HIV-positive women, and determine the predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among African American HIV-positive women. A convenience sample of 80 African American HIV-positive women was recruited from university-based obstetrics/-gynecology and infectious disease practices in a large metropolitan city in the Mid-South. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale …

Race Differences In Activity, Fitness, And Bmi In Female Eighth Graders Categorized By Sports Participation Status, John R. Sirard, Karin A. Pfeiffer, Marsha Dowda, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to identify racial differences in physical activity (PA), fitness, and BMI in female 8th-grade sports participants and nonparticipants. Girls from 31 South Carolina middle schools (N=1,903, 48% White; mean age=13.6 ± 0.63) reported PA and previous year sports-team participation, completed a submaximal fitness test, and had height and weight measured. Sports team participation was positively associated with PA and negatively associated with television viewing and BMI, in a dose-response manner. Compared with Whites, African-Americans reported less PA and more television viewing, and had greater BMI scores. Whereas PA intervention programs that incorporate …

Physical Activity And Neighborhood Resources In High School Girls, Russell R. Pate, Natalie Colabianchi, Dwayne E. Porter, Maria João C. A. Almeida, Felipe Lobelo, Marsha Dowda

Faculty Publications

Background - Physical activity behavior is influenced by a person's physical environment, but few studies have used objective measures to study the influences of the physical environment on physical activity behavior in youth. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between selected neighborhood physical activity resources and physical activity levels in high school girls.

Methods - Participants were students in schools that had participated in a large physical activity intervention trial. The 3-Day Physical Activity Recall was completed by 1506 12th-grade girls. Data on physical activity facilities and resources in the participating communities were collected using a …

Intensive Care For Extreme Prematurity--Moving Beyond Gestational Age, Jon E Tyson, Nehal A Parikh, John Langer, Charles Green, Rosemary D Higgins

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Decisions regarding whether to administer intensive care to extremely premature infants are often based on gestational age alone. However, other factors also affect the prognosis for these patients.

METHODS: We prospectively studied a cohort of 4446 infants born at 22 to 25 weeks' gestation (determined on the basis of the best obstetrical estimate) in the Neonatal Research Network of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to relate risk factors assessable at or before birth to the likelihood of survival, survival without profound neurodevelopmental impairment, and survival without neurodevelopmental impairment at a corrected age of 18 to …

Analysis Of The Proposed Rule On Designation Of Medically Underserved Populations And Health Professional Shortage Areas, Peter Shin, Leighton C. Ku, Emily Jones, Sara J. Rosenbaum

Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative

Numerous safety net programs and health care providers depend on Medically Underserved Area and Population (MUA/P) and Health Professional Shortage (HPSA) designations to qualify for federal funding, physician subsidies and placement, and health-related investments to improve access to care for communities and populations at high risk of poor health. These resources are particularly critical for federally-qualified health centers at a time when the number of uninsured is growing and the capacity of the safety net shrinking. On February 29, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a proposed regulation to alter the way these designations are made. …