Digital Commons Network^™

My Life, My Story And Life Recovery Among Veterans With Substance Use Problems, Grace Chang Md, Mph, Martha J. Duffy Md, Susan Nathan Md

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: The United States Veterans Health Administration My Life, My Story (MLMS) program is a patient-centered care intervention where veterans are interviewed about their life story and may grant permission to include it in their electronic health record (EHR). Our purpose was to focus on a sample of MLMS narratives from veterans with self-disclosed substance use (SU) from our institution, and to evaluate the potential relationship between their content and a life change for the better, and to compare their content with the EHR. Methods: The narratives were reviewed on 4 domains (past challenge, substance use, experience of a turning …

Impact Of The Online Nutrition Intervention On Health Indicators For Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, And Obesity In Senior Populations, Indira Karibayeva, Padmini Shankar, Gulzar H. Shah

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study evaluated the effects of an online nutrition intervention program, Food Fitness First, Inc.®, on health indicators for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity among senior center participants.

Methods: Thirty individuals aged over 60 completed the 3-month Food Fitness First program, which included initial counseling and 12 educational sessions utilizing the Diabetes FOOD SPIRAL® book and bifold. Pre- and post-treatment assessments measured various health parameters.

Results: Results showed significant improvements in Favorable Fitness Factor (FFF) score, which encompasses four key domains: Nutrition, Exercise, Health/Disease, and Lifestyle. FFF factor difference was equal to 13.63, with 95% CI [11.22; 16.03;]. …

Enhancing Stroke Awareness Through Interprofessional Education And Collaboration, Somi Nagaraj Dnp, Msn, Rn, Cssgb, Contl, Camille Byrd O'Quin Edd, Ccc-Slp/L, Cynthia Carr Drot, Tonya S. Roberson Phd, Mph,Dtr, Terri Chairse Msn, Rn

Research Days

Stroke remains a leading cause of disability in the United States, disproportionately affecting older adults in underserved communities. This project, Enhancing Stroke Awareness Through Interprofessional Education and Collaboration, highlights a collaborative effort between graduate and undergraduate students in speech-language pathology, nursing, occupational therapy, community health, and addictions studies. The Interprofessional Education and Collaboration (IPEC) project was implemented at the Bremen Township Senior Wellness Center, engaging seniors in stroke awareness education, prevention strategies, and communication resources for stroke recovery. Through a three-session model, students developed interdisciplinary teamwork skills while providing community members with evidence-based information about stroke prevention, lifestyle modifications, and …

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 …

Codesigning Training For Health Providers To Improve Detection And Response To Elder Abuse, Bianca Brijnath, Marina G. Cavuoto, Peter Feldman, Briony Dow, Josefine Antoniades, Joan Ostaszkiewicz, Sigrid Nakrem, Catriona Stevens, Patricia Reyes, Gianna Renshaw, Micah D.J. Peters, Andrew Gilbert, Elizabeth Manias, Duncan Mortimer, Joanne Enticott, Claudia Cooper, Cheryl Durston, Brenda Appleton, Meghan O'Brien, Marion Eckert, Simona Markusevska

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Objectives: Screening for elder abuse can improve detection, but many health providers lack the necessary skills and confidence. To address this, training for health providers on elder abuse screening was codesigned as part of a trial aimed at improving elder abuse detection and response. Research Design and Methods: Between March and April 2023, 7 health providers and 10 older people and family carers participated in 2 national Australian online codesign workshops. Using the World Café method, discussions focused on what knowledge and skills health providers needed for screening; clinical and social issues affecting screening and referral; and support …

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 …

Vaccination As A Protective Factor Against Hospitalization For Sars-Cov-2 Infections: An Observational Study Using Surveillance Data, Chandrayani Simanjorang, Kristin Mutiara Tarigan, Diva Anita Churiana Sudrajat, Rana Zahra Raniyah Wangsawinangun, Asy Syifa Anwari Zahra

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Death due to SARS-CoV-2 generally occurs in patients requiring hospital care (hospitalization). However, it is still unclear whether vaccination acts as a protective factor against hospitalization in SARS-CoV-2 patients in Indonesia. This study examines the association between vaccination and hospitalization among SARS-CoV-2 patients. It employs a quantitative, cross-sectional design using secondary data from SARS-CoV-2 surveillance records at the Jakarta Health Agency (January–August 2021). Findings show that patients who received the 1st vaccine dose had a 0.34 times lower risk of hospitalization compared to unvaccinated individuals (aPOR=0.34; 95% CI=0.31–0.38). Those who received the 2nd dose had an even lower risk (aPOR=0.16; …

Managing The Cost Of Services For People With Disabilities: International Approach. Part Ii: Ohio, United States, Dana Pugh, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Four years of managing a housing network for people with disabilities prompted a rethinking of the financial management of the services offered. Clients with different needs require diverse professional staff for their home care. Emergency situations require that professionals offering assistance maintain the highest level of education possible. Financial resources often limit the quality of care for people with disabilities. Method: This paper is based on a literature search and on professional experience (Dana Pugh) in the management of a housing program for people with disabilities in Cleveland, Ohio (USA). Findings: In Poland, people with disabilities usually live with …

Older Women In The U.S. Were Lonelier Than Men During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Qiyu Deng

Population Health Research Brief Series

Loneliness damages health and quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic increased social isolation and loneliness among some groups in the U.S. This data slice uses data from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study to examine gender and age differences in loneliness among older adults (50+) in the U.S. during the first year of the pandemic. The author finds that loneliness was more prevalent among women than among men, with the highest rate among women ages 80 and older.

Associations Of Parental Perceived Health With Child Movement Behaviors Within Two-Parent Households, You Fu, Hayley Almes, Nora Constantino, Doria Schmidt, Ryan D. Burns

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study aimed to examine how perceived parental mental and physical health status was associated with child physical activity, screen time, and sleep. Participants were 6- to 17-year-old minors (N = 20,156; 47.9% female) from the 2022 US National Survey of Children’s Health. Dependent variables were children’s physical activity frequency, screen time, and sleep. Independent variables were parents’ physical and mental health status. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, two adjusted path models were constructed. One for parent mental health associating with parental physical health, another for parent physical health associating with parental mental health–both further associating with child movement behaviors. …

Building Blocks For New Kinship Partnerships And Coalitions, Kathy L. Dial, Daniel J. Koltz, Janet Salo, Erin Beasley

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Building successful kinship partnerships and coalitions requires intentional effort to establish trust, align goals, and foster inclusivity. These collaborations are essential for addressing the unique and evolving needs of kinship families, who often face limited access to resources due to the informal nature of many caregiving arrangements. Effective partnerships prioritize clear missions, open communication, and active engagement with stakeholders, particularly those with lived experiences such as kinship caregivers. Research demonstrates that coordinated efforts among organizations enhance resource availability, improve advocacy capabilities, and strengthen service delivery. By integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, coalitions can ensure that diverse perspectives shape solutions …

Childhood Sexual Trauma, Substance Use, And Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Older Adults Living With Hiv: A Mediational Analysis, Monique J. Brown, Josie Zhang, Prince Nii Ossah Addo, Amandeep Kaur, Daniel Amoatika, Elizabeth L. Crouch Ph.D., Steven A. Cohen

Faculty Publications

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is linked to substance use and lower antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. However, studies examining the mediational role of substance use between CSA and ART adherence are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the potential mediational role of substance use between CSA and ART adherence among older adults living with HIV (OALH) (n = 91). Mediation analyses assessed the direct and indirect relationships between CSA, substance use, and ART adherence. Statistically significant differences existed in substance use by gender (male vs. female: 12.3 vs. 9.97) and ART adherence by race (Black vs. …

Protocol For A Field Trial Of A Hearing And Vision Support Intervention For People Living In Long-Term Care In Australia, Carly Meyer, Najwan El-Saifi, Naomi Rose, Kasia Bail, Colette Browning, Dayna Cenin, Antonio Ahumada-Canale, Megan Campbell, Tim England, Melanie Ferguson, Yuanyuan Gu, Reema Harrison, Chyrisse Heine, Lisa Keay, Sheela Kumaran, Iracema Leroi, Gerald Liew, Angelita Martini, Ralph Martins, John Newall, Smriti Raichand, Emma Scanlan, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Melinda Toomey, Johanna Westbrook, Piers Dawes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Hearing and vision impairments are prevalent among residents in long-term care settings. Hearing and vision impairments frequently go unsupported, affecting residents' quality of life and healthcare costs. This paper describes the protocol for a pre−post evaluation and process evaluation of a pragmatic sensory support intervention (SSI) that was developed with residents, informal caregivers and long-term care workers. Methods and Analysis: A prospective pre−post-intervention trial within long-term care will be conducted, including three groups: residents (n = 87), informal caregivers (n = 87) and long-term care workers (n = 40). Outcome measures include health-related quality of life and well-being measures …

Impact Of A Light Volleyball Intervention Among Older Chinese Adult Women, Ka-Man Carman Leung, Paul Lee, Wing Sze Alice Lai, Yanan Zhao, Lynda Ransdell

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Modified sports offer a strategic approach to promoting health in older adults. Light volleyball, which uses a larger, lighter ball than traditional volleyball, is more accessible for this population. This study investigated the effects of a 16-week light volleyball program on the functional fitness of older adults in Hong Kong. A total of 275 participants aged 60 years or older were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups: a light volleyball intervention group, a Tai Chi group, and a control group. Functional fitness was assessed at the pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up. Results revealed that the light volleyball group exhibited …

Addressing Barriers To Equitable Telehealth For Older Adults, Bruce Leff, Christine S. Ritchie, Kristin L. Rising, Kendell Cannon, Liane Wardlow

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Physiotherapists' Knowledge Of Ageing And Its Associated Factors, Unyime Jasper, Olayinka Akinrolie, Cornelius Mahdi Ishaku, Nnamdi Mgbemena

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To evaluate knowledge of ageing and its associated factors among Nigerian physiotherapists (PTs).

Methods: We used a three-part questionnaire. Knowledge of ageing was evaluated with Palmore’s Facts on Aging Quiz (FAQ). Certain questions in the FAQ were modified to reflect the local setting. We conducted a validity and reliability check on the questionnaire using test-retest with 10 PTs. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and multiple linear regression.

Resullts: Out of 204 PTs invited, 186 agreed to participate. Test-retest of the FAQ revealed a Cronbach alpha of 0.78. The age of participants ranged from …

Sex Differences In Response To Diet Enriched With Glutathione Precursors In The Aging Heart, Aude Angelini, Grecia Garcia Marquez, Anna Malovannaya, Marta L Fiorotto, Alexander Saltzman, Antrix Jain, Joann Trial, George E Taffet, Katarzyna A Cieslik

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Common features of the aging heart are dysregulated metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis. Elevated oxidative stress is another hallmark of cardiac aging that can exacerbate each of these conditions. We hypothesize that by increasing natural antioxidant levels (glutathione), we will improve cardiac function. Twenty-one-month-old mice were fed glycine and N-acetyl cysteine (GlyNAC; glutathione precursors)-supplemented or control diets for 12 weeks. Heart function was monitored longitudinally, and the exercise performance was determined at the end of the study. We found that the GlyNAC diet was beneficial for old male but not old female mice, leading to an increase of Ndufb8 expression (a …

The Functional Fitness Of The Community Dwelling Older Adults In Shan Dong Of Mainland China In Comparison With The Population In Hong Kong, Zongtao Li, Yu Teng, Huigang Wang, Hao Liu, Lei Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: To compare the functional fitness (FF) of the community dwelling older adults in Shan Dong (SD) of mainland China with their peers in Hong Kong (HK). Methods: 1887 older adults living in SD were measured with Senior Fitness Test (SFT) One sample T test was used to determine the age grooup difference in each FF component between the population of SD and HK. Results: Compared with their HK peers, SD older adults showed higher performance in the task of 30s arm curl, but lower abilities in 30s chair stand, back scratch, chair sit & reach, and 8 ft …

Awareness Of The Physiological Changes Occurring In Older Adults Can Reduce Dehydration And Electrolyte Imbalances, Lisa Isley

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Individuals over 65 years are at an increased risk of dehydration. The physiological changes that occur with age and medication consumption can cause fluid and electrolyte imbalances that can physically and mentally impair individuals over 65 years old. Objective: By providing education to individuals 65 years and older regarding the significance of drinking water and consuming electrolytes daily, older adults can reduce their dehydration symptoms and improve their quality of life. Method: The proposed research is a quasi experimental study geared towards individuals 65 years and older. The quasi-experimental study will include two pre-surveys and then two post-surveys. The …

Factors Affecting The Joy Of Life In Old Age: A Scale Development Study, Yalçın Karagöz, Yusuf Karaşi̇n, Mustafa Filiz, Mehmet Ateş

Adultspan Journal

This study aims to introduce a measurement tool into the literature that can reveal the factors affecting the joy of life in older adulthood. Participants included 266 individuals aged 55 and over living in Izmir, Turkey. The process of developing the scale includes the following stages: problem identification, item pool creation, expert opinion, form shaping, pilot application, and finalizing the scale. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the scale consists of 6 different dimensions, and the variance explained by these dimensions was found to be 65.184%. The acceptable values for the scale's fit indicators are as follows: χ²/df0.90, IFI > 0.90, …

Small Town Voices And Stories: Rural Older Populations And Health Narratives, Wyatt K. Zumbahlen

Masters Theses

Stories play a vital role in our humanity; they help us understand the world around us. As we age, our experiences, along with those of the people around us, shape our perceptions of health and influence our healthcare choices. For older adults, narratives become an essential resource in making healthcare decisions. In rural communities like Coles County, Illinois, these stories are especially important for older adults who are navigating the limited care and services available in the area. This reliance on narratives impacts their willingness to seek care, highlighting the need to recognize the power of stories in empowering older …

Money Matters: Investigating The Emotional, Cognitive, And Biological Pathways Connecting Maternal Early Life Financial Insecurity And Parenting Quality, Elise Power, Stacey N. Doan

CMC Senior Theses

Early life adversity has been shown to have a variety of negative effects on adult functioning, including parenting quality, with implications for child wellbeing. Adverse early life experiences including poverty have been linked to long-term disruptions in emotional, cognitive, and physiological functioning that compromise the ability to provide sensitive, nurturing care. The present study investigated whether emotional regulation difficulties, physiological regulation, and cognitive function mediate the relationship between early life financial insecurity and parenting quality. A sample of 132 mother-child dyads completed self-report measures, biological samples, and cognitive assessments. A multiple mediation model ran in SPSS, revealed a significant indirect …

Association Of Biomarker And Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Among Older Chinese Adults : Findings From A Nationwide Study, Jiahao Shi

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: CKM syndrome poses a growing burden in aging populations, but early detection remains limited by the lack of integrated biomarkers. The C-reactive protein–triglyceride glucose index (CTI), which reflects inflammation and insulin resistance—two core drivers of CKM—has not yet been evaluated for its association with CKM status in large, aging Asian cohorts. This study addresses this gap.Objective: To investigate the association of C-reactive protein–triglyceride–glucose (CTI) index with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome in older Chinese adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 10,318 participants aged ≥45 years in the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). CKM syndrome was operationalized as …

How Sleep Disorders And Sleep Duration Impact Memory, Alexandria J. Sims

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

INTRODUCTION: Sleep duration and sleep disorders can cause changes in memory function as populations age. Previous studies have shown that disordered sleep is associated with increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and long and short sleep durations can cause memory impairment. This study studies aims to find if there is an association between sleep disorders and sleep duration and the impacts on memory.

METHODS: In this study, 3,478 participants aged 60 year and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 dataset were included in adjusted and unadjusted models, comparing the sleep disorders and sleep duration exposures to …

Exploring The Role Of Bingocize® Workshops In Enhancing Health And Well-Being In Older Adults, Kaitlyn Gray

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

As the population of older adults grows, the need for better health and well-being also grows, making it necessary to implement effective strategies for healthy aging to improve the length and quality of life of older adults (CDC, 2024). This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Bingocize^® Workshop in improving the physical health of older adults. Bingocize^®, a unique program combining bingo with exercise, is designed to increase physical activity. Eleven (11) participants aged 68.55 ± 6.235 attended a ten-week workshop, two times per week focusing on physical exercises tailored to their abilities. The primary objective was …

Integration Of The Science Of Team Science (Scits) With Applied Healthcare Frameworks: Interprofessional Education Through A University-Based Head Injury Clinic, Part I: Theory, Emily Balog, Susan Paparella, Natalia Noce, Stephanie Hubbell, Kelly Pena

Translational Science in Occupation

Background: Wicked problems in healthcare, such as the complex health condition of head injury, demand interprofessional collaboration that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. These complex clinical challenges call for theoretical frameworks that integrate both disciplinary expertise and interdisciplinary processes.

Definitions and Concepts: Grounded in Repko and Szostak’s (2017) framework of interdisciplinary studies, this paper integrates the Science of Team Science (SciTS), the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies, and TeamSTEPPS® to construct a novel heuristic that informs the design of an interprofessional education (IPE) and practice model.

Relationships Between Concepts: We align SciTS’ four phases with IPEC and TeamSTEPPS® to enhance team-based …

Financial Health Literacy Of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Qualitative Research Study, Kimberly Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Financial health literacy (FHL) is an emerging concept with unique application to older adults. Multiple complexities converge in older age that create increased financial vulnerability (e.g., retirement, chronic disease). However, low financial and health literacy are common in older adults, impacting their ability to self-manage. The AWV’s focus on prevention offers an opportunity to incorporate a proactive approach to financial-related assessment. This study will explore the perceived value of assessing FHL in primary care settings and the financial-related barriers and facilitators to implementing the personalized prevention plan.

Methods: The conceptual framework was guided by the Individual and Family Self-Management …

Longitudinal Viral Load Clustering For People With Hiv Using Functional Principal Component Analysis, Yunqing Ma, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Jiayang Xiao, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: Longitudinal measures of viral load (VL) are critical in monitoring the HIV status. While multiple lab indicators exist for monitoring measures of VL, research on clustering historical/longitudinal VL measures is limited. Analyzing longitudinal VL patterns rather than aggregated measures offers deeper insights into HIV status. This study uses functional data clustering to classify longitudinal VL patterns and characterize each cluster by demographics, comorbidities, social behaviors, and CD4 count.

Methods: Adult PWH diagnosed from 2005 to 2015 in South Carolina with a 5-year minimum follow-up were included. We compared functional principal component analysis (FPCA), K-means, hierarchical clustering, and Gaussian mixture …

Caregiving Burdens Of Task Time And Task Difficulty Among Paid And Unpaid Caregivers Of Persons Living With Dementia, Matthew Lee Smith, Jodi L. Southerland, Malinee Neelamegam, Gang Han, Shinduk Lee, Chung Lin Kew, Juanita Dawne R. Bacsu, Elyse Couch, Steffi M. Kim, Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Mph, Ayse Malatyali, Lucas Wilson, Zahra Rahemi, Jeremy Holloway, Marcia G. Ory

Faculty Publications

Background: Demands of caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) are often influenced by the context of their caregiving situation. This study examines common and unique factors associated with caregiving burden in terms of task time and task difficulty among paid and unpaid caregivers of PLWD. Methods: Cross-sectional baseline survey data were analyzed from 107 paid and unpaid caregivers of PLWD participating in a larger NIH-funded study assessing the feasibility of using a novel in-situ sensor system. Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale constructs of task time and task difficulty served as dependent variables. Two least squares regression models were fitted, controlling …

The Village Determinants Of Self-Rated Health And Mental Health: A Multilevel Analysis Of Environments In Rural Honduran Villages, Marnen Elizabeth Decker

Public Health Theses

I investigated the associations of village structural, behavioral, and social environments with self-rated health and mental health among adults residing in remote rural villages in the mountainous Copán region of Honduras. I estimated nested multilevel logistic models with 17,318 adults in 174 villages. All models controlled for individual characteristics to distill true village-level effects, and nested structure was employed to facilitate direct comparison across models. Both poor self-rated health and mental health were inversely associated with village size and positively associated with coffee cultivation. Poor self-rated health was also positively associated with friend/adversary tie ratio, and poor self-rated mental health …