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Use Of Modeling To Inform Decision Making In North Carolina During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study, Karl Johnson, Caitlin B Biddell, Kristen Hassmiller Lich, Julie Swann, Paul Delamater, Maria Mayorga, Julie Ivy, Raymond L Smith, Mehul D Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has popularized computer-based decision-support models, which are commonly used to inform decision making amidst complexity. Understanding what organizational decision makers prefer from these models is needed to inform model development during this and future crises. Methods. We recruited and interviewed decision makers from North Carolina across 9 sectors to understand organizational decision-making processes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 44). For this study, we identified and analyzed a subset of responses from interviewees (n = 19) who reported using modeling to inform decision making. We used conventional content analysis to …

Global “Flu-Ization” Of Covid-19: A Perspective From Vietnam, Khoi Quan Nguyen, Le My Anh Nguyen, Andrew W Taylor-Robinson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 Vaccine Policies, & Vaccine Hesitancy: Improving Vaccine Uptake Together With One Respectful Voice, Emmanuela Nwaonumah, Emilee Larson, Danielle Soler Lopes, Bettye Apenteng

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Asian Long-Horned Tick Haemaphysalis Longicornis: What Happens In Asia Does Not Stay In Asia, Shobhan Das, Marina Eremeeva

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Message from the Dean: Stuart H. Tedders, PhD
• One-On-One: Marshall in Conversation with Aslan
• Alumni Feature: Improving the Body Art Industry
• Truth is Better than Fiction
• An Invisible Danger
• New Development Council
• The Period Equity Movement
• Averitt Award Winner and Together United
• Our Students Around the World
• Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Center for Addiction Recovery Making an impact: Scholarship recipient named
• Karl E. Peace Center for Biostatistics and Survey Research Working together: Biostatistics collaborations
• Center for Public Health Practice and Research Improving Health Outcomes
• Faculty and Students
• Office of Practice and Research
• College
• Photos

Studying Spread Patterns Of Covid-19 Based On Spatiotemporal Data, Beiyu Lin, Xiaowei Jia, Zhiqian Chen

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The current COVID-19 epidemic have transformed every aspect of our lives, especially our behavior and routines. These changes have been drastically impacting the economy in each region, such as local restaurants and transportation systems. With massive amounts of ambient data being collected everywhere, we now can develop innovative algorithms to have a much greater understanding of epidemic spread patterns of COVID-19 based on spatiotemporal data. The findings will open up the possibility to design adaptive planning or scheduling systems that will help preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

In this tutorial, we will review the trending state-of-theart …

Review Of Age-Related Trends Of Infection Among People Hospitalized For Infection With Concurrent Substance Use, Julia Catherine Lucia Gregorio

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Opioids and related injections are the most common drug associated with infection (Capizzi et al., 2020). Overall, data overwhelmingly shows infection and overdose rates on the rise in recent years (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2019).

Methods: The aim of this study was to identify trends between age and concurrent infection rates related to substance use from 2012 to 2019. This quantitative study utilized data from the NH Hospital Discharge Summaries (Office of Health Statistics, 2021). Specifically, trends among three age groups (young adults (18-34), middle-aged (35-54), and older adults (55+)) who were admitted to an inpatient unit or the …

Morality-Based Messaging? An Examination Of State Health Departments’ Facebook Posts In Advertising Covid-19 Vaccines, Kylee R. Casner

Honors Theses and Capstones

COVID-19 vaccination is an important public health tool in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, but vaccination rates in the U.S. are inadequate for reaching herd immunity, leaving public health officials to develop strategies to increase vaccination rates. The field of public health has historically used stigmatizing messaging to encourage health behaviors. Through a content analysis COVID-19 Facebook posts made by the Alabama Public Health, Mississippi State Department of Health, Rhode Island Department of Health, and Vermont Department of Health, this study explores the types of messaging used to influence COVID-19 vaccination behavior and looks to determine if stigmatization of non-vaccination is …

Environmental Health Responses To Covid 19 In Western Australia: Lessons For The Future, Jacques Oosthuizen, Melissa Stoneham, Toni Hannelly, Edmore Masaka, Giverny Dodds, Victor Andrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic tested the health system of Western Australia (WA) and the relatively new overarching legislative framework that guided the state-wide public health response to the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the experiences and roles of environmental health officers (EHOs) in WA during the management of COVID-19 and to identify any policy changes that are needed to facilitate the rapid deployment of EHOs during a future public health crisis. An online survey with 78 respondents was administered and analysis was both qualitative and quantitative. It was found that participants believed there was inadequate resourcing, workforce shortages, increased workloads, …

Risk Factors And Compliance Of Surviving Sepsis Campaign: A Retrospective Cohort Study At Tertiary Care Hospital, Farheen Yousuf, Ayesha Malik, Ayesha Saba, Sana Sheikh

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background and objective: Sepsis is one of the leading causes of direct maternal mortality in Pakistan. It is recommended that the first three hours after the presentation are crucial. During this time implementation of surviving sepsis campaign resuscitation bundles reduces maternal mortality. Our objective was to assess the factors contributing to puerperal sepsis and the compliance of "surviving sepsis campaign resuscitation bundles in puerperal sepsis" for the management of puerperal sepsis.
Methods: This was a retrospective record review for five years from January 2011-December 2015. All women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of puerperal sepsis were included and data from …

An Analysis Of The Special Focus Facility Program And Nursing Home Quality, Annie S. Rhodes

Theses and Dissertations

The Special Focus Facility Program is an intensive program meant to rapidly support 88 of the lowest quality nursing homes in the United States, as determined by the Five-Star Quality Ranking system. There are also 435 facility candidates which are similarly low performing but not enrolled in the program. Academic literature has largely ignored this program, and the existing grey literature is more than a decade old and does not include COVID-19 data. Applying a political economy of aging framework and using a case matching methodology, Special Focus Facilities (SFF), Special Focus Facility Candidate (SFFc) nursing homes, and 5-star nursing …

Variables On The Proportion Of Children With Sickle Cell Hemoglobin, Oyekola Oluyimika Oloyede

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe case fatality rate among children living with sickle cell disease was approximately 50% to 90% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Though researchers have contributed social determinants of health more broadly, they have not provided adequate screening information on children living with sickle cell disease aged 6 months to 59 months. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between sickle cell disease status, infection prevention, pain and anemia management, demography, socioeconomic status, and healthcare use. This study included approximately 11,536 genotype results of children under 5-years-old in Nigeria. Bronfenbrenner’s systems theory and Krieger’s ecological theory formed the theoretical …

Exploring Infant Massage As Standard Nonpharmacological Treatment For Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome, Christine Ann Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The opioid epidemic in the United States has increased opioid use in women of reproductive age, leading to in utero exposure causing withdrawal symptoms in newborns known as neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). State perinatal quality collaboratives (SPQCs) have been used in hospitals with quality initiatives (QIs) to improve standardization for NOWS; however, there remains a gap in knowledge in interventions to support the mother-infant dyad such as infant massage. This general qualitative research study explored the process and experiences of implementing infant massage as a standard practice for NOWS to inform national, state, and local policy. Participants in the …

Impact Evaluation Of The Brfss In New York On Obesity Prevention For Weight Loss Among Women, Nikisha Skeete

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Obesity has increased among the adult population, specifically women, in the United States within the past few decades. While the increase in obesity has been linked to a lack of physical activity and poor dietary intake, obesity lacks contextual analysis within adult women as a group. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the impact of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) on obesity prevention for weight loss in women. Health behavior change theory, the transtheoretical theory model, and the health behavior model guided this study. The research questions were designed to examine whether modifiable lifestyle …

Exploring The Behavioral Health Clinician Shortage At A Rural Midwestern U.S. Agency, Tracy L. Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health clinician shortages are a significant and ongoing problem in the United States, especially in rural areas, which have higher rates of homelessness, suicide, substance use, and violence rates than urban areas. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore factors contributing to the behavioral health clinician shortage in a rural midwestern U.S. public health department. The goal was to gain a better understanding of this shortage and explore strategies and solutions for recruiting and retaining behavioral health clinicians at the agency’s facilities. The Baldrige excellence framework undergirded the investigation. Data sources included interviews with three administrative …

Barriers To Blood Availability Within The New Orleans Area, Tishawn Michelle Francis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An adequate and reliable supply of blood and blood components is becoming an increasing public health concern. Over the past decade, researchers have indicated a continued decline in the collection of blood products. An insufficient blood supply may present a risk to both patients and reserves for emergencies and disasters. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to determine whether gender, age group, ethnicity, year, serological tests, and discard factors were associated with the availability of the donated blood supply throughout the New Orleans region. The donated blood supply chain model guided this study. Secondary data were retrieved from …

The Role Of Health And Diet In The Development Of Metabolic Syndrome Stratified By Race, Sex, And Age, Michael D. Harada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is now recognized as a disease in need of treatment by the medical profession and is associated with other chronic diseases including hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin-resistance, and reduced levels of high density lipoproteins. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) occurs when a combination of at least three of these chronic conditions are comorbid with each other. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to find significant health and nutritional predictors of MetS status across race, sex, and age. The evolutionary mismatch hypothesis and health belief model provided the framework for this study. Data were collected from 2,303 participants from the 2015-2016 …

Typhoid Fever Among Low-Income Women Living In Gujranwala, Pakistan., Tehmina S. Khan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 21 million individuals suffer from typhoid fever (TF) globally, and most outbreaks occur in Southeast Asia. The incidence of TF is high in Pakistan, particularly in low socioeconomic areas, and a new drug-resistant strain makes it difficult to control the spread of TF. There is a pressing need for up-to-date and accurate data regarding the attitudes, beliefs, and habits leading to the spread of TF infection among individuals living in low socioeconomic areas of Pakistan. This qualitative, phenomenological study was grounded in the health belief model and explored factors that influence the spread of TF among women of childbearing …

Factors That Determine Utilization Of The Canadian School-Based Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Programs, Diane Gloria Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world and is the known causative agent of many HPV-associated cancers in both males and females. HPV vaccination rates in Canada are significantly lower than other developed countries and this finding is poorly understood as Canadian adolescents have access to free-of-charge HPV vaccines through school-based vaccination programs. This quantitative descriptive study used an online survey to collect data from 992 eligible respondents. This study identified predisposing, enabling, and need factors characterized by the Andersen behavioral model of health services use which facilitate or impede the use of …

Alternative Diet Practices As Predictors For Vaccine Confidence, Nancy Dolin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perceived risks and side effects have left some with a lack of confidence in the safety and efficacy of vaccines. This may lead to not adhering to the recommended vaccination schedule and result in outbreaks that have the potential to harm those who are unable to get vaccinated due to age or infirmity. It is vital to seek and address the characteristics that may predict one’s confidence in vaccines. The aim of this study was to identify whether an individual’s alternative diet behavior may be able to predict their confidence in the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The theoretical …

The Outcome Of Stroke Education And Management On Cerebrovascular Accident Patients In Bermuda, Antoinette Simone Dyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIncidence of cardiovascular accident (CVA), also referred to as a stroke, has increased in Bermuda. Understanding key contributing factors is necessary to reduce incidences that are associated with this disease process. This dissertation examined the outcome of stroke education and management on CVA patients in Bermuda. The health belief model, incorporating a reflection of the public health framework, guided the analysis of a quantitative dataset obtained through Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Neurology Department. A cross-sectional study design was used to sample 253 stroke patients over a 2-year period (2019 -2021). The Wilcox test was employed to compare two groups – stroke …

Factors That Influence Seeking Prostate Cancer Preventive Care In African Immigrants, Millicent N. Seilenga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractProstate cancer is a major public health problem, being the second leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. men, but mortality can be prevented with the use of early detection strategies. African American men are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as compared to Hispanic and White men. African immigrant men as compared to African American men born in the United States have higher mortality rates of prostate cancer due to not seeking preventive care. However, little is known about the factors that prevent African immigrant men living in the United States from seeking prostate cancer …

Factors Associated With The Uptake Of Hiv Testing Among African American Male College Students, Brittney Sade Washington-Ball,Drph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV testing rates are much lower among African American male college students than male college students of other racial groups. Routine HIV testing on college campuses can decrease HIV rates among African Americans and increase students' awareness of their HIV status. This study was an investigation of factors associated with HIV testing among a sample of 140 African American male college students. The health belief model guided the research study and served as the theoretical framework to examine the influence of factors such as the location of testing, STD status, number of sexual partners, insurance coverage, health information, and alcohol …

Spirituality, Hiv And Black/African American Women, Shawanna D. Brun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the surmounting prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among Black women, few studies have been conducted to examine culturally appropriate prevention methods to reduce the occurrence of the disease. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore how religion/spirituality affects the attitudes, beliefs, and self-perceptions of HIV/AIDS among 151 Black/African women, ages 25-44, in Florida, and to investigate the impact of HIV-related stigma on the attitudes, beliefs, and self-perceptions of HIV/AIDS within this population. Social cognitive theory was the framework of the study. Multiple linear regression and hierarchical regression were used to analyze the survey data. Results revealed …

The Double Burden Of Intra-Household Malnutrition Among Mother–Child Dyads In South Africa, Puveshni Crozier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Household-level double burden of malnutrition (HL-DBM) challenges traditional South African vertical malnutrition programs. Research has associated a household with an overweight/obese mother of reproductive age and her under 5-year-old child with signs of undernutrition (wasting, stunting, or thinness) with socioeconomic levels, maternal characteristics, features of the household, and child’s demographics. Grounded in the social determinants of health conceptual framework, this study aimed to investigate the determinants of HL-DBM in South Africa across the reproductive-child health continuum. Using the representative 2017 Wave 5 South African National Income Dynamics Study survey secondary data, a total sample of 314 homes met this non-experimental …

Medicine Adherence As A Determinant Of Complication Development In Diabetes And Hypertension Patients On A Medical Aid Scheme In Zimbabwe, Tsitsi Moyo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pharmacotherapy is a significant component of chronic disease management; its efficacy depends on long term, correct, and consistent use; however, medicine adherence rates remain low. The cost of medicines is considered a significant barrier to adherence, especially in low-income settings. This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Cimas Medical Aid Society collected between 2015 and 2019. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of the association between medicine adherence, complication development, and cost of care among diabetic and hypertensive patients while controlling for age and gender on a population that does not experience cost barriers …

Educating Nursing Staff On Clostridioides Difficle Infection Bundle Use, Amber Lee Winkis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a local, national, and global issue impacting patient outcomes and healthcare organizations. CDI is costly to treat, painful, and at times deadly. Given an increase in CDI over the past year at the project site, the current gap in practice is the nonadherence of nursing staff to using a CDI bundle. This project addresses that gap. The practice-focused question targeted at nursing staff (N = 18) on an adult medical-surgical unit in an acute care hospital and asks whether education on use of a CDI bundle would result in a knowledge gain about the importance …

Evaluating The 2012 Vaccination Reporting Mandate: Applications To Adventist Health Network, May Abdalla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Influenza is a public health concern that claims up to 56,000 lives annually in the United States, though it is a vaccine-preventable disease. Influenza vaccination among health care personnel (HCP) is highly encouraged to prevent influenza transmission in health care settings. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between mandatory reporting of HCP influenza vaccination rates (implemented in 2012) and HCP influenza vaccination intake in a health care network with 20 hospitals. The protection and motivation theory was used as the theoretical framework. Data collected from surveys of hospital administrators and archives of the Center for Medicare …

Treatment Outcomes And Associated Factors In Tb/Hiv-Coinfected Patients In Namibia, Esland Shilongo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHIV and TB have merged into a deadly co-epidemic in Namibia. Currently, though, TB and HIV data at the national, regional, and district level might be underreported and insufficient to understand the full burden and outcome rates of TB and HIV. Targeting the TB outcomes rate among TB/HIV-coinfected individuals is an effective strategy for decreasing future TB burden and furthering the gains in the control of both diseases. The objective of this study was: to assess the outcomes of patients registered for anti-TB treatment in //Karas Region which has the largests burden of TB in Namibia. A 5-year retrospective cohort …

Work-Based Concerns Of Australian Frontline Healthcare Workers During The First Wave Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michella Hill, Erin Smith, Brennen W. Mills

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective: This research sought to gauge the extent to which doctors, nurses and paramedics in Australia were concerned about contracting SARS-CoV-2 during the country's first wave of the virus in April 2020.

Methods: Australian registered doctors, nurses and paramedics (n=580) completed an online questionnaire during April 16–30, 2020 (period immediately following the highest four-week period (first wave) of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed cases in Australia).

Results: During April 2020, two-thirds of participants felt it was likely they would contract SARS-CoV-2 at work. Half the participants suggested Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies were inadequate for them to safely perform their job, with two-thirds …