Digital Commons Network^™

Synergistic Effects Of Β-Nafeo2 Ferrite Nanoparticles For Photocatalytic Degradation, Antibacterial, And Antioxidant Applications†, Forsad Al Hossain, M Tanjid Hasan Tonmoy, Sri Nuvvula, Brittany P Chapman, Rajesh K Gupta, Andrew A Lover, Rhoel R Dinglasan, Stephanie Carreiro, Tauhidur Rahman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Syndromic surveillance is an effective tool for enabling the timely detection of infectious disease outbreaks and facilitating the implementation of effective mitigation strategies by public health authorities. While various information sources are currently utilized to collect syndromic signal data for analysis, the aggregated measurement of cough, an important symptom for many illnesses, is not widely employed as a syndromic signal. With recent advancements in ubiquitous sensing technologies, it becomes feasible to continuously measure population-level cough incidence in a contactless, unobtrusive, and automated manner. In this work, we demonstrate the utility of monitoring aggregated cough count as a syndromic indicator to …

The Uprmt Preserves Mitochondrial Import To Extend Lifespan, Jolaade Kalinowski, Elizabeth A Hintz, Chigozirim Izeogu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic introduced many challenges and nuances that have transformed medical practice and research. The uncertainty caused by COVID-19 led to inevitable challenges to patient-provider relationships. The ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 research and policy proved to be challenging for the medical community and patients. These challenges also exacerbated long-standing issues regarding patient-provider communication and trust. On the other hand, these challenges gave voice to a burgeoning patient advocacy community. Through social media, advocacy and patient organizing, patients harnessed their power and organized over challenges relating to COVID-19 fears and concerns, ramifications of "Long COVID," and much more. During …

Examining The Impact And Implementation Of Protected Administrative Time On Provider Well-Being And Service Delivery Indicators Within A Multi-State Network Of Primary Care Medical Practices, Lauren Junge-Maughan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background:

Primary care is integral to achieving high-quality health outcomes for the population and decreasing healthcare costs. However, primary care clinicians suffer from conflicting demands, impossible expectations, and burdensome processes. With burnout and mental fatigue increasing, leadership must find innovative programs to implement in their organizations. This mixed-methods research study assessed the impact of one such intervention, protected administrative time (PRAT), on improving provider well-being.

Purpose:

The first aim was to evaluate the association of PRAT on the service delivery indicators of primary care clinicians’ productivity, average appointments per day, patient satisfaction (likelihood to recommend), clinician time to the next …

Beyond The Strong Black Woman: Navigating Resilience And Mental Health Using Social Media For Culturally Tailored Resources, Muchaneta N.M. Chikawa

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Society views the strength of Black women as commendable as it shows positive qualities such as resilience and perseverance. While these traits are characterized as positive, Black women’s survival in American society has heavily depended on their strength, resulting in mental health illnesses such as anxiety and depression. The idea that Black women must exude strength and fortitude through adversity is labeled the Strong Black Woman Schema (SBWS). The SBWS is a race-gender schema that prescribes culturally-specific feminine expectations for Black women.

There are limited culturally-tailored resources for Black women to address mental health at collegiate institutions. As a result …

Cheers To Change: How Gen-Z Is Redefining Drinking Culture, Savannah Steedley, James Thomas

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Digital Health Disparities And The Unmet Challenges Of Access And Literacy, Pranavi Akkinepally, Jackie Mesenbrink, Tilicia Mayo-Gamble

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
• JPHCOPH Research
• Our AHEC Work
• Passing the Torch: Mentor to Innovator
  • Dr. Joseph Telfair
  • Dr. Tilicia Mayo-Gamble
• The MHA is BACK
• Life After JPHCOPH
• College Milestones
• CAR: Center for Addiction Recovery
• CPHPR: Center for Public Health Practice & Research
• Office of Practice and Research: Continued Strong Funding for in FY 2024
• Eagles Talking about the Public's Health (ETAPH)
• Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium (GS4)
• Congratulations to our Students of the Year!

Suboptimal Health Status, Covid-19 Psychology, And Cultural Value Impact On Post-Pandemic Outbound Travel, Danni Zheng, Yangyang Jiang, Jun Wen, Ian Phau, Haifeng Hou, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Suboptimal health has become a core public health challenge, especially during the pandemic. This study adopts an interdisciplinary perspective to examine the relationships between suboptimal health status, COVID-19 fear and stress, cultural values, and outbound travel. A theoretical model was evaluated using data from 800 Beijing residents, 439 of whom were in suboptimal health. Four dimensions of suboptimal health (fatigue, mental status, immune system, and cardiovascular system) significantly affected COVID-19 stress and fear. Post-pandemic travel intention was positively related to fatigue symptoms and leisure and life enjoyment but negatively associated with COVID-19 stress. Suggestions for highlighting travellers’ health status and …

Vulnerable, Recalcitrant And Resilient: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis Of Risk And Older People Within The Context Of Covid-19 News Media, Marjorie Skoss, Rachel Batten, Patricia Cain, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Risk is an innate and integral part of everyday life and is present in simple, everyday occupations and complex actions. Age-related stereotypes can mean older people have little opportunity to engage in activities that present some degree of risk. The present study explores the discourse around risk and older people in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated news media as a reflection of the dominant public discourse around older people's behaviour to identify how risk is represented in relation to occupational engagement. Texts relating to older people and COVID-19 were sourced from the West Australian newspaper for a …

Great Southern Food Community: Snapshot Report, Isabelle Chiera, Jess Doe, Amanda Devine, Melissa Stoneham, Stephanie L. Godrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food security refers to the adequate physical, social, and economic access to healthy food at all times. The Great Southern Food Community project aimed to identify, map, evaluate and strengthen food security initiatives across the region, to support food security action. This report outlines the findings from the Great Southern Food Community project, detailing the different types of food security initiatives operating within the region. It provides a summary of how Great Southern initiatives are contributing to food security systems change, and how they are working in partnership to deliver their food security initiatives. Based on these findings, region-based recommendations …

Kimberley Food Community: Snapshot Report, Isabelle Chiera, Jess Doe, Amanda Devine, Melissa Stoneham, Stephanie L. Godrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food security refers to the adequate physical, social, and economic access to healthy food at all times. The Kimberley Food Community project aimed to identify, map, evaluate and strengthen food security initiatives across the region, to support food security action. This report outlines the findings from the Kimberley Food Community project, detailing the different types of food security initiatives operating within the region. It provides a summary of how Kimberley initiatives are contributing to food security systems change, and how they are working in partnership to deliver their food security initiatives. Based on these findings, region-based recommendations are provided to …

Rationale, Design, And Baseline Characteristics Of Participants In The Health@Nus Mhealth Augmented Cohort Study Examining Student-To-Work Life Transition: Protocol For A Prospective Cohort Study, Xin Hui Chua, Sarah Martine Edney, Andre Matthias Müller, Nicholas A. Petrunoff, Clare Whitton, Zoey Tay, Claire Marie Jie Lin Goh, Bozhi Chen, Su Hyun Park, Salome A. Rebello, Alicia Low, Janelle Chia, Daphne Koek, Karen Cheong, Rob M. Van Dam, Falk Müller-Riemenschneider

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Integration of mobile health data collection methods into cohort studies enables the collection of intensive longitudinal information, which gives deeper insights into individuals’ health and lifestyle behavioral patterns over time, as compared to traditional cohort methods with less frequent data collection. These findings can then fill the gaps that remain in understanding how various lifestyle behaviors interact as students graduate from university and seek employment (student-to-work life transition), where the inability to adapt quickly to a changing environment greatly affects the mental well-being of young adults. Objective: This paper aims to provide an overview of the study methodology and …

Lessons Learned: Drive-Through Covid-19 Clinic Testing During An Adaptive Epidemic Response And A Point-Of-Care Test Assessment Of A Computer-Read Rapid Lateral Flow Immunoassay With Fluorescence-Based Detection, Leah Rankine-Wilson, Teresa Oncken, Irshan Basrewan, Courtney Jeffery, Todd M. Pryce, Rebecca Wake, Aus A.L. Molan, T. F. Paton, Tim J.J. Inglis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated a need for robust SARS-CoV-2 test evaluation infrastructure to underpin biosecurity and protect the population during a pandemic health emergency. Gap statement. The first generation of rapid antigen tests was less accurate than molecular methods due to their inherent sensitivity and specificity shortfalls, compounded by the consequences of self-testing. This created a need for more accurate point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 detection methods. Aim. Here we present the lessons-learned during the COVID-19 emergency response in Western Australia including the detailed set-up, evaluation and operation of rapid antigen test in a state-run drive-through sample collection service during the COVID-19 …

Associations Between Flavonoid Intake And Subclinical Atherosclerosis: The Mesa, Nicola P. Bondonno, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Kevin Murray, Catherine P. Bondonno, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Alexis C. Wood, Wendy S. Post, Matthew Allison, Michael H. Criqui, Joshua R. Lewis, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Flavonoids may play a role in mitigating atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, with evidence suggesting effects may differ between vascular beds. Studies examining associations with subclinical markers of atherosclerosis between subpopulations with different underlying risks of atherosclerosis are lacking. METHODS: Among 5599 participants from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), associations between dietary flavonoid intakes (estimated from a food frequency questionnaire) and subclinical measures of atherosclerosis (ankle-brachial index, carotid plaques and intima-media thickness, and coronary artery calcification) were examined using repeated measures models. Exposures and outcomes were measured at exam 1 (2000-2002) and exam 5 (2010-2011). Stratified analyses and interaction terms …

Preparing The Future Public Health Workforce: Fostering Global Citizenship Through The Relational Employability Framework - Insights From Two Case Studies, Elizabeth Cook, Sally-Anne Doherty, Ruth M. Wallace

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A well-prepared public health workforce is essential for reducing disease burdens and improving population health, necessitating an education that addresses global and complex challenges. This paper explores the integration of the Relational Employability Framework in public health education as a tool to foster critical reflection and cultivate global citizenship among students and graduates. Global citizenship encompasses the social, political, environmental and economic actions of globally conscious individuals and communities, recognising that individuals operate within diverse local and global networks. Relational employability expands traditional notions of graduate employability, incorporating not only foundational career development and human interactions but also connections with …

Impact On Help-Seeking Behaviours Of A Campaign Perceived To Decrease Stigma And Increase Openness Around Mental Health, Robert J. Donovan, Catherine F. Drane, Ziggi I. Santini, Geoffrey Jalleh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Issue Addressed: There is considerable evidence that public stigma around mental illness inhibits help-seeking for mental health problems. Hence there have been many interventions and campaigns designed to reduce stigma around mental illness. However, as far as could be ascertained, none of these stigma reduction interventions has reported any substantial impact of reducing stigma on people's mental health help-seeking behaviours. The aim of this paper is to report on the impact of the Act-Belong-Commit positive mental health promotion Campaign on help-seeking via increasing perceived openness around mental health and reducing perceived stigma around mental illness. Methods: State-wide computer assisted telephone …

Accelerate Vaccine Development Using Seamless Phase 2/3 Trial Designs, Jia-Ying Yang, Guo-Chun Li, Ying Yuan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Traditional vaccine development, often a lengthy and costly process of three separated phases. However, the swift development of COVID-19 vaccines highlighted the critical importance of accelerating the approval of vaccines. This article showcases a seamless phase 2/3 trial design to expedite the development process, particularly for multi-valent vaccines.

Research design and methods: This study utilizes simulation to compare the performance of seamless phase 2/3 design with that of conventional trial design, specifically by re-envisioning a 9-valent HPV vaccine trial. Across three cases, several key performance metrics are evaluated: overall power, type I error rate, average sample size, trial duration, …

Hpv Vaccination In Africa In The Covid-19 Era: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Healthcare Providers' Knowledge, Training, And Recommendation Practices, Joel Fokom Domgue, Issimouha Dille, Sharon Kapambwe, Robert Yu, Freddy Gnangnon, Lameck Chinula, Gad Murenzi, Nomonde Mbatani, Mala Pande, Fatoumata Sidibe, Joseph Kamgno, Bangaly Traore, Hicham El Fazazi, Mamadou Diop, Pierre-Marie Tebeu, Mohenou Isidore Diomande, Fabrice Lecuru, Isaac Adewole, Marie Plante, Partha Basu, Jean-Marie Dangou, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Although the burden of cervical cancer in Africa is highest, HPV vaccination coverage remains alarmingly low in this region. Providers' knowledge and recommendation are key drivers of HPV vaccination uptake. Yet, evidence about providers' knowledge and recommendation practices about the HPV vaccine against a backdrop of emerging vaccine hesitancy fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic is lacking in Africa.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021-2022 among healthcare providers involved in cervical cancer prevention activities in Africa. They were invited to report prior training, the availability of the HPV vaccine in their practice, whether they recommended the HPV vaccine, …

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure In Homes And Vehicles In Youth: Disparities Among Racial, And Sexual And Gender Minorities, Rajesh Talluri, Sahil S Shete, Surendra S Shastri, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) among youth is a serious public health concern, leading to an increased risk of conditions such as asthma and respiratory infections. However, there is little research on SHSe among vulnerable populations, such as racial and sexual minorities. Understanding the factors associated with youth SHSe in homes and vehicles is crucial to developing better protective policies.

METHODS: This study utilized 2020 data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, a representative sample of middle- and high-school students in the US. The primary outcomes were youth SHSe at home and while riding in a vehicle. Multinomial regression models …

Changes In Psychiatric Diagnosis Associated With Sars-Cov-2 Infection And Predicting The Development Of New Psychiatric Illness In Covid Patients By Using Machine Learning Approach: A Study Using The Us National Covid Cohort Collaborative (N3c), Asif Rahman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The enduring impact of COVID-19 extends beyond acute illness, with potential long-term psychiatric consequences raising significant concern among healthcare professionals and researchers alike. Emerging evidence suggests a multifaceted relationship between COVID-19 and the development of different psychiatric illnesses like Schizophrenia Spectrum and Psychotic Disorders (SSPD), Depression, Bipolar disorder, Personality disorder, Trauma, and a range of other mental health conditions. Considering these emerging connections, our study endeavors to rigorously assess the associations between COVID-19 and various psychiatric illnesses while simultaneously employing machine learning techniques to predict the development of new psychiatric disorders in individuals affected by the virus. Leveraging the extensive …

Characterizing 4,4’-Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate Exposure In Primary Human Epidermal Keratinocytes: A Multi-Omics Approach, Brandon F. Law

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Exploring the routes of exposure and biological fate of 4,4’-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) has been a challenge for many years. Occupational exposure to MDI can result in the development of occupational asthma (MDI-OA) which results in loss of productivity, large economic costs, and costs to the individual worker. Initially, it was thought that respiratory exposure to MDI was the most likely route leading to MDI-OA. Industries utilizing MDI have been successful at controlling airborne concentrations according to industrial hygiene assessment and newly diagnosed cases of MDI-OA decreased and plateaued. New research suggests that dermal exposures to MDI may explain this …

Impacts Of Sex Work Criminalization On Sex Workers In Oregon: A Pilot Study, Stephanie Wahab, Katie Shammel

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Executive Summary

Context for the Study
In July, 2023, Oregon legislators voted to fund research exploring the impacts of the criminalization of sex work in Oregon. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the budget item, stating that the private sector should fund this type of public health research and noting the need for additional public discussion about the issue. To date, there have been no attempts to study the impacts of prostitution laws on the people most impacted by them in Oregon. The research presented in this report seeks to address this gap.

This qualitative pilot study was designed to better understand …

Examining Stigma In Rural Mental Health Care Settings: A Mixed Methods Approach, Lainie Krumenacker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

More than half of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime (CDC, 2021), yet stigma towards mental health affects both patients and providers. Although programs exist to address stigma, improve cultural competency among providers, and educate families on the importance of support, facilities are often limited on programs they provide due to allocation of resources and funds. Without a shift in treatment and programing, stigma will continue to impact patient care and outcome.

This study explored stigma among mental health providers in rural communities, while exploring potential differences in treatment among patients due to race. Mental …

The Effect Of A Tailored Educational Flyer On Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Rural Residents: Lessons Learned From A Pilot Randomized Trial, Jungyoon Kim, Cheryl Beseler, Melissa Leypoldt, Roma Subramanian, Tamara Robinson, Karen Funkenbusch, Jason Foster, Susan Harris, Aaron Yoder, Emma Hymel, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Background/Objectives: Stool-based tests, such as the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), have been widely used for increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Small media, such as printed materials or flyers, are known to be an effective intervention to increase CRC screening by fecal tests. However, more evidence is needed to determine whether such small media are effective in improving screening uptake of a mailed FIT intervention targeted at rural populations in the USA.

Methods: In this randomized study, 1230 FIT kits were mailed from July to December 2022 to rural Nebraskans aged 45-74 who were not up to date on …

Genetic Knowledge And Causal Beliefs: Implications For Health Behavior In Clinical And Non-Clinical Samples, Jamey T. Brumbaugh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objective: As the genomic era in healthcare continues to surge, it is vital to examine genetically-related psychological concepts, such as genetic knowledge and genetic causal beliefs, in genetically relevant clinical groups. Parents /caregivers of children born with cleft lip and/or palate represent a population whose knowledge and beliefs about genetics may be influenced by their frequent utilization of genetically-related healthcare services (e.g., genetic testing and genetic counseling). To date, little is known about how such beliefs vary across disease types. Even less is known regarding how disease-specific genetic causal beliefs relate to perceived behavioral control for disease development. Method: A …

The Australian Frailty Network: Development Of A Consumer-Focussed National Response To Frailty, Natasha Reid, Adrienne Young, Loretta Baldassar, Anja Christoffersen, Tracy Comans, Simon Conroy, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Jason Ferris, Maria Fiatarone Singh, Sarah Fox, Emily H. Gordon, Manonita Ghosh, Chandana Guha, Sarah Hilmer, Lisa Kouladjian O’Donnell, Benignus Logan, Kristiana Ludlow, Michelle Miller, Mark Morgan, Alison Mudge, John Muscedere, Donna Reidlinger, Kenneth Rockwood, Rosemary Saunders, David Ward, Paul Yates

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Frailty is an important concept in the care of older adults. Over the past two decades, significant advances have been made in measuring frailty. While it is now well-recognised that frailty status is an important determinant of outcomes from medical illnesses or surgical interventions, frailty measurement is not currently routinely integrated into clinical practice. In the community setting, it is uncommon for general practitioners to deliver frailty-optimised care. In hospitals, there is substantial variability in how people living with frailty are managed. This variability is notable between and even within disciplines. Furthermore, gains from understanding frailty mechanisms and risk factors …

Wheatbelt Food Community: Snapshot Report, Isabelle Chiera, Jess Doe, Amanda Devine, Melissa Stoneham, Stephanie L. Godrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food security refers to the adequate physical, social, and economic access to healthy food at all times. The Wheatbelt Food Community project aimed to identify, map, evaluate and strengthen food security initiatives across the region, to support food security action. This report outlines the findings from the Wheatbelt Food Community project, detailing the different types of food security initiatives operating within the region. It provides a summary of how Wheatbelt initiatives are contributing to food security systems change, and how they are working in partnership to deliver their food security initiatives. Based on these findings, region-based recommendations are provided to …

Peer Support To Enhance Safe Alcohol Use In University Students: A Quality Improvement Project, Kerri Reynolds

DNP Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: College is a period of transition to adulthood where many students experiment with alcohol consumption. Peer educators can bring access to evidence-based alcohol consumption education through student-centric strategies. This quality improvement project aimed to implement an evidence-based training program for college peer educators followed by the delivery of campus alcohol education in a six week period. Feasible ideas for sustainable college peer educator training were generated at this medium-sized public university. The impact of training on six peer educators’ self-reported professional leadership skills, knowledge, and confidence was measured.

METHODS: The Certified Peer Educator (CPE) training program (NASPA) was used …

From Pollution To Resource: Advancing Swine Waste Treatment In The Usa, Viney P. Aneja, Ryke Longest, Matias B. Vanotti, Ariel A. Szogi, Gudigopuram B. Reddy

Faculty Scholarship

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have led to environmental challenges, specifically waste management. Swine CAFOs generate large amounts of waste, requiring proper treatment to avoid air and water pollution. Conventional waste management technologies, such as lagoon and spray field systems, do not prevent air and water pollution impacts. Research for the past few decades led to recommendations for waste treatment technologies superior to lagoons and spray fields. Private environmental sustainability initiatives focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the food supply chain have implemented biogas digester projects for capturing methane in covered swine lagoons to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, …

Occupational Pressures Of Frontline Workers Enforcing Covid-19 Pandemic Measures In Ontario And Quebec, Canada, Pamela Hopwood, Ellen Maceachen, Daniel Côté, Samantha B. Meyer, Shannon Majowicz, Ai-Thuy Huynh, Meghan K. Crouch, Joyceline Amoako, Yamin T. Jahangir, Amelia León Correal, Antonela Ilic

Études primaires

BACKGROUND:During the COVID-19 pandemic, low-wage public-facing frontline workers (FLWs), such as grocery store clerks, were required to monitor retail customers and enforce COVID-19 protocols. OBJECTIVE:This analysis aimed to examine FLWs experiences of enforcing COVID-19 pandemic measures. METHODS:Between September 2020 and March 2021, in Ontario and Quebec (Canada), we conducted in-depth interviews about customer-related work and health risks with FLWs who interacted with the public (n = 40) and their supervisors (n = 16). Using a lens of situational analysis, verbatim transcripts were coded according to recurring topics. RESULTS:We found that enforcing public health measures placed already-precarious workers in difficult occupational …