Digital Commons Network^™

A Scoping Review Of Campus-Based Animal-Assisted Interactions Programs For College Student Mental Health, Tanya K. Bailey

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: People have long found support by interacting with animals, which has developed into a health care modality called animal-assisted interactions (AAI). In the past 10 years, AAI has increased as a way to support college students’ mental health; however, there is no comprehensive evidence on the effectiveness of these programs.
Method: A scoping review was conducted using the JBI and PRISMA-ScR criteria. Empirical articles were identified through Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost), PsychINFO (Ovid), and Web of Science using three groups of keywords: AAI, college students, and mental health.
Results: Of the 1,195 publications identified, 37 met this study’s eligibility …

Preparing For The Next Disaster: Lessons Learned From The Early Experiences Of Autistic Adults During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amber Pomponio Davidson, Cecilia Feeley, Beth Pfeiffer, Mark Salzer

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Disasters, such as the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, create significant disruptions for individuals and their communities. Understanding these disruptions is a first step towards planning for future events and disaster recovery. This research aims to explore how the initial COVID-19 restrictions, including lockdowns, impacted adults with Autism (ASD). Method: Using semi-structured interviews to understand how individuals with ASD experienced the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, twelve participants were interviewed: six individuals with ASD (ages 20-38), three parents of individuals with ASD, and three support staff for individuals with ASD. Analysis: Grounded theory methods were used to analyze the impacts …

The Factors That Influence Clinicians To Choose Rural Settings To Deliver Health Services, Julia Mattingly

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Years before the COVID-19 pandemic brought on a health care shortage in the United States, its rural areas were already struggling to obtain and attract primary care medical practitioners. The federal government has designed many programs with the intent of exposing clinicians to life in rural areas, but few have been successful at keeping medical practitioners in the long-term. Clinicians who are recruited to rural areas via loan repayment programs or other short-lived incentives often leave after only a few years.

In order to learn more about this long-running health policy problem, we set out to study the factors that …

Condom Use Self-Efficacy Score And Risky Sexual Behavior Among High School Students In Southern Ethiopia, Gizachew Kebede Bassore, Hadi Danawi, Linda G. Marc, Chinaro Kennedy

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

There is emerging evidence of a rise in new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in Ethiopia. This may partly be explained by an increase in risky sexual behaviors among high school adolescents. The current study was conducted to explore the association between a set of predictor variables (comprehensive HIV knowledge and condom use self-efficacy score) and an outcome variable of risky sexual behavior among high school adolescents in the Angacha District of Southern Ethiopia. The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design to answer the research question. Primary data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 374 participants using a stratified …

An Examination Of The Sufficiency Of Emergency Planning In New York City Hospitals For Vulnerable Populations Needing Communication Or Language Assistance, Rosemary Mcdonnell

Theses and Dissertations

Background: While all populations are susceptible to certain hazards that may expose their vulnerabilities in a disaster, populations with no or limited English proficiency, sight limitations, and hearing limitations are especially at risk due to communication and language barriers that they consistently experience. Purpose: This study explored the sufficiency of emergency planning that vulnerable populations with communication barriers may receive in a New York City hospital setting. It investigated the emergency plans, procedures, and practices that hospitals have for these specific, at-risk populations. The sufficiency of these were measured in accordance with their ability to meet the appropriate regulatory standards …

Viral Kinetics Of Sequential Sars-Cov-2 Infections, Stephen M. Kissler, James A. Hay, Joseph R. Fauver, Christina Mack, Caroline G. Tai, Deverick J. Anderson, David D. Ho, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Yonatan H. Grad

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

The impact of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on the progression of subsequent infections has been unclear. Using a convenience sample of 94,812 longitudinal RT-qPCR measurements from anterior nares and oropharyngeal swabs, we identified 71 individuals with two well-sampled SARS-CoV-2 infections between March 11^th, 2020, and July 28^th, 2022. We compared the SARS-CoV-2 viral kinetics of first vs. second infections in this group, adjusting for viral variant, vaccination status, and age. Relative to first infections, second infections usually featured a faster clearance time. Furthermore, a person's relative (rank-order) viral clearance time, compared to others infected with the …

Management Of Patients Treated With Antithrombotic Drugs In Dentistry: Comparison Of Sfco And Baos Recommendations, Meryem Lahlou, Yousef Naji, Ossama Nabih, Ihsane Ben Yahya

Health Sciences

Background Patients on antithrombotic drugs are at risk of thrombosis; when prescribed these medications they develop a risk of haemorrhage. To our knowledge, there is no published global consensus on the management of these patients and only expert panels guidelines exist. Objectives The aims of this study were to (1) compare the clinical guidelines issued by the French Society of Oral Surgery (SFCO) and the clinical guidelines issued by the British Association of Oral Surgery (BAOS), and (2) to summarize the guidelines recommendations. Methods This article is a descriptive comparative review based on published clinical guidelines issued by the French …

Community Facing Athletic Trainer, Eric Post

2022 Fall Reports (Marshall, IL)

In an initial planning meeting with Marshall Mayor John Hasten, the mayor identified the potential need for an athletic trainer to serve as a community-facing health professional within the Marshall community in order to provide access to highquality injury prevention, evaluation, and care. The agreed-upon objectives for this project were to: ● Perform a needs assessment to determine the potential costs and resources necessary to provide a community-facing athletic trainer within the Marshall community. ● Share perspectives on how athletic trainers can provide services to serve the health needs in the Marshall community. ● Determine the best strategies for providing …

Artificial Intelligence In Dentistry : Knowledge And Perceptions Of Moroccan Students, Manal Elhijazi, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a revolution in education, research and health. The aim of this study is to assess the views and perceptions of dental students regarding artificial intelligence and its impact on their future professional practice. Methods: A voluntary anonymous e-questionnaire was sent to all 4th and 5th year dental students of the Faculty of Dentistry after receiving a course on artificial intelligence. The questionnaire consisted of sections to assess students' knowledge of artificial intelligence and its possible applications in dentistry as well as ethical considerations. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using SPSS version 23 …

Synergistic Detrimental Effects Of Cigarette Smoke, Alcohol, And Sars-Cov-2 In Copd Bronchial Epithelial Cells, Abenaya Muralidharan, Christopher Bauer, Dawn M. Katafiasz, Heather M. Strah, Aleem Siddique, St. Patrick Reid, Kristina L. Bailey, Todd A. Wyatt

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

Lung conditions such as COPD, as well as risk factors such as alcohol misuse and cigarette smoking, can exacerbate COVID-19 disease severity. Synergistically, these risk factors can have a significant impact on immunity against pathogens. Here, we studied the effect of a short exposure to alcohol and/or cigarette smoke extract (CSE) in vitro on acute SARS-CoV-2 infection of ciliated human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) collected from healthy and COPD donors. We observed an increase in viral titer in CSE- or alcohol-treated COPD HBECs compared to untreated COPD HBECs. Furthermore, we treated healthy HBECs accompanied by enhanced lactate dehydrogenase activity, indicating …

Self-Reported Respiratory Health Symptoms And Respiratory Protection Behaviors Of Young Adult Hog Producers In The United States, Jenna L. Gibbs, Carolyn Sheridan, David Sullivan, Risto Rautiainen, Matthew W. Nonnenmann, Todd A. Wyatt

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

INTRODUCTION AND METHODS: In this study, we evaluated self-reported respiratory symptoms during agricultural work, respiratory protection use and experience, and perceived value of receiving respirators using Gear Up for Ag Health and Safety Program™ pre- and post-surveys from 703 to 212 young adult hog producers in the United States. To our knowledge, this is one of the most extensive survey data sets on self-reported respiratory symptoms and respiratory protection behaviors of collegiate-aged young adults working in US livestock production.

RESULTS: About one-third (37%) of young adult hog producers stated that they have experienced cough, shortness of breath, fever, and chills …

A Systematic Literature Review Of Research From 2010 To 2020 Addressing User-Generated Online Comments Related To Health Issues And Recommendations For Future Research, Muhammad Ittefaq, Mauryne Abwao, Ioana A. Coman, Waqas Ejaz

School of Communication Studies - Faculty Scholarship

This systematic literature review was conducted to provide insights into how online readers’ comments have been studied in the context of health over a 10-year span. About 593 studies published between 2010 and 2020; of these, 34 met the research criteria for inclusion. Our findings reveal that 60% of the studies focused on the United States, and a qualitative method was used in 74.3% of these studies. About 23.5% of the studies explored vaccine-related issues. Our results reveal that among the selected studies, 76.5% and 20.6% had female and male first authors, respectively. Textual analysis of abstracts shows that the …

Prevention Research Center For Healthy Neighborhoods, Madeline Panus

Celebration of Scholarship 2023

No abstract provided.

“They'll Take A Gun To Me Before I Get That Shot”:Rationalization, Emotions, And Misinformation In Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Michaela George, Benjamin Rosenberg, Savannah N. Dale, Lauren H. Kirkland, Patti L. Culross, Rong Chen

Psychology | Faculty Scholarship

Vaccine hesitancy—the reluctance, delay, or refusal tovaccinate regardless of availability—is not a new concept inpsychology, medicine, or public health. However, given theemotions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine, hesitancy hasproven difficult to overcome. To date, the bulk of availabledata on vaccine hesitancy are quantitative, leaving room forexploratory investigations into the reasons adults remainunvaccinated. This qualitative study assessed the moti-vations, beliefs, and perceptions of individuals who havedecided to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. We hadone exploratory research question: What social psychological justifications emerge from vaccine hesitant people'sexplanations of their decisions to remain unvaccinated?To assess this question, we conducted 18 interviews withunvaccinated adults throughout 2021–2022. …

Forming The Perception Of Wic Infant Feeding Recommendations: A Qualitative Study, Emily Fisher, Kathryn Wouk, Priyanka Patel, Chuanyi Tang, Qi Zhang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Nearly half of newborns in the United States are enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Promoting breastfeeding is a programmatic priority, although formula vouchers are provided for those who do not exclusively breastfeed. Previous literature suggests that participant perception of WIC’s breastfeeding recommendations is a significant factor predicting breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity outcomes. However, little is known about how participants’ perceptions of WIC’s breastfeeding recommendations are formed. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a qualitative pilot study in Nevada, interviewing 10 postpartum WIC mothers and 12 WIC staff who had interacted …

The Effectiveness Of An Ehealth Family-Based Intervention Program In Patients With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2dm) In The Community Via Wechat: Randomized Controlled Trial, Yuheng Feng, Yuxi Zhao, Linqi Mao, Minmin Gu, Hong Yuan, Jun Lu, Qi Zhang, Qian Zhao, Xiaohong Li

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Intervention based on family support and risk perception can enhance type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients’ self-care activities. In addition, eHealth education is considered to improve family members’ support for patients with T2DM. However, there is little evidence from rigorously designed studies on the effectiveness of an intervention combining these approaches.

Objective: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to assess the effectiveness of an eHealth family-based health education intervention for patients with T2DM to improve their glucose control, risk perception, and self-care behaviors.

Methods: This single-center, 2-parallel-group RCT was conducted between 2019 and 2020. Overall, 228 patients were recruited …

An Analysis Of The Clear Horizons Program In Perry County, Kentucky On Smoking Cessation, Julia Kollitz

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

Perry County is an Appalachian county located in southeastern Kentucky. The population is 28,473 people (United States Census Bureau, 2020). It is a predominately white community, with 95.9% of people falling in this category, which is higher than the national percentage of 75.8% (United States Census Bureau, 2020). Being a rural county, this community uses few news sources, with the primary outlet being WYMT Eastern Kentucky News. This news outlet is a subset of CBS (WYMT, 2023). When comparing statewide and nationwide data, Perry County does consistently worse. They have a high school graduation rate that is lower than the …

Does An Educational Intervention Program On Infection Precautions Decrease Absentee Rates In Schools?, Shelby Florann Keltner, Madelyn Salonga

Nursing | Senior Theses

During our community health clinical rotation in a public school, we observed abundant absences in the kindergarten class, which led us to inquire: What is the possible cause for the multiple absences? Further, we noticed that the students had a hand hygiene knowledge deficit. These observations led us to hypothesize that due to direct contact transmission many absences were related to infection-related illnesses, and without proper technique and understanding of hand washing, infectious diseases will continue to have a high probability of transmission in schools. The objective of our investigation is to identify the prevalence of this issue in communities …

Cancer Immunotherapy: A Breakthrough In Patient Care, Abdou-Samad Kone, Nour El Imane Issam Salah, Amina Ghouzlani, Abdallah Badou

Health Sciences

Cancer is one of the world's leading causes of death. Conventional therapies, such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have improved patient management and have shown overwhelming progress. However, the incidence and mortality rates among cancer patients are still extremely high, at approximately 20,5 % and 10,6 % for both sexes, respectively. This may be due to the heterogeneity of tumors, their special microenvironment, and the development of resistance to certain conventional therapies. The concept of immunotherapy provided a new perspective on patient treatment. The interaction of tumor cells with their microenvironment depends on different factors and conditions that promote …

Institute Of Public Health Newsletter- Volume 7, Issue 3, Institute Of Public Health (Iph)

Institute of Public Health Newsletter (IPHNL) and Other Publications

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Educational Level In The Practice Of Female Circumcision In Oredo Lga Of Edo State, Nigeria, Akhimien Osamede

Health Sciences

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the role of educational level in the practice of Female Circumcision in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Nigeria ranks third in the global burden of FGM and Southern Nigeria, which Edo State is in, has the highest national prevalence. Infection, bleeding, infertility, and death are some of the complications of FGM. Due to it harmful outcomes, in 1999, Edo State banned FGM and in 2015 the Government of Nigeria enacted a law banning FGM. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 200 male and female respondents, aged …

Identifying Barriers To Dental Care Among Hispanics In Southwest Minnesota, Lissette Garza

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to assess the different barriers for dental health care among the Hispanic population in a rural, southwestern community in Minnesota. To collect data, an adaptation of the survey written by Vazquez and Swan (2003) was distributed to Hispanic individuals at an agricultural facility, religious organization, and an early childhood organization. The findings for the research question are presented in the cross-sectional study utilizing descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages. The results of this study indicate that not having a dental provider of the same cultural background, having a language barrier, and …

Mind Match: A Holistic App-Based Intervention For Post-Pandemic Adolescent Mental Health, Irene Xinyuan Hu, Hoyt King, Samara Lynch, Nyla Thomas

DC Health and Academic Prep Program (DC HAPP)

The global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine measures had profound implications for the mental well-being of adolescents. Studies have shown that adolescents who received MRIs post-pandemic demonstrated more severe mental health problems (Gotlib et al, 2021). As of 2021, more than 36% of DC youth who have depression did not receive any mental health care (NAMI, 2021). These statistics underscore the urgent need to address the mental health challenges faced by teenagers, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds with limited access to mental health services (Mental health disparities: Diverse populations, 2017). In response to the downstream effects of COVID-19 on underrepresented …

Sisyphean Frustrations: The Impetus For Improving Harm Reduction Strategies In Minneapolis, Mn, Jordan Baker

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: The last decade has seen an alarming rise in deaths attributed to opioid use. Considering the ever-increasing mortality rate contributable to opiate use disorder, it is important to identify and utilize more efficacious public health interventions.

Purpose: The focus of this paper is identifying the current harm reduction strategies being implemented in Minneapolis MN, the history of harm reduction in the US, and opportunities to improve existing systems to better engage current conditions.

Methods: The primary research method for this community assessment was volunteer work with Southside Harm Reduction in Minneapolis, MN. Through community clean-ups the researcher was able …

Better Nature: How Nature Improves Our Health And How We Can Use Nature To Do Better, Alyssa K. Snyder

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research paper outlines the salubrious effects of exposure to green spaces and explores how healthcare providers in urban areas can leverage the benefits of green spaces to combat poor health outcomes from the chronic stress of urbanicity, particularly in disadvantaged populations. Focusing on the metropolitan area of Minnesota, this study acknowledges existing barriers and constraints of populations experiencing health inequities while analyzing data on green space accessibility and seeking solutions for those communities, particularly BIPOC and low-income. This paper synthesizes evidence from various studies that establish the positive associations between health and exposure to green spaces, which can also …

Barriers To Hpv Screening And Prevention In Latin America: A Systematic Review, Lauren Rutten

Theses and Graduate Projects

In Latin America, cervical cancer is the second most common female cancer and the fourth most leading cancer of women around the world, with an estimated 342,000 deaths in 2020.1 This systematic review of literature gives insight into Latin Americas barriers to Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV) screening and prevention. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using google scholar, the WHO, and the CDC. Search terms included: barriers to HPV screening, cervical cancer, Latin America, Central America, Costa Rica, Prevention of HPV, and Human Papillomavirus. Three main barriers to HPV screening and prevention were found including, fear, lack of education, and …

The Benefits And Limitations Of A Clinician Lead Sexual Education Program In Wisconsin Public Schools, Margaret Freiermuth

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: Abstinence-based sexual education is the primary method of sexual education in public schools.4 The majority of public schools use teachers who may or not have proper training to teach the course. Comprehensive sexual education taught by clinicians could potentially decrease sexual risky behavior in the youth population.

Purpose: Identify potential benefits or limitations to a clinician-led sexual education program in Wisconsin public schools. Methods: Articles 2017 or newer were reviewed utilizing search engines such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and NIH. A Google Forum with 18 questions was sent out to 420 Wisconsin public school administrators. It was open for …

Safety First: Assessing First Aid Educational Needs Of Outdoor Education Participants, Melissa Niemiec

Theses and Graduate Projects

Background: Much of the general population has a lack of first aid knowledge, despite engaging in activities that might end in needing some level of medical care. Even when first aid education is gained, sometimes it is subpar or less relevant to wilderness excursions. In order to create a high quality wilderness first aid course, it should be interactive and take place in a wilderness setting. Having basic first aid skills increases confidence and reduces anxiety of participants, possibly reducing the rate of injury.

Purpose: This needs assessment sets out to determine the first aid needs and concerns held by …

What Do People Affected By Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Want From Health Communications? Evidence From The Als Talk Project, Shelagh K. Genuis, Westerly Luth, Tania M. Bubela, Wendy S. Johnston

Office of the Provost

Introduction/aims: Health communication is central to effective, supportive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical care. Guidance for ALS communication is limited, focuses on diagnosis disclosure, and frequently relies on expert consensus and/or reviews. Patient-based evidence is needed to guide ALS health communication. We investigated how the experiences of ALS patients and family caregivers can inform effective communication practices from diagnosis to end-of-life.
Methods: Data were drawn from the ALS Talk Project, an asynchronous, online focus group study. Seven focus groups and five interviews (105 participants) were conducted. Data were qualitatively analyzed using directed content analysis and the constant-comparative approach.
Results: We …

Does The Health Literacy Of Spanish Speakers Impact Their Vaccination Decisions?: A Literature Review Of Related Research, Kelly Tran

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: The Hispanic community has historically faced high rates of vaccine hesitancy when compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. This not only poses a threat to their individual health, but also to their community. In a population that is disproportionately affected by COVID-19 infections, it is critical to address vaccine uptake concerns to control the pandemic and prevent future spread of infections.

Objective: This study aims to explore Spanish speakers' vaccination decisions and to explore whether improving health literacy would be an effective approach in increasing vaccination rates. The secondary objective is to describe the role of physicians in decreasing …