Digital Commons Network^™

One Year Follow Up Of A Cross-Sectional Study Of Hookworm Infection And Response To Deworming In Beposo, Ghana, Taylor Clarkson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Hookworms are soil-transmitted helminths that infect over 500 million people worldwide, primarily those in low-income countries. Infection with hookworm can cause anemia, malnutrition, and stunted physical and cognitive development. Deworming campaigns have attempted to combat hookworm infections in endemic areas for decades. However, there is growing variability in the effectiveness of deworming drugs, and post-treatment reinfections are abundant. There are significant gaps in our understanding of critical host-parasite factors that mediate hookworm infection, reinfection, and response to deworming treatment in endemic communities. A five-year prospective study was undertaken to better understand drivers of hookworm infection in rural Ghana and thus …

A Replication Study-Postoperative Complications In Bariatric Surgery Using Age And Bmi Stratification: A Stusy Using Acs-Nsqip Data (2014), Aruna Sree Posanipalle

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

This study aims to replicate the findings of Sanni et al.'s (2014) research on postoperative complications in bariatric surgery patients. The original research utilized age and BMI stratification and data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) to identify the relationship between these variables and postoperative complications. The findings of the original study revealed significant associations between age, BMI, and postoperative complications. The replication plan aims to confirm these associations and identify the factors that lead to postoperative complications in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The replication study proposes a comprehensive plan consisting of three …

The Importance Of Framing The Context Of Black/African Americans' Livelihood To Enhance Health Outcomes And Mitigate Health Inequalities, Elvis Gyan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study investigates the portrayal of Black/African Americans in Health Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) programs, which predominantly follow Eurocentric models while examining how social and structural determinants (e.g., community context) influence stress levels, general health, and relationship satisfaction through two main objectives. Firstly, it aims to scrutinize the acknowledgment of biases towards non-Eurocentric communities in published Administration of Children and Families HMRE programs, analyzing 39 research studies. Secondly, it examines the interplay between perceived community context, stress as a mediator, general health, and relationship satisfaction among Black/African Americans across three distinct articles by testing hypothesized process models. Results for …

Young People's Alcohol Use In And Around Water: A Scoping Review Of The Literature, Renee N. Carey, Gemma Crawford, Jonine Jancey, Tina Lam, Lauren Nimmo, Gina Trapp, Christina Pollard, Paula Hooper, Justine E. Leavy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Issues: The surrounding social and commercial context, including alcohol advertising, heavily influences alcohol consumption. Alcohol use is a major risk factor for both fatal and non-fatal drowning, particularly for young people. Approach: We conducted a scoping review to explore the peer-reviewed literature on the use of alcohol by young people (aged 15–34 years) in the context of aquatic environments. Five electronic academic databases were searched for English-language studies conducted in high-income countries and published in the last 15 years (since 2008). The MetaQAT framework was used to assess methodological quality of included studies. Key Findings: The review included a total …

Well-Being Behaviors And Outcomes In Arkansas Teachers: A Qualitative Analysis Of Teachers In Arkansas During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ashton Elizabeth Human

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new challenges to teachers and emphasized those already existing in the education system. The increased reliance upon technology and lack of administrative support perceived during distance learning led to lower levels of commitment to teaching and increased levels of teacher burnout. Burnout risk is associated with an increased workload, exhaustion from job demands, cynicism toward the professional community and has been shown to have a negative relationship with well-being. Teachers experiencing burnout are unable to establish positive relationships with students, understand students’ needs, stay in contact with trends in the education field, or provide pedagogically …

The Role Of Psychogenic Factors In The Etiopathogenesis Of Autoimmune Disorders In The Oral Cavity, Nadya T. Avramova, Boyko K. Bonev

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Autoimmune disorders (AD) represent a heterogeneous group of multifactorial chronic conditions, which are triggered secondary to the loss of self-antigen tolerance. Their etiology involves genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors; however, AD cannot be explained by these factors alone. Recent studies have shown increasing stress levels in industrialized countries and also increasing trends in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases. The oral mucosa is extremely responsive to emotional influences such as stress, anxiety and depression. Therefore, oral diseases can appear as a direct expression of emotions or indirectly, due to various psychological mechanisms. The aim of this study is to find and …

The Differences In Maternal Clean And Healthy Living Behavior In The Incidence Of Stunting In Yogyakarta, Shafa Ramadhita, Anindhita Syahbi Syagata, Nor Eka Noviani

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

An indirect cause of stunting is maternal behavior. Moreover, good nutritional knowledge relates to good nutritional behaviors. Maternal clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) in daily life can reduce the risk of infectious diseases and be role models for children in implementing their future health behavior. The study aims to investigate the differences in PHBS of mothers in the incidence of stunting ages 24-59 months in the Minggir Primary Health Center working area. The cross-sectional approach of this research was conducted from March to April 2023. The subjects of this study were 69 respondents selected by cluster random sampling. The …

Factors Associated With Wasting In Toddlers Aged 6 – 59 Months At Cimpaeun Village, Depok City, West Java, Indonesia In 2023, Early Vici Azmia, Triyanti Triyanti

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

The prevalence of wasting under five in Indonesia in 2022 is 7.7%; according to WHO, this wasting problem is a serious public health problem. Wasting is a nutritional problem in toddlers that has an impact on morbidity and mortality. The research objective was to determine the factors associated with wasting in toddlers aged 6–59 months in Cimpaeun Village in 2023. The dependent variable is wasting, and the independent variables are birth weight, history of fever, diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, energy intake, carbohydrate intake, protein intake, fat intake, mother’s age, pregnancy, mother’s education level, mother’s nutritional knowledge, and family income. This …

Relationship Of Stress And Other Factors With Emotional Eating Among Adolescents In Depok, Muthia Syifa Rahmadina, Asih Setiarini

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Emotional eating is an overeating behavior as a coping mechanism for negative emotions that emerges in adolescence. Emotional eating causes obesity, eating disorders, and non-communicable diseases. This study aims to determine the relationship between stress, body image, peer influence, parental rearing styles, social media use, sex, sleep quality, and emotion regulation with emotional eating among adolescents at senior high school in Depok. This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted online in March 2022. The samples were grade X and XI students from senior high school in Depok who were chosen by using purposive sampling techniques (n=174). Chi X2 test and Mann …

The Relationship Of Energy And Nutrient Intake From Eating Out And Eating At Home On Blood Hemoglobin Levels In Adolescents, Adinda Aisyah Putri, Khoirul Anwar

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Eating out of home is a common practice in adolescents. The high frequency of eating out of home characterized by higher intakes of energy, fats, sugar, and sodium. anemia, especially iron deficiency anemia which is characterized by blood hemoglobin levels, is still a nutritional problem in Indonesia in adolescents which can have an impact on adolescent health. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between eating out and hemoglobin levels in adolescents in Jakarta. This research is an observational study with a cross sectional research design. The subjects of this research were female students aged 15-17 years. …

Determinant Factors Of The Incidence Of Low Birth Weight In Central Java Province: Analysis Of 2018 Basic Health Research Data, Desi Irawati, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika, Diah Mulyawati Utari, Fadila Wirawan

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Low birth weight (LBW) is a global public health issue with significant short and long-term consequences for individuals and societies. This study aims to examine the most dominant risk and variations in the proportion of LBW based on fetal factors, maternal and obstetric factors, and sociodemographic factors among toddlers in Central Java Province, utilizing the 2018 Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS) data. The study used a cross-sectional study conducted on 4255 samples, utilizing univariate, bivariate (chi-square), and multivariate analysis (multiple logistic regression). Central Java has the 3rd highest number of LBW cases in Indonesia with a prevalence of 6.1%. However, univariate …

Check With The Intended Audience First! Content Validation As A Method For Inclusive Research For Primary Care Engagement In Rural Appalachia, Sydeena E. Isaacs, Jennifer Schroeder Tyson, Ashley Parks, Danielle Adams

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: To date, referral practices based on social determinants of health (SDOH) among primary care providers (PCPs) and clinic staff in rural regions, including Appalachian North Carolina (NC), are not well understood.

Purpose: This study aims to develop and content validate a primary care engagement (PCE) survey to assess (1) engagement and burnout; (2) referral practices; and (3) self-efficacy and confidence in making referrals based on SDOH among PCPs and clinic staff in Appalachian NC.

Methods: Using the Social-Ecological Model as a theoretical framework, researchers developed a 37-item PCE survey. Content validation was completed by a panel of experts recruited …

Assessment Of Sociodemographic Status, Self-Awareness, And Risk Factors Affecting Patients With Prediabetes In Bangladesh: Cross-Sectional Study, Farhana Sultana, Muhammed Mohibul Islam, Aparajita Das, Md Hasan Shahriar Rahman, Nandita Islam Pia, Md Kayes Mahmud, Md. Saqline Mostaq, Saadullah Saadullah, Md. Saddam Hossain, Saikat Fakir, Mohammad Nurul Amin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Poor glycemic control and high diabetes and prediabetes incidence are influenced by socioeconomic disparity. Raising awareness and ensuring that people with prediabetes are receiving medication, maintaining their glycemic control, and getting the proper care they need despite their socioeconomic situation are crucial in the fight against diabetes. This study aims to assess the sociodemographic status, self-awareness, and risk factors associated with prediabetes in Bangladesh.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 500 participants aged >18 years to evaluate and summarize their demographic data, socioeconomic status, and responses to various questionnaires about their conditions related to prediabetes …

Investigating Nursing Students’ Levels Of Knowledge About Alzheimer’S Disease, Dilek Doruk Kondakci, Aliye Mandiracioğlu

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Given that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has become a major public health problem, this study aimed to investigate the AD knowledge level of nursing students who are health professional candidates.

Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of 346 nursing students taking up a 4-year program. They were asked to fill out a sociodemographic information form and answer questions from the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS).

Results: Among the participants, 67.6% were female and 98.8% were single. The mean age of the students was 20.55 ± 2.05 years. Their general knowledge about AD was low, with …

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Consumption Based On Individual And Environmental Factors Among The Faculty Of Public Health Universitas Indonesia’S Students In 2023, Safira Diva Aranis, Wahyu Kurnia Yusrin Putra, Asih Setiarini, Teguh Jati Prasetyo

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are beverages that contain added sugars. Excessive consumption of SSB can have an impact on health. Some of the effects caused by SSB include obesity, fatty liver, type II diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, and dental caries. This research aims to determine the differences in the proportion of SSB consumption based on individual and environmental factors among students of the Faculty of Public Health UI (FPH UI) in 2023. This study uses a cross sectional design with a sample size of 194 individuals. The researcher collected data including respondent’s identities, habits of reading food labels, knowledge …

What Is The Additive Value Of Nutritional Deficiency To Va-Fi In The Risk Assessment For Heart Failure Patients?, Seulgi Erica Kim, Mehrnaz Azarian, Aanand D Naik, Catherine Park, Molly J Horstman, Salim S Virani, Orna Intrator, Christopher I Amos, Ariela Orkaby, Javad Razjouyan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: to assess the impact of adding the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) to the U.S. Veterans Health Administration frailty index (VA-FI) for the prediction of time-to-death and other clinical outcomes in Veterans hospitalized with Heart Failure.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of veterans hospitalized for heart failure (HF) from October 2015 to October 2018. Veterans ≥50 years with albumin and lymphocyte counts, needed to calculate the PNI, in the year prior to hospitalization were included. We defined malnutrition as PNI ≤43.6, based on the Youden index. VA-FI was calculated from the year prior to the hospitalization and identified three groups: …

Maternal Care Utilization And Provision During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Voices From Minoritized Pregnant And Postpartum Women And Maternal Care Providers In Deep South, Ran Zhang, Tiffany Byrd, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Myriam E. Torres Phd, Msph, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jihong Liu Sc.D.

Faculty Publications

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected maternal care services especially for minoritized individuals, creating challenges for both service users (i.e., African American and Hispanic pregnant/postpartum women) and maternal care providers (MCPs). Guided by a socioecological framework, this study aims to investigate the experiences of African American and Hispanic pregnant and postpartum women, as well as MCPs, in accessing and providing maternal care services during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Deep South.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 African American women, 20 Hispanic women, and 9 MCPs between January and August 2022. Participants were recruited from Obstetrics and Gynecology …

An Estrogen Receptor Α-Derived Peptide Improves Glucose Homeostasis During Obesity, Wanbao Yang, Wen Jiang, Wang Liao, Hui Yan, Weiqi Ai, Quan Pan, Wesley A Brashear, Yong Xu, Ling He, Shaodong Guo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) plays a crucial role in regulating glucose and energy homeostasis during type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we find a ligand-independent effect of ERα on the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Deficiency of ERα in the liver impairs glucose homeostasis in male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) female mice. Mechanistic studies reveal that ERα promotes hepatic insulin sensitivity by suppressing ubiquitination-induced IRS1 degradation. The ERα 1-280 domain mediates the ligand-independent effect of ERα on insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, we identify a peptide based on ERα 1-280 domain and find that ERα-derived peptide …

Positive Epidemiology, Revisited: The Case For Centering Human Rights And Economic Justice, Farah Qureshi, Christy Denckla, Julia K. Boehm

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

In recent years, a growing body of research in positive epidemiology has sought to expand the traditional focus of epidemiologic research beyond risk factors for disease and towards a more holistic understanding of health that includes the study of positive assets that shape well-being more broadly. While this paradigm shift holds great promise for transforming people’s lives for the better, it is also critiqued for showcasing decontextualized perspectives that could cause great harm to the public’s health if translated uncritically into population-based interventions. In this commentary, we argue for orienting positive epidemiology within a human rights and economic justice framework …

Assessing Socioeconomic Patterns Of Excessive Alcohol Consumption In Ohio: A County-Level Analysis, Tate Barney, Dev Patel

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption poses significant public health challenges, with complex socioeconomic factors influencing drinking behaviors. Understanding the relationship between socioeconomic determinants and excessive drinking patterns at the state and county levels is crucial for informing targeted interventions. Objective: To investigate the associations between excessive drinking (binge or heavy drinking) and socioeconomic factors, including median household income, mental health provider availability, health insurance coverage, educational attainment, and unemployment rates across counties in Ohio. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2023 County Health Rankings for 88 counties in Ohio. Spearman correlations were used to assess associations between excessive drinking and socioeconomic …

Systematic Review On The Impacts Of Agricultural Interventions On Food Security And Nutrition In Complex Humanitarian Emergency Settings, Melodie Al Daccache, Berthe Abi Zeid, Leila Hojeij, Ghassan Baliki, Tilman Brück, Hala Ghattas Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Complex humanitarian emergencies are a main driver of food and nutritional insecurity. Agricultural interventions are key to improving nutrition and food security, and their positive impacts are well-documented in stable developing countries. However, it is unclear if their positive effects on food security hold in complex emergency settings, too. In this paper, we systematically review empirical articles that apply rigorous designs to assess the causal impacts of agricultural interventions on food security, nutrition, or health outcomes in complex humanitarian emergencies. We only find six articles matching these criteria, which have mixed results on dietary diversity and food security, and little …

Family Medicine’S Role In Addressing The Intersections Of Redlining And Climate Change, Daryl O. Traylor, Eboni E. Anderson, Brianna Clark, Alex M. Smith, Cooper K. Allenbrand

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Redlining, the practice of discriminating against specific neighborhoods based on race and socioeconomic status, leads to persistent environmental hazards and socioeconomic inequalities that have lasting adverse health effects on their populations. Health disparities are further exacerbated through the concentration of environmental hazards, as well as the escalating impact of climate change, which poses an increased risk of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, heat-related illness, infectious diseases, food insecurity, and socioeconomic difficulties in redline neighborhoods.

This paper examines the interplay of redlining, climate change, and health disparities, with an emphasis on the enduring consequences for these marginalized communities. Through …

Playing It Sun Safe: A Quality Improvement Project, Sarah P. Tarr, Kathryn K. Dambrino, R. David Phillippi, Ashley Karpinos

DNP Projects

Background: Athletes who play outdoor sports have multiple risk factors for the development of skin cancer. Literature highlights the need for the use of evidence-based strategies to improve the knowledge and utilization of sun protection practices in this high-risk population. Methods: Playing it Sun Safe was a multifaceted skin cancer prevention initiative implemented in a population of collegiate soccer athletes in collaboration with a university athletic department and campus health clinic. Evidence-based interventions were designed through application of the Health Belief Model (HBM) and were implemented using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) quality improvement framework. Purpose: The two-fold aim …

Perceptions Of Patient-Healthcare Provider Relationships In The Management Of Type 2 Diabetes, Desiree D. Lacey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The patient-healthcare provider relationship (PPR) is the foundation of clinical care: it is established as a human relationship and has a profound effect on health outcomes. Though PPR has been studied in multiple health domains, there is very little on its role in managing Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to better understand the challenges faced by healthcare providers (HCP) and T2DM patients within the clinical PPR for diabetes selfmanagement. The health belief model served as the theoretical framework and the diabetes self-management education program as the conceptual framework. Participants were recruited …

Hhp-3 Comparing Fitness Data Of Cadets In South Carolina To The General Population: A Pilot Study, Justen Chatman, Ming-Chi Sung, Matthew Brisebois

SC Upstate Research Symposium

BACKGROUND: To prepare for physically challenging environments, it is expected that military personnel achieve higher levels of physical fitness than the general population. The recent COVID-19 pandemic impacted physical activity levels among many of America’s youth, and thus, new recruits may be entering military service with lower fitness levels. It is also unknown how fitness levels of army cadets in upstate South Carolina compare to the general population. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to compare anthropometric and fitness variables of army cadets from upstate South Carolina to data from the general population. METHODS: A sample of 22 …

Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Navigating A New Normal In Middle Tennessee, Karli M. Beaumont

OTD Capstone Projects

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in partnership with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center offers REACH for Cancer Survivorship, a pediatric cancer survivorship clinic. REACH provides a full range of follow-up care designed to meet the physical, emotional, and practical needs of survivors and continuous surveillance of deleterious effects of cancer and its treatments. The purpose of this project was to meet population and agency needs through research of long- and late-term sequela while advocating for occupational therapy’s role in the oncology population through the proactive therapy and prospective surveillance models. The process of creating this project included synthesizing the literature, …

Latent Classification Of Multi-Model Non-Homogeneous Continuous-Time Markov Chains, Joonha Chang

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC) model and latent clustering models are commonly used to study longitudinal measures of categorical outcomes. Because of its simple but powerful Markovian property, CTMC models have been widely used in medical and public health researches. Due to limitations in the standard CTMC model, there have been some studies on non-homogeneous continuous-time Markov chain (NH-CTMC) that utilized time-dependent rates, but the progresses have been limited. NH-CTMC can be more powerful than CTMC by its default nature of time-dependent rate that can be fitted to a wider range of applications in medical studies. In this study, we …

Identifying A Group Of Factors Predicting Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults, Longgang Zhao, Yuan Wang, Eric Mishio Bawa, Zichun Meng, Jingkai Wei, Sarah Newman-Norlund, Tushar Trivedi, Hatice Hasturk, Roger Newman-Norlund, Julius Fridriksson Ph.D., Anwar T. Nerchant

Faculty Publications

Background

Cognitive impairment has multiple risk factors spanning several domains, but few studies have evaluated risk factor clusters. We aimed to identify naturally occurring clusters of risk factors of poor cognition among middle-aged and older adults and evaluate associations between measures of cognition and these risk factor clusters.

Methods

We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (training dataset, n = 4074) and the NHANES 2011–2014 (validation dataset, n = 2510). Risk factors were selected based on the literature. We used both traditional logistic models and support vector machine methods to construct a composite score …

Mixed Methods Evaluation Of Nutrition Education For Limited Resource Audiences, Amanda J. Skalka, Sarah L. Francis, Ulrike Genschel, Ruth E. Litchfield

Journal of Extension

This paper presents an exploratory evaluation of pilot nutrition education programs, Plan Shop Save Cook (PSSC). Behavior change between two nutrition education programs, Buy Eat Live Healthy (BELH; n=92 and PSSC; n=42), was examined using pre- and post-program questionnaire responses. Both programs resulted in significant improvement in food resource management (FRM) behaviors; however, there was no significant difference in the amount of change between the programs. Qualitative data suggests participants perceived label reading as the most useful information provided in the PSSC programs. The current findings suggest short-term behavior change can be achieved with a limited dose program.

Perceptions Of Dengue Risk And Acceptability Of A Dengue Vaccine In Residents Of Puerto Rico, Coral Rosado-Santiago, Carmen L. Pérez-Guerra, Nicole M. Velez-Agosto, Claudia Colón-Burgos, Karla M. Marrero-Santos, Susanna K. Partridge, Amy E. Lockwood, Cathy Young, Steve H. Waterman, Gabriela Paz-Bailey

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Dengvaxia is the first dengue vaccine recommended in the United States (U.S.). It is recommended for children aged 9–16 y with laboratory-confirmed previous dengue infection and living in areas where dengue is endemic. We conducted focus groups with parents and in-depth interviews with key informants (i.e. practicing pediatricians, physicians from immunization clinics, university researchers, and school officials) in Puerto Rico (P.R.) to examine acceptability, barriers, and motivators to vaccinate with Dengvaxia. We also carried out informal meetings and semi-structured interviews to evaluate key messages and educational materials with pediatricians and parents. Barriers to vaccination included lack of information, distrust toward …