Digital Commons Network^™

Student Attitudes Towards Their Program Area Of Study In A College Of Health And Human Services, Melanie Regan

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Poor retention rates can be an indicator of systematic problems within a university’s culture of academic affairs and administration. Improving student retention rates requires an understanding of why students are not returning to campus. This research aimed to develop and implement a survey analyzing students' sensory comfort, relevance, reaction to their area of study, sense of belonging, and self-efficacy within a College of Health and Human Sciences. A descriptive research design was utilized for this study to obtain information on the study population to survey participants' overall attitudes towards their experience in a program of study in a college of …

The Effects Of Resistance Training On Older Adults: Increasing Healthspan And Lowering Disability Rates, Michael M. Samuel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study analyzed the research on older adults and resistance training exercise and assessed effects on health span and lowering disability rates. A targeted search of the literature was employed using the following key words: sarcopenia, resistance training, hypertrophy, quality of life, disability, activities of daily living, strength training, falls, and functional strength. These were used to find articles that were relevant to the research. Articles were excluded if they focused on young athletes as they did not meet my research age group. Articles that focused on nutrition were also excluded as they pulled the focus away from the impact …

Mapping Accessibility To Emergency Care Using Public Transportation, Bach Tran

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Intro: Public transit offers various advantages for both communities and individuals in terms of mobility and has the potential to serve as a practical alternative to private motorized transportation. Timely and convenient public transit becomes a lifeline for people who cannot access other types of transportation, especially when it comes to emergency care. Method: We built a private network analysis within ArcGIS Pro using coordinate data from hospitals and stand-alone emergency rooms as designated by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) and public transit data from Orlando, FL. Establishing the accessible time as 30 minutes, we computed and visualized …

Understanding Guardian Perceptions Of Whole-Foods Plant-Based Diets As Interventions In Pediatric Medicine, Vijay R. Luthra

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The obesity epidemic is widespread in American society, often affecting children who bear its consequences innocently. Due to a lack of nutrition knowledge, children rely on caregivers to meet their nutritional needs and instill healthy habits. This study examines parents' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors, as well as perceived barriers to adopting a whole-foods plant-based diet (WFPD) for their children. Using a modified survey instrument by Morton et al., this study focused on parents and children regarding dietary choices. Participants were recruited from the waiting area of a pediatric clinic at the Medical College of Georgia between April and May 2023. …

The Impact Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus And Maternal Oral Microbiome: A Scoping Review, Jaclyn P. Langan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy-related metabolic disorder associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Recent research has highlighted the potential role of the oral microbiome in the pathophysiology of various systemic conditions, including diabetes mellitus. However, the impact of GDM on the maternal oral microbiome remains relatively understudied. Understanding alterations in the oral microbiome during pregnancy complicated by GDM could provide valuable insights into the mechanistic links between systemic metabolic disorders and oral health.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to comprehensively examine the existing literature on the relationship between GDM and maternal oral …

Breakfast Skipping In College Students And Its Association With Eating Behaviors, Rebekah E. May

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Breakfast is important in maintaining optimal diet quality and decreasing preventable diet-related disease later in life. Breakfast skipping is highly prevalent in the college population, potentially decreasing self-regulation and diet quality and increasing habits of overeating. However, specific eating styles and diet quality have yet to be studied in breakfast skippers.

Objective: To explore and compare the characteristics of eating style, self-regulation, and diet quality among college students between a day when breakfast is skipped and a day when breakfast is consumed.

Methodology: Undergraduate students (n=103) participating in this observational crossover study completed demographics, the Self-regulation of Eating Behavior …

Health Equity Policy In Colombia: Improving Equal Access To Health Care Services For Individuals With Low-Income, Marian Marin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In 1993, the last health reform “Law 100” was introduced in Colombia. It has been over 30 years since its implementation, and there have been many changes to the healthcare system in Colombia ever since. The policy increased health insurance coverage to almost 95% of the population, providing better and more affordable patient care. However, increasing the availability of resources does not necessarily make them accessible to all of Colombia’s residents. This study aims to analyze the outcomes of “Law 100” to the system and studies critical obstacles that halt healthcare equity in Colombia, particularly for those in rural and …

Healthcare In Under-Resourced Areas, Gabrielle Fleming, Ryan Northup, Bill Houseworth, Lori Housworth

Posters

Describes pediatric resident's experience working in the inpatient unit, ER, PICU, and NICU in Cambodia.

Grading Of Malnutrition Among Under 5 Children Residing In Urban Slum In Mysuru Using Who Classification And Indian Academy Of Pediatrics (Iap) Classification: A Comparative Study, Ravali Annaram Dr, Amogha Shree Dr, Saurish Hegde Dr, Krishnaveni Y S Dr

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background

Malnutrition in Indian children under five is widespread, driven by insufficient food intake and diseases like diarrhoea and respiratory infections. Factors such as food security, maternal literacy, and healthcare access influence malnutrition rates. Growth monitoring utilizes WHO standards globally and IAP guidelines in India. Implementing these charts improves early identification and management of malnutrition, crucial for addressing childhood health challenges in India. This study compare the prevalence of malnutrition in WHO classification with Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) classification among under 5 children residing in urban slum.

Methodology

A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6 …

Descriptive Report On Dietary Remains From Aztec And Salmon Ruins Coprolites, Karl J. Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

This report focuses only on dietary results from the Aztec Ruins and Salmon Ruins coprolites. The parasitological analysis was completed in 2018 and was the focus of several papers that were summarized by Camacho and Reinhard (2020). This did not include DNA analysis. The coprolites from these sites are not appropriate sources of DNA testing.

The main conclusion of the analysis are:

1) Two very distinct plant spectra are represented in Aztec Ruins West (ARW) room 219 and room 225.

2) The three contexts of ARW room 219 show interesting variation in food selection, however these are small samples.

3) …

Body-Map Storytelling: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Lived Experiences Of Hospital Care Amongst Street Involved Youth, Chelsey Fedchenko

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This social work study explores the experiences of hospital care amongst street-involved (SI) youth. Given that SI youth are at a higher risk for health-related harms and experience significant barriers to health care services, they are at an increased likelihood of hospitalization. Yet, inadequate health care support for SI youth remains a critical problem in Canada. While hospital care amongst adult homeless populations has been well studied interdisciplinary, there is a scarcity of research investigating the hospital care experiences amongst SI youth. The aim of this qualitative, arts-based study was to explore how street-life contributes to hospitalization, how SI youth …

Provider And Staff Education Surrounding Universal Hcv Screening And Linkage To Care In An Ambulatory Care Setting, Lauren Clifford

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: In the United States, it is estimated that there are more than 2 million cases of Hepatitis C (HCV), with over 66,000 new cases since 2020 However, an estimated 75% of those with HCV go undiagnosed and less than 35% receive treatment within a year of diagnosis. In 2018, UK Healthcare (UKHC) implemented a universal HCV screening method using a Best Practice Advisory (BPA) for anyone 18 and older who presented to the Emergency Department and had labs ordered. Patients who screened positive were then referred to outpatient clinics for HCV treatment. Approximately ten percent of positive patients …

Bmi's Early Echo: Deciphering Adolescent Body Mass Indicator On Adulthood Breast Cancer, Tianyu Feng

Public Health Theses

This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) during adolescence and the risk of breast cancer in adulthood among a Chinese female population. We conducted a nested case-control study within a prospective cohort comprising 62,487 Chinese women aged 25-55 years. Adolescent BMI was retrospectively collected via interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed as the primary exposure variable. Breast cancer incidence served as the primary outcome. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was employed to adjust for confounding variables, such as socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and adult BMI.Of the 9,163 participants eligible for analysis, 57 breast cancer cases were identified during …

Effect Of A Weight-Loss Intervention On Oxidative Stress Biomarkers Among Breast Cancer Survivors In The Lifestyle, Exercise, And Nutrition (Lean) Study, Yiyi Li

Public Health Theses

Introduction: As the number of breast cancer survivors increases, ensuring quality of life during the survivorship period is important. Obesity may induce oxidative stress, which may be relevant mechanistically for adverse health outcomes among breast cancer survivors. Diet, exercise, and weight loss may mitigate oxidative stress, yet few lifestyle trials have investigated if these interventions have impacted oxidative stress. Therefore, we conducted a secondary analysis in a 6-month weight loss randomized controlled trial, the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study, among breast cancer survivors with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 to evaluate the effect of the intervention …

Exploring The Use Of Mobile Health Application To Promote Self-Managment Of Cardiovascular Disease: A Study Of Age-Related Differences And Technology Adoption Among Chinese Patients, Yunan Mei

Public Health Theses

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality globally, particularly in China's aging population. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer a promising avenue to address healthcare disparities and enhance CVD management among the elderly. This study aims to explore the acceptance of mHealth in improving self-management of CVD among older adults in China, focusing on its potential to mitigate accessibility and treatment challenges.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Xinhua Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Data were collected using an online Qualtrics questionnaire from 225 participants who met inclusion criteria including being Chinese speakers, diagnosed with …

Exploring The Association Between The Supplemental Nutrition Program For Woman, Infants And Children (Wic) And Gestational Weight Gain, Oyinlola Obatolu

Public Health Theses

Background: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) has been an impactful federal public assistance program that has provided nutrition education and support to millions of low income women and children around the country. Despite its positive impact on perinatal and birth outcomes, the precise mechanisms between WIC and these outcomes remain unclear. Past studies have looked at the relationship between WIC and gestational weight gain (GWG), a potential mediator of the effect of WIC on birth outcomes, but they have mainly focused on city or state level data or Medicaid enrollees. This study aims to …

“Their Body, Their Choice. Your Body, Your Choice. Your Baby, Your Choice.”: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of Vaccine Access And Acceptance Among U.S. Pregnant People On Reddit, Sydney Marie Perlotto

Public Health Theses

Compared to the general population, pregnant people and newborns are at a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases and experiencing worse adverse outcomes. Vaccines delivered during pregnancy, known as prenatal vaccines, represent a critical yet underused form of preventive care for these populations in the United States. Increasing successful prenatal vaccination uptake requires a focus on both access and acceptance, which pregnant people may experience differently than non-pregnant people due to their unique physiological and social state. Given the evolution of vaccine hesitancy following the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the recent expansion of the U.S. prenatal immunization schedule, this study …

Greening And Mental Distress: Effect Modification By Housing Tenure, Saira Prasanth

Public Health Theses

Access to high-quality residential greenspace is associated with improved long-term health, particularly mental health. However, many interventions to promote “greening” or increased greenspace in urban areas have been shown through numerous qualitative studies to exacerbate environmental and health inequities, primarily through green gentrification. Our objective was to quantify the association between greenspace and mental distress in the U.S. as well as evaluate whether the association between greenspace and mental distress is modified by housing tenure. We hypothesized that increased greenspace was associated with reduced mental distress, and that this effect was more protective among homeowners than non-homeowners. Mental distress and …

Macronutrient Intake In Us Adults: Race, Gender, Age, Education, Ana Karina Raygoza Cortez

Public Health Theses

Background: The US has seen a consistent increase in obesity rates over the last sixty years across all racial and ethnic groups, with similar trends even among privileged groups. This study examines Macronutrient intake trends in US adults from 1999-2018 and their association with demographic factors: race ethnicity, age, gender, and education.

Methods: We conducted a serial cross-sectional analysis of US adults using 24-hour dietary recall data from 10 NHANES survey cycles (1999-2018). Piecewise regression models identified significant dietary pattern changes over time, by demographic groups. Statistical analysis was done in R and SAS utilizing NHANES sampling weights.

Results: Study …

“I Don't Work For The Prison. I Don't Work For The Hospital Either. I’M Yours. Who Else Here Is Yours?” A Qualitative Analysis Of Facilitators And Barriers Of Launching Enhanced Perinatal Programs In Seven State Prisons, Karenna Thomas

Public Health Theses

The United States incarcerates women at the highest rate globally (Fair & Walmsley, 2022), while simultaneously failing to provide incarcerated individuals with adequate reproductive health care. Perinatal programs, including a combination of one-on-one and group prenatal and postpartum education, labor and birth support with a doula, separation support, and lactation care have been implemented as an alternative to standard care in around 21 states (Wilson et al., 2022). While the efficacy of these programs among incarcerated individuals has been established (Bard et al., 2016; Barkauskas et al., 2002; Schroeder & Bell, 2005; Shlafer et al., 2018; Shlafer, Saunders, Boraas, et …

Birth Characteristics, Outdoor Artificial Light At Night, Ambient Air Pollution And The Risk Of Hepatoblastoma In Young Children, Peiyi Wang

Public Health Theses

Objective: The etiology of hepatoblastoma, the predominant malignant liver tumor in infancy and early childhood, is unclear. We assessed possible associations between birth characteristics, outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN), ambient air pollution (measured by particulate matter PM2.5), and the risk of hepatoblastoma.

Methods: Leveraging a population-based linkage of statewide birth records and cancer registry data in California, we conducted a case-control study that included 356 hepatoblastoma cases diagnosed at the age of 0-6 years during 1988-2015 and 17,800 controls frequency-matched by birth year. Restricted cubic spline transformation was employed to evaluate non-linear associations. Multivariable logistic regression models were used …

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Of Alternative Infant And Neonatal Rotavirus Vaccination Schedules In Malawi, Catherine Wenger

Public Health Theses

Rotavirus is the leading cause of cases and deaths related to diarrhea-related hospitalizations among children under five worldwide, especially in low- and middle- income countries. Although vaccination is proven to be the best strategy for preventing rotavirus, its impact has been suboptimal in LMICs.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of and cost- effectiveness of the current Rotarix rotavirus vaccine, two alternative vaccine delivery schedules, and the next-generation vaccine (RV3-BB) in Malawi.

The cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine strategies in Malawi was evaluated using moderate-to-severe and non-severe rotavirus cases derived from a mathematical model ofrotavirus transmission …

Do Rental Assistance Programs Relieve Overcrowding In U.S. Children?, Frank Zhu

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Crowded living conditions are associated with many negative health outcomes, with significant implications for children, as they are particularly shaped by their home environment and more likely to live in crowded conditions, given their larger household size. How rental assistance programs may shape and improve household crowding has not been previously explored. Methods: This study leveraged data from NHANES linked with HUD administrative rental assistance records. We examined changes in crowding measures in U.S. children using linear and logistic regression models stratified by different rental assistance program types. Results: There was a statistically significant 40 percentage point reduction in …

Food Insecurity And Eating Disorders In College Students: Two Scoping Reviews, Barbara Jan Goldman

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objective: These scoping reviews explore the broad body of research post-secondary students experiencing food insecurity and eating disorders, to identify trends and gaps to inform future research.

Methods: Three search engines (PubMed, Web of Science, and CINHAL Full Text) were systematically searched for articles reporting on food security status in U.S. college students for manuscript one and post-secondary students experiencing food insecurity and maladaptive eating behaviors or eating disorders for manuscript two.

Results: One-hundred and sixty studies met inclusion criteria for manuscript one. Emerging high-risk student characteristics include gender non-conforming (GNC) and non-binary, financial independence in college, and pregnant and …

Randomized Pilot Study Examining An Online Diet Intervention To Increase Intake Of Fruits And Vegetables Among Healthy Adults, Diana E Kolb, Sarah E Deemer, Evaclaire Synkowski, Stephanie L Silveira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Intake of fruits and vegetables (F&V) is related to health outcomes. The purpose of the study was to test an online diet program promoting F&V intake among healthy adults. Twenty-three participants were randomly assigned to complete an 8-week intervention condition (#800gChallenge®) or wait-list control condition. In weeks 1-4, intervention participants were asked to interact with an application reporting (a) whether they met their daily 800g F&V goal, (b) if their 800g of F&V was from a variety of sources, and (c) reading of daily educational material. Weeks 1-4 included weekly Zoom check-in meetings. Weeks 5-8 were autonomous, wherein participants reported …

Circulating Sphingolipids In Relation To Cognitive Decline And Incident Dementia: The Cardiovascular Health Study, Kristine F Moseholm, Héléne T Cronjé, Manja Koch, Annette L Fitzpatrick, Oscar L Lopez, Marcia C De Oliveira Otto, W T Longstreth, Andrew N Hoofnagle, Kenneth J Mukamal, Rozenn N Lemaitre, Majken K Jensen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Whether circulating levels of sphingolipids are prospectively associated with cognitive decline and dementia risk is uncertain.

Methods: We measured 14 sphingolipid species in plasma samples from 4488 participants (mean age 76.2 years; 40% male; and 25% apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele carriers). Cognitive decline was assessed annually across 6 years using modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE) and Digital Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Additionally, a subset of 3050 participants were followed for clinically adjudicated dementia.

Results: Higher plasma levels of sphingomyelin-d18:1/16:0 (SM-16) were associated with a faster cognitive decline measured with 3MSE, in contrast, higher levels of sphingomyelin-d18:1/22:0 (SM-22) …

2023-2024 Louisiana Adult Justice, Institute For Public Health And Justice, Data Collecting And Reporting

Policy & Position Papers

No abstract provided.

Changes In Unhealthy Food Consumption Among Vulnerable Elementary-Aged Children In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Serial Cross-Sectional Analysis, Nivedhitha Parthasarathy, Nalini Ranjit, Ru-Jye Chuang, Christine Markham, Mike Pomeroy, Jacqueline Noyola, Deepali K Ernest, Shreela V Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Several studies suggest that during the early pandemic, amidst socioeconomic instability, children from underserved families were more likely to resort to consuming cheaper, lower-quality foods with longer shelf lives. This study investigated the change in unhealthy food consumption across different phases (pre, early, mid) of the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether the strength of association between unhealthy food consumption and household socioeconomic disadvantage (HSED) varied across phases of the pandemic.

Methods: This study utilized serial cross-sectional data collected from low-income families enrolled in a school-based food co-op, Brighter Bites. Secondary data analysis included 5,384 surveys from families who had complete …

Comparing The Use And Effectiveness Of In-Person And Remote Physical Education Delivery During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kempson Onadeko, Timothy J Walker, Derek W Craig, Jacob Szeszulski, Andjelka Pavlovic, Laura F Defina, Harold W Kohl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Physical Education is a key component to improve youth health, but there is limited information on Physical Education delivery in different formats.

PURPOSE: We compared PE formats (in-person versus remote) across evaluation aspects: weekly minutes; perceived effectiveness; and student-to-teacher ratio.

METHODS: We distributed questionnaires (2020-2021 school year) to school contacts who represented NFL Play 60 FitnessGram

RESULTS: Among 165 schools, 10% (n=17) offered in-person instruction, 31% (n=51) offered remote instruction, and 59% offered both (n=97). Results revealed higher in-person PE minutes (77.2±7.3) compared to remote minutes (67.1±14.6), but results were not significantly different (p=0.19). School contacts reported significantly more …

A Virtual Culinary Medicine Intervention For Ethnically Diverse Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: Development Of The Nourishing The Community Through Culinary Medicine, Lorena Macias-Navarro, John Wesley Mcwhorter, Diana C Guevara, Sarah S Bentley, Shreela V Sharma, Jennifer H Torres, David Ai, Natalia I Heredia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Virtual culinary medicine education interventions have the potential to improve dietary behaviors, nutrition knowledge, cooking skills, and health outcomes for ethnically diverse individuals with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study is to describe the adaptation of the Nourishing the Community through Culinary Medicine (NCCM) program for virtual delivery, and the protocol for pilot testing this intervention. The intervention includes five 90-min virtual NCCM sessions streamed live from a Teaching Kitchen. Feasibility outcomes are recruitment, retention, acceptability, and satisfaction. Short-term effectiveness outcomes are measured through self-administered questionnaires, including perceived health, average daily servings of fruits and vegetables, frequency of …