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Rural Obese African American Women And Depression, Food Culture, And Binge Eating, Tracee Tamiko Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rural African American population has a high incidence of severe psychosocial problems and a skewed perception of obesity, despite obesity's extremely high prevalence rate in this population. Despite the acknowledgements of these problems, there is a gap in literature relative to the effective treatments for obese African Americans diagnosed with depression. This study measured correlations between obesity and depression, binge eating, and food culture amongst African American women residing in Jefferson County, MS. The health belief model was used to guide an assessment of beliefs, perceptions, susceptibility, cues to action, and self-efficacy. A cross-sectional design was used based on …

Exploring Obesity Risk Factors In Five Regions Of Virginia, Karen Toth Carpenter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity continues to weaken our nation physiologically, psychologically and financially with an overall prevalence rate of 34.9% or 78.6 million Americans affected. Variance in obesity prevalence rates, in the state of Virginia, account for over a 15% difference from one health district to the next. The purpose of this research was to better explore the regional obesogenic factors that may exist among five health districts in the state of Virginia. The socio ecological theory provides the conceptual framework of the study to understand the variance in regional obesity rates, as a function of the contributing risk factors that a region …

Cancer Health Literacy And Hospitalization In The First Five Years Following A Cancer Diagnosis, Laura A. Cartwright

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: The field of health literacy research has been focused recently on developing more accurate measurement tools and understanding the relationship between health literacy and health outcomes. Individuals with lower levels of health literacy have worse health outcomes, including hospitalization rates, compared to those with adequate health literacy. This relationship has yet to be examined in the cancer patient population, although significant relationships between health literacy and cancer knowledge, screening behavior and quality of life have been found. This study is the first to examine the relationship between health literacy and hospitalization rates in a cancer patient population, and the …

Data Management And Data Facilitation In Multi-Center Large Cohort Health Care Studies, Wei Wang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Data management and data facilitation is the foundation and a critical part for scientific investigations, especially with large cohort studies on health care, which may have multiple components collected from different institutes or different areas due to efficiency, cost, enrollment considerations. In this thesis, I consider how to design and to implement data management with multi-center health care research data. The research project that I joined focuses mainly on environmental health science, and the primary goal is to investigate the impact of nutritional and toxicant exposures in environment during fetal and early postnatal life on individual’s health outcomes over the …

The Case For Health Literacy Research In Qatar: Identifying Avenues For Progress, Yasar Alani

Theses

Abstract This thesis studies the attitudes of healthcare provider and consumer groups in Qatar towards health literacy via health promotion. Using Q methodology, data from healthcare providers and consumers was analysed to determine relative attitudes towards previous and future health campaign strategies in Qatar. Consumer data was also collected to determine attitudes towards current health promotion campaigns and the perceived effectiveness of campaigns in encouraging behaviour change. The research also investigates the obstacles that prevent healthcare consumers from adopting the healthier lifestyle choices advocated by some of these campaigns. Participants were residents of Qatar.

The concept of health literacy was …

Disparities In Access To Preventive Health Care Services Among Insured Children In A Cross Sectional Study, Christian King

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Children with insurance have better access to care and health outcomes if their parents also have insurance. However, little is known about whether the type of parental insurance matters. This study attempts to determine whether the type of parental insurance affects the access to health care services of children. I used data from the 2009–2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and estimated multivariate logistic regressions (N=26,152). I estimated how family insurance coverage affects the probability that children have a usual source of care, well-child visits in the past year, unmet medical and prescription needs, less than 1 dental visit per year, …

Facilitators And Barriers To Physical Activity Among People With Spinal Cord Injury, Laura Nicole Richardson-Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that people with physical disabilities are at risk for developing secondary health conditions. Many of these secondary health conditions may be reduced by engaging in physical activity, yet people with physical disabilities are less likely to participate in physical activity. Information gaps remain regarding facilitators and barriers to physical activity. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences with physical activity among adults with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Research questions asked were about exercise experiences, barriers and facilitators, and the role of the natural and social environment. The theoretical framework used was the …

Using Nutrition And Fitness Awareness To Reduce Overweight And Obesity In Adolescents, Allissa.Johnson Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, adolescent obesity rates continue to increase unabated, yet there is a paucity of programs to address these conditions for this population. The current study evaluated an after-school program in California high schools that uses a mentoring model with youth to promote regular exercise and healthy food choices. It is grounded in Social Cognitive Theory which focuses on both the impact of the environment on shaping behaviors and the ability of an individual to construct his or her own suitable environment. A quantitative single-group pretest-posttest design using archived participant responses was utilized in order to determine whether …

Characteristics Of Adult Icu Patients With Device Associated Nosocomial Infections, Doramarie Arocha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nosocomial infections are a cause of concern for hospital patients and the incidence rates of these infections are greater in intensive care units (ICUs) due to the invasive nature of treatments, additional risk factors and comorbidities, and therapies used. Invasive devices, such as vascular central lines, Foley catheters, and mechanical ventilators pose a risk for critically ill patients in the ICUs to develop device-related, healthcare-associated infections (HAI). The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of patients who developed device-related HAIs within 3 ICU units (medical-surgical, cardiovascular, and neurosurgical) of an academic medical facility. The ecosocial theory …

Adventist Affiliation And Type 2 Diabetes Pre- And Post-Complete Health Improvement Program (Chip), Janie Unruh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adventists following a plant-based diet have half the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes than nonvegetarian Adventists. This study used a quantitative, correlational study design to assess if there was a significant difference in type 2 diabetes prevalence rate between Adventists and non-Adventists preprogram, and if there were significant differences in biometrics between Adventists and non-Adventists with diabetes pre- and post-Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP). This study incorporated the social ecological model for its conceptual framework and examined pre- and postprogram changes among Adventists (n=210; 20.1%) and non-Adventists (n=836; 79.9%) with type 2 diabetes. It used secondary data from …

Diabetes Management Regimens And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In African American Men, Joseph Garilus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One of the most common health complications related to diabetes is the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies addressing the association between adherence to diabetes management regimens and the risk of CVD among minority populations are limited. This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the association between diabetes management regimens and risk of CVD among African American men. The health belief model was used to frame the study. Data were collected from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System database for the states of Missouri and Ohio. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between adherence to diabetes …

Experiences Managing Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Among Parents Of African-American Youth, Sonya T. Strider

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most frequently diagnosed endocrine and metabolic conditions that occur during childhood. This research study utilized a phenomenological study design to examine how the lived experiences of 20 African American (AA) parents of children with T1DM recruited using social media affects their management and control of the disease among AA youth age 5-17 years old. The interview questions were outlined in categories that tested key constructs of the health belief model (HBM) to determine the perceived barriers, seriousness, and susceptibility to maintaining good glycemic control for their children. Data from each interview …

Socioeconomic Status Mobility And Lifetime Exposure To Discrimination On Cardiovascular Disease Events, Nkenge H. Jones-Jack

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blacks in the United States have the highest rates of hypertension in the world, and their cardiovascular disease mortality rates are higher than for any other population group as a result of traditional risk factors such as obesity and stronger family history. However, additional underlying factors, such as social determinants of health (e.g., socioeconomic status [SES]) and macrosocial factors (e.g., racism), also correlate with adverse health outcomes. This study investigated whether the interaction between SES mobility over the lifecourse and lifetime racial discrimination influenced the extent to which hypertension contributed to the cardiovascular disease health disparities observed among Blacks in …

Communicating Periodontal Disease Risk To American Indian Patients With Diabetes, Jennifer Jordan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes is epidemic in the American Indian population. One problem health care providers face when working with the American Indian population is communicating about secondary complications, such as periodontal disease. From a public health standpoint, periodontal disease prevention is important not only to prevent unnecessary oral pain and tooth loss, but also to prevent other more serious systemic problems from occurring such as cardiovascular disease, strokes, and bacterial pneumonia. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the communication efforts of health care providers and understand if and how they discuss periodontal disease with their American Indian …

The Relationship Between Physical Fitness And Academic Achievement In Sixth Grade Students, Shannon Usco Shook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have reported on the relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness levels. At one rural middle school, 25% of the students enrolled were either overweight or obese and failing at least one course. Educators at the local site were seeking methods to improve the academic achievement of their students. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness of middle school students at the study site. Framed by the theoretical connection between improved physical fitness levels and academic achievement, the research questions examined the relationship between physical fitness levels of 6th …

Healthy Weight Maintenance: Narrative Analysis Of Weight Cycling In The Formerly Obese, Cheri Renee Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medical and economic costs for obesity are estimated at $147 billion per year, yet less than 1/3 of overweight individuals successfully maintain weight loss. The literature is replete with descriptions of the problem and research on treatments, yet demonstrations of effective loss and maintenance are lacking. Missing is an understanding of the experiences of individuals who successfully maintained healthy weight loss, which could provide insights regarding effective psycho-social interventions. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore key events and experiences in the lives of former weight cyclers. The primary phenomena of interest included weight cycling and sustained …

Comparison Of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Populations In The United States, Susan Lynette Coultas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States in people who are 50 and older. The safety and efficacy of aflibercept for the treatment of late stage neovascular AMD (NAMD) has been demonstrated by clinical trials among several populations; however, it is unclear whether all NAMD patients respond in the same manner as was studied in the clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to examine if populations of patients treated with aflibercept for the treatment of NAMD were significantly different from one another in terms of health characteristics, treatment regimens, …

An Evaluation Of The Screening And Management Of Childhood Overweight And Obesity In The Primary Care Setting, Diane L. Crutcher

DNP Projects

Background: Worldwide, the World Health Organization (2016) estimates that forty-two million children from two to five years of age are overweight or obese. In the United States, Kentucky ranks sixth for the highest rate of overweight youth in the nation (Partnership for Fit Kentucky, 2009). The long term consequences of overweight and obesity are early onset of adult chronic diseases as well as social and psychological issues in childhood and adulthood.

Purpose: The objective of this gap analysis was to assess BMI screening and weight management of children ages two to five who presented for a well-child check …

Analysis Of Policy Changes Aimed At Breastfeeding Promotion As Part Of The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic): Making It Work For Michigan, Elizabeth L. Macquillan

Michigan Journal of Public Health

In 2011, changes to the specific type, timing, and amount of food benefits to mothers in the WIC program were rolled out nationwide. These were the first substantive changes since 1980 and were designed to increase breastfeeding initiation rates and extend breastfeeding duration among WIC program participants. Effectiveness of the program changes have been mixed and variable by geographic area of the U.S., however. In Michigan, breastfeeding duration has not increased. This analysis examines the implementation of the national policy change at the state level for Michigan and suggests additions to program to specifically target duration breastfeeding by Michigan mothers.

Influence Of Maternal Age On The Effects Of Organic Selenium In The Animal Model Daphnia Pulex, Jordan E. Roberts

All ETDs from UAB

As a necessary micronutrient, seleno-L-methionine (SeMet) exhibits a U-shaped dose-response with deficiency and toxicity leading to adverse health outcomes. Some studies suggest dietary selenium may offer protection against toxicity from other metals, but excessive dietary levels can also lead to toxicity. In addition, increased maternal age has been shown to increase the risk of adverse developmental outcomes. We hypothesize that older maternal age will increase susceptibility in offspring exposed to toxic concentrations of SeMet. The goal of this project was to evaluate the effects of SeMet treatment on lifespan and determine if the effects are altered by maternal age using …

Political, Economic, And Health Determinants Of Tuberculosis Incidence, Ashley Rutherford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The epidemiologic transition has shifted major causes of mortality from infectious disease to chronic disease; however, infectious diseases are again re-emerging as a major global concern (Diamond, 1997; Karlen, 1995; McNeil, 1976). This research aimed to identify potential areas of infectious disease influence that are not health-related in order to help governments and policymakers establish new policies, correct current policies, or further address these issues in order to effectively prevent and combat infectious disease. This study employed a retrospective, cross-sectional, non-experimental design via structural equation modeling (SEM) and examined tuberculosis incidence rates at the country-level. Secondary data from open-source, international …

The Healthy Heart Program At The University Of Montana: A Program Review, Laura B. Porisch

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Porisch, Laura, M.S., Spring 2016 Health and Human Performance

Abstract—The Healthy Heart Program at the University of Montana: A Program Review

Chairperson: Steven Gaskill

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify whether the Healthy Heart Program at the University of Montana is successful at facilitating lifestyle behavior changes. Methods: Six participants from Spring of 2015 were interviewed 3-4 months post and again 9-10 months post participation in the program. Interview questions focused on whether participants were working toward goals as well as their opinion of the program and what could be done to improve it. Additionally, 18 participants …

Patient Empathy & Effects On Health Outcomes, Erin Elizabeth Schliesman

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between physician empathy and healthcare outcomes for patients. The main points of focus will be how empathy is defined in a healthcare setting, the effects empathy has on health and healing of patients, particularly the empathetic relationship between the physicians and patients and finally how empathy can be better incorporated into healthcare settings.

A Cross-Sectional Study On Patients' Access To Healthcare In A Developing Nation, Pawan Bhandari

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The objective of this research study was to gauge the current status of patients' access to health care services in a developing nation or least-developed country (as defined by the World Bank and United Nations), Nepal. Many patients are not privileged to have a hospital at a close proximity in Nepal. They are also forced to travel and wait for long hours due to their inability to pay for services offered by private healthcare institutions. A survey questionnaire was developed to get a snapshot of how long patients travel to get to a public hospital for an outpatient service. The …

Cultural Influences On The Weight, Diet, And Physical Activity Of Pregnant Immigrant Latinas, Martha Eugenia Dominguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this phenomenological study is how culture and acculturation can potentially influence gestational weight during pregnancy, leading to overweight and obesity among immigrant Latinas. To understand the possible influence of culture and acculturation on the diet, exercise, and weight of pregnant immigrant Latinas, the experiences of immigrant Latinas who had undergone a pregnancy in Mexico and were pregnant in California were examined. The ecological model theory was applied as a framework for exploring the participants' experiences regarding nutrition, physical activity, and weight gain. Semistructured interviews with 10 qualified participants were conducted. Data analysis entailed an inductive approach …

Factors Affecting Body Mass Index Levels In African American Women Living In North Carolina, Padmini Shanti Kirpalani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of obesity has doubled over the past 25 years in the United States, particularly in North Carolina. Obesity is influenced by biological, social, and environmental factors; its prevalence has been found to be higher among African American women and other racial ethnic minorities. Guided by the social ecological model, the purpose of this cross sectional study was to examine the relationship of the psycho-social, psycho-behavioral factors, and body mass index levels (BMI) in African American women living in North Carolina versus their Hispanic American and European American counterparts. A logistic regression model using secondary data from the Behavioral …

Perceptions Of Immunizations As Health Prevention Among Female Mexican Immigrants In Oklahoma, Jennifer Doyle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on health prevention behaviors of Mexican immigrant mothers regarding immunizations has been limited. As of 2014, Hispanics or Latinos comprised 9.6% of the population of the state of Oklahoma and were the largest minority group within Oklahoma. This minority population has continued to grow at a rapid rate in Oklahoma. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of immunizations held by Mexican immigrants who are mothers residing in Oklahoma. The aim of this study was to identify their perceived risk of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease if not immunized and knowledge of immunizations as a health prevention …

The Relationship Between Health Risk And Workplace Productivity In Saudi Arabia, Sarah Lorraine Hayman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rising worldwide rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Middle East, principally Saudi Arabia, have put an increasing load on the health system and employers. Middle Eastern organizations have been slow to develop targeted health programs, which include an emphasis on employee productivity. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship, if any, between employee lifestyle and workplace productivity. Productivity is the amount of work produced based on the time and cost required to do so. The underlying theoretical foundations of this research were the socioecological health model and the human capital model. The quantitative, ex post facto …

Acculturation, Inflammation, And Depression Among Hispanic Adults In The United States, Kristin Marie Marano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disparities exist in the recognition and treatment of depression among Hispanics in the United States, creating a social, ethical, economic, and public health burden. This study was designed to generate an improved understanding of the causes of and/or contributors to depression within this population. It was specifically designed to 1) assess the prevalence and severity of depression among Hispanic adults in the United States relative to adults of other race/ethnicities in the United States; 2) clarify the inconsistent results in the literature concerning the relationship between acculturation and depression among Hispanic adults in the United States; and 3) fill a …

Association Between Diabetes/Chronic Disease Incidence And Lifestyle Factors Among African-Born Populations, James Walakerwon Gbala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Numerous studies have revealed that immigrants' health and well-being is challenged by an increased susceptibility to diabetes/chronic disease as they settle in the United States. This study investigated a potential association between the incidence of diabetes/chronic disease and various lifestyles factors among Sub-Saharan African immigrants and refugees. The lifestyle factors studied were sociodemographics, food practices and dietary habits, access to healthcare and insurance, acculturation, and the length of stay in the United States among these immigrants and refugees residing in Minnesota. The health belief and the socioecological models guided this study to improve understanding of Sub-Saharan African's health behavior and …