Digital Commons Network^™

Border Hispanics’ Physical Activity Improvement In A Chronic Disease Prevention Program, Lu Xu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In seeking of effective prevention programs to improve physical activities, we want to examine the factors related to physical activities improvement in Alliance for a Healthy Border, a chronic disease prevention program with pre-post-post evaluations through 12 federally qualified community health centers serving primarily Hispanics in communities along the U.S.- Mexico border. Logistic regression was performed to examine the association between physical activity and twenty predictors at baseline. Multinomial regression was used to examine the determinants of physical activities improvement at two time points: program end and post six-months. Socio-demographic, baseline health condition factors, and determination of doing physical activity …

Persistent Disparities In Cholesterol Screening Among Immigrants To The United States, Jim P. Stimpson, Fernando A. Wilson, Rosenda Murillo, Jose A. Pagan

Publications and Research

Background: This study compared differences in cholesterol screening among immigrant populations and US born race/ethnic groups and whether improving access to health care reduced differences in screening.

Methods: Self-reported cholesterol screening for adults was calculated from multivariate logistic regression analysis of the 1988–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (N = 17,118). Immigrant populations were classified by place of birth and length of residency.

Results: After adjusting for individual characteristics and access to health care, the multivariate adjusted probability of cholesterol screening is significantly lower for persons originating from Mexico (70.9%) compared to persons born in the US (80.1%) or …

Risiko Hiperkolesterolemia Pada Pekerja Di Kawasan Industri, Krisnawaty Bantas, Farida Mutiarawaty Tri Agustina, Dinie Zakiyah

Kesmas

Hiperkolesterolemia adalah faktor risiko penting penyakit kardiovaskuler yang menjadi penyebab utama kematian dan kesakitan di seluruh dunia. Penyakit kardiovaskuler yang berdampak kerugian ekonomi dan penurunan produktivitas kerja dapat dicegah dengan mengendalikan faktor risiko terse- but. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui prevalensi dan faktor risiko hiperkolesterolemia di kalangan pekerja di kawasan industri Pulo Gadung tahun 2006. Penelitian yang menggunakan desain studi cross sectional ini mengamati variabel independen kebiasaan merokok, konsumsi alkohol, ke- biasaan olahraga, dan obesitas. Populasi penelitian adalah pekerja di 7 jenis perusahaan di kawasan industri Pulo Gadung yang berusia 20 tahun ke atas. Penelitian menemukan prevalensi hiperlipidemia 21,1%; nilai …

A School-Based Intervention Of Adolescent Obesity Prevention In At-Risk Youth, Leah M. Potecha

Senior Honors Theses

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, affecting individuals of all ages. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to obesity due to their decrease in physical activity, as well as to the greater availability of foods void of nutritional value. Adolescents’ impressionable natures and changing bodies also contribute to their increased weights. To combat the problem of obesity, many schools have implemented obesity prevention programs. Most of these programs are based on physical education and nutrition education. However, some schools have started mentorship programs, or worked with organizations that employ mentorship programs, to prevent obesity. The Lynchburg Healthy Living program …

Clinical Utility Of Folate-Containing Oral Contraceptives., Zohra S Lassi, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Folate is a generic term for a water-soluble B-complex vitamin which plays an important role in protein synthesis and metabolism and other processes related to cell multiplication and tissue growth. Pregnant and lactating women are at increased risk of folic acid deficiency because generally their dietary folate is insufficient to meet their physiological requirements and the metabolic demands of the growing fetus. The evidence pertaining to the reduction of the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) due to folate is so compelling that supplementation with 400 mug of folic acid to all women trying to conceive until 12 weeks of …

Obesity Prevalence, Weight-Related Beliefs And Behaviors Among Low-Income Ethnically Diverse National Job Corps Students, Jamie S. Bodenlos, Milagros C. Rosal, Diane Blake, Celeste Lemay, Diane Elfenbein

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The obesity rates of Job Corps students, a predominantly ethnic minority and low income group of youth, are unknown. The purpose of this project was to examine obesity rates among these youth as well as their weight-related perceptions and behavior. First, medical charts (N=641) of all Job Corps students (ages 16-25) who were enrolled in the program in the past year were examined for height and weight. In the second phase of the study, 344 Job Corp students were recruited and information on weight perceptions, knowledge of obesity consequences, and weight loss behavior were examined. Almost half of the participants …

Family Home Visitors: Increasing Minority Women’S Access To Health Services, Mechthild Meyer, Alma R. Estable, Lynne Maclean, Wendy E. Peterson

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The article describes how service access barriers (language, trust) were addressed at different levels (organization, service provider, community) by involving Family Home Visitors to support Nurse Practitioners in providing pre- and postnatal services to linguis­tic minority women in Ontario. The investigators undertook a secondary analysis of 18 semi-structured interviews with health unit informants, Nurse Practitioners, program us­ers, and community leaders, including Family Home Visitors. Health units facilitated col­laboration between two programs aimed at serving mothers with young children, result­ing in both programs using Family Home Visitors. They enhanced minority women’s trust in Nurse Practitioner services by providing interpretation, outreach and …

Local Health Department Provision Of Wic Services Relative To Local “Need”— Examining 3 States And 5 Years, Betty Bekemeier, Matthew Bryan, Matthew D. Dunbar, Chris Fowler

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Great variation exists in the nature of LHD service delivery and it varies, in part, relative to jurisdiction population size. Larger LHD jurisdictions may achieve an economy of scale in WIC service delivery that is not matched in smaller areas. Overall, we found that WIC service provision appears relatively consistent across study states and in the presence of increasing need, with greater responsiveness to need in urban areas. As demand for some preventive services increases LHDs in rural areas may need greater support than LHDs in large jurisdictions for meeting local demand. Unlike WIC, LHD-provided services that have less consistently …

Accelerating The Production And Application Of Evidence For Public Health System Improvement: The Search For New Frontiers, Glen P. Mays, Paul Halverson, William Riley, Peggy Honoré, F. Douglas Scutchfield

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

The new journal Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research provides a platform for rapidly and widely communicating emerging findings and lessons learned from studies of public health services and delivery systems.

Using State And Local Health Survey Data To Advance Phssr, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

State and local health survey data can be used to evaluate the implementation and impact of public health delivery innovations in real-world practice settings.

Exploring The Social Determinants Of Sexually Transmitted Disease And High-Risk Sexual Behaviors, River Pugsley

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract 1: A multi-level assessment of disproportionate population sex ratios and high-risk sexual behaviors among STD clinic patients Low male-to-female sex ratios in a population may influence high-risk sexual behaviors, such as multiple sex partners and inconsistent condom use, which facilitate the transmission of STDs. This study used multi-level modeling to assess whether population sex ratios were associated with these two individual-level behaviors. All analyses were stratified by gender. Interview data were collected from patients (N = 9,203, 48% male) attending participating STD clinics. Interviews included information on socio-demographics and sexual behavior, including number of sex partners in the previous …

Harnessing The Potential Of Comparative Effectiveness Research And Delivery System Innovation Through Practice-Based Research, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

Testing delivery system innovations in health care and public health allows the practice-based research enterprise to lead the way toward gains in health and economic efficiency.

Long-Term Services And Supports (Ltss): Arlington County's Integrated Approach, Carol O'Shaughnessy, Lisa Sprague

National Health Policy Forum

The National Health Policy Forum sponsored a local site visit looking at community-based aging programs and long-term services and supports (LTSS) in Arlington County, Virginia. Arlington County human services are integrated under an umbrella agency in the Department of Human Services (DHS) which administers multiple programs for the elderly and people with disabilities. These include the Older Americans Act services, Medicaid LTSS, transportation services, a nursing case management program, and mental health services for those living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Arlington County integrates its aging and disability programs under the auspices of an Administration on Aging-funded Aging …

Using Concepts From Freire’S Pedagogy Of The Oppressed To Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening In An Urban Minority Population, Corey H. Brouse, Charles E. Basch, Randi L. Wolf

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This paper briefly introduces Freire’s philosophy of education, as well as examples of how this philosophy can be used in health education. Concepts from Freire’s work are highlighted along with how they are applicable to educating adults about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, a health behavior that is less prevalent among poor and minority populations. Concepts highlighted in Freire’s writing can be directly applied to reducing disparities in health.

A Communication Strategy To Address Health Inequities In Municipal Settings, Christine Unson, Ben Tyson, Angela Funaiole, Comfort Agaba

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This study assessed knowledge of health inequities, importance and benefits/barriers of addressing inequities, and ways of communicating information about inequities among municipal officials. Five focus groups (N=47) were conducted with officials from economic development, land use and housing, public safety, education, and environment departments. Discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed for key themes. Findings show that participants had an uneven understanding of the symptoms and causes of health inequities and identified limitations to participating in health equity initiatives and collaborating with local health departments. Recommendations are that a communication strategy to reduce health inequities should aim to increase awareness of …

Application Of The Pen-3 Model In A Diabetes Prevention Intervention, Joan E. Cowdery, Shandowyn Parker, Amy Thompson

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

More effective strategies for addressing health issues in African American communities are needed. As part of a three year NIH funded Project Export grant, this community campus partnership used community-based participatory research principles and thePEN-3 Cultural Framework to develop a culturally specific, locally relevant intervention to prevent Diabetes among African-Americans. A comprehensive needs assessment which included 13 elicitation interviews, 3 focus groups, and 217 surveys resulted in identifying major themes including overall lack of knowledge regarding Diabetes,issues of denial and stigma, sense of inevitability, influence of family on perceptionsand behaviors, communication issues with health care providers, and lack of culturally …

Obesity And Food Insecurity Are Both Florida Public Health Issues – A Commentary, Judy E. Perkin

Florida Public Health Review

Florida faces an epidemic of overweight and obesity primarily due to an imbalance of caloric intake and physical activity modulated by multiple physiologic and cultural factors. The overweight and obesity issue notwithstand- ing, Florida’s public health efforts must also continue to address problems related to food insecurity and hunger. Although much of the focus concerning food insecurity has been at the individual or household level, there is also discussion among policymakers, food experts, and community members about the need to focus on food security at the community-level as well. This commentary examines Florida’s current food security issues.

Infectious Syphilis In Non-Hispanic Blacks And Hispanics In An Urban Std Clinic, Tai Hunte, Maria L. Alcaide, Ricardo Franco, Khaled Deeb, Jose G. Castro

Florida Public Health Review

Syphilis is a complex infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum and acquired through sexual contact or vertical transmission. The natural history of syphilis is divided in primary, secondary, latent and tertiary stages. The syphilis epidemic has evolved over the years. National rates of syphilis infection dropped to the lowest in 2000 and have since increased in certain populations. Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for 60% of new infections and high rates occur in individuals with human immune deficiency virus co-infection. This study describes and compares the demographic characteristics, risk factors, and clinical presentation ofinfectious syphilis cases diagnosed …

Institute For Community Inclusion (Ici) Leadership Education In Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Lend) Partners With Community-Based Organizations (Cbos), David Helm, Institute For Community Inclusion, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

This Interdisciplinary Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) and Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) funded-program aims at providing long-term, graduate level interdisciplinary training to health professionals and family members. The purpose of this project is to develop leadership potential to improve the health status of infants, children, and adolescents with or at risk for neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and to enhance the systems of care for these children and their families.

Increasing Physical Activity In Inner City Youth Using Novel Interactive Gaming, Sd De Ferranti, Sk Steltz, Scott Crouter, A Kim, Sk Osganian, Jessica Whiteley, H Feldman, Laura L. Hayman, Gokids Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

The aim of this project was to assess the feasibility of participation in an afterschool physical activity program incorporating novel exercise technologies on changing physical activity level and physical fitness, compared to a nutrition education intervention alone. A second objective was to assess whether this type of intervention could modify cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometrics.

Do No Harm: Perceptions Of Short-Term Health Camps In Nepal, Dena Seabrook

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Short-term health camps are a growing form of delivering health care services to needy populations. Often these camps, usually lasting around 2 weeks, are led by I/NGOs in developing nations like Nepal and are staffed with volunteers from the Global North. These camps are largely ungoverned, and there are no evaluative techniques in place to monitor the effectiveness of the work done, raising concerns about the unintended consequences of short-term health camps camps. Nepal is particularly vulnerable to this issue because of the vast number of I/NGOs currently operating within its boundaries.

This research sought to expand the conversation surrounding …

Access To Healthcare For The Poor: Will The Affordable Care Act Address Income-Related Health Disparities In The United States?, Sonya Fabricant

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Background: Low-income populations live shorter and less healthy lives in the United States due to a complexity of social, environmental and behavioral factors. These populations also face significant barriers in accessing health services. In 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed, marking the first major reform of the American healthcare system since the 1960s. This paper evaluates its potential to address health disparities through changes to medical care delivery. Methodology: Results were compiled from government documents, reports from research institutes, journal articles, and an expert interview. A section-analysis was also performed, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of …

Association Among Obesity-Related Anthropometric Phenotypes: Analyzing Genetic And Environmental Contribution, Aline Jelenkovic, Esther Rebato

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

Obesity has become a public health and policy problem in many parts of the world. Epidemiological and population studies in this field are usually based on different anthropometric measures, however, common genetic and environmental factors between these phenotypes have been scarcely studied. The objective of this work is to assess the strength of these factors on the covariation among a large set of obesity-related traits. The subject group consisted of 533 nuclear families living in the Greater Bilbao (Spain), and included 1702 individuals aged 2-61 years. Detailed anthropometric measurements (stature, breadths, circumferences and skinfolds) were carried out in each subject. …

Can Kawasaki Disease Be Managed?, Alberto Coustasse, Julius Larry, Doohee Lee

Management Faculty Research

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is the leading cause of acquired cardiovascular disease among children, but management of KD has received relatively little attention. In the US alone, about 5500 cases were estimated in 2009. KD is most common among Asian and Pacific Islander children but can affect all ethnicities and races. Timely and accurate diagnosis remains critical, but difficult: the etiology of KD is unknown, and no accurate diagnostic laboratory test has been developed. Continuing medical education can help physicians, clinicians, and nurse practitioners accurately diagnose and treat KD. A registry specific to KD or a surveillance system may be necessary …

Curative Care As The Access Point To Rural Social Transformation A Case Study Of The Comprehensive Rural Health Project, Nancy Liu

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Health inequities based on geographic differences and between rural and urban populations in modern India demonstrate the stark differences in health access and community development throughout the country. More than 70% of the Indian population lives in rural areas, and yet a greater proportion of health care spending is devoted to urban populations. In 2004-5, 29.2% of both central and state public expenditures were allocated to urban allopathic services while 11.8% went to rural allopathic services (Balarajan, Selvaraj, and Subramanian 2011, 508). There are more than twice as many government beds in urban than in rural areas and geographic distribution …

Effects Of Leptin Replacement Alone And With Exendin-4 On Food Intake And Weight Regain In Weight-Reduced Diet-Induced Obese Rats, Roger Reidelberger, Alvin Haver, Prasanth K. Chelikani, Bettye Apenteng, Curtis Perriotte-Olson, Krista Anders, Sharalyn Steenson, James E. Blevins

United States Public Health Resources

Reidelberger R, Haver A, Chelikani PK, Apenteng B, Perriotte-Olson C, Anders K, Steenson S, Blevins JE. Effects of leptin replacement alone and with exendin-4 on food intake and weight regain in weight-reduced diet-induced obese rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 302: E1576–E1585, 2012. First published April 17, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00058.2012.—Weight loss in obese humans produces a relative leptin deficiency, which is postulated to activate potent orexigenic and energy conservation mechanisms to restrict weight loss and promote weight regain. Here we determined whether leptin replacement alone or with GLP-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 attenuates weight regain or promotes greater weight loss in weight-reduced …

Hospital Collaboration With A Public Library, Margot Malachowski Mls

All Scholarly Works

Baystate Health is a teaching hospital located in Springfield, MA. Our city’s population is 52% White; 22% Black; 39% Hispanic (regardless of race). Nearly 24% of our families speak Spanish at home. Poverty rates are 27%, as compared with 10% statewide. These populations are less likely to use the internet to find health information. The Dept of Health & Human Services draws a correlation between internet-based information seeking and the status of people experiencing disease, finding inverse relationships between internet use and incidence of asthma, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions. Libraries play a role in Healthy People 2020 by …

Community Gardening: Benefits Focused Strategies, Joseph Zaanan Tellschow

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Throughout history humans have had varying degrees of interaction with nature and natural environments. This interaction has shaped our species in almost every way possible from our physical traits to our behaviors and places we have chosen to occupy. Currently, humans have developed such overwhelming mastery of the planet that it is easy for many humans to feel disconnected from nature. This separation could have detrimental effects on various aspects of human well-being including physical and mental health. To understand these effects, it is important to evaluate the benefits that humans receive from exposure to nature and interaction with natural …

Clustering Of Unhealthy Behaviors In The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, Mariane Héroux, Ian Janssen, Duck-Chul Lee, Xuemei Sui, James R. Hébert, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Background

Objectives

Methods

Longitudinal Changes In Body Composition Associated With Healthy Ageing: Men, Aged 20-96 Years, Andrew S. Jackson, Ian Janssen, Xuemei Sui, Timothy S. Church, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Obesity and sarcopenia are health problems associated with ageing. The present study modelled the longitudinal changes in body composition of healthy men, aged from 20 to 96 years, and evaluated the fidelity of BMI to identify age-dependent changes in fat mass and fat-free mass. The data from 7265 men with multiple body composition determinations (total observations 38,328) were used to model the age-related changes in body mass, fat mass, fat-free mass, BMI and percentage of body fat. Changes in fat mass and fat-free mass were used to evaluate the fidelity of BMI and to detect body composition changes with ageing. …