Digital Commons Network^™

Learning From Women Veterans Who Navigate Invisible Injuries, Caregiving, And Reintegration Challenges, Nicholas A. Rattray, Diana Natividad, Katrina Spontak, Marina Kukla, Ai Nghia L. Do, Leah Danson, Richard M. Frankel, Gala True

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: As women comprise a greater proportion of military service members, there is growing recognition of how their experiences in the early phase of military to civilian transitions have an important influence on their health and reintegration outcomes. Qualitative accounts of women veterans can inform programs that support transitioning service members. Objectives: We examined narratives of civilian reintegration among women veterans to understand their experiences of adjusting to community life while coping with mental health challenges. Methods/Participants: We interviewed 16 post-911 era women who were within 5 years of separating from military service and developed a case study based on …

Labour Market Participation After Sickness Absence Due To Cancer: A Dynamic Cohort Study In Catalonia (Spain), Amaya Ayala-Garcia, Fernando G Benavides, Laura Serra

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The consequences of cancer on working until retirement age remain unclear. This study aimed to analyse working life considering all possible labour market states in a sample of workers after sickness absence (SA) due to cancer and to compare their working life paths to those of a sample of workers without SA and with an SA due to other diseases.

METHODS: This was a retrospective dynamic cohort study among social security affiliates in Catalonia from 2012-2018. Cases consisted of workers with an SA due to cancer between 2012-2015 (N = 516) and were individually age- and sex-matched with those …

Employing Telepsychiatry Services To Assess The Prevalence And Identify Mental Health Disorders Using The Phq-9 And Gad-7 In Resource-Constrained Regions Of Dadar Mansehra, Pakistan: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study, Iffat Zafar Aga, Sara Saeed Khurram, Mahek Karim, Muhammad Muzzamil, Shahkamal Hashmi, Kashif Shafique

Medical College Documents

Objective: This study aims to measure the prevalence of mental health disorders in low-resource settings through telepsychiatry and evaluate data from Pakistan's Sehat Kahani nurse-assisted online clinics serving low-income communities. This will help to understand the magnitude and nature of the demand for contextual therapies to promote mental health. The paper will discuss the challenges faced in these settings, such as limited access to mental health facilities, stigma and opportunities telemedicine brings.
Design: An observational cross-sectional study of telepsychiatry consultations using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 to screen for depression and anxiety was conducted between October and December …

Relation Of Salivary Alpha-Amylase (Saa) Concentration To Fatigue Biomarkers In Palm Oil Office Workers In Jambi Province: Preliminary Study, David Kusmawan, Willia Novita Eka Rini, Wahyu Indah Dewi Aurora

Makara Journal of Science

The salivary α-amylase (sAA) concentration has a potential role as a biological indicator of occupational fatigue. This study aimed to determine the levels of sAA and its influencing factors. This research used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 40 office staff respondents at PT. X (Persero). Mental workload (MWL), sleep quality, and occupational fatigue were measured using the NASA-Total Load Index (TLX), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Industrial Fatigue Research Committee, respectively. Meanwhile, the basic sAA levels was measured through the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method using the Bioenzy® Kit Assay. Descriptive analysis showed that the workers were mostly …

Opportunities For Mental Health Interventions In Rural Mississippi Communities During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Analysis, Brice Fortinberry

Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 presented unique challenges for rural Mississippi communities including impacts on the mental health of rural individuals. This research study aimed to identify opportunities for mental health interventions to provide health promotion professionals with quantitative data on the accessibility and the likelihood of engagement with mental health-fostering behaviors. A secondary objective of this research was to categorize these behaviors within the constructs of the Social Ecological Model. Demographics for rural Mississippi communities were collected and displayed, and using multivariate analyses including Spearman’s correlation and a Mann-Whitney U test the correlation between mental health fostering behaviors and demographic factors was obtained. …

Integrating Stakeholder Feedback Into The Design Of A Peer-Delivered Primary Care Wellness Program: A Rapid Qualitative Study, Emily M. Johnson, Kyle Possemato, Matthew Chinman, Gala True, Jacob Hedges, Brittany N. Hampton, E. Jennifer Edelman, Stephen A. Maisto

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Individuals seen in Primary Care with behavioral health concerns who decline behavioral health treatment may benefit from the support of peers (consumers in recovery from behavioral health concerns employed to support other consumers). Whole Health STEPS is a new intervention for Veterans in Primary Care with behavioral health concerns which combines essential elements of peers’ role and the Whole Health model using a stepped-care design. We incorporated stakeholder feedback in the Whole Health STEPS design to improve fit with Veterans, peers, and primary care settings. Methods: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with VA staff using questions derived from the …

Predicting Factors Of Health-Related Quality Of Life Among End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Receiving Hemodialysis At A Tertiary Level Hospital In Nepal., Jyoti Gahatraj, Poolsuk Janepanish Visudtibhan, Tiraporn Junda, Nipaporn Butsing

Journal of Health Research

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) puts tremendous burdens upon affected patients and their support persons in Nepal. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Nepalese persons with hemodialysis-dependent ESRD is not well understood. This study aimed to examine HRQoL and its predicting factors among persons undergoing hemodialysis in Nepal.

Methods: A purposive sampling was applied to recruit 106 persons with ESRD receiving hemodialysis at a tertiary hospital in Nepal between October and December 2021. The structured questionnaires included personal information, the World Health Organization Quality of Life instruments (WHOQOL-BREF), the fatigue assessment scale (FAS), the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS), …

Fostering Udl-Informed Library Instruction Practices Developed From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Niki Fullmer, Katie Strand

Library Faculty Research

Purpose: This case study explores how universal design for learning (UDL)-informed online instruction modules developed during COVID-19 can better support student information literacy outcomes. This study will also examine how hybrid learning lends itself to UDL and may resolve some of the issues within library instruction.

Design/methodology/approach: This case study explores how a team of librarians at Utah State University developed three UDL-informed modules to support library instruction and hybrid learning during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was sent to composition instructors to understand how they utilized the three new UDL-informed modules and if the modules helped …

Addressing Resource Constraints For Alzheimer’S Dementia Patients And Caregivers In The Global South: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Zaheen Rashed '24

Student Research

There are two main focuses of this paper: to address the care that AD patients in countries with few healthcare resources receive and to explore the experiences of familial caregivers who care for these patients. This thesis will investigate issues including access to the education required to administer informed care, who is ultimately responsible for caring for AD patients in countries with few health facilities, and the lack of resources that is apparent in countries that do not have AD specialists or clinics. This paper will pinpoint the root issue in treating AD patients globally to serve as the first …

What We Know About School-Based Health Centers: Literature On Outcomes, Cost Impact, Implementation, And Sustainability, Michelle R. Coble, Valerie F. Mcdaniel

Pacific Journal of Health

Many children lack access to adequate healthcare in the United States. School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are a useful resource for accessing those needed services. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the available research for the strengths of SBHCs with improving health outcomes and health equity, cost impact of SBHCs, and best practices for implementing and sustaining an SBHC. The focus of this study was on reviewing the current literature on the impact of SBHCs on improving health equity, health outcomes, cost impact, and to establish best practices for implementing and sustaining an SBHC. Although the current literature …

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Age, Disease Stage, And Patient-Reported Quality Of Life, Sheila Jagers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Wellness Review 2023, Part 1, Brian A. Ferguson, Martin Huecker

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: The 2023 Part 1 summary reviews research on wellness in healthcare professionals published outside of JWellness from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.

Methods: Editors conducted a Boolean search of titles and abstracts in PubMed utilizing keyword identifiers pairing healthcare personnel (providers, nurses, and other staff) with a well-being metric. Of 416 relevant articles, an intriguing and innovative 30 were selected for inclusion, with two additional articles manually curated.

Literature in Review: This sample of the recent literature into healthcare professional wellness included multiple targeted interventions and studies of resilience. Main themes that emerged include: positive systematic healthcare …

From Life To Life: Transitioning To Freedom After 45 Years Of Incarceration- A Single Subject Case Study, James O. Mackey, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

This case study delves into the complex process of reintegrating an elderly parolee who recently emerged from a 45-year-long incarceration within California's state prisons. The research explores this unique individual's reentry experiences and compares them with those of parolees of average age and sentence length. Factors such as family support, educational background, criminal history, health, social support, employment, access to age-appropriate resources, and recidivism rates are meticulously examined to provide valuable insights into the successful reintegration of elderly individuals back into society.

Navigating Professional Paradigms: Transactional Sex, Behavior Change, And Structural Responses In Uganda, Shelley K. White, Hugo A. Kamya

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

Professional paradigms within social work and related social service fields have been critiqued for being behaviorally focused, thereby obscuring and perhaps excusing structural determinants of health and well-being. Recent initiatives in international social work have aimed to align theory, practice, education, and research with sustainable development, reflecting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to address structural determinants. Our qualitative research examined responses to transactional sex among Ugandan youth through in-depth interviews with 23 professionals working in social services with youth who were vulnerable to HIV. Through thematic content analysis, using deductive and inductive analysis, we examined the demographics …

Opioid Overdose Knowledge And Attitudes Among Undergraduate College Studentsopioid Overdose Knowledge And Attitudes Among Undergraduate College Students, Kaiya Cook

Honors College Theses

No abstract provided.

Planners Vs. Non-Planners: Do Preterm Births Impact Future Contraceptive Use?, Jessie Moore

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Background: In the United States, 45% of all pregnancies are unintended and occur when contraception is not used or is used inconsistently. Among those pregnancies, 1 in 10 women will experience a preterm birth, which is defined as a birth occurring before 37 weeks gestation. Women who have delivered preterm are at an increased risk for preterm birth in future pregnancies and are encouraged to wait at least 18 months between giving birth and getting pregnant again. Among women who have experienced a preterm birth, the desire to delay future pregnancy or avoiding it all together often becomes a necessity …

Free For All: Proposing Legislation To Eliminate Food Insecurity In Arkansas Public Schools, A. Mills Bryant

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Schools serve millions of students daily as one of the largest food distribution sites in the United States. However, more than 13.1 million children in the United States, and almost 150,000 in Arkansas, are food insecure. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most Arkansas schools offered free and reduced lunch to students at or below the poverty line through participation in the National School Lunch Program (“NSLP”). During COVID-19, Congress passed The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) and The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES”) (hereinafter “The Acts”). This legislation effectively eliminated food insecurity in participating American public schools, …

Spotlight On Mental Health On A Healthcare Campus: An Assessment Of Psychological Trauma Awareness, Training, And Treatment In The University Of Nebraska Medical Center College Of Public Health Community, Jenny E. Mueller

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Psychological trauma has been recognized as a public health concern of epidemic proportions globally. Public health community awareness of and education in trauma is likely to be integral to preparing future public health professionals to work effectively and safely in the field. Currently, the extent of trauma awareness, training, and treatment on the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health (UNMC COPH) campus is not known.

Aims: The aims of this project are to investigate and assess the level of psychological trauma awareness, training, and treatment on the UNMC COPH campus; and to provide recommendations for actions …

Strategies To Encourage Recall And Prevent Relapse After Full Mouth Rehabilitation Under General Anesthesia In Children, Claire Koukol

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Dental caries are preventable. Dentists utilize many prevention strategies in the office and provide at-home education to families. However, once a child develops Early Childhood Caries (ECC), especially in more severe cases, they may need general anesthesia (GA) to complete treatment. While this is an effective way to achieve full mouth dental rehabilitation (FMDR), this burdens the healthcare systems and families and does not come without risk to the patient. Patients with high caries experience remain at high risk of caries relapse after FMDR under GA, sometimes necessitating additional FMDR under GA. While there has been a significant amount …

The Power Of An Effective Safety Culture, Justin B. Negley

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Workplace injuries and illnesses have continued to decrease significantly through increased regulations, awareness, and technological advances. These enhancements are not enough to continue to drive these rates lower. A robust safety culture within an organization is required to truly affect change that will continue to diminish the occurrence of injuries and illnesses within the workplace. This project seeks to define the key aspects and elements that are fundamental to a culture of safety as a top priority amongst competing demands. The foundations of a robust safety culture were identified through a systematic literature review, a site comparison example of safety …

Exploring The Mental Health Experience Of Perinatal Military Spouses Based In Sigonella, Italy, Lyndsey Dannenberg

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The perinatal period can have a profound impact on the mental health of women, their infants, and their families, especially when it comes to depression and anxiety disorders. This study aims to delve into the experiences of perinatal mental health among military spouses stationed overseas, on Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, and contribute to the limited research on active-duty military spouses and their perinatal mental health while stationed overseas. The research uses a qualitative phenomenological approach, seeking to provide valuable insights into the lived experiences of military spouses and their perinatal mental health. Risk factors associated with perinatal mental illness …

Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis Of The Frequency Of Marijuana Use Among Adult Informal Caregivers In 20 U.S. States, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Brfss) 2021, Athena Plichta

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objectives. To examine the association between frequency of marijuana use among informal caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) and other health conditions compared to non-caregivers in 20 U.S. states.

Methods. We used complex survey data from the optional modules Caregiver and Marijuana Use of the 2021 BRFSS survey. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to determine the frequency and distribution of sample population characteristics and calculate crude relationships. Ordinal logistic regression modelled the relationship between the three-level outcome and covariates.

Results. Frequency of marijuana use and caregiver status were not associated. There was no difference in increased use among individuals …

Certified Midwives: An Exploration Of Their Impact On Maternal Health Outcomes – A Comprehensive Literature Review, Heather Hollister

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Maternal health outcomes in the United States have been consistently worse than other high-income countries, with a disproportionate impact on women of color. Midwives have long played an important role in maternal health worldwide. The literature review examines the evidence for midwives as key contributors to improving maternal health outcomes. The paper reviews the existing literature on midwifery, including the impact on maternal health, labor and delivery outcomes, and patient satisfaction. Electronic searches were conducted through Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Medline and Embase. Articles were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria including that they must be a randomized study; participants …

A Policy Evaluation For California’S Care Act And The Application Of The Social Determinants Of Health, Adelina Mercedes Lang

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In 2022, California passed a legislative bill, SB 1338: the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, which created a new statewide procedure for treating mentally ill homeless adults diagnosed with psychotic disorders through a court-ordered CARE plan. SB 1338 intends to alleviate the mental health and homeless crisis. This capstone project provides an early assessment of SB 1338 using a modified formative policy evaluation methodology, including a scoping literature review and applying a policy assessment using the CDC's Policy Evaluation Framework. A stakeholder survey was also applied to gather stakeholders' perspectives on SB 1338. The literature review supported the …

Prescription Opioid Misuse Among High School Students In The United States, By Sex And Race/Ethnicity, In 2019 And 2021, Deepika Reddy Kandhi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. have been increasing and are primarily related to opioid use. In 2019, an estimated 7.2% of US high school students reported misusing prescription opioids in the past 30 days. Prescription opioid misuse in adolescents may lead to development of a substance use disorder, overdose, or other serious harms. Some researchers have observed sex and race differences in prescription opioid use. This study aimed to identify patterns of prescription opioid misuse among adolescent subgroups categorized by both sex and race/ethnicity, to provide insight into intervention development and targeting.Methods: We analyzed data from the Youth …

Advancing Suicide Intervention Strategies For Teens (Assist): Study Protocol For A Multisite Randomised Controlled Trial, Molly Adrian, Elizabeth Mccauley, Robert Gallop, Jack Stevens, David A. Jobes, Jennifer Crumlish, Barbara Stanley, Gregory K. Brown, Kelly L. Green, Jennifer L. Hughes, Jeffrey A. Bridge

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Introduction: Brief interventions that reduce suicide risk following youth's experience with acute care due to suicidality are needed. Methods and analysis: The study will use a three-arm randomised controlled trial designed to test the effectiveness of the Safety Planning Intervention with structured follow-up (SPI+) and the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) compared with enhanced usual care. The primary outcomes measure will be suicidal events, defined as death by suicide, attempted suicide, preparatory acts toward imminent suicidal behaviour or suicidal ideation resulting in a change in emergency evaluation or inpatient admission. Secondary measures will be the number of suicide …

Consumer Perspectives Of Quality Care: Exploring Patient Journeys From Remote Primary Healthcare Clinics To Alice Springs Hospital, Emslie Lankin, Amanda Graf, Rebecca Schultz, Richard Johnson, Kylie Mccullough

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Problem or background: Residents of Australia's remote regions have lower life expectancies and poorer health outcomes than other Australians. Access to hospital and specialist care frequently requires transport via road or air and time spent away from family and community. Question, hypothesis or aim: To explore consumer perspectives of the journey from remote communities to regional health services and identify areas for improvement. Methods: Individual interviews (n = 16) and yarning circles were used to collect and interpret stories of patient's journeys. Findings: Travel for medical care was common and often required multiple journeys. Complex social and financial barriers to …

Associations Between Mental Health Outcomes And Childhood Trauma And Experiences Of Violence During The First Shelter-In-Place For Covid-19 Among Sexual Minority Men Living In Texas, 2020, Sonam Deki

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased mental health issues, disproportionately affecting men who have sex with men (MSM). The relationship between mental health and experiences of trauma and violence are understudied in this population. Purpose: To assess if rates of childhood trauma and COVID-19-related violence are higher for those with depression and anxiety than those without such experiences among cisgender sexual minority men in Texas. Methods: This secondary data analysis is among the cisgender sexual minority men in the COVID-19 and You Survey Study in Texas during the first shelter-in-place order. Descriptive statistics and bivariate associations between trauma and experiences …

An Intersectional Approach To Quantifying The Impact Of Geographic Remoteness And Health Disparities On Quality-Adjusted Life Expectancy: Application To Australia, Peter Lee, Steven J. Bowe, Lidia Engel, Erica I. Lubetkin, Nancy Devlin, Lan Gao

Publications and Research

Objectives

Methods

The Relationship Between Self-Reported Mental Health And Body Mass Index Among Adults In The United States Using The 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Brfss), Madhur Pandey

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective

This study investigated the link between frequent mental distress (FMD) and body mass index (BMI) in 2021 among U.S. adults, while considering sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.

Methods

Using 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, we analyzed the association between BMI as the dependent variable and FMD as the independent variable, considering the sociodemographic factors and lifestyle variables. Logistic regression models were applied.

Results

In our sample, 30.7% had a normal BMI, while 69.3% were outside the normal range. Of these, 85.1% reported infrequent mental distress, whereas 14.9% reported FMD. Those with FMD were more likely to have …