Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing Effective Communication Styles And Preferences Between Health Researchers And State Policymakers, Shelby Flores-Thorpe

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

This dissertation examined how health researchers and state policymakers can effectively communicate with each other to support the use of evidence-based public health information in the policymaking process. To achieve this, a systematic review, analysis of TX RPC Project data, and semi-structured interviews were conducted among health researchers and policymakers. The systematic review found that email, in-person meetings, and phone calls were the best way to reach policymaking offices at the federal and state levels. When providing policymaking offices with data, health researchers should provide briefs, summaries, fact sheets, or one-pagers to support legislative offices’ need for information. Shorter reports …

Analyzing African American College Student Willingness To Participate In Clinical Trials, Caitlin B. Ulmer

Senior Theses

Previous studies regarding African American participation in clinical trials have found that African Americans participate at a significantly lower rate than other ethnic/racial groups. Scholars argue that this lack of participation in clinical trials is a direct result of historical trauma linked to unethical experiments and African American distrust in the healthcare system. However, there is a gap in the literature because these studies focus on African American individuals above the age of 30. This study aimed to fill the gap by examining clinical trial participation among African American college students within the ages 18 to 23. This study also …

‘We Were Not Allowed To Gather Even For Christmas.’ Impact Of Covid-19 On South African Young People: Exploring Messaging And Support, Gudani Mukoma, Edna Bosire, Polly Hardy-Johnson, Mary Barker, Shane A. Norris

Brain and Mind Institute

COVID-19 prevention measures including lockdowns, school closures, and restricted movement disrupted young people’s lives. This longitudinal qualitative study conducted in Soweto, South Africa aimed to explore young people’s knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, vaccination, and the impact of infections. A convenience sample of 30 young black people (n = 15 men; n = 15 women, aged 16–21 years) from Soweto participated in 24 focus group discussions (FGDs), conducted in six phases – each phase had four FGDs stratified by gender and age. Young people’s understanding of COVID-19 deepened throughout the study, however, did not always translate into adherence (following the …

Centros De Inclusión Social Bajo Gestión Asociada Y La Salud Mental De Las Personas En Situación De Calle, Kien Phan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Esta investigación se enfoca en analizar las acciones del gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA) para abordar la salud mental de las personas en situación de calle en 2023. Se examina el estado actual de esta población, identificando factores clave y evaluando las medidas gubernamentales. El marco teórico aborda determinantes sociales y derechos humanos, subrayando la importancia de cambios legislativos para abordar la falta de vivienda. La metodología combina análisis de datos gubernamentales, estudios previos y entrevistas con profesionales de Centros de Inclusión Social. Las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, como Cáritas y la Asociación Civil Isauro …

Contributions Of Centeringpregnancy To Women’S Health Behaviours, Health Literacy, And Health Care Use In The Netherlands, Mary-Ann Wagijo, Mathilde Crone, Birgit Bruinsma-Can Zwicht, Jan Van Lith, Deborah Lynn Billings Phd, Marlies Rijnders

Publications

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of CenteringPregnancy (CP) in the Netherlands on different health outcomes. A stepped wedged cluster randomized trial was used, including 2132 women of approximately 12 weeks of gestation, from thirteen primary care midwifery centres in and around Leiden, Netherlands. Data collection was done through self-administered questionnaires. Multilevel intention-to-treat analysis and pro pensity score matching for the entire group and separately for nulliparous- and multiparous women were employed. The main outcomes were: health behaviour, health literacy, psychological outcomes, health care use, and satisfaction with care. Women’s participation in CP is associated with …

Nightmares And Self-Injury Among High-Risk Adolescents: Examining The Role Of Emotion Regulation, Kinjal K. Patel

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) are a public health concern among youth. SITB rates rise drastically during adolescence -- a critical and sensitive developmental period characterized by dramatic changes in biological and social systems. Prior research has identified distal risk factors which tell us who is at risk for SITBs. Emerging research suggests proximal risk factors may be useful to identify when an individual may be at risk for SITBs. One promising proximal risk factor for SITBs is sleep problems. Although the relation between sleep problems and SITBs has been widely documented, little is known about the short-term, proximal links …

Dietary Inflammatory Index During Pregnancy And Changes Over Time: Associations With Post-Partum Sleep Duration And Quality And Depressive Symptoms., Nowrin Tamanna

Theses and Dissertations

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep and mental health are two important factors for a new mother, as adequate sleep and a healthy mind help her prioritize self-care, seek support when needed, and create a nurturing environment for both her and her baby. Among various plausible theories exploring the etiology of sleep disturbances and depression, the concept of inflammation is gaining attention. This study examined the hypothesis that more pro-inflammatory diets during pregnancy are associated with a decrease in sleep quality and duration, abnormal sleep timing and higher Edinburg Postnatal depression score (EPDS) scores 6 months and 12 months post-partum.

METHODS: A secondary …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Social Determinants Of Health In Relation To Cigarette Smoking And E-Cigarette Use Among Adults, Kankana Sengupta

Theses and Dissertations

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality in the U.S. and other high-income nations. E-cigarette use or vaping is an addictive behavior. During the past 5 years, the prevalence of e-cigarette use has increased markedly in U.S. adolescents and young adults. The public health implications of this increased prevalence are unclear. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with cigarette smoking in adulthood. However, the pathway from experiencing ACEs in childhood to smoking cigarettes or using e-cigarettes in adulthood is not clearly understood. Additional factors experienced between childhood and adulthood might either increase or decrease the …

The Genetic Associations Of Circadian Rhythm And Sleep Disorder Traits With Risk Of Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance And Multiple Myeloma, Brittany Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Circadian rhythm disruption and sleep have been widely studied for their roles in immunity and cancer development. Evidence for an association of circadian rhythm and sleep traits with multiple myeloma (MM) risk is inconclusive. No studies have investigated these traits in relation to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Given that MGUS precedes almost all MM cases, investigating sleep and circadian rhythm in relation to both MM and MGUS is necessary. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the genetic influences of circadian rhythm and sleep traits on the risk of MGUS and MM. Methods: Data were leveraged …

Longitudinal Associations Between Cognitive Functioning And Depressive Symptoms Among Couples In The Mexican Health And Aging Study, Joan K Monin, Gail Mcavay, Katie Newkirk, Rafael Samper-Ternent

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To examine the bidirectional associations between older adult spouses' cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms over time and replicate previous findings from the United States (US) in Mexico.

DESIGN: Longitudinal, dyadic path analysis with the actor-partner interdependence model.

SETTING: Data were from the three most recent interview waves (2012, 2015, and 2018) of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), a longitudinal national study of adults aged 50+ years in Mexico.

PARTICIPANTS: Husbands and wives from 905 community-dwelling married couples (N = 1,810).

MEASUREMENTS: The MHAS cognitive battery measured cognitive function. Depressive symptoms were assessed using a modified nine-item Center …

Development And Refinement Of A Corner-Based Injury Prevention Programme For Latino Day Labourers, Andrew E Springer, Yesmel King, Craig Field, Martha Alicia Ojeda, Louis Brown, Celeste Monforton, Rodrigo Hernandez, Pamela Diamond, John Atkinson, Maria Eugenia Fernández-Esquer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Latino day labourers (LDLs) in the USA are at increased risk for non-fatal and fatal occupational injuries, which are compounded by stressors that include wage theft, job insecurity and discrimination. This paper describes the development and refinement of Vales+Tú (You are Worthy of More), an injury prevention programme currently being evaluated as part of a cluster randomised trial in which health promotion is taken directly to the 'corners' (e.g. street corners, home improvement store parking lots, and public parks) where workers gather to seek employment.

DESIGN: Vales+Tú comprises two corner-based intervention approaches, group problem-solving (small group discussions) and brief …

Metabolomic Signatures Of Sedentary Behavior And Cardiometabolic Traits In Us Hispanics/Latinos: Results From Hchs/Sol, Jee-Young Moon, Jin Choul Chai, Bing Yu, Rebecca J Song, Guo-Chong Chen, Mariaelisa Graff, Martha L Daviglus, Queenie Chan, Bharat Thyagarajan, Sheila F Castaneda, Megan L Grove, Jianwen Cai, Xiaonan Xue, Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Ramachandran S Vasan, Eric Boerwinkle, Robert C Kaplan, Qibin Qi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to understand the serum metabolomic signatures of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior, and further associate their metabolomic signatures with incident cardiometabolic diseases.

METHODS: This analysis included 2711 US Hispanics/Latinos from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) aged 18-74 yr (2008-2011). An untargeted, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to profile the serum metabolome. The associations of metabolites with accelerometer-measured MVPA and sedentary time were examined using survey linear regressions adjusting for covariates. The weighted correlation network analysis identified modules of correlated metabolites in relation to sedentary time, and the modules …

Comparison Of Lotions, Creams, Gels And Ointments For The Treatment Of Childhood Eczema: The Bee Rct, Matthew J Ridd, Sian Wells, Stephanie J Macneill, Emily Sanderson, Douglas Webb, Jonathan Banks, Eileen Sutton, Alison Rg Shaw, Zoe Wilkins, Julie Clayton, Amanda Roberts, Kirsty Garfield, Lyn Liddiard, Tiffany J Barrett, J Athene Lane, Helen Baxter, Laura Howells, Jodi Taylor, Alastair D Hay, Hywel C Williams, Kim S Thomas, Miriam Santer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Emollients are recommended for children with eczema (atopic eczema/dermatitis). A lack of head-to-head comparisons of the effectiveness and acceptability of the different types of emollients has resulted in a 'trial and error' approach to prescribing.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and acceptability of four commonly used types of emollients for the treatment of childhood eczema.

DESIGN: Four group, parallel, individually randomised, superiority randomised clinical trials with a nested qualitative study, completed in 2021. A purposeful sample of parents/children was interviewed at ≈ 4 and ≈ 16 weeks.

SETTING: Primary care (78 general practitioner surgeries) in England.

PARTICIPANTS: Children aged …

Navigating Car Attitudes: An Analysis Of Transportation Habits, Environmental Views, And Demographics, Caroline J. Jordan, Sydney E. Lucero, Anna L. Imrie

Student Publications

Transportation plays a crucial part in the daily lives of people and society worldwide. Our study examined the transportation habits and environmental attitudes of both Gettysburg College students and individuals across the United States. We conducted a comparative analysis using a sample from students on campus and a national sample collected from the crowdsourcing platform, Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Additionally, we compared our findings with two similar studies completed by an Environmental Studies capstone nine years ago. We calculated each respondent's environmental score to gauge environmental attitudes, derived explicitly from their answers to five of the 24 survey questions. Next, we …

Roadway Characteristics And Car Accident Trends In Gettysburg, Pa, Max Smith, Jake H. Kennell, Russell H. Canova

Student Publications

This study addresses the rising motor vehicle accident and fatality rates in the United States (Moore, 2023). Focusing on the conditions in the Gettysburg Borough in an attempt to answer the following research questions: Are age of driver, weather conditions of car accidents, and traffic volume contributing to accidents in the Gettysburg Borough? What are the roadway characteristics of accident hot spot areas within the Gettysburg Borough? Utilizing Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crash data from 2018 to 2022 and PennDot Average Annual Daily Traffic data, this study employs a comprehensive approach. Combining GIS analysis and statistical analysis to determine …

A Comparative Analysis Of Adolescent Pregnancy Patient Outcomes In The United States And United Kingdom Healthcare Systems, Liza Hopper

Senior Theses

Individuals all across the world should have equal access to healthcare. However, one’s ability to receive and afford quality care differs between countries. Comparing the differences in healthcare structures in both the UK and the US provides great insight into how certain welfare models affect patient outcomes. In this project, I discuss the functionality of the healthcare systems in the UK and the US. Then, by delving into how they relate to adolescent pregnancy patient outcomes, one can compare how the healthcare policies relate to the patient outcomes of a vulnerable population group. In both countries, adolescent mothers, those who …

Crisis Narratives In Crisis? A Comparative Investigation Into National Covid-19 Narratives, Mouse D. Bennett

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency for only the sixth time in its history. On March 11, 2020, it was stated that COVID-19 constituted a pandemic. How did countries respond? This dissertation traces the evolution of national crisis narratives in four states and assesses their relative success. The findings of this study are that pandemic crisis narratives are not generalizable to all crisis situations but require a high level of compliance to be effective in stopping the crisis. There is no formula for government success, there are no decisive variables determining outcomes. …

The Pornography Industry's Disinformation Campaign On Addiction Recovery Resources, Darryl Mead

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

As pornography became increasingly popular online, many unsuspecting consumers reported adverse effects. These included sexual dysfunctions, such as lack of response with real partners, delayed ejaculation, erectile difficulties, and sexual compulsivity. Some pornography consumers began congregating in online self-help portals (forums and websites) to assist one another in quitting or reducing problematic pornography use. The popularity of the self-help resources and their potential to dampen the profits of a lucrative industry resulted in disinformation campaigns run by individuals connected to the pornography industry. In this article, I examine how a paper containing significant inaccuracies about the people organising the online …

Policy Implementation Analysis Of Spm Health Sector For Hypertension Sufferers In South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia In 2022, Anggi Asri Rusliana Dewi, Dumilah Ayuningtyas

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor that causes disability throughout the world and among those who are not aware of their health condition, it is often referred to as the silent killer . The prevalence rate of hypertension in Indonesia is quite high. Based on Riskesdas (2018), South Kalimantan Province shows the highest prevalence of hypertension, but the percentage of hypertension sufferers who receive health services is still low. Banjarbaru City has the lowest percentage, namely 11.3% of the target of 100%. Health services for hypertension sufferers are included in the Minimum Service Standards (SPM) for the Health Sector …

Validity-Reliability Of The E-Healthy Diet Literacy Scale In Turkish Adults, Sevil Karahan Yılmaz, Gunay Eskici, Osman Emir Sarac

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: This study aims to establish the validity-reliability of the Turkish version of adult e-Healthy Diet Literacy Scale and to determine its relationship with the Health Literacy Instrument Scale (short-form), the Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Scale, and participants’ characteristics. Material and Methods: Drawing on a methodological and descriptive design, this research was performed in two steps. It was conducted with 240 participants in the first step and 879 participants in the second step. The participants filled out the eHealthy Diet Literacy Scale, Health Literacy Instrument Scale (short-form), and Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Scale. The questionnaire form was sent to the …

Misinformation, Trust, And Use Of Ivermectin And Hydroxychloroquine For Covid-19, Roy H. Perlis, Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Jon Green, Alauna Safarpour, James N. Druckman, Mauricio Santillana, Katherine Ognyanova, David Lazer

Political Science Faculty Publications

Importance The COVID-19 pandemic has been notable for the widespread dissemination of misinformation regarding the virus and appropriate treatment.

Objective To quantify the prevalence of non–evidence-based treatment for COVID-19 in the US and the association between such treatment and endorsement of misinformation as well as lack of trust in physicians and scientists.

Design, Setting, and Participants This single-wave, population-based, nonprobability internet survey study was conducted between December 22, 2022, and January 16, 2023, in US residents 18 years or older who reported prior COVID-19 infection.

Main Outcome and Measure Self-reported use of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, endorsing false statements related to …

Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary And Behavioral Healthcare (I2pbh) Initiative, John Ronnau, Deepu George, Maria Hernandez, Evan Garcia, Myrna Ruiz

Research Symposium

Purpose: The Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary and Behavioral Healthcare (I²PBH) initiative will train University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) mental health graduates to deliver high quality, evidence-based Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) services in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) – a high-need, high-demand, medically underserved Hispanic region along the US-Mexico border. Specifically, the I²PBH initiative will train 24 UTRGV mental health graduates annually to deliver high-quality Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) clinical services through the evidence based Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model. With a training emphasis on basic/advanced theory and clinical skills in the PCBH model, students …

Obesity Management In Primary Care Medicine: A Review Of Obesity Perception And Barriers To Weight Loss, Asma Syed, Saima Siddiqui

Research Symposium

Background: This project addresses the obesity epidemic in America. According to the CDC, in 2018, the US obesity prevalence was 42.4%. Obesity is linked to many conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Successfully treating obesity can decrease these leading causes of preventable and premature deaths. A proper understanding of the successes and failures of current obesity management in primary care medicine with the help of qualitative research through patient and provider interviews can elucidate the best practices to reduce the burden of disease in America.

Methods: A review of literature was conducted …

Mixed Method Approach Towards The Life Of University Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Raihan Khan, Andrew White, Tony Jehi

Department of Health Sciences - Faculty Scholarship

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the higher education system. This mixed-methods study aimed to assess COVID-19 fear, anxiety, and stress among Shenandoah Valley college students.

Methods

An online survey was fielded and completed by n=680 students. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 students.

Results

The mean participant age was 22.14±5.48 years, and primarily White (81.9%), women (80.4%), and undergraduate (78.0%) students. Approximately 41% were enrolled in health-related majors (41.4%). Women students had significantly higher anxiety, depression, and fear of contracting COVID-19 than men. Undergraduate students had significantly higher depression than graduate students. Qualitative analysis revealed several major themes: …

Community Mobility And Depressive Symptoms During The Covid-19 Pandemic In The United States, Roy H. Perlis, Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Alauna Safarpour, Alexi Quintana, Matthew D. Simonson, Jasper Perlis, Mauricio Santillana, Katherine Ognyanova, Matthew A. Baum, James N. Druckman, David Lazer

Political Science Faculty Publications

Importance Marked elevation in levels of depressive symptoms compared with historical norms have been described during the COVID-19 pandemic, and understanding the extent to which these are associated with diminished in-person social interaction could inform public health planning for future pandemics or other disasters.

Objective To describe the association between living in a US county with diminished mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-reported depressive symptoms, while accounting for potential local and state-level confounding factors.

Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study used 18 waves of a nonprobability internet survey conducted in the United States between May 2020 and April …

Suicide Ideation And Behavior And Atod Use Among Bisexual High School Students, Michael S. Dunn, John F. Yannessa

Public Health

Research has indicated that sexual minorities have higher prevalence rates for ATOD use and suicide ideation and behavior compared to heterosexual youth. Yet, most studies to date have combined gay, lesbian, and bisexuals into one category. This study sought to assess the uniqueness of bisexuality to assess the risk of ATOD use and suicide ideation and behavior among bisexual high school students. Data for this study were derived from the 2019 Centers for Disease Control’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Chi-square analysis was conducted to determine the prevalence of ATOD use and suicide ideation and behavior. Logistic regression was then …

Religious Commitment And Intent To Die By Suicide During The Pandemic, Karen Mason, Melinda Moore, Jerry K. Palmer, Zihan Yang

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 10–34-year-olds in the U.S. It is vital to identify protective factors that promote resilience in a suicide crisis. Background: This study explored the contributions of religious commitment (RC) and religious service attendance to decreased suicide intent in 18–34-year-olds. Possible moderators were investigated, including church-based social support, pandemic-related faith struggles (PRFS), and moral objections to suicide. Methods: Participants completed an online survey reporting on RC, suicide intent, church-based social support, religious service attendance, PRFS, and moral objections to suicide. Results: In the convenience sample of 451 18–34-year-olds (M = 24.97; 47.23% female), …

One Size Doesn’T Fit All: Attitudes Towards Work Modify The Relation Between Parental Leave Length And Postpartum Depression, Christine Y. Chang, Sabrina R. Liu, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental leave length and maternal depressive symptoms at six- and twelve-months postpartum and whether this relation was influenced by women’s attitudes towards leave, whether leave was paid or unpaid, and the reason they returned to work. The sample included 115 working women recruited during pregnancy as part of a larger longitudinal study. Analyses revealed that maternal attitudes toward leave influenced the association between leave length and depressive symptoms. Specifically, longer leaves were associated with increased depressive symptoms for women who missed their previous activities at work. Furthermore, women who missed work …

Self Determination Theory And Health Behavior Interventions, Anna T. Simpson

The Cardinal Edge

Physical and mental health contribute to a person’s overall sense of well-being. People generally want to live happy and healthy lives, so they make decisions that will increase their well-being. Many factors contribute to our health, but health behavior is something we can modify. Health behavior interventions aim to promote healthy choices and a sense of well-being in patients. Interventions have a theoretical basis that influences the design of the intervention. Public health interventions have used self-determination theory (SDT) and its components to guide interventions that promote health behavior change in various populations. This paper will seek to understand the …

Factors Affecting Rural Women’S Involvement In Physical Activity In Ghana, Alice Quainoo, T. A. Loeffler

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

A qualitative study approach was used to explore the factors affecting rural women’s involvement in physical activity in Ghana. Most prior research has been done in African urban areas thus, neglecting the rural areas. Purposive sampling and a semi-structured interview method were used to interview nine women aged 40-60 years living in three rural areas in the central region of Ghana. The interviews were conducted by phone, translated, transcribed, and then coded using NVivo software package. The constant comparative method was used to analyze the data. The data presented eight enablers and five barriers to physical activity involvement for rural …