Digital Commons Network^™

Poverty Rate And Occurrence Of Foodborne Illness Risk Factors In Retail Facilities, Margolite Joseph Cesar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the efforts of food safety regulations and rules, food contamination remains a public health concern and prevalent vehicle of pathogens. This study identifies the predictors of food risk in different types of food establishments in Miami Dade County, Florida during the period November 2014 - November 2016. Guided by the epidemiologic triangle model, this correlational study analyzed the log number of risk factor violations and failure rates controlling for US Census sociodemographic data (2010 to 2014) for the food establishment neighborhoods by using linear and logistic regression. Results indicated that most of food entity types are significant predictors of …

Strategies To Reduce Occupational Injuries And Illnesses In Government Agencies, Sandra Montgomery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite regulatory efforts of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 104 cases of nonfatal occupational illnesses and injuries (OIIs) per 10,000 full-time workers required time away from work in 2015. Although OII rates in private and public sectors are high, the rates among state and local government agencies were over 50% higher than private sector rates in 2015, especially in the healthcare industry. OIIs can lead to reduced organizational productivity and performance. Guided by the leader member exchange theory (LMXT) and risk homeostasis theory (RHT), the purpose of this single case study was to explore effective strategies that supervisors …

Effect Of Socioeconomic And Neighborhood Factors On Stroke Hospitalization Rate In Virginia, Esther Musu Stephens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The stroke rate in Virginia is above the national rate. Stroke results in poor quality health, morbidity, and mortality. This quantitative epidemiological study was conducted to investigate whether a significant association exists between stroke and (a) socioeconomic and (b) neighborhood factors among people who were admitted to Virginia hospitals between 2010 and 2015. An ecological design, including ecosocial theory, was used to examine associations between environmental factors and stroke. Data (746 census output areas) were acquired using patients' billing zip codes from the Virginia Health Information System in combination with socioeconomic and neighborhood data by Zip Code Tabulation Area from …

Improving Chronic Constipation Health Literacy Proficiency: Animation Versus Traditional Written Pamphlets, Jason Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. health care system is evolving from medical centric to patient centered, augmenting the importance for patients to comprehend and process medical information. The Department of Education indicated that 77 million Americans have a basic or below basic health literacy proficiency and 12% register as health literacy proficient. Animation is a time-tested device for improving health by enhancing comprehension. Chronic constipation (CC) complexity entails physiological, anatomical, and environmental mechanisms. Using the cognitive theory of multimedia learning and dual-channel auditory and visual processing, the primary research question addressed whether an animated educational video improved health literacy for CC more than …

Locus Of Control, Poverty And Health Promoting Lifestyles, Cara Stephenson-Hunter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite increased access to care and interventions aimed to change health behavior, socioeconomic health disparities have remained unchanged, even for preventable illness and disease. Health behavior theories and interventions heavily rely on perceptions of control over one's fate and thus ignore populations with low perceptions of personal control. Poverty is associated with an external locus of control (LOC), while both poverty and external LOC are associated with less health protective behavior. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the role of LOC as an adaptive response to poverty and to discover the risks and benefits to physical and …

Examining Faith-Based Communities As Leverage Points For The Prevention Of Childhood And Adolescent Obesity, Caroline Glagola Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

Faith-based research and partnerships are becoming more popular as an approach to address the health of underserved populations including racial and ethnic minorities and rural populations. Despite growing interest in faith-health partnerships, little research is available assessing faith-based interventions as potential leverage points for the prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity and the promotion of healthy behaviors. This research aimed to examine the potential for such partnerships within the context of ongoing research partnerships in South Carolina. Specifically, the first study assessed current peer-reviewed literature to determine reporting of reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM elements) in faith-based nutrition …

Metabolomic Profiles In Breast Cancer: A Pilot Case-Control Study In The Breast Cancer Family Registry, Marcelle Dougan, Yuqing Li, Lisa Chu, Robert Haile, Alice Whittemore, Summer Han, Steven Moore, Joshua Sampson, Irene Andrulis, Esther John, Ann Hsing

Faculty Publications

Background Metabolomics is emerging as an important tool for detecting differences between diseased and non-diseased individuals. However, prospective studies are limited. Methods We examined the detectability, reliability, and distribution of metabolites measured in pre-diagnostic plasma samples in a pilot study of women enrolled in the Northern California site of the Breast Cancer Family Registry. The study included 45 cases diagnosed with breast cancer at least one year after the blood draw, and 45 controls. Controls were matched on age (within 5 years), family status, BRCA status, and menopausal status. Duplicate samples were included for reliability assessment. We used a liquid …

Risk Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Changing Of Cardiovascular Biomarkers Among Bangkok Firefighters, Chinchuta Khumtong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Urban firefighters are at risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of their occupational exposure to trauma event. PTSD has been recognized as public health problem because it links to many health consequences including cardiovascular disease. This study was conducted in 2 phases. The first phase; a cross-sectional study, was aimed to determine a prevalence of risk of PTSD among all Bangkok firefighters and to access its associated factors. The second phase; a longitudinal study, aimed to access an association between risk of PTSD and changes of cardiovascular biomarker (Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), Troponin T (TnT), and high-sensitive C-reactive protein …

An Association Between Job Stress, Social Support And Insomnia Among Public Health Workers In Thailand., Kanokrat Paitool

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Sleep disorder is the global burden public health problem nowadays. Sleep disorders link to several health problem including mental health, cardiovascular diseases, and unintentional injury. Insomnia is a type of sleep disorders which have sign of cannot sleep or difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep or woke up at night, or both them. The insomnia rather difficultly to define, however an individual's report is used to identify its severity. Public health workers is an occupation dealing with distribution and determinants of health-related among population. Those people work with the high pressure including workload, working hours, conflict between different beliefs, lack …

Factors Associated With Shift Work Disorder Among Nurses In A Private Hospital Bangkok Thailand, Marisa Tangkumnerd

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background : Shift work disorder (SWD) is a kind of circadian rhythms sleep disorder related to sleep problem and shift work schedule. SWD is classified by excessive daytime sleepiness and/or insomnia equal or more than 1 month which is related to shift work schedule. Nurse is a health profession who work as a shift schedule. The aim of this study is to identify associated factors of shift work disorder (SWD) among private hospital nurses. Method : A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 207 registered nurse in a private hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Standard questionnaire including insomnia (Bergen Insomnia Scale), …

Sexual Risk Behaviors And Sexual Harassment Among Female Beer Promoters In Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, Mathudara Phaiyarom

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Beer promoters can be found throughout the country and Chiang Mai after alcohol drinks advertising was illegal according to Alcohol Beverage Control Act. From their working conditions, they are faced with sexual harassment and encourage to drink with clients which probably leads to sexual risk behaviors. There are few evidence-based researches about their sexual risk behaviors and sexual harassment so it is hard to solve these situations. This study aimed to determine their demographic data, sexual activities, attitudes, working conditions, sexual risk behaviors, and sexual harassment female beer promoters in Chiang Mai. Moreover, it aimed to find the association between …

Depression, Anxiety And Stress Association Among Taze Boarding School Adolescent, Shwe Bo District, Sgaing Division, Myanmar : A Cross-Sectional Study, Nanda Win

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Adolescent is a transition phase from childhood to adulthood. Therefore, there are various problems occurring in that period such as physical, social and mental health issues. The study purpose is to describe prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress and to explore the associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 adolescents at three boarding schools in Taze, Myanmar. Data were collected by self-administered. The measurement tools including socio demographic characteristics, Modified form of social support scale, Pearlin's mastery scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale and Depression, anxiety, stress -21 scale (DASS 21). Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to explore the associated factors …

Robotic Health Monitoring Program For Fall Prevention In Elderly : Quasi-Experimental Study, Natthawadee Maneeprom

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Purpose: To develop and investigate effectiveness of robotic fall prevention program on knowledge score of fall prevention, number of exercises, balance score, and incident of fall among elderly at risk of fall residing in senior housings, Bangkok Thailand. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with repeated measured. Sixty-four elderly in two senior housings in Bangkok with Barthel Index (BI) scale ≥12, either had at least one fall experience in the past 12 months and/or had Time Up and Go (TUG) test ≥20 seconds were recruited and purposively assigned to the intervention group (a small robot installed fall prevention software, with …

Association Between Social Support And Depression, Suicidal Ideation Among Transgender Women In Bangkok, Thailand, Pankaew Tantirattanakulchai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Depression and suicidal ideation are becoming a major mental health problem globally. Thailand is known as the accepting society for transgender but the available study on transgender women dealing with depression is scarce. This study aims to describe the rate of depression and suicidal ideation among transgender women in Bangkok and to explore the associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 transgender women in Bangkok, Thailand on May 2019. Data were collected through self-administered. The measurement tools including socio demographic characteristics, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and The Columbia-Suicide …

The Influence Of Indoor Air Pollution Sources On Respiratory Health Of Occupants In Offices : A Cross-Sectional Study At Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand, Thammarak Srimarut

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: Indoor air pollution contains several substances and can emanate from a range of sources. In particular importance might be substances known as volatile organic compounds and respirable particulates. The exposure to indoor air pollution can induce a wide range of acute and chronic respiratory health effects. The study's aims were to identify the effect of indoor air pollution sources and concentrations in offices on respiratory health of occupants and identify potential factors that may be related to respiratory health problems. Methods: Fourteen offices were measured the concentration of PM2.5 and TVOC at 1.20 meters high for 8 hours and …

Trends And Factors Associated With Breastfeeding In Thailand : A Secondary Analysis Of The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2005-2016, Yuanpei Chen

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This cross-sectional study was based on secondary data of Thailand Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS round 3, 4 and 5) between 2005 and 2016 and aimed to identify trends and factors associated with breastfeeding in Thailand. Subjects were selected from the three MICS surveys and then pooled together to form final weighted samples of 9757 children under 2 years for studying early initiation of breastfeeding and 2568 children under 6 months for exclusive breastfeeding. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify trends and factors. Results indicated that the overall breastfeeding rates were low in spite of an …

Effectiveness Of Thai Hermit Exercise (Ruesi Datton) On Mild Cognitive Impairment's Patients, Chomlak Kongart

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a recurrent brain disorder in memory. It is caused by the degeneration of the brain cells that is different from an individual's age and develop to dementia. One way to help restore memory is to exercise. Thai hermit exercise is a wisdom in Thai exercise, which improve memory decline for the condition. The study design is randomized control trial. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Thai hermit exercise among patients with MCI. 84 participants were recruited and randomized into intervention (n=42) control(n=42). The intervention group practiced Thai hermit exercise for 10 weeks. Psychological …

Family Planning And Hiv Interventions Among Women In Low-Income Settings, Steven P. Masiano

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the effectiveness of interventions related to family planning and the uptake of HIV-related preventive services among women in low-income settings. Women in low-income settings and living with HIV face many barriers to care, including limited access to services for family planning and HIV-related preventive care. At the same time, national, regional, and global efforts are looking for interventions to help control rapid population growth, create an HIV-free generation, and provide adequate preventive care for those living with HIV. This dissertation cuts across these issues and can help to inform debate and policies to address these issues.

This …

The Influence Of Clinically Meaningful Factors On The Performance Of The Recommended Annual Diabetic Foot Screening, Trisha A. Sando

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers are the result of multiple complications from hyperglycemia and lead to poor quality of life and high healthcare costs. The annual diabetes foot screening exam (ADFSE) and prevention interventions can reduce DFUs up to 75%. In 2015, 71% of the US population received the ADFSE.

Objectives: The main objectives of this dissertation were: 1) to determine the association between adherence to diabetes self-management behaviors and the ADFSE, 2) to determine the association between concordant and discordant comorbidities and the ADFSE and 3) to determine the association between the performance of diabetes preventive care processes, number of …

Queer Health Equity And Cervical Cancer: Identifying Social Determinants Of Papanicolaou Test Uptake In A Sample Of Sexual Minority Women And Gender Nonbinary Individuals, Ariella R. Tabaac

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual minority women (SMW) demonstrate lower rates of cervical cancer screening than heterosexual women. This is concerning as lesbian and bisexual women tend to engage in higher rates of substance-related cancer risk behaviors, unprotected sex, and tend to have higher body mass indices, all of which are risk factors for cancer development. Another major risk factor, screening avoidance, places SMW at increased risk for the development of high grade cervical lesions in the absence of early detection practices, which is likely to impact overall cervical cancer morbidity in this population. The aim of the present study was to utilize the …

Rare Single Gene Disorders: Estimating Baseline Prevalence And Outcomes Worldwide, Hannah Blencowe, Sowmiya Moorthie, Mary Petrou, Hanan Hamamy, Alan Bittles, Stephen Gibbons, Matthew Darlison, Bernadette Modell, Congenital Disorders Expert Group .

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

As child mortality rates overall are decreasing, non-communicable conditions, such as genetic disorders, constitute an increasing proportion of child mortality, morbidity and disability. To date, policy and public health programmes have focused on common genetic disorders. Rare single gene disorders are an important source of morbidity and premature mortality for affected families. When considered collectively, they account for an important public health burden, which is frequently under-recognised. To document the collective frequency and health burden of rare single gene disorders, it is necessary to aggregate them into large manageable groupings and take account of their family implications, effective interventions and …

Relationship Of Dietary Nitrate Intake From Vegetables With Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A Prospective Study In A Cohort Of Older Australians, Alex H. Liu, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joanna Russell, Victoria M. Flood, Joshua R. Lewis, Kevin D. Croft, Richard J. Woodman, Wai H. Lim, Annette Kifley, Germaine Wong, Paul Mitchell, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Short-term trials indicate inorganic nitrate and nitrate-rich vegetables may have vascular health benefits. However, few observational studies have explored the relationship between nitrate intake and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association of nitrate intake from vegetables with CVD mortality in a sample of older Australians.

Methods: A subgroup of participants without diabetes or major CVD at baseline (1992–1994) were included from the Blue Mountains Eye Study, a population-based cohort study of men and women aged ≥ 49 years. Diets were evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline, …

Characterizing The Metabolic Intensity And Cardiovascular Demands Of Walking Football In Southeast Asian Women, D. P. Heil, Robert U. Newton, Dee Dee Ayra Salle

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Given that the recent rise in obesity rates throughout Southeast Asia is disproportionately driven by women, part of the regional solution may be to encourage more habitual physical activity within this population. Taking advantage of the regional popularity of walking football, this study sought to characterize the cardiovascular demands and metabolic intensity of Southeast Asian women competing in walking football matches to determine the sports’ suitability for promoting physical health. It was hypothesized that both cardiovascular and metabolic intensity measures (≥65% HR% and ≥3.0 METs, respectively) would meet or exceed established thresholds for improving fitness and health. Methods: Women’s teams …

The Impact Of False Positive Mammography Results On Breast Cancer Screening Intention Among Black Women, Deeonna E. Farr

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive research indicates that false-positive mammograms (FPM) have been associated with negative psychosocial and cancer-related beliefs, but only a handful of studies examine Black women’s reactions to this experience. Additionally, these studies do not investigate how organizational and provider-level factors in concert with individual patient characteristics shape Black women’s experiences and reactions to FPM results. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of organizational, provider, and individual-level factors on the processes and outcomes associated with FPM results in Black women. This study had two specific aims:

1) To describe, using a mixed methods approach, the organizational and …

Effect Modification By Stroke To The Relationship Between Tooth Loss And Cognitive Decline, Amanda Collins

Theses and Dissertations

Background: A decline in cognitive functioning is one of the greatest burdens that older adults face. Studies indicate that periodontal disease is positively associated with cognitive decline. The link between stroke and cognitive decline is well-established, and literature supports that tooth loss and stroke are associated as well, but the role that stroke plays in the relationship between tooth loss and decline in cognitive functioning is, as of yet, unclear. This study uses data from the REGARDS cohort to examine the effect of stroke on the relationship between periodontal disease and cognitive function.

Methods: The REGARDS cohort is comprised of …

Sleep, Shiftwork Adaptation, Autonomic Dysfunction, And Metabolic Syndrome, Torrance Torrance

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Sleep is considered a physiological necessity and its disruption is associated with a wide variety of adverse mental and physical health outcomes including increased incidence of obesity, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), work-related and vehicle accidents, and aberration of the autonomic nervous system.

Methods: Three studies were conducted from three separate populations. The first study examined the latent trajectories of self-reported sleep quality in active duty Army soldiers over a 3-year period using data from the Global Assessment 2.0 survey and Repeated Measures Latent Class Analysis (RMCLA) procedures. Generalized Estimating …

Investigating Drug-Related Violence In Indian Country: The Lumbee Tribe Of North Carolina, Asa Alena Revels

Theses and Dissertations

Drug-related violence (DRV) impacts the over-all wellbeing of communities, with disparate health outcomes observable in many poor, minority communities. The purpose of this study was to better understand the multi-level social and environmental factors influencing elevated rates and prevention of DRV within the Lumbee, a southeastern American Indian Tribe. This was accomplished via in-depth, one-on-one interviews with 37 Lumbee Tribal Members and Key Leaders. The findings align with existing research, revealing the influence of such factors as poor socioeconomic conditions, coping strategies, broken family structures, and the influence of federal policy. Of interest was the substantial influence of the local …

The Importance Of Person And Place In Predicting Prostate Cancer Incidence And Mortality Among United States Veterans Seeking Veterans Health Administration Care, Peter Georgantopoulos

Theses and Dissertations

T Introduction: There are several unique characteristics in the epidemiology of prostate cancer (PrCA) that make it an interesting and important cancer to study. The first is that while prostate cancer is the most common cancer that men develop, it is one of the least common cancers that men die from. This indolent nature of PrCA has led to the idiom among health scientists that “men are more likely to die with PrCA than due to PrCA”. Just like other cancers, several individual-level risk factors (e.g., family history of the disease, age, and race) are well established for both PrCA …

Association Of Objective Measures Of Sleep And Inflammation Markers On Police Officers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Megan R. Buss

Theses and Dissertations

Police officers are a unique occupational group due to the fact that they have more health problems than many other occupations. These health problems could be a result of elevated inflammation markers caused by poor sleep. Sleep influences circadian rhythms, which thereby influences the function of the immune system. The immune system is responsible for the body’s inflammatory response using pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, CRP, Fibrinogen, and TNF-a. These cytokines can become elevated if disruption of the sleep cycle occurs. Elevated levels of inflammatory markers are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Police officers also work shifts and …

Body Mass Index Trajectories And The Relationship Between Stressful Life Changes And Nutrition-Related Health Outcomes Among United States Army Soldiers, Julianna Marie Jayne

Theses and Dissertations

Body mass index (BMI) has risen among members of the military, though to a lesser degree than in civilian populations. BMI as an anthropometric tool has been essential for population surveillance and documenting the obesity epidemic and its health consequences. One use for BMI in population surveillance is to model the BMI trajectories of a population over time. Many studies are available on the BMI trajectories and determinants of BMI in civilians, but few studies of this nature in military populations exist. Establishing the shape and determinants of BMI trajectories among Soldiers is critical given the importance of weight management …