Digital Commons Network^™

Cross Sectional Analysis Of Patients With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Enrolled In A Disease Management And Prevention Program, Jordan T. Perkins

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a heritable genetic condition that is largely underdiagnosed and has been estimated to affect 1 out of every 5,000-7,000 people in North America. The condition is characterized by a decrease in the production or activity of the alpha-1 antitrypsin protein, increasing risk for chronic lung or liver inflammation, that may lead to disease. Currently, there is no cure for the condition and augmentation therapy, which replaces the lost protein, has shown mixed results, meaning preventive measures taken by the patient are a large component of the prescribed treatment. Thus, patients with the condition are strongly …

The Association Between Latent Tuberculosis Infection And Diabetes Mellitus Control In The United States, Whitney L. Remy

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Rationale: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is recognized as a common comorbid condition for tuberculosis (TB). Those with comorbid conditions are more likely to develop active TB, to have trouble with treatment, and to have more severe symptoms.

Objective: To measure the prevalence and distribution of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and DM control in the United State and test their association when measured by tuberculin skin test (TST) or QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube blood test (QFT-GIT) and by HbA1c, respectively. Literature Review: One-third of the world population is infected with TB. Ten percent of TB cases worldwide are linked to diabetes mellitus. Studies …

Risk Factors For Tuberculosis And Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Complications Among Foreign-Born Persons In Houston, Texas, James N. Isaboke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading public health problem across the world. For various reasons, TB and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have increased. Clarification on TB/HIV co-infection and homelessness as risk factors for TB and MDR-TB is required to inform policy interventions to reduce TB-related morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. In this quantitative study, data from the Houston Health Department (N = 341) were analyzed to explore the relationship between TB and MDR-TB outcomes and TB/HIV co-infection and type of housing/homelessness. Foreign-born persons are disproportionately affected in the United States. The socio-ecological model provided a theoretical framework for the investigation. Multiple and …

Perceptions Of Cameroonian Women Regarding Cervical Cancer Prevention, Anna Nkapsah Nji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in Cameroon as well as those residing in the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan area and the Diasporas suffer a disproportionate rate of cervical cancer morbidity and mortality due to the vast disproportion in the distribution of healthcare services. The widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination holds promise for helping to attenuate the disproportion in cervical cancer screening and prevention services. Literature from other countries including Cameroon suggests that barriers to the uptake of cervical cancer screening include: culture, religion, the psychological impact of embarrassment, the influence of husbands, cost, discomfort, and vulnerability. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding …

Relationship Between Family Income And Obesity Among African American Adults, Charles Dadzie Boison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a chronic disease that is caused by a number of factors such as diet, genetics, physical inactivity, and poor dietary habits. This research focused on how income affects obesity among a target population in the African American community in Durham, North Carolina (NC). It has been noted that chronic diseases that are diet-related, for example, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, affect African Americans disproportionately, especially those who earn low income. Some studies have also reported that those who make higher income have higher rates of obesity. This inconsistency and gap in the literature prompted research on this …

Comparison Of Thyroid Disease Mortality Between Urban And Rural Populations In Southwest Georgia, Donyale Bouie Childs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Twenty million people in the United States have some form of thyroid disease. In 2014, there were 62,980 new cases of thyroid cancer and 1,890 deaths. Water source is a known risk factor for thyroid disease. Pollutants that are known to alter thyroid function can find their way into water sources. The effect of various water sources on thyroid- related mortality has not been determined in the state of Georgia. The purpose of this correlational study was to investigate whether invasive thyroid disease mortality differs between urban participants who drank municipal water and rural participants who drank untreated water in …

Social Demography Of Health Seeking Experiences Among Transgender African Americans, Alicia Cutrice Fritz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to and receipt of health care is an essential human right; however, transgender people often have negative health seeking experiences that give way to the many health disparities seen in the transgender community. Using the social ecological model, this study determined, through multiple logistic regressions, that correlations existed between socioeconomic, health behaviors, and sociocultural variables and 6 measures of health seeking experiences among transgender African Americans. Secondary data from the 2010 National Transgender Discrimination Survey were used, yielding a sample size of 253 transgender African Americans. Those in the African American transgender community at most risk for negative health …

Influence Of Patient Engagement Protocol On Health Outcomes And Medication Adherence Of Patients With Metabolic Syndrome, Angela H. Mcconnell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

August 2016

Management of metabolic syndrome (MetS) may be enhanced by promoting patient engagement. Training health care providers in the conceptual and practical application of integrative patient centered care tools may promote patient lifestyle behaviors for better management of MetS. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to assess the impact of training providers in integrative patient centered care for patients with MetS. The biopsychosocial construct provided the conceptual framework for the study. Two groups of physicians were included; one received training in an integrative model (IM) while the second received no training and provided usual care (UC). Following …

The Effect Of Dietary Fruits & Vegetable Consumption And Physical Activity On Obesity In African American Adolescent Females., Tanisha Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is epidemic among Black adolescent females, and adolescent obesity often leads to adult obesity. Previous research suggests that there may be an interaction between physical activity and dietary fruit and vegetable intake on body mass index (BMI) in obese adolescent females in general, but it was unclear whether the same pattern is evident in Black adolescent females, who, on average, tend to have low levels of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake. Bandura's social learning theory implies the possibility that adolescent females might model their behaviors on the behavior of others in their high school years, including physical …

Food Labeling And Consumer Associations With Health, Safety, And Environment, Joanna K. Sax, Neal Doran

Faculty Scholarship

The food supply is complicated and consumers are increasingly calling for labeling on food to be more informative. In particular, consumers are asking for the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMO) food based on health, safety and environmental concerns. At issue is whether the labels that are sought would accurately provide the information desired. The present study examined consumer (n = 181) perceptions of health, safety and the environment for foods labeled organic, natural, fat free or low fat, GMO, or non-GMO. Findings indicated that respondents consistently believed that foods labeled GMO are less healthy, safe and environmentally-friendly compared to …

Chronic Pancreatitis, Pain, And Anxiety In An Alcohol And High Fat Mouse Model, Tiffanie Clinkinbeard

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

Homeodynamic space (HDS) shrinks as vulnerability increases with aging and repeated damage to the cells. HDS is lost in alcoholic pancreatitis patients due to overconsumption of alcohol, smoking, and high fat diets. Etiologically relevant animal models for study of chronic pancreatitis (CP) are needed. In order to begin filling this gap a central purpose of this dissertation research was to examine relationships between the alcohol and high fat diet (AHF) and pancreatitis with attention to hypersensitivity and anxiety-like behaviors. The AHF diet induced pancreatitis described here etiologically mimics human risk factors of AHF consumption for advancement to alcoholic CP.

In …

Does Breast Cancer Drive The Building Of Survival Probability Models Among States? An Assessment Of Goodness Of Fit For Patient Data From Seer Registries, Hafiz Mohammad Rafiqullah Khan, Anshul Saxena, Abhilash Perisetti, Aamrin Rafiq, Kemesha Gabbidon, Sarah Mende, Maria Lyuksyutova, Kandi Quesada, Summre Blakely, Tiffany Torres, Mahlet Afesse

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

Background:

Breast cancer is a worldwide public health concern and is the most prevalent type of cancer in women in the United States. This study concerned the best fit of statistical probability models on the basis of survival times for nine state cancer registries: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington.

Materials and Methods:

A probability random sampling method was applied to select and extract records of 2,000 breast cancer patients from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database for each of the nine state cancer registries used in this study. EasyFit software was utilized …

Assessing Cultural Competence In Nursing Students At A Small Private Liberal Arts University, Mikah K. Barrueta Ms

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Appropriate care across cultures can occur only when patient, family, and community expectations are aligned with provider knowledge, attitude, and behavior (Doorenbos et al, 2005). Because nurses treat patients from all types of backgrounds, a culturally competent approach should and must be used when educating and training future nurses. The purpose of this study is to assess various cultural competence components of senior nursing students at a small Midwestern University. In order to assess this sample population, two peer-reviewed surveys were chosen; the Quality and Culture Quiz and the Affective Racial Attitudes subscale from the Quick Discrimination Index. Three more …

Clinical Profile And Containment Of The Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak In Two Large West African Cities, Nigeria, July-September 2014, Chima Ohuabunwo, Celestine Ameh, Oyin Oduyebo, Anthony Ahumibe, Bamidele Mutiu, Adebola Olayinka, Wasiu Gbadamosi, Erika Garcia, Carolina Nanclares, Wale Famiyesin, Abdulaziz Mohammed, Patrick Nguku, Richard I. Koko, Joshua Obasanya, Durojaye Adebayo, Yemi Gbadegesin, Oni Idigbe, Olukayode Oguntimehin, Sara Nyanti, Charles Nzuki, Ismail Abdus-Salam, Joseph Adeyemi, Nnanna Onyekwere, Emmanuel Musa, David Brett-Major, Faisal Shuaib, Abdulsalami Nasidi

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION: The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria began when an infected diplomat from Liberia arrived in Lagos, the most populous city in Africa, with subsequent transmission to another large city.

METHODS: First-, second-, and third-generation contacts were traced, monitored, and classified. Symptomatic contacts were managed at Ebola treatment centers as suspected, probable, and confirmed EVD cases using standard operating procedures adapted from the World Health Organization EVD guidelines. Reverse transcription PCR tests confirmed EVD. Socio-demographic, clinical, hospitalization, and outcome data of the July-September 2014 Nigeria EVD cohort were analyzed.

RESULTS: The median age of the 20 EVD cases …

Emerging Technologies To Measure Neighborhood Conditions In Public Health: Implications For Interventions And Next Steps, M. Schootman, E. J. Nelson, K. Werner, E. Shacham, M. Elliott, Kendra Ratnapradipa, M. Lian, A. Mcvay

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Adverse neighborhood conditions play an important role beyond individual characteristics. There is increasing interest in identifying specific characteristics of the social and built environments adversely affecting health outcomes. Most research has assessed aspects of such exposures via self-reported instruments or census data. Potential threats in the local environment may be subject to short-term changes that can only be measured with more nimble technology. The advent of new technologies may offer new opportunities to obtain geospatial data about neighborhoods that may circumvent the limitations of traditional data sources. This overview describes the utility, validity and reliability of selected emerging technologies to …

The Effects Of Resistance Training Frequency On Muscle Hypertrophy And Strength In Healthy Trained Individuals: Literature Review, Alexander C. Boivin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of increased resistance training frequency on strength and hypertrophy in trained individuals. Six Studies were deemed eligible based on the inclusion exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria for this review were healthy trained individuals. “Trained” refers to over one year of resistance training experience. Exclusion Criteria were study’s that examined either untrained or obese individuals as participants. The evidence indicates a dose-response trend in frequency. Resistance training each muscle group twice a week may be superior compared to once per week. Further more, resistance training each muscle group three times a …

Assessing Household Drinking Water Needs: Reaching Many One Water Filter At A Time In Los Robles, Nicaragua, Erinkate E. Springer

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Water quality and water scarcity have dominated international health and environmental management initiatives for decades because of the devastating impacts poor water quality has on child mortality and general public well-being, particularly in developing countries. Non-profit organizations, private utilities, and government agencies have invested significant financial resources and time to increase access to improved water sources in low-income countries. However, the sustainability of water improvement project benefits have been disappointing due to a lack of community and household capacity to operate and maintain introduced water systems. This paper evaluates a community/household based water improvement project introduced by a small non-governmental …

Health Care Agency: Statewide Awareness Of Patient-Centered Care In Maine’S Mental Health Care Facilities, Holly Hogan A

Honors Theses

This research project focuses on patient-centered care (PCC) in the context of inpatient acute psychiatric units. Hospitals have been claiming their renewed outlooks on health-care via PCC. It has become an increasingly popular term to use on hospital websites and in presidential statements. The technologies and practices surrounding psychiatric care have evolved in such a way that patients are more welcomed to have an input in their care. This project discusses the discourse around PCC at Mental Health Care Facilities in Maine. There is no consensus on the definition; the meanings ascribed to it are derived from the individual institutions. …

Maporal Hantavirus Causes Mild Pathology In Deer Mice (Peromyscus Maniculatus), Amanda Mcguire, Kaitlyn Miedema, Joseph R. Fauver, Amber Rico, Tawfik Aboellail, Sandra L. Quackenbush, Ann Hawkinson, Tony Schountz

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Rodent-borne hantaviruses can cause two human diseases with many pathological similarities: hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in the western hemisphere and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the eastern hemisphere. Each virus is hosted by specific reservoir species without conspicuous disease. HCPS-causing hantaviruses require animal biosafety level-4 (ABSL-4) containment, which substantially limits experimental research of interactions between the viruses and their reservoir hosts. Maporal virus (MAPV) is a South American hantavirus not known to cause disease in humans, thus it can be manipulated under ABSL-3 conditions. The aim of this study was to develop an ABSL-3 hantavirus infection model using the …

Communicating Social Support: Understanding Complexities Of Breastfeeding Communication Among African American Mothers, Nicole Rachael Peritore

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Breast milk is the best choice for meeting the nutritional needs for an infant whenever possible. Despite the knowledge that this nutritional choice is the best choice for an infant, data demonstrates that there is a sharp decline in the rates of breastfeeding mothers. Among African Americans, breastfeeding rates are significantly lower than the national averages. Despite many of the applications of social support in communication research, there is a gap in knowledge on the social support systems in the context of breastfeeding, especially for African Americans. With the social ecological model as a framework, social support theory provides understanding …

The Link Between Smoking, Lung Cancer And Socioeconomic Factors In Kentucky, Shreya Berlia

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background and Purpose

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the United States. An estimated 158,080 deaths from lung cancer are expected to occur in 2016, which will account for approximately 1 in 4 of all cancer deaths. The 1- and 5-year relative survival rates for lung cancer are 44% and 17%, respectively. The incidence rate for lung cancer has been declining since the mid-1980s in men, but only since the mid-2000s in women. Tobacco smoke is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in …

Sexual And Reproductive Health Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Early Adolescents And Young Adults In Uganda: Findings From A Link Up Exploratory Study, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council collaborated with Makerere University’s Child Health and Development Centre to conduct a study of males and females ages 10–24 to help inform future programs and policies affecting these young people. This study was conducted as part of the Link Up project, a global consortium led by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance that aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young vulnerable people. Results indicate that adolescents and young adults have broad gaps in their knowledge about HIV and SRHR; early adolescents fared significantly worse in these areas than their older counterparts, suggesting that …

Resolving The Policy Paradox: The Case Of Biofuel Production In Ireland, Alan Gilmer, Mark J. Mcgarrity, Vivienne Byers

Articles

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the status of policy design and policy implementation in the biofuel sector in Ireland. The focus of the work addresses the overarching operational context of the biofuel sector in Ireland and the role of different actors in shaping and resolving inconsistencies in policy outlook and practice. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a qualitative research approach involving a series of semi-structured interviews with members of the relevant sub-groups concerned. This study sought to address two questions – whether current or proposed policy is likely to affect consumption of indigenous biofuel feedstocks …

Macdonald-Miller Correspondence, Norman Miller, Duncan Macdonald Md

Dartmouth Scholarship

This file is an exchange of letters, e-mails, and documents between Norman Miller and Duncan MacDonald, MD, including a four-volume collection of MacDonald’s writings, over a 30-year period, all on witchcraft, some 600 pages extracted from the original 1100. As such, the following material is unfinished, presenting sketches of ideas, concepts, and arguments.

Duncan MacDonald served as a physician in Zambia and Kenya, including a period as a "Flying Doctor". He later served as a provincial psychiatrist in Cornwall, UK. His parallel interests in economic development and international witchcraft issues led to long-term research on these issues, the witchcraft concerns …

The Health Exception, Monica E. Eppinger

All Faculty Scholarship

The abortion doctrine laid out in Roe v. Wade permits a procedure necessary to preserve the life or the health of the pregnant woman, setting out what has come to be called the “life exception” and the “health exception.” This Article investigates the background and antecedents of the health exception, identifying three periods of formation and change up to the drafting of the Model Penal Code in 1959. It argues that theories of health lie at the heart of legal doctrine, shaping common-law treatment of abortion and persisting in nineteenth- and twentieth-century statutes. This account reveals origins of a health …

Neighborhood Disadvantage During Childhood : A Predictor Of Young Adult Mental Health, Ethan Minier

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Exploring The Association Between Maternal Mental Health And Housing Conditions During Early Childhood And Anxiety And Depression At Age 15, Diane Marie Butrym

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Low-Level Arsenic Exposure Via Drinking Water And Female Fecundity, Michele L. Susko

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

Antibody-Mediated Immunity To Vibrio Cholerae At Epithelial Surfaces, Kara Jeanette Levinson

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera, has an estimated worldwide disease burden in the millions and remains a significant public health threat. Immunity to V. cholerae is primarily antibody-mediated and though V. cholerae colonization evokes a mucosal immune response, it is the secretory IgA (SIgA) antibodies produced against bacterial surface antigens, specifically lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that confer protective immunity. SIgA antibodies are thought to function by inhibiting colonization by cross-linking and agglutination of pathogens, thereby limiting access to the epithelium, a process known as immune exclusion. Recent studies in other enteric pathogens have demonstrated that SIgA …

Maternal Surgery Or Anesthesia Use During Pregnancy And The Risk Of Adverse Birth Outcomes In The National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2009, Youjung Byun

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: 50,000 to 75,000 pregnant women are estimated to undergo surgery during pregnancy. This number comprises of 1.5 to 2 percent of the total confirmed pregnancies. Considering most pregnancies are unintended (49%), the number of women undergoing surgery unaware of the pregnancy is expected to be higher than the historical estimate. This study objective is to identify the characteristics of mothers who undergo surgery and assess the association between surgery or anesthesia exposure and the risk of adverse birth outcomes.