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Advanced Practice Nurses Knowledge And Use Of Fall Prevention Guidelines, Katherine Hays

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Falls are a significant public health issue resulting in a significant economic and social burden on society. Specific strategies are available that can reduce the risk of falling for older adults age 65 and older; however, providers have failed to integrate these guidelines into clinical practice (Rubenstein, Solomon & Roth, 2004; Chou, Tinetti, King, Irwin, & Fortinsky, 2006; Jones, Ghosh, Horn, Smith, & Vogt, 2011). The CDC has published the STEADI toolkit, a healthcare resource for integrating fall prevention guidelines into clinical practice; but little information is available on the knowledge and use of the STEADI toolkit by Advance Practice …

Blood Inorganic Mercury Is Directly Associated With Glucose Levels In The Human Population And May Be Linked To Processed Food Intake, Renee Dufault, Zara Berg, Raquel Crider, Roseanne Schnoll, Larry Wetsit, Wayne Two Bulls, Steven G. Gilbert, H.M. “Skip” Kingston, Mesay Mulugeta Wolle, G.M. Mizanur Rahman, Dan R. Laks

Publications and Research

Background: The goals of the study were (1) to determine the impact of inorganic mercury exposure on glucose homeostasis; and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of two community-based interventions in promoting dietary changes among American Indian college students to reduce risk factors for Type-2 Diabetes including fasting glucose, insulin, and mercury levels, weight, and body mass index.

Methods: To accomplish goal one, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset was analyzed using a previously published method to determine if there is a relationship between inorganic blood mercury and fasting glucose. To accomplish goal two, ten college students were …

Swords Into Stethoscopes: How The U.S. Military Could Conduct Medical Diplomacy, Oliver Kendall

Political Science Honors Projects

Since the early 1960’s, Cuba and China have won international appreciation by sending doctors abroad to help where they are needed. While there was surprise in some quarters when U.S. military personnel were deployed to combat Ebola in the last months of 2014, the Department of Defense actually has a long history of medical activity. In its current form, DoD medical outreach cannot likely garner soft power in the way that the Chinese and Cuban programs can, but with a few modifications, the U.S. military could be a serious conductor of medical diplomacy that would save countless lives and benefit …

Chhs May 2015 E-Newsletter,, Dr. John Bonaguro, Dean, Vashon S. Wells, Editor, Wku College Of Health & Human Services

College of Health & Human Services Publications

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Numeracy On Parental Self-Efficacy And Treatment Outcome Of Children On Complex Diets., Diana Cardina Pantalos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Health numeracy, a counterpart to health literacy, can be a mediator of health disparities. This study analyzed the impact of both cognitive and affective numeracy on the pathway linking health behavior to health outcomes, and the role of self-efficacy in this relationship, based on the Health Belief Model. The context was parental management of children's complex diets that require numerical calculations. Parents of children ages 12 months to 12 years with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or phenylketonuria (PKU) were recruited at clinics or community events in east-central states. Ninety-eight participants completed a standardized test of math skills, an instrument to …

The Relationship Between Financial Empowerment And Health Related Quality Of Life In Family Scholar House Participants., Chelsey Erbaugh Franz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Family Scholar House program was a unique intervention designed to stop the cycle of poverty by providing college education and support to single parents. The different aspects of the Family Scholar House program addressed each of the five social determinants of health (economic stability, education, social and community context, health care, and neighborhood and built environment). Results of the studies showed that participant’s mental health and general health rating, as measured by a health-related quality of life survey, improved during the time in the Family Scholar House program. Upon graduation from the program, the mental health and the health …

Implementation Of Break Time For Employee Nursing Mothers At The University Of Louisville : A Case Study., Robin Elise Weiss, 1971-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a mixed methods look at the barriers to successful implementation of the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at an upper southern-midwestern university. As public health and medical officials push the desire for an increase in breastfeeding initiation and duration, many mothers must overcome barriers within the employment arena. Previous work has failed to look at how the university setting presents unique challenges with a diverse workforce, varied jobs, and differing space availability. In other settings, barriers have been identified; the goal of this dissertation was to identify what the specific …

The Influence Of Child Physical Activity Programs On Parent Physical Activity In A Rural Community., Katie F. Leslie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: In 2008, a coalition of community leaders and parents sought to increase access to physical activity opportunities for residents of Meade County, a rural Kentucky community. To date, the Meade Activity Center has implemented a variety of year-round programs conducted at borrowed spaces from local schools that have targeted children, utilizing the strategy to first engage children as a way to extend behavior change to other members of the community. This study assessed the influence of child participation in physical activity programs on parent physical activity, and determined potential methods of intervention to increase adult physical activity in a …

Examining The Role Of Consciousness And The Absurd In Suicide, Alexandra R. Azevedo

Senior Honors Projects

In order to emphasize the significance of suicide as a subjective experience, this research project explores suicide through a philosophical lens, primarily focusing on the absurdist school of thought that gained prominence with the twentieth century French philosopher and writer Albert Camus. Despite recent advances in the scientific study of suicide, I argue that many of the historically divisive questions surrounding suicide are rooted in philosophy. My original work attempts to rectify the current disconnect between suicidality and philosophy through the analysis and application of Camus’ chief work on the subjects, The Myth of Sisyphus. Recognizing the efficacy of …

Rush To Judgment: The Sti-Treatment Trials And Hiv In Sub-Saharan Africa, Eileen Stillwaggon, Larry Sawers

Economics Faculty Publications

Introduction: The extraordinarily high incidence of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa led to the search for cofactor infections that could explain the high rates of transmission in the region. Genital inflammation and lesions caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were a probable mechanism, and numerous observational studies indicated several STI cofactors. Nine out of the ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs), however, failed to demonstrate that treating STIs could lower HIV incidence. We evaluate all 10 trials to determine if their design permits the conclusion, widely believed, that STI treatment is ineffective in reducing HIV incidence.

Discussion: Examination of the …

Maternal Obesity And Incidence Of Depression, Caroline A. Habjan

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Obesity is a national epidemic in the United States, which both directly and indirectly affects the social productivity of individuals, the American macro economy and individuals’ personal health and well being. Depression often interferes with an individual’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. A maternal state of both obesity and depression may cause serious adverse medical conditions in the mother’s child. Taking steps to treat depression and obesity are critical in the construct of modern medicine. This project yields results that have the potential to make treatment options better tailored, more efficient, effective and economically-sound for the …

Localizing The International: Examining How Fieldworkers Combat Adolescent Pregnancy In Northern Ghana, Alexandra C. Sloss

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

International aid is often ineffective because it is delivered without an understanding of local ideologies and contexts. My Capstone examined whether or not international aid in northern Ghana could be effective when addressing adolescent pregnancy. The Ghanaian programs I address in my Capstone are six non-governmental organizations, a government sub-district clinic and government junior high schools. The majority of my data was collected through interviews with individuals at all levels of the organizations, including directors, staff members, volunteers and individuals seeking the organization’s services. Alongside interviews I also spent time in the field, participating in youth group discussions, visiting regional …

Male Escorts’ And Male Clients’ Sexual Behavior During Their Last Commercial Sexual Encounter: Comparing And Contrasting Findings From Two Online Studies, Christian Grov, Carlos E. Rodríguez-Díaz, Gerardo G. Jovet-Toledo

Publications and Research

Much of what is known about commercial sexual encounters between men is based on data gathered from escorts. With few exceptions, studies have not compared male clients’ reports of behavior during commercial sexual encounters with male escorts’. The present study draws from two datasets, a 2012 survey of clients (n = 495) and a 2013 survey of escorts (n = 387)—both used virtually identical measures of sexual behavior during the most recent commercial sexual encounter. For clients and escorts, the majority eschewed having sex without a condom, and kissing and oral sex were among the most common behaviors reported. Using …

Effects Of Dehydration On Changes In Arterial Stiffness With Passive Heating, Az Satterfield

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Context: There is an inverse relationship between baseline arterial stiffness and the change in arterial stiffness with passive heating. However, it is unknown whether this relationship is affected by dehydration. Objective: To investigate the effect of acute dehydration on arterial stiffness during passive heat stress. Design: Two randomized counter-balanced trials. Setting: Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Eleven healthy males (age=24.5 ± 2.8 years, body mass=76.6 ± 9.1 kg, body fat=16.8 ± 6.4%). Interventions: In one trial subjects were dehydrated (DE) and in another euhydration (EU) was maintained during passive heating to a 1.5°C increase in body temperature. Subjects were euhydrated …

Slip, Trip And Fall Risk Among Elderly Men And Women Living In The Hawaii Adult Foster Care Home System, Michelle Echauz Ching

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adults 65 years of age and older (hereby referred to as “elderly”) are one of the fastest growing populations in the United States (U.S.). A major public health concern affecting the elderly population is unintentional injuries, particularly slips, trips, and falls (STFs). While there is extensive research on STFs among the elderly living in the community and long-term health care facilities, little to no research is found on STFs among the elderly living in community-based health care facilities. Research has also shown that STFs are caused by the interaction between multiple risk factors. Therefore, the purpose of this quasi-experimental study …

Understanding Perceptions Of Genetically Modified Food Among Natural Food Shoppers In Southern Nevada, Christian Murua-Aceves

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Today, 85% of corn, 93% of soybeans, and 88% of cotton in the U.S. are genetically modified (GM). Using laboratory methods, genes from one species, such as a plant, can be transferred to an unrelated species, such as an animal. Genetically modified crops may lead to higher yields, have improved food quality, texture, and nutritional value, and have an increased shelf life.

Despite these promising benefits, the potential health risks relating to the consumption of GM food remain inadequately assessed. Genetically modified food is not subjected to rigorous safety testing, such as epidemiologic studies, to identify potential health risks. Two …

Lead Hazard Control In Henderson, Nevada: Identifying Critical Areas And The Associated Costs, Khaye Gerazel Arcilla Rufin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Lead poisoning is a common, yet preventable childhood health problem in the United States today. Studies show statistically significant (p < .05) associations between higher childhood lead exposure and subsequent negative developmental outcomes. Since 1993, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Lead Hazard Control (LHC) Grant Program has devoted more than $1 billion in funding to several cities.

This study investigated a total of n=75 homes enrolled into the Henderson Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program (HLHCHHP) from December 2013 – February 2015. A logistic regression was performed to ascertain the frequency of lead-based paint (LBP) found in homes based on the year it was constructed. Of the 75 enrolled and tested for LBP, 58 homes (77.3%) were found to contain LBP and 17 homes (22.7%) did not contain LBP. The significance value of p=0.013 shows that …

An Evaluation Of The Primary Care Providers’ Perspective Of The Effects Of Moderate Alcohol Consumption On Health, Gisele Tchamba

Dissertations

The complexity of health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption (MAC) is well documented. From the World Health Organization recent report, impact of harm from alcohol consumption was 3.3 million deaths or 5.9 percent of all global deaths (WHO, 2014).

Yet, the benefits of MAC for better health and longer life expectancy compared with abstinence are advocated in numerous studies (Nova, Baccan, Zapatera and Marcos, 2012). However, the nature of alcohol, its role on human sufferings has generated disagreements in the scientific community. Analysis of the results of early studies advocating better health for moderate drinkers, reveal discrepancies regarding the influence …

The Role Of Stress: Low Birth Weight And Preterm Birth For African American Women, Tionna Latrice Jenkins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This population-based study evaluates the impact that psychoSocial stress has on adverse birth outcomes of low birth weight (LBW) and pre-term birth (PTB) among African American mothers in Arkansas. The relationship between adverse birth outcomes in African American women and stress in comparison to non-Hispanic Caucasian women data was evaluated from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) quantitative survey. Data from 2005 through 2010 was reviewed to show the impact that psychoSocial stress has on adverse birth outcomes. The study sample was comprised of 14,196 participants.

Ethnic group status is the key maternal-level independent variable in this study. Of …

The Paleoepidemiology Of Malaria In The Ancient Near East, Nicole Elizabeth Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The end of the Late Bronze Age in the Near East (1300 - 1200 BCE) saw the widespread collapse of several large cultural centers, the reasons for which are a subject of continued debate. Evidence from events leading up to this cultural collapse suggest epidemic disease may have factored into the eventual downfall of these early civilizations. Recent DNA analysis from Egyptian mummies who lived during the period leading up to the Late Bronze Age collapse identified malaria in several elite individuals, suggesting the widespread prevalence of this infectious disease in Egypt. However, the exact prevalence, antiquity, and dynamics of …

Super Learner Analysis Of Electronic Adherence Data Improves Viral Prediction And May Provide Strategies For Selective Hiv Rna Monitoring, Maya L. Petersen, Erin Ledell, Joshua Schwab, Varada Sarovar, Robert Gross, Nancy Reynolds, Jessica E. Haberer, Kathy Goggin, Carol E. Golin, Julia Arnsten, Marc Rosen, Robert H. Remien, David Etoori, Ira B. Wilson, Jane M. Simoni, Judith A. Erlen, Mark J. Van Der Laan, Honghu Liu, David Bangsberg

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective—Regular HIV RNA testing for all HIV positive patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is expensive and has low yield since most tests are undetectable. Selective testing of those at higher risk of failure may improve efficiency. We investigated whether a novel analysis of adherence data could correctly classify virological failure and potentially inform a selective testing strategy.

Design—Multisite prospective cohort consortium.

Methods—We evaluated longitudinal data on 1478 adult patients treated with ART and monitored using the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) in 16 United States cohorts contributing to the MACH14 consortium. Since the relationship between adherence and virological failure is …

Management Of Pediatric Headaches In The Emergency Department At Connecticut Children’S Medical Center, Chevaughn Wellington

Honors Scholar Theses

Headaches are a common complaint for children presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC). Currently, there is little published regarding a standard treatment plan for pediatric headaches. The purpose of this study is to determine which medications are most commonly utilized and which are most effective in managing pediatric headaches. Differences in management of acute and chronic headaches in the ED at CCMC were examined. A retrospective chart review was conducted of all children who presented to the ED from January 1 to March 31, 2013 with a chief complaint or discharge diagnosis of “headache” …

Genetics Of Obesity In Starr County, Texas Mexican Americans, Heather M. Highland

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Currently, over two-thirds of Americans are classified as over-weight or obese. Obesity increases risk for many other diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, making obesity the largest public health problem in America and most other Westernized nations. Hispanics have a higher rate of both obesity and type 2 diabetes, making them a particularly interesting population in which to study obesity. For the last 33 years, the Starr County Health Studies has collected an array of phenotypes and biological samples from residents of Starr County, along Texas-Mexico border. This study includes 825 subjects who were not known …

The Influence Of Race And Gender On Hiv Risk Behaviors In High School Students In The Southern States Of The United States, Malendie T. Gaines

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is highest in the southern states of the United States (US), with adolescents in this region being one of the most affected populations in the country. A limited amount of information is available on adolescent HIV risk behaviors in the southern states, specifically focusing on race and gender. The purpose of this study was to use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Risk Behaviors Survey (YRBS) for high school students in the southern states for 2011 and 2013 to examine the influence of race and gender on 1) early …

A Hierarchical Graph For Nucleotide Binding Domain 2, Samuel Kakraba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the most prevalent inherited diseases is cystic fibrosis. This disease is caused by a mutation in a membrane protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is known to function as a chloride channel that regulates the viscosity of mucus that lines the ducts of a number of organs. Generally, most of the prevalent mutations of CFTR are located in one of two nucleotide binding domains, namely, the nucleotide binding domain 1 (NBD1). However, some mutations in nucleotide binding domain 2 (NBD2) can equally cause cystic fibrosis. In this work, a hierarchical graph is built for NBD2. …

Sleep Duration Associated With Cardiovascular Conditions Among Adult Nevadans, Brianna Pergola

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the United States accounting for 1 out of every 3 deaths. Additionally, 43.9% of the population is expected to have some form of cardiovascular disease by the year 2030, with direct and indirect costs expected to rise upwards of 58 percent. To successfully prevent cardiovascular disease conditions such as myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, and stroke, research must be done to identify risk factors, both modifiable and non-modifiable. In the existing literature, sleep duration as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease conditions has shown inconsistent associations. According to the National …

The Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Subsequent Injury In Young Adulthood: Findings From The National Longitudinal Study Of Adolescent And Adult Health, Michelle M. Sotero

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The objective of this study is to examine the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the context of family and community and the likelihood of subsequent unintentional and intentional, nonfatal injury in young adulthood (ages 24-32 years). Using a cross sectional study design, data from Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health, a nationally representative sample (n = 14,800) was used to examine the relationship between 16 types of ACEs and a cumulative ACE score and the odds of seven injury outcomes in young adulthood. Over a third (37.6%) of young adults …

Exploration Of Linguistic And Extra-Linguistic Factors In Stroke Knowledge And Emergency Response: Studies Of Input, Output, And Outcome, Laura L. O. Froeschke

Dissertations

This dissertation is comprised of three studies centered on addressing factors that influence stroke knowledge and decision-making during the acute stroke emergency in both general and Hispanic populations. The first study provided data on patterns of explicit stroke knowledge in a sample of 94 Hispanic subjects. This study assessed relationships between stroke knowledge (Stroke Action Test; STAT; Billings-Gagliardi & Mazor, 2005) and subjects’ typical language use (Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics; Marín, Sabogal, VanOss Marín, Otero-Sabogal, Pérez-Stable, 1987). No relationship was found between language use (Spanish/English) and stroke symptom knowledge. Contrastingly, STAT scores were found to …

The Role Of Social Relationship In Hiv Healing And Its Implications In Hiv Cure In China, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Jing-Bao Nie, Joseph Tucker, Stuart Rennie, Xiao-Ming Li

Faculty Publications

HIV is both a biomedical disease and a social phenomenon that is constructed in particular cultural contexts. A successful and humane HIV cure requires not only the science of eradicating pathogens, but also the art of healing to restore harmony between mind and body. Healing in the context of HIV cure will be both personal and interpersonal, biological and social, and will involve rebuilding connections between HIV patients and their social environment. Social conceptions of healing have been highlighted in many regions with rich non-biomedical healing traditions, including China. Based on an adapted theoretical model on social relationships and health, …

So Much More Than A “Pair Of Brown Shoes”: Triumphs Of Patient And Other Stakeholder Engagement In Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Amanda Brodt, M.P.P., Christine K. Norton, M.A., Amy Kratchman

Patient Experience Journal

This piece illustrates the “real world” experiences of patients and other stakeholder partners in research to help inform and inspire future patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) efforts. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was created in 2010 to fund research that helps patients, clinicians, and other healthcare stakeholders make informed health decisions. The first 50 funded PCORI Pilot Projects engaged patients, caregivers, parents, patient advocates, clinicians, and other non-traditional research stakeholders to serve in advisory and leadership positions on their research teams, many for the first time. In interviews with seven patients and other stakeholders, several lessons learned emerged, including how …