Digital Commons Network^™

Reproducibility Of Maine Ongoing Outreach Simulation Education (Moose) Program In Level I Rural Delivery Hospitals, Allison Zanno, Jeffrey Holmes, Micheline Chipman, Anya K. Cutler, Leah M. Seften, Mary Ottolini, Alexa Craig, Leah Mallory, Misty Melendi

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2024

Introduction

• Simulation provides an opportunity to practice neonatal resuscitation program (NRP®) guidelines with high acuity, low occurrence events

• Rural hospitals with low birth volumes have infrequent opportunities to maintain skills needed to adequately perform neonatal resuscitation

• With limited clinical opportunities, it is essential to provide ongoing training and education that allow teams to practice these skills

• Training environment includes a facilitated debrief allowing for feedback on performance and areas of improvement

Effect Of Telemedicine Consults On Time To Initiation Of Therapeutic Hypothermia In A Rural State, Alexa Craig, Leah M. Seften, Anya K. Cutler

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2024

Background

• To receive therapeutic hypothermia (TH), neonates must be transferred within the first 6 hours of life to a center that offers TH treatment

• In rural states, timely identification of neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is challenging due to the large geographic distances

Long Term Effects On Health: Analyzing The Lasting Effects Of Covid-19 On The Human Body, Kaylie Stachelski

University Honors College

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns regarding the long-term effects it can leave on an individual’s health. This abstract provides an overview of the emerging evidence of the long-term effects of COVID-19. Research indicates that COVID-19 can lead to acute or chronic health effects, affecting multiple systems in the body. The symptoms that have been known to effect quality of life in patients that have been suffering from long-haul COVID. While the full spectrum and mechanisms of long-term effects are still under investigation, understanding and addressing the long-term health consequences of COVID-19 remain critical for patient care and public …

Pcos: Comparing Inositol Supplementation To Metformin Treatment, Caitlin Liechti-Hawkins

University Honors College

The purpose of this literature review is to compare the viability of inositol versus metformin for the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The research outlines the criteria for diagnosis and the many symptoms associated with the condition. The aim is to discover if inositol should be recommended for PCOS symptoms as a replacement for metformin. It was found that safety and popularity of the two options were important factors for physicians and patients to consider before choosing a treatment. Within these scopes, adverse effects, costs, regulation, and belief of treatment were compared. Findings indicated that inositol supplementation may possibly …

Uncovering The Dark Side Of Technology: Exploring The Connection Of Conflict Minerals, Child Labor, And The Global Supply Chain In The Electronics Industry, Dylan Maupin

University Honors College

A topic that has recently come to light over the past few years is the conflicts with the electronics supply chain. With the increasing amount of technology, people are wanting more and more electronic devices that satisfy all their needs and make their lives easier. With this increase in demand for these devices, minerals such as tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold are being sourced at a rapid rate. This leads to conflicts within the supply chain as the minerals are being sourced from countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo where minerals are being mined by children and women …

A Systematic Review Of Mental Health Of Women In Fragile And Humanitarian Settings Of The Eastern Mediterranean Region, Fauziah Rabbani, Aysha Zahidie, Amna Siddiqui, Sanam Shah, Zul Merali, Khalid Saeed, Mohamed Afifi

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: The increasing emergencies and humanitarian challenges have worsened the mental health condition of women in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Aim: To assess the prevalence, determinants and interventions to address mental health among women in fragile and humanitarian settings in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines, we reviewed 59 peer-reviewed published studies (PubMed, IMEMR) and grey literature (WHO/IRIS) from January 2001 to February 2023, focusing on women's mental health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. We then conducted a descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: Among …

Perceptions Of Metabolic Syndrome Management Utilization In Relation With Patient Characteristics And Health-Related Quality Of Life, Olajide Adekunle

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Challenges in managing MetS include untreated risk factors and ineffective management, resulting in poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A significant factor contributing to these challenges is the underutilization of management services, possibly due to patients' perceptions of disease management resource utilization (PMU). Therefore, understanding patients' PMU is crucial for improving health outcomes. The study investigated PMU, explored PMU predictors, and investigated the impact of PMU and patients’ demographics on HRQoL. Using a cross-sectional design, data on perceptions of healthcare, medication, and pharmacy service utilization, prior experience with pharmacy services, demographics, and HRQoL were collected from adult individuals with obesity …

The Consequences Of Homophobia: Analysis Of Discriminatory Medical And Legislative Policies And Their Influence On Health Disparities, Kaiden J. Fandel

Honors Thesis

Are there specific roots that influence the introduction and incorporation of discriminatory medical policies? What are the sources of such stigma, discrimination, and prejudice, in what forms does such discrimination take place, and what negative impacts does such hatred have on health outcomes, quality of care, and health disparities? Through a review of existing literature on this topic, intertwining the examination of the evolution of discriminatory policies and other explanatory literature in the United States, this thesis aims to answer the questions above, and explain the roots of such homophobic discrimination and its prevalence in the United States. Through the …

Cost Saving And Resource Limited Public Health Interventions In Southeast Asia, Amanda Blackwelder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Public health interventions are any activity with the objective of improving human health such as preventing or curing disease, reducing the severity or duration of a disease, or assisting in regaining function after a disease or injury. These interventions are known to be impactful; however, those living with the highest burden of disease such as individuals in low- and middle-income countries have limited money and resources to successfully implement these interventions. Southeast Asian countries are among some of the middle-income countries effected by the lack of affordable interventions. The aims of this study were to assess cost saving and …

Vol 4 May '24 Cover, Publishing And Table Of Contents, Donna L. Williams

Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association

No abstract provided.

Vol 4 May '24 Full Issue, Donna L. Williams

Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association

No abstract provided.

Immigration Exams At Community Healthworx In Alexandria, Louisiana From 2014 To 2023, David J. Holcombe, Joshua Mjolsness

Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association

No abstract provided.

Pandemic Experiences Among Louisiana Adults: Demographic And Behavioral Correlates, Ariane L. Rung, Evrim Oral, Tyler Prusisz, Edward S. Peters

Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected mental health outcomes. We designed a study to describe the pandemic impacts experienced by adults in Louisiana and examine the characteristics and behaviors associated with them. Methods: 1050 Louisiana residents were surveyed in 2020. A pandemic impact score about respondents’ life experiences was created from 23 items across multiple life domains. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to estimate adjusted associations between demographics, health behavior characteristics and changes, and the pandemic impact score. Results: Higher levels of pandemic impacts were associated with being married and having children under 18 years in the home. Changes …

Assessing Covid-19 Deaths By Occupation And Race: Louisiana 2020-2021, Anna Reilly, Brittany Babin, Rashanda Littles, Susanne Straif-Bourgeois

Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored significant health disparities, with social determinants such as living conditions and occupation amplifying the risk for severe outcomes in Black residents. This study examines the intersection of occupation, race, and COVID-19 mortality among Louisiana workers in 2020 and 2021, emphasizing the importance of integrating work-related information into public health surveillance. Methods: Occupation and race were collected from the death certificates of Louisiana resident workforce participants aged 18-70 years with COVID-19 listed as a cause of death for 2020 and 2021. COVID-19 mortality rates per 100,000 workers were calculated and compared using rate ratios for occupational …

Health Literacy And Cervical Cancer Prevention Behaviors Among Hispanic Women In Idaho, Delmy Flores

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Purpose

Explore relationships between health literacy, culture, accessibility and utilization of health care services, patient/provider communication, and “self-care” factors that influence cervical cancer prevention behaviors (i.e., HPV vaccination and screening) among Hispanic women between 40-65 years old living in Idaho. These factors were explored in relation to how participants obtained, processed, and understood information about cervical cancer and its prevention. Understanding these factors and potential relationships to health literacy is pivotal for tailoring effective communication strategies and interventions within this specific demographic.

Methods

Recruited (n=15) Hispanic women living in Idaho, between 40-65 years old, to participate in a semi-structured qualitative …

Incentive-Based And Media Literacy-Informed Approaches To Improve Vaping Cessation Among Young Adults: A Pilot Study Protocol, Troy B. Puga Jr

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Introduction: Youth and young adult vaping is rapidly rising within the United States, and is approaching epidemic levels. Vaping has been marketed as a safe alternative to smoking, however, there has been clear negative health effects of vaping. Modern day vaping interventions targeting this population remain limited. With the rapid rise of vaping and the negative health effects, tested interventions are needed. This protocol research paper defines the background and methodology behind the registered clinical trial entitled Incentive-based and media literacy-informed approaches to improve vaping cessation among young adult: a pilot study protocol.

Methods: This protocol research paper will describe …

Physician Burnout In The United States: A Systematic Review Of Organizational And Systemic Approaches And Their Efficacies, 2014-2024, Nicole Butler

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Physician burnout represents a critical public and clinical health concern in the United States. It compromises patient care and physician safety. Approaches to solve the issue are pervasive, with limited indication of effectiveness. Due to the essential job functions of physicians, the practice of medicine is inherently stressful. However, the introduction of new, more complex stressors, including those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increase in chronic healthcare conditions have made burnout an unfortunate staple of physician life, with an estimated prevalence of up to 60%. Burnout involves three factors: emotional stress, depersonalization, and reduced job satisfaction. The consequences …

Development Of A National Core Indicators Dashboard Of Long-Term Services And Supports Outcomes For Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Rhonda Haitz

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The National Core Indicators (NCI) surveys are conducted annually across the United States, including Nebraska. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or their guardians are surveyed to learn more about their experiences and the quality of their services and lives (National Core Indicators- IDD, 2023). However, the data is only useful when understood and applied to make informed decisions to improve the lives of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (McDonald et al., 2013). This project designed and developed two data dashboards for the state of Nebraska that publicly track, analyze and display the NCI survey results. The In-Person Survey …

Disparities In Seasonal Influenza Immunization Between Hispanic And Non-Hispanic White Populations Within The United States: Findings From The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Susanna Stageberg

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective: To determine if inequities in influenza immunization exist between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White populations living in the United States.

Methods: Statistical analyses were executed to study the association between ethnicity and influenza immunization. Logistic regression was performed to determine probabilities related to vaccination. Data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was utilized.

Results: Hispanic respondents had higher odds of not being vaccinated against the flu when compared to non-Hispanic White respondents (COR = 1.82, 95% CI [1.73, 1.91]). Ethnicity, household income, education, insurance status, age, sex, preferred language, and primary care provider status …

Hiv Testing Among High-Risk Individuals In The Us: 2022 Brfss, Alissa Lorchick

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a global epidemic, and public health efforts are moderately effective to date. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine association between high-risk behavior (intravenous drug use, risky sexual behaviors) and odds of testing for HIV utilizing 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N= 445,132).

Methods

Using SAS 3.82, the age-stratified logistic regression model for exposure (high-risk behavior) and outcome (HIV testing) included covariates gender, race, income, mental health and checkup frequency.

Results

High-risk individuals had greater odds of testing compared to low-risk individuals (crude POR 2.98 [2.81 – 3.17]), with greatest odds observed among …

Examining The Association Between Smoking Frequency And Long Covid: A Brfss Study, Bhavya Patel

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objectives: To examine the relationship between self-reported smoking frequency and the presence of Long COVID among individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 44,738 COVID-positive participants from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) dataset. Logistic regression was utilised to compute prevalence odds ratios (pOR) and was adjusted for potential sociodemographic confounders.

Results: Individuals who smoked daily were found to have a greater likelihood of reporting Long COVID in comparison with nonsmokers (Crude pOR=1.22; CI= [1.10-1.35]). However, in the adjusted regression model, daily smoking was no longer significant (Adjusted pOR=1.04; …

Cervical Cancer Screening And Affordability Of Medical Care: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sarah M. Johnson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective: To determine if, among women aged 21-65, there is a positive association between avoiding healthcare due to cost and not being up to date on cervical cancer screening.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset. A total of 123,275 women, aged 18-69 without a hysterectomy, were analyzed with bivariate and multivariate analyses. The outcome was length of time since last cervical cancer screening. The exposure was avoiding healthcare in the last 12 months due to cost.

Results: Women who avoided healthcare due to cost had higher odds of not being up to date …

Heartache Beyond The Physical: Unraveling The Nexus Between Myocardial Infarction History And Depressive Disorders In Us Adults, Sonika Khanal

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of depressive disorders among US adults and explore the association between a history of Myocardial Infarction (MI) and depressive disorders, considering potential risk factors and demographic variables.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, including 390,429 US adults. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between the history of MI and depressive disorders, adjusting for age, gender, race, smoking status, health insurance, education level, and BMI. Effect modification by age was assessed.

Results: The prevalence of depressive disorders was 21.19%, with 4.46% reporting a …

A Literature Review Of Societal Obesity And Its Impact On United States Military Recruitment, Megan Thibodeaux

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In recent decades, obesity rates have increased in the United States, raising significant health and societal concerns, especially in terms of military readiness. The ever-rising rates of weight-related health obstacles present a critical national security issue as it impacts the effectiveness of recruitment. This literature review aims to analyze how obesity impacts military recruitment and readiness to serve while utilizing the socio-ecological model to help determine gaps in evidence. Data was drawn from Embase, PubMed, and PsychInfo. Inclusion criteria consisted of academic journals and reports from government and non-profit organizations written in English. They focused only on the United States …

Examining Young Adult E-Cigarette Users By Device Type: A Latent Class Analysis, Mufazzela Tabassum

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Examining Young Adult E-Cigarette Users by Device Type: A Latent Class Analysis

Purpose. This study examined which factors influence the type(s) of e-cigarette devices someone uses and if there are heterogeneous groups of young adult e-cigarette users.

Methods. This study first quantitatively explored if there are heterogeneous groups of e-cigarette users by utilizing data from an online cross-sectional survey. E-cigarette users (n = 595) were able to participate in the survey if they were 18-29 years of age, used an e-cigarette for 1-5 days in the past 30 days, own their own e-cigarette, and live in the United States. Participants …

Key Variants Via The Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project Whole Genome Sequence Data, Yanbing Wang, Chloé Sarnowski, Honghuang Lin, Achilleas N Pitsillides, Nancy L Heard-Costa, Seung Hoan Choi, Dongyu Wang, Joshua C Bis, Elizabeth E Blue, Eric Boerwinkle, Philip L De Jager, Myriam Fornage, Ellen M Wijsman, Sudha Seshadri, Josée Dupuis, Gina M Peloso, Anita L Destefano

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified loci associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) but did not identify specific causal genes or variants within those loci. Analysis of whole genome sequence (WGS) data, which interrogates the entire genome and captures rare variations, may identify causal variants within GWAS loci.

METHODS: We performed single common variant association analysis and rare variant aggregate analyses in the pooled population (N cases = 2184, N controls = 2383) and targeted analyses in subpopulations using WGS data from the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP). The analyses were restricted to variants within 100 kb of 83 previously …

Bayesian Estimation Of Reproduction Numbers From Distributions Of Outbreaks Sizes: Branching Process Approach, Alberta Araba Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The Generalized Poisson distribution is useful in modeling epidemiological processes as a branching stochastic processes problem. Our goal is to construct accurate and reliable estimators for the reproduction number (R0) (i.e., the number of secondary infections), particularly in the context of disease outbreaks modeled by a Galton-Watson process. Towards this goal, we construct the classical Bayes estimator, the Maximum Likelihood estimator, and the Empirical Bayes (EB) estimator under the Square Error Loss function in Chapter II. We prove that the Empirical Bayes estimator is asymptotically optimal and estimate the rate of convergence. We then proceed to monotonize the Empirical Bayes …

Influence Of Medication Assisted Treatment Weaning On Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome And Outcomes Among Infants Born To Women With Opioid Use Disorder, Rakesh Adelli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a drug withdrawal syndrome exhibited by infants born to mothers with opioid use disorder (OUD). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other professional societies endorse opioid agonist pharmacotherapy (MATs) as the optimal treatment for OUD during pregnancy. This study focuses on impact of weaning of MAT drugs on the incidence of NAS and neonatal birth outcomes among babies born to women with opioid exposure.

The study population included eighty-six pregnant women with OUD, divided in to weaning and non-weaning groups based on their choice to wean the MATs during pregnancy. Univariate analysis was …

Perinatal Buprenorphine Effects On Offspring Growth, Opioid Withdrawal, And Brain Morphology In Rats, Parker Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Opioid use disorder (OUD) impacts 5.6 million people in the US. Buprenorphine (BUP) is a commonly prescribed opioid medication used to treat OUD, including in pregnant women. However, opioid use during pregnancy is associated with poorer infant outcomes including reduced fetal growth, neurodevelopmental deficits, and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Recent clinical data suggests that providing mothers with a lower dose of BUP may result in fewer negative outcomes in infants. Here, a preclinical rodent model of low-dose perinatal BUP exposure was used to study offspring health outcomes in the neonate, juvenile, and adolescent offspring. Dams were given clinically relevant …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Self-Care In Young Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Holly Berry-Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

The prevalence of prediabetes in adults aged 18 or older was as high as 38% between 2017-2020. Youth-onset T2DM is a more aggressive phenotype than T2DM that occurs later in life. Young adults with T2DM have poorer health outcomes, lose an average of 15 years of life, all resulting in significant economic burden impacting the person. Current self-management interventions do not improve health outcomes in young adults with T2DM.

Purpose

The purpose of this research was to explore the self-care experiences of young adults living with T2DM.

Methods

Existential hermeneutic phenomenology informed the research. Inclusion criteria as follows: adults …