Digital Commons Network^™

Reflecting On Partnerships Established And Sustained Over Four Cycles Of A Federally Funded Cancer Prevention And Control Research Program: Lessons Learned For Community-Academic Networks, Swann Arp Adams, Lauren Workman Ph.D., Mayank Sakhuja, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Karen E. Wickersham Phd, Rn, Ciaran Fairman, Jan Eberth Ph.D., Sue Heiney Scd, James Hébert Scd, Freda Allyson Hucek, Lauren Schaurer, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) is a national network which aims to accelerate the adoption and implementation of evidence-based cancer prevention and control strategies and interventions in communities, enhance large-scale efforts to reach underserved populations and reduce their cancer-related health disparities, and develop the capacity of the dissemination and implementation work force specifically in cancer prevention and control. Methods: Our site has been a part of the CPCRN since its inception in 2002 with the exception of the 2004–2009 funding cycle. As community-based participatory research is a core …

Impact Of A Covid-19 Related Lockdown On The Experience Of Informal Caregiving In Singapore, Vicky Mengqi Qin, Abhijit Visaria, Rahul Malhotra

ROSA Journal Articles and Publications

Introduction: Lockdowns, while limiting COVID-19 transmission, can affect provision of care by informal caregivers and their caregiving experience. We assessed, among informal caregivers in Singapore, (a) the perceived impact of a 2-month (April to May 2020) nationwide lockdown on their care provision, (b) correlates of different perceptions of the impact of the lockdown on care provision, and (c) association of different perceptions of the impact with negative and positive experiences of caregiving. Methods: In the August 2020 wave of the Singapore Life Panel (SLP; nationally representative, longitudinal monthly survey of Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 50-70 years at baseline), …

Determining Bystander Motivations And Hesitations To Intervene During An Opioid Overdose Event, John Wahlstedt, Alana Platukus, Eric Fei, Yasmine Eichbaum, Noah Streitfeld, Robert S. Pugliese, Kelly Kehm

Alpha Omega Alpha Research Symposium Posters

Background

Harm reduction initiatives have been shown to improve morbidity and mortality of overdose; however, the rate of death due to opioid overdose continues to rise in Philadelphia. One aspect of the overdose scenario that requires more focus is the response of witnesses to overdose.

Stakeholder Perspectives On Therapeutic Value Assessment, Victor M. Amana

Public Health Theses

No abstract provided.

Hemin As A Contributor To Inflammation In Sickle Cell Disease, Sarah Hinderstein

Public Health Theses

Background: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the most common genetic hematological disorder and puts individuals at increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to infectious disease. Those with SCD also have a reduced capacity to mount successful vaccine responses compared to healthy individuals but there is an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms behind this.

Objectives: We aim to investigate the role of hemin as a potential contributor to inflammatory dysregulation and decreased vaccine immunogenicity in patients with SCD.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from patients with SCD aged 7-22 and healthy participants aged 22-30. We utilized flow …

Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Trends & Excess Deaths In Connecticut, Sadia Rehman Safwi

Public Health Theses

Background: There is a decline in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in the United States (US) butthere are also disparities reported among different racial and ethnic groups in the US. This research highlights a lack of state-specific research on CVD mortality and introduces a study conducted in Connecticut using CVD mortality data from 2011 to 2020. Methods. This study used publicly available and deidentified data from the CDC WONDER to examine CVD mortality trends in Connecticut. Annual deaths, population counts, and age-adjusted mortality rates were reported by year, race, and gender for all cardiovascular disease (CVD) combined, Ischemic heart disease, Hypertensive …

“I Didn't Want Them To Feel Like I Was Fragile”: A Qualitative Analysis Of Disability, Intimacy, And Sexual Culture At Yale, Mafalda Von Alvensleben

Public Health Theses

This thesis examines how Yale as an educational institutional shapes disabled students’ sexual and romantic lives. It explores the ways in which the institution's policies, culture, and physical environments influence these experiences via a qualitative and landscape analysis. The analysis was based off nine semi-structured interviews with students who self-identified as disabled from both undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as a landscape analysis that incorporates formal, journalistic style interviews with eleven Yale faculty, staff, and administrators. Taken together, this study illuminates the challenges posed by systemic ableism within the university's academic and social frameworks. It highlights the inadequacies of …

Solutions To Period Poverty In The United States, Sanya Surya

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Many women around the world lack access to menstrual hygiene products and hygienic, private sanitation facilities: an issue commonly known as “period poverty”. Women who experience this phenomenon often resort to unhealthy alternatives, putting them at higher risk for infections. Period poverty also causes many women to miss significant amounts of school and/or work, resulting in school drop-outs and adverse career outcomes. Menstrual inequities have recently come under greater study in low- to middle-income countries, but evidence suggests that women in the United States are adversely affected by period poverty as well. With this in mind, I set out to …

Cardiometabolic Genomics And Pharmacogenomics In Filipino Americans: A Cross-Sectional Study, Khalifa Y. Alrajeh

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in the country, with significant ethnic disparities. Filipino Americans (FAs), the third-largest Asian subgroup in U.S., face an elevated burden of dyslipidemia, a primary modifiable risk factor for heart disease. Objectives: This community-based study addresses critical knowledge gaps by characterizing the cardiometabolic and genetic factors contributing to dyslipidemia among FAs and implications for personalized cardiovascular drug therapies, particularly statin pharmacogenomics (PGx). Methods: We characterized dyslipidemia prevalence in FAs and major ethnic subgroups using nationally representative NHANES data. We examined associations between uric acid (UA) levels and lipid profiles, …

Infographic: Equity Opportunities: Race And Ethnicity: Need For Dental Care Among Third Grade Students In North Dakota, Shawnda Schroeder

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

Third grade students who are American Indian or Black/African American have a significantly higher need for early or urgent dental care than those who are non-Hispanic white. Those who are American Indian or Hispanic/Latinx have a significantly higher rate of rampant decay than those who are non-Hispanic white.

Garden-Based Nutrition Education May Lead To Increased Dietary Knowledge In Low Income Hispanic School Children, Larry Bui

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Childhood obesity is a pressing public health concern in the United States, with rates continuing to increase in recent years. This problem disproportionately affects Latino children as well as those from low socioeconomic status. It is well established that nutrition knowledge deficiencies and resulting poor dietary habits are some of the most common contributing factors to childhood obesity. Garden-based nutrition education programs have been introduced to remedy this knowledge deficit; however, a gap remains regarding whether this model can be viable for low-income, culturally diverse populations.
Aim: This literature review investigates the importance of diet in reducing childhood obesity …

The Education Prescription: Exploring The Potential Of Patient Education To Reduce Mental Health Issues In Hormonal Contraceptive Users, Maria Abraham

Nursing | Senior Theses

The many birth control options available impact a woman’s life, as hormonal contraceptives are commonly used but often misunderstood. These contraceptives, which contain progestin only, or estrogen and progestin combined, can come in various forms such as pills, implants, IUDs, injections, the vaginal ring, and skin patches. They offer benefits such as reduced menstrual cramps and ectopic pregnancy risk. However, they may lead to adverse side effects which can include increased blood pressure, nausea, headaches, breakthrough bleeding, and a higher risk of blood clots, with research indicating a potential link between oral contraceptive use and a decline in the user’s …

Empowering Low-Income Women With Breast Cancer: Promoting Acupuncture At Community Health Fairs, Katrina Ramos

Nursing | Senior Theses

While research has explored the positive effects of acupuncture on cancer and cancer treatment symptoms, a notable gap exists in understanding its impact on lower-income populations. These individuals encounter barriers to accessing acupuncture, such as limited availability, cost, and provider knowledge. This longitudinal study aims to assess the impact of community health fairs, featuring acupuncture information for breast cancer and chemotherapy-induced symptoms, on the acceptance and utilization rates of acupuncture among low-income women with breast cancer. Collaborating with the Women’s Cancer Resource Center and a local non-profit integrative cancer care clinic in Oakland, we will conduct a three-day health fair …

Effects Of Menopause On Coronary Artery Disease, Angelica Gonzales

Nursing | Senior Theses

Menopausal women, 40 to 60 years old, have an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) when they experience hormonal changes. Which then can lead to unwanted cardiac events. Within the literature review of this paper, it was found that there are factors of menopause that may further increase the risk of coronary artery disease in menopausal women. Such factors include whether a woman underwent surgical or natural menopause and the timing when menopause began. Additionally, within the review, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was explored to determine whether the possible intervention can decrease the progression and risk of developing …

Advancing School Nursing Practice: A Novel Approach To Screening For Gastrointestinal Disorders In Children, Ashley Bunting, Isabella Cavlan

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Currently, mandated health screenings in California schools are limited to vision, hearing, and scoliosis; this leaves several other body systems unmonitored during the crucial years of childhood development. One such system is the gastrointestinal (GI) system, which plays a vital role in the normal growth, nutrition status, development, and overall health of children. Objective: By developing and implementing a GI-specific screening tool in the outpatient school setting, this research aims to increase the detection of GI disorders in children. Not only that, but school nurses can use this novel screening tool to promote early diagnosis, intervention, and …

Distribution Of Tick Species On Free-Ranging Ungulates In Northern New England, Karisa Graham

Honors Theses and Capstones

In Northern New England, ungulates are often parasitized by ticks, which is one of the leading causes for the decline in population. Ungulates are a good host for ticks, specifically deer ticks and winter ticks, and these ticks cause many tick-borne diseases in humans as well. The purpose of this study was to assess passive sampling from harvested animals as a means of tick surveillance in Vermont and New Hampshire. Ticks were collected from deer and moose and mapped throughout the two states by ArcGIS to visualize the trends in distribution. Relative abundance was greater in southeastern Vermont, with no …

The Report Of Access And Engagement With Digital Health Interventions Among Children And Young People: Systematic Review, Lisa Whitehead, Suzanne Robinson, Diana Arabiat, Mark Jenkins, Evalotte Morelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Digital health interventions are increasingly used to deliver health-related interventions for children and young people to change health behaviors and improve health outcomes. Digital health interventions have the potential to enhance access to and engagement with children and young people; however, they may also increase the divide between those who can access technology and are supported to engage and those who are not. This review included studies that reported on the access to or engagement with digital health interventions among children and young people. Objective: This review aims to identify and report on access and engagement in studies involving …

The Australian Frailty Network: Development Of A Consumer-Focussed National Response To Frailty, Natasha Reid, Adrienne Young, Loretta Baldassar, Anja Christoffersen, Tracy Comans, Simon Conroy, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Jason Ferris, Maria Fiatarone Singh, Sarah Fox, Emily H. Gordon, Manonita Ghosh, Chandana Guha, Sarah Hilmer, Lisa Kouladjian O’Donnell, Benignus Logan, Kristiana Ludlow, Michelle Miller, Mark Morgan, Alison Mudge, John Muscedere, Donna Reidlinger, Kenneth Rockwood, Rosemary Saunders, David Ward, Paul Yates

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Frailty is an important concept in the care of older adults. Over the past two decades, significant advances have been made in measuring frailty. While it is now well-recognised that frailty status is an important determinant of outcomes from medical illnesses or surgical interventions, frailty measurement is not currently routinely integrated into clinical practice. In the community setting, it is uncommon for general practitioners to deliver frailty-optimised care. In hospitals, there is substantial variability in how people living with frailty are managed. This variability is notable between and even within disciplines. Furthermore, gains from understanding frailty mechanisms and risk factors …

Cardiovascular Workforce Sustainability Sector Consultation: Recommendations From An Australian Stakeholder Summit, Celine F. Santiago, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Meng Ping Hsu, Katrina M. Mirabito Colafella, Anna C. Calkin, Stephen J. Nicholls, Kerry C. Doyle, Jamie I. Vandenberg, Emma E. Thomas, Niamh Chapman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In 2023, a joint National Cardiovascular Workforce Sustainability Summit was convened by the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA), the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the National Heart Foundation of Australia, to facilitate a national conversation towards developing a workforce sustainability strategy within the cardiovascular research sector. This initiative stemmed from a previous study conducted by the ACvA which revealed that almost 70% of early and mid-career cardiovascular researchers surveyed had contemplated leaving the sector. Summit attendees reported sector-wide challenges to career progression and retention across three key themes: 1) well-being and career satisfaction, 2) learning and development, and …

Resting Heart Rate Mediates The Association Between Circulating Neutrophil Count And Arterial Stiffness Progression: The Kailuan Study, Zhaogui Wu, Dan Wu, Shuohua Chen, Sichi Xu, Shunming Zhang, Shouling Wu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: This study aimed to longitudinally investigate the association between circulating neutrophil count and the progression of arterial stiffness and to ascertain whether resting heart rate (RHR) mediates this association. Methods: The current study included 56,760 participants with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurements from a real-life, prospective cohort in China. The associations of circulating neutrophil (exposure) with baseline baPWV, baPWV progression, and arterial stiffness (outcomes), as well as RHR (mediator) were assessed using multivariable linear and Cox regression models and mediation analysis. Results: After adjusting for cardiometabolic risk factors, for each 1-SD increase in neutrophil count, the corresponding increase …

Wheatbelt Food Community: Snapshot Report, Isabelle Chiera, Jess Doe, Amanda Devine, Melissa Stoneham, Stephanie L. Godrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food security refers to the adequate physical, social, and economic access to healthy food at all times. The Wheatbelt Food Community project aimed to identify, map, evaluate and strengthen food security initiatives across the region, to support food security action. This report outlines the findings from the Wheatbelt Food Community project, detailing the different types of food security initiatives operating within the region. It provides a summary of how Wheatbelt initiatives are contributing to food security systems change, and how they are working in partnership to deliver their food security initiatives. Based on these findings, region-based recommendations are provided to …

Great Southern Food Community: Snapshot Report, Isabelle Chiera, Jess Doe, Amanda Devine, Melissa Stoneham, Stephanie L. Godrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Food security refers to the adequate physical, social, and economic access to healthy food at all times. The Great Southern Food Community project aimed to identify, map, evaluate and strengthen food security initiatives across the region, to support food security action. This report outlines the findings from the Great Southern Food Community project, detailing the different types of food security initiatives operating within the region. It provides a summary of how Great Southern initiatives are contributing to food security systems change, and how they are working in partnership to deliver their food security initiatives. Based on these findings, region-based recommendations …

Factors Affecting Clinician Readiness To Adopt Smart Home Technology For Remote Health Monitoring: Systematic Review, Gordana Dermody, Daniel Wadsworth, Melissa Dunham, Courtney Glass, Roschelle Fritz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The population of older adults worldwide continues to increase, placing higher demands on primary health care and long-term care. The costs of housing older people in care facilities have economic and societal impacts that are unsustainable without innovative solutions. Many older people wish to remain independent in their homes and age in place. Assistive technology such as health-assistive smart homes with clinician monitoring could be a widely adopted alternative to aged-care facilities in the future. While studies have found that older persons have demonstrated a readiness to adopt health-assistive smart homes, little is known about clinician readiness to adopt …

Impact On Help-Seeking Behaviours Of A Campaign Perceived To Decrease Stigma And Increase Openness Around Mental Health, Robert J. Donovan, Catherine F. Drane, Ziggi I. Santini, Geoffrey Jalleh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Issue Addressed: There is considerable evidence that public stigma around mental illness inhibits help-seeking for mental health problems. Hence there have been many interventions and campaigns designed to reduce stigma around mental illness. However, as far as could be ascertained, none of these stigma reduction interventions has reported any substantial impact of reducing stigma on people's mental health help-seeking behaviours. The aim of this paper is to report on the impact of the Act-Belong-Commit positive mental health promotion Campaign on help-seeking via increasing perceived openness around mental health and reducing perceived stigma around mental illness. Methods: State-wide computer assisted telephone …

The Influence Of Culture On The Health Beliefs And Health Behaviours Of Older Vietnam-Born Australians Living With Chronic Disease, Thi Ngoc Minh Nguyen, Rosemary Saunders, Gordana Dermody, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore the health beliefs and health behaviours of older Vietnam-born people living with chronic disease in Western Australia. Design: This study was designed as a focused ethnography guided by the interpretative research paradigm and Leininger's Theory of Culture Care. Methods: Data were collected through participant observation and interviews undertaken at participants' homes in Western Australia over 7 months in 2019. Data were analysed using Wolcott's approach for transferring qualitative data, comprising three phases: description, thematic analysis and interpretation. Results: This study included 12 participants. The health perspectives and practices of older Vietnam-born Australians significantly reflected the traditional Vietnamese …

The Formation And Operationalization Of Charter(S) For The Lyte Foundation, Inc. (Living Your Truth Empowered), Through The Creation Of Policies, Roles, And Responsibilities Of Charter Leaders, Identification Of Resources, And Identification Of Community Needs, Charles Ngoc Tran

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This study aimed to develop policies and procedures needed for the operationalization of LYTE's charters. Employing a dual-methodology approach in document review and qualitative study, the study addressed two main objectives. The first is through document review and analysis of successful charters and nonprofit organizations in the US. With the insights gained from document analysis, drafts of policies required for LYTE’s charters operationalization were developed. The second is through interviews with organizational leaders and stakeholders such as breast cancer survivors and advocates. This provided perspectives and thematic insights crucial for tailoring policies specific to LYTE’s charters. The resulting deliverables include …

Improving Maternal Health Care Accessibility And Utilization In Remote And Island Communities: An Explorative Study In Ghana, Douglas Adu-Fokuo

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Background: Maternal mortality remains a global concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 223 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. In Ghana, the MMR was notably high, at 838, 776, and 875 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. These figures exceed WHO’s high mortality rate threshold, particularly affecting women in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Geographic isolation, financial constraints, and inadequate infrastructure significantly impede access to essential maternal health services, impacting the health of women and newborns in Ghana’s remote and island communities.

Objective: This study aims to …

Physical Restraint In Older People: A Statement From The Early Career Network Of The International Psychogeriatric Association, Mustafa Atee, Claire V. Burley, Victor A. Ojo, Agboola J. Adigun, Hayoung Lee, Daniel J. Hoyle, Olufisayo Elugbadebo, Tomas Leon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) has expressed significant concerns over the use of physical restraints in older people across diverse aged care settings. Following an extensive analysis of the available literature, the IPA's Early Career Network (ECN) has formulated a collection of evidence-based recommendations aimed at guiding the use of physical restraints within various care contexts and demographic groups. Physical restraints not only infringe upon human rights but also raise significant safety concerns that adversely impact the physical, psychological, social, and functional well-being of older adults. Furthermore, their effectiveness in geriatric settings remains inadequate. Given these considerations, the IPA and …

Development Of A Regional Climate Change Model For Aedes Vigilax And Aedes Camptorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) In Perth, Western Australia, Kerry Staples, Peter J. Neville, Steven Richardson, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mosquito-borne disease is a significant public health issue and within Australia Ross River virus (RRV) is the most reported. This study combines a mechanistic model of mosquito development for two mosquito vectors; Aedes vigilax and Aedes camptorhynchus, with climate projections from three climate models for two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), to examine the possible effects of climate change and sea-level rise on a temperate tidal saltmarsh habitat in Perth, Western Australia. The projections were run under no accretion and accretion scenarios using a known mosquito habitat as a case study. This improves our understanding of the possible implications of sea-level …

Intersectoral Collaboration For Supporting The Health And Wellbeing Of Aboriginal Families And Children In Out-Of-Home Care: Perspectives From Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, Sasha Moodie, Jocelyn Jones, Richard Chenhall, Robyn Williams, Cathy Garlett, Alison Gibberd, Melissa O’Donnell, Dan Mcaullay, Bridgette Mcnamara, Sandra Eades

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Western Australia has one of the highest rates of Aboriginal children entering out-of-home care in Australia. Kinship care is the preferred culturally safe out-of-home care option for Aboriginal children, yet all jurisdictions, including Western Australia, are far from meeting best-practice national standards. Intersectoral collaboration is a key primary healthcare principle and internationally recognized for improving health systems and outcomes. This paper presents findings from a qualitative research project investigating Aboriginal primary healthcare workers’ experiences of intersectoral collaboration challenges and strengthening opportunities. Methods: Constructivist grounded theory guided this research involving 55 semi-structured interviews and four focus group discussions with Aboriginal …