Digital Commons Network^™

Re-Education On Chlorhexidine (Chg) Bathing Protocol Affects Patient Chg Bathing Compliance And Surgical Site Infection (Ssi) Rates, Mary Samantha Ross

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Surgical site infections (SSI) are considered a hospital-acquired infection, leading to increased hospital length of stay (LOS), readmission rates, increased cost, morbidity, mortality rates, and poor postoperative outcomes. The literature review demonstrated the benefits of preoperative Chlorhexidine (CHG) bathing, but called for standardized protocols, improved education, and patient compliance. Research and clinical experience supported the need for improved patient compliance with CHG bathing. Consistent SSI rates even after protocol changes called for re-education of nursing staff in addition to addressing patient compliance issues. Therefore, providing re-education on the updated protocol, which addresses patient compliance issues, can lead to a reduction …

The Exploration Of Nutrition And Mental Health Among Retired Female Sergeant Majors, Renee Michelle Mcmillan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study investigated the nutrition and mental health of seven retired female United States Army Command Sergeant Majors (CSM) and four retired United States Army Sergeant Majors (SGMs). Transcendental phenomenology was used in this study along with George Engel’s Biopsychosocial Theory (BPST). The study examined how dietary food choices converged with cognitive behavior, body image, restrictive eating, and the stress accompanied with transitioning from military to civilian life. Four themes and 11 subthemes emerged from this study. The findings indicated an integration with nutritional interventions, mental health services, family-focus education, and faith-based programs. These findings may help retired female …

Impact Of Physical Disabilities On Daily Life, Mobility, And Public Health Outcomes Among Internally Displaced Children In Nigeria, Winnifred Obeya-Ekoja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The growing population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria presents significant public health challenges for children with physical disabilities. This study investigated how physical disabilities affect daily life, mobility, access to resources, and health outcomes among internally displaced children in IDP camps in Benue State, Nigeria. Guided by the ecological model of health behavior, the study examined caregivers’ experiences of children’s self-care, daily activities, environmental and interpersonal conditions, sanitation, and access to healthcare. A basic qualitative design used semi-structured interviews with parents and caregivers selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic …

Zoonotic Fish Parasites That Pose Risks To Human Health In Türkiye, Ahmet Özer

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Fish-borne zoonotic diseases have been documented as the causative agents of considerable problems for humans on a global scale. This paper, for the first time, reveals the current zoonotic parasites of fish from wild and cultured hosts in marine, freshwater, and aquarium environments, as well as in native, endemic, and introduced hosts across different geographical areas and seas in Türkiye, based on published data to date. According to the latest global reports, zoonotic fish parasites in Türkiye are dominated by nematodes (17 species), trematodes (11 species), and cestodes (four species), followed by acanthocephalans (two species) and myxozoans (two species). The …

Degree Assortativity And Estimation Of Degree Distribution In A Contact Network Of People Who Inject Drugs, Peter Geissert

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation analyzes data from a respondent driven sampling (RDS) study of people who inject drugs in Portland, OR.  The objective was to assess assumptions for the use of weighted estimators to estimate a population physical contact (syringe sharing) network degree distribution.

Visualization of degree distribution for social and physical networks, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests of difference, and kernel tests of equivalence were used for comparison of distributions. Spearman's rho and GAM non-parametric regression models were used to test for association and assess non-monotonic relationship. The validity of Markov chain assumptions for RDS was assessed using a transition matrix, Markov chain graphs, …

Public-Port Throughput As An Activity Proxy For Near-Port Air Quality And Health: A Transferable Two-Scale Framework (Kaohsiung, 2017–2024), Ping-Jen Wang, Ying-Lin Hsu, Shih-Hao Chang, Bao-Tzung Wu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

We developed a two-scale time series framework using monthly container throughput (20-foot equivalent units, TEU) as a port activity indicator. Applied to Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2017–2024), we related TEU to near-port NO₂ and PM₂.₅ (monthly) and air quality to outpatient respiratory diagnoses (weekly) across the 2019–2020 sulfur rules and the COVID-19 pandemic. Transfer-function models indicate TEU tends to lead near-port NO₂ by 6–9 months. Structural break tests at policy dates indicate nonsignificant changes in levels and slopes, suggesting gradual rather than abrupt shifts in the activity–pollution linkage. Weekly two-pollutant distributed-lag Poisson models estimated relative risks (lags 0–8) per interquartile range (IQR) …

Scaling Learning Health Systems: Highlights From The 2026 Health Care Systems Research Network Annual Conference, Deborah Hamlin

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The Health Care Systems Research Network convened for its 2026 Annual Conference on April 21– 23 in Dallas, Texas, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. The conference centered on the theme, “Scaling Learning Health Systems: Data-Driven Pathways to Better Outcomes,” featuring 99 peer-reviewed abstract and panel presentations, along with 21 poster presentations, and emphasized the growing role of collaborative, data-enabled research in transforming care delivery and improving patient outcomes.

Knowledge, Practice And Perceived Barriers Of Healthcare Provider Adherence To The Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (Ndss) In Government Hospitals And Primary Healthcare Centers In Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Moatasem F. Hakmi, Alaa Mathkour, Yousef Zahrani, Rayan I. Binduhayyim, Saad S. Alqahtani, Muhammad Z. Iqbal

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To assess and compare healthcare providers' understanding of the Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NDSS), alongside reported and perceived challenges, across public hospitals and primary healthcare centers in Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 10 January 2025 and 30 December 2025 among health care providers at Jazan hospitals and primary healthcare centers (PHCs) (n = 420). Data were collected via structured self-administered questionnaire that included the following sections: demographic data, knowledge of the NDSS, reporting practices, competency of the Health Electronic Surveillance Network (HESN) and perceived barriers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to …

Advancing Impact: A National Approach To Knowledge Translation In Saudi Arabia-The Saudi National Institute Of Health Experience, Maha M. Aleid, Manar A. Alharbi, Amal N. Almadouj, Ahmad I. Alrawaji, Lamia A. Alhaqbani, Fars K. Alanazi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To present a reproducible national model for translating research findings into evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
Methods: The Saudi National Institute of Health launched the initiative titled ``Transforming the Outcomes of Published Health Research into Medical Guidelines that Enhance Medical Practices to Improve the Quality of Human Health'' on February 3, 2025. The initiative aimed to identify and assess research outcomes published between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2024 across 6 predefined thematic tracks relevant to the Saudi population. Eligible publications were collected within one month after the submission portal opened. Following closure of portal, all submissions were evaluated …

Quality, Patient Experience, And Service Gaps In Home Healthcare In Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review Aligned With Vision 2030, Eman Alawad, Rasha M. Mahrous, Lubna A. Elshaib

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the quality of home healthcare (HHC) services, patient experience, and existing service gaps in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) statement. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar were searched for studies published between January 2011 and January 2025. Eligible studies included observational, qualitative, mixed-methods, and interventional studies conducted in Saudi Arabia that examined home healthcare quality, patient or caregiver experience, or service delivery gaps. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality …

From Bench To Bedside: Evolving Definitions Of Translational Research, Hana A. Alhumud, Fars K. Alanazi, Edward B. Devol

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To synthesize current evidence on the evolution, frameworks, and methodological approaches used to define and operationalize translational research, which serves as a bridge between scientific discovery and its application in clinical medicine, public health, and policy.
Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed studies published up to 2023. Search terms combined translational research–related keywords (such as ``bench-to-bedside,'' ``implementation science,'' ``precision medicine'') and relevant MeSH terms. Eligible studies focused on conceptual models, frameworks, or methodological approaches related to translational research and were published in English. After duplicate removal and PRISMA-guided screening, 33 publications were included. …

“I Was Not Wonder Woman And Required Help”: Black, Latina, And White Women’S Recovery From The Covid-19 Pandemic, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Colton Pierce, Harry Foster, Alison Brennan, Nicole Wanago

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected women, particularly women of color, yet less is known about their recovery experiences following the end of the public health emergency. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic among Black, Latina, and White women in the United States. Participants (N = 133) completed a survey that included a self-reported recovery measure and open-ended questions regarding their recovery experiences. A chi-square analysis indicated a significant association between race/ethnicity and recovery status, with Latina women more likely to report ongoing recovery than Black and White women. Codebook thematic analysis identified four themes: (1) …

The Mv Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak: Implications For Clinical Vigilance And Regional Health Security In The Gcc Countries, Seif Salem Al Abri, Ahmed S Al-Mandhari, Ziad A Memish

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

A Health Card Is Not Healthcare Why Coverage Does Not Always Become Care And How Institutions Can Close The Gap, Deepak Aggarwal

Defensive Publications Series

Universal healthcare is usually measured through two questions: can people obtain the care they need, and can they afford it without financial hardship? Both matter. Neither tells us whether care actually reached the patient.

A person may hold a health card. The treatment may be covered. The ambulance, hospital, specialist and payer may each follow their own rules correctly. Yet the patient may still wait too long, arrive at a hospital that cannot treat them, or be lost between institutions.

This paper examines that gap through Decision Engineering™. It follows a person suffering a heart attack along the Decision Integrity …

A Sero-Epidemiological Inquiry On The Relationship Between Human Cytomegalovirus (Hcmv) Antibodies And Spontaneous Miscarriage Among Iraqi Women: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study, Nedhal Mahmuod Khaleefah, Bushra Jabbar Al-Tmimi, Layth Jasim Mohammed, Isaac Karimi

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Spontaneous abortion is common, multifactorial, and infectious agents, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), may act as a factor associated with its occurrence, especially during the early stages of pregnancy.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between HCMV seropositivity and spontaneous miscarriage and to explore connections with demographic and obstetric factors in Diyala, Iraq.
Materials and Methods: A hospital-based case-control study enrolled 100 women experiencing current spontaneous miscarriage alongside 100 healthy pregnant controls in February and September 2024. Immunoglobulin (Ig) titers against HCMV were assessed using ELISA. Associations were analysed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression at the …

Enhancing Hiv Knowledge And Resource Awareness Among Chief Nursing Officers, Susan Louise Cooper Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant public health concern in rural communities, where limited specialty care, geographic isolation, transportation barriers, and stigma may delay testing and entry into care. The Texas Panhandle is a geographically expansive rural region served by rural hospitals with limited resources. Although area HIV services are available, they are inconsistently utilized. Although chief nursing officers (CNOs) influence practice and care coordination, knowledge gaps regarding HIV guidelines, prevention strategies, and regional resources may limit identification, referral, and continuity of care. The purpose of this doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was to determine whether a targeted …

Drug Court Graduation Rates Of African American Males Attending Habilitation Empowerment Accountability Therapy, Tierney President

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American males between the ages of 18 and 29 have lower rates of successful completion in drug court programs compared to other populations, increasing their risk of incarceration and recidivism. This study examined whether participation in the Habilitation Empowerment Accountability Therapy (HEAT) program, a culturally responsive intervention, was associated with improved drug court graduation outcomes among African American male participants. Guided by cognitive behavioral theory, a quantitative retrospective causal-comparative design was used to analyze archival data from 96 African American male participants enrolled in a drug treatment court program in Columbia, Missouri. A chi-square test of independence was conducted …

The C3-C3ar Axis Modulates Trained Immunity In Alveolar Macrophages, Alexander P Earhart, Rafael Aponte Alburquerque, Marick Starick, Lorena Garnica, Ayse Naz Ozanturk, Rahul Kumar Maurya, Xiaobo Wu, Jeffrey Haspel, Hrishikesh S Kulkarni, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Complement protein C3 is crucial for immune responses in mucosal sites such as the lung, where it aids in microbe elimination, and enhances inflammation. While trained immunity - enhanced secondary responses of innate immune cells after prior exposure - is well-studied, the role of the complement system in trained immune responses remains unclear. We investigated the role of C3 in trained immunity and found that alveolar macrophage (AM)

Ravenswood Hospital Annual Report, 1926, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Ravenswood Hospital, Chicago, IL: 1926 Annual report for Ravenswood Hospital. Includes photos, hospital and school of nursing statistics, expenditures and treasurers report, list of hospital staff.

Hajj Pilgrimage And Spatial Behaviour In Sacred Space, Zuhriddin Juraev, Young-Jin Ahn, Ji-Yeong Gu

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study examines the behavioural and spatial dynamics of the Hajj pilgrimage through the conceptual lens of behavioural geography, focusing on how sacred space, ritual choreography, and communal experiences shape religious engagement. Centred on the Kaaba and surrounding pilgrimage sites, this study explores how ritual practices such as Tawaf, Sa’i, and standing at Arafat construct immersive and affective experiences for pilgrims. Drawing on an interpretive analysis of visual and textual sources, the study argues that sacred space operates not only as a physical setting but also as a symbolic framework that mediates spiritual transformation and social cohesion. It also highlights …

The Role Of Women In A Da’Wah: Mitigating The Bio-Psycho-Socio Problems Of Elderly Pilgrims Who Cancel Hajj, Hasyim Hasanah, Lukmanul Hakim

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The Hajj pilgrimage is the most sacred da’wah ritual and has resilience against global crises and the impact of COVID-19. The cancellation of the 2020-2021 Hajj pilgrimage has implications for the length of the waiting list and the bio-psycho-social conditions of elderly Hajj pilgrims. This study aims to identify the role of female Hajj pilgrims who failed to depart in overcoming bio-psycho-social problems. This study is a field study with a socio-psychological da’wah approach. Data were collected through a Google Form questionnaire, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies of 203 elderly Hajj pilgrims who failed to depart from the Semarang area. …

The Reasons And Motivations For Unsafe Pilgrimage During Covid-19: Analysis Of Shiite Experiences Of Pilgrimage In The Last Days Of Safar In Iran, Hamdollah Sojasi Qeidari, Fahimeh Jafari

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Unsafe pilgrimage is defined a religious journey that may have life risks. From the outbreak of COVID-19, for instance, many people were infected and died, but despite the severe conditions all over the world including Iran, one of the most famous and biggest pilgrimage events was held in Mashhad, Iran. This study tries to explore the causes and motivations of unsafe pilgrimage over the period when COVID-19 was a threat. To do the research, ethnographic method for collecting the data and Colaizzi’s interpretive phenomenological method for analysing the experience of 38 pilgrims doing foot-pilgrimage were used. The results show that …

Understanding Mental Wellness In Collegiate Pilots: The Interplay Of Fatigue, Sleep, And Health-Promoting Behaviors, Flavio Antonio Coimbra Mendonca, Samantha Bowyer, Carolina Anderson, Bill Deng Pan

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This study investigates patterns of fatigue severity, sleep hygiene, daytime sleepiness, and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors and examine the interrelationships among these factors in collegiate aviation students. Participants included undergraduate professional pilot students enrolled in a Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 four-year aviation degree program in the southeastern United States (N = 82).

Participants completed four validated self-report instruments: the Fatigue Severity Scale, the Sleep Hygiene Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the results of each assessment, and Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed to examine intervariable …

Reform And Dependency: Labor, Industry, And The Failure To Reglate American Pharmaceuticals, 1959–1964, Andrew J. Storino

Swarthmore Undergraduate History Journal

In 1959, Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver launched the first federal inquiry into high drug prices, in a series of hearings which have been reprised many times over in the decades since. While Kefauver failed to pass substantive reforms, his work garnered popular support, and has received much subsequent attention from historians. Legislative action was not the only response to pharmaceutical profiteering, however, and scholars have not yet explored how unions and civil society groups responded creatively to the issue of high drug prices — by opening not-for-profit pharmacies, bargaining for health insurance, and amassing biomedical knowledge at the grassroots level. …

The Increasing Degree Of Salivary Diagnostics In Healthcare, Kristi M. Soileau, Joseph Zimmermann, Preston Tran

New Orleans Dental Association News

Saliva is being researched as a potential significant player in disease diagnostics. The financial implications could likely become much more noteworthy, as dentists and physicians recognize. The many benefits of salivary testing over the more traditional methods of blood and urine sampling, while there remains much research to be performed to fully elucidate both the benefits and limitations of salivary diagnostics, this field promises to shine a brighter light on making healthcare testing more affordable, practical, and pleasant overall.

Noda News September 2026

New Orleans Dental Association News

New Orleans Dental Association (NODA) News includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New Orleans membership including: columns from the President and Executive Director, feature articles relating to the field of dentistry, association events and upcoming activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

Comparative Potency Testing Of Diphtheria Toxoid In Guinea Pigs And Mice For In-House Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis And Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccines, Wanlop Leeden, Supanee Ummalukacholk, Orawin Mangkhaladul, Eakachai Prompetchara

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Diphtheria remains endemic in parts of Thailand and continues to threaten unvaccinated populations. To strengthen vaccine self-sufficiency, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization has developed in-house diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP) and diphtheria– tetanus (dT) vaccines. Potency testing of diphtheria toxoid is traditionally performed in guinea pigs; however, limitations in animal availability, cost, and logistics have prompted evaluation of alternative models.
Objectives: To compare diphtheria toxoid potency estimates of in-houseproduced DTP and dT vaccines using guinea pigs and mice, followed by a Vero cell-based toxin neutralization assay, and to assess the suitability of mice as an alternative model for potency testing.
Materials and Methods: …

Ai-Based Community Pharmacy Antibiotic Use Misuse Analysis: A Community-Based Study, Yasameen Riyadh Saeed Al-Azzawi

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: The misuse of antibiotics in the community is a significant health issue of concern since it directly leads to antimicrobial resistance, treatment failure, and health care burden. Aim: determine the trend of antibiotic misuse in community pharmacies and to use analytical models based on artificial intelligence. Methods: The current research was carried out in a sample of the community pharmacies in the city of Hilla, Babylon, Iraq, between November 2025 and February 2026. There were 200 encounters of antibiotics dispensing. The structured recording form was used as the data collection instrument to record the sociodemographic data, presenting …

Skin Carotenoid Scores Reflect Immune Status Among Children Living With Hiv In Tanzania, Wilbert Mbuya, Thobias Boniphace, Michael Mwagala, Peter Agrea, Nazareth M Mbilinyi, Nancy E Moran, Andrew R Dinardo, Mkunde Chachage

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Many individuals living with HIV experience persistent inflammation despite antiretroviral treatment, increasing their risk for cardiovascular diseases, cognitive decline, and other noncommunicable diseases. Carotenoids can inhibit this inflammation by reducing lipid peroxidation. Carotenoid intake and plasma concentrations can be approximated using a noninvasive cutaneous spectrophotometer. This study quantified skin carotenoid levels in Tanzanian children ages 5 to 15 years old (N = 185) both with and without HIV. Over 95% had low to moderate skin carotenoid scores (< 400 units). In children living with HIV, higher viral loads were linked to lower skin carotenoid scores (rho = -0.57, P < 0.001), whereas higher CD4 counts correlated with increased skin carotenoid scores (rho = 0.52, P < 0.001). Overall, carotenoid levels were low and associated with immune status, suggesting that elevated carotenoid scores correlate with lower inflammation in children living with HIV. Future studies investigating dietary carotenoid interventions to support immune function are warranted.

Gc-Ms Profiling And Antibacterial Activity Of Cold-Macerated Garlic Extracts Against Multidrug-Resistant Uropathogens, Fatima A. Khalaf, Saeed A. Fayadh

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The growing number of cases of multidrug-resistant (MDR) urinary tract infections has made the clinical management of urinary tract diseases a significant challenge; therefore, the need for effective adjunctive therapies cannot be overemphasized. This study evaluated the bioactive components and antibacterial efficacy of cold-macerated garlic extracts obtained using distilled water, 70% ethanol and hexane solvents against antimicrobial-resistant urinary isolates. Out of 250 urine samples that were analyzed, 124 (49.6%) showed significant microbial growth, with Escherichia coli being the most frequently isolated organism. The results of the phytochemical screening and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the ethanolic extract had …