Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Hpv Vaccination Rates, Jennifer Sepede, Kathy Chen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that potentiates cancer in both males and females. There are over 200 different types of HPV and while some strains, specifically HPV 6 and 11, may result in genital and skin warts, others remain clinically silent. High risk strains, HPV 16 and 18, are most associated with cervical cancer in women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was widespread hesitancy and rejection towards vaccination. Similarly, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine has also been met with distrust since it’s release. Studies have shown that there is a low vaccination rate due to …

Barriers To Dermatological Care In Patients Who Received Extensive Mohs Surgery - An In-Depth Qualitative Analysis, Stuti Prajapati, Mallory Zaino, Christina Kontzias, Laura Doerfler, Steven R. Feldman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Dermatological care needs to be accessible for the elderly, but they face prominent challenges contributing to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Prolonged management of may lead to widespread cutaneous malignancies, necessitating extensive Mohs surgery.

Objective: To identify areas for early intervention in the geriatric population who have undergone extensive Mohs surgery.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study on 10 patients 65 years and older (68-91) from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist dermatology clinics between December 2022 and February 2023, who had extensive Mohs surgery (3 or more layers removed).

Results: Three major areas for potential intervention for cutaneous carcinoma …

The Effects Of Obesity And Diabetes On The Pediatric Population, Keyur Patel, Vrushank Shah, Zachary Harris, Kanad Mukherjee

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The World Health Organization has declared diabetes (DM) and Obesity to be epidemics due to their rising prevalence. Obesity plays a role in the aetiopathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes in the world, as well as the development of its complications. Obesity and overweight play a growing role in type 1 diabetes. Weight gain is often thought of as a side effect of insulin therapy, but it also has a significant pathophysiological impact at different stages of the disease. (1) In the United States and other nations across the world, childhood obesity has become a …

Case Report And Review: Promethazine ("Purple Drank") Abuse, Riya Tandra, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

A 23 year old female was brought to the Emergency Department by EMS for confusion and aggressive behavior. The friends told EMS that the patient had been ingesting "purple drank" and that she had told her friends that she made the concoction with promethazine and opiate cough syrup with some vodka added. She mixed it in a carbonated soda. “Purple Drank” or “Lean” is a combination of codeine promethazine hydrochloride and soda or alcohol that has frequently been misused since the 1990s. This paper aims to highlight the recent resurgence of promethazine abuse occurring in the United States as well …

Case Report: Facial Mask-Induced Acne ("Maskne"), Gabriel Meister, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

A 42 year old male health care worker presented with complaints of severe mask related acne vulgaris predominately to the cheeks, chin and nose Here we present the case of a N95 and surgical facial mask use has been a requirement for many occupations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Patient states their current position requires use of an N95 respirator to be worn throughout their shift which can range from 9-14 hours, 6 days per week. Extended daily use of such masks may lead to changes in the skin which can induce irritation and precipitate infection.

Human Airway Mucociliary Tissue Cultures Chronically Exposed To E-Cigarette Vapors Exhibit Altered Cell Populations And Increased Secretion Of Immunomodulatory Cytokines, Vanessa Pizutelli, Vincent Manna, Shannon Dwyer, Salvatore Caradonna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Vape-pens or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are handheld battery powered devices that use a vape-liquid to produce a vapor that is inhaled by the user. The active ingredients in commercial vape-liquids are commonly nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabidiol. A consequence of the rise in e-cigarette usage was the 2019 emergence of a vaping-induced respiratory disease denoted ‘e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury’ (EVALI). One of the suspected causes of EVALI is Vitamin E Acetate (VEA), which was found to be a diluent in certain illicit tetrahydrocannabinol vape-pens, whereas nicotine is commonly diluted in equal parts propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (PG:VG). The …

The Effect Of Socioeconomic Status On Primary Care Access And Cancer Screening Rates, Seth Spicer, Liam Courtney, Alyssa Laguerta, Abdul Sanni-Adam, Bharathi Balaji

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Low cancer screening rates among specific demographics are major health issues that lead to disparities in health outcomes. Early cancer detection is crucial for cure; however, it is not well known how age, race, gender, primary care access, and socio-economic status affect cancer screening rates. This review discusses the importance of cancer screening and the factors that affect screening rates.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how access to primary care affects cancer screening rates, with consideration to age, race, socioeconomic status, and primary care access in order to improve screening rates in underserved populations.

Methods: …

Exploring Risk Factors For Major Depressive Disorder For Female Patients Aged 18 Or Older Living In Ocean County, New Jersey, James Mack

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The incidence and prevalence of major depressive disorder has been increasing worldwide, in the United States of America, and on a local level. The population of Ocean County, New Jersey, a predominantly Caucasian, female, middle-aged population, may be at increased risk of developing major depressive disorder.

Purpose: To explore the social determinants of health and risk factors for major depressive disorder for female patients aged 18 or older living in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Methods: This literature review mainly used PubMed and Scopus for journal articles and utilized governmental databases for additional population data.

Results: Analyses conducted on social …

Assessing The Snap Consumer Environment At Farmers Markets, Gabrielle C. Young, Sarah Misyak, Meredith Ledlie Johnson, Natalie E. Martin, Elena Serrano

Journal of Extension

The SNAP at Farmers Market Environmental Assessment was developed as a tool for market managers to examine SNAP participant accessibility for redeeming SNAP benefits at farmers markets. By completing the SNAP at Farmers Market Environmental Assessment, the tool can serve as a guide for providing practical next steps for market improvement. Extension practitioners and researchers, including SNAP-Ed staff, can use the assessment tool to support policy, systems, and environment change efforts that promote access to local, high-quality foods by SNAP consumers, the redemption of SNAP benefits, and potentially increased sales at farmers markets.

Why Understanding Food Choice Is Crucial To Transform Food Systems For Human And Planetary Health, Krystal K. Rampalli, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Joseph Montoya

Faculty Publications

What, how and why people eat has long been understood to be important for human health, but until recently, has not been recognised as an essential facet of climate change and its effects on planetary health. The global climate change and diet-related health crises occurring are connected to food systems, food environments and consumer food choices. Calls to transform food systems for human and planetary health highlight the importance of understanding individual food choice. Understanding what, how and why people eat the way they do is crucial to successful food systems transformations that achieve both human and planetary health goals. …

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (Lgbtqia+) Health Disparities In Sexual Health And Sexual Education, Cole T. Mcbride

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Comprehensive sex education instills knowledge and promotes the health of all youth, however, most sex education remains heteronormative. School-based programs in the United States (US) emphasize monogamous, heterosexual relationships. In 2021, only 7.4% of students received sex education that included positive representations of both LGB and transgender people and nonbinary topics, while 72% of programs across the US omit LGBTQ+ topics. Most new HIV diagnoses occur in gay and bisexual men aged 13-34, but the sex education environment for this group is increasingly hostile as more states prohibit addressing these topics in public schools.

Purpose: The purpose …

Mental Health Resources For Low Income Individuals, Jasmine G. Marin

Whittier Scholars Program

There are many barriers that low income individuals and populations face in accessing mental healthcare, including lack of health insurance that makes it hard to afford care, distance from clinics especially for people who live rurally, lack of transportation, inability to take time off work, and the stigma of mental illness coupled with poverty. Systemic racism in medical settings also plays a significant role in low income minority groups’ lack of access to quality care, as doctors prioritize those with insurance. Unfortunately, poverty itself can cause major stressors which puts families at higher risk for mental illness and substance abuse, …

Predictors And Barriers To Vaccination Among Older Syrian Refugees In Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of A Multi-Wave Longitudinal Study, Berthe Abi Zeid, Tanya El Khoury, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Marwan F. Alawieh, Zeinab Ramadan, Sirine Anouti, Sawsan Abdulrahim, Stephen J. Mccall

Faculty Publications

Background:

Vaccination is important to prevent morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 among older Syrian refugees. We aimed to elucidate the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Syrian refugees aged 50 years or older in Lebanon and to understand their main reasons for not receiving the vaccine.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional analysis of a five-wave longitudinal study, conducted through telephone interviews between Sept 22, 2020, and March 14, 2022, in Lebanon. For this analysis, data were extracted from wave 3 (Jan 21–April 23, 2021), which included a question on vaccine safety and on whether participants intended to receive the …

Vaccines In The 20th Century, Samantha Valakos

Senior Honors Projects

In 1796 Edward Jenner marked a turning point in epidemiology after testing a theory and developing the first vaccination known to mankind: smallpox. Since his work, many scientists have discovered that virulent strains of a virus can be attenuated in humans, consequently aiding in the creation of many different vaccines. Nowadays, one of the most common vaccines for humans to receive is the influenza vaccine. The influenza vaccine is very effective in prevention of getting the virus, as well as reducing the risk of flu-like symptoms. However, each year many individuals continue to choose not to get the flu vaccine …

The Effects Of Mental Health And Burnout In Medicine In Relation To The Wilson Model Of Leadership, Kevin Beck

Senior Honors Projects

The purpose of this project is to determine the effects that burnout and poor mental health can have on the ability of health care professionals to effectively do their job and lead others in medicine. Burnout, as defined by Merriam Webster, is “the exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” This is a self-reported quantitative study analyzing information acquired via a survey to determine if there is a relation to burnout and poor mental health in medicine and the ability to effectively lead others and complete work tasks and this …

Uri Athletics Fueling Station, Caitlin O'Leary

Senior Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Sun Safety Education: A Glance At Calloway County Schools, Tess S. Henderson

Honors College Theses

The American Academy of Dermatology states that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer within the United States (Skin Cancer, 2022), and more than two people die of the disease each hour (Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics, 2023). From a public health perspective one avenue to explore in lowering skin cancer rates is a focus on sun safety education lessons aimed at school children. The proposed project aims to assess the current status of sun safety education in Calloway County elementary and middle schools via a survey of teachers within these schools. After data was collected, it was …

Therapeutic Approaches To Working With Perinatal Loss Clients: A Grounded Theory Study, Heather H. Olivier

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal loss (i.e., miscarriage, stillbirth, termination, and infant death) is commonly referred to in the literature as an invisible loss, non-loss, and even medical event. It is an ambiguous loss exhibiting the dialectical contradiction between the physical absence and psychological presence of the baby accompanied by disenfranchised grief, a reaction to a loss that is unacknowledged by society. Despite the likelihood of mental health clinicians working with clients who have experienced perinatal loss, there has yet to be a therapeutic model designed specifically for the unique grief and trauma reactions presented in this population. Existing grief models do not address …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Obesity Management Tools, Hunter Wayne Turnipseed

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The demand for obesity treatment and management cannot be met because of the lack of obesity specialists. Therefore, integrating obesity management tools in primary care is an excellent option for obesity treatment. Also, the importance of DPP as a scalable community-based program and that Small Changes provides a structured dietary approach that we hypothesize will improve weight loss outcomes. These two studies evaluated the implementation of obesity management tools in primary care clinics in the Paso del Norte area and a DPP program in Brownsville, TX. The first study explored the key facilitators and barriers to adopting the CDSS and …

Mental Illness And Substance Use Disorder (Sud) Among Pregnant And Postpartum Women In A Women's Residential Treatment Center In El Paso, Texas, Adren Darius Warling

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) and opioid use disorders (OUDs) are a major public health concern in the United States. SUD/OUDs are often linked to co-occurring physical disorders and serious mental illness (SMI). Stress and trauma are often contributing factors to the development of SUD/OUD and/or co-occurring SMI, which impact pregnant and postpartum women (PPW), who concurrently, may face specific risk factors and barriers to care for these conditions. These risk factors and barriers to care may be exacerbated by Hispanic/Latino identities. Studying social determinants of health based on a social ecological model approach can help increase knowledge about this …

Predicting Adolescent Intervention Non-Responsiveness For Precision Hiv Prevention Using Machine Learning, Bo Wang, Feifan Liu, Lynette Deveaux, Arlene Ash, Ben Gerber, Jeroan Allison, Carly Herbert, Maxwell Poitier, Karen Macdonell, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Bonita Stanton

Faculty Publications

Interventions to teach protective behaviors may be differentially effective within an adolescent population. Identifying the characteristics of youth who are less likely to respond to an intervention can guide program modifications to improve its effectiveness. Using comprehensive longitudinal data on adolescent risk behaviors, perceptions, sensation-seeking, peer and family influence, and neighborhood risk factors from 2564 grade 10–12 students in The Bahamas, this study employs machine learning approaches (support vector machines, logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest) to identify important predictors of non-responsiveness for precision prevention. We used 80% of the data to train the models and the rest for …

Cardiovascular Disease In Central Appalachia, An Exploratory Study Of Behavioral, Community, And Patient-Centered Care Influences, Kristy Gagnon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Central Appalachian region of the United States disproportionately experiences higher rates of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and associated risk factors. Primary risk factors for CVD include hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and tobacco use, all of which have the potential to be mitigated through lifestyle behavior changes. Dietary and physical activity practices are the two main driving forces for the development of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, while tobacco use is a behavioral choice on its own. Subsequentially, shifting lifestyle choices to emphasize healthier living has the potential to reduce CVDs within the Central Appalachian region. Considering behavioral choices are not made in isolation and …

Examining The Marketing Strategies Of Campus Mental Health On A Minority Student Population, Rochelle Bernarte

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Public health, particularly mental health services aimed at making a positive impact can be difficult to market to populations. Promoting mental health services to a target demographic of predominantly minority students at a university comes with its own set of unique variables making the task especially tough. This can be concerning as studies have shown that minority students experience greater amounts of stress than their White counterparts but are less likely to seek mental health services (DeFreitas et al., 2018; Duffy, 2019; Lipson, et al., 2022). The purpose of this study was to gauge the Attitudes and Practices …

Assessing Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Among College Students Regarding Second-Hand And Third-Hand Smoke, Laura Y. Rebolledo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: The tobacco epidemic has been a constant since the popularization of tobacco products. However, with the introduction of non-combustible products that include e-cigarettes and vapes, the usage of tobacco products has continued to increase. Tobacco exposure can stem from first-hand (FHS), second-hand (SHS), and third-hand smoke (THS), with the last two impacting even non-smokers. The health effects from all types of tobacco exposure can be detrimental. These effects include the risk of cancer in any organ of the body, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases.

Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design through an anonymous web-based survey given …

Key Determinants Of Using Telehealth Technologies Among Underserved Populations From The Perspective Of Patients And Providers, Johanna Cimilluca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: The utilization of telehealth has had a substantial impact on transforming and enhancing the methods by which healthcare is presently delivered. The potential benefits of telehealth in improving the health of vulnerable populations and underserved communities are substantial. The aims of this study were to examine the association between social determinants of health and patient perceptions of their experiences with telehealth. We will analyze how perceptions differ across specialization, race, gender, and other key determinants; examine how patient’s self-rated physical health and mental health influences perceptions and attitudes about telehealth utilization; and evaluate differences in perceptions and attitudes, …

Our Story, Our Song: Assessing And Addressing Black Women's Healthcare Experiences., Jason Deakings

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite advancements in medicine and health sciences, health disparities and declining life expectancy persists among Black women in the United States. Researchers and non-traditional healthcare providers suggest alternative healing (e.g., music and Sister Circles) and research methodologies to achieve a culturally conscious, traumainformed, quality, and holistic care and practice. The intersecting identities and cultural responsibility of Black women highly influences the barriers and facilitators on the uptake of healthcare services. Utilizing a community engaged research approach, this qualitative study assessed the healthcare experiences, as well as the role of music in the lived and retold experiences of Black women navigating …

Identifying Predictors Of Eventual Rural Practice Among Female Osteopathic Medical Students, Dana Kahl

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The United States is facing a growing physician shortage that threatens the ability of our healthcare system to provide needed services. This shortage will be more acutely felt in rural and underserved areas. Osteopathic medical education, with its priority of primary care specialties, plays a significant role in meeting the healthcare needs of rural communities in America. The fastest-growing demographic of osteopathic physicians is women under the age of 45 (American Osteopathic Association, 2021). Additionally, for the first time in history, women outnumber men in medical schools, accounting for 51% of current medical students (Boyle, 2019). Who is admitted to …

Social Reproduction And Covid-19, Caroline I. Donovan

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

As Covid-19 rips across the world we are collectively asked to examine the structures of society to see what is working and what we can change. What can we learn from the roughly 6.9 million deaths (and counting) worldwide? How can we prevent something like this from happening again? This paper follows the course of Covid-19 from its birth in Wuhan, China, to the present day of mid-April 2023. By looking at the ways in which we have reacted to the pandemic, we are able to look forward and imagine new ways of tackling future pandemics and other pressing problems …

Exploring Sexual And Reproductive Health Care In Central Appalachia Through The Experiences Of Transgender And Gender Non-Binary People, Chase Harless

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Transgender or nonbinary (TNB) individuals in the United States experience higher rates of sexual and reproductive health disparities when compared to their cisgender counterparts, along with lower access to care. TNB people in the south experience higher rates of disparities. Societal, interpersonal, and individual barriers contribute to these disparities in the TNB population. However, there is a paucity of research examining the sexual and reproductive health experiences of TNB people living in Central Appalachia.

Methods: An interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) research design was used to collect and analyze semi-structured interviews with TNB individuals living in central Appalachia regarding their …

Planning A Multiple Myeloma Needs Assessment For Omaha Nebraska, Judith Ngozi Obodougo

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Literature Review

Worldwide, approximately 176,404 people had Multiple Myeloma in 2020, which caused about 117,077 deaths in the same period. Multiple Myeloma is a rare type of blood cancer currently considered a curable malignancy.

Objectives

This public health capstone aims to create a plan for a community needs assessment for multiple Myeloma in Omaha, Nebraska.

Methods

This capstone project modified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) community needs assessment guidelines to create a Multiple Myeloma needs assessment plan for Omaha, Nebraska.

Results

All seven steps outlined in the CDC community needs assessment planning steps were relevant. Omaha, Nebraska, …