Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Examining The Benefits Of A Sustained Balance And Fall Prevention Programming For Independent Older Adults Living In A Community Setting, Noah Davis

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Falls have been an identified public health and social problem since the 1980’s and now recognized as a global health problem in many of the developed nations. The National Council on Aging and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledge many evidence-based fall prevention programs. However, there are identified concerns to the programs; for example, a lack of sustained programming for older adults in the community setting. The literature review on fall prevention interventions identifies that few programs are sustained after two years, primarily due to a lack of funding and a lack of interest by older adults. However, …

Relationship Between Food Insecurities And Chronic Illnesses: How Low Socioeconomic Status Relates To Chronic Illnesses, Kylie Sakurai

Nursing | Senior Theses

In nursing, the job is to care for the patients and get them to be the healthiest version of themselves. This thesis will review articles related to the interrelationship of socioeconomic status, food insecurities and the effect on people’s health. Food insecure people have trouble obtaining food and their nutrition suffers because they do not have the resources or money to maintain a healthy diet. Socioeconomic status plays a big role in the availability and obtainability of the necessary nutrients a person needs. Because of this, chronic diseases can arise and cause further health problems for the patients. The studies …

Navigating Post-Covid A Guide For Young Adults Recovering From Mild To Moderate Cases Of Covid-19, Chesley Ferris

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

COVID-19 is a new strain of the Human Coronavirus. There are many types of Human Coronavirus, with COVID-19, or the Coronavirus Disease, being discovered in December 2019. COVID-19 is classified as a mild to severe upper respiratory illness. It can affect people differently, with some being asymptomatic, or having no symptoms, and others having mild, to moderate or severe symptoms. Symptoms can also present differently in each person. One person may not have the same symptoms as another.The virus is easily transmittable, meaning it can travel from person to person quickly and easily. This is why it is important to …

Access To Healthcare For The Hispanic/Latino Population, Rebecca Loritz

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: The U.S. Hispanic/Latino population faces significant barriers to accessing healthcare. The most common barriers Latinos face are language barriers, cost barriers, immigration statuses, insurance coverage barriers, transportation barriers, health literacy and education barriers, as well as lack of access to healthcare providers. These barriers impact not only their ability to access healthcare but also the quality of healthcare they receive.

Purpose: To synthesize the existing literature evaluating that identifies barriers to healthcare.

Methods: CINAHL and PubMed were systematically searched, along with a manual internet search for journal articles that studied access to care issues for the Latino population in …

Tiny Tusks Internship: The Importance Of Breastfeeding Education In The Workplace, Gianna Hogan

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding education in public, especially in the workplace, is a concept that has a multitude of different perspectives. Research has shown that breastfeeding has many positive effects on mother and baby, that can be lessened due to the lack of breastfeeding support in various organizations. In this literature review, barriers to breastfeeding in the workplace were analyzed in order to understand the effects these barriers have on breastfeeding duration. In addition, this review helped emphasize the need for policies to be enacted in the workplace to better support breastfeeding mothers, and the impact these policies have on employee retention rates …

Hpv Vaccine Hesitancy, Ellen Fountain

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus spread through close contact, often sexual contact. Those infected will be at high risk of developing HPV-related cancers later in life. In 2006, the HPV vaccine was approved for use in the United States, but many were, and continue to be, hesitant to vaccinate their children. While other factors come into play, many times there are misconceptions contributing to hesitancy and ultimate refusal of the vaccine. The goal of this analysis is to review these factors and misconceptions and explore education-based interventions designed to minimize HPV vaccine hesitancy.

Comparison Of Mortality Data From Nebraska’S Rural & Metropolitan Health Districts, Claire Figi

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

As there has been minimal research done on the correlation between communities identified as rural or metropolitan and their mortality rates, this research aims to provide baseline evidence that mortality rates associated with non-infectious and infectious diseases are connected to an area’s rural or metropolitan classification. This study analyzed public data from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control to compare mortality rates related to the top two causes of death in both rural and metropolitan health districts of the state of Nebraska, United States. This data was then compared to mortality rates …

Key Performance Indicators Of Health Cte Students At For-Profit Colleges And Public Community Colleges, Souraya Hajjar

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The advent of for-profit colleges to the higher education scene in the U.S. has challenged public community colleges on all levels; financial, academic, and consumerism. Research has shown that key performance indicators are more favorable at public community colleges than at for-profit colleges. Determining size and type of colleges, ethnicity and gender differences that contribute to total graduation rate of health Career and Technical Education (CTE) students will add to the limited research on the relationship between these constructs and provide information to prospective health CTE students about college enrollment. The study aims to examine institutional performance variables to assist …

Sarcopenia Screening By Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Rdns) In The United States (U.S.), Madison Marcom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sarcopenia is a disease of muscle wasting primarily seen in older adults. Although this term was first coined over three decades ago, there is a lack of consensus on a definition, screening criteria, and treatment protocol for sarcopenia. The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in the United States (U.S.) screen for sarcopenia. Study participants were recruited through a randomized email list and included RDNs throughout the U.S. Respondents completed a survey questioning knowledge of sarcopenia, screening tools and company protocols in place, and the need and desire for sarcopenia education. Data revealed …

The Epidemiology Of Clostridioides Difficile In Nebraska - A Descriptive Study Between 2018-2020, Storm Keffer

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objectives: Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) is a common but challenging infection both financially and medically. Due to these difficulties, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) caused by C. diff is a mandatory reportable disease in Nebraska and as such has been a priority disease targeted by various disease control practices across many hospitals. All CDI laboratory results are reported electronically through the Nebraska Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS). However, capturing and conceptualizing the true burden of CDIs in Nebraska has not been adequately accomplished since monitoring of CDIs began. The objective of this study is to examine the trends of …

A Deeper Look: The Impacts Of Covid-19 Among Latinos In Omaha, Diana Molina

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has manifested worldwide distress, affecting the lives of all population groups. Racial disparities are evident as minority populations are being disproportionately affected by the impacts of COVID-19. Data indicate that the Latino population may experience more severe cases of COVID-19 and have a higher mortality rate. However, little is known about the effects that the pandemic is having on day-to-day life. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate COVID-19's impact on life aspects including employment situation, finances, mental health, and experiences of discrimination among the Omaha Latino community. A survey collected data from 311 participants …

A Story Told, Carly Caldarella

Senior Honors Projects

How do we educate our future generations about topics that are difficult to discuss? Oftentimes, children ask us questions that make us think, "How do I respond to this?" It is essential for our young generations to understand the history of racism, its present manifestations, and solutions and methods of action in order for a bright and revolutionary future. It is not always a simple task for children to comprehend such intricate topics. However, through text and pictures in storybooks, children can better grasp the concepts of such subject matter. "A Story Told" shares the story of young children in …

A Call To Action: Preventing Opioid And Substance Abuse In South Florida Youth, Julie A. Jacko, Katherine P. Cohen, Cathaerina Appadoo, Arkene S. Levy, Timothy F. Page, Michael J. Parker, Solina Pierre-Gilles, Francois Sainfort

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

The opioid crisis poses a substantial threat to youth throughout the nation. This crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, reversing some of the positive national trends in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Some risk factors for youth opioid use have been identified nationally. The South Florida tri-county region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach is a culturally distinct region which may not follow national trends and likely has unique risk and protective factors. To address the concerning spike in youth opioid use in South Florida, a community coalition was formed to identify factors unique to South Florida …

Knowledge And Beliefs Of Adolescents About Acne: Baseline And Post-Intervention Assessments Using An Interactive Educational Tool, Mohammed Mehanna, May Saab

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory skin condition affecting teenagers around the globe. Lack of knowledge and false beliefs about acne are factors contributing to non-adherence to acne treatment that would result in treatment failure. Since acne is a highly prevalent skin condition in Lebanon, educating Lebanese adolescents about acne is vital to achieve a better treatment outcome. The aim of the present study is to assess the baseline knowledge of a sample of Lebanese adolescents using a self-administered questionnaire, and increase the level through an educational intervention (interactive audio-visual presentation). The knowledge score was assessed before and after the …

Adherence To Mediterranean Diet Among Adolescents Attending Public Schools In North Lebanon, Rosy Mitri, Fouad Ziade

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a model of a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle. Adherence to the MD has been correlated with a reduction in many metabolic disorders including cancers. The factors associated with adolescents’ adherence to the MD in North Lebanon using the KIDMED index have never been explored. The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with the Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence among a sample of Lebanese adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the city of Tripoli, North Lebanon. A total of 298 students, aged 11-18 years, were randomly selected from public schools in …

Prevalence And Impacts Of Musculoskeletal Pain Among The Elderly Living In The East Coast Region Of Peninsular Malaysia, Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan, Nur Nabila Izzati Asmera, Suliza Sulaiman, Mohd Said Nurumal, Nik Noor Kaussar Nik Mohd Hatta

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Musculoskeletal pain commonly affects the elderly, but the extent of this problem within the Malaysian community remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal pain among the elderly living in the community.

Methods: Elderly individuals aged 60 years and above with musculoskeletal pain and intact cognition were recruited for this study. Musculoskeletal pain was scored using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and functional ability was assessed via the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale. Mental wellbeing was evaluated using the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale, and risk of falling was determined via …

Prevalence And Associated Factors Of Urinary Incontinence Among Elderly In Pekanbaru, Indonesia, Wulan Sari

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The proportion of the elderly in Riau Province was 4.8% higher than that (4.2%) in 2011. Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common health problem among the elderly. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated factors for UI among the elderly (≥60 years).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 20 public health centers in Pekanbaru City in 2018. A total of 351 elderly meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Gender, age, education, occupation, marital status, obesity, depression, cognitive impairment, smoking status, history of chronic cough, and history of lower abdominal surgery served as the independent …

Effects Of Ectodermal Dysplasia On The Maxilla: A Study Of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography, Beyza Karadede Ünal

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of ectodermal dysplasia (ED) on the transverse width of the maxillary bone.

Methods: The ED group was composed of seven people, while the control group consisted of retrospective cone-beam computed tomography images of seven individuals with skeletal class 1 relationship. Images on the sagittal planes were taken, and cross-sections were taken from the longest point of the Anterior Nasal Spine-Posterior Nasal Spine line. The distance between the distal anterior canine teeth from the right buccal cortical bone to the left buccal cortical bone was measured. At the posterior region, the …

A Cross-Sectional Study On Bullying And Psychological Disturbances Among Malaysian School Children, Muhammad Lokman Md Isa, Nurfatin Aina Mocktar, Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim, Mohd Said Nurumal, Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Bullying is a common violence in school and has become a major public health and global concern. Bullying influences mental health and is identified as a leading factor of depression. Therefore, this study aimed to identify bullying prevalence and its association toward psychological disturbances (stress, anxiety, and depression).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three secondary schools in Kuantan. After obtaining consent from parents/guardians, participants were asked to answer a self-administered questionnaire, including School Climate Bullying Survey, Depression Anxiety Stress Questionnaire-21, Patient Depression Questionnaire, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Demographic data were self-reported. Data were analyzed using …

Controlling Dentistry-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders With Ergonomic Interventions In Lahore, Pakistan, Marriyam Nasar, Farwa Rubab, Hazik Bin Shahzad, Minam Qureshi, Maham Shahid, Pakiza Batool

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) usually result from a prolonged static position and repetitive movements. A comfortable environment, appropriate working position, and multiple short breaks could alleviate MSDs. While the occasional back or neck ache is not a cause for alarm, regularly occurring pain or discomfort, if ignored, may further develop into an injury or career-ending disability.

Methods: A total of 370 dentists were selected from two dental hospitals and multiple dental clinics in Lahore, Pakistan. Current MSDs were recorded with the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ). Information sheets containing dental ergonomics and back and tendon-gliding exercises were distributed among …

Factors Affecting Health-Promoting Lifestyles Among Community Residents At East Gyogone Ward, Insein Township, Rita Meemee, Naw Ohn Khin Khin, Min Htike Aung

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming major challenges for health professionals. Health-promoting lifestyles (HPL) are one of the main criteria for determining health and recognized as the main factor affecting the development of chronic NCDs. This study aimed to determine factors affecting HPL practices among community residents.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Insein Township, Yangon, Myanmar. A total of 194 participants were recruited by using systematic sampling method, and self-administered questionnaires for sociodemographic characteristics and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II were used for data collection. Independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance were employed …

Determinants Of Postnatal Care Service Utilization In Indonesia: A Secondary Analysis Using The Indonesian Health And Demographics Survey, Haerawati Idris, Willyana Syafriyanti

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The postnatal complication that occurs in the first week after childbirth is one of the causes of maternal death in Indonesia. However, it can be prevented with postnatal care (PNC). This study aims to analyze the determinants of PNC service utilization in Indonesia.

Methods: This quantitative study employed a cross-sectional study design and used secondary data from the Indonesian Health and Demographics Survey of 2017. The sample consisted of 14,724 women aged 15–49 years. We assessed the predictors of PNC service utilization using multivariate logistic regression models.

Results: About 78.4% of the respondents utilized PNC services. …

Soft Drink Consumption Patterns Of Middle School Students In North Okkalarpa, Moh Moh Thwe, Sein Yaw May, Min Htike Aung

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Urbanization and economic development in Myanmar have brought about culture and dietary transition from a traditional to a westernized diet. The health of the nation, especially the youth, may influence the changing dietary patterns: i.e., the higher the soft drink consumption, the higher the prevalence of soft drink-related diseases.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 250 middle school students in North Okkalarpa Township, Yangon Region. Data were collected using self-structured questionnaires, and respondents were selected by using simple random sampling method.

Results: In this study, 81.2% of the students consumed soft drink once a …

Mothers’ Nutritional Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Practice Of Meal Preparation For School-Age Children In Yangon, Myanmar, Wut Yee Phyo, Ohn Khin Khin, Min Htike Aung

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Childhood malnutrition is a global public health concern. For Myanmar, mothers play a prominent role in improving the nutritional status of children as they prepare meals for children.

Methods: This community-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 367 mother-child pairs (6–10 years). Significantly, systematic random sampling and structured questionnaires were utilized in this study.

Results: The mean age of mothers was 35.73 ± 6.9 years, and a majority had fair nutritional knowledge (52.3%), good self-efficacy (79.8%), and good practice of meal preparation (59.4%). The prevalence of childhood malnutrition was categorized as stunting (18.2%), underweight (18.8%), wasting …

Disparities In Access To Assisted Reproductive Technology Among Hispanic Women In The United States, Madison Gallagher

Honors Thesis

Infertility is a health problem that affects approximately 7 million women in the United States (Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2015). Due to the high costs of reproductive medicine and infertility treatment, these services tend to be expensive and have limited accessibility without full insurance coverage. Emerging literature outlines the disparities in access to proper treatment for reproductive complications. These existing studies highlight that many minority populations in the United States experience increased challenges regarding access to reproductive medicine and infertility treatment. Among these minority groups are Hispanic women, who are more likely to require reproductive …

Predicting Academic Success Using Grit And Academic Resiliency In College Freshmen, Julianna Boyle

Health and Kinesiology Theses

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if there are other factors that could predict academic success. Specifically, is there an association between Grit and Academic Resiliency prior to the start of a semester and academic success (defined by GPAs) in college freshmen. This study also explored students’ experiences of high school, effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, perception about their journey through the beginning of their College freshmen year, and perception about success.

Methods: A mixed methods design was used. A quantitative survey was emailed to all incoming UT Tyler Freshmen students prior to the Fall …

Effects Of Tobacco Product Type And Characteristics On Appeal And Perceived Harm: Results From A Discrete Choice Experiment Among Guatemalan Adolescents, Jose Monzón, Farahnaz Islam, Sophia Mus, Jim Thrasher, Joaquin Barnoya

Faculty Publications

Guatemala is one of the few countries where both heated tobacco products (HTPs) and electronic cigarettes (ecigarettes) remain unregulated. We used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) administered to 2038 high school students to assess how tobacco product attributes influence their appeal among Guatemalan adolescents. Participants were randomly assigned to evaluate 4 of 32 contrasting sets, each containing 3 packs (1 of each product type). Experimental manipulations included: product type, brand, nicotine content and flavor. Participants then indicated which product they were most and least interested in trying and would be most and least harmful to their health. Conditional logistic regression …

Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among College Students: A Theory-Based Analysis, Manoj Sharma, Robert E. Davis, Amanda H. Wilkerson

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

The severity and pervasiveness of the COVID-19 pandemic have necessitated the emer-gency use of COVID-19 vaccines. Three vaccines have been approved in the United States (USA). However, there is still some hesitancy in COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among some subgroups, including college students. While research is limited on vaccine acceptability behavior among college students, preliminary data suggests hesitancy as being high. This study aimed to explain the correlates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among college students who reported hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine and those who did not using the initiation component of the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Using …

Bearing Witness To The Beauty Of Enactive Kinesthetic Empathy Across Species In Canine-Human And Equine-Human Interactions: Participant-Observation Ethnographies, Donna A. Carlyle, Pamela Graham

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Through observations from ethnographic fieldwork the authors seek to highlight the significance of equine-human and canine-human communication to the fields of both human- animal studies and eudaimonia theories of human well-being. As we shared our insights through academic conversations about our respective research findings, we realized that both studies explore the enigmatic and significant concept of kinesthetic empathy in communication and relationship building between horses and young people and between dogs and young children. The canine-child setting (Study A) is a primary school and classroom in which the children voted to share their environment with a school dog, and the …

Zero Balancing In The Chiropractic Practice, Michele Doucette Dc

Journal of Transformative Touch

Discovering the profound gifts of the leading-edge structural and energetic manual therapy Zero Balancing (ZB), and adding it to my chiropractic and nutrition practice, has unified my personal growth with the sustainability of my professional practice. Much of humanity is starving for wholeness, authenticity, and meaningful connection with ourselves, others, and something greater. Chiropractors are well positioned to be leaders in a true evolution of healthcare, especially if, as we continue to explore the various branches of our therapeutic repertoires, we stay connected to our vitalistic roots that are now more supported than ever by new findings in the fields …