Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Food Security In The Covid-19 Era, Dana I. Allison, Alex Cohen, Elena Dansky, Willie Dong, Helen Gandler, Luke Hallgarth, Sarah Kendrick, A Carmola, M Bridges, Tv Delaney Phd, Jk Carney Md

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Food insecurity is a national issue, one that affected 10.5% of households during some point of the year 2019. Those affected by food insecurity can have their access to food jeopardized due to financial hardship, eating patterns altered to prolong the food available, or various other adjustments including reliance on low-cost food, skipping meals, etc.

The state of Vermont is not immune to food insecurity, with a rate of 11.3% of households in 2018.

The Covid-19 pandemic created an unprecedented shift in daily life, with households having to rapidly adapt to meet newly imposed governmental regulations, including stay at home …

Decreasing Inappropriate Usage Of The Emergency Department (Creating Alliances To Deliver Population Health To Seasonal Workforce), Olivia Foster, Lynley Steele-Miller

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No abstract provided.

Effect Of An Electronic Order Set On Newborn Hepatitis B Immunization Rates, Daniel Pedersen, Angelina Rodriguez, Michael King, Heather Schramm

West Florida Division Virtual Research Day 2020

No abstract provided.

Decreasing Rates Of Obesity In Onondaga County Among Older Adults, Julianna Duca

Transformations: Research Papers

After an investigation of the health priorities in Onondaga County, research concludes that the mortality rates are generally higher when compared to New York State (New York State Department of Health, 2018). Currently, obesity and being overweight are the second leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States (New York State Department of Health, 2019e). Obesity is one chronic disease that shows higher rates in Onondaga County than New York State and the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019; New York State Department of Health, 2016b). The rate of obesity in Onondaga County is 32%, the …

Factors Associated With Tobacco Smoking Among Saudi College Students: A Systematic Review, Saad A. Alotaibi, Praveen Durgampudi

College of Health Sciences Posters

Introduction: There has been an increase in tobacco smoking among Saudi college students in recent years. However, no study has examined, with a systematic approach, the extent to which specific factors are associated with tobacco smoking among this population.

Methods: PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL, and Web of Science were utilized to retrieve studies addressing risk factors associated with tobacco smoking among Saudi college students between 2010 and 2019. After confirming their eligibility criteria, studies were imported to the NVivo software for data collection and synthesis. All included articles were critically appraised, based on a modified STROBE.

Results: Twenty-one out of 300 …

What’S Going On With E-Cigarette Use In Vermont High Schools?, Fay Abdullah, Elizabeth Baumgartner, Delaney Curran, Noorin Damji, Madeline Fritz, Catherine Gereg, Ray Mak, Shayan Mcgee, Alex Crimmin, David Kaminsky

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

The use of electronic cigarettes (e cigarettes) has become popular practice among teenagers in the United States. E cigarettes have been marketed as a “healthier” alternative to traditional cigarettes and include several flavor options to make them more appealing to teenagers. However, studies have shown that e cigarettes are still harmful, leading to addiction, nausea, vomiting, headache, and upper airway irritation. Most recently, the outbreak of severe lung illnesses is believed to be related to e cigarette use; the CDC and FDA are investigating the cause of this outbreak.

Social Determinants Of Health Among Blood Donors, Amelia Anderson, Lauren Bougioukas, Alexander Braun, Adam Morehead, Collins Oguejiofor, Christina Sanchez-Grew, Rachel Tobin, Jenny Lamping, Mark Fung

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Understanding the influences of social determinants of health (SDOH) on blood donation may help define the relationship between health in a community and rates of blood donation. While much is known about the demographics of blood donors in the United States, their SDOH have not yet been studied. Research examining SDOH outside the United States has found that many factors influence the likelihood of blood donations. These factors include education, income, health insurance, health status, and marital status. The aim of this study is to examine U.S. blood donors’ SDOH such as emotional support, stress levels, physical safety and access …

Primary Care Perceptions: Health Services For Vermonters With Intellectual Disabilities, Magalie Carey, Gia Eapen, Adam Fakhri, Taylor Marquis, Cara Rathmell, Claudia Russell, Nicole Wershoven, Elizabeth Cote, Mike Reilly, Stephen Everse

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Champlain Community Services (CCS) provides developmental services and health care to Vermonters with intellectual disabilities (100 individuals in 2019), offering coordinated one-to-one support at work, home, school, and in the community. The goals of this study were to learn which services local primary care practitioners believe to be most beneficial to patients with intellectual disabilities (ID), to identify barriers to developmental services, and to gauge practitioners’ familiarity with CCS.

Addressing Vermont Childhood Obesity Through Public Policy: Scoring Vermont Supervisory Union Wellness Policies Using The Wellsat Assessment Tool, Olivia Cooper, Rachel Harrison, Jugerta Istrefi, Colby Mcginn, Micheal Mikheal, John O'Keefe, Pj Tran, Tina Zuk, Paula Tracy

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

As of 2016 the state of Vermont has required all public school supervisory unions to have a wellness policy guiding nutritional and physical education, nutritional quality of food served and sold, and the implementation and modification of the policy in the future. We hypothesize that differences between these policies throughout the state of Vermont will lead to changes in health outcomes for the students that they impact.

Trends In Buprenorphine Use And Barriers To Medication-Assisted Recovery, Isi Beach, Richard Brach, Carolyn Geraci, Kyle Leonard, Rose Martin, Nikkole Turgeon, Faith Wilson, Kayla Donohue, Mariah Mcnamara

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Since the initiation of the "Hub and Spoke Model" in 2014, VT has been able to eliminate the waitlist for receiving Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR) and has increased the number of MAR providers. However, many people still report using non-prescribed “street” MAR prior to entering treatment to avoid withdrawal from opiates. Our study aims to assess current trends and barriers to access in buprenorphine use.

Assessing Burnout In Early Childhood Educators, Megan Boyer, Sarah Clark, Emma Hall, Malla Keefe, Elena Martel, Michael Tabet, Mohammad Wali, Sarah Adams-Kollitz, Molly Moore

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

The stress of working as an early childhood educator can manifest as increased job turnover and burnout, leading to reduced teaching efficacy. Resilience training can increase wellbeing and decrease stress. This study assessed burnout, resilience, and organizational constraints at Burlington Children’s Space (BCS), a childcare education non-profit.

Assessing The Feasibility Of A Peer Developed Risk Reduction Plan In A Rural Middle School, Sara Brennan, Christian Brooks, Patrick Clarke, Isaac De La Bruere, Nicole Delgado, Alexandra Kuzma, Emma Levine, Joanna Jerose, Leigh Ann Holterman

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Sheldon Middle School (SMS) reported above-average suicidal ideation and risky behavior (e.g., sexual activity, alcohol use) on the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, compared to state levels. Current literature highlights programs designed to reduce risky youth behavior. Little research exists on the feasibility of designing and implementing peer-created, peer-driven intervention programs. There is a gap around parent and faculty opinions surrounding the feasibility of these programs. We investigated the feasibility of partnering with students to design an empirically-based program that addresses some root causes of risky behaviors, then measured parent and faculty attitudes.

A Community Based Approach To A Client- Centered Wellness Program, Sheridan Finnie, Diane Kim, Prasanna Kumar, Kelly Macpherson, Allyson Miller, Megan Prue, Jacob Weiss, Cathie Buscaglia, Joseph Lasek, Alison Howe

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Despite health benefits of wellness programs, no such program has been adapted to meet the needs of adult clients receiving services addressing mental health, substance-use, and developmental needs at a community-based mental health organization. We investigated preferred evidence-based diet and exercise wellness programs for potential implementation.

Hpv And Cancer Prevention: It’S Not Just About The Warts, Matthew Dier, Elizabeth Hahn, Rachel Madhur, Francis Mtuke, Carley Mulligan, Lauren Schlussel, Kristina Valentine, Bill Couzens, Jan Carney

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are responsible for 34,000 cancers per year throughout the United States, including cervical, anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. In 2018, only 51% of adolescents received all recommended doses. Our study goal was to assess knowledge of HPV in a population likely well-informed about cancer risks.

Physician Attitudes Toward Screening For Social Determinants Of Health, Michael Barnum, Rosie Friedman, Tierra Lynch, Collin Montgomery, Irene Sue, Jenna Wells, Hakeem Yousef, Elizabeth Cote, Charles Maclean

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Social determinants of health (SDH) have a significant impact on health outcomes. Screening for SDH in the clinical setting can identify at-risk patients, but follow-up and management remain challenging. Currently, there is no single preferred screening tool recommended for SDH and the screening process varies widely. The goal of this study was to determine family medicine physician attitudes and practices regarding screening and follow-up for SDH in Chittenden County, VT.

E-Cigarette And Tobacco Use On A Tobacco-Free Uvm Campus, Sameer Alidina, Lauren Gernon, Kalin Gregory-Davis, Alexa Pius, Olivia Quatela, Samuel Raszka, Zeynep Tek

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

The prevalence of e-cigarette use has significantly increased in recent years. In the US, e-cigarettes are now the most common nicotine products used by adolescents. The CDC reported 1,299 cases of lung injury correlating to the use of e-cigarette and vaping products; the current recommendation is to refrain from using e-cigarette products that contain THC and/or nicotine.

Attitudes & Roles Regarding Firearm Access And Suicide Prevention In Vermont Middle & High Schools, Cari Carpenter, Kelly Chan, Jeremy Greenberg, Alyssa Heiser, Ashleigh Peterson, Peter Twining, Emerson Wheeler, Kristin Fontaine, Wendy Davis

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Adolescent suicide is a serious public health concern in Vermont, and the presence of firearms in the home is a known risk factor. Suicide attempts with firearms are more likely to be completed than attempts with other means, with an 85% mortality rate of suicide with firearms compared to 5% with other means. This project aimed to assess attitudes, comfort, and perceived roles among school personnel in addressing gun safety and access to firearms with Vermont students and parents.

A Comprehensive Needs Assessment Of Rural Syringe Services, Deena Chanowitz, Julia Clemens, Alim Esemenli, Matthew Hill, Erick Maclean, Adessa Morano, Adam Ross

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

The current opioid epidemic has resulted in a significant increase in opioid-related overdoses, and a corresponding rise in HIV and HCV transmission. Syringe Service Programs (SSPs) provide resources for people who inject drugs. There are fewer SSPs in rural U.S. and little research has been conducted to determine unique needs of SSP participants in rural areas.

Assessing Prenatal Care Providers’ Promotion Of Immunization In Pregnancy, Emily Eakin, Francesca Garofalo, William Holden, Sunny Hutson, Ambrose Orr, Melanie Parziale, Anya Srikureja, Emily Straley, Christine Finley, Jill Jemison, Raj Chawla

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Accurate information regarding prenatal immunization is critical for first-time mothers. Many vaccine-hesitant mothers decide whether to vaccinate their children during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines urge providers to recommend the Tdap and influenza vaccines to pregnant patients to reduce the risk of complications from pertussis and influenza, respectively, in both expectant mothers and infants. In 2018, about half of pregnant women in the US received an influenza vaccine and Tdap vaccine; however, uptake varies state to state. This study demonstrates the first survey of providers regarding prenatal immunization practices in Vermont.

Housing Initiatives Implementation In Vermont To Improve Health Outcomes, Jose Calderon, Marlijne Cook, Benjamin Kagan, Sylvia Lane, Maha Saleem, Kayla Sturtevant, Angela Troia, Heidi Klein, Jan Carney

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Vermont Department of Health goals include improving population health outcomes, including social determinants of health. There is compelling evidence between housing and health; research demonstrates housing insecurities increase rates of negative health outcomes. Research further demonstrates improve-ments in housing reduce hospital stays, thus reducing financial burdens on hospitals. This project sought to understand what housing initiatives Accountable Communities for Health (ACH) in Vermont are implementing to alleviate the burdens of housing insecurity.

Vermont Legislature’S Views On The Reliability And Accessibility Of Available Resources Regarding Public Health Concerns Of Youth Marijuana Use, Aram Garewal, Luke Higgins, Jeannie Lin, Kathleen O'Hara, Michelle Oberding, Anna Quinlan, Joseph Teague, Lori Augustyniak, Karen Lounsbury

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Vermont previously legalized possession and limited cultivation of marijuana. Proposed legislation for 2020 would legalize commercial sale of marijuana. Current knowledge surrounding public health impacts of the legal commercial sale of marijuana on youth is inconsistent, insufficient, and poorly understood by the public. This study investigated legislator utilization and perception of sources contributing to growing knowledge surrounding youth marijuana use.

Development Of A Sustainable Volunteer Model To Address Food Insecurity, Abigail Belser, Adrian Berg, Leah Miller, Kaitlyn Peper, Allison Tzeng, Carolyn Gould, Linda Howe, Jan Carney

Public Health Projects, 2008-present

Food insecurity is a predictor of poor health outcomes and a critical social determinant of health. Food shelves are critical community resources aimed to counter food insecurity by providing nutrition and other resources to those in need. Food insecurity in Winooski, Vermont is substantial and increasing, with 10% of residents utilizing the Winooski Food Shelf (WFS) in 2018. To aid in the increasing demand of the WFS, we determined the greatest need(s) to implement a sustainable intervention to ensure capacity to meet demands.

Harm Reduction In The Emergency Department, Alexa J. Golden

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

The number of overdose deaths in Vermont has been trending up over the past several years. A majority of these fatalities involved synthetic opioid fentanyl. The Emergency Department (ED) at Central Vermont Medical Center delivers medication assisted treatment (MAT) through the Rapid Access to MAT (RAM) program. This program has connected many people in the region to treatment for opiate use disorder. However it was identified that we lacked connection to harm reduction services for those not interested in MAT. Harm reduction education was provided for recovery coaches and ED nursing staff. Harm reduction kits containing life-saving supplies such as …

Easily Digestible: Addressing Food Literacy With Short Educational Videos, Kalle J. Fjeld

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Food literacy is the knowledge and skills needed to select and prepare food as well as determine food intake. These skills are necessary for a healthy diet, which is a major contributing factor to chronic disease prevention and management. People with diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease can have great benefit from improving diet quality through increasing at-home food preparation and consumption of fruits and vegetables. In partnership with a Food Farmacy pilot program at Hudson Headwaters Health Network in Glens Falls, NY this project sought to use web-based food literacy education for a population of 40 patients with …

Addressing Adolescent And Young Adult Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan Boyer

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

This quality improvement project at South Burlington Family Medicine aimed to investigate the mental health of individuals ages 13-25 in our practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible patients received a PHQ-9 questionnaire with two additional questions related to COVID-19. Recommendations for future interventions to serve this population were made based on these preliminary findings, with the goal of doing a full PDSA cycle in the near future.

Blood Pressure Management Education, Lauren G. Gernon, Cara Rathmell

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

The expansion of telehealth with COVID-19 and recent recommendations to use at-home blood pressure monitoring to diagnose and monitor hypertension have increased the need for materials and education for clinicians and patients. A pilot project in Primary Care Internal Medicine UVM in Essex, VT, produced an electronic medical record dot phrase and compiled educational materials to initiate nurse visits for at-home BP measurements. Materials and experience with this pilot was researched for initiation of a similar program at UVM Family Medicine Hinesburg.

A Motivational Interviewing Approach Toward Mask Wearing In Franklin County, Vermont, Ashleigh N. Peterson

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

COVID-19 has caused significant morbidity and mortality in Vermont and worldwide since the start of the pandemic. Wearing cloth face masks has been proven to limit viral spread, but few studies have quantified how many people are wearing masks or what their reasons are for doing so. This study aimed to assess and encourage mask use in Franklin County, Vermont by piloting an in-office motivational interviewing intervention at a primary care office.

Promoting Physical Activity In School-Aged Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Abigail H. Belser

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents are engaging in less physical activity and are increasing their sedentary behavior. These changes can lead to long-lasting negative lifestyle behaviors, which increases risk of health complications.

To ensure safety during the pandemic, guidelines have created restrictions on physical education and sports, which are both primary physical activity outlets for children and adolescents. Children and adolescents have to find alternate ways and resources to meet the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

An informational pamphlet was created to educate parents and children of current physical activity recommendations, with resources and ideas …

Telemedicine Quality Improvement, Isidora R. Beach

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Telemedicine use has increased dramatically since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. However, not all patients and physicians were prepared for this rapid change, and little evaluation of these new mechanisms for delivery of healthcare has occurred thus far. This community project explores patient and physician perspectives on the use of telemedicine in place of in-person visits and makes recommendations for future improvements. Ultimately, telemedicine use will not likely diminish any time soon, making it increasingly important to triage patient visits to determine which would lend themselves well to the telemedicine format. As this project …

Onecare Vermont Aco Quality Metric Evaluation, Alexander Braun

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

This project explores OneCare Vermont ACO quality metrics and how they can be used to improve patient care and reimbursement in a Vermont family medicine practice. Perspectives of physicians within the practice and others familiar with OneCare Vermont operations are shared. Several metrics were identified as areas for improvement within the practice by comparing ACO metrics with patient data.