Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Strengthening The Science Of Public Health Delivery: Complexities In Implementation, Inference & Translation, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

Delivery systems for public health programs and policies are diffuse and heterogeneous across the U.S., reflecting wide variation in the capacity to implement population-level health improvement strategies. This lecture examines strategies for evaluating the causes and consequences of variation in public health delivery across the U.S., with a focus on identifying pathways for improving the health and economic effects of policy and practice.

Public Health In Southeast Asia: Focus On Adolescent Health Research, Randy M. Page

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Outcome 1: Students will develop research and presentation skills and gain confidence in their abilities. This project directed students to work on research conducted in Thailand focusing on adolescent body image and smoking. Students participated in research planning, collecting data and making sense of results, constructing data tables, translating research instruments, developing presentations, presenting findings at international conferences, and developing a manuscript for submission. A survey instrument was constructed to assess appearance-related social pressure, body weight satisfaction, and weight loss/maintenance behaviors in adolescents. Students worked with researchers in Thailand to translate the instrument from English to Thai, and through the …

Computational Health Science Collaborative: Interdisciplinary Mentoring For Public Health And Computer Science Students, Michael D. Barnes

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Computational health science, as we define it, represents the application of innovative computer science tools, including social media and data mining, to addressing health-­‐ related questions and problems. With multidisciplinary student mentoring as our aim, we have established the BYU Computational Health Science Research Collaborative (CHeSRC), which integrates the analytical strengths and skills of health scientists and computer scientists, supported by complementary expertise from other researchers, practitioners, and disciplines as applicable (http://dml.cs.byu.edu/chs/). As stated on the CHeSRC website, our mission is to better understand how technology can affect human interactions and enhance supporting environments by conducting innovative research that will …

Estimating The Costs Of Foundational Public Health Capabilities: A Recommended Methodology, Dwight V. Denison, Cezar B. Mamaril, Glen P. Mays, Lizeth C. Fowler, Workgroup On Public Health Cost Estimation

Health Management and Policy Reports

The Institute of Medicine’s 2012 report on public health financing recommended the convening of expert panels to identify the components and costs of a “minimum package of public health services” that should be available in every U.S. community. The report recommended that this minimum package include a core set of public health programs that target specific, high-priority preventable health problems and risks, along with a set of “foundational public health capabilities” that are deemed necessary to support the successful implementation of public health programs and policies. In response to this recommendation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in collaboration with the …

The Status Of Public Health Services & Systems Research In The Us: Implications For British Columbia, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

Research on the organization, financing, and delivery of public health services has accelerated in the U.S. in recent years. This applied scholarship has been fueled in part by the changes and natural experiments created by global economic recession and by comprehensive federal and state health reforms. Co-occuring changes in public health organization and financing have occurred in Canada and more specifically in British Columbia, where valuable scholarship on public health delivery is also underway. This presentation reviews the progress and current directions of PHSSR scholarship in the U.S., and identifies opportunities and implications for British Columbia.

The Central Pennsylvania Affordable Care Act Project, Brandn Green

Technical Reports

We work in rural Central Pennsylvania to inform people about the Affordable Care Act and to provide application assistance for the Health Insurance Exchange. Central Pennsylvania is rural areas about 100 miles in diameter with many towns of 3,000 to 10,000 people and a few small cities. There are no navigator organizations and only one small organization—a small free clinic—is registered to sponsor individuals to become trained as Certified Assistance Counselors. -- introduction

Hot Yoga Establishments In Local Communities Serving Pregnant Women: A Pilot Study On The Health Implications Of Its Practice And Environmental Conditions, Viann N. Nguyen-Feng, Steven L. Feng, Shilpa Babbar, Nicole Calloway Rankins, James D. Blando

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Hot yoga establishments have been increasing in popularity in local communities. Studios may support participation among pregnant women though no clinical studies currently exist that examine prenatal hot yoga effects. The pilot study described in this article aimed to assess the spread of prenatal hot yoga and to provide information on the environmental conditions and practices of those who engage in hot yoga within a local community. A thermal environment meter was used to measure ambient air conditions during three 90-minute hot yoga classes. Mothers who practiced prenatal hot yoga were more likely than non-hot yoga practitioners to have someone …

Does Driver Safety Education Have An Impact On Texting While Driving?, Kelli Noble, Duane Young

Graduate Research Projects

In today’s society, Americans are more connected than ever. Gone are the days of pulling to the side of the road in order to find a pay phone to call for help, check in with family or find an address of a business in the yellow pages. All these tasks can now be accomplished while driving down the road. Most Americans have become accustomed to driving with distractions; changing the radio station, eating a snack or carrying on an in car conversation with passengers. Many profess that these distractions can be accomplished while maintaining an awareness of traffic conditions and …

Exploring Perceptions And Experiences With Research Ethics In Bolivia, Sarah Sullivan, Armando Basagoitia, Annette Aalborg, Oscar Lanza, Jacqueline Cortez

Background: In Bolivia, there is increasing interest in the necessity of incorporating research ethics into study designs and procedures, but there is minimal data on the perceptions and experiences of Bolivian health science faculty, researchers, and national health administrators on research ethics. The Touro University California (TUC) Public Health Program is partnering with Bolivian universities to develop a comprehensive Research Education Ethics Program. In 2013, The Universidad Mayor de San Andrés received a National Institute of Health/Fogarty International Center Planning Grant award to develop the program. The two central aims of this program needs assessment are to describe the …

Case Study: Sick On A South American Sugarcane Plantation, Kevin M. Bonney

Publications and Research

A case study is presented that was designed to be used in high school and college level courses to familiarize students with chagas disease, its transmission, and effects in Central and South America. Noted objectives of the lesson include evaluating disease symptoms, examining socioeconomic factors related to the epidemiology, and creating visual aids with public health information. Questions are provided for discussing the a case of chagas disease at a Brazilian sugarcane plantation.

Preventing Childhood Obesity: A Mixed Methods Study Into The Perceptions Of African Americans In A Rural Community, Dayna S. Alexander

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Preventing childhood obesity is a global priority due to adverse health risks and financial burdens. With childhood obesity rates stabilizing it is difficult to determine which factors alone (i.e., genetic, environmental, behavioral, or demographic) increase susceptibility to childhood obesity. Parents influence childhood obesity risk factors through their parenting styles and behaviors. Social behavioral theories and public health evidence demonstrate including parents in childhood obesity efforts could assist in reducing childhood obesity rates. The objective of this study was to assess perceptions of childhood obesity among African Americans with children enrolled in a rural elementary school in the Deep South. The …

Perception Of Childhood Obesity And Support For Prevention Policies Among Latinos And Whites, Douglas M. Puricelli Purin, Leah Frerichs, Sergio Costa, Amelie G. Ramirez, Terry T.-K. Huang

Publications and Research

A cross-sectional survey was administered to Latino and White residents of Omaha, NE, to assess perception of the childhood obesity problem, attribution of responsibility, and support for obesity-related policies. The sample included 40.8% () Latinos and 59.2% () Whites. Among Latinos, 25% did not see childhood obesity as a problem, compared to 6% of Whites (). This difference persisted after adjusting for age, gender, and education level (odds ratio (OR) 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–4.14). Latinos were more likely to agree that government was responsible for addressing childhood obesity compared to Whites (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.82–4.35). Higher support …

A Systematic Review Of Episodic Volunteering In Public Health And Other Contexts, Melissa K. Hyde, Jeff Dunn, Paul A. Scuffham, Suzanne K. Chambers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Episodic volunteers are a critical resource for public health non-profit activities but are poorly understood. A systematic review was conducted to describe the empirical evidence about episodic volunteering (EV) in the public health sector and more broadly. Study location, focus and temporal trends of EV research were also examined. Methods. Twelve key bibliographic databases (1990-April week 2, 2014) were searched, including Google Scholar. Empirical studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals that identified participants as EVs who volunteered to support Not-for-Profit organisations in the health and social welfare sectors were included. EV definitions, characteristics, economic costs, antecedents and outcomes …

Academic Predictors And Characteristics Of Self-Reported Juvenile Firesetting, Carrie Howell Bowling, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The main purpose of this study was to address gaps in existing research by examining the relationship between academic performance and attention problems with juvenile firesetting. Two datasets from the Achenbach System for Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) were used. The Factor Analysis Dataset (N = 975) was utilized and results indicated that adolescents who report lower academic performance are more likely to set fires. Additionally, adolescents who report a poor attitude toward school are even more likely to set fires. Logistic regressions were run to determine if attention problems predicted firesetting and the findings indicated that attention problems are predictive …

Developing Entry-To-Practice Nursing Informatics Competencies For Registered Nurses, Lynn M. Nagle, Kristine Crosby, Noreen Frisch, Elizabeth Borycki, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Kathryn Hannah, Alexandra Harris, Sylvie Jetté, Tracy Shaben

Publications

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have brought about significant changes to the processes of health care delivery and changed how nurses perform in clinical, administrative, academic, and research settings. Because the potential benefits of ICT are significant, it is critical that new nurses have the knowledge and skills in informatics to provide safe and effective care. Despite the prevalence of technology in our day to day lives, and the potential significant benefits to patients, new nurses may not be prepared to work in this evolving reality. An important step in addressing this need for ICT preparation is to ensure that …

Development And Evolution Of Risk Assessment For Food Allergens, Rene W. R. Crevel, Joseph Baumert, Athanasia Baka, Geert Houben, André C. Knulst, Astrid Kruizinga, Stefano Luccioli, Stephen L. Taylor, Charlotte B. Madsen

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The need to assess the risk from food allergens derives directly from the need to manage effectively this food safety hazard. Work spanning the last two decades dispelled the initial thinking that food allergens were so unique that the risk they posed was not amenable to established risk assessment approaches and methodologies. Food allergens possess some unique characteristics, which make a simple safety assessment approach based on the establishment of absolute population thresholds inadequate. Dose distribution modelling of MEDs permitted the quantification of the risk of reaction at the population level and has been readily integrated with consumption and contamination …

Translating Reference Doses Into Allergen Management Practice: Challenges For Stakeholders, René W. R. Crevel, Joseph Baumert, Stefano Luccioli, Athanasia Baka, Sue Hattersley, Jonathan O.B. Hourihane, Stefan Ronsmans, Frans Timmermans, Rachel Ward, Yong-Joo Chung

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Risk assessment describes the impact of a particular hazard as a function of dose and exposure. It forms the foundation of risk management and contributes to the overall decision-making process, but is not its endpoint. This paper outlines a risk analysis framework to underpin decision-making in the area of allergen cross-contact. Specifically, it identifies challenges relevant to each component of the risk analysis: risk assessment (data gaps and output interpretation); risk management (clear and realistic objectives); and risk communication (clear articulation of risk and benefit). Translation of the outputs from risk assessment models into risk management measures must be informed …

Cultural Factors Associated With Utilization Of Antenatal Care Services In Rural India, Anjali Om

Undergraduate Research Posters

Despite vast economic growth in developing countries in the past few years, infant mortality continues to plague underdeveloped regions, particularly rural regions of India. Many of these deaths are caused by a lack of education and motivation in regard to utilization of antenatal and neonatal care services to prevent and treat consequences of unhygienic umbilical cord care.

For years, high incidences of neonatal tetanus have plagued rural areas of India as a result of cultural practices that encourage topical applications of cow dung to cut umbilical stumps either directly or by using ghee heated with cow dung to warm umbilical …

The Challenge To Deliver Cost Effective Care For Patients With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Julie Quinlivan

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The global rise in obesity and gestational weight gain, along with recent trials demonstrating improved pregnancy and neonatal outcomes associated with the treatment of mild hyperglycaemia, have resulted in a clinical challenge to deliver cost effective healthcare to manage the epidemic of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Whilst clinicians now have clear criteria by which to diagnose GDM, and the glycaemic targets to achieve, less clear are the pathways to achieve these outcomes in a cost effective manner. The value of using allied health providers such as dieticians compared to less trained patient educators, the effectiveness of individualised versus group dietician …

The Public Health Pbrn Program: A Summative Report, Center For Public Health Systems And Services Research

UKCPHSSR Research Briefs and Reports

This program seeks to expand the volume and quality of evidence on how best to organize, finance, and deliver public health services by: (1) helping to organize and develop practice-based research networks (PBRNs) comprised of public health agencies and skilled research institutions; (2) selecting grantees to receive funding and technical assistance for PBRN research projects; and (3) facilitating the successful development, implementation, and translation of research projects through PBRNs by providing technical assistance, fostering peer learning, and leading selected multi-network research activities.

Self-Reported Juvenile Firesetting: Results From Two National Survey Datasets, Carrie Howell Bowling, Joav Merrick, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The main purpose of this study was to address gaps in existing research by examining the relationship between academic performance and attention problems with juvenile firesetting. Two datasets from the Achenbach System for Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) were used. The Factor Analysis Dataset (N = 975) was utilized and results indicated that adolescents who report lower academic performance are more likely to set fires. Additionally, adolescents who report a poor attitude toward school are even more likely to set fires. Results also indicated that attention problems are predictive of self-reported firesetting. The National Survey Dataset (N = 1158) …

Quantifying Value In Public Health: Using Economic Methods To Analyze System Change, Theresa M. Green

Dissertations

In this time of economic downturn, it is becoming increasingly important for organizations, including those in public health, to “prove their worth,” to show the value in improvement strategies. Health agencies have learned to discuss impact in terms of health outcome and mortality/morbidity measures. However, it is critical that these impacts are also expressed in a way that shows cost-efficiency and economic benefit especially for promising, evidence-based public health interventions. Although several methods of economic evaluation including cost-effective analysis, cost-utility analysis, or cost-benefit analysis and return on investment (ROI) have been used in social sciences and health research, fewer examples …

Estimating The Costs Of Public Health Services, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

The National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine recommended in 2012 that the federal government undertake work to identify the components and costs of a "minimum package" of public health programs, services, and capabilities that should be available in every American community. This presentation summarizes work that is currently underway through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-supported Public Health Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRN) Program to estimate the costs of public health delivery.

The Need To Include Animal Protection In Public Health Policies, Aysha Akhtar

Animal Welfare Collection

Many critical public health issues require non-traditional approaches. Although many novel strategies are used, one approach not widely applied involves improving the treatment of animals. Emerging infectious diseases are pressing public health challenges that could benefit from improving the treatment of animals. Other human health issues, that overlap with animal treatment issues, and that warrant further exploration, are medical research and domestic violence. The diverse nature of these health issues and their connection with animal treatment suggest that there may be other similar intersections. Public health would benefit by including the treatment of animals as a topic of study and …

Identifying And Describing The Network Of Health, Education, And Social Service Non-Profit Organizations In Southern Nevada, Shannon M. Monnat, Anna Smedley

Lincy Institute Reports and Briefs

Many of the economic, social, and demographic issues facing southern Nevada are dynamic and interrelated, requiring a coordinated approach on the part of southern Nevada’s non‐profit community. The coordination of services, skills, and talents enables community needs to be addressed in ways that exceed the scope and capacity of any single organization. With the increasing desire of funding organizations to support collaborative efforts, maintaining sustainable connections between southern Nevada’s non‐profit organizations is needed now more than ever before.

This is the first comprehensive study of southern Nevada’s health, education, and social service non‐profit network. Via a web‐based survey of nearly …

Marijuana: Current Concepts, Donald E. Greydanus, Elizabeth K. Hawver, Megan M. Greydanus, Joav Merrick

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Marijuana (cannabis) remains a controversial drug in the twenty-first century. This paper considers current research on use of Cannabis sativa and its constituents such as the cannabinoids. Topics reviewed include prevalence of cannabis (pot) use, other drugs consumed with pot, the endocannabinoid system, use of medicinal marijuana, medical adverse effects of cannabis, and psychiatric adverse effects of cannabis use. Treatment of cannabis withdrawal and dependence is difficult and remains mainly based on psychological therapy; current research on pharmacologic management of problems related to cannabis consumption is also considered. The potential role of specific cannabinoids for medical benefit will be revealed …

Intellectual Property And Public Health – A White Paper, Ryan G. Vacca, Jim Chen, Jay Dratler Jr., Tom Folsom, Timothy Hall, Yaniv Heled, Frank Pasquale, Elizabeth Reilly, Jeff Samuels, Kathy Strandburg, Kara Swanson, Andrew Torrance, Katharine Van Tassel

Akron Law Faculty Publications

On October 26, 2012, the University of Akron School of Law’s Center for Intellectual Property and Technology hosted its Sixth Annual IP Scholars Forum. In attendance were thirteen legal scholars with expertise and an interest in IP and public health who met to discuss problems and potential solutions at the intersection of these fields. This report summarizes this discussion by describing the problems raised, areas of agreement and disagreement between the participants, suggestions and solutions made by participants and the subsequent evaluations of these suggestions and solutions.

Led by the moderator, participants at the Forum focused generally on three broad …

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis As An Innovative Approach To Managing Zoonoses: Results From A Study On Lyme Disease In Canada, Cécile Aenishaenslin, Valérie Hongoh, Hassane D. Cissé, Anne Gatewood Hoen

Dartmouth Scholarship

ackground: Zoonoses are a growing international threat interacting at the human-animal-environment interface and call for transdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approaches in order to achieve effective disease management. The recent emergence of Lyme disease in Quebec, Canada is a good example of a complex health issue for which the public health sector must find protective interventions. Traditional preventive and control interventions can have important environmental, social and economic impacts and as a result, decision-making requires a systems approach capable of integrating these multiple aspects of interventions. This paper presents the results from a study of a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach for …

Building The Science Of Delivery: Public Health Services & Systems Research, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

Studying variation and innovation in public health delivery can identify pathways for improving the organization, financing, and implementation of programs and policies that protect and promote health.

Trends In Youth Victimization And Well-Being, And Implications For Youth Policy, Lisa M. Jones, David Finkelhor, Rashmi Nair, Michelle Collett

New England Journal of Public Policy

Youth victimization concerns have engaged educators, public health officials, and the media for many years. Cases of child victimization regularly make headlines, and in recent years public concern has focused in particular on sexual abuse, child abductions, online predators, school shootings, bullying, and cyberbullying. But little attention has been given to evidence for substantial declines in child victimizations over the past 20 years. Even for internet victimization, an area of high current public anxiety, trend data do not suggest a growing epidemic but instead find that some types of online victimization have declined over the past decade.

The failure to …