Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Prevalence Of Lifestyle Diseases Among Adult Males And Females In Kihurio Village Tanzania: A Health Assessment., Sozina Stephen Katuli Jr, Nigell Essex, Mathew Masangcay, Godfrey Mhina Kilonzo, Ruth Nyika

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

Adults under the age of 70 in Sub-Saharan Africa face a higher probability of death from non-communicable diseases than adults of the same age in the Established Market Economies. A team from Andrews university in collaboration with the health unit of the Northeast Tanzania Conference (NETC), collaboratively conducted a community needs assessment and on lifestyle diseases in Kihurio village in December 2017 and found that over half of the attendee had hypertension. Focus group discussions with the community also listed hypertension and diabetes as one of the major health problems. This study was a follow up to determine the prevalence …

Transforming Care: An Academic And Community Symposium On Transgender Care And Experience, Alison Sutton-Ryan, Kimberly Van Vulpen

Transforming Communities

Background: Transgender experience is often excluded from education and training. An emphasis has been often placed on sexual identities instead of gender differences rendering transgender care invisible in the healthcare system (Gahagan & Colpitts 2017). Lack of education and training has created significant barriers to accessible gender-affirming care, contributing to disproportionately high levels of discrimination for transgender individuals seeking medical services (Redcay et al., 2021). Purpose: The Interprofessional Education Symposium on Transgender Care and Experience was an innovative initiative developed by the newly formed Transgender Interprofessional Care Team (TICT) at a medium-sized suburban university. This collaborative team, comprising key …

Adventist Health Across Cultures, Katia Reinert

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

No abstract provided.

Inadequate Healthcare For Women In The United States, Grace Loveless

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Barriers to adequate healthcare for women stem from a lack of research on their specific health needs, gender-based biases in healthcare, and harmful societal norms. One key aspect highlighting these disparities is the menstrual cycle—a topic unique to women. Menstrual health, defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, illustrates the urgent need for greater focus on reproductive health. Despite its significance, the dialogue and knowledge about reproductive health remain limited; an issue which is exacerbated by societal attitudes of secrecy and shame. These attitudes create barriers that hinder many women in the United States from accessing …

Engineering Cxcr2-Ligand-Based Fusion Proteins To Modulate Myeloid Cell Trafficking In Pancreatic Cancer, Benjamin N. Christopher

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the lowest 5-year survival rates of all cancers, and limited treatment options exist. Immunotherapy is effective in some cancer types, but the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDAC is a barrier to effective immunotherapy. CXCR2+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are abundant in PDAC tumors in humans and in mouse models. MDSCs suppress effector cell function, making them attractive targets for restoring anti-tumor immunity. The studies outlined in this dissertation (1) link tumor-intrinsic oncogenic signaling to dysregulated myeloid activity in PDAC, (2) describe a rationally designed fusion protein and potent inhibitor of CXCR2+ myeloid …

Alcohol & Substance Abuse Among Youth In South Africa, Carsyn R. Richins

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

South Africa is one of the riskiest drinking countries in the world, and its youth show some of the highest alcohol and substance abuse rates in the nation. In recent years, consumption rates among South African youth have increased while the average age of first use has decreased. This has led to higher levels of binge drinking, addiction, and dependency. This paper explores the root causes and long-term consequences of this growing issue. It argues that three primary factors — early and frequent exposure, poor governmental regulation, and the use of substances as a coping mechanism — have created a …

A Call For Change: Supporting Children With Tourette Syndrome, Matt Reall

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Tourette Syndrome affects 1 in 100 U.S. children but remains widely misunderstood due to stigma, delayed diagnosis, and media misrepresentation. This neurological disorder is characterized by involuntary tics and often co-occurs with ADHD, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Children with Tourette Syndrome face disproportionate challenges in social, academic, and emotional settings—despite having average or above-average intelligence. One-third engage in self-harm, and suicide rates are four times the national average. Peer-education programs like the Tourette Association of America’s Youth Ambassador initiative have shown promise in reducing stigma, but unequal access and weak institutional support limit their impact. This paper calls for early …

Living Heritage, Resilience And Ethically Informed Infrastructures In Malawi, Martha B. Lerski, Frank Puluputu Mwale

Publications and Research

Rooted in a rural community’s needs, this paper explores how historically, and ethically informed infrastructures can support community engagement towards identification, documentation, and dissemination of local, traditional, and indigenous knowledge relating to climate change. The paper examines climate adaptation and sustainability issues through the lenses of community organizing and Library & Information Science best practices. It draws on a growing body of literature identifying a role for expanded epistemological and subject discipline perspectives. While the impacts of climate on material culture are increasingly recognized, intangible, and biocultural heritage have not received as much attention. Living heritage traditions and knowledge systems …

Effects Of Chemotherapy On Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Oxidative Capacity Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (Nirs): Protocol Paper For An Observational Mixed Model Repeated Measures Design In Patients With Breast And Gynecological Cancer, Randolph Hutchison, Shannon Smith, Chloe Caudell, Sara Biddle, William Larry Gluck, Jennifer L. Trilk

Open Access Fund Publications

Mitochondrial dysfunction, a hallmark of metabolic disturbances in the skeletal muscle, has previously been studied in health participants using invasive muscle biopsy and/or time consuming, high-cost magnetic resonance spectroscopy. However, less is understood regarding mitochondrial dysfunction in patients with cancer. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive and cost-effective approach to assessing mitochondrial function of skeletal muscle by measuring oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin and calculating the resulting tissue saturation index. NIRS has not yet been utilized to evaluate skeletal muscle change in cancer patients throughout chemotherapy. Therefore, we plan to conduct a single center clinical trial, using an observational mixed …

Chemical And Physical Characterization Of Verbenaceae Essential Oils Using Modern Analytical Methods And Chemometrics, Aleksandra N. Hilliard

Master's Theses

Essential oils have been used for generations to treat various health issues, including mitigating insomnia, reducing stress, inflammation, and preserving foods, to mention a few. Essential oils have complex chemistry, which defines the essence of the host plant. Recently, increased commercial uses of essential oils have prompted attention at the governmental level to monitor the chemical, physical, or biological activity of essential oils. This study is an attempt to add new information for consumers to the understanding of the composition of essential oils.

Modern analytical techniques including FTIR-ATR, GC-MS, LC-MS-MS, multivariate analysis statistics, and physio-chemical techniques (electrochemistry, DPPH, TRC, and …

The Acute Care Mobility Assessment Is A Promising Tool For Evaluating Day-To-Day Mobility In Clinical Settings: Linguistic And Convergent-Validity In Danish Geriatric Patients, Britt Stævnsbo Pedersen, Lea Kromann Johansen, Thomas Kallemose, Thomas Bandholm, Cynthia J. Brown, Mette Merete Pedersen

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: Low in-hospital mobility is highly prevalent and can cause hospital-associated-disability. In both research and clinical care, valid and reliable outcome measures of in-hospital mobility are necessary. The Acute Care Mobility Assessment (ACMA) provides a single measure of hospital out-of-bed mobility and may be a promising tool. The purpose of this study was to perform a cross-cultural validation to facilitate international uptake. Methods: We performed a linguistic validation (translation, cognitive interviewing, cultural adaptation) of the ACMA in Denmark and investigated the convergent-validity of the Danish version (ACMA-DK) in older hospitalized (+65) Danish adults by evaluating the correlation between the ACMA-DK …

Stress And Seizures: The October 7th Experience, Alon Doron, Firas Fahoum, Lilach Goldstein

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Stress is a frequently self-reported seizure trigger in patients with epilepsy (PWE), with studies regarding this issue having conflicting results. On October 7th, 2023, a large-scale military invasion accompanied by massive rocket launches against Israel, including Tel Aviv, occurred, providing an opportunity to investigate the role of acute stress in provoking seizures.

METHODS: All adults who presented to the emergency department (ED) of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center between January 1st, 2017, and February 29th, 2024, and were diagnosed with seizures were included. Data were collected using MDClone, a data acquisition tool. The overall seizure-related ED admissions were compared …

Self-Powered Rapid Antigen-Specific T-Cell Response Assay For Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infections, Bo Ning, Sutapa Chandra, Yongchun Pan, Riti Sharan, Ngan Ha, Sanjay Singh, Alexandra Portillo Varela, Lin Li, Qingli Wu, Alexander Kay, Gugu P Maphalala, Clement Adu-Gyamfi, Santiago Carrero Longlax, Anna M Mandalakas, Smriti Mehra, Christopher J Lyon, Edward A Graviss, Andrew R Dinardo, Tony Hu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) that evaluate an individual’s T-cell activation response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb)-specific peptides serve an important role in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB). However, there are substantial challenges to the use of IGRAs in resource-limited settings. Further, IGRA diagnostic performance can also be compromised in anergic individuals. Here we describe a microfluidic chip-based antigen-specific T-cell response assay (ASTRA) that automates the detection of M.tb-specific T-cell activation responses to facilitate screening for latent M.tb infection and TB. We observe that ASTRA demonstrates high specificity for M.tb infection in independent patient cohorts. Compared with IGRA, ASTRA shows greater …

Advances In Mechanical Circulatory Support (Mcs): Literature Review, Jasmine K. Dugal, Arpinder S. Malhi, Yuvraj Singh, Rooz Razmi, Joshua Vance, Divyansh Sharma

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Heart failure is a heterogeneous disorder that can lead to cardiogenic shock. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices can replace the cardiac function in an attempt to bridge patients to transplant or they can serve as destination therapy to improve overall patient functionality and in turn quality of life. Currently utilized MCS devices include devices such as Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), Biventricular Assist Devices (BiVADs), Impella, Total Artificial Hearts (TAHs), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This literature review examines a range of studies, case reports, and meta-analyses to present current approaches to mechanical circulatory support (MCS), along with the challenges …

Incidental Findings In Female Pelvis Mri Performed For Gynaecological Malignancies, Silvia Bottazzi, Roberta V Ninkova, Luca Russo, Andrea Ponsiglione, Benedetta Gui, Daniela Demundo, Massimo Imbriaco, Aradhana M Venkatesan, Evis Sala, Stephanie Nougaret, Lucia Manganaro, Stefania Rizzo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Incidental findings on female pelvic MRI present diagnostic challenges and may have significant clinical implications. Defined as abnormalities unrelated to the primary imaging indication, these findings have become increasingly prevalent with the expanded use of MRI in gynaecological practice. Standard gynaecological MRI protocols, incorporating T1- and T2-weighted sequences, diffusion-weighted imaging, and contrast-enhanced sequences, facilitate the characterisation of numerous extra-gynaecological abnormalities, ranging from benign to critical lesions. This review proposes a compartment-based approach for identifying extra-gynaecological findings, discussing their imaging characteristics and differential diagnoses. This approach may help radiologists systematically assess incidental findings, potentially improving the recognition of clinically relevant abnormalities …

Peran Unit Pengelola Darah Rumah Sakit Terhadap Peningkatan Kinerja Layanan Transfusi Darah: Tinjauan Literatur Naratif, Adhika Putra Marsaban, Mardiati Nadjib

Jurnal ARSI : Administrasi Rumah Sakit Indonesia

The performance of hospital blood transfusion services is crucial for patient safety and overall operational effectiveness. Blood management, as a vital and limited resource, plays a significant role. Traditional centralized blood management models often face challenges regarding response speed, potential waste, and quality control. As an alternative, Unit Pengelola Darah Rumah Sakit (UPDRS) offers the potential for performance enhancement. This narrative literature review is based on 16 relevant scientific articles identified through a database search (Scopus, Proquest, Wiley, Google Scholar) and a selection process visualized with a PRISMA diagram. Key findings identified significant impacts on cost efficiency, time efficiency (faster …

Letter Of Concern From The Association Of Academic Chairs Of Emergency Medicine Regarding Acgme Proposed Changes, Richard J Hamilton, Lance B Becker, Richard E Wolfe, D Adam Algren, Thomas Arnold, Michael Baumann, Ross P Berkeley, Terrell S Caffery, Chad M Cannon, Theodore J Corbin, Michael E Chansky, Harinder S Dhindsa, Charles L Emerman, David A Farcy, Chris Fox, Michael A Gibbs, Christopher S Goode, Steven Andy Godwin, Dietrich Jehle, David Johnson, Samuel M Keim, Babak Khazaeni, Barry J Knapp, Clint Hawthorne, John D Hoyle, Michael Christopher Kurz, Evan Leibner, Robert Mcnamara, Robert F Mccormack, Edward A Michelson, Chadwick Miller, Ashley Norse, Andrew Nugent, Brian J O'Neil, David T Overton, Edward A Panacek, William F Paolo, Denis R Pauzé, Amanda L Perez, Ralph J Riviello, Scott W Rodi, Peter S Pang, Juan A Gonzalez Sanchez, David Seaberg, Adam Schwartz, Stephen A Shiver, David P Sklar, Ben C Smith, Jeffrey R Stowell, Marc D Squillante, J Jeremy Thomas, Terry Vanden Hoek, Gregory A Volturo, E Lea Walters, Thomas E Wyatt, Donald M Yealy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This letter, signed by over 50 academic chairs of emergency medicine, urges the ACGME to reconsider a proposed mandate requiring all emergency medicine residency programs to adopt a four-year training model. The authors argue that current three-year programs are supported by data demonstrating equivalent educational and clinical outcomes compared to four-year formats. They criticize the flawed survey methodology underpinning the proposal, note the loss of milestone-based training flexibility, and highlight the lack of added scholarly or clinical value in the fourth year. The letter also outlines negative consequences for fellowship participation, workforce development, trainee debt, and diversity. The signatories advocate …

Do Anterior-Posterior Lumbar Fusions Provide More Short-Term Value Than Posterior-Only? An Application Of The Operative Value Index, Steven R. Glener, Advith Sarikonda, D. Mitchell Self, Ashmal Sami, Danyal Quraishi, Emily Isch, Arbaz A. Momin, Cheritesh R. Amaravadi, Jack Jallo, Joshua Heller, Ashwini Sharan, Alex R. Vaccaro, Srinivas K. Prasad, James Harrop, Nicholas J. Clark, Ahilan Sivaganesan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Lumbar fusion is a common treatment for degenerative spine changes. Although both anterior-posterior (AP) and posterior-only approaches are used, their cost-effectiveness remains uncertain. This study aims to compare the costs and short-term "value" (outcomes per dollar spent) of AP and posterior-only lumbar fusions using time-driven activity-based costing and patient-reported outcomes.

METHODS: A retrospective review of AP and posterior lumbar fusions from 2017 to 2022 was conducted. Time-driven activity-based costing was used to assign intraoperative costs based on resource utilization, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was collected preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. The Operative Value Index (OVI) was defined …

Do Minorities Attend Culturally Competent Hospitals? The Case Of Minority-Serving And Safety-Net Hospitals, Rumel Mahmood

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Minorities disproportionately attend minority-serving hospitals (MSHs) and safety-net hospitals (SNHs). This study examines whether MSHs or SNHs are more culturally competent than their counterparts. No research to date has examined the cultural competency of MSHs and SNHs with hospitals outside of these categories. The literature on the determinants of hospital-level cultural competence is sparse, with limited measures used nationally and a robust measure used in a single U.S. state. I calculated a 100-point score of hospital cultural competence from a nationally representative survey of hospitals (N = 849 respondents). Using multilevel regression models, I found that MSHs are culturally …

Factors Contributing To Low Back Pain Among Field Workers In Tanzania, Gerson De Leone, Don Noval, Amany Lorino, Ryan Lorino, Ruth Kajiru Nyika, Sozina Katuli

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

Working in rice fields presents challenges to health that have grave consequences beyond back pain. Men and women in Kihurio village engage on a series of rice planting activities that affect the back. This study explores the factors to back problem in Tanzania and thrives to Identify corrective measures.

Evaluation Of Antimicrobial And Wound Healing Activities Of Jatropha Podagrica Extracts, Reawfang Sriyom, Arunporn Itharat, Onmanee Prajuabjinda, Sumalee Panthong, Pakakrong Thongdeeying, Metar Siriwattanasathorn, Maneewan Panthong, Neal M. Davies

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Jatropha podagrica has been traditionally used to treat skin infections and promote wound healing. However, there is currently no scientific research validating its antimicrobial or wound-healing properties.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of various extracts from all parts of J. podagrica, using different solvents. In addition, the chemical composition of the most effective extract was analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).

Materials and Methods: The leaves, stem, and root of J. podagrica were extracted using hexane, 95% ethanol, ethanol-soluble hexane residue, and aqueous decoction. The antimicrobial effects of the extracts were assessed …

Exploring The Link Between Physicians’ Familiarity And Biosimilar Prescribing In Thailand, Ekapong Kachai, Chaoncin Sooksriwong, Wanruchada Katchamart, Tuangrat Phodha

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Despite the availability of various biosimilars in Thailand, the link between physicians’ familiarity and biosimilars prescribing practice remains still unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to find the association between physicians’ familiarity and biosimilars prescribing practice among physicians in Thailand.

Methods: This research adopted an extended analysis framework, utilizing survey data from a pilot study on the surveillance of Thai physicians regarding biosimilar uptake. The familiarity with biosimilars among respondents was evaluated.

Results: The result showed that 82 respondents were included in the study. There was 79.3% of respondents indicated prescribing biosimilars. Overall, most respondents (75.6%) showed an “adequate” level …

Concurrent Use Of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants And Nsaids In Low Back Pain Management: A Critical Review Of Current Evidence And Future Directions, Rupesh A. Saindane, Nilima A. Thombre

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Low back pain (LBP) represents a leading cause of non-fatal disability globally. Its high prevalence and disabling nature highlight the urgent need for effective management strategies. The exact cause of LBP still remains unclear, and thus, its treatment remains symptomatic. LBP is commonly treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs). These agents are frequently used in combination to target both inflammation and muscle spasms. However, the clinical guidelines vary widely on the recommendation for the use of such combination therapy. The present review evaluates evidence from randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews on the concurrent use …

Pharmacogenetic-Guided Antiplatelet Therapy For Personalized Medicine In Patients With Stroke And Transient Ischemic Attack Without Cardioembolic Stroke: A Systematic Review Of Economic Evaluations, Nathapol Samprasit, Chamipa Phanudulkitti, Nattanichcha Kulthanachairojana, Jatapat Hemapanpairoa

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Stroke is a major global public health burden. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of all stroke cases worldwide. Antiplatelet therapy is a key strategy for secondary prevention in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) without cardioembolic stroke. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clopidogrel is recommended in patients with early mild stroke or high-risk TIA, followed by long-term single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT). Clopidogrel is often used as an alternative for patients with aspirin resistance or intolerance. However, clopidogrel is a prodrug metabolized by the CYP2C19 enzyme, leading to variability in its effectiveness.

Objectives: This study aims …

A Review Of Overlapping Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reaction, Ploylarp Lertvipapath, Roongrat Piyananjaruhsri, Diana Karimee

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) are life-threatening drug hypersensitivity reactions, including acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). SCARs occur in approximately 0.1% of hospitalizations and have mortality rates ranging from 5% for AGEP to 5–35% for SJS/TEN. AGEP typically presents with acute erythematous areas, sterile pustules, fever, and neutrophilia within 48–72 h of drug exposure. In contrast, DRESS manifests as fever, facial edema, morbilliform rash, and exfoliative dermatitis, often accompanied by hematologic abnormalities and multi-organ involvement, including hepatitis, pneumonitis, and myocarditis. Moreover, SJS and TEN …

The Use Of Health And Herbal Products For Covid-19 Self-Prevention And Its Affecting Factors According To Theory Of Planned Behavior, Suppachai Insuk, Supanida Kittirattanasak, Mullika Sirithongkaset, Daranee Chiewchantanakit

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction: Despite the World Health Organization’s recent declaration of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lessons learned from the outbreak remain crucial for future public health responses. In Thailand, the pandemic’s impact led individuals to explore self-protection methods, including potentially ineffective health products. This study examined the prevalence of health and herbal products used for COVID-19 self-prevention, to identify the types of these products in use and to identify factors influencing their utilization.

Methods: A cross-sectional study surveyed 400 Thai participants aged 25–60 who had never contracted COVID-19. The study employed convenience sampling and self-administered online questionnaires based on …

Mechanistic Insights And Clinical Benefits Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids In Cardiovascular, Inflammatory, And Neurological Health, Anosh Tahir, Afshan Siddiq

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are attributed with the capacity to prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Their bioactive contribution consists on interfering with lipid metabolism, decreasing inflammation, and increasing neuroprotection. Still, the findings imply that there is a considerable need for greater clarification of their mechanisms and their application to clinical care.

Objectives: This narrative review is intended to discuss the potential target(s) of action, uses, and efficacy of ω-3 PUFAs in the context of CVD, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Materials and Methods: This narrative review …

Profiling Of Physical Activity Usage In Selected Urban Green Spaces In Marikina City, Trizsa Jasmin C. Ty, Alberto L. Dimarucut, Camille B. Castro, Danielle Naomi L. Uy

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

Urban Green Spaces (UGS) play an important role in providing opportunities for physical activity in urbanized cities. This observational cross-sectional study aims to profile two selected UGS, namely Marikina River Park and Marikina Heights Park Complex, in Marikina City, in the context of their use for physical activity and recreation. Interviews with two government officials were conducted to collect data on the historical background of the selected parks. Systematic observation, using the System for Observation of Play and Recreation in Communities tool, was conducted to observe park visitors and their physical activity for four days in each park. Each park’s …

Implementation Of An Education Program For A Ptsd Screening Tool To Increase Knowledge Among Providers Within The Primary Care Setting, Kimberly Inez Schat

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed in primary care settings, leading to delays in treatment and poorer patient outcomes. This scholarly project aims to enhance primary care providers' knowledge and application of PTSD screening tools, specifically the PC-PTSD-5, through a structured educational intervention. The project follows a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design, assessing providers' baseline knowledge, delivering targeted education, and measuring changes in knowledge and confidence post-intervention.

Data analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in providers' ability to identify PTSD symptoms, utilize appropriate screening tools, and refer patients for timely treatment. The project highlights the clinical significance of routine …

Evaluating The Utilization Of Icd-10 Z-Codes For Documenting Social Determinants Of Health And The Association With Frequent Emergency Department Visits Among Medicaid Beneficiaries, Sofia L. Gomez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study assesses the use of ICD-10 Z-codes for documenting social determinants of health (SDoH) and examines their relationship with frequent emergency department (ED) visits among Arizona Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries. This retrospective cohort study utilizes claims data from a major Arizona Medicaid payor to explore the frequency of ICD-10 Z-codes use for documenting SDoH, associations between variables, and factors most strongly linked to higher ED utilization. The study sample (N = 53,368) includes Medicaid beneficiaries with ED visits in 2023, including 47,153 individuals without documented SDoH and 6,215 individuals with documented SDoH. Descriptive and statistical analyses, such as binomial tests, chi-square …