Public Health Commons^™

Predictors Of Prescription Opioid Misuse Based On Type Of Healthcare Insurance, Keon Green Drph, Mba, Hca, C.J. Schumaker Phd Lfache

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The misuse and abuse of prescription opioid (PO) medications has garnered the attention of lawmakers, healthcare professionals, and public health experts since the opioid epidemic was declared a national public health emergency in 2017. Our purpose in this study was to investigate the types of healthcare insurance that predict PO misuse. We also sought to inform stakeholders of potentially needed changes to the existing inconsistent drug utilization rules necessary to achieve parity among all types of healthcare insurance and minimize loopholes. We performed a secondary data analysis on the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data of noninstitutionalized …

Attitudes Toward Caring For Older Adults Among Undergraduate Nursing Students At A Public University In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Azera Hasra Ismail, Siti Zuhaida Hussein, Aslina Mohamed Yasi, Nurul Izzati Ishak, Nurul Nazira Mohd Yazar, Nur Syafiqah Sabri

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The growing number of elderly members of the population is expected to increase the demand for more dedicated nursing students committed to providing excellent care. This study aims to determine prevailing attitudes toward the care of older adults among undergraduate nursing students at a public university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional survey of 107 undergraduate nursing students enrolled at a public university in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The students were recruited using stratified random sampling. The respondents’ attitudes toward caring for older adults were measured using 14 items from the Geriatrics Attitudes Scale …

Microgreens Nutrition Outreach: A Novel Tool For Community-Wide Dietary Disease Prevention, Rayna Marshall, Jessica Nwabeke, Benjamin S. Haslund-Gourley, Cynthia Huang, Talmadge Gaither, Vibhuti Mishra, Sophia Kim, Hannah Xu, Faith Kean, Neiki Rokni, Annette Gadegbeku

Transformative Medicine

Purpose: To investigate how microgreens educational programming impacts the relationship between nutrition attitudes and healthy eating habits. Methods: A three-part workshop in Philadelphia, PA that consisted of a pre-survey, presentation, and microgreens kit assembly session was held. A post-survey was distributed electronically 1 week after the event. Results: 9 participants voluntarily attended the workshop and completed the pre-survey, and one-third of the participants submitted post-survey feedback. Participants were middle-aged, Black women from the Allegheny West neighborhood of Philadelphia, a predominantly (97.5%) Black neighborhood. The survey showed microgreens were well-received and suited for urban communities with little space and cold weather. …

Determinants Of Immunization In Polio Super High-Risk Union Councils Of Pakistan, Ahmad Khan, Imtiaz Hussain, Dale A. Rhoda, Muhammad Umer, Uzair Ansari, Imran Ahmed, Caitlin Clary, Rana Muhammad Safdar, Sajid Bashir Soofi

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: The current polio epidemiology in Pakistan poses a unique challenge for global eradication as the country is affected by ongoing endemic poliovirus transmission. Across the country, 40 union councils (UCs) which serve as core reservoirs for poliovirus with continuous incidences of polio cases are categorized as super-high-risk union councils (SHRUCs).
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 39 SHRUCs using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. 6,976 children aged 12-23 months were covered. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using STATA version 17.
Results: Based on both vaccination records and recall, 48.3% of children …

Assessing The Attitudes And Perceptions Of The Old Order Amish Toward Genetic Testing For Familial Defective Apolipoprotein B-100, Erin Sutcliffe, Laura J. Conway, Alan Shuldiner, Toni Pollin

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Through a founder effect, one in eight Lancaster County, PA, Amish harbors the pathogenic APOB variant R3527Q, causing Familial Defective Apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB) that is rare in the general population. Affected individuals are at increased risk for high low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and cardiovascular disease and may benefit from early screening and treatment. A qualitative interview approach was used to investigate the genetic risk perceptions of the Amish and their attitudes towards genetic testing for FDB. The goal was to identify elements necessary for a successful program that would identify high risk individuals in the Lancaster County Amish …

An Evaluation Of A Student Allied Health Professions’ Social Prescribing Scheme, Kirstie A. Goodchild, Anya De Iongh

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Social prescribing is a core part of healthcare policy within the NHS and requires support and contributions from all healthcare professionals, including Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs). The well-established medical student-led social prescribing student champion scheme (SPSCS) has been expanded to include AHPs, and AHP champions were recruited to deliver peer-led activities focused on social prescribing. This article aimed to evaluate the impact of the scheme's expansion on AHP students. Method: Fourteen AHP champions ran 21 activities that reached 524 students. Those participating in the champion-led activities were asked to complete pre- and post-session surveys to capture the impact of …

The Effectiveness Of Student-Driven Pro Bono Physical Therapy Services On Self-Reported Outcomes Of Community-Dwelling Adults With Musculoskeletal Conditions, Elise Harris, Tamara Hefferon, Peyton Oules, Katherine Sarnacki, Benjamin Galaviz, Jake Robert Gaston

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Student-driven pro bono clinics provide a profound clinical education experience for health professional students while serving members of the community. Currently, there is little research on how the pro-bono clinic impacts the community members involved. The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes following discharge from a pro bono clinic held through an entry-level physical therapy program. Methods: Forty-one volunteer community members, 19 males (M) (46.3%) and 22 females (F) (53.6%), participated in this study. Ages ranged from 20-90 years, with a mean age of 41(17) years. Each community member completed the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFS), …

Improving Intimate Partner Violence Screening In A Women’S Health Practice Through Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Screening Tool, Jasmine Weber

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement intimate partner violence screening in an outpatient women’s health clinic with no prior screening process in place. Current recommendations are to screen all reproductive age women for intimate partner violence 6 . During a three-month period 170 patients out of 260 eligible patients were screened using the HARK screening tool, 7 of those patients screened positive and were offered referrals to social work. While universal IPV screening was not achieved, a screening rate of 64% is a remarkable improvement from an apparent absence of screening prior to project implementation.

The Role Of Self-Sampling For Hpv In The Primary Prevention Of Cervical Cancer, Divya Patel, Kara Roman, Jennifer Christiansen, Justin Gambini

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Introduction:

Cervical cancer is a striking women's health problem worldwide. It is the fourth most common cancer in women and the seventh most common cancer worldwide1. There were roughly 604,000 new cases of cervical cancer and 342,000 deaths in 20202. Most of these cases occur in developing countries due to ineffective screening initiatives2. Screening essentially allows pre-cancerous lesions to be identified at stages where they can easily be treated; screening methods include cytology and HPV testing (Human Papillomavirus)1. HPV has over 100 strains and is one of the most common risk factors for cervical cancer. HPV testing is more sensitive …

Feasibility Of Using Podcasts For Knowledge Dissemination To Reduce Health Disparities For Women Targeting Preventative Initiatives And Lifestyle Medicine Interventions, Kristin Stovern

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

The purpose of this feasibility project was to look at podcasts to shed light on the issues that affect the well-being of women with gender-based disparities in healthcare. Women face persistent obstacles when it comes to the quality of healthcare they receive. One of the barriers that has been ever-present is with failure of the medical system to rigorously study the effects of diseases and drugs on women or to fund studies on women’s health conditions. Implicit biases and lack of access to care inhibit the quality of healthcare. Collectively, these issues result in unnecessary sickness, disability, and decreased quality …

Inequality In Opportunities And Outcomes: Indicators To Inform Data-Driven Community Systems For Youth Physical Activity, Ann Essay

Theses & Dissertations

Indicators illuminating whole-of-community and setting system physical activity (PA) outcomes and drivers are needed to inform population health improvement efforts. This multi-study dissertation examines inequalities in PA resources, opportunities, and outcomes and the factors influencing inequalities across multiple temporal and geospatial scales (e.g., community, setting). First, a scoping review examined community-level variability in PA resource and opportunity availability by community sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., race). Across 46 included studies, 41 unique indicators characterizing community PA systems were identified, and 29.8% of relationships assessed indicated greater resource/opportunity availability in communities of higher socioeconomic status or lower minority population prevalence. The indicators synthesized …

Give Love With Lovenox: Improving Nurse Education On Lovenox Prophylaxis To Reduce Pulmonary Embolism Risk On The Postpartum Unit, Jennifer G. Domingo Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project aims to improve nurse education about Lovenox prophylaxis to reduce the risk of pulmonary emboli – post-discharge – amongst high-risk postpartum women who underwent vaginal and cesarean deliveries on the family baby unit. This project took place in a Family Baby/Postpartum Unit at Hospital SC. This unit has a total of 25 beds with an increased prevalence of pulmonary embolism following cesarean delivery. Nurses were given anonymous pre- and post-survey questionnaires and provided educational sessions with distributed handouts. A unit needs assessment was conducted using the 5 P’s. Out of the 72 nurses on the staff …

Acceptability And Use Of An Online Health Priorities Self-Identification Tool For Older Adults: A Qualitative Investigation, Emily L Mroz, Kizzy Hernandez-Bigos, Jessica Esterson, Eliza Kiwak, Aanand Naik, Mary E Tinetti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of a web-based, self-directed health priorities identification tool for older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs).

METHODS: We recruited a gender- and racially-diverse, highly educated sample of older adults with MCCs to engage with our My Health Priorities tool, then complete a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was used to examine interview transcripts.

RESULTS: Twenty-one participants shared perspectives on the acceptability and use of the tool. Three themes (with eleven subthemes) were generated to describe: website

CONCLUSION: Participants found this tool acceptable and easy to use, describing a variety of benefits of the priorities self-identification process …

A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach To Addressing Pediatric Asthma Disparities In Douglas County, Nebraska, Aislinn Rookwood

Theses & Dissertations

Pediatric asthma is the leading chronic disease among children in the United States, and the incidence of pediatric asthma is increasing every year. Nebraska has an asthma prevalence comparable to the United States average; however, the state has significant disparities by county, race, and geographic location, with prevalence rates much higher than the national average. Douglas County is a hot spot for increased pediatric asthma rates, with further differences in rates by race and geographic location within the county. The University of Nebraska Medical Center, in partnership with Healthy Housing Omaha and the Nebraska Asthma Coalition, collaborated to conduct this …

Where Did All The Bed Bugs Go?, Lauren Friedman

Capstones

In the early 2000s in New York City, everyone was talking about bed bugs. The disc-shaped, bloodsucking pests had been a common domestic nuisance up to the World War II era, but in the decades since, they’d mostly faded into obscurity. That was until bed bug infestations, which are often psychologically distressing and sometimes impossible to overcome, suddenly became routine across the five boroughs, driving people from their apartments and stoking fear about everything from upholstered theater seats to thrift stores.

But then, just as quickly as bed bugs had invaded, they seemed to fade away. In a 2022 study …

Policy Review And Recommendation For Secondary Education Np-Led Clinics In The Southeastern United States, Shiney Alex Jacob

Student Scholarly Projects

Secondary-level education involves adolescent children aged 11-12 years to 18-19 with unique healthcare needs. Their healthcare is of significant importance as they are transitioning to adulthood, and a majority of them lack access to primary healthcare needs. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses/Nurse Practitioners (APRNs/NPs) provide high-quality, cost-effective, and evidence-based care to people across the lifespan, and there is minimal utilization of their services in meeting the primary care needs of adolescents at the secondary school level. The purpose of the policy project was to determine if current policies and practices related to school health services in three southeastern states of the …

Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Realconsent2.0: A Web‑Based Intervention To Promote Prosocial Alcohol‑Involved Bystander Behavior In Young Men, Laura F. Salazar, Dominic J. Parrott, David Dilillo, Sarah J. Gervais, Anne Marie Schipani‑Mclaughlin, Ruschelle Leone, Kevin Swartout, Lauren Simpson, Renita Moore, Tiffany Wilson, Nyla Flowers, Haley Church, Amanda Baildon

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Background Sexual violence (SV) is a significant, global public health problem, particularly among young adults. Promising interventions exist, including prosocial bystander intervention programs that train bystanders to intervene in situations at-risk for SV. However, these programs suffer from critical weaknesses: (1) they do not address the proximal effect of alcohol use on bystander decision-making and (2) they rely on self-report measures to evaluate outcomes. To overcome these limitations, we integrate new content specific to alcohol use within the context of prosocial bystander intervention into an existing, evidence-based program, RealConsent1.0. The resulting program, RealConsent2.0, aims to facilitate bystander behavior …

Evaluation Of A Community Based Teaching Hospital’S Geriatric Emergency Medicine Initiative, Josette Hartnett, Isabel Muronzi-Belfon, Suzanne J. Rose

Journal of Geriatric Emergency Medicine

INTRODUCTION: To accommodate the complex healthcare needs of the rising geriatric population, Stamford Hospital’s (SH) emergency department (ED) began a Geriatric Emergency Medicine Initiative (GEMI) in 2018 to improve our ED environment, practices, and focused assessments for our community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS: This retrospective program evaluation describes SH’s novel ED processes for at-risk older adults and compares GEMI and non-GEMI assessed patient outcomes using aggregate frequencies on throughput metrics such as length of stay (LOS), 72 hour and 30-day re-admission rates, and other outcomes of interest. Chi-square tests and group t-tests were used for all analyses with a p-value of …

Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Perspectives In Black Men Who Have Sex With Men Taking Preexposure Prophylaxis In New Orleans, Meredith E. Clement, Jeremy Beckford, Aish Lovett, Julia Siren, Marie Adorno, Sara Legrand, Marsha Bennett, Jamilah Taylor, Emily Hanlen-Rosado, Brian Perry, Amy Corneli

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Profound sexual health disparities exist for Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the US South, including a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sexually transmitted infection prevention strategies beyond condoms are needed for Black MSM taking preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews with Black MSM taking PrEP in New Orleans, Louisiana. Informed by the Health Belief Model, we asked about participants' perceived susceptibility, severity, and concerns regarding STIs, and perceived benefits of STI prevention. We also asked about willingness to use various STI prevention strategies, including antibiotic prophylaxis. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed …

Reimagining A Caregiver-Friendly Society, Jodi L. Southerland

Journal of Appalachian Health

Demographic aging is accelerating in the Appalachian Region, resulting in a growing proportion of caregivers living in areas that lack services to support their needs. Strategies are urgently needed in Appalachia to address deficiencies in the region’s long-term supports and services for older adults and their caregivers. Strengthening equitable access to care and community supports for family caregivers is a policy priority for state and community leaders in Appalachia.

Injury Inequity Among Nevada Pedestrians: Assessment Using Measurements Of Community Needs, Merika Charupoom, Nicole Bacani, Emily Carter, Emily Strickler, Laura K. Gryder, Kavita Batra, Deborah A. Kuhls Md, Facs

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that Nevada was the 10th highest ranking in pedestrian fatality rates. According to a report by Zero Fatalities, in 2021, there were 84 pedestrian deaths. Underserved communities, the elderly, and low income individuals are more likely to use walking, biking, or public transportation as a primary means of transportation due to vehicle expenses. Older adults, racial/ethnic minorities and those with lower socioeconomic statuses (SES) may bear a disproportionate burden of auto-pedestrian crashes.

Opportunities For Mental Health Interventions In Rural Mississippi Communities During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Analysis, Brice Fortinberry

Theses and Dissertations

COVID-19 presented unique challenges for rural Mississippi communities including impacts on the mental health of rural individuals. This research study aimed to identify opportunities for mental health interventions to provide health promotion professionals with quantitative data on the accessibility and the likelihood of engagement with mental health-fostering behaviors. A secondary objective of this research was to categorize these behaviors within the constructs of the Social Ecological Model. Demographics for rural Mississippi communities were collected and displayed, and using multivariate analyses including Spearman’s correlation and a Mann-Whitney U test the correlation between mental health fostering behaviors and demographic factors was obtained. …

The Effects Of Night Shift Work On Heart, Gut, And Reproductive Health, A Systematic Review, Courtney Grayson, Preeti Oza

Pacific Journal of Health

Night shift work, a commonplace in today’s society, creates a variety of health-related challenges for individuals who participate in it. Often, the only adverse health effects discussed in relation to night shift work are sleep dysfunction and mental health issues. This systematic review examined the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and fertility health effects that plague individuals working night shift. The goal of this work is to illuminate these lesser known, but equally important, health effects in an effort to bring awareness to the issues. By educating night shift workers and health care providers of the acute risks associated with this type of …

Predictors Of Lung Cancer Screening Recommendation In Virginia Using The Community Health Assessment Survey, Aashish Batheja, Carrie Miller, Sunny Jung Kim, Bernard Fuemmeler F., Rajsh Balkrishnan

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to determine the factors that may influence the probability of being recommended a lung cancer screening by a health professional in Virginia.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Community Health Assessment Survey conducted by the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System and Cancer System in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Cancer Center. SAS software was used to conduct a logistic regression with the following variables: age, sex, race, current smoking status, cancer history, education level, income level, insurance, and rurality.

Results: Statistically significant positive predictors included being a current smoker (OR: 3.504, …

Promoting Community Health Research Partnerships Through A Small Grants Program: Processes And Lessons Learned, Sophie G. Wenzel, Amanda J. Nguyen, Kristin Miller, Leigh Guarinello, Allison Mckell, Kathryn Hosig

Virginia Journal of Public Health

While there are multiple ways to engage communities in health research, one approach is through partnership-based research in which community representatives are involved as intentional partners in the research process, from conceptualization and co-creation to implementation, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. However, there remain numerous challenges to supporting and sustaining such partnerships.

Since its launch in 2019, the integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV) has sought to foster community engaged health research among its four research/clinical institutions through a community partnership-based grant program. Over five funding cycles, iTHRIV has awarded 14 one-year research grants addressing topics such as opioid …

Empowering Community Health Workers In Guatemala, Oswald M. Attin, Gineska Castillo, Grace Sibert, Andrea Harper

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Introduction:

Community health workers (CHW) have been integral in helping middle- and low-income countries. This research paper discusses the benefits of the involvement of CHWs in health screenings.

Methods:

Health screenings were performed for three rural communities in Guatemala, in 2021, alongside a church in Zacapa, to identify community wide health risks. The screenings included a detailed questionnaire that collected demographic data, height and weight, a blood glucose check, a hemoglobin check, and a blood pressure reading. Additional nutritional data was collected to understand diet patterns and habits. In-depth educational sessions were done with the CHWs, emphasizing preventative care, and …

The Evaluation Of Collaborative Disease Prevention And Control Measures For Border Health Between Thailand And Myanmar, Laos, And Cambodia, Orathai Srithongtham, Aomthip Polbupha, Taweewun Srisookkum, Orathai Katkhaw, Thossaphong Buraman

Journal of Health Research

Background: Collaborative disease prevention and control measures for border health between Thailand and three neighboring countries (Myanmar; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), also known as Laos; Cambodia) were implemented in 2016 - 2017.

Methods: Summative evaluation and a mixed-method design aimed to evaluate the measures for border health between Thailand and three neighboring countries. The participants were public health personnel from provincial, district, and sub-district levels. Data were collected by questionnaire and interview guide. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics; and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis.

Results: The overall collaboration for border health of Thailand …

The Effects Of Cigarette Price Incentive And Regulatory Policies In Taiwan, Che-Ning Yang, Yi-Fan Lin

Journal of Health Research

Background: Price affects the demand for cigarettes, but its direct impact on smoking behaviors remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of cigarette price increases and non-pricing tobacco control policies on adult smoking behaviors in Taiwan, using data from national annual survey during 2004~2015 with 166,325 valid respondents.

Methods: We established mixed-effects models of logistic regression for each of the three dependent variables, “smoking,” “quit attempts,” and “cessation maintenance,” to characterize smoking behaviors. Socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors were also included in the models.

Results: Non-pricing tobacco control policies had no significant effects on smoking behaviors. Conversely, cigarette price …

What We Know About School-Based Health Centers: Literature On Outcomes, Cost Impact, Implementation, And Sustainability, Michelle R. Coble, Valerie F. Mcdaniel

Pacific Journal of Health

Many children lack access to adequate healthcare in the United States. School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are a useful resource for accessing those needed services. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the available research for the strengths of SBHCs with improving health outcomes and health equity, cost impact of SBHCs, and best practices for implementing and sustaining an SBHC. The focus of this study was on reviewing the current literature on the impact of SBHCs on improving health equity, health outcomes, cost impact, and to establish best practices for implementing and sustaining an SBHC. Although the current literature …

From Life To Life: Transitioning To Freedom After 45 Years Of Incarceration- A Single Subject Case Study, James O. Mackey, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

This case study delves into the complex process of reintegrating an elderly parolee who recently emerged from a 45-year-long incarceration within California's state prisons. The research explores this unique individual's reentry experiences and compares them with those of parolees of average age and sentence length. Factors such as family support, educational background, criminal history, health, social support, employment, access to age-appropriate resources, and recidivism rates are meticulously examined to provide valuable insights into the successful reintegration of elderly individuals back into society.