Public Health Commons^™

Does The Degree Matter? Understanding Employer Hiring Perspectives On Community College Health Information Technology Program Graduates, Tricia L. Broughton

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Health Information Technology (HIT) is an in-demand occupation across Illinois and as such community colleges offer related preparation programs in the form of one-two semester Career and Technical Education (CTE) Certificates and Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees. Community college applied programs aim to meet the needs of local employers and the interest of students to obtain employment within their communities. Research suggests that employability as perceived by employers goes beyond the technical skill requirements of the job. This dissertation project aimed to better understand employer’s hiring perspectives on community college health information technology (HIT) program graduates and ultimately whether …

Health Behaviors, Financial Difficulties, And Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Across Gender And Race During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Yujun Liu, Heng Wang, M. Courtney Hughes

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Background: COVID-19 deeply affected the health and well-being of older adults. This study examines health behavior change and the interrelationships between health behaviors, financial difficulties, and depressive symptoms among older adults across gender and race during the pandemic.

Methods: Using Rounds 1, 5, and 10 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) linked with the NHATS COVID-19 dataset, our sample included Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 or older in the U.S. (N = 3,118). We modeled the interrelationships between health behaviors, financial difficulties, and depressive symptoms using a structural equation model.

Results: Female participants reported less walking, more changes …

Application Of Implementation Mapping To Develop Strategies For Integrating The National Diabetes Prevention Program Into Primary Care Clinics, William B Perkison, Serena A Rodriguez, Fernanda Velasco-Huerta, Patenne D Mathews, Catherine Pulicken, Sidra S Beg, Natalia I Heredia, Pierre Fwelo, Grace E White, Belinda M Reininger, John W Mcwhorter, Roshanda Chenier, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is considered one of the most prevalent and preventable chronic health conditions in the United States. Research has shown that evidence-based prevention measures and lifestyle changes can help lower the risk of developing diabetes. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is an evidence-based program recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it is designed to reduce diabetes risk through intensive group counseling in nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral management. Factors known to influence this program's implementation, especially in primary care settings, have included limited awareness of the program, lack of standard clinical processes to facilitate …

Designing And Pilot-Testing Smokefreesgm: A Text-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention For Sexual And Gender Minority Groups, Rebecca Klaff, Samuel Tundealao, Brittany Krenek, Irene Tamí-Maury

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Although the prevalence of smoking is significantly higher among sexual and gender minorities (SGM) than the general population, no text-based smoking cessation intervention has been specifically tailored to this group. The objective of this phase of our study was to develop SmokefreeSGM, an SGM-tailored text-based smoking cessation program, and pilot test its design to inform the refinement of the program.

METHODS: SmokefreeSGM was adapted from SmokefreeTXT, the National Cancer Institute's text-based smoking cessation program, to respond to the needs of SGM smokers. In addition to tailored text messages, SmokefreeSGM includes a new keyword, STRESS, to address the unique psychosocial …

Plasma Protein Biomarkers Of Healthy Dietary Patterns: Results From The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study And The Framingham Heart Study, Shutong Du, Jingsha Chen, Hyunju Kim, Maura E Walker, Alice H Lichtenstein, Nilanjan Chatterjee, Peter Ganz, Bing Yu, Ramachandran S Vasan, Josef Coresh, Casey M Rebholz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Molecular mechanisms underlying the benefits of healthy dietary patterns are poorly understood. Identifying protein biomarkers of dietary patterns can contribute to characterizing biological pathways influenced by food intake.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify protein biomarkers associated with four indexes of healthy dietary patterns: Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015); Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010); DASH diet; and alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED).

Methods: Analyses were conducted on 10,490 Black and White men and women aged 49-73 y from the ARIC study at visit 3 (1993-1995). Dietary intake data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire, and plasma proteins were quantified using …

Application Of Implementation Mapping To Develop Strategies For Integrating The National Diabetes Prevention Program Into Primary Care Clinics, William B Perkison, Serena A Rodriguez, Fernanda Velasco-Huerta, Patenne D Mathews, Catherine Pulicken, Sidra S Beg, Natalia I Heredia, Pierre Fwelo, Grace E White, Belinda M Reininger, John W Mcwhorter, Roshanda Chenier, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is considered one of the most prevalent and preventable chronic health conditions in the United States. Research has shown that evidence-based prevention measures and lifestyle changes can help lower the risk of developing diabetes. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is an evidence-based program recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it is designed to reduce diabetes risk through intensive group counseling in nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral management. Factors known to influence this program's implementation, especially in primary care settings, have included limited awareness of the program, lack of standard clinical processes to facilitate …

Factors Associated With Hiv Testing And Treatment Among Young Black Msm And Trans Women In Three Jail Systems, Nicholas Antos, Rey Flores, Nina Harawa, Natascha Del Vecchio, Rodal Issema, Kayo Fujimoto, Aditya S Khanna, Angela Di Paola, John A Schneider, Anna L Hotton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) and transgender women (BTW) are disproportionately affected by incarceration and HIV. We assessed factors associated with HIV testing and viral suppression among 176 incarcerated BMSM and BTW in Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Houston, TX. In multivariable logistic regression, having a sexual orientation of bisexual, heterosexual, or other vs. gay or same-gender loving was associated with higher odds of testing in custody (aOR 8.97; 95% CI 1.95 - 41.24). Binge drinking (aOR 0.19; 95% CI 0.04 - 0.92) and being unemployed prior to incarceration (aOR 0.03; 95% CI 0.00 - 0.23) …

A Midwestern United States Latino Study Of Sexual Behaviors Among Latino Adolescents, Astrid Alejandra Cartagena Cabrera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increasing rates of adolescent unwanted pregnancies can be detrimental to families and the health of the infant. Rates of teen pregnancy among Blacks, Whites, Asians, and other races has decreased; however, the Latino population has not seen similar declining numbers. The Hispanic population currently has the highest rate of teen pregnancy that continues to increase in comparison to any other racial–ethnic group. In this study involving data from the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, a sample of 17,303 was used. Chi-square analyses and descriptive frequencies were used to identify associations between teen pregnancy and sexual behaviors; and how existing programs …

South-Eastern Provider Knowledge Gaps In Rabies Education, Management, And Treatment, Joseph A. Addison, Jeffrey Alexander

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Abstract:

Background. In the United States, when an individual is bitten by an animal there are many levels of care they may seek, including seeing their primary care provider, an urgent care provider, or by going to an emergency room. In any of these settings, it is not unlikely that they may be treated by an advanced practice practitioner (APP). Due to rabies being nearly 100% fatal once symptoms have manifested, it is important to understand the knowledge that APPs have concerning rabies.

Methods. A survey was conducted from April 2022 to August 2022 which evaluated APPs knowledge of rabies …

Beyond Breathless: Unravelling The Enigma Of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations, Sri Mounya Jampala, Jagadish Kumar K Dr., Manjunath V G, Nandish H R

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections between the pulmonary arteries and veins, leading to a direct shunting of blood without passing through the normal capillary bed. These AVMs can be associated with a rare genetic disorder called Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. HHT is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the development of fragile telangiectasias in various organs, including the skin and mucous membranes. These telangiectasias are prone to bleeding, leading to recurrent nosebleeds and mucocutaneous bleeding. In patients with HHT, the most common site of AVMs is in the lungs. Pulmonary AVMs can cause …

Stroke: A Neurological Complication In Covid-19., Abhigna M, Vikram Patil

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

No abstract provided.

A Study On The Prevalence Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency In Eastern Indian Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With Peripheral Neuropathy On Metformin Presenting To A Tertiary Care Hospital, Ajay Hanumanthu, Soumik Goswami, Kavya Bhadrapura Thimmegowda, Nilanjan Sengupta, Arjun Baidya, Pranab Kumar Sahana

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction:

The association between long-term metformin use in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and low vitamin B12 levels has been proven and screening for the same is recommended by American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines. The potential of the deficiency to cause or worsen diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in T2DM patients has been investigated in previous studies. However, the prevalence estimates of vitamin B12 deficiency in T2DM patients treated with long term metformin and having established DPN is lacking in our country. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in T2DM patients with DPN …

The Trichobezoar Enigma: Untangling The Intricacies Of Rapunzel Syndrome, Debabrata Sahu, Dr Rajkishor Sahu

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Rapunzel Syndrome is a rare manifestation of trichobezoar, characterized by the presence of hair strands extending beyond the stomach and into the duodenum. Trichobezoars typically develop in individuals with a history of trichotillomania, a compulsive behavioral disorder involving hair-pulling, combined with trichophagia, the ingestion of hair. While trichobezoars predominantly form within the stomach, their occurrence in the jejunum is infrequent. This condition is more commonly observed in adolescent females.

The formation of bezoars within the gastrointestinal tract is typically attributed to anatomical changes. However, in cases where no such anatomical abnormalities are present, psychiatric disorders like trichotillomania can lead to …

Modified Electroconvulsive Therapy As Maintenance Treatment, Jatin Kumar, Kishor M, Murali M R

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Depression is the most common psychiatric condition that significantly affects the quality of life of individual affected with it and it can present with various signs and symptoms. It usually presents with persistent and pervasive sadness of mood, anhedonia, sleep disturbance, reduced appetite, reduced concentration, multiple somatic symptoms, and suicidal thoughts. In this case report a 61-year-old gentleman presented with sadness of mood, loss of interest, sleep disturbance, multiple body aches, and abdominal pain which varied from 2 to 6 weeks. He had failed to respond to multiple classes of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. However, he would respond well …

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis In Pregnancy : A Case Report, Dr Sumuk M S Sr, Dr Anupama Marnal B A Sr, Dr Mamatha S Professor And Head Of The Department, Poornima M Associate Professor

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare complication encountered in pregnancy. Symptoms of CVT include headache, limb paresis, seizures , disturbed consciousness , visual disturbances. We present our 25 years old pregnant patient who presented with unsteadiness of gait , weakness and numbness of all four limbs, vomiting headache , giddiness due to which it was difficult for her to perform her daily activities. After the differential diagnostic examinations, we recognised cerebral venous thrombosis. After anti-coagulant treatment , the symptoms resolved. We would like to convey that such symptoms in pregnant women we should always think of CVT.

Relationship Between Femoral Artery Intima-Media Thickness And Atherosclerosis In Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease- A One Year Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Dr. Somashekhar Sogi, Dr. Ravi Sarvi, Dr. Pradeep Goudar, Dr. Mallikarjun Karishetti, Dr.V.V Hattiholi, Dr.Meenakshi Sarvi

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. CKD and Peripheral arterial disease both independently increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. There is limited data about the co-relation between ultrasound measures of the femoral artery in peripheral vascular disease (PVD) & renal functional status. This research hence will help us in the establishment of a relationship between femoral intima-media thickness (fIMT) with CKD. Also, IMT assessment might help in earlier detection of atherosclerotic plaques & hence PVD.

Materials and methods: A cross sectional …

Hyperdiploid Chromosomes In Patients With B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Anjali Shastry

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction: Hyperdiploidy (more than 50 chromosomes) is an important cytogenetic abnormality found in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B cell ALL). The presence of hyperdiploidy > 50 is considered to be a good prognostic marker since it has increased sensitivity to standard chemotherapy. Patients with hyperdiploidy have the longest disease-free survival compared with any other cytogenetic group.

Aim of study:

To estimate prevalence of hyperdiploid chromosomes in patients with B cell ALL through conventional karyotyping and Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).

Materials and methods:

Retrospective study was done on 200 bone marrow samples diagnosed with B cell Acute lymphoblastic leukemia …

Dengue Fever With Normal Platelet Count In A Patient With Β-Thalassemia Trait: A Case Report, Pankaj Kumar Jain, Manoj Seval, Vikas Meena, Rajesh Yadav

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Dengue fever is an arboviral infection typically characterized by thrombocytopenia and hemoconcentration. However, hematological manifestations may differ in patients with underlying hemoglobinopathies. We report a case of 18-year-old female diagnosed with dengue fever (IgM ELISA positive), presented with persistent fever, vomiting, and myalgia. Laboratory evaluation revealed moderate microcytic anemia (Hb 9.7 g/dL, MCV 54.7 fL) with a low Mentzer index (8.7). High-performance liquid chromatography confirmed β-thalassemia trait (HbA2 4.6%). Contrary to the typical presentation of dengue, the patient had elevated platelet counts at admission (584,000/µL), which remained within normal to high range during hospitalization. This case highlights that dengue infection …

Bibliography, Maria E. Main

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Bibliography of publications by Eve Main.

A Descriptive And Visual Analysis Of The North Coast Fall Prevention Survey Data, Mishell Lopez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Older adults over 65 will double from 52.4 million in 2018 to 94.7 million in 2060. Among this aging group, falls affect one out of four older adults and are a critical economic concern for our American society, with yearly costs of $50 billion. In older adults, falling can result in negative consequences such as fear of falling, injuries, mobility restrictions, and loss of independence. California has one of the highest costs per fall ($4 billion annually) and a high percentage of adults who have fallen (30.6%) compared to the nation. Moreover, two of California’s northwest rural counties, Del Norte, …

Self-Determination Theory And Exercise Performance For Individuals With Autism., Martin Calderon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) tend to demonstrate low levels of physical activity and exercise when compared to their developing peers. Low physical activity levels are associated with multiple factors, including lack of understanding of how to perform exercise movements and low intrinsic motivation. Token economy reward systems have shown to be practical in behavior analysis for changing behaviors however, there is limited research on the effects of token economy reward systems in an exercise setting. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a token economy board combined with self-determination theory (SDT) on the exercise …

Genetic Associations Between Sleep Traits And Cognitive Ageing Outcomes In The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, Yuan Zhang, Michael Elgart, Einat Granot-Hershkovitz, Heming Wang, Wassim Tarraf, Alberto R Ramos, Ariana M Stickel, Donglin Zeng, Tanya P Garcia, Fernando D Testai, Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Carmen R Isasi, Martha L Daviglus, Robert Kaplan, Myriam Fornage, Charles Decarli, Susan Redline, Hector M González, Tamar Sofer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Sleep phenotypes have been reported to be associated with cognitive ageing outcomes. However, there is limited research using genetic variants as proxies for sleep traits to study their associations. We estimated associations between Polygenic Risk Scores (PRSs) for sleep duration, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and measures of cogntive ageing in Hispanic/Latino adults.

METHODS: We used summary statistics from published genome-wide association studies to construct PRSs representing the genetic basis of each sleep trait, then we studied the association of the PRSs of the sleep phenotypes with cognitive outcomes in the Hispanic Community Healthy Study/Study of …

Enabling Structural Resilience Of Street-Involved Children And Youth In Kenya: Reintegration Outcomes And The Flourishing Community Model, Michael L Goodman, Sarah E Seidel, Andrew Springer, Aleisha Elliott, Christine Markham, Hani Serag, Philip Keiser, Ben Raimer, Lauren Raimer-Goodman, Christine Gatwiri, Kelvin Munene, Stanley Gitari

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Millions of children and youth live on city streets across the globe, vulnerable to substance use, abuse, material and structural neglect. Structural resilience, the re-establishment of access to structural goods within a society such as housing, education, and healthcare following some interruption, provides an orientation for research and interventional efforts with street-involved children and youth (SICY). Further, a structural resilience framework supports organizing interactions between levels and sectors of a socio-ecology.

Methods: Following the expressed interests of Kenyan SICY, and consistent with emerging policy interests at national and global levels, we assess reintegration trajectories of Kenyan SICY (n …

Risk Factors Associated With The Development Of Type Ii Diabetes-Related Complications, Jessica Danielle Lucas Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

By 2040, it is estimated that 642 million people ages 20 to 79 will have Type II diabetes, thereby making it a heavily studied topic among scholars. As more people are diagnosed with Type II diabetes each year, the literature is slowly shifting to long-term complications. However, the many risk and protective factors that exist have created gaps in the literature. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between participation in diabetes self-management classes, mental health, physical health, BMI, smoking status, exercise, and possible diabetes complications (diabetes-related retinopathy and diabetes-related kidney disease). The gap in the literature …

Moderators Of Peripheral Neuropathy On Overall And Cardiovascular Mortality In People Without Diabetes, Adeoye Muideen Adenekan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Peripheral neuropathy (PN), a group of common heterogeneous disorders with varied etiologies, is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. PN presents both as a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to physicians and other healthcare providers. Socioeconomic moderators of PN in adults without diabetes in the United States have not been well studied. The consequences of PN can be devastating and include foot ulcers, amputations, a general decline in the quality of life, and death. The overall prevalence of PN in the United States is 13.5% in adults with diabetes and 11.6% in adults without diabetes. Clearly, these statistics indicate a public …

A Comparison By Ethnicity Of Usage Of Medication, Intubation Use, And Mortality Rates Of Covid-19 Patients In An Urban Hospital, Howard Rubin Baruch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence from an urban hospital initially revealed that ethnicity had no bearing on treatment modalities or mortality among patients admitted and diagnosed with COVID-19 symptoms from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021. The purpose of this study was focused on answering three principal research questions concerning evidence at one hospital of differences in medication used, whether intubation was used, and mortality by ethnicity for those treated for COVID-19 while controlling for age, gender, and co-morbidities. The health belief model served as the theoretical framework. Data was collected from 1188 patient charts, and binary logistic regression was used to test …

Personal Hardiness As An Unexamined Component Of The Healthy Volunteer Effect, Angelique E. Blann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical trials are the standard for approving medicines for public use. To conduct trials, researchers depend on a declining number of volunteers. The healthy volunteer effect, a phenomenon in which participants demonstrate better outcomes than their peers, limits the generalizability of trial outcomes. The healthy volunteer effect does not fully explain the outcome difference between volunteers and nonvolunteers. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to examine personal hardiness as an unexplored component of the healthy volunteer effect and determine whether personal hardiness is associated with willingness to participate. Hardiness was a personality construct that represented resilience to stress. …

Neighborhood Factors, Cardiovascular Illness, Mental Health, And Aging In The United States, Brenda Billings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inability to age in place among people 65 years old and older is a public health problem in the United States. However, it is unknown what neighborhood factors (i.e., trust, safety, shared values) impact the communities that are struggling to support individuals looking to stay in their homes as they age. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between neighborhood factors (i.e., trust, safety, and shared values), cardiovascular illness (i.e., heart attack and stroke), mental health (i.e., depression), and aging in place, controlling for sex, age, marital status, educational level, employment status, and race. …

Association Between Covid-19 Health Knowledge, Self-Efficacy And Preventive Behaviors Among Nursing Students, Josephine Miane Britanico

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Nursing students possess valuable public health knowledge to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. They can provide health education to the public with reliable information and adequate resources. To better understand the role nursing students can take in prevention efforts, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the association between COVID-19 health knowledge, self-efficacy, and preventive behavior among undergraduate nursing students. The health belief model was the theoretical framework that guided this study. The primary research questions assessed (a) if there was a statistically significant association between COVID-19 health knowledge and preventive behavior among nursing students, …

Exploration Of Nurses' Knowledge About Healthcare For Transgender Patients, Elizabeth Kempt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe transgender population is growing, and along with the population growth, the healthcare needs for gender transitioning of both medical and surgical procedures. Registered nurses (RNs) who care for hospitalized transgender patients are required to be knowledgeable about their care, yet little is known about what nurses know about the healthcare of the transgender patient. The purpose of this basic qualitative study, guided by Benner’s novice to expert theory, was to explore the knowledge and perceptions of RNs regarding healthcare of transgender persons undergoing transition to the opposite gender. Social media and snowball sampling were used to recruit 10 RNs …