Public Health Commons^™

The Role Of Parents In Providing Sexuality Education To Their Children, Nur Azira Fideyah Binti Abdullah, Siti Mariam Muda, Norhasmah Mohd Zain, Siti Hazariah Abdul Hamid

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Parents have an important role in delivering sexuality education to their children. However, Asian parents are reluctant to discuss sexual matters with their children owing to the sensitivity of the topic and their lack of sexual health knowledge. This study aimed to examine Malaysian parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in providing sexuality education to their children.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to conduct this cross-sectional study featuring 200 Malaysian parents. Descriptive and univariate analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Study (SPSS) version 23.0.

Results: Among the majority (79.5%) of the parents having good …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Of Adolescents Regarding Sexuality And Reproductive Issues In The Cordillera Administrative Region Of The Philippines, Eddieson Pasay-An, Judith Odanee G. Magwilang, Petelyne P. Pangket

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning reproductive health (RH) and sexuality among in- and out-of-school adolescents in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Philippines.

Methods: Using a quantitative, cross-sectional approach, this study examined 739 in- and out-of-school adolescents who were recruited through snowball and simple random sampling.

Results: Statistically significant differences were noted in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sexuality based on age. Age was associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning RH. Educational attainment toward sexuality also caused statistically significant changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The KAP regarding sexuality and …

Dental Caries Among 12-Year-Old Children After Discontinuation Of Water Fluoridation In Pahang, Malaysia, Faizah Abdul Karim, Zamros Yuzadi Mohd Yusof, Nor Azlida Mohd Nor

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Water fluoridation (WF) has been a national caries prevention program in Malaysia since 1972. However, between July 2012 and December 2013, WF was discontinued in Pahang. This study aimed to compare caries prevalence and mean caries experience among Malaysian children in WF and WF-ceased areas and determine its associated risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 12-year-old schoolchildren in two Malaysian states: Pahang (WF-ceased) and Perak (WF-continued). Dental caries was examined using ICDAS criteria, and a questionnaire was used to collect relevant data. Associations between independent variables and dental caries were analyzed by simple logistic …

Psychosocial Impacts Of Fixed Orthodontic Treatment In Lahore, Pakistan, Hazik Bin Shahzad, Dalia Iftikhar, Noor Ul Huda, Nayha Enver, Faiza Awais, Shabbir Hussain

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The aim of this study is to assess psychosocial impacts on oral health-related quality of life between individuals currently undergoing orthodontic treatment and those who have completed treatment.

Methods: A total of 135 individuals were selected from the Orthodontic Department at Rashid Latif Dental Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Current and previous orthodontic treatments were recorded. A questionnaire on oral impacts on daily performance was used to assess functional, psychological, and social limitations.

Results: The most prevalent psychosocial impact was difficulty in smiling/laughing (26.6%). Logistic regression analysis showed that individuals currently undergoing orthodontic treatment are 2.9 times more …

Self-Assessment Tool For Evaluating Periodontal Conditions, Haslina Rani, Tuti Ningseh Mohd-Dom, Shahida Mohd-Said, Nur Azwani Johari

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The global prevalence of periodontal disease is steadily rising. Early detection through the active screening of potential patients is important because periodontal disease leads to high disease, clinical, and economic burdens. The aim of this study is to develop a simple periodontal assessment tool for the Malay-speaking population; this tool is referred to in this work as MyGusi.

Methods: Translation and back-translation of a self-assessment tool containing 10 items related to periodontal health conditions and risk behaviors were conducted by three bilingual translators. Nine periodontists were selected to determine the content validity of the tool. After pre-testing …

Implementation And Program Evaluation Pilot Study: Educating Health Care Providers About Protecting Population Health During Climate Change., Christine Fasching Maphis

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Recommendations regarding the need to prepare nurses and other health care providers (HCPs) for the health impacts of climate change (CC) have grown ubiquitous in the literature. Timely, efficient and sustainable strategies by the health care industry are necessary. Failure to act is predicted to result in catastrophic and lethal population health consequences. A growing body of research identifies related knowledge gaps and supports HCP competencies and best practice interventions to mitigate adverse population health impacts of CC. A social ecological framework and the PRECEDE-PROCEED approach were employed to develop and evaluate a series of online webinars designed to equip …

Meeting Minutes, Wku Council Of Academic Deans

Council of Academic Deans

Meeting regarding research compliance; graduate tuition fellowships; diversity, equity, inclusion initiatives; Chalk & Wire update; student success summit; living learning communities; strategic planning; COVID-19 vaccinations, 2021 course schedule; and academic standing.

Oral Chemotherapy: Safe Handling In The Home, Cynthia Huff

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Background: According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (2016), oral anticancer agents (OAC) are hazardous drugs (HD) and require the same safe handling interventions in the home setting as in controlled health care environments. The use of a safe handling checklist for OAC administration is a way nurses can provide safe handling education to patients and caregivers and assess for understanding and competency for critical tasks. Effective home management strategies outlining caregiver protections, proper storage, administration of OACs, spill clean-up, and waste disposal could reduce exposure risks to toxic agents.

Objective: To present a safe-handling checklist …

Reviewing Patient Satisfaction Of Lifecare Alliance Services Provided To The Columbus Community, Sean Ruffner

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Two separate patient satisfaction surveys were sent out to LifeCare Alliance’s customers. Each patient was asked a set of five questions that generalized the encounters as a whole experience. The first survey is for patients that were seen by nurses for footcare, general wellness and more (1A - PowerPoint). The other survey was sent to clients who received the flu vaccine (1B - PowerPoint). To conclude, data was then collected and analyzed using an excel spreadsheet (1C – PowerPoint).

Perinatal Substance Use Screenings In Marin County: A Brief Overview Of Screening Protocols And Identifying Gaps In Care, Breanna Wiliams

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction

Perinatal substance use continues to be a major public health issue in women’s health. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of substance use screenings in care and assess how well the existing services in Marin County are serving the needs of pregnant and parenting women and identifying the gaps and/or weaknesses in current practice.

Methods

Data for this study was collected via semi-structured interviews with five professionals that worked at the local community clinic, hospital and a non-profit agency. Some questions were slightly modified to be configured toward the participant’s specific profession.

Results

Results from …

Evaluating A Technology-Mediated Hpv Vaccination Awareness Intervention: A Controlled, Quasi-Experimental, Mixed Methods Study, Heather M. Brandt, Beth Sundstrom, Courtney M. Monroe, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Chelsea Larsen, Melissa Stansbury, Karen Magradey, Andrea Gibson, Delia Smith West

Faculty Publications

College-aged women and men are an important catch-up population for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination interventions. Limited research has explored technology-mediated HPV vaccination awareness interventions aimed at college students. The purpose was to evaluate a novel, technology-mediated, social media-based intervention to promote HPV vaccination among college students. A controlled, quasi-experimental, mixed methods study examined the feasibility of a technology-based intervention among two undergraduate classes ( = 58) at a public university in the southeastern United States of America. Classes were randomized to receive one of two cancer prevention programs (i.e., HPV vaccination (intervention) or healthy weight (control)). Both programs contained eight …

Information Uncertainty: A Correlate For Acute Stress Disorder During The Covid-19 Outbreak In China, Danhua Lin, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Cheuk Chi Tam, Xiaoyan Li, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: Individuals’ stress in responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic may be exacerbated by information uncertainty driven by inconsistent, unverified, and conflicting news from various sources. The current study aims to test if information uncertainty during the COVID-19 outbreak was related to acute stress disorder (ASD) over and above other psychosocial stressors.

Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted with 7800 college students throughout China from January 31 through February 11, 2020. Existing scales were modified to measure ASD and six potential stressors including information uncertainty during the COVID-19 outbreak. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to assess the unique association …

Impact Of Endangered Animal Protection Rights, Policies, And Practices On Zoonotic Disease Spread, Daniella Fedak-Lengel

Honors Projects

Building on field research in Costa Rica and Belize, this honors project analyzes environmental and endangered animal protection policies, rights, and practices in Central America and the Caribbean, and assesses the impact of veterinary science and biological research and practice, particularly conservation biology, on animal welfare concerns. Informed by the recent surge in awareness regarding zoonoses and zoonotic disease transmission, prevention and control, resulting from the current global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, the project assesses the need for new and innovative types of collaboration, particularly involving conservation biologists, environmental scientists, public health experts, law and policy makers, and global trade and …

Reproductive Health Care In The Time Of Covid-19: Perspectives Of Poor Women And Service Providers From Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Iram Kamran, Tahira Parveen, Rehan M. Niazi, Irfan Masood

Reproductive Health

This study was conducted by the Population Council in Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab, with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to uncover urgently needed evidence about the challenges and needs of poor women and health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 200 poor women—beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), one of the largest social protection programs in the world—and 60 public and private sector health care providers participated in this investigation of BISP beneficiaries’ knowledge of COVID-19, the effects of the pandemic on their lives, mental health and wellbeing, and their access …

Integrating Health Technologies In Health Services For Syrian Refugees In Lebanon: Qualitative Study, Reem Talhouk, Chaza Akik, Vera Araujo-Soares, Balsam Ahmad, Sandra Mesmar, Patrick Olivier, Madeline Balaam, Kyle Montague, Andrew Garbett, Hala Ghattas Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background:

Lebanon currently hosts around one million Syrian refugees. There has been an increasing interest in integrating eHealth and mHealth technologies into the provision of primary health care to refugees and Lebanese citizens.

Objective:

We aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the potential for technology integration in primary health care provision in the context of the protracted Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon.

Methods:

A total of 17 face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted with key informants (n=8) and health care providers (n=9) involved in the provision of health care to the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon. Interviews were audio recorded …

Lc-Ms/Ms Quantification Of Nevirapine And Its Metabolites In Hair For Assessing Long-Term Adherence, Haoran Yang, Liuxi Chu, Yan Wu, Wei Wang, Jin Yang, Quan Zhang, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph. D., Zhiyong Shen, Yuejiao Zhou, Shuaifeng Liu, Huihua Deng

Faculty Publications

The adherence assessment based on the combination of nevirapine (NVP) and its two metabolites (2-hydroxynevirapine and 3-hydroxynevirapine) would more comprehensively and accurately reflect long-term adherence than that of a single prototype. This study aimed to develop a specific, sensitive and selective method for simultaneous detection of the three compounds in hair and explore whether there was consistency among the three compounds in assessing long-term adherence. Furthermore, 75 HIV-positive patients who were taking the NVP drug were randomly recruited and divided into two groups (high-and low-adherence group). All participants self-reported their days of oral drug administration per month and provided their …

Smart Homes For Smart Health: Developing An Interactive System To Reduce In-Home Secondhand Smoke, Christie Kika, Janice Han, Vincent Berardi

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Smoke from any source is potentially harmful because it contains fine particulate matter that is associated with acute and chronic conditions. Second-hand smoke (SHS) is particularly unsafe for children due to biological characteristics (higher breathing rates, immature lungs and underdeveloped immune systems) that make it difficult to filter toxins.To address this concern, we recently completed Project Fresh Air (PFA), an NIH-funded R01 intervention that installed air particle sensors in the households of tobacco smokers who lived with children. The purpose of our research is to investigate and develop efficient smart home devices that monitor SHS in various living spaces to …

Respiratory Illness And Household Air Pollution: Problem Identification And Intervention, Hannah Flournoy

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study is an expanded literature review that identifies the key concepts of Household Air Pollution (HAP) and the relationship it has with respiratory illness. This study identifies twenty research studies that inspect HAP and respiratory symptoms across a number of communities that utilize biomass fuel as their primary fuel source. It seeks to identify the problems that come with HAP, such as childhood respiratory infection, COPD, and other respiratory illnesses. This review seeks to identify if people in low to middle income countries, who utilize biomass fuel sources, see and improved respiratory outcome from using modern cookstoves and other …

Improving Clinicians’ Access To Patient Education And Va Resource Information, Ella Bermudez

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Problem: In a western US Veterans Administration (VA) hospital system, patient education materials are provider-specific, not standardized, and not located in a central, readily available location.

Context: How does a patient education tool affect the clinicians' delivery of health education in increasing health literacy compared to written information alone in the US veteran population? An integrated literature review was performed using Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Scopus, CINAHL, and PubMed databases to address the PICOT question above and determine the impact of patient education tools on health literacy and patient engagement. The literature recommended improving patient education for better …

The World On Pause: A Children's Book About Living During A Pandemic, Amanda Desmarais

Senior Honors Projects

Life as we now know it has drastically changed since March 2020. Over 60 million people throughout the world have been infected with COVID-19. Unfortunately, over a million have died from the virus in a short period of time. The last pandemic occurred in 1918, many years before most of us were born. Since the pandemic is a health crisis most generations have never experienced, adults and children alike are learning to cope simultaneously. It is difficult to teach children coping mechanisms during these chaotic and unfamiliar times. Family members can’t set positive examples if their coping techniques are inconsistent. …

Developing A Health Communication Campaign For Disposal Of Unused Opioid Medications, Kathleen L. Egan, Mark Wolfson, Kaylee M. Lukacena, Carina Mazariegos Zelaya, Monique S. Mcleary, Donald W. Helme

Communication Faculty Publications

Introduction

Communities throughout the United States have implemented medicine disposal programs to prevent diversion of unused opioid analgesics from homes but a general lack of awareness may contribute to low rates of utilization. The objective of this study was to develop and test community-based campaign messages promoting appropriate disposal of unused opioids at disposal programs.

Methods

In Fall 2019, 491 residents (79% female, 97% White, mean age: 40 years) of five rural, Appalachian counties (3 in Kentucky and 2 in North Carolina) completed a web-based, experimental survey. Participants were randomly exposed to two of four messages and rated each message …

Disparities In Oral Health: Socioeconomic Status And Policies To Increase Access To Primary Dental Care, Mckenzie Nutter

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Primary dental care is a patient-centered service consisting of routine dental checkups. The oral cavity is the first point of entrance to the body for many harmful pathogens. Therefore, primary dental care is essential to not only prevent and treat conditions in the mouth, but to also reduce the number of systemic diseases in the rest of the body. However, people with higher incomes or wealth have increased access to primary dental care. People with low socioeconomic status have decreased access to primary dental care, at least in part due to difficulties in paying for separate dental insurance. Disparities in …

Datashare Monterey County Website, Audra Ketchem

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The DatashareMontereyCounty website was created by combining Conduent technology and knowledgeable staff from the Monterey County Public Health Department. This project attempted to solve the disengagement between many people in Monterey County and health interventions/prevention initiatives set in place by the health department. Two contributing factors related to community disengagement were that residents were not always aware of works the health department was attempting to promote and the complexity of health data (statistics). The main focus of the project demonstrates how understanding health information may or may not impact decision making. When concepts are difficult to understand this can deter …

External Stoma Diversion: A Palliative Measure For Peristomal Wound Healing In Resource-Limited Settings, Rachel W. Davis, Youmna A. Sherif, Catherine Anne Morrison

Faculty Publications

The provision of intestinal stoma care is challenging in austere settings due to limitations in surgical and wound care access as well as the high cost and sparsity of ostomy supplies. As a result, many surgical patients suffer from ostomy-related complications such as peristomal wounds and are unable to find relief for these complications from standard treatments and measures. This article describes the external stoma diversion, a cost-effective palliative surgical procedure that assists in the healing of peristomal wounds in resource-limited settings.

Parkindex: Validation And Application Of A Pragmatic Measure Of Park Access And Use, Andrew T. Kaczynski, S. Morgan Hughey, Ellen W. Stowe, Marilyn E. Wende, J. Aaron Hipp, Elizabeth L. Oliphant, Jasper Schipperijn

Faculty Publications

Composite metrics integrating park availability, features, and quality for a given address or neighborhood are lacking. The purposes of this study were to describe the validation, application, and demonstration of ParkIndex in four diverse communities. This study occurred in Fall 2018 in 128 census block groups within Seattle(WA), Brooklyn(NY), Raleigh(NC), and Greenville County(SC). All parks within a half-mile buffer were audited to calculate a composite park quality score, and select households provided data about use of proximal parks via an online, map-based survey. For each household, the number of parks, total park acreage, and average park quality score within one …

Development Of A Web-Based Agriculture Health Risk Assessment Tool For Military Veteran Farmers And Ranchers, Alyssa Damke

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In the U.S., significant health disparities exist among rural populations compared to their urban counterparts. These disparities can be compounded in agricultural workers due to the dangerous and unpredictable nature of their work. Agricultural producers who are also military Veterans may experience additional health pressures that are often overlooked in the healthcare setting. Over 2.5 million Veteran Health Administration (VHA) patients reside in rural areas and the healthcare infrastructure to care for these Veterans may not include an agricultural occupational approach. To address healthcare disparities in Veteran farmers and ranchers, this study, in collaboration with AgriSafe Network, will be used …

Developing A Community Innovation Grant In Response To Increasing Rural Critical Incidents In Agricultural Mental Health And Wellbeing, Community Trauma, And Natural Disasters, Chessa S. Quenzer

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Spink Area Support Network (SASN) is a skilled team of community volunteers that facilitate rural critical incident response services in an effort to prevent a critical incident and offer structured support during the aftermath. SASN was developed in response to identified gaps in rural critical incident response and risk reduction through prevention in Spink County, South Dakota. SASN utilizes a collaborative team approach to fill in gaps between first responder silos and establish community interventions by providing support and resources while utilizing critical incident stress management methods. SASN requires funding to maintain response resources, training, prevention education, and follow-up services. …

Developing A Rabies Prevention Program Based On Rabies Exposure Data In Nebraska, Jill Oatman

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Eighty-nine percent of Nebraska’s towns are considered rural, with populations of less than 3,000 people and with many towns having less than 1,000 residents. Rural areas consist of crop ground, livestock facilities and regions inhabited by wildlife. Nebraska has two large urban cities, Lincoln and Omaha. Animal and human health in these communities can be greatly impacted by infectious diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans, known as zoonotic diseases. One zoonotic disease of great concern is rabies. Zoonotic diseases not only impact the health of animals and humans, but the social well-being of communities and result in increased …

Understanding The Significance Of Virtual Support During Global Pandemic In Young Adults Diagnosed With Hepatitis C, Veronika Arkhipova

Master's Projects and Capstones

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. In recent years, the prevalence of hepatitis C infections among 20 and 30 years of age has increased by 300 percent, and between 30 and 39 years by 400 percent. Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, people diagnosed with Hepatitis C have lost access to mental health services and resources, including in-person meetings with support groups. Since most states enforced stay-at-home order, many community centers, non-profit organizations that work with Hepatitis C patients and the affected population provide limited to no access to support group meetings …

Association Between Social Media Exposure To Food And Beverages With Nutrient Intake Of Female Adolescents, Cholida Adiba, Siti Fatimah Pradigdo, Martha Irene Kartasurya

Kesmas

Communication technology development has influenced adolescent food choices and intakes. This study aimed to investigate the association between social media exposure to food and beverage content and nutrient intake among female adolescents. The study was conducted in a cross-sectional design. The targeted population was 104 female students aged 14–18 years old at 'XY' High School in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Eighty-one subjects were chosen by clustered random sampling. Data were collected by interviews using structured questionnaires and a 3x24-hour recall method. Data analyses were conducted by chi-square, Fisher exact tests, and logistic regression. The median and standard deviations of social-media, …