Public Health Commons^™

A Case Of Tetanus With Classical Presentations, Maaz Khan, Dr. Bhanukumar M

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

No abstract provided.

Airway Management In Case Of Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis, Dr. Pranay Penmetsa, Dr. Subramanian R

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

No abstract provided.

Multiple Sclerosis With Depression, Dr. Siri Gangadkar, Dr. Megha Tandure, Dr. Kishor M

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

No abstract provided.

Suicide Attempt In Relation To Covid-19 Crisis, Dr. Sreelakshmi Rajeev, Dr. Pranahith Reddy, Ms. Chinmayi K., Dr. Kishor M

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

No abstract provided.

A Rare Cause Of Hyponatremia, Dr. Tamanna Gupta, Dr. Pratibha Pereira

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Pancreatic Pseudocyst Following Acute Pancreatitis, Dr Hitha Suresh, Dr Madhu C P

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

No abstract provided.

Perceptions, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Behaviors Of Mouthguard Use Among Collegiate Athletes, Heather Prosser

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With the high risk of dental trauma in contact sports, it is important that all athletes have a strong foundation of how to prevent such injuries. Properly fitted mouthguards are the best available protective equipment to prevent orofacial trauma; however, previous research has found them underutilized, with the need for evidence-based interventions to promote mouthguard use among athletes. This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational research design, focusing on studying collegiate athletes at one large, Midwestern university, to determine their current attitudes, perceptions, self-efficacy, and behaviors of mouthguard use during participation in a contact sport. A convenience sampling technique was …

Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Infection And Vaccine Knowledge And Attitudes Among University Students, Mckenzie Schmitz

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

HPV is the “most common sexually transmitted infection,” with approximately four out of five sexually active individuals getting infected at some point in their lives (Planned Parenthood, n.d.b, para.1). Cancers of the throat, mouth, cervix, anus, penis, and vagina have all been linked to HPV infections. In addition to being tested for HPV, the utilization of barrier methods and reduction of risky sexual risk behaviors, are the best ways to prevent and treat sexually transmitted infections. This study contributes to existing literature on university students’ knowledge and attitudes about HPV infections and the vaccination. This study was conducted using descriptive, …

Association Between Breastfeeding And Child Stunting In Mexico, Ana Paola Campos, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Summer Sherburne Hawkins

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Globally, the prevalence of child stunting has been decreasing over the past decades. How-ever, in low-and middle-income countries such as Mexico, stunting is still the most prevalent form of undernutrition affecting a large number of children in the most vulnerable conditions. Breastfeeding has been identified as one of the key affordable and modifiable maternal health behaviors protecting against child stunting. Objective: To examine the association between breastfeeding (defined as never breastfed, any breast-feeding for <6 months, and any breastfeeding for ≥6 months) and other individual-, household-, and area-level factors with child stunting (defined as length/height-for-age-z-score for sex under –2 standard deviations of the World Health Organization child growth standards’ median) in Mexico. Methods: Secondary data analysis using the 2012 Mexican Health and Nutrition Survey, which allowed representativeness of rural and urban areas at national level and among 4 regions in Mexico. Our subset included data on 2,089 singleton Mexican children aged 6–35 months with information on previously identified risk and protective factors for stunting. We conducted fixed-and mixed-effects logistic regression models sequentially controlling for each level of factors. Findings: Overall, 12.3% of children were stunted and 71.1% were breastfed for ≥6 months. Any breast-feeding and being female were consistent protective factors against child stunting across all models. In contrast, child low birthweight, maternal short stature, higher number of children aged <5 years per household, and moderate to severe food insecurity were consistent risk factors for child stunting across all models. Conclusions: According to our findings, efforts to reduce child stunting in Mexico should include prenatal strategies aiming to prevent low birthweight offspring particularly among short-stature women, moderate to severe food insecure households, families with a higher number of children aged <5 years, and indigenous communities. Postnatal components should include multilevel strategies to support breastfeeding.

Federal Health Reform: Breast Cancer Outcomes, Nia Imani Bailey

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Young women are diagnosed with breast cancer; and young women die from breast cancer. This qualitative dissertation seeks to prove the significance of lowering the mammography age from 40 years old to 30 years old. Current policy and programs correlate to the mandated age of 40 years old, unless the woman is at high risk; such as having a family cancer history. This dissertation also seeks to implement an addendum to insurance policies to cover for younger women to have mammography screening in the event they are younger than the recommended age. The purpose of this study was to examine …

Evaluation Of The Coordinated Approach To Child Health (Catch) Program In Third Through Fifth Graders In Northern Illinois, Paulina Karecka

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) is a school-based education program designed to improve dietary habits and increase physical activity among children and adolescents based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CATCH program, delivered by dietetic interns and Northern Illinois University (NIU) students, to 3rd-5th graders in Northern Illinois, in increasing their nutrition knowledge and healthy choices behavior. Methods: In total, 167 elementary school children in grades 3-5 in Northern Illinois participated in a non-experimental program evaluation study. We delivered 6 CATCH lessons throughout the academic year …

Screens, School District Employees, And Sleep: Is There A Relationship?, Mary Kay L. Bruihler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Statement of the Problem

Working in a school can be stressful and about half of educators in a national survey reported less than the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep. Smartphones and other screened devices can cause sleep loss and are becoming more prevalent. Is there a relationship between the use of screened devices and sleep among the employees of a school district?

Procedures

Employees (n=36) of a small southern Minnesota school district were given an online survey regarding their sleep habits utilizing the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), their screen time use, utilizing the Screen Time Questionnaire (STQ), …

The Difference In Barriers To Colorectal Cancer Screening Between Men And Women In The 45-55-Year Age Group, Maren Christina Davis

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Statement of the Problem: Adults, 50 years or older, should have a screening colonoscopy every ten years and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every year. However, close to 22 million adults between the ages of 50-75 in the U.S. have never been screened for colorectal cancer, which delays treatment and can be fatal if the cancer is not found in time.

Procedure: This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional, survey-based design and a convenience sample of men and women between 45 and 55 years old to assess colorectal screening practices, barriers to screening, and knowledge levels about colorectal cancer screening.

Findings: A …

Swipe Right For Condoms And Testing: Differences In High-Risk Sexual Behavior And Sexual Health Beliefs Among Dating App Users Compared To Non-App Users, Shelby A. Smout

Theses and Dissertations

Millions of Americans are currently using smartphone dating applications (apps) to socialize and meet with others. In some cases, app-based conversations lead to sexual interactions. Previous research examining the relationship between the use of dating apps and sexual behaviors has found that individuals who use dating apps and meet with partners from the app are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors such as having multiple partners and inconsistent condom use. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 are the group most likely to be using dating apps compared to other age groups and are a high-risk group …

Innovative Framework For Academic And Public Health Departments' Partnership On Preparing Future Practitioners- Preliminary Data, Michele Kekeh, Muge Akpinar-Elci, Myngoc Nguyen, Nancy Welch

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

This article presents a model to respond to current public health challenges and transform knowledge into preventive strategies. It also presents an innovative way for academic institutes and public health departments to focus on public health workforce development. Academic institutes partnership with public health departments have started fostering service-learning opportunities to engage students in public health with an emphasis on the specific public health outcomes. However, the benefit of service–learning projects on the health departments and the populations served is largely unknown. Recently, these service-learning opportunities are becoming less sustainable due to the inability of preceptors to provide the necessary …

The Caregiver Advise Record And Enable (Care) Act And Compassion Fatigue In The United States, Karen Marie Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transition from hospital to home can be complicated, leaving family caregivers in stressful situations that they may not know how to handle. The burden that is placed on these individuals has led researchers to focus on the public health implications of caregiving in hopes of identifying at-risk caregivers. This quantitative analysis identified what relationships exist between caregiver compassion fatigue among family caregivers and training or education received per the Caregiver Advise Record and Enable (CARE) Act and if education influences readmission rates. A purposive sample of 385 family caregivers participated in this study. The Care Transitions Measure (CTM-15), the …

Development Of A Clinical-Academic-Community Collaboration To Improve Health Literacy, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Michelle A. Arent, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Mayank Sakhuja, Venice E. Haynes, Samuel Noblet, Heather M. Brandt Ph.D., Ches, William D. Isenhower, Abraham Wandersman, Diana Zona, Cyndi New, Delores Fedrick, Jonathan Scaccia, Larisa Bruner

Faculty Publications

Limited health literacy is associated with poor patient health outcomes and increased hospitalization rates. Patient-provider communication plays an important role in patient health literacy and the understanding of medical terminology. This study demonstrates how a collaboration between clinical, academic, and community partners was instrumental in the design and implementation of a clinic readiness assessment and a clinic-based pilot intervention to encourage patient-provider communication and improve patient health literacy. A state hospital association, academic research team, and community adult literacy center director collaborated to develop a 60-item clinic readiness assessment and an evidence-informed pilot intervention. The clinic readiness assessment captured clinics’ …

Behavioral, Demographic, And Clinical Determinants Of Hiv Serostatus In Zambian Women, Debebe Masresha Gebreyohannes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection shows a diminishing trend at the global level while it shows increasing in intensity of mortality, morbidity, and burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. The intertwined behavioral, demographic, and clinical determinants fueled the incidence of infections in Zambian women. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between demographic, behavioral, and clinical determinants with HIV serostatus in Zambian women. With the conceptual framework of the World Health Organization’s Commission for Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) and quantitative method of MANOVA, this study examined Zambian Demographic Health Survey data for Zambian women of …

Impact Of Education On Hiv Testing Among African American Women In The United States, Florence Matimbah Mbangowah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improved and increased human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among African American women in the United States could facilitate early detection of the virus. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to determine if there was a significant association between HIV testing participation and education level (i.e., high school, college, post-college level) based on access to healthcare after accounting for insurance, income, employment, marital status, English language proficiency, and vision quality. The integrated theory of health behavior change, the theoretical framework used for this research, proposes that changes in health behavior can be improved by various factors such as fostering …

Hiv Positive African American Women’S Lived Experiences And Clinical Outcomes, Christie Olejemeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American (AA) women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. The infection rate for AA women continues to increase, and literature lacks information specifically on education for AA women regarding viral suppression at diagnosis. The purpose of the study was to understand the lived experiences of AA women living with HIV in the District of Columbia, particularly how they acquired knowledge of viral suppression. To understand their experiences with antiretroviral medications, viral suppression, discrimination, and stigma, this qualitative study applied a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The theories of resilience and empowerment were applied. Ten HIV positive AA women living in the District …

Guidelines For Chronic Back Pain: An Education Module For Health Providers, Ron Pascual

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective chronic back pain management and patient self-care guidelines are necessary for healthcare providers treating patients with complaints of low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this doctoral project was to provide an evidence-based educational program aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals regarding the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) guidelines, emphasizing alternative pain management treatments. The staff education project was supported by the biomedical pain model and chronic care model. A panel of 3 experts including the clinic’s board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, clinical manager, and leading medical director …

Exploring Health Literacy In The Acute Care Setting In A Rural Border Region, Shiloh Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy is important to ensuring patients have the necessary knowledge and skills needed to actively participate as a member of their own healthcare team. Patients with low health literacy are at increased risk for poor outcomes and limited participation in decisions affecting their health or treatment plan. Using the Social Ecological Model (SEM) as a framework, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between medical-surgical registered nurses, medical-surgical patients and the registered nurse’s (RN) assessment of their patient’s health literacy of those who live in a rural-border region. The study’s sample consisted of 84 pairs of …

Use Of Managerial Epidemiology By Healthcare Leaders In Ambulatory Settings, Chantelle Schenning

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite many health reforms, the United States continues to struggle with limited healthcare access, exponential healthcare costs, and poor quality of care. Overcoming these challenges requires healthcare leaders’ effective navigation of industry transformation towards population health and a shift in patient volume to ambulatory healthcare settings. Research has demonstrated that the use of managerial epidemiology, an application of epidemiology tools and principles to management decision-making within healthcare organizations, can better serve the health of the population and could improve the triple aim of inadequate access, high costs, and poor quality. However, the adoption of this practice is weak and its …

Perceptions Of Fruits And Vegetables Amongst Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients, Latasha Shanelle Reddick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are the primary source of food for Georgians with an annual income under the federal poverty level. This program provides monthly monetary benefits to allow the purchase of food through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Georgia SNAP beneficiaries do not receive nutrition counseling or have purchasing restrictions associated with their benefits. Previous research has indicated that there is a significant benefit to eating fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this qualitative study was to apply the health belief model theory to understand the viewpoint of Georgia SNAP beneficiaries regarding fruits and vegetables. Data …

Faith, Medication Adherence, And Cardiovascular Disease Among African American Churchgoers, Linett Lorain Brice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Getting African Americans to adhere to medical management strategies to reduce negative health outcomes of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors may be challenging. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to examine whether levels of faith in God's healing, when it comes to taking medications, was associated with medication adherence to hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMII) medications, and whether those factors were associated with prevalence of CVD and uncontrolled symptoms of CVD risk factors, namely hypertension and DMII. Social cognitive theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from surveys completed by 102 …

Perceptions Of Newly Licensed Registered Nurses About Homecare As A Practice Area, Tamara M. Kelley Frazier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The demand for competent nurses working in a home care setting continues to grow because of decreased length of stay in hospitals and population needs for chronic care management when homebound. Nursing educational programs introduce students to community health and home care nursing, which could influence a student nurse's choice of home health care as an initial practice setting. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) about home care as an initial practice area. Ten NLRNs not working in home health care areas responded to 16 open-ended interview questions that were based on the career …

Quality Of Life For Persons With Chronic Disease Utilizing Mobile Integrated Healthcare, Dr John Robert Ash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of mobile integrated healthcare-community paramedicine (MIH-CP) has the potential to be integrated into existing chronic disease management initiatives as a means of reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and costs as well as improving quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between demographics, noncommunicable disease type (NCD), and changes in self-perceived, self-reported QOL for those who have participated in an MIH-CP program. The research design for this study was a pretest/posttest design using secondary data that were obtained from a research partner using the MIH-CP intervention and collecting QOL data using the Euroqol QOL …

Demographics, Naloxone Accessibility, And Repeat Opioid Overdose In The United States, Craig Hamp Booker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 2.1 million people in the United States suffer from opioid use disorder, and over 47,600 people die from opioid-related overdoses each year. Opioid overdose is often treated with naloxone, a quick-acting medication that counteracts the effects of an overdose. This quantitative, correlational study was conducted to determine whether demographics (gender, age, and race) and naloxone accessibility were predictors of repeat opioid overdose in a Tennessee county in the United States. The study was developed and conducted using principles of the diffusion of innovations theory. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted using secondary, county-level data (n = 967) from emergency …

Levels Of Albuterol Inhaler With And Without Spacers In Children With Asthma, Jefferson Libed Pambid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children with asthma remain a problem in public health because asthma drastically impacts children’s daily activities, increases absenteeism in school, and causes difficulties in sleeping. Researchers have demonstrated that poor asthma management is due to a lack of education about the correct inhaler technique, and the appropriate doses are not inhaled. Researchers have yet established whether asthma symptoms improve based on the doses inhaled with or without a spacer and whether children are most likely to experience fewer asthma episodes or attacks if they receive professional instruction. The purpose of this study was to fully understand the influence of an …

The Relationship Between Social Media Engagement And Psychological Well-Being In College Students At The University Of New Hampshire, Emily G. D'Antonio

Honors Theses and Capstones

Social media use has increased substantially in recent years, and for the college-aged population, social media is often the leading method of communication. Research indicates this reliance on digital connection could have a negative impact on the health of young adults (Bagroy et al., 2017). The college years are a time of personal growth and defining actions, yet can also be burdened by mental health issues related to stress, anxiety, and depression (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Acknowledging these trends, the current study explores how college students’ specific frequency and intentionality while interacting on social media relates to their psychological well-being. …