Public Health Commons^™

An Analysis Of The Environmental Account Of Obesity As A Form Of Financial Neo-Imperialism, Zahara Alzubaidi

The Cardinal Edge

Socioeconomic developments of the past half-century have created mass social concern over an “obesity epidemic.” This concern is given a sense of legitimacy by studies that warn of a totally obese America in only a few decades, and children being more likely than ever to be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. The “environmentalist account” of obesity asserts that factors like genetics, food availability, and social or political climate are the major determinants of an “obesogenic environment” – that is, an environment of obese adults likely to raise obese children. Some feminist thinkers argue that the environmentalist account is necessary to …

The Effect Of A Virtual Covid-19 Interprofessional Educational Module On Knowledge, Confidence, Attitude, And Practice Among Health And Allied Health Professions Students, Tsu-Yin Wu, Jenni L. Hoffman, Grigoris Argeros, Sarah Lally, Andrea Gossett Zakrajsek, Jillian Graves, Alice Jo Rainville, Olivia Ford, Angela Lukomski, Renuka Roche, John Sonnega, Joan E. Cowdery Phd

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to examine the effect of an innovative, online COVID-19 interprofessional educational module among health and allied health professions students.

Methods: This study utilized a pre- and posttest design with quantitative and qualitative data collected winter 2023 and spring/summer 2023 semesters, and consisted of health and allied health professions students (N=143) from three Midwestern, urban, public universities. Participants completed a pretest, then an IPE module on COVID-19, and a posttest immediately after the educational intervention, and another (the same) posttest one month later. Quantitative and qualitative data were subject to statistical …

Initiation Of Hearing Aids Use And Incident Dementia Among Mid-To-Late Life Adults: The Health And Retirement Study 2010-2018, Jingkai Wei, Kun Li, Youngran Kim, Rahul Ghosal, Donglan Zhang, Anwar T Merchant, Casey Crump

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hearing aids may reduce the risk of dementia among individuals with hearing loss. However, no evidence is available from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of hearing aids use in reducing incident dementia. Using target trial emulation, we leveraged an existing longitudinal cohort study to estimate the association between hearing aids initiation and risk of dementia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study was used to emulate target trials among non-institutionalized participants aged ≥50 years with self-reported hearing loss, without dementia at baseline, and without use of hearing aids in the previous 2 years. …

Lengthening Atlantic Hurricane Seasons With Earlier Storm Formation Dates Including Implications From 2020, Barry D. Keim, L. C. Hamilton, V. M. Brown, P. J. Klotzbach, A. B. Lewis, D. T. Thompson

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

This paper analyzes the formation dates of the nth storm in a sequence for all named North Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) and assesses whether the intraseasonal length of the Atlantic hurricane season has changed temporally. The record-breaking 2020 season, with 30 named storms, set records for the earliest third TC formation (Cristobal) and from the sixth TC (Fay) onward. Analysis of season length from 1851 to 2022 identifies only one statistically significant breakpoint detected in the early 1970s, roughly coinciding with the introduction of satellite observations. Since 1970, we also find a trend toward longer North Atlantic hurricane seasons. The …

Small Beef-Packer Resilience During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence And Policy Implications, Azzeddine Azzam, Sunil P. Dhoubadel, Binod Khanal

Cornhusker Economics

As part of a larger research project on the economics of beef supply chain resilience to natural disasters, financed in part by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, we obtained information from 289 processing plants across the United States about their operations during the peak COVID-19 period of March to June 2020 via a telephone survey. We collected data on plant type (slaughter, processing, both), the dominant livestock processed by the plant (predominantly beef, pork, poultry, and sheep/goat), plant capacity (maximum and typical capacity in slaughter head/day), age of establishment, and, whether the plant ceased, …

The Southern Nevada Care Economy: Addressing Child Care And Elder Care Challenges, The Lincy Institute

Lincy Institute Events

This community forum examines the economic and societal impact of the “care economy” in Southern Nevada in collaboration with Tripp Umbach, a nationally recognized consulting firm that provides comprehensive services including research and strategic plans to further the operations and activities of healthcare services.

Central to the care economy is elder care and child care. Having access to elder care and child care services is essential to working age adults, many of whom need one or both types of services to continue participating in the workforce. The delivery of child care and elder care services have far-reaching implications for our …

Political Polarization Harms Public Health, Shana Kushner Gadarian, Jay Van Bavel, Kai Ruggeri, Eric Knowles

Population Health Research Brief Series

Political polarization poses considerable risks to well-being. Both ideological polarization (“extremification” of policy positions and ideological orientations) and affective polarization (out-party hate) have increased over the past several decades with detrimental effects on public health. This brief summarizes the impacts of political polarization on public health in the U.S., highlighting the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study on the health risks of polarization. The authors show that, in the United States, one of the strongest predictors of COVID-19 prevention behaviors, such as social distancing and vaccination, was political partisanship. Gaps in these behaviors between Republicans and Democrats increased over the …

The Southern Nevada Care Economy: Challenges And Opportunities, Tripp Umbach

Policy Briefs and Reports

National policymakers increasingly recognize the care economy as an essential economic driver, contributing $648 billion annually to the U.S. economy and supporting 3.6 million jobs. The care economy is also critical in driving economic development and prosperity in Southern Nevada. Yet, as this Tripp Umbach analysis finds, Southern Nevada’s care economy dramatically underperforms compared to national benchmarks and peer regions. High caregiving costs and limited access to care for children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in Southern Nevada strain families, businesses, and public resources. This burden reduces workforce participation, productivity, and economic growth. Low pay and high turnover among care …

Life History Of Men Who Experienced Childhood Maternal Absence, Renice Obure

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation project explored the impact of childhood maternal absence on the life history outcomes of adult men. An integrated theoretical model of developmental-evolutionary framework was developed to guide research design and conduct. This model combined sex-differentiated life history framework and fathering resource theory. The study consisted of three components: a scoping review of 29 relevant studies conducted in the United States between 1990-2023, a quantitative analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health) waves I and IV (n=6932), and a qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with a sample of 22 fathers who experienced childhood …

Attachment Styles As Moderators Of Loneliness In Remote Work, Brody Tj Loughlin

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the role of attachment styles in moderating the relationship between remote work and loneliness. Drawing on attachment theory, which posits that early life experiences shape attachment styles and influence social interactions, the study examines whether attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, and secure) moderate the association between remote work and feelings of loneliness. The research targets 394 remote workers, using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design with proportional stratified sampling to reflect the distribution of hybrid and fully remote work arrangements in the U.S. workforce. The Extent of RemoteWork measure, the Three-Item Loneliness Scale, and the Adult Attachment Scale assess …

Impacting Community Well-Being Through Effective Engagement Using The Seed Method, Carlin Rafie, Emily B. Zimmerman, Angelina Hargrove, Theodora Biney Amissah, Samantha Lee

Journal of Extension

Cooperative Extension can make a significant impact on health in the United States through effective community engagement that focuses on the complex socio-ecological factors that impact health. The Stakeholder Engagement in Question Development Method (SEED Method) employs community based participatory research principles to engage communities in research, problem-solving, and action planning. Projects employing the SEED Method engage community members from diverse backgrounds, create community capacity, result in tangible outcomes, and foment inter-organizational trust and networking. A SEED Toolkit is available on the Extension Foundation Campus site and provides implementation instructions, tools and timelines, and potential applications within Extension.

Who Cares For The Caregiver? Exploring Extension’S Role In Informal Caregiving Support, Mckenzie R. Tuttle, Erin L. Martinez, Aimee Fox

Journal of Extension

Family caregivers provide invaluable service by taking on the responsibility of caring for older adults in the United States. With a growing aging population, the need for family caregivers and demands on their time and resources will continue to increase. Although a variety of caregiving resources and support services exist, family caregivers often lack the awareness, time, transportation, or financial resources to connect to services. There is a critical need to address the barriers that prevent caregivers from accessing services. In this commentary, we highlight barriers and make recommendations for improving conversations, research, and practice to meet this growing problem.

Patient Engagement And Co-Creation In Healthcare Services: A Scoping Review, Thiruppavai Sundaramurthi, Smita Mathews, Ella Bermudez, Satish M. Mahajan

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: The objective of this review was to find literature related to the concepts of patient engagement and co-creation in healthcare services and identify models and/or frameworks that combined these concepts. Methods: We developed the eligibility criteria using the Population-Concept-Context framework applicable to studies with population of patients exploring the concepts of engagement and co-creation in the context of healthcare services. The search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, APA PsycINFO, and Ovid MEDLINE. We searched for articles in English with no search limitations on publication dates. Reviewers screened abstracts and full texts to identify articles for data …

Experiences Of Using Electronic Medical Records Among Patients From Ethnic Minority Backgrounds: A Rapid Review, Corey Adams, Reema Harrison, Alison Merchant, Narelle Arblaster, Tracey Bucknall, Kathleen Gray, Guncag Ozavci, Nilmini Wickramasinghe, Vicky Yuan, Elizabeth Manias

Patient Experience Journal

This study explores the experiences of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds using electronic medical records (EMRs) and identifies strategies to improve the inclusivity and usability of EMRs, aiming to reduce the digital divide in their access and use. A rapid review of the literature was conducted using Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and November 2023, with the assistance of a medical librarian.

A total of 44 studies were included in the review, revealing significant disparities in EMR adoption and utilization among ethnic minority groups. Three key themes of inequality were identified: presentation of …

Laboratory Literacy: Surveying Lab Result Interpretations Of A Local Patient Population, Jordan Franco, Mark K. Fung

Patient Experience Journal

A patient's independent interpretation of their medical laboratory data has become an unspoken prerequisite in the current age of medicine. In the outpatient setting, it is anecdotally commonplace for patients to receive their lab results before their physicians, resulting in patients often relying on self-interpretations of their results. This study analyzed the degree to which patients are comfortable interpreting lab results and sought to shed light on the question: How are patients interpreting their laboratory reports? A survey was constructed to include the items from a validated health literacy screening tool, followed by items inquiring about the respondent's experience and …

Post-Pandemic Needs Of Unpaid Family And Friend Caregivers To Effectively Continue Caregiving Duties In One Northern Ontario Health Authority, Jodi Webber, Erin Mulroney, Mark Tatasciore, Brianna Smith, Patti-Jo Duggan, Louis Ferron, Hannah Albani, Bianca Feitelberg, Laura Tenhagen, Sophia Myles

Patient Experience Journal

The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the support networks for older adults and caregivers as health and social care systems were forced to dramatically change the ways patients and clients interacted with providers, services, and programs. In Northern Ontario, caregivers are older, caring in more intense situations, more likely to be caring for multiple care recipients simultaneously and less likely to be in contact with health professionals. This research sought to explore the post-pandemic needs of caregivers in a Northern Ontario health catchment to better understand the needed supports. Using a collaborative and co-design approach with caregiver advisors …

Patients' Perceptions: A Group Differences Study Twelve Months Before And Twelve Months During A Worldwide Pandemic, Nancy B. Valla

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic subjected healthcare systems' to decreasing operational margins, enhanced regulatory scrutiny, and challenges related to patients' expectations. Until now, there was a lack of empirical evidence studying patients' perceptions prior to versus deep immersion into the pandemic. Methods: This quantitative non-experimental ex post facto causal-comparative study examined if and to what extent there were significant differences in patients' perceptions of the nurses' communications, doctors' communications, overall hospital rating, and willingness to recommend before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic for HCAHPS participating hospitals in California. The final sample size was 292 facilities grouped by two identically …

Why Human Experience Matters, Jason A. Wolf

Patient Experience Journal

As we close the 11^th volume of Patient Experience Journal and a pivotal year for experience efforts globally, it provides a moment of pause, of reflection, and an opportunity to return to purpose. As a publication accessed in over 220 countries and territories around the world, I am heartened by the fact that what is shared on these pages moves you. That what our amazing authors contribute here truly matters. This issue, with its 24 insightful articles, brings our total publication count to 570 articles. These pieces have informed us, pushed our thinking, and challenged our beliefs. This is …

State Capacity And Covid-19 Responses: Comparing The Us States, Kiran Auerbach, Joshua Y. Lerner, Hannah M. Ridge

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

This article addresses the interstate differences in outcomes from the coronavirus disease COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on state capacity. State capacity refers to states’ ability to create and implement policy. We posit that states want to limit death and destruction within their borders. COVID-19 created an instance in which states had a shared, preferred outcome but had very different levels of success. Using a novel measure of state capacity that allows for subnational comparisons – and is independent of ideological political will – we show that states with greater capacity experienced fewer excess deaths during 2020 and more successfully distributed …

Examining Adolescence And Agency In The Midst Of International Crisis: Pandemics, Pandemonium, And Zombie Young Adult Literature, T. Hunter Strickland

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-22 brought an abundance of changes to secondary education as students transitioned across the country to virtual and hybrid learning contexts. Teachers flexed quickly and frequently to support the learning that students acquired in these new, digital spaces even as school, district, and state demands on teaching increased. The English/Language Arts classroom pivoted along with others as teachers sought out digital reading and writing resources for students to engage in. In the midst of a national crisis, a metaphorical monster that sought to destroy, much like Beowulf ’s dragon did, adolescent readers, despite the discourses of …

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Of A Smartphone-Based Application To Support At-Home Psa Screening And Culturally Tailored Prostate Cancer Education For African American Men: A Study Protocol, Jordan Neil, Bingjing Mao, Ruosi Shao, E. Ogunsanya Motolani, Summer Frank-Pearce, Michael Businelle, Michael Cookson, Kelly Stratton, Mark Doescher, Stephanie Pharr, Valerie Moise, Brianna Fleshman, Jack Fronheiser, Kimberly Estrada, Iván Flores, David Bradley, Ashley Kendrick, Adam C. Alexander

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black/African American men (AA) and the second‑leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is an early detection screening tool for prostate cancer, but uptake of PSA screening remains low among AA men. Greater PSA screening rates among AA men, coupled with earlier treatment, may reduce disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, including mortality. The current pilot study will test the first-of-its-kind mobile health (mHealth) app to improve prostate cancer knowledge and increase PSA screening uptake among AA men using home-based screening methods. Methods: AA men aged 55 to …

Network Analysis Of Progress In Mathematics Research, Anna Singley

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Review Of The Long-Term Efficacy Of Physical Activity Interventions In Reducing Risk Factors For Obesity In Adults, Jude Ominyi, Andrew Clifton, Noreen Cushen-Brewster

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) provides numerous health advantages, including lowering mortality rates and preventing obesity. Despite well-established guidelines advising 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic PA weekly, sedentary lifestyles remain prevalent, especially in industrialised nations. This systematic review examines the long-term effectiveness (12-24 months) of PA interventions aimed at reducing obesity risk among adults, with a particular focus on identifying strategies that promote sustained adherence.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using multiple databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase, focusing on studies published between January 2004 and January 2024. The inclusion …

Understanding The Impact Of Covid-19 On Yoga Instruction: Examining Teaching Methodology, Class Components, And Injury Patterns In The Northeastern Us, Sojung Kim, June Solow, Donald H Lein, Harshvardhan Singh

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the perspectives of yoga instructors (YIs) regarding teaching methodology, class components, and yoga-related injuries among their clients DESIGN: A cross-sectional design in this study.

SETTING: A total of 407 YIs from Northeastern United States completed a customized, web-based survey.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Chi-square tests were carried out to determine changes in yoga teaching format before and during the pandemic, as well as the counts of yoga related injuries between face-to-face (FtoF) and online teaching format. Independent t tests were used to compare the characteristics of yoga teaching elements.

RESULTS: …

Health Outcomes Reported By Healthcare Providers And Clients Of A Community-Based Medically Tailored Meal Program, Jessica M Sautter, Jule Anne Henstenburg, Adrian Glass Crafford, Ian Rowe-Nicholls, Victor S Diaz, Kaitlyn Ann Bartholomew, Julia S Evans, Maria R Johnson, Jeffrey Zhou, Deeksha Ajeya

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Medically tailored meal (MTM) programs provide home-delivered meals to people living with serious illness and poor nutritional status. Client outcome studies have found evidence of decreased healthcare utilization and cost savings associated with MTM program participation, and inconclusive evidence of change in health measures. The purpose of this study was to use a novel observational framework to describe the client profile and change in health outcomes using routinely collected health and program data from a community-based MTM program at MANNA (Philadelphia, PA).

METHODS: Clients reported their self-rated health and experiences of food insecurity and malnutrition. Healthcare providers reported clients' …

Burnout And Employee Satisfaction Of Mental Health Clinicians In Corrections, Jeremy C. Capuyon, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

Approximately 1.9 million individuals are currently incarcerated within the United States. Rehabilitation and preparation for parole back into the community is common goal amongst correctional facilities. Mental health clinicians (social workers and psychologists) within the correctional facilities are providers who assist in the rehabilitation of inmates. Unfortunately, mental health clinicians in correctional facilities experience high rates of burnout and low levels of job satisfaction, resulting in an increase in turnover rates. This research project looks to investigate the impact burnout and employee satisfaction has on mental health clinicians who work in correctional settings. Furthermore, this research project compares burnout and …

Protein Consumption And Risk Of Cvd Among Us Adults: The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis (Mesa), Ji Yun Tark, Ruosha Li, Bing Yu, Alexis C Wood, Nikhil S Padhye, Marcia C De Oliveira Otto

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Although some randomized trials have reported beneficial effects of protein intake on cardiometabolic risk factors, evidence from prospective studies have not supported a strong link between protein intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It is also unclear whether diversity in protein intake plays a role in CVD risk.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated prospective associations of (1) protein intake, overall and by food source and (2) diversity of protein sources with risk of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke.

METHODS: In a multi-ethnic cohort of 5879 U.S. adults (45-84 years), who were free of CVD at baseline, protein intake was …

Community Perspectives Of Heat And Weather Warnings For Pregnant And Postpartum Women In Kilifi, Kenya, Adelaide Lusambili, Veronique Filippi, Britt Nakstad, Julian Natukunda, Cathryn Birch, John Marsham, Nathalie Roos, Peter Khaemba, Sari Kovats

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Extreme weather is a recognised risk factor for stillbirth and preterm birth, disrupts women’s access to healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth, and negatively affects the care of newborns. Reliable and accessible heat and weather warning systems are key in alerting individuals to undertake protective measures. There is a notable gap in understanding how women and caregivers in rural East Africa perceive and utilize weather information. We investigated community members’ heat and weather warning information-seeking behaviour, identified available sources, assessed their reliability and utility, and examined their influence on behaviour.

Settings: Our research was conducted in rural Kilifi County in …

Sexual Behavior Among Emerging Adults In Africa: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Stevenson Chea, Vincent A. Kagonya, Osman Abdullahi, Amina Abubakar, Souheila Abbeddou, Kristien Michielsen, Amin Hassan

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Estimates on sexual behavior (SB) among emerging adults (EmA) is varied in literature, which presents a challenge when designing targeted interventions. We aimed to summarize literature on prevalence and risk factors of SB among EmA in Africa.

Methods: A search for studies published in PubMed, Embase, and Psych Info by March 2023 was done. Studies involving EmA (18–25 years), conducted in Africa, and reporting 1 or more of 7 SBs were reviewed. Pooled prevalence estimates were summarized using forest plots. Heterogeneity in SB was explored. Risk factors were synthesized using a modified socioecological model.

Results: Overall, …

Conceptions Of Latinos And Latinas About The Grieving Process And Associate Concepts Of Dying, Death, Bereavement, And Loss: A Covid-19-Post-Pandemic Case Study, Rosario Garcia Ortiz

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to recognize the grieving process and the related concepts of Latinos who lost a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic. Death and dying have been studied in the United States, with limited studies focusing on the Latino culture. The COVID-19 pandemic was a devastating experience for the world and continues to be studied for understanding and lessons in the aftermath. This research included four participants from the Latino culture who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. An inductive approach and data analysis were used to form theoretical constructs. Three main categories were …