Public Health Commons^™

Bios 9134 - Stochastic Processes For Systems Biology, Daniel Linder

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course provides the student with an introduction to stochastic processes with emphasis on Markov chains, The Poisson Process, Brownian Motion and other continuous time processes. The theory developed will be used to model and simulate complex biochemical reaction networks and perform network inference given data from the stochastic trajectory of a biological process, typically arising from microarray or next generation sequencing experiments.

Bios 9333 – Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis, Haresh Rochani

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course provides an introduction to longitudinal and clustered data. Topics include the basic concepts of longitudinal data, linear models for longitudinal data, generalized linear models and salient features, generalized estimating equations, generalized linear mixed effects models, missing data and dropouts, sample size and power, repeated measures, and multilevel linear models.

Cohe 6130a - Research Methods In Health Science, Dziyana Nazaruk

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Introduces students to research methods in health science. Development and presentation of practicum and research proposal will be the focus of the course. Additional emphasis will be placed on Community- Based Participatory Research for Health.

Envh 7231 - Air Quality, Simone M. Charles

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Introduces students to chemical, physical, and biological principles of air quality, as well as potential sources of contamination and the resulting effects. The course will also introduce environmental policies pertinent to air issues along with current remediation strategies to ameliorate pollution.

Envh 7232a - Water Quality, Asli Aslan

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course is designed for graduate students and it will provide students with an introduction and overview of the key areas of water quality and health. Students will gain an understanding of the physical, chemical and biological principles of water quality, the potential impact on health of water pollution, and local, national and international environmental policies pertinent to water issues along with current treatment and remediation strategies to ameliorate pollution. The major topics include introduction to water quality and health; physical and chemical agents in water, emerging infectious diseases related to water quality, drinking and recreational water quality criteria, drinking …

Cohe 7238a - Communication For Change, John S. Luque

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course is designed to familiarize students with the history and current applications of health communication theory and strategies to public health practice and research. This course examines how to structure, develop and evaluate social marketing, media advocacy, risk communication and advocacy skills for change. In addition, systematic qualitative data collection processes such as interviewing skills, participant observation and focus groups will be developed. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking skills to help students analyze and utilize these skills in research and practice.

Hspm 6030 - Healthcare Economics And Policy, James H. Stephens

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course examines the dynamic nature of health economics and policy in addition to understanding the political process in the healthcare and public health context. This course uses foundational economic concepts to develop health economic applications and processes. The course will review important studies in medical research, epidemiology, public health and other fields as they relate to the economics of health care. An overview of the process of policy making with excerpts from congressional testimony, proposed rules, executive orders, etc., will be covered.

Hspm 7235a - Health Law, Julie Reagan

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to legal issues in public health and healthcare. Basic legal principles underlying the legal system, governmental regulation, development of legal rules, and how to interact effectively with the legal system as a public health practitioner will be explored. This course has two main purposes: first, to examine the legal context of the relationship between the individual and the community; and second, to understand public health regulation in the context of a market-driven system.

Pubh 7991a - Capstone Research Course, Katie M. Mercer

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Requires the completion of an independent research project in the preferred field requiring the defense of the design, methods, analysis, and interpretation of the data.

Pubh 9630 - Public Health Doctoral Seminar, Joseph Telfair

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course is designed to provide doctoral candidates with instruction and practice allowing for the enhancement of knowledge and skills in the areas of critical thinking, information analyses and synthesis, and scientific writing. Give doctoral candidates the opportunity to determine, refine and comprehensively (written, oral) describe their dissertation research topic. Work with doctoral candidates to thoroughly identify, research, screen, then secure commitment from potential dissertation committee members, particularly the chair.

Association Between Air Temperature And Heart Disease Death Rates In Georgia Counties, John Hart

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In this ecological study, global warming theory was tested on a local level, in Georgia. The hypothesis was that warmer counties would be associated with higher death rates.

Methods: Heart disease death rates (HDDR) for 2008-2010 by Georgia county were compared to air temperature, also by county for the same years. Three race categories for HDDR were studied: black, white, and all races. Since there is evidence that living at higher land elevations provides a protective effect against heart disease, land elevation by county was included as a second predictor.

Results: Correlation analyses revealed low strength, statistically significant correlations …

Variations In Public Health Governance, Jeff Jones, Ankit Bangar, Patrick Chang, Yelena Tarasenko

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Studies of public health departments have found mixed results regarding the relevance of governance through local boards of health (LBOHs). Some studies find that LBOHs can be an important component in higher performance by local health departments. Other analyses, however, find no advantage for local health departments having or not having a LBOH. The hypothesis was that a typology of LBOHs nationwide can define different types of LBOHs based on their powers and responsibilities.

Methods: Using national profile sample data from the National Association of Local Boards of Health, LBOHs were categorized using 34 variables based on four domains …

Spiritual Health: The Often-Overlooked Dimension Of Health, Clarence E. Riley, Peter Imoyera, Oreta Samples, Gregory Green

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Spiritual health, one of the six dimensions of health (physical, social, intellectual, emotional, environmental, and spiritual), is often overlooked and has become less prominent in the literature and in public forums. This once-touted dimension of health is now seldom considered.

Methods: A review revealed that literature on spiritual health is sparse and, when found, is dated.

Results: The existing literature indicates that spiritual health relates to various aspects of well-being, including medical/physical health, mental/psychological health, and educational/intellectual health. It is likely that the decline of consideration of spiritual health is due to the decrease in public discussion of spiritual …

Patient-Centered Outcomes For Gostrong: A Self-Management Diabetes Program In Savannah, Ga, Frances M. Yang, Lizann Roberts, Bionca Davis, Angela Christianson

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: To advance the goal of health improvement for diverse populations with diabetes, a patient-centered approach is foundational.

Methods: Innovative methods were used to initiate and advance an approach to diabetes engagement and self-management. We began with a strategy to understand how patients with diabetes view and interact with the disease via the medical community and moved to program development through patient-centered design and to the development of strategic partnerships and continuous learning from patients, stakeholders, and academic research partners.

Results: The mean age of the participants in the GoStrong™ program (n=106) was 51 ±9.2 (SD) years. There were significant …

The Role Of Perception In Developing Healthy Lifestyles And Community Engagement, Anne Marie Coleman, Anne Hicks-Coolick, Agnes F. Brown

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department and the Cobb2020 partnership, sponsored by the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnering program, facilitated six focus groups in Cobb County to ascertain residents’ perceptions of healthy behaviors. The purpose of the research was to assist in the development of programs to increase healthy behaviors.

Methods: Purposive sampling was used to choose fifty-eight participants, who were divided into six groups in different geographic locations. The focus group questions concerned healthy living, health communications, and community health. Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to generate themes and categories across and within groups. …

Tapping The “Town And Gown” Potential For Correctional Health Research Collaborations, Madison L. Gates, Michelle Staples-Horne, Nancy C. Webb, Ronald L. Braithwaite, Beverly Hastings

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Collaborations between juvenile justice systems (town) and academia (gown) promise to significantly enhance what we understand about high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) found among detained populations, particularly African American young women. However, research related to the sexual health of adolescent detainees has not occurred in proportion to the magnitude of issues found in the population. While there are many challenges to conducting research with this population, there are also lessons learned and best practices from other studies that may provide guidance.

Methods: In 2015, we implemented a pilot project with young women in a detention center to …

Advocating For Pregnant Women In Prison: Georgia Can Do Better, Nancy Webb, Madison Gates

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Women are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. prison populace and approximately 1 in 25 were pregnant when they were incarcerated. However, women, including pregnant women, are receiving unacceptable health care in correctional systems. Further, many correctional systems lack policies to protect the best interest of incarcerated women, mothers and their children.

Methods: We reviewed the literature on pregnant women in prison and found that corrections has been slow in making changes and adapting facilities for women, especially related to pregnancy, parenting skills and nurseries. It has been suggested the parent-infant attachment and the involvement incarcerated parents have …

Increased Perception Of Mosquito Problems During A Stormwater Restoration Project, Rosmarie Kelly

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

In 2008, a plan for improvement of the McDaniel Branch Watershed was prepared for the city of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management. This included the construction of ponds in a kudzu-covered area at Bowen Circle. There is a perception that wetlands create mosquito problems. In point of fact, most of the vector and nuisance species in Atlanta are either container breeders or floodwater species, and do not breed in ponds. Because there is an average of 5 cases of West Nile virus (WNV) reported in Fulton County per year, most of these near Combined Sewer Overflow streams, county residents are …

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Acceptability and Feasibility of Physical Activity Assessment Methods

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Acceptability and Feasibility of Physical Activity Assessment Methods

Health Policy & Management News, Georgia Southern University

Health Policy & Community Health: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Acceptability and Feasibility of Physical Activity Assessment Methods

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Public Health Workfoce

Health Policy & Management News, Georgia Southern University

Health Policy & Community Health: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Public Health Workforce

Environmental Health News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Key Determinants of the Fungal and Bacterial Microbiomes in Homes

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Key Determinants of the Fungal and Bacterial Microbiomes in Homes
• SOWEGA-AHEC Contract
• Evaluation of Diverse Community Asthma Interventions
• Practical Considerations Regarding CBPR for Addressing Cancer Health Disparities
• Glyphosate-Rich Air Samples

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Evaluation of Diverse Community Asthma Interventions

Health Policy & Management News, Georgia Southern University

Health Policy & Community Health: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• SOWEGA-AHEC Contract

The Impact Of Emotional Intelligence On Conditions Of Trust Among Leaders At The Kentucky Department For Public Health, Jennifer Redmond Knight, Heather M. Bush, William A. Mase, Martha Cornwell Riddell, Meng Liu, James W. Holsinger

Health Policy & Management: Faculty Publications (2006-2018)

There has been limited leadership research on emotional intelligence and trust in governmental public health settings. The purpose of this study was to identify and seek to understand the relationship between trust and elements of emotional intelligence, including stress management, at the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). The KDPH serves as Kentucky’s state governmental health department. KDPH is led by a Commissioner and composed of seven primary divisions and 25 branches within those divisions. The study was a non-randomized cross-sectional study utilizing electronic surveys that evaluated conditions of trust among staff members and emotional intelligence among supervisors. Pearson correlation …

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Converting Big Data into Public Health
• Evaluation of Diverse Community Asthma Interventions

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Impact of Emotional Intelligence
• Converting Big Data into Public Health
• Practical Considerations Regarding CBPR For addressing Cancer Health Disparities
• Evaluation of Diverse Community Asthma interventions