Public Health Commons^™

Pubh 5520-01f/5520g-01f– Introduction To Public Health Online, Katie M. Mercer

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

This course is designed to give students a foundation in the core functions of the population-based public health (assessment, policy development and assurance). In addition, this course will examine the 10 essential services of public health within these core functions. Defining effective public health practice and providing knowledge about the technical, social, and political parameters related to public health research and practice are goals for this class. Students will gain an understanding of public health as a broad area of work that applies the benefits of current biomedical, environmental, social, and behavioral knowledge in ways that maximize the health status …

Pubh 5520/5520g – Introduction To Public Health, Katie M. Mercer

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

This course is designed to give students a foundation in the core functions of the population-based public health (assessment, policy development and assurance). In addition, this course will examine the 10 essential services of public health within these core functions. Defining effective public health practice and providing knowledge about the technical, social, and political parameters related to public health research and practice are goals for this class. Students will gain an understanding of public health as a broad area of work that applies the benefits of current biomedical, environmental, social, and behavioral knowledge in ways that maximize the health status …

Implementing Mindfulness Practices With Parents Of Young Children In A Low-Socioeconomic Status Neighborhood, Andrew T. Roach, Josephine Mhende, Brian A. Barger, Douglas A. Roberts

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether instruction in mindfulness practices would results in improved self-reported mindfulness and reduced depression, anxiety, and family stress in parents of young children living in a low socioeconomic status (SES) neighborhood.

Methods: The study utilized a pretest-posttest group design to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mindfulness Ambassador Council-Interactive curriculum with attendees in a parent support program. Participants (n=15) were recruited from families with young children who received support from a community-based organization in one low-SES neighborhood in Atlanta. Mental health assessments, measures of family stress and parenting competency, and a demographic …

Ethical Approaches To Mandating Influenza Vaccinations For Local Health Department Workforce In Georgia, Melicent R. Miller, Maureen K. Akubu-Odero, Lashauna L. Hunt, Stephanie L. Irvin, Catherine T. Palmer, William A. Mase

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The seasonal influenza illness occurs every year in the United States during the cooler months from October to April, sometimes lasting longer. Although certain populations are more susceptible to this condition, data have shown that otherwise healthy individuals have experienced alarming rates of morbidity and mortality associated with these infections. Despite the CDC’s recommendation for influenza vaccination for all HCWs, compliance have been lagging among local health departments’ workforce. This practice arguably exposes a wide cross section of the U.S. population to the flu, while being served in these facilities. The utilitarian approach provides a framework to examine the …

Mental Health And Gun Violence: A Link Held By Misperception, Neil Morte, Kelly L. Sullivan

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Health Inspectors On Local Boards Of Health: The Impact On Communities’ Environmental Health Governance, Jeff Jones, Asli Aslan, Ginger Fenton

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study examines whether having a required health inspector on a local board of health (LBOH) improves the board’s information on environmental health.

Methods: Analysis uses the national random sample of 351 U.S. LBOHs in the 2011 Profiles collected by the National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) and examines whether having a required health inspector on a LBOH increases the likelihood it receives information on 10 environmental health topics.

Results: LBOHs overall received little information on environmental health, and 48% reported wanting no or little additional information. Having a required health inspector on a LBOH did not …

Pubh 3330: Modifying Health Behaviors, Kristina Harbaugh

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

This course is intended to introduce students to the learning and behavioral science theories that provide a framework for the practice of health education and promotion. Application of the theories to planning and implementing health promotion and education programs for individuals, groups, families, and communities will be emphasized. This course also introduces the students to various approaches to describing, explaining, and predicting health behaviors that have or are perceived to have significant effects on human health.

Pubh 6534: Health Policy And Management, Bettye A. Apenteng

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

The course provides a comprehensive introduction and overview to public health management and administration. The course context is based on managerial decision making and the practical knowledge, tools, processes, and strategies required by organizational management. This course overviews the basics of administration, including public health law, human resources management, budgeting and financing, health information management, performance measurement and improvement, ethics, leadership, communication, media relations, and legislative relations in public health; introduced as processes are strategic planning, program development, and evaluation, budget preparation, and constituency building for collaboration. Emerging areas of public health policy and management are also discussed as contexts …

Pubh 4330- Promotional Strategies For Health Programs, James Thomas

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

This course explores the application of social marketing and communication theory to the development of strategies to enhance health education and promotion programs.

Pubh 4330- Promotional Strategies For Health Programs, Kristina Harbaugh

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

This course explores the application of social marketing and communication theory to the development of strategies to enhance health education and promotion programs.

Pubh 5520-01f/5520g-01f– Introduction To Public Health Online, Katie M. Mercer

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

This course is designed to give students a foundation in the core functions of the population-based public health (assessment, policy development and assurance). In addition, this course will examine the 10 essential services of public health within these core functions. Defining effective public health practice and providing knowledge about the technical, social, and political parameters related to public health research and practice are goals for this class. Students will gain an understanding of public health as a broad area of work that applies the benefits of current biomedical, environmental, social, and behavioral knowledge in ways that maximize the health status …

Pubh 4133: Health Promotion Program Planning Ii, Kristina Harbaugh

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

Introduces students to additional theory and application of community-based program planning and evaluation. The second of a two-course sequence, the focus will be on program implementation, evaluation, and reporting of the health promotion plan developed during the prior semester. Students will gain first-hand experience in conducting an evaluation of a community health education program. Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of “C” in HLTH 4132.

Pubh 4134 A & B – Research Methods And Evaluation (Crn A=82829, B = 83646), Helen W. Bland

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

This course introduces the student to research methods used in health education and promotion. In addition, this course quizzes the rationale and procedure to evaluate health education/promotion programs. The course focuses on several topics including: research design, methods of program evaluation, planning research and evaluation, the politics and ethics of evaluation, measurement, sampling logistics, and data analysis, of a student project. 3 credits (3-0-3).

Pubh 4132 – Health Promotion Program Planning I, Nandi A. Marshall

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

This course introduces students to the theory and application of community-based program planning and evaluation. The first of a two-course sequence, the focus will be on the development of a health promotions program plan designed to apply course content to a real-life health issue. Concepts in community assessment, organization, and mobilization for the purpose of addressing identified public health concerns will serve as the foundation for the planning process.

Pubh 3232b: Foundations Of Health Education And Promotion Practice, Kristie Cason Waterfield

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

This course examines current issues and topics related to the practice of health promotion and education including philosophical foundations of health promotion and education, ethical issues in health education and promotion, the Certified Health Education Specialist Competencies, organizations and associations in public health education and employment potential. Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of "C" in PUBH 2131.

Hspm 7133 Section A: Public Health Policy & Ethics, Bill Mase

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

The course prepares learners to understand complex health and human service-related systems in order to inform effective practice-based ethical decision-making. The primary focus of the course relates to public health policy and practice. Major content areas include health policy institutions, the health policy process, ethical political considerations, social determinants of health, workforce, health care financing, medical technology, health care organizations, the public health system, primary care systems, and other health-related issues impacting the health of the public. Strategies of implementing change through policy making and the legislative process are covered.

Pubh 9231 – Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Jian Zhang

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

This course is designed to introduce the student to the ever-expanding area of chronic disease epidemiology. Students will be introduced to the current status of chronic disease and control programs, methods used in chronic disease surveillance, intervention methods, and modifiable risk factors. Some of the major chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes and arthritis will be discussed in detail. Pathophysiology and clinical features of common chronic conditions will also be presented.

Epid 7233– Public Health Surveillance Methods, Jian Zhang

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

This course will provide students with a strong foundation in public health surveillance of both health conditions and risk factors. The course will teach the theory and practice of surveillance supported by many examples of surveillance systems from the developed and developing world. The class will build on and reinforce basic epidemiologic concepts. Students will be given the opportunity to design and evaluate a surveillance system.

Epid 7134 – Research Methods Ii, Logan Cowan

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

This course provides instruction and hands-on experience in the analysis and interpretation of data from epidemiologic studies. Topics to be covered include epidemiology research questions that can be addressed by cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies; the rationale underlying the major techniques used to analyze data from these studies; the conditions under which these methods are appropriate and their relative advantages and disadvantages. Attention will be given to how interactions, confounders and nonlinear relationships among variables can be addressed along with interpretation of statistical software output from epidemiologic studies employing these designs and analytical methods.

Epid 8130 – Field Methods In Epidemiology, Kelly L. Sullivan

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

This course addresses practical aspects of management and implementation of research studies and will focus on the conduct of research consistent with the scientific method. Topics include planning study activities, questionnaire design and implementation, and operations research.

Chbe 9130-A: Research Methods In Community And Behavioral Health, Joseph Telfair

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

General Course Description: This course introduces students to research methods in health science. Development and presentation of practicum and research proposals will be the focus of the course. Additional emphasis will be placed on writing skills that will contribute to research projects and grant applications.

Bios 7544 – Data Management For Biostatistics, Jingjing Yin

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

This course emphasizes data management and software applications using the SAS (Statistical Analysis System) software package. It will introduce the student to SAS codes for: inputting and outputting data, creating temporary and permanent data sets, creating formatted and labeled SAS data sets, merging and connecting SAS data sets, creating SAS output, debugging a SAS program, using character functions in SAS, using a random number generator, probability distributions, arrays, and date and time functions, and create a SAS program which includes one or more macros. This course will cover basic relational database design and some introductory descriptive and inferential statistical procedures …

Bios/Pubh 6541: Biostatistics, Xinyan Zhang

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

This 4 credit course examines statistics in public health and related sciences, including sampling, probability, basic discrete and continuous distributions, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, categorical data analysis, regression, and correlation. Emphasis will be on the development of critical thinking skills and health data analysis applications with computer software.

Pubh 3136 A – Principles Of Environmental Health, Evans Afriyie-Gyawu

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

This course examines health issues, scientific understanding of causes, and possible future approaches to control the major environmental health problems in industrialized and developing countries. Topics include how the body reacts to environmental pollutants; physical, chemical, and biological agents of environmental contamination; vectors for dissemination (air, water, soil); solid and hazardous waste; susceptible populations; biomarkers and risk analysis; the scientific basis for policy decisions; and emerging global environmental health problems.

Pubh 2131c: Introduction To Community And Public Health, Kristie Cason Waterfield

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

Introduces the student to the core functions of public health with an emphasis on community health programs and current trends of population health. Exposes the student to the role of community health practice in maximizing the health status of all populations. Course will include an overview of the organizational structure of federal, state, and local health-related agencies and examine the interrelationship of political, social, cultural and economic dimensions of community based population health activities.

Pubh 4231- Health Aspects Of Aging, Jamie S. Cromley

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

This course is intended to familiarize students with promotion of health in an aging population, the notion that aging is a natural part of the lifecycle, community, state and federal health programs and services for the aged. Students will become acquainted with the process of and problems associated with aging in order to effectively manage this important public health issue. Specific health concerns of the elderly including the increase in life expectancy, current life extending research and technology and successful aging will also be examined. Knowledge and understanding of biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of aging as related to health …

Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Among People With Cardiovascular Diseases In Southeast Georgia, Chimuanya Okoli, Stacy Carswell, Sewuese Akuse, Kelly Sullivan

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Proper treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease is essential and can be challenged by non-disclosed use of complementary or alternative treatments. The objective of this study was to assess which demographics were associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and if education affects the use of CAM.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a stratified random sample of residents of Southeastern Georgia. Sampling was stratified by urban/rural residence in order to reach sufficient rural residents. Participants that indicated they had been diagnosed with hypertension or …

Examining The Characteristics Of Physicians That Leave Georgia After Medical School Training, Emmanuel Akowuah, Imaobong Ekpo, Samuel Opoku, Bettye Apenteng

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: We sought to examine the characteristics of physicians who leave Georgia after graduating from a Georgia medical school.

Methods: Using the 2017 National Physician Compare data merged with the 2015-2016 Area Resource File, we compared the individual and practice location characteristics of physicians who went to medical school in Georgia and practice in the state to those who left.

Results: Less than half of physicians who had their medical school training in Georgia still practice here; those who leave are typically specialists practicing in older, affluent and less racially diverse counties.

Conclusions: Strategies to retain physicians in Georgia after …

How Breastfeeding Behavior Is Affected By The Breastfeeding Perspectives Of Fathers In Georgia (Usa), Les'shon Irby, Emily Graybill, Cassandra White

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Father support has recently been associated with increasing breastfeeding rates, but research is limited on how the American father’s perspectives of breastfeeding influence breastfeeding behavior. The aim of the study was to investigate the perspectives of fathers residing in Georgia on breastfeeding and to understand if it contributed to mothers’ decisions to breastfeed.

Methods: We conducted 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with parents of ever-breastfeed infants who were at least six months of age.

Results: Mothers often led the decision-making process to breastfeed based on her prepartum knowledge of breastfeeding. Many fathers had no prepartum opinion on breastfeeding, and their …

Mental Health Outcomes, Parenting Skills And Family Functioning Of Adult And Family Treatment Court Participants, Carolyn A. Malone, Jessica S. Rogers, Wendy P. Guastaferro, Daniel J. Whitaker

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Parental substance use places children at risk for poor social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. Many parents with substance use disorders (SUD) are treated through accountability drug courts including adult drug courts (ADC) through the criminal justice system and family drug treatment courts (FTC) through the child welfare system. Little is known about the children of parents who participate in treatment through adult drug courts, which could serve as an important treatment venue for improving child outcomes. Children treated through family treatment courts are often the center of treatment. This research compared outcomes of parents and children involved in adult …