Public Health Commons^™

Community-Based Approaches To Reduce Chronic Disease Disparities In Georgia, Latrice Rollins, Tabia Henry Akintobi, April Hermstad, Dexter Cooper, Lisa Goodin, Jennifer Beane, Sedessie Spivey, Amy Riedesel, Olayiwola Taylor, Rodney Lyn

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Among underserved and racial/ethnic minority populations in Georgia, there are profound health disparities and a burden of chronic diseases. Such diseases, which are preventable, are influenced by risk factors, including poor nutrition, physical inactivity, lack of quality health care, and tobacco use and exposure. Awardees of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) and Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) are implementing community-based initiatives using evidence-based, policy, systems, and environmental approaches to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities and the chronic disease burden in underserved urban and rural Georgia communities.

Methods: Within the context of a social …

Assessing A Comprehensive Approach To Prevent Sexual Violence On Campus: Implications For Program Improvement, Chinwe Ejikeme, Kia Powell-Threets, Mosi Bayo, Kia L. Toddle, Jean O'Connor

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: On college campuses, sexual violence (or sexual assault) is at epidemic proportions. As many as one in four college women experience sexual assaults, most of which are not reported, likely due to the adverse reactions stemming from social norms and attitudes about rape. To prevent sexual violence on college campuses, the multi-level factors influencing it necessitate implementation of a holistic approach channeled at all levels. The present multi-method study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a peer educator (PE)-facilitated program implemented as part of a comprehensive sexual assault prevention program in three small Georgia colleges.

Methods: Student participants (N=128) …

Efficacy Of Chronic Disease Self-Management Among Low-Income Black Males With Behavioral Health Disorders: Pilot Study, Carol Collard, Vanessa Robinson-Dooley, Frances Patrick, Kayla Farabaugh

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study examined the effectiveness of Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-management Program (CDSMP) among men living with co-morbidities of chronic physical health disease and behavioral health disorders.

Methods: The study was conducted at a community-based, non-profit organization in partnership with a large suburban university. Two pilot studies were completed with the population of interest. Low-income adult males with behavioral health disorders were recruited to participate in the program provided by a local behavioral health agency. Facilitators trained in the CDSMP program administered it at the agency site, and participants attended weekly meetings. Descriptive data collected included health history, demographic …

Evaluation Of Trends In Diabetes Care In A Patient-Centered Medical Home, Ashley N. Saucier, Danielle Mcmechan, Julie Dahl-Smith, Carla Duffie, Denise M. Hodo, Holly E. Andrews, Joseph Hobbs

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a model used in primary care to achieve effective management of chronic diseases. The Augusta University Health Family Medicine Center (AUFMC), a PCMH recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, has implemented strategies to manage its patient population with diabetes. The present study evaluated the effects of these interventions through trend analysis of selected diabetic core measures by use of a qualified clinical data registry, the Practice Partner Research Network.

Methods: For this retrospective study, de-identified data were abstracted for adult patients with diabetes for the period of 2013-2015. Process and outcome …

Teach Kitchen: A Chronological Review Of Accomplishments, Jung Hee Chae, Benjamin E. Ansa, Selina A. Smith

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The Eating and Cooking Healthy (TEACH) Kitchen was founded at the Medical College of Georgia in 2015 as a nutrition-based intervention to combat the high prevalence of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases in the area of Augusta, Georgia. Despite the importance of diet in the management of chronic diseases, inadequate nutrition education among patients and healthcare providers presents a barrier. The purpose of TEACH Kitchen is to address this gap.

Methods: TEACH Kitchen is as a student-led initiative that promotes healthy cooking among medical students and patients with chronic diseases. Healthy nutrition and cooking classes are held during the …

Hspm 7133a - Public Health Policy & Ethics, William A. 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 3231 - Epidemiology And Biostatistics, Stuart H. Tedders

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

This course introduces the student to the principles and practice of epidemiology and biostatistics. Students will be exposed to the historical development of epidemiology, concepts of causality, definitions of health and disease, and sources of community health data. Current principles and practices in the cause, prevention and control of diseases in various community settings will be emphasized.

Pubh 7132, Haresh Rochani

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

This course explores the scientific basis of 21st century disease processes including a survey of the origins, natural history, factors influencing individual and community risk. Clinical symptoms of diseases impacting humans, both acute and chronic, as well as epidemiologic trends will be also be discussed. Students will obtain an understanding of scientific mechanisms associated with the disease processes with particular focus on using this information in health-related professions and public health decision-making. As such, emphasis will be placed on the understanding and application of proposing community-based solutions designed to break the cycle of disease..

Bios 6541 - Biostatistics, Haresh Rochani

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

This 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.

Bios 6331 - Regression Analysis In Biostatistics, Jingjing Yin

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

This course introduces the methods for analyzing biomedical and health related data using linear regression models. The course will introduce the student to matrix algebra as used in linear models. The course will involve model selection, diagnosis and remedial techniques to correct for assumption violations. The students will learn how to apply SAS procedures PROC REG, PROC CORR, and PROC GLM and interpret the results of analysis. Emphasis will also be placed on the development of critical thinking skills.

Pubh 7890 Individual Study: Simulation And Analysis In R, Jingjing Yin

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

This course introduces R and its applications in biomedical and social media data analysis as well as in statistical simulation. The students will learn how to apply R as a statistical analysis tool using existing R packages and interpret the results of analysis. Students will learn to use R for social media data analysis in public health, primarily Twitter data. In addition to apply existing R packages and functions, students will learn how to perform statistical simulation for methodological research, primarily simulation in medical diagnostics. Emphasis will also be placed on the development of critical thinking skills.

Bios 9135 - Advanced Survival Analysis, Lili Yu

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

This course will be placed on the theory on survival data. Counting processes and martingale method will be introduced. Emphasis will be place on the applications of the theory on the methodologies for survival data, such as Kaplan-Meier estimate, log-rank test, Cox model, etc. The students will learn how to use R language to setup survival dataset and perform analysis.

Epid 7135a - Epidemiology Of Infectious Disease, Isaac Chun-Hai Fung

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

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the principles and practices of infectious diseases epidemiology with focus on how the presence and control of communicable diseases affects public health locally, nationally and internationally. Topics to be covered include: 1) general principles of infectious diseases epidemiology, including outbreak investigation, surveillance, analysis of infectious diseases data, and laboratory testing of specimens; 2) major modes of infectious disease transmission, including airborne, food and water, zoonotic, insect vector, blood, and sexual transmission; 3) different control strategies for infectious diseases, including infection control, antimicrobial management, immunization, risk factor modification, and screening; …

Envh 7233 - Environmental Exposure And Impact Assessment, Atin Adhikari

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

Introduces students to appropriate design, implementation, and analysis of primary environmental exposures and how they are influenced by public health ethics, equity and disparities. Specific topics covered include designing risk profiles; evaluating dose-response relationships; assessing the contribution of public health ethics, equity and disparities to environmental exposures; and analyzing field exposures of toxins.

Pubh 6532a - Environmental Health, Atin Adhikari

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

This course is designed for graduate students and provides students with an introduction and overview of the key areas of environmental health. Students will gain an understanding of the interaction of individuals and communities with the environment. Impact of environmental agents on human and ecosystem health will be analyzed. This course will also introduce current topics in global environmental health and challenges faced under the changing climate and socio-economic needs and examine recent case studies and their outcomes related to environmental policy and management.

Hspm 7235a - Healthcare Law And Ethics, 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 6534 - Health Policy And Management, Julie Reagan

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 …

Bios 7534 - Data Management For Biostatistics, Robert Vogel

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 output using the TABULATE and REPORT procedures, debugging a SAS program that includes the TABULATE, REPORT and SQL procedures, using characteristic functions in SAS, using a random number generator, probability distributions, arrays, and date and time functions. Students will also write a simple and complex query using the SQL procedure; create, …

Epid 7134 - Epidemiologic Methods Ii, Kelly L. Sullivan

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 9130a - Research Methods In Community And Behavioral Health, Joseph Telfair

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

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.

Hspm 7232 - Public Health Finance, Charles Owens

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

This course examines the structure and functioning of the finance components of the public health system. Public health organizations will be discussed within the context of the financial environment that includes financial management, managerial accounting, revenue cycle management, and funding and financial management of grants/contracts. The course also examines key financial tools and analyses for financially related decision making within the principles of strategic management applied to public health organizations amid a dynamic changing environment.

Bios 9130 - Research Seminar In Biostatistics, Hani W. Samawi

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

This course is designed to provide the student with the current best practices in biostatistical consulting. Topics include: Identifying and constructing appropriate questions to ask clients regarding their consultation request, an overview of appropriate statistical methods and SAS software procedures to use for specific study designs and statistical analysis of collected data, directing a consultation appointment without faculty lead, conducting exploratory data analyses, conducting effective analyses based on appropriate statistical methods, conducting needed simulation (including Monte Carlo methods and Bootstrap methods) and providing oral and written communication of statistical findings. 3 credit hours.

Bios 9132a - Advanced Clinical Trial Methodology, Karl E. Peace

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

Students are introduced to regulatory, scientific, statistical and practical aspects of methods inherent in design, monitoring and analyzing clinical trials. Clinical trials in many areas of drug development are presented, discussed and critiqued.

Epid 7134 – Epidemiologic Methods Ii, Kelly L. Sullivan

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.

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 …

Envh 7234 - Environmental Toxicology, Evans Afriyie-Gyawu

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

This course introduces students to concepts associated with the lethal and sub-lethal effects of environmental and occupational stressors on humans and other living organisms.

Pubh 3136a - 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 8316 - Theoretical Perspectives Of The Social And Behavioral Sciences In Public Health, Stacy W. Smallwood

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

This course will explore social and behavioral science theories, models, and approaches that inform public health research and practice, as well as their philosophical foundations. With emphasis on an ecological perspective, students will apply relevant theories to understanding community health issues and to developing interventions. The course also examines social and behavioral determinants of health equity across the ecological spectrum. In this course, students will gain an enhanced understanding of the contributions of the social and behavioral sciences to public health.

Pubh 4133 - Health Promotion Program Planning Ii, Ashley D. Walker

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 community health education program. Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of “C” in HLTH 4132.