Public Health Commons^™

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern Examines the Overlap Measures as Alternative to Youden Index
• Mitchell Gail Recevies the Karl Peace Award from ASA

2484: Establishment Of The Tennessee-Sickle Cell Disease Network As A Mechanism For Engaging A Rare Disease Population In Patient Centered Outcomes Research, Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, Velma Mcbride Murry, Michael R. Debaun

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Despite the high prevalence of individuals diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Tennessee, comprehensive care and education for patients with SCD is not as widely available as healthcare services for individuals managing other chronic illnesses. We aimed to engage SCD stakeholders in patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) as a mechanism for advancing care and translational research for this rare disease population. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Through a partnership with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee, we implemented Community Health Ambassadors to systematically engage patient partners with SCD and their caregivers, aged 18–50 from rural and urban communities throughout Tennessee, in …

Lyme Disease And Youtube™: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Video Contents, Corey H. Basch, Lindsay A. Mullican, Kwanza D. Boone, Jingjing Yin, Alyssa Berdnik, Marina E. Eremeeva, Isaac Chun-Hai Fung

Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objectives: Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease. People seek health information on Lyme disease from YouTubeTM videos. In this study, we investigated if the contents of Lyme disease-related YouTubeTM videos varied by their sources.

Methods: Most viewed English YouTubeTM videos (n = 100) were identified and manually coded for contents and sources.

Results: Within the sample, 40 videos were consumer-generated, 31 were internet-based news, 16 were professional, and 13 were TV news. Compared with consumer-generated videos, TV news videos were more likely to mention celebrities (odds ratio [OR], 10.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13–52.58), prevention of Lyme disease …

Environmental Health News, Georgia Southern University

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

• Georgia Southern Examines Validity of Mold Sampling Method

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern Examines Validity of Mold Sampling Method

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern Examines Kernel Density Estimation

Creating A Taxonomy Of Local Boards Of Health Based On Local Health Departments’ Perspectives, Gulzar H. Shah, Sergey Sotnikov, Carolyn J. Leep, Jiali Ye, Timothy W. Van-Wave

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Presentations (1993-2023)

Objectives: To develop an LBoH classification scheme and empirical definitions to provide a coherent framework for describing variation in the LBoHs.

Data and Methods: This study is based on data from the 2015 Local Board of Health Survey, conducted among a nationally representative sample of LHD administrators, with 394 responses. The classification development consisted of the following steps: (a) theoretically guided initial domain development, (b) mapping of the survey variables to the proposed domains, (c) data reduction using principal component analysis and group consensus, and (d) scale development and testing for internal consistency.

Results: The final classification scheme included 60 …

Strategies For Improving Profitability Of Rural Hospitals: Are Profitable Hospitals Doing Something Different?, Bettye Apenteng, Angela Peden, Raymona Lawrence, Emmanuel Akowuah, Samuel Opoku, James H. Stephens, Bill Mase

Center for Public Health Practice & Research

THE TOP FIVE STRATEGIES adopted by rural hospitals for the purposes of improving financial performance included improving patient satisfaction and care experience, adding new service lines or expanding existing service lines, community outreach, employee engagement, and physician engagement. Profitable hospitals were more likely than other hospitals to have implemented cost-cutting and internal and external stakeholder engagement strategies.

Background

Nationwide, hospitals, as well as policy makers, are exploring strategies for improving the financial viability of rural hospitals. These efforts are in response to the critical need for sustainable hospital infrastructure in rural America and the negative impact the lack thereof can …

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern Faculty Named APHA Social Worker of the Year

Community Health News, Georgia Southern University

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

• Georgia Southern Faculty Named APHA Social Worker of the Year

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

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

• Georgia Southern Assesses Individuals’ Perceptions of their Income Sufficiency

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern Assesses Individuals Perceptions of the Income Sufficiency

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern Faculty Assess Disease Intervention Specialist Education for the Future

Community Health News, Georgia Southern University

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

• Georgia Southern Faculty Assess Disease Intervention Specialist Education for the Future

Health Policy & Management News, Georgia Southern University

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

• Georgia Southern Faculty Assess Disease Intervention Specialist Education for the Future

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Henderson Library presents 'A Chinese Art Preview'

Recruitment, Retention, And Succession Planning For District Health Directors, Lee Rudd

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Since the District Health Director (DHD) leads the district health organization, plans must be put in place to ensure that we retain current directors and anticipate the future when the DHD retires from the position.

Methods: Best practices in the areas of recruiting, retention, and succession planning are used to present resolutions to the problems.

Results: By following the steps identified in the best practices, there is a reasonable chance that the district will be prepared for any change in leadership.

Conclusions: Using the best practices identified by human resources professionals combined with the unique characteristics of public health …

Reducing Sexual Risk Behaviors And Intentions Among Rural African American Youth, Natasha De Veauuse Brown

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In spite of dramatic declines in teen pregnancy and childbearing in every state and amongst all racial groups, progress to-date remains unbalanced and disparities persist. Blacks, Hispanics, and youth residing in southern states or rural areas continue to experience the highest teen pregnancy rates in the nation. In an effort to enhance protective factors that help youth avoid behaviors placing them at risk for pregnancy, between September 2011 and May 2013, a public school district in rural southeast U.S. implemented an evidence-based youth development program designed to address these issues.

Methods: A single-group, repeated measures design was employed to …

Coliphage As An Indicator Of The Quality Of Beach Water To Protect The Health Of Swimmers In Coastal Georgia, Javier Gallard-Gongora, Kathryn Munck, Jeff Jones, Asli Aslan

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Gastrointestinal disease affects millions of people in the United States and places a substantial economic burden upon healthcare systems. Recreational waters polluted with fecal material are a main source for transmission of gastrointestinal disease. Georgia beaches are monitored for the presence of fecal indicator bacteria, but these bacteria are not well associated with enteric viruses. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has recently proposed coliphage (a virus of Escherichia coli) as an alternative indicator of fecal contamination in recreational waters. The present study compares fecal indicator bacteria and coliphage concentrations at two Georgia beaches with adjacent creeks …

Randomness And Inference In Medical And Public Health Research, Matt Hayat, Tom Knapp

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The purpose of this study was to provide a basis for describing the types of randomness used and statistical inferences reported in the medical and public health research literature.

Methods: A study was conducted to quantify the types of research designs and analyses used and reported in medical and public health research studies. A stratified random sample of 198 articles from three top-tier medical and public health journals was reviewed, and the presence or absence of random assignment, random sampling, p-values, and confidence intervals, as well as type of research design, were quantified.

Results: Random sampling was used in …

Utilization Of The "Connecting The Dots" Worksheet To Engage Undergraduate Students In Health Promotion Program Planning, Raymona H. Lawrence, Ashley D. Walker

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Developing a health promotion program plan requires attention to the links between objectives, activities, and overall program goals. Instructors developed the “Connecting the Dots” worksheet to help students establish these linkages.

Methods: The “Connecting the Dots” worksheet included six questions pertinent to the students’ health promotion program plans. The worksheet was given to the students in a flipped classroom setting. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the tool was based upon group presentations at the end of the semester.

Results: Students developed more viable program plans that included stronger links between objectives and corresponding program activities.

Conclusions: The “Connecting the …

A Multi-County Health District's Journey To Accreditation: The Challenges And Benefits, Tara Echols

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In September 2011, the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale Health Departments began to discuss accreditation. We regarded accreditation as a way to highlight our strengths and identify areas for quality and performance improvement as well as an opportunity to improve our capacity for greater accountability, increased efficiency and improved process flow. We further viewed it as a means to successfully carry out our mission, and effectively deliver the core functions and ten essential public health services.

Methods: With financial backing from Healthcare Georgia Foundation and technical assistance from Georgia Southern University, the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments began …

After Initial Accreditation - The Phab Annual Report, Gurleen Roberts, Emily Frantz, Jack Kennedy

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) was the first health district in Georgia to achieve accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) (accredited on May 12, 2015). Since then, two additional health districts, DeKalb (3-5) and Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments (3-4), have achieved accreditation. Efforts are underway among health districts statewide to become accredited, yet, little is known about life after accreditation. This presentation will highlight CDPH’s approach to submitting the PHAB Annual Report, which is required of health departments in order to maintain their accreditation status.

Methods: CDPH will provide an overview of the …

A Unified Integrated Public Health Approach: Zika Response, Betsy T. Kagey, Jennifer Burkholder

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Zika virus planning in Georgia has involved many units within the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH). Their roles and responsibilities include identifying potential vectors, alerting and educating the public on how to ‘tip n toss’, preparing and testing for Zika virus infection at the Georgia Public Health Laboratory (GPHL), monitoring travelers, including pregnant women, infected with Zika virus, direct messaging for pregnant women, mothers of newborns and women who are considering pregnancy, and education on sexual transmission for men and women.

Methods: With no locally transmitted case of Zika virus infection within Georgia, the focus has been on …

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer In Georgia: Burden, Disparities, And Connections To Georgia's Breast Cancer Genomics Project, Alissa K. Berzen, Rana Bayakly

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is typically aggressive and unresponsive to traditional cancer treatment, and disproportionately affects young and Black women. Approximately 60%-80% of breast cancers in women with the breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutation are TNBC, and children of a parent with a BRCA mutation have a 50% chance of inheriting it. Current guidelines recommend women diagnosed with TNBC receive genetic testing and counseling. Georgia’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) routinely screens clients for increased risk of genetic mutation via an online screening tool.

Methods: Using data from the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry (GCCR) for 2010-2013, we …

Tailoring A Hybrid Program For Reducing Health And Education Disparities In Georgia Communities: Outcomes Of Listening Sessions, Chinwe Ejikeme

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Minorities in Georgia experience increased rates of chronic disease and poor health and education outcomes. In the general population in 2013, about 35% of adolescents were either overweight or obese and approximately 13% of children 2-4 years old were obese, with minorities accounting for higher rates. In 2010, 23% of students from low-income families, comprising a higher proportion of minorities, scored at or above proficient level for reading at the end of third grade. Targeting children 0-5 years, Georgia Department of Public Health developed an integrated curriculum to train Early Childcare Educators (ECEs) to increase their knowledge and skills …

Coastal Septic Tank Inventory: Data Resources For Future Wastewater Management Planning, Jessica Alcorn

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than one in five homes are served by decentralized wastewater treatment systems—commonly known as septic tanks. In coastal areas where it is impossible to extend sewer service due to either financial or hydrogeological constraints, septic tanks are an integral part of wastewater treatment. When maintained adequately and installed under appropriate conditions, septic tanks remove excess nutrients and dangerous pathogens from wastewater. As coastal infrastructure is increasingly threatened by recurrent flooding, extreme weather events, and future sea level rise, coastal communities will need to assess the adequacy of their wastewater management systems …

Shelter Surveillance And Local Public Health, Amber Erickson

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: One of the core responsibilities of the Epidemiology Program at the Georgia Department of Public Health is to detect and respond to population health events through traditional and novel surveillance. One type of event that we have planned for over the years has been conducting disease surveillance during a mass sheltering event.

Methods: Mid-day on October 5, 2016, the North Central Health District (NCHD) Emergency Preparedness Program notified the District Health Emergency Alert and Response Team that we would be receiving evacuees from the coast of Georgia and Florida due to Hurricane Matthew and that our District Operations Center …

Cross-Training And Sustainability In Environmental Health-Based Mosquito Control Programs, Rosmarie Kelly

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In Georgia, only a few county environmental health programs still do mosquito surveillance and control. This is partly due to a lack of sustainability in these seasonal programs and a pressure to move personnel from mosquito control to programs that are mandated by the state. There is also a lack of training available for mosquito control workers.

Methods: Richmond County Mosquito Control (RCMC), a program within the Richmond County Environmental Health office, is one of the sustainable programs, and the RCMC program has dealt with these issues in some innovative ways. It is sustainable because it partners with other …

Development/Enhancement Of The Assessment (Monitoring And Evaluation) Knowledge And Skills Of Workers In Public Health And Related Settings, Joseph Telfair

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: A critical task of public health is the development and assessment of programs to address needs, concerns and issues of populations. The overall purpose of this workshop is to enhance the core public health workforce functional knowledge and skills (competencies) in the areas of program development and evaluation leading to improvements in population health and reducing health disparities.

Methods: The hour long workshop will serve as an introduction and review of methods of program monitoring and assessment (M & A). The training approach will be an oral presentation with PowerPoint slides and hands-on practice that will include review of …