Public Health Commons^™

Women's Compliance In Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment: The Role Of Children And Mental Health, Cathy Gertrude Cooke

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of children and mental illness in women's compliance in a treatment program for substance abuse. Information was retrieved from medical records of female clients ( N=221) who took part in a community-based day treatment program for substance abuse in a large city in southeastern Virginia during a 32-month period. It was anticipated that, as compared to women who resided with minor children, women who did not reside with minor children would have greater treatment success defined as: (1) more days in the treatment program; (2) higher percentage of negative …

A Gis Analysis Of The Environmental Variables Related To Rift Valley Fever Outbreaks, Jacqueline Florette Jackson

Health Services Research Dissertations

Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-borne disease that causes widespread febrile illness and mortality in domestic animals as well as humans (Gaff, 2007). Rift Valley fever virus was first isolated in 1931 (Daubney, 1931), and since then, outbreaks have occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, southern Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Madagascar, proving it to be a virus able to invade ecologically diverse regions (Gaff, 2007). The potential introduction of Rift Valley fever into the United States suggests the potential for human infection and major economic disruption. It is important to understand the role environmental variables have played in historical outbreaks …

Patient Centered Care Approach To Adherence With Cardiovascular Medications: Self-Determination Theory Integration, David S. Li

Health Services Research Dissertations

Problem statement. Behavioral intervention is used to improve adherence with medication in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the effect was not sustainable. Patient-centered care (PCC) as a consumer movement has gained acceptance, but it lacks a theoretical framework. Self-determination theory (SDT) may provide an alternative to improve patients' adherence to chronic cardiovascular medication, as well as a theoretical framework for PCC. Both approaches to CVD management have not been evaluated.

Methods. The study was a quasi-experimental pretest posttest comparison design with consecutive sampling of a hospitalized cardiac patient population. Sixty patients each for the usual care (UC) …

Climate Change And Sea Level Rise Initiative (Ccslri), Larry P. Atkinson

CCSLRI Brochures

Brochure of the Old Dominion University Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Initiative (CCSLRI)

Increasing The Use Of Booster Seats: A Community-Based Research Project, Michelle Gallina, Amanda Jones, Jane Kim, Habibullah Muhiddin, Natasha Singletary

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The aim of this project was to increase booster seat usage and knowledge of booster seat safety by implementing population-based interventions in the community. To aid in accomplishing the goal, the nursing students utilized the performance of an educational puppet show, educational handouts, and aggregate height and age screening as the interventions. Pre and post tests data were obtained. As a result, there was an increase of the aggregates‟ desire to be in a booster seat. Nurses who take more action in a leadership role by implementing interventions based on the educational needs of the community increased booster seat awareness. …

Childhood Home Injuries: A Nursing Student Approach To Preventing Childhood Home Injuries, Jinging Sparrow, Katherine Carman, Katelyn Kerr, Renee Farmer

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children under 14 years of age. Of the unintentional injuries, a significant portion occurs within the home setting. Creating a safe home environment for children has become a focus in current efforts for health promotion and injury prevention. Our objective is to enhance caregivers’ knowledge of home safety thus decreasing the incidence of childhood unintentional injuries. To this end, a series of educational workshops were conducted on poisoning, choking, furniture tip-over, scalds and burns. The material was presented via PowerPoint, videos, posters, handouts, demonstrations and return demonstrations. Verbal pre-and post tests …

A Benefits-Based Study Of Appalachian Trail Users: Validation And Application Of The Benefits Of Hiking Scale, Barbara Freidt, Eddie Hill, Edwin Gomez, Marni Goldenberg

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Lack of exercise has been linked to poor health issues (e.g., obesity) in American society. National (e.g., Appalachian Trail) and local trails are a potential resource for championing physical activity. To challenge sedentary lifestyle choices and promote more active ones, an understanding of the benefits perceived to be associated with physical and outdoor activities is needed. A total of 454 Appalachian Trail user surveys were collected. Validity analyses and reliability analyses showed the Benefits of Hiking Scale to be an accurate and consistent measure of the dimensions of recreation benefits. Within the improved condition dimension of Benefits, significant differences were …

Prospective Associations Of Insomnia Markers And Symptoms With Depression, Mariana Szklo-Coxe, Terry Young, Paul E. Peppard, Laurel A. Finn, Ruth M. Benca

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Whether insomnia, a known correlate of depression, predicts depression longitudinally warrants elucidation. The authors examined 555 Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study participants aged 33-71 years without baseline depression or antidepressant use who completed baseline and follow-up overnight polysomnography and had complete questionnaire-based data on insomnia and depression for 1998-2006. Using Poisson regression, they estimated relative risks for depression (Zung scale score >= 50) at 4-year (average) follow-up according to baseline insomnia symptoms and polysomnographic markers. Twenty-six participants (4.7%) developed depression by follow-up. Having 3-4 insomnia symptoms versus none predicted depression risk (age-, sex-, and comorbidity-adjusted relative risk (RR) = 3.2, 95% …

Sleep Well To Stay Safe: Ready For Primetime?, Mihai C. Teodorescu, Mariana Szklo-Coxe

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Commentary on Kling et al. Sleep problems and workplace injuries in Canada. Sleep 2010;33:611-618.

Maternal Employment And Childhood Obesity Among Immigrant Families, Qi Zhang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

There are continued interests to examine the relationship between maternal employment and childhood obesity. However, little research has been focused on childhood obesity among immigrant families with working mothers. This study used the Panel Survey of Income Dynamics (PSID) and Child Development Supplement (CDS) in 2002 and compared the impact of maternal employment on childhood obesity between immigrant families and US-born families. The positive effect of maternal employment on children’s body weight status was much stronger in immigrant families than in US-born families. The full-time employment status of mothers had strong and significant effect on immigrant children’s BMI (beta = …

Using The Andersen Behavioral Model Of Health Services Use To Examine Adult Uninsured Patient Health Services Use At A Community Health Center, Jewel Shonette Goodman

Health Services Research Dissertations

Prescription medications are essential to the treatment and management of chronic conditions (Smith et al., 2005). Lack of access can result in pain, worsening of the condition and increased risk of additional health problems. Health care expenditures in the United States were reportedly 1.7 trillion in 2003 (Smithetal.,2005) and exceeded" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-table; line-height: 0; font-size: 16.66px; overflow-wrap: normal; word-spacing: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 0px; position: relative;">1.7trillionin2003(Smithetal.,2005)andexceeded1.7trillionin2003(Smithetal.,2005)andexceeded2.3 trillion in 2008 (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2010). Prescription medication costs …

Predictors Of Developmental Screenings For Young Children, Janice Chandler Ranne

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study examines the usefulness of the New Model of Children's Health and its Influences for the identification of predictors for health service effectiveness. Health service effectiveness is measured by probability estimations of whether young children receive formal or informal developmental screenings. Screenings lead to prevention of communication delays in later childhood. Formal screenings with standardized questions are preferred over informal screenings, which are knowledgeable observations. The theoretical framework is a child-centered socio-ecological theory that is untested for use in health service effectiveness studies until the present one. Four developmental concepts of the theoretical framework, social environment, physical environment, biological …

The Cultural Production Of Health Inequalities: A Cross-Sectional, Multilevel Examination Of 52 Countries, Carol L. Mansyur, Benjamin C. Amick Iii, Ronald B. Harrist, Luisa Franzini, Robert E. Roberts

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

In a 2001 report, the U.S. National Institutes of Health called for more integration of the social sciences into health-related research, including research guided by theories and methods that take social and cultural systems into consideration. Based on a theoretical framework that integrates Hofstede's cultural dimensions with sociological theory, the authors used multilevel modeling to explore the association of culture with structural inequality and health disparities. Their results support the idea that cultural dimensions and social structure, along with economic development, may account for much of the cross-national variation in the distribution of health inequalities. Sensitivity tests also suggest that …

Socioeconomic Disparity In Healthcare-Seeking Behavior Among Chinese Women With Genitourinary Symptoms, Qi Zhang, Diane Lauderdale, Shanshan Mou, William I. Parish, Edward O. Laumann, John Schneider

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are of growing concern in China. Understanding the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and healthcare-seeking (HCS) behavior will help design effective policies to contain the epidemic of STIs across SES.

Methods: We used the Chinese Health and Family Life Survey, a nationally representative survey of 3813 adults from 48 Chinese cities and counties during 1999-2000. We studied the 730 women with at least one genito-urinary (GU) symptom. HCS was measured by whether respondents visited a hospital or an unrecognized clinic, self-treatment, or doing nothing. Formal treatment was defined as visiting a hospital. SES was measured …

Water Treatment: Keeping It Pure, Petros Katsioloudis

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The article discusses the importance of water treatment in providing quality and safe drinking water. A historical background of the U.S. federal regulation of drinking water quality is presented. It was found by the Public Health Service in 1969 that only 60 percent of the systems surveyed delivered water that met all the Public Health Service standards. Filtration and chlorination are also cited as an effective treatment techniques for protecting U.S. water supplies from harmful microbes. An overview of the process of water treatment is presented.

Increased Strength And Physical Performance With Eccentric Training In Women With Impaired Glucose Tolerance: A Pilot Study, Robin L. Marcus, Paul C. Lastayo, Leland E. Dibble, Laura Hill, Donald A. Mcclain

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Background: Menopause is associated with both a loss of muscle mass and a worsening of insulin sensitivity (IS). Although eccentric resistance exercise (ECC) can effectively improve muscle mass over time, a single bout of ECC can worsen IS. This study assessed the effect of repeated ECC on IS, muscle mass, and function in postmenopausal women with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Methods: Sixteen PM women (aged 56 years +/- 6.4) with IGT were randomly assigned to a 12-week, knee extensor ECC program (n = 10) or a nonexercise control group (CON) (n = 6). Participants underwent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, dual-energy …

Test Of A Multidisciplinary Health Behavior Model Of Medicare Elders' Antihypertensive Acquisitions, Ann Marie Kopitzke

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study examined the relative utility of the enhanced Health Belief Model as compared to the proposed Pharmaceutical Acquisition Model for Medicare Elders (PAMME) in describing antihypertensive acquisition with usage intentions for Medicare elders (65 years or older) in Southeastern Virginia. Data collection included record reviews to identify hypertensive Medicare elders. Consenting Medicare elders were randomly selected for invitation, with consenting Medicare elders contacted by telephone or in-person interviews. The survey instrument utilized open and closed ended questions. The target population for this study is Southeastern Virginia Medicare elders enrolled in a Part D plan and prescribed at least one …

Temporal And Spatial Stability Of Anopheles Gambiae Larval Habitat Distribution In Western Kenya Highlands, Li Li, Ling Bian, Laith Yakob, Guofa Zhou, Guiyun Yan

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Background: Localized mosquito larval habitat management and the use of larvicides have been proposed as important control tools in integrated malaria vector management programs. In order to optimize the utility of these tools, detailed knowledge of the spatial distribution patterns of mosquito larval habitats is crucial. However, the spatial and temporal changes of habitat distribution patterns under different climatic conditions are rarely quantified and their implications to larval control are unknown.

Results: Using larval habitat data collected in western Kenya highlands during both dry and rainy seasons of 2003-2005, this study analyzed the seasonal and inter-annual changes in the spatial …

Results From A Mathematical Model For Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis, H. Gaff, L. Gross, E. Schaefer

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis), HME, is a tick-transmitted, rickettsial disease that has recently increased substantially in the USA from 142 reported cases in 2001 to 506 reported cases in 2005 [1,2]. There have been increasing surveys of tick populations over the past 10 years that have in turn supported the development of models for tick-borne disease transmission. Resulting HME models [3] suggest the importance of metapopulation structures, landscape environment parameters and periodic climatic effects in predicting the dynamics of HME transmission and the efficacy of control efforts, such as the reduction of the tick population through acaricide …

Taking Be Proud! Be Responsible! To The Suburbs: A Replication Study, Elaine A. Borawski, Erika S. Trapl, Kimberly Adams-Tufts, Laura L. Hayman, Merdith A. Goodwin, Loren D. Lovegreen

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

CONTEXT: An important phase of HIV prevention research is replicating successful interventions with different groups and in different settings.

METHODS: Be Proud! Be Responsible!, a successful intervention originally targeting black urban males and carried out in nonschool settings, was presented in health classes at urban and suburban schools with diverse student bodies. A group-randomized intervention study, which included 1,357 ninth and 10th graders from 10 paired schools in a Midwestern metropolitan area, was conducted in 2000-2002. Half the schools received the intervention, and half received a general health promotion program. Students' reports of their sexual behavior and selected cognitive mediators …

Childhood Obesity In Minority Populations In The United States, Qi Zhang, Youfa Wang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Obesity became a public health crisis in the United States, which affects both adults and children.^1,2,24,25 Approximately 31% of U.S. children and adolescents aged 2-19 years were overweight or obese, and almost 17% were obese in 1999-2004.^3-5,24 Studies suggest that increased consumption of more energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods with high levels of sugar and saturated fats, combined with reduced physical activity, have contributed to the rising obesity epidemic among children.^6,21,28 Childhood obesity increased the risk of many diet-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and certain forms of cancers.⁷ It is important to …

A Comparison Of Different Methods For Predicting Cancer Mortality Counts At The State Level, Corinne Wilson

Virginia Journal of Science

Cancer is a major health issue in the United States. Reliable estimates of yearly cancer mortality counts are essential for resourcing and planning. The American Cancer Society has used several methods of forecasting to estimate the future cancer burden and researchers are continually working to develop new methods with improved performance. There have been studies comparing different models for predicting the US cancer mortality counts. This study explores and compares several different models for cancer mortality count predictions at the state level, principally for the state of Virginia. Results of the comparisons appear to show the final improved model to …

Modeling Physical Activity In Working Adults: How Suitable Is The Expanded Parallel Process Model?, Adwoa B-H-Sam

Health Services Research Dissertations

This study is an assessment of the usefulness of the Expanded Parallel Process Model in predicting health enhancing physical activity as an outcome variable. The theory is tested in the context of risk for coronary heart disease and involves secondary analyses of a dataset from a group of working adults. These individuals had elected first to participate in a health plan ‘Quality Improvement Study’ and were then randomly selected to receive an intervention program designed to get people to be more active.

Data on self-reported demographics, physical activity levels, health status characteristics and perceptions measured on a Likert-type scale known …

A Study Of The Distribution And Abundance Of The Adult Malaria Vector In Western Kenya Highlands, Li Li, Ling Bian, Guiyun Yan

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

Background: A sharp rise in the malaria mortality rate has been observed recently in western Kenya. Malaria is transmitted by mosquito vectors. Malaria control strategies can be more successful if the distribution and abundance of mosquito vectors is predicted. However, how mosquito vectors are distributed in space remain poor understood, and this question is rarely studied using spatial methods. This study aims to provide a better understanding of the distribution and abundance of mosquito vectors. To achieve this objective, spatial and non-spatial methods were employed. The data on the distribution of adult mosquitoes, and mosquito breeding habitats in a study …

The Depiction Of Alcohol Tobacco And Other Substances In Children's G & Pg-Rated Animated Films Post 2000, Lindsay F. Graham

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This study will analyze the depiction of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances in G and PG-rated animated films from November 1, 2000 to December 31, 2005. These films will include those released in theaters and video in English, at least 60 minutes in length, and of the animated genre during this five-year window. There is evidence that due to recent societal pressures facing the Motion Picture Association of America and their rating guidelines, the presence of alcohol and tobacco in children's animated Grated films has lessened. These incidents of exposure have since moved up the rating totem pole to receive …

Psychometric Evaluation Of An Instrument For Assessing Policy Outcomes For Families With Children Who Have Severe Developmental Disabilities: The Beach Center Family Quality Of Life Scale, Joni Taylor Mcfelea

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (BCFQLS) in a sample of families with children who have severe developmental disabilities. The study sought to determine whether or not the scale could be used to measure the quality of life of such families and to differentiate between the quality of life of two family groups—those whose child lives in the family home and those whose child lives outside the family home.

The study used an observational, cross-sectional design and both qualitative and quantitative methods. Self-identified primary caregivers of …

Dental Hygienists' Contributions To Improving The Nation's Oral Health Through School-Based Initiatives From 1970 Through 1999: A Historical Review, Gayle B. Mccombs, Cynthia C. Gadbury-Amyot, Rebecca S. Wilder, Karen O. Skaff, Margaret Lappan Green

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: The purpose of this literature review is to document the contributions dental hygienists have made over the past 3 decades to improve the nation's oral health. This historical review encompasses selected literature that acknowledged dental Hygienists' direct involvement in U.S. school-based or school-linked oral health programs from 1970-1999.

METHODS: Five researchers independently searched MEDLINE, PubMed, and other electronic databases to identify relevant literature for the years 1970-1999. The search aimed to locate articles authored by or that documented dental Hygienists' involvement as "service provider" in U.S. school-based oral health programs. For the purpose of this review, service provider was …

Down-Regulation Of Natural Killer Cell Activation In Response To Influenza Virus In Older Adults, Yu Jing

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Immune senescence contributes to influenza-associated high mortality and morbidity and reduced vaccine efficacy in elderly people. Type I T cell (Thl)-mediated immunity plays a significant role in Immune responses to influenza infection and vaccination. Natural killer (NK) cells secrete significant amount of IFN-7 , a hallmark Thl cytokine, in response to influenza infection. How aging influences human NK cell IFN-7 production in response to influenza virus has not been well documented. In this study we employed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and performed intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry primarily to investigate how aging influences NK cell activation with …

Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec And Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Characterization Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Clones, Shannon M. Moroney, Loree C. Heller, Jesse Arbuckle, Monica Talavera, Ray H. Widen

Bioelectrics Publications

Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene carriage were compared among suspected community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA (CA-MRSA) and health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) isolates. CA-MRSA isolates carried the SCCmec type IV complex, and most were PVL positive. The HA-MRSA isolates carried the SCCmec type II complex and did not harbor the PVL genes.

The Cost-Effectiveness Of Improving Diabetes Care In U.S. Federally Qualified Community Health Centers, Elbert S. Huang, Qi Zhang, Sydney E. S. Brown, Melinda L. Drum, David O. Meltzer, Marshall H. Chin

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objective. To estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness of improving diabetes care with the Health Disparities Collaborative (HDC), a national collaborative quality improvement (QI) program conducted in community health centers (HCs).

Data Sources/Study Settings. Data regarding the impact of the Diabetes HDC program came from a serial cross-sectional follow-up study (1998, 2000, 2002) of the program in 17 Midwestern HCs. Data inputs for the simulation model of diabetes came from the latest clinical trials and epidemiological studies.

Study Design. We conducted a societal cost-effectiveness analysis, incorporating data from QI program evaluation into a Monte Carlo simulation model of diabetes.

Data Collections/Extraction …