Public Health Commons^™

Do Life Style Factors And Socioeconomic Variables Explain Why Black Women Have A Remarkably Higher Body Mass Index (Bmi) Than White Women In The United States? Findings From The 2010 National Health Interview Survey, Mohammad Siahpush, Courtney A. Pinard, Gopal K. Singh, Melissa Tibbits, Raees A. Shaikh, Amy Yaroch

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: There are marked inequalities in body mass index (BMI), overweight, and obesity across ethnic groups. We sought to examine the extent to which lifestyle factors and socioeconomic variables explain the higher BMI in Black women compared to White women in the United States.

Methods: We used data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and limited the sample to non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women (n = 9,491). We employed normal regression and compared the association of race with BMI before and after adjusting for lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, smoking, and drinking) and socioeconomic variables (education, ratio …

Health Disparities In Colorectal Cancer Screening In United States: Race/Ethnicity Or Shifting Paradigms?, Adina Williams, Kirk Dabney, Holmes Laurens Jr

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The incidence, mortality, and screening vary by race/ethnicity, with African Americans and Hispanics being disproportionately represented. Early detection through screening prolongs survival and decreases mortality. CRC screening (CRCS) varies by race/ethnicity, with lower prevalence rates observed among minorities, but the factors associated with such disparities remain to be fully understood. The current study aimed to examine the ethnic/racial disparities in the prevalence of CRCS, and the explanatory factors therein in a large sample of U.S. residents, using the National Health Interview Survey, 2003. …

A Systematic Review Of Pregnancy Prevention Programs For Minority Youth In The U.S.: A Critical Analysis And Recommendations For Improvement, Sarah B. Maness, E R. Buhi

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

African American and Latino youth experience disproportionate rates of both intended and unintended pregnancy in the United States. A public health priority to ameliorate the high rates among this population has been the creation and proposed expansion of pregnancy prevention programs designed specifically for minority youth. However, little is known about the role of incorporating cultural components into program curricula. To better understand the components and outcomes of existing programs for this population, this systematic review analyzed published outcome evaluations of adolescent pregnancy prevention programs for minority youth. This review of literature published from January 2002 to June 2012 and …

Up North They’Re Talking Sex: A Collaborative And Community Driven Model For Sexual Health Knowledge Mobilization, Karen Edwards, Steve Mitchell Phd, Nancy Gibson Phd, Cecilia Zoe-Martin, Anita Daniels, Jim Martin, Patrick Wansbrough Rn

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

To address high STI rates in their aboriginal communities, the Tłı̨chǫ of the Northwest Territories adopted a collaborative participatory research approach to sexual health based on four key stages of development. First was community initiation and engagement, where local leaders identified a priority need and began community discussions around sexual health. Secondly, identifying that existing government statistics did not provide them with adequate information, the Tlicho Community Services Agency partnered with the University of Alberta and CIETcanda to conduct a baseline study in all four Tlicho communities, designed and administered by community-based researchers. Third, a community action research team (CART) …

Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Infectious Disease Hospitalizations In Arizona, Laura Callinan, Robert Holman, Douglas Esposito, Marian Mcdonald

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Infectious disease (ID) hospitalizations in Arizona, a diverse population with nearly complete race/ethnicity data, were analyzed using the State Inpatient Database for 2005-2008. ID hospitalizations rates were calculated and compared by ID group, race/ethnicity, age, and sex. During 2005-2008, there were 383,597 ID hospitalizations reported in Arizona, resulting in an age-adjusted rate of 1498.1 per 100,000 persons. A range of racial/ethnic disparities in ID hospitalization rates were noted. Persons of Native American and black race/ethnicity had overall ID hospitalization rates higher than the rate for persons of white race/ethnicity; persons of Asian or Pacific Islander race/ethnicity had a lower rate. …

Health Disparity And Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants At Risk For Diabetes, Janet Page-Reeves, Joshua D. Niforatos, Shiraz Mishra, Lidia Regino, Andrew Gingerich, Robert Bulten

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Diabetes is a national health problem, and the burden of the disease and its consequences particularly affect Hispanics. While social determinants of health models have improved our conceptualization of how certain contexts and environments influence an individual's ability to make healthy choices, a structural violence framework transcends traditional uni-dimensional analysis. Thus, a structural violence approach is capable of revealing dynamics of social practices that operate across multiple dimensions of people’s lives in ways that may not immediately appear related to health. Working with a Hispanic immigrant community in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we demonstrate how structural forces simultaneously directly inhibit access …

Development, Implementation, And Assessment Of Health Equity Action Training (Heat): Implications For Local Health Departments, Karen A. D'Angelo, Carmen Chaparro, Rita Kornblum, Grace Damio, Rafael Pérez-Escamilla

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

As inequities in health persistently plague our nation, rates of chronic disease continue to escalate, and increasing health care costs further debilitate our economy, the profession of public health is faced with monumental challenges. As a central community health institution, the local public health department plays an essential role in eliminating health inequities and preventing chronic disease. With the objective of preparing the local public health workforce to address the root factors associated with health, the Health Equity Action Training project trained 85 staff of the Hartford Department of Health & Human Services in the social determinants of health, social …

Physical Activity And Social Cognitive Theory Outcomes Of An Internet-Enhanced Physical Activity Intervention For African American Female College Students, Rodney P. Joseph, Dorothy W. Pekmezi, Terri Lewis, Gareth R. Dutton, Lori W. Turner, Nefertiti H. Durant

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background. African American women report low levels of physical activity (PA) and are disproportionately burdened by related chronic diseases. This pilot study tested a 6-month theory-based (Social Cognitive Theory, SCT) culturally-relevant website intervention to promote PA among African American female college students.

Materials and Methods. A single group pre-post test design (n=34) was used. PA and associated SCT constructs (outcome expectations, enjoyment, self-regulation, social support) were assessed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months.

Results. The sample was comprised of mostly obese (M BMI= 35.4, SD=6.82) young adults (M age= 21.21 years, SD=2.31). Fifty percent …

2012 Annual Report Of Child Deaths In Clark County, Nevada, Nevada Institute For Children’S Research And Policy, Tara Phebus

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

The primary goal of all Child Death Review Teams is to prevent future child deaths. The child death review process enables jurisdictions to come together in a collaborative, multidisciplinary forum to openly discuss detailed circumstances in an effort to gain a better understanding of child deaths. The team provides a venue for representatives from a variety of both public and private agencies as well as community organizations to share information in a confidential and non-threatening environment. The National Center for Child Death Review (hereinafter, National Center), which is supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department …

Weight Gain In Pregnancy And Pre-Menopausal Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study, Arash Ardalan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: The risk of breast cancer increases transiently after pregnancy and then falls to a lower level than for age-matched nulliparous women. Higher levels of estrogen are known as the primary reason. Several pregnancy characteristics are thought to be confounding the above link; however, except for the age at first pregnancy no other pregnancy-related factor has been proved to be significant. Specifically, it has not been established that an excessive weight gain in pregnancy is linked to the maternal risk of breast cancer.

Objectives: To identify independent influence of weight gain in pregnancy on the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer …

Game Change: What Have We Learned? Pt. 2, Robert E. Lang, Sonya D. Horsford, Marya L. Shegog, Ramona Denby-Brinson, Fatma Nasoz

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

Share Knowledge. Change Lives. Transform our Community.

Our Mission: The Lincy Institute at UNLV conducts and supports research that focuses on improving Nevada's health, education, and social services.

Our Research Areas: Education, Health, Social Services, Information Technology

The Presence Of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa) On Environmental Surfaces In Healthcare Facilities Pre- And Post-Cleaning, Aaron Thomas Hunt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a serious public health issue affecting millions of people. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a leading cause of healthcare acquired infections today. Research has shown that patients infected or colonized with MRSA shed the bacteria into the environment, where the bacteria can survive for long periods of time and become potential sources of infection. Currently, infection prevention efforts focus on active surveillance, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment use and antimicrobial stewardship, with less attention given to environmental cleaning. Nevertheless, environmental cleaning is essential to remove infectious agents from environmental surfaces and prevent transmission. The …

Firefighter Fitness-For-Duty Medical Screening: A Peer Review Quality Improvement Pilot, Julie Collings Rochefort

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite the overwhelming evidence that sudden cardiac death is the most frequent cause of firefighter fatalities, many fire departments do not have a program to measure or maintain basic firefighter fitness and health. This project evaluated and compared medical screening outcomes of four industrial fire brigades within a multinational oil and gas corporation and introduced a quality improvement plan. The goal of this project was to apply the evidence and measure outcomes to determine the most effective way to ensure that firefighters in a corporate setting are healthy. This was accomplished by utilizing established guidelines in developing an educational program …

Implementing A Bystander Awareness Program On A University Campus, Robert Joseph Vadovic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Between 17% and 62% of college students experience some form of violence during their time at school. About 25% of female college students experience a sexual assault before graduating. One university had seen an increase in violence, including assaults and bias events. Administrators and nurses implemented a bystander awareness program to help alleviate this growing problem. Members of the college's residence life staff and its Greek organizations (fraternities and sororities) participated in the Step Up program, a prosocial training program to get people to intervene safely when witnessing acts of violence. Participants (N=236) completed surveys prior to the program, immediately …

An Examination Of Walkability In The Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, Courtney Coughenour

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: The benefits to regular physical activity are well established. Walkability is one element of the built environment that has been correlated with increased levels of physical activity. The auto-centric design of Las Vegas Metropolitan area (LVMA) is unique in ways that may influence walkability. The purpose of this study was to determine which urban design characteristics are associated with walking and physical activity in moderate income neighborhoods in LVMA. Methods: The standard walkability measure developed by Frank et al. (2010) was used to calculate the walkability index of seven neighborhoods. Residents of the two most walkable and two least …

Perceptions Of Police Responses To Domestic Violence, Kelly Rae Stout

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Domestic violence, also known as, intimate partner violence (IPV), has become an epidemic in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC), about 24 women and men are victimized by an intimate partner each minute, equaling about 12 million victims every year (2012b). In recent years, the public has become more aware of IPV situations. An increase in public service announcements has helped to inform the public and has brought these dangerous situations out from behind closed doors. In the age of technology, information is more easily distributed and exchanged which has also increased public …

A Comparison Of Nursing Service Demand In Title 1 Schools And Non-Title 1 Schools, Karen Ray Stratford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Children from low-income families are known to struggle academically, but lack of health services may also impact their education. School nurses must identify and manage health problems in the school-age child to improve academic success. Unfortunately, the school nurse-to-student ratio may limit the amount of time nurses can give to the recognition of health problems and appropriate follow-up. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provides Title 1 funding to schools whose enrollment includes at least 40% of low-income families. These federal funds are intended to be used to bridge the achievement gap between low-income students and other students. …

Sociodemographic Characteristics, Distance To The Clinic, And Breast Cancer Screening Results, Seijeoung Kim, Beverly Chukwudozie, Elizabeth Calhoun

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Timely detection and follow-up of abnormal cellular changes can aid in early diagnosis of breast cancer, thus leading to better treatment outcomes. However, despite substantial breast cancer screening initiatives, the proportion of female breast cancer cases diagnosed at late stages remains high. Distance to screening clinics may affect access to care, particularly for women living in impoverished areas with limited means of reliable transportation. Utilizing breast cancer screening data collected by the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program between 1996 and 2010, we examined the effect of travel distance to the clinic from which women received breast cancer screening tests …

The Effect Of Race/Ethnicity On The Age Of Colon Cancer Diagnosis, Matthew Katz, Maryann E. Parrish, Ellen Li, Yuanhao Zhang, Wei Zhu, Kenneth Shroyer, Roberto Bergamaschi, Jennie L. Williams

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Notably, racial/ethnic disparities exist in both incidence and mortality.

PURPOSE: The aim of this case study was to investigate the impact of race/ethnicity on age at diagnosis of colorectal cancer in a defined population in Suffolk County, NY.

METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected on race/ethnicity, health insurance status, age at diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, gender, smoking status, alcohol intake, tumor location, and body mass index for colorectal cancer patients with medical records in the Stony Brook University Medical Center database (2005-2011). Population-based data on Hispanic …

The Normative Dimensions Of Health Disparities, Andrew Ward, Pamela Jo Johnson, Mollie O'Brien

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Understanding what conditions must be satisfied for a health inequality to be a health inequity (disparity) is crucial for health policy makers. The failure to understand what constitutes a health inequity, and confusing health inequalities with health inequities threatens the successful creation of health policies by diverting needed attention and resources away from addressing health inequalities that are health inequities. More generally, the failure threatens to undercut our ability to tell what research is relevant to the creation of health policies that aim to mitigate or eliminate health inequities. With this in mind, the principal aim of the present paper …

Discrimination In Medical Settings And Attitudes Toward Complementary And Alternative Medicine: The Role Of Distrust In Conventional Providers, Tetyana Shippee, Carrie Henning-Smith, Nathan Shippee, Jessie Kemmick Pintor, Kathleen T. Call, Donna Mcalpine, Pamela Jo Johnson

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This study examines the relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination in medical settings, distrust in conventional medicine, and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among a racially/ethnically diverse sample. We also investigate how this relationship differs by nativity. Data are from a 2008 statewide stratified sample of publicly insured adults in Minnesota (N=2,194). Discrimination was measured as self-reported unfair treatment in medical settings due to race, ethnicity, and/or nationality. Outcomes are trust in conventional providers/medicine and attitudes toward CAM modalities. Discrimination in medical settings was positively associated with 1) distrust in conventional providers and 2) favorable attitudes toward CAM. Foreign-born …

A Diabetes Prevention Program Provided By Home Care Nurses To Residents Of Public Housing Communities, Robin Whittemore Phd, Alana Rosenberg Mph, Sangchoon Jeon Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The purpose of this pilot study was 1) to modify the Diabetes Prevention Program protocol collaboratively with home care nurses, health professionals, and residents of public housing: 2) to evaluate the feasibility (reach and implementation) and the preliminary efficacy of the modified diabetes prevention program (mDPP) provided by home care nurses to adults at-risk for T2D on clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial outcomes compared to an enhanced standard care control group. A mixed-method sequential design was used. The sample (n=67) was primarily female (79%), with a mean age of 40 years, and of diverse race and ethnicity (76% non-White). Home care …

Lessons Learned From Training Of Promotores De Salud For Obesity And Diabetes Prevention, Erica T. Sosa, Lesli Biediger-Friedman, Zenong Yin

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Promotores de Salud are impactful in reducing health disparities for Hispanic communities. The purpose of this paper is to present the training process and fidelity of study protocol implementation using a promotora model for community-based diabetes prevention.

Methods: Five Hispanic bilingual promotores were recruited from a Community Health Worker program and received intensive 30-hour promotora training on how to recruit participants, lead group sessions, and support participants making behavior changes. Evaluation of the training included a survey and focus group to assess promotores’ feedback, a post-training knowledge test to assess knowledge acquired during the training and an observational assessment …

Pre- And Post-Interrvention Perceptions Of Illness, Health, And The Home Environment Among Nevada Healthy Homes Participants, Michelle Ching, Shawn Gerstenberger

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The Nevada Healthy Homes Partnership (NVHHP) is a collaborative program between the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), Rebuilding Together (RBT), HELP of Southern Nevada, and other public/private housing authorities and health agencies in Southern Nevada.

A Single Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Experience With A Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program, Daniel Young, Cathy Borris-Hale

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

This study describes the experience of a single, long-term care acute hospital (LTAC) with the Medline Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program (mPUPP)

• The growing light being shed on pressure ulcer (PrU) costs for the people that get them and the health care systems that treat them, has challenged care facilities to look for programs to reduce nosocomial PrU
• Each PrU can cost between $700 and $135,000 in medical care related expenses and litigation
• Recent evidence suggests that successful PrU prevention programs have common characteristics

Evaluation Of The Childhood Blood Lead Screening Component Of The Southern Nevada Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Melissa Breunig, Shawn Gerstenberger

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

The objective of this paper is to highlight the progress of the lead poisoning prevention program in Southern Nevada. Specifically, we present blood lead screening results for Clark County, Nevada from 2006 through 2011, and review the progress towards recommendations made by Rothweiler et al. for Nevada in 2007.7

Levels Of Adoption Of Electronic Health Records And Patient Safety: Effectiveness And Efficiency, Scott Neishi, Yili Gan, Christopher R. Cochran, Jay J. Shen

Interdisciplinary Research Scholarship Day

• Patient safety, including hospital acquired infections has become one of the major concerns in healthcare delivery in recent years
• Electronic health records are becoming an integral aspect of the health care delivery
• Health policies have been looking to improve quality / patient safety and efficiency of healthcare through the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems
• Can EHR adoption improve patient safety?
• Can EHR adoption reduce cost?
• H1: Patients treated at hospitals with a higher level of EHR adoption are less likely to incur poorer patient safety indicators
• H2: Patients treated at hospitals with a higher level of EHR adoption …

Health Status Of Children Entering Kindergarten: Results Of The 2012-2013 (Year Five) Nevada Kindergarten Health Survey, Nevada Institute For Children's Research And Policy Reports, All Nevada County School Districts, Nevada School District Superintendents, Nevada State Health Division, Head Start Collaboration & Early Childhood Systems Office, Amanda Haboush, Dawn Davidson, Tara Phebus, Enrique Lopez, Chad Pitts

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

Academic achievement for children is vital to their success in life. Those that do well in school have greater opportunities for post-secondary education, and later have better prospects for employment. One of the major factors that can affect a child’s academic achievement is his or her health status. Academic outcomes and health conditions are consistently linked in the literature (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). Children with poor health status, and especially those with common chronic health conditions, have increased numbers of school absences and more academic deficiencies (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). In a study concerning excused versus unexcused absences, children with …

Publications On Chronic Disease In Coal Dependent Communities In Central Appalachia, Susan Meacham, Phd, Suporn Sukpraput, Phd, Thomas Taber Oms I, Diana Metzger

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

CONTEXT:

Agency and nonprofit reports have traditionally been the source of health information in Appalachia. Recently, publications have appeared in the literature associating coal mining, specifically mountain top mining, with numerous chronic health conditions spurring debate among environmental and industry interest groups. Publication quantity and quality were objectively assessed. This article reports on a literature review and analysis of publications on chronic disease in coal dependent communities in Appalachia.

OBJECTIVE:

To conduct a review and analysis of original, peer reviewed research publications on chronic health conditions in communities dependent on coal mining with a focus on central Appalachia and report …

2012 Southern Nevada Existing Conditions Report, Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coaltion, Lincy Institute, Unlv Urban Sustainability Initiative, Unlv School Of Community Health Sciences, Jennifer Pharr Phd, Courtney Coughenour

Lincy Institute Reports and Briefs

No abstract provided.