Public Health Commons^™

Depression And Disability In The United States, Colleen Pennington

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To compare the prevalence of cognitive disabilities, mobility disabilities, and depression rates by varying categories including U.S. State, gender, and region. Methods: Data was obtained from the CDC Wonder data set for the prevalence of cognitive and mobility disabilities from the U.S. states for the years 2017-2018. Data was also obtained from the CDC for incidence of depression among the general population and those identifying with any disability. Data was analyzed with ANOVA and t-tests using SPSS. Results: Results reveal a significant difference in disability type and gender throughout the United States. There is also a significant difference in …

Differences In Social Determinants Of Health Between Rural And Urban Counties Of Ohio, Megan E. Luft

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate any possible differences in social determinants of health between rural and urban counties of Ohio and how the determinants relate to each other. Methods: All data for each variable (percentage of population who have some college education, food insecurity rate, number of primary care physicians per population, average mentally unhealthy days for adults in a month, drug overdose death rate, life expectancy, and child poverty rate) was collected through County Health Rankings and Roadmaps from either statewide or nationwide programs through different studies and surveys from 2013-2017. I utilized descriptive statistics, …

The Effects Of Daily Sunlight Levels On Suicide Rates, Amna Amin

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

The correlation between sunlight and mental health has been long studied and is even involved in the development of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), with subsequent development of light therapy for affected individuals. This points towards the question of the effects of varying levels of daily sunlight in the United States on rates of suicide – a reflection of the extreme state of suboptimal mental health. I have ventured to study this question, using publicly available data on the daily sunlight levels in various states in the U.S. during each month of the year and the rates of suicide in those …

The Relationship Between Asthma, Race & Fine Particulate Matter In The United States, Samantha Mcknight

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To assess how environment and race may impact childhood asthma prevalence. Methods: I analyzed data from CDC WONDER (www.wonder.cdc.gov). I performed descriptive statistics on average fine particulate matter for various states, as well as descriptive statistics on childhood asthma prevalence for various states. I determined if there was a correlation between states with higher prevalence of childhood asthma and states with higher levels of fine particulate matter using Pearson correlation. I used ANOVA with post hoc test to determine childhood asthma prevalence based on race/ ethnicity in the various states.

Results: The mean fine particulate matter in the 49 …

The Relationship Between Upstream Variables And Diabetes In Ohio, Brenna Lammers

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Chronic illness is a significant contributor to disease burden in the US. Among these chronic conditions, diabetes is one of the most prevalent. Knowing the relationships between various factors and the prevalence of diabetes would be beneficial to creating targeted approaches to address this major public health problem. Therefore, the objective of this project was to elucidate the relationship between social determinants of health (unemployment, food environment index, and access to exercise opportunities) and access to care variables (ratio of population to primary care physicians and percent uninsured) with prevalence of diabetes by county in Ohio. This was done through …

Food Insecurity And Healthy Food Availability In The State Of Ohio, Yanley Sánchez

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This research study aims to determine the impact of food insecurity and healthy food availability in the state of Ohio. It investigates how food insecurity in Ohio has changed between 2016 and 2020. It also investigates how food insecurity correlates with education level by looking at high school graduation rates. It also investigates how Ohio, a state with a high level of food insecurity, compares to California which has low levels of food insecurity. This study also compares how food insecurity differs in rural and urban counties throughout the state of Ohio.

Methods: ANOVA with posthoc will be conducted …

Understanding The Relationship Between Early Childhood Education And Long-Term Health And Quality Of Life Outcomes, Ryan Mcnulty

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Education is widely understood to be beneficial with regard to social opportunity, health outcomes, and quality of life scoring. Society opinion and literature are in accordance with this understanding. Much of the current literature, however, focuses on how higher education provides many of these benefits, but little investigates how early childhood education correlates with such outcomes. The objective of this study is to investigate what relationships there are between early childhood education performance and long-term health and quality of life outcomes. This investigation will explore Ohio’s third grade reading and math scores on standardized exams as compared to a national …

Defining Current Gaps In Quality Measures For Cancer Immunotherapy: Consensus Report From The Society For Immunotherapy Of Cancer (Sitc) 2019 Quality Summit, Sara Pai, David Blaisdell, Rachel Brodie, Robert G. Carlson, Heidi Finnes, Michele Galioto, Roxanne E. Jensen, Tom Valuck, Antonia R. Sepulveda, Howard L. Kaufman

Population and Public Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background Quality measures are important because they can help improve and standardize the delivery of cancer care among healthcare providers and across tumor types. In an environment characterized by a rapidly shifting immunotherapeutic landscape and lack of associated long-term outcome data, defining quality measures for cancer immunotherapy is a high priority yet fraught with many challenges. Methods Thus, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer convened a multistakeholder expert panel to, first, identify the current gaps in measures of quality cancer care delivery as it relates to immunotherapy and to, second, advance priority concepts surrounding quality measures that could be developed …

The Va Mission Act Of 2018: A Potential Game Changer For Rural Gme Expansion And Veteran Health Care, Anne Victoria Neale, Phil Lupo, Marjorie A. Bowman, Dean A. Seehusen

Population and Public Health Sciences Faculty Publications

The Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) is the largest health care delivery system in the United States. It includes 172 medical centers (VAMCs), with over 1,100 Community Based Outpatient Centers (CBOCs) and various other sites of care. In addition to training physicians to care for veterans and active duty service members, the VHA is also directed to assist in supplying health care personnel to the nation.Through its Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA), VHA develops partnerships with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)/American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accredited residency program sponsoring institutions. These collaborations include 144 out of 152 allopathic medical schools …

Socioeconomic Status Impact On Smoking Rates In Ohio In 2019, Zafer Sattouf

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To study the impact of socioeconomic status on smoking. Research Questions: This research study aims to determine the impact of socioeconomic status on smoking rates across counties in Ohio in 2019. It is investigating how different variables such as education, income, and employment status are correlated with smoking rates across different counties. Methods: Correlation studies and ANOVA were conducted to show how smoking affects premature deaths and how socioeconomic indicators affect smoking rates. Results: Smoking is associated with increased numbers of premature deaths in Ohio 2019 (p < 0.001). Higher levels of education, higher income, and lower unemployment rates has been associated with lower smoking rates in Ohio 2019 (p < 0.001).

Gender Differences In Marijuana-Related Problems Among Those Who Self-Reported Daily Smoking And Marijuana Use, Justin Ho

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

In 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported about 5.2% of its respondents using tobacco and marijuana, with strong evidence of increasing marijuana use among tobacco users.¹ While smoking cigarettes has been shown to cause lung cancer,² additional studies associate habitual marijuana smoking with abnormal airway tissue histology, impeded airway conductance,³ decreased memory, psychomotor speed, and manual dexterity.⁴ Cigarette smoking and marijuana use are shown to have similar withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and depression,^2,5 meaning that this example of polysubstance dependence could become a valid public health concern, especially with …

Correlation Between Copd And Physical Activity In The United States, Ellie Ganz

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: My objective of this project is to determine whether there is a correlation between COPD and physical activity in the United States by looking at all 50 states. Also, to determine if there is a difference between the prevalence of COPD in different regions of the US.

Methods: Data was collected and analyzed using the publicly available data set from the CDC Wonder database (wonder.cdc.gov). A Pearson correlation test and an ANOVA with post hoc tests were used to determine correlations and differences between variables to answer research questions.

Results: There is a significant negative correlation between physical activity …

Impact Of Different Factors On Premature Deaths In Rural And Urban Virginian Counties, Christian Randazzo

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

The goal of this investigation is to analyze data that influences premature death rates in Virginian counties. Specifically, I am looking at how the rates compare between rural and urban Virginian counties in 2020. In addition, I am analyzing how the premature death rates correlates with low birthweights, with air pollution, with preventable hospital stays, and with children in poverty and see how these variables predict the variance in premature death rates by county. I am using data from the County Health Rankings website. They gathered their data via surveys, the National Vital Statistics System, the CDC health tracking network, …

The Impact Of Exercise Of Mental Health, Kala Griffith

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Researchers have long recognized the positive association between exercise and mental health. With such a large proportion of the United States population being affected by mental illness, it is more important now than ever, to establish ways to improve the mental health of the country. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mental health of areas with differing levels of access to exercise, specifically Ohio and West Virginia, and begin making connections and associations about locations with similar data.

Methods: Data used in this study was gathered by the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps program (CHR&R). The …

Understanding The Relationship Between Suicide Rates, Exercise, Commute Drive, And Healthcare Provider, Kaitlin Beemiller

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, with rates that have been rising significantly over the past decade, differing in varying states.1,2 Although there is not a lot known about the specific causes of these trends, recent literature has found a dose-response relationship association between inactivity and poor mental health, self-harm, and suicidal attempt, indicating that physical activity may possess a protective nature.1,4 Further expanding off this research, I wanted to investigate the relationships between rates of access to exercise, long commute drives, and healthcare providers to rates of suicide in 5 different states— to …

The Impact Of State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs On Opioid Prescribing Practices And Opioid-Related Overdose Death Rates, Molly Scarbro

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Most states within the US have implemented a form of a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a scale to rate each state’s requirements of prescribers use of the PDMP on timely submission of the data and consultation when prescribing opioids. This paper looks at the impact of three levels of PDMP ratings (Green, Yellow, and Red) on opioid prescribing practices and opioid-related overdose death rates in 2015 (prior to PDMP rating) and in 2017. Methods: Data was collected from the CDC Wonder database, a publicly available data set. A …

Video Games, Screen Time, And The Impact On Body Mass Index And The Cardiovascular Fitness Of Adolescence, Joshua Sylvan

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To determine the effect of screen time/video gameplay has on the BMI and cardiovascular fitness of adolescence between the ages of 12 and 15 years old.

Methods: All data were collected and analyzed based on the CDC’s NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS).

Results: Analysis showed that there was no significant difference between body mass index and time spent using a computer as well as no significant difference between estimate maximal O2 uptake (primary endpoint for cardiovascular fitness) and time spent using a computer.

Looking Into The Importance Of Mental Health In Ohio, Tanner Graves

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This study is meant to analyze the effects of poor mental health as it relates to other health outcomes. Methods: Data on mental and physical health will be collected from the County Health Rankings website. Then tests will be performed to compare rates of poor mental health days between Ohio and various other states. Then the number of poor mental health days will be correlated to physical inactivity and premature death rates to see if there is a positive or negative correlation. Lastly, poor mental health days and insufficient sleep will he used to see if those two variables …

Factors Influencing Infant Death Due To Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Michelle Adamczyk

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Determine what factors are associated with increased mortality in infants <1 year old due to respiratory syncytial virus. Methods: Using publicly accessible infant mortality data from CDC Wonder, I used z-scores to compare infant death rates due to RSV between different groups including levels of prematurity, birth weight, and race. Results: When compared by race, mortality rates were highest for infants with mothers who are American Indian or Alaska Natives, followed by infants with Black mothers, and lowest for infants with White or Asian mothers. Infants born with lower weight at birth had higher mortality rates by RSV than infants with higher birth weights. Infants born prematurely, especially at <28 weeks gestation had higher RSV mortality rates. When compared by geographic region, RSV mortality rates were highest in the Southern U.S.. Sorting by mother’s age, infants born to younger mothers, especially mothers <20 years old had higher mortality rates due to RSV. These findings align with previous research focusing on RSV mortality and overall trends in epidemiological factors influencing infant mortality.

Insufficient Sleep In 2020: Where Does Ohio Stand?, Daniel Masters

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To determine the impact of insufficient sleep on premature death and mental health as well as see how the levels of insufficient sleep in Ohio compare to previous years and to other states in the US. Methods: Data on insufficient sleep, premature death, smoking, food environment index, physical inactivity, and poor mental health days was all collected from County Health Rankings and then analyzed. Results: Insufficient sleep was found to be moderately correlated to years of potential life lost in a positive manner in Ohio in 2020. Insufficient sleep has risen in Ohio from 2016 (35.76%) to 2020 (37.04%). …

Differences Between Older And Younger Adults With Diagnosed Cardiovascular Disease: An Analysis Of Fels Study Data, Jacqueline Jacobs

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Most deaths in the United States (U.S.) result from complications of chronic diseases and at the heart of the matter is America’s number one killer: cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is culpable for 33% of U.S. deaths, killing more people than all cancers and chronic lower respiratory diseases combined.

Traffic And Our Health, Atteh Akoto

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: The intent of this study is to find a correlation between long commute times, physical health, and mental health. Methods: Data was collected from a publicly available dataset on countyhealthrecords.org. Results: Increased percentage of lone drivers with long commutes and obese adults, positive correlation between long commuters and access to exercise opportunities, and negative correlation between long commuters and poor mental health days.

Investigating Preventable Hospitalizations And Potentially Related Factors In Ohio, Seth Guillozet

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This research study aims to examine preventable hospitalization rates in Ohio and several variables to may be associated with changes in these rates. First, I will investigate how preventable hospitalization rates (PHRs) have changed in Ohio from 2016 to 2020. Additionally, Primary Care Physician (PCP) ratio will be compared from 2016 to 2020 in Ohio, looking for any change that has occurred between the years. Next, PHRs will be correlated to the percentage of population uninsured in Ohio to look for any relationship between these two variables. Finally, Ohio’s PHRs will be compared to Indiana’s for 2020, to look …

Universal Health Coverage And Hiv In Hispanic America, Jenna Frantz

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This study analyzes differences between HIV statistics in Hispanic American countries that have passed UHC legislation versus those that have not passed UHC legislation. In 2017, 0.4% of the population of Latin America and 1.2% of the population of the Caribbean was living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).1 Because of these high rates of HIV in Hispanic America, as well as the lethality of HIV if untreated, HIV statistics and treatment outcomes in Hispanic America are of great concern. Relationships between HIV statistics and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) legislation could serve as a metric for UHC performance in Hispanic …

Effectiveness Of The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-Bestest) In Evaluating Balance In The Controlled Hypertensive Elderly Population, Melanie Sich

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Provide additional evidence about the relationship between controlled hypertension and balance control by evaluating individuals’ gait stability, sensorial orientation, reactive postural response, and anticipatory postural adjustment using the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest).

Methods: A total of 76 (28 controlled hypertensive, 48 non-hypertensive) individuals were evaluated with the Mini-BESTest protocol. Each of the subscores obtained from the test represented the different subdomains of postural control, and they were compared between controlled hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis.

Results: Hypertensive individuals tended to score lower than non-hypertensive individuals in the anticipatory postural adjustment …

Incidence Of Female Breast Cancer In The United States By Race And Region, Tiffany Le

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Assess the distribution and incidence of female breast cancer in the United States in different races and regions of the United States. Methods: Collect and analyze CDC WONDER data from the Center for Disease and Control to see if there are varying rates of female breast cancer incidence between races and in different regions of the United States. Results: The results are expected to show a significant difference in female breast cancer incidence between races and a non-significant difference in female breast cancer incidence among different regions of the United States.

Correlations Between Quality Of Life, Daily Sunlight, And Suicide Risk, Brittany Abeldt

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Methods: Data was collected from the archives provided by the CDC Wonder database; including The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, The North America Land Data Assimilation System, and The Web-Based Injury Statistic Query and Reporting System. The variables used were quality of life (as measured by mental health days and physical health days), suicide rates, and daily sunlight. Data was obtained for all the states in the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii due to lack of available data from these states. Quality of life and suicide rate data was from 2016 and daily sunlight data was from January 1st, …

Cardiovascular Fitness And Muscle Strength In Asthmatic Children, Kaitlynne Pak

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength performance of children with asthma versus without.

Methods: Participants include patients who were involved in the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS) as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The average cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength scores will be appreciated by analyzing the averages of time spent on treadmill, maximal heart rate, heart rate at end of exam, recovery time, maximal endurance time, cardiovascular fitness report, upper body strength and lower body strength using two-tailed T-tests between patients with asthma …

The Impact Of Food Insecurity On Diabetes Prevalence In The Us: A Look At The Northeast And The Midwest, Richard Mensah

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions globally. Various risk factors have been found to be associated with the incidence of diabetes. These include genetic predispositions, physical activity and diet. However, less attention has been given to the potential risk of food insecurity to diabetes prevalence. Therefore, the goal of this study was to look at the prevalence of food insecurity and diabetes in New York and Ohio, and try to see if a correlation exists between food insecurity and diabetes prevalence in these states.

In our methods, we used the 2019 data from County Health Rankings (CHR) …

Evaluation Of Safe Sleep Practices Of Cribs For Kids Class Attendees, Halimat Adeshola Olaoluwa

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a major cause of infant mortality, and sleep-related causes of SIDS are a focus of many strategies to combat infant mortality because they are largely preventable. One intervention that combines the distribution of a portable crib and safe sleep education to families that indicate a financial need is the Cribs for Kids program. The purpose of this study was to assess any changes in recommended safe sleep practices by Cribs for Kids attendees before and after the receipt of a portable crib and safe sleep education. Families who met eligibility criteria were enrolled in …