Public Health Commons^™

Addressing Deaths Of Despair: The Impact Of Loneliness On Excessive Alcohol Use And Alcohol-Involved Driving Deaths In Ohio, Juliana Zacher, Akshey Suresh, Dylan Timperman

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Alcohol-related driving deaths and excessive alcohol consumption continue to rise across the United States. These trends have had a large impact on historically disadvantaged populations, such as Appalachia, being disproportionately affected. Previous literature suggests factors such as loneliness, mental distress, segregation, and immigration status amongst others may contribute to this increase in drinking. Although delineating a clear role of the nature of the impact at a community level still remains unclear. Our objective was to explore these very factors as well as to identify social and economic predictors to explain alcohol-related driving deaths and excessive drinking in Ohio between 2016 …

Regional Variation And Correlation Of Big Five Personality Traits With Rates Of Insufficient Sleep And Diabetes In The United States, Isabella Chirakos, Brennan Schroeder

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Diabetes and insufficient sleep are prevalent health concerns, and determining potential contributing factors could help decrease the incidence of these issues. This study aims to explore potential associations between insufficient sleep and diabetes mellitus, examining whether these negative health outcomes can be linked geographically and by personality traits. Results could help create more effective programs to combat diabetes and insufficient sleep.
Materials and Methods: The study utilized longitudinal health data and roadmaps from 2016 and 2023 for each state, categorizing the data into four regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. We incorporated personality data from the Synthetic Aperture Personality …

An Evaluation Of The Association Between Female Reproductive Health Policy And Children's Health Outcomes, Kira Markowski, Rachel Bobko

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: As policy pertaining to female reproductive health and education continues to be a central issue concerning Americans and a divisive focus of political campaigns, it is important to fully understand the ramifications of female reproductive health legislation not only on women’s health outcomes but also the health outcomes of children and adolescents.
Objective: We set out to identify how legislation and policy related to female reproductive health and education impacts the health and well-being of children and adolescents. By evaluating this relationship, we aim to show whether variations in policy correlate with variations in a child’s well-being as lawmakers …

Awake And Affected: Cultural And Socioeconomic Impacts On Sleep Insufficiency In Modern-Day Ohio, Nehal Mittal, Marina Shenouda

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Previous literature explores factors such as urban environments, screen use and stress negatively impact sleep quality in American adults. However, there is a lack of demographic focus on non-white, low-income populations specifically related to sleep. There is a growing need for targeted interventions to address increasingly prevalent disparities.
Objective: Our study aims to look deeper into race, age, and socioeconomic status and other demographic factors that may affect sleep health.
Results: Our analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between insufficient sleep and selfreported poor or fair health (r = .728) and a moderate positive correlation with unemployment (r = …

Prevention Of Substance Related Deaths Through Mental Health Counseling, Lindsey Tout, Camille Zonfa

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Substance abuse, particularly alcohol and drug use, remains a critical public safety issue in Ohio. Those suffering with abuse disorders are likely to often have accompanying mental health disorders, however, there lies a significant gap in treatment.
Objective: This study examines trends in alcohol-related driving deaths, drug overdose deaths, excessive drinking, and mental health provider availability from 2016 to 2023 in rural and urban counties of Ohio.
Methods: Data collected from the public source, County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, was analyzed using statistical methods to assess changes between 2016 to 2023 for the 88 counties of Ohio. Urban versus …

Factors Driving Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations In Ohio And Surrounding States, Ann Walter, Andy Russell

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Alcohol, Mental Health, And Suicide, Motassem Bayyoud, Megan Galluch

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Suicide rates in Montana, Iowa, Ohio, and New Jersey vary strongly and encompass the wide range seen across all fifty states in America. Previous research has told us that there is a significant relationship between Alcohol Use Disorder and the ideation, attempt, and completion of suicide. Additionally, most people who are victims of suicide suffer from mental disorders. People use alcohol to cope with mental health and alcohol leads to deteriorating and adverse outcomes in a person’s life. To attempt to better understand the relationship between these variables and why suicide rates differ so widely, an analysis of binge drinking, …

Examining Low Mammogram Rates In Native American Populations In Arizona And New Mexico, Mason Berges, Ayesha Ahmad

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Introduction: Despite improvements in technology over the last several decades, breast cancer incidence and mortality rates have remained steady among the Native American population. This is in direct contrast to the general United States population which has seen substantial decreases in these incidence and mortality rates. A key factor in eliminating breast cancer and saving lives is undergoing mammogram screenings. While mammogram screenings are of crucial importance, many Native American women lack equitable access to healthcare resources and as a result face unnecessary health challenges. Several social determinants of health could be playing a key role in these mammogram screening …

Impact Of Abortion Restrictions On Childhood Health Outcomes, Rico Carter, Griffin Suppa

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Abortion has been a topic for debate in the U.S. for decades. With the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, many pro-abortion advocates fear for the looming effects this policy change will have on healthcare. In this study we aim to study how abortion access or lack thereof influences childhood healthcare outcomes. Past research has shown a negative impact of abortion restrictions on infant survival, future socioeconomic success, and the U.S. foster care system. Using data collected from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and three abortion restriction levels created from Guttmacher, we found that states with restrictions had …

Food Insecurity Rates And Its Related Factors In The State Of Ohio, Sophia Danchine, Maia Sethi

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Food insecurity is an ongoing issue across Ohio counties, influenced by socioeconomic factors, geographical location, and age and ethnic demographics. This study explores food insecurity rates from 2016 to 2023, comparing urban and rural counties, various social determinants of health, such as income, education, and age, and exploring correlations with racial and ethnic demographics. Using data from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps database, statistical analyses revealed key findings that food insecurity was not significantly different when comparing rural versus urban counties in Ohio. The most significant predictor to food insecurity in 2023 was median household income, followed by percent …

Social And Structural Determinants Of Mammography Screening Rates Among Female Medicare Beneficiaries: A Retrospective Analysis, Stephen Fuglsang, Rakhsha Khatri

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Introduction: Despite Medicare fully covering annual mammogram costs, less than one half of female Ohio residents aged 65-74 sought yearly mammograms. As such, our analyses explore which social and structural determinants of health predict the likelihood that a woman aged 65-74 on Medicare will receive an annual mammogram.
Methods: This retrospective analysis utilized data from the County Health Rankings database, focusing on female Medicare enrollees aged 65-74. Mammography screening rates were compared across counties within Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri. Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were employed to examine relationships between English non-proficiency, high school graduation rates, residential segregation, primary care …

Income, Education, And Family Structure: Drivers Of Teen Pregnancy In Rural And Urban Ohio, Adam Klauck, Maggie Stiefel, Catherine Wilson

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Teen birth rates in Ohio have been declining; however, due to the potential adverse ramifications of any teen birth, for either the mother or the child, understanding the strongest predictors of teen birth rates in Ohio will allow physicians to preventatively care for their young female population. Our objective was to identify some qualitative factors that best indicate the environment in which a teenage pregnancy is most likely to occur, giving special attention to the difference between rural and urban environments. Relevant data was obtained from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. This study used qualitative methods and SPSS to analyze …

The Effect Of Socioeconomic Factors On Childhood Mortality, Sathvika Madisetty, Benjamin Curl

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This study investigates the impact of socioeconomic factors specifically childhood poverty, uninsurance, and severe housing problems on childhood mortality rates in Ohio in 2016 and 2023.
Methods: The study analyzes county-level data from Ohio in 2016 and 2023, focusing on childhood mortality, childhood poverty, uninsurance, and severe housing problems using data from County Health Rankings and Roadmaps1. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, Spearman correlations, and linear regression, were performed to examine associations and predictive relationships.
Results: Childhood poverty was found to have a moderate, statistically significant correlation with childhood mortality in Ohio for 2023, emerging as the strongest predictor …

Exploring The Socioeconomic Drivers Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Prevalence And Their Implications For Treatment In The Midwest, Kendall Locascio, Anirudha Koppaka

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a leading chronic disease globally with its prevalence steadily rising and significantly impacting public health systems. Previous research has indicated correlations between resource scarcity, low income, and limited education completion and T2DM prevalence. However, the degree of influence of these factors on incidence and progression remains unclear. This study aims to identify the most significant socioeconomic determinants of T2DM prevalence and progression in the Midwest to aid healthcare providers in creating maximally effective T2DM treatment plans. Methods include using data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) for Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. We …

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Factors And Low Birth Rates In Ohio, Ryan Gora, Hannah Amin

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: The incidence of low birth weight (LBW) has not substantially fallen over time despite advances in medical interventions. LBW has been linked to several chronic diseases in adulthood including type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), making it a particularly salient public health issue.
Objective: To examine socioeconomic factors and diseases associated with LBW in Ohio between 2016-2022.
Methods: Using data from County Health Rankings, we identified socioeconomic factors predictive of LBW in Ohio between 2016-2022. We also examined the relationship between LBW and incidence of T2DM as well as food insecurity (FI). In addition, we investigated how …

Food And Mood, Angelina Gentilin, Patrick Tawil

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Depression and mental illnesses are on the rise in the United States alongside other chronic illnesses like obesity. Preliminary research indicates that diets of individuals and obesity can have profound roles in mental health status. Alongside the consummatory behavior of eating, drinking alcohol is associated with mental illnesses like depression and could potentially play a role in mental health and poor diet. The authors analyzed the public health county data in Ohio of adults between the years of 2016 and 2022 to investigate any differences in the population’s health rates. This study found that diet plays an influencing role in …

Texans In Transition: Exploring Socioeconomic Effects On Health From 2016 To 2023, Dylan Timperman, Nowshin Islam, Akshey Suresh

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Although it has been shown that low socioeconomic status (SES) negatively impacts many health outcomes, very little is known about this relationship in the second largest U.S. state, Texas. Over the past decade, Texas has experienced crises such as Hurricane Harvey, the COVID 19 pandemic, and other environmental disasters that have worsened disparities in health and financial stability. With the highest uninsured rate in the nation and a rapidly growing Hispanic population, understanding financial health disparities is important in influencing public policy and resource allocation.
Objective: By analyzing The University of Wisconsin’s Public Health Institute County Health Rankings & …

Examining Intersectional Factors In Infant Mortality: The Role Of Race, Geography, And Socioeconomic Status In Ohio, Catherine Tran, Rebekah Murray

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Aspects of a mother’s identity such as race, socioeconomic status, and geographical location can impact healthcare access and outcomes, especially infant mortality.
Objective: The aim of this study is to identify how different variables relating to a mother’s identity intersect with one another to impact infant mortality rate in Ohio.
Methods: Data for infant mortality rate, racial residential segregation index, patient race by percentage, and median household income was collected from County Health Rankings, and data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics.
Results: A linear regression found that the best fitting model including median household income and percent Black …

The Opioid Crisis: Analyzing Access To Resources, Mental Health And The Influence On Overdose Deaths In Urban And Rural Communities, Katharina Johnson, Maggie Obourn

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Opioid use contributes significantly to deaths throughout the United States. Opioid overdose deaths have increased in recent years and the opioid crisis has far reaching effects on many communities. There are several factors that contribute to opioid overuse and death, including access to resources and social factors.
Objective: In this study we aimed to assess how social factors affect overdoses by examining the differences between rural and urban communities over time.
Methods: We utilized data from County Health Rankings and conducted a retrospective review of data from 2016 and 2023 to compare several factors that we hypothesized affected opioid …

Access To Exercise Opportunities And Food Security: Mediators In The Prevalence Of Chronic Diseases In Ohio, Anidya Soni, Lisa Victor

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Obesity remains a leading public health issue in the United States, with 40.3% of adults classified as overweight, underscoring the need to understanding the environmental and social determinants of health1. The neighborhood food environment, including access to healthy food and recreational spaces in one's community, plays a critical role in shaping dietary behaviors and physical activity levels.

Objective: This study examines the relationship between neighborhood food environments including access to healthy food and exercise opportunities, socioeconomic factors, and health outcomes like obesity, and diabetes in Ohio from two-time points: 2016 to 2023 using data from the County Health Rankings …

A Review On Wolbachia- A Viable Alternative To Control Aedes-Born Arboviral Diseases, Fatima Khizar, Iqra Mushtaq, Hafsa Masud, Muhammad Sajjad Sarwar

Journal of Bioresource Management

The endemic geographic ranges of mosquitoes are expanding due to various anthropogenic activities including rapid international travel and trade, urbanization, deforestation, and global warming. Hence, Aedes-borne arboviral diseases like dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, or Zika infections would cause severe future outbreaks in non-endemic regions of the world. This threat to global public health highlights an urgent need for the development of efficient and effective mosquito control strategies. To date, a large number of mosquito vector-control strategies have been developed. Each of them has its strengths and weaknesses but the use of intracellular, endosymbiotic reproductive parasitic bacteria named Wolbachia pipientis …

Association Between Teaching Clinic Structure And The Readiness Of Ophthalmology Residents To Enter Independent Practice, T. Michael Kashner, Marjorie A. Bowman, Catherine P. Kaminetzky, Andrea D. Birnbaum, John M. Byrne, Paul B. Greenberg, Steven S. Henley, Karen M. Sanders

Population and Public Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Our objective is to determine if the structure of Graduate Medical Education teaching clinics is associated with how well ophthalmology residents are prepared to meet the workload demands of independent clinical practice. Resident preparedness to enter independent practice was measured by the Readiness Index. Part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ new Workload-based Resident Academic Performance measures (WRAP), resident readiness is computed from electronic health records for residents by clinic and service-date. The index compares resident productivity net of supervision and adjusted for care quality to the average productivity of non-supervising ophthalmologists. Readiness comprises a Workload component (ratio of resident …

Proactive Psychiatry: Innovating The Delivery Of Consultation-Liaison Services In A Pediatric Hospital, Elizabeth Schindler, Katherine Winner, Ramzi W. Nahhas, Gianni Maione, Aisha Jamison, Kelly Blankenship

Population and Public Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: The benefits of a proactive consultation-liaison psychiatry service have been well documented in the adult population, including decreased length of stay (LOS), increased satisfaction among physicians, and enhanced collaborative care. However, there is no available research on the effectiveness of this model in pediatric hospitals. Objective: This study compared patients aged 5–18 years on a general medical floor receiving a proactive psychiatry consult to concurrent controls receiving no consult and to historical controls receiving traditional reactive consults. Methods: New admissions to two pediatric general medical hospital teams were reviewed on weekday mornings to identify those with active psychiatric concerns. …

A Study On The 2016 And 2022 Ms And Oh Populations: How Obesity Is Related To The Co-Mingling Of Median Household Income, Limited Access To Healthy Foods And Limited Access To Exercise Opportunities, Ben Schlessel, Justice Williams

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Obesity has plagued the United States for decades, and while the implications of obesity have drastically changed over time (from a sign of wealth to a possible implication of mal/low nutrition), its impacts on the country’s population are abrasive and costly. Objective: The aim is to address and investigate how factors such as Median Household Income (MHI), Limited Access to Healthy Food and Limited Access to Exercise interplay with and correlate to obesity. Methods: Data acquired from the County Health Rankings was analyzed using several analysis strategies (paired and unpaired T-tests, and regression plots, etc.). Only Mississippi and Ohio …

Assessing Socioeconomic Patterns Of Excessive Alcohol Consumption In Ohio: A County-Level Analysis, Tate Barney, Dev Patel

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Excessive alcohol consumption poses significant public health challenges, with complex socioeconomic factors influencing drinking behaviors. Understanding the relationship between socioeconomic determinants and excessive drinking patterns at the state and county levels is crucial for informing targeted interventions. Objective: To investigate the associations between excessive drinking (binge or heavy drinking) and socioeconomic factors, including median household income, mental health provider availability, health insurance coverage, educational attainment, and unemployment rates across counties in Ohio. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2023 County Health Rankings for 88 counties in Ohio. Spearman correlations were used to assess associations between excessive drinking and socioeconomic …

The Impact Of Permit Concealed Carry And Social Factors On Firearm Fatalities, Witty Kwok, Jacob Weaver

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

A tragic amount of gun fatalities occur in today's world. These fatalities can be from acts of aggression, negligence, or accidental, but nonetheless are taking lives at an alarming rate. There has been a call to action to make changes and begin combating these issues, with the most commonly proposed solution being firearm regulation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of firearm legislation, specifically of concealed carry regulations, on controlling firearm fatalities while also attempting to identify underlying causes or predictors of firearm fatalities. In an attempt to simplify the many regulations implemented differently between states, this study looked …

A Study Into Exercise And Obesity On Diabetes In Ohio, Colorado, And Mississippi, Grace Li, Wafiq Choudhury

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic in the US adult population, with its prevalence increasing every year. The disease is associated with physical inactivity and obesity. Like other lifestyle diseases, type 2 diabetes is preventable and manageable. Previous studies have shown that exercise plays an important role in diabetes treatment. In this study, we aimed to investigate relationships among obesity rate, access to exercise opportunities, and diabetes prevalence in Ohio, Colorado, and Mississippi by analyzing County Health Rankings data of the three states from 2016 and 2022. Our results showed associations among obesity rate, access to exercise opportunities, and …

Factors Affecting Health Outcomes In Ohio’S Most Populated Rural And Urban Counties, Isaac Stokes, Omar Sarhan

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Citizens of Ohio live in a diverse range of settings, such as urban, metropolitan, and rural counties. Populations living in urban settings may live longer and have more access to healthcare providers (Primary Care and Mental Health). Due to the improved access of care, populations in the urban settings may have less hospital visits and overall, better health compared to rural counties within Ohio. Objective: The objective of this investigation was to examine the urban and rural counties in the state for differences in years of potential life lost, primary care physician ratio, preventable hospitalization stays, and mental health …

Analyzing The Correlation Between Water Violations And Hospitalization Rates, Rebekah Dalton, Jed Speers

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Unsafe water due to violations in water safety can result in illness and ultimately hospitalization. However, there is little data that analyzes regional rates of water violations and their correlation to hospitalization rates. This research aims to analyze the correlation between water violations and hospitalization rates between the Midwest, East and West Coasts, and between Ohio counties that use the Lake Erie water basin and those that use the Ohio River water basin. Methods include the use of data from County Health Rankings and the following statistical tests: paired and unpaired T-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation test. Results showed that …

The Shortage Of Primary Care Physicians In The United States, Its Impact On Health Outcomes, And Rationale For Potential Solutions, Jacob Mardovin, Graham Kessler

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Purpose: In the United States there is a growing shortage of primary care physicians that has the potential to negatively impact health outcomes of the general population. In this study, we aim to explore this potential impact by investigating the relationship between the primary care physician to patient ratio, a representation of the shortage, and various health outcomes. Methods: The data for this study was collected from County Health Rankings and the variables included were the primary care physician to patient ratio, several health outcome variables looking at both length and quality of life, and the other primary care provider …