Public Health Commons^™

The Relationship Between Financial Empowerment And Health Related Quality Of Life In Family Scholar House Participants., Chelsey Erbaugh Franz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Family Scholar House program was a unique intervention designed to stop the cycle of poverty by providing college education and support to single parents. The different aspects of the Family Scholar House program addressed each of the five social determinants of health (economic stability, education, social and community context, health care, and neighborhood and built environment). Results of the studies showed that participant’s mental health and general health rating, as measured by a health-related quality of life survey, improved during the time in the Family Scholar House program. Upon graduation from the program, the mental health and the health …

Implementation Of Break Time For Employee Nursing Mothers At The University Of Louisville : A Case Study., Robin Elise Weiss, 1971-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a mixed methods look at the barriers to successful implementation of the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at an upper southern-midwestern university. As public health and medical officials push the desire for an increase in breastfeeding initiation and duration, many mothers must overcome barriers within the employment arena. Previous work has failed to look at how the university setting presents unique challenges with a diverse workforce, varied jobs, and differing space availability. In other settings, barriers have been identified; the goal of this dissertation was to identify what the specific …

The Influence Of Child Physical Activity Programs On Parent Physical Activity In A Rural Community., Katie F. Leslie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: In 2008, a coalition of community leaders and parents sought to increase access to physical activity opportunities for residents of Meade County, a rural Kentucky community. To date, the Meade Activity Center has implemented a variety of year-round programs conducted at borrowed spaces from local schools that have targeted children, utilizing the strategy to first engage children as a way to extend behavior change to other members of the community. This study assessed the influence of child participation in physical activity programs on parent physical activity, and determined potential methods of intervention to increase adult physical activity in a …

The Influence Of Race And Gender On Hiv Risk Behaviors In High School Students In The Southern States Of The United States, Malendie T. Gaines

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is highest in the southern states of the United States (US), with adolescents in this region being one of the most affected populations in the country. A limited amount of information is available on adolescent HIV risk behaviors in the southern states, specifically focusing on race and gender. The purpose of this study was to use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Risk Behaviors Survey (YRBS) for high school students in the southern states for 2011 and 2013 to examine the influence of race and gender on 1) early …

A Hierarchical Graph For Nucleotide Binding Domain 2, Samuel Kakraba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the most prevalent inherited diseases is cystic fibrosis. This disease is caused by a mutation in a membrane protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is known to function as a chloride channel that regulates the viscosity of mucus that lines the ducts of a number of organs. Generally, most of the prevalent mutations of CFTR are located in one of two nucleotide binding domains, namely, the nucleotide binding domain 1 (NBD1). However, some mutations in nucleotide binding domain 2 (NBD2) can equally cause cystic fibrosis. In this work, a hierarchical graph is built for NBD2. …

Kidquest Childhood Obesity Prevention Program: Analysis Of Its Influence On Health Of Rural South Dakota 5th And 6th Grade Children, Nayef Bumaryoum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is a growing problem throughout the developed world. This project will focus on obesity in rural children by studying those living in an area of South Dakota. Research shows high levels of overweight and obese children in this demographic. The two major objectives of this study are to evaluate the efficacy of the KidQuest (KQ) nutrition and physical activity curriculum in reducing the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese within participating South Dakota 5th and 6th grade children using baseline/post-intervention data and to determine which KQ teacher type is most effective as evaluated by anthropometric, …

Photovoice: Engaging School Communities In Wellness Efforts, Hilary J. Overby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Currently there are no interactive tools that allow school communities to assess their school wellness needs and foster interest in wellness efforts. PhotoVoice is a participatory action research methodology commonly used in public health that utilizes photography to document and showcase community strengths and weaknesses in order to promote change. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to gather perceptions of a school community after using PhotoVoice to document school wellness efforts 1. Participants: High school students (n=103) and school community members (i.e., residents of community, school faculty) (n=188) were recruited across three school districts. Methods: High school students …

Unicondylar Knee Arthroplasty In The Inpatient Vs Outpatient Setting: Impact On Process Time, Quality Outcomes, And Patient Satisfaction, Ibrahim Zeini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The implications of rising healthcare expenditures are of great concern nationally and internationally. Performing procedures in the outpatient setting can be one solution to this crisis. However, there is a lack of research on systematic approaches for transitioning procedures to the outpatient setting. Unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) presents an opportunity, as it is already in the early stages of transitioning to the outpatient setting. The key step in facilitating an effective transition to the outpatient setting is comparing outpatient UKAs with inpatient UKAs with a focus on process time, quality outcomes, and patient satisfaction. This study retrospectively compares 400 UKA …

The Role Of Self-Regulation, Self-Efficacy, And Outcome Expectancy Value On Physical Activity Of Former Division I Student Athletes, Takilya T. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to acknowledge the needs of student athletes after college, the NCAA designed the Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS) Life Skills program to assist student athletes with this transition. In this program personal development outside of occupational skills is often ignored. Though physical activity appears to be of little focus of the CHAMPS Life Skill program, recent research revealed that student athletes' physical activity patterns surpass those of their peers while in college but this difference is not maintained among alumni student athletes and their peers (Sorenson, 2012). Self-regulation interventions have successfully mediated and predicted physical …

Association Of Kidney Stones With Chronic Disease Among Adults In The United States: Considerations By Race-Ethnicity, Lashaunta Marie Glover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: little research has been conducted to describe the relationship between kidney stones and risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in individuals of different race ethnicities. Purpose: the purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of co-morbidities and to investigate whether there was a statistically significant association between kidney stone formers and increased odds of cardiovascular disease and stroke in race-ethnicity groups. Methods: data from the 2007-2012 cycles of the national health and nutrition examination survey (Nhanes) were used. Survey and biological data used included kidney stone cases, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke. …

Is Conflict A Factor In A Population's Quality Of Life? A Comparative Study Of University Students In The Palestinian Territories And Jordan, Yara Asi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As nearly one third of the world's population lives in an area that is in some way touched by war, researchers have long been interested in the varied impacts of conflict on civilians. Many indicators, measuring both physical and mental constructs, have been assessed in war-torn populations from around the world, one of which is health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt) are one region in which copious research on health indicators has been undertaken in an effort to understand how long-term conflict manifests itself in noncombatant populations. However, existing studies focus primarily on indicators within the …

Assessing The Social And Ecological Factors That Influence Childhood Overweight And Obesity, Katie Callahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. Currently more than 1 in 3 children aged 2-19 are overweight or obese. This is of major concern because childhood overweight and obesity leads to chronic conditions such as type II diabetes and tracks into adulthood, where more severe adverse health outcomes arise. In this study I used the premise of the social ecological model (SEM) to analyze the common levels that a child is exposed to daily; the intrapersonal level, the interpersonal level, the school level, and the community level to better …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Sense Of Coherence, Engagement In Health Behaviors, And Individual Coping Style., Dean Todd Misener 1973-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stress is a pervasive issue among traditional college students; affecting their choice in health behaviors, and overall academic performance. What is not clear is why some students, despite the pervasiveness of stressors are able to do well in school and maintain/improve their health, while other students struggle to maintain their health and do poorly in school. Aaron Antonovsky theorized that when confronted with a stressor a person with a high sense of coherence (SOC) will be motivated to cope, believe the challenge is understood and that the necessary resources to cope with the stressor are available. Overall, Antonovsky theorized that …

Collaborative Models Of Care In The Appalachian Region Of Tennessee: Examining Relationships Between Level Of Collaboration, Clinic Characteristics, And Barriers To Collaboration, Jeffrey Ellison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Decades of research have shown that there are significant advantages to maintaining close communicative and collaborative relationships between primary care and behavioral health providers. Fiscal, structural, and systemic barriers, however, often restrict the degree to which such interprofessional collaboration can occur. In the present study the authors examined relationships between primary care clinics in the Appalachian region’s characteristics (i.e., clinic type, rurality, and clinic size), barriers (i.e., fiscal, structural, and systemic) reported to using increased collaboration, and the level of collaboration used at a particular clinic.

For the present study 136 surveys were completed by providers working in primary care …

Maternal Perception Of Child Body Weight And Physical Activity Behavior Patterns: Interactions With Gender And Ethnic Minority Status Of Preschool Children, Kayla F. Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childhood overweight and obesity is a complex disease that requires early identification and intervention. Little research has investigated the influence of maternal perception of child body weight on reported child physical activity behaviors and importance to change these behaviors. Using parent survey and child body mass index (BMI) data, the current study evaluated the difference between maternal perception of child weight status and reported physical activity and sedentary behavior levels amongst preschool-aged children. Reported child physical activity and sedentary behavior levels were not significantly different depending on maternal misperception. A significant interaction, however, between maternal perception of child body weight …

Exploring The Role Of Religiosity On Suicidal Ideation: A Study Among A Population-Based Sample Of Adolescents In The United States, Grace E. Tettey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is a major public health issue in the United States. Some studies show decreased suicide rates in religious populations, but it is unclear how religiosity might be linked to suicidal behavior of adolescents emerging into adulthood. To this point few studies have examined the relationship between adolescent suicidal ideation and several risk factors at once and the role of religiosity in these relationships.

Drawing from Waves I-III of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health data from 1994 to 2002, I sought to explore the relationship between religiosity (i.e. religious affiliation, service attendance, prayer, perceived importance of religion) and …

Examining The Influence Of Farmers' Market Motivations On Access To Healthful Foods And Business Opportunities For Farms, Rachel K. Ward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Farmers’ markets are increasingly promoted as mechanisms for improving access to healthful foods for low-income households, as they are relatively inexpensive to establish and they can provide affordable food for low-income households by offering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Electronic Benefit Transfer (SNAP/EBT). SNAP/EBT at markets also expands revenue opportunities for participating farmers. Market mangers provide a critical role in overseeing SNAP/EBT at markets and influencing business opportunities for farmers. Using a mixed-method approach, this study aimed to evaluate how managers’ motivations influence SNAP/EBT availability and participation at markets and business opportunities for small- and moderate- sized farms.

To develop a …

The Impact Of Preconception Maternal Stress On Fecundability And Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes., Shekufe Akhter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It has been commonly hypothesized (and widely believed) that maternal stress either prior to or during pregnancy can adversely affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes. However, surprisingly few epidemiologic studies have rigorously tested these hypotheses. The current study evaluated the effects of pre-conception self-reported stress on fecundability and spontaneous abortion. The study population was derived from the Mount Sinai Study of Woman Office Workers with 487 women included. Women recorded stress (scale from 1 to 4) and covariate information in a daily diary for 12 cycles or until pregnant. Results indicated a significantly increased risk of spontaneous abortion for women with …

Assessing Health Department Readiness For Public Health Accreditation Through Quality Improvement, Christian L. Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Engaging in quality improvement (QI) activities can help local and state health departments improve current processes, develop more effective new processes, increase leadership capacity, and prepare for public health accreditation. Public health organizations that have implemented QI processes have seen improvements in health outcome indicators, delivery of the 10 essential services, patient satisfaction, and performance management.

Quality improvement is the foundation of the Public Health Accreditation Board‟s (PHAB) program and further pushes health departments, at both the local and state level, to adopt QI activities within their organizations. There are numerous potential benefits associated with accreditation in public health, one …

Cognitive Decline And Polypharmacy In An Elderly Population., Ximena A. Oyarzun Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aging is associated with increased risk of chronic disease, comorbidities, and greater medication use. Polypharmacy, the concomitant use of 5 or more medications, has been associated with adverse health effects, and potentially cognitive decline. The proposed hypothesis is that polypharmacy increases the risk of cognitive decline in elderly people. Using longitudinal data from 572 participants from the New Mexico Aging Process Study cohort, the impact of polypharmacy on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) was studied. The statistical analyses were performed using mixed linear regression multivariable models and generalized estimating equations, adjusting for important …

Coal Ash And Children's Sleep : A Community-Based Study., Clara G. Sears

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kentucky is the fifth largest producer of coal ash, a by-product of coal combustion. The small spherical coal ash particles contain heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. Coal ash is currently classified as nonhazardous by the EPA, which allows it to be stored in open-air impoundments near low-income communities. The primary object of the study is to determine the prevalence of sleep disruptive behaviors in children exposed to coal ash, compared to a group of demographically similar non-exposed children. Parents or guardians from five neighborhoods surrounding a coal ash storage facility, and one non-exposed community, participated in a …

Evaluation Of Key Components Of Draft Guidelines For The National Weather Service Tsunamireadytm Community Program, Colleen Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program partnered with the National Weather Service (NWS) in 2000 to create the TsunamiReady^TM (TR) Community program. TR is designed to help communities in coastal areas plan and prepare for tsunamis. To achieve TR recognition communities must meet certain criteria including specific emergency planning and management actions within the categories of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

This study’s purpose was to evaluate the acceptability and usefulness of key components of a proposed revised set of TR Community program guidelines. Research was guided by the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) using Community Based Participatory Research methods …

Markers And Mechanisms Of Metabolic Aging., Peter Dziewornu Ahiawodzi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oxidative stress has been implicated in aging and age-related diseases. Using three distinct studies, this dissertation examines associations between lifestyle factors and oxidative stress, and their effects on advanced glycation end products, telomere length, and type II diabetes. Carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), an advanced glycation end-product, has been linked to oxidative stress, cardiovascular and other age-related diseases. The first study investigates the association between sleep disordered breathing (SDB), a source of oxidative stress, and CML. 1002 participants with sleep data from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) were analyzed. SDB was not significantly associated with CML, but after stratification by gender and hemoglobin …

The Performance Of The K6 Scale In A Large Adolescent Sample., Nicholas Chalmer Peiper 1982-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an applied research study to examine the performance of the K6 scale that measures serious emotional disturbance (SED) among adolescents. As the K6 was included in the 2012 administration of the Kentucky Incentives for Prevention Survey (KIP), three specific aims are included: 1) confirm the unidimensional structure of the K6 among adolescents using factor analysis; 2) define the prevalence and correlates of adolescent SED among Kentucky students; and 3) utilize latent class analysis (LCA) to empirically derive clinically relevant subtypes of adolescents with SED. Of the 122,718 students who completed the KIP in 2012, approximately 89% provided …

Effectiveness Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Copd) Management Program At The University Of Louisville., Malhar Anantbhai Jhaveri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease of the respiratory system characterized by airflow limitation that is not completely reversible and is associated with systemic effects especially of the cardiovascular system. COPD is frequently complicated by acute exacerbations that contribute to physical impairment and increased health care use. As COPD is a chronic lung disease with significant systemic manifestations, it is important to have chronic disease management programs specifically targeting individuals with COPD designed to improve their overall quality of life, reduce the burden of disease and decrease the impact of COPD on daily life. Chronic disease …

Vitamin D Status Of College Students: Implications For Health Leaders, Eileen M. Cress

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vitamin D deficiency is considered to be a pandemic with implications for compromised bone health and other chronic diseases. Few studies have examined vitamin D status in college-aged individuals where prevention of future health consequences is still possible. Serum vitamin D 25(OH)D status and vitamin D intake were examined in 98 college students ages 18-29 years during winter. BMI was classified as < 25and 25 or greater. Race was categorized as Caucasian or other. Overall, 69.5% had suboptimal serum vitamin D levels, <30ng/mL. Only 8 students (8.2%) met the EAR (400 IU) per day for vitamin D intake. t tests were used to determine if there were significant differences in serum vitamin D level and dietary intake based on gender, race and BMI. Significant differences were found in serum vitamin D level when compared by gender and race. Females tended to have a higher serum vitamin D level than males. Those representing minorities had lower serum vitamin D levels than Caucasians; One hundred percent of the minority students had suboptimal serum vitamin D levels. Based on these findings, dietitians should increase efforts to target college-aged individuals in educational programming related to factors affecting vitamin D synthesis, vitamin D intake, and health consequences of suboptimal vitamin D status, particularly in winter. Consideration should be given to vitamin D fortification of foods that meet the preferences of today’s consumer.

Home Care Quality Effects Of Remote Monitoring, Cynthia Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite concerted efforts to decrease costs and increase public health, the embattled U.S. health care system continues to struggle to alleviate these widespread issues. Because the problem of hospital utilizations among patients with heart failure is posited to increase as the population ages, innovative methodologies need to be explored to mitigate adverse events. Remote monitoring harnesses the strength of advanced information and communication technology to affect positive changes in health care quality and cost. By reaching across geographical boundaries, remote monitoring may support increased access to less costly services and improve the quality of home health care. The purpose of …

Zinc Sulfide: Manganese Doped Quantum Rods For Detection Of Metal Ions And A Business Model For Future Sales, Andrew Teblum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hexavalent chromium is an extremely carcinogenic chemical that has been widely produced in the United States. This has led to major waste contamination and pollution throughout the country. According to the Environmental Working Group Hexavalent chromium has been found in 89% of city tap water. Most people believe they are safe using regular home filter systems however that is not true. A more expensive ion exchange water treatment unit is required. Therefore to protect yourselves from this carcinogenic metal a reliable test is required. In this study we have developed a Zinc Sulfide Manganese doped Quantum Rod technology to detect …

The Effects Of Carbonated Soft Drinks On Bone Mineral Density In College Age Women, Tina Irene Bankston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Osteoporosis is a fast growing, worldwide public health problem. Also called, 'the silent disease' or 'fragile bone disease', osteoporosis results from low bone mass (Gammage & Klentrou, 2011; NOF, 2013; Swann, 2012). Currently, 44 million Americans have osteoporosis; 80% of which are women (NOF, 2011). Few studies, most implemented in other countries, have been conducted examining the consumption of carbonated soft drinks (CSD) as a risk factor for low bone mineral density (BMD) (Ogur et al., 2007; Hostmark et al., 2011; McGartland et al., 2003). The global consumption of CSDs increased by four percent during 2009 to 2010. Within the …

Development Of A Physical Activity Intervention Targeted At Middle-Aged Males: A Mixed Methods Research Study, Sheryl L. Chatfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.