Public Health Commons^™

Betting On Bending The Cost Curve

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Innovation In Value-Based Healthcare Delivery

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Preventing Jewish Genetic Diseases In Philadelphia And Nationally, Shoshana Rosen, Faye Shapiro Ms, Cgc

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

National Public Health Week Luncheon And Town Hall Meeting: Reinventing Health In One Of America's Poorest Communities: Camden, Nj

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Social Media By Graduate Health Science Students: The Thomas Jefferson University Experience, Carolyn Giordano Phd

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

National Tobacco Control Leader Speaks At Jefferson

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Greater Philadelphia Schweitzer Program Welcomes New Fellows, Nicole Moore Ma

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

College Within The College (Cwic) At Jefferson Medical College-Population Health, James Plumb Md, Mph, Rickie Brawer Phd, Mph, Abbie Santana Msph, Rob Simmons Drph, Mph, Mches, Cph, Nancy Chernett Ma, Mph

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Promoting A Culture Of Change In A Patient-Centered Medical Home, Michele Q. Zawora Md

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

New Health Insurance Exchanges Expected To Address The Health Care Iron Triangle, Shawn Nowicki Mph

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The 2011 Acgme Program Requirements: A New Model For Quality And Safety, John W. Caruso Md, Facp

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Hpn Summer 2011 Download Full Pdf

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Toxic Chemicals Transported By Rail And Public Health Safety Using Gis In Montgomery County, Ohio, Jason Lipiec

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Hazardous chemicals transported by rail pass directly through urban cities and pose a safety and health threat to the community. Some of these chemicals can be in large quantities, extremely toxic, devastating to the environment and have the potential to cause mass casualties and death. Thousands of people could be in harm’s way. While there is always the possibility for accidental chemical release, they also have the potential to be used in acts of sabotage and terrorism. Evaluation of the rail line in Montgomery County, Ohio using standards in the 2008 Emergency Response Guidebook using geographic information systems (GIS) at …

The Non-Infectious Disease Implications Of Bed Bug Infestations, Christopher T. Balster

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of bed bug infestations throughout Ohio, whether the non-infectious disease implications of infestations are public health concerns, and also determine the perceived ability of public health departments to respond to outbreaks within their jurisdiction. A descriptive study was performed using survey data obtained from 79 local public health departments throughout Ohio. Overall, 79.05% of individuals surveyed agreed that bed bug outbreaks are a public health concern. The mode of responses regarding whether or not the non-infectious disease concerns of infestations are a public health concern was 4 on a scale …

Cultural Conceptions Of Health, Caroline Stephens

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Healthcare is a complicated structure, influenced by multiple economic, social and cultural factors. It is problematic enough to determine how to administer healthcare in countries that rely only on the western healthcare system, but it is even more difficult in places such as Madagascar where multiple healthcare systems exist. Today the Malagasy have a culture that combines the many French practices with the traditional Malagasy beliefs, traditions and values. Many Malagasy chose to utilize allopathic medicine, but many others still prefer to go to a traditional healer. By gaining a better understanding of the average Malagasy person’s perceptions of proper …

Healers And Researchers: Towards A More Balanced Relationship, Gracie Tewkesbury

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In my seminar paper, I discussed the benefits for both parties of collaboration between traditional healers and modern scientific researchers. If research is done on the medicinal effects of plants, these cures can be used more safely and effectively by members of the community. This relationship is greatly beneficial in theory, but the reality is less than ideal. Researchers, especially foreign ones, depreciate and exploit the knowledge of healers, and as a result, healers are often distrustful and unwilling to collaborate. The relationship between healers and researchers potentially holds the cures to countless diseases and can contribute directly to greater …

Western Influence, Latent Racism, And Their Impact On Access To Health Care In Madagascar, Jessica Joy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

While the Malagasy commemorate their Independence Day on June 26 as the day they were freed from colonization and allowed to function as their own country with their own cultures and practices, colonization and Western influence has left an indelible mark on Madagascar that continues to exert its power to this day, shaping Malagasy social behaviors, values, and lives. The introduction of the slave trade to Madagascar in the mid-1800s, as well as French colonization, has left behind a thriving latent and structural racism in the country; a Western ideal of beauty, made complete by its valorization of fair skin, …

Plants, People, And Partnership In Madagascar: How Pharmaceutical Companies And Bioprospecting Ventures Must And May Positively Benefit The Communities Whose Resources They Use, Rebecca Slotkin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

For centuries, traditional medical practitioners around the world have understood the tremendous wealth of medicinal power that can be found in the natural environment. In Madagascar, traditional practitioners have both used and cared for their natural environment, which in turn has given them a wide array of medical knowledge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “approximately 80% of the world’s inhabitants rely predominantly on traditional medicines for their primary health care” (Cao et al. 2009). Traditional medical knowledge has relatively recently come to the attention of the international medical market. This “recent ‘rediscovery’ of medicinally useful plants” (Sheldon et …

The Benefits Of Having An Integrated Health Care System In Madagascar, Elizabeth Miller

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

For my individual research, I wanted to look into all the benefits that could be offered by collaborating allopathic and traditional healthcare systems and how such a system is accomplished in Madagascar, in order to weigh and to discover the feasibility of using integrated healthcare systems as sustainable development in other parts of the world. Furthermore, as Madagascar sets the example in my research this summer, the use of traditional and modern medicine as an integrated health care system best serves the majority of the Malagasy population for several important reasons.

“Mind The Gap” Addressing The Gap Between Health Care Policy & Health Care Reality In Madagascar & The Way Forward Integrating Traditional Medicine & Ethical Reform Within Health Care, Laura Dillon

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

At first glance the health care system in Madagascar looks pretty good. No health care system is perfect, in fact most are far from perfect, but some certainly work better than others. On paper it seems that the current system in Madagascar would be among those that “work better”. Sadly, there is oftentimes a disconnect between what a government writes on paper and what happens in reality; looking around the streets of Antananarivo it quickly became apparent that Madagascar is an example of this disconnect. You do not have to be a health care professional to see the lack of …

Influenza Vaccination Of The Healthcare Workforce: Developing A Model State Law, Alexandra M. Stewart, Marisa A Cox

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

How Do Religion And Belief Systems Influence Traditional Medicine And Health Care In Madagascar?, Whitney Franklin

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Religion and beliefs consistently shape social structures, laws, and even medicine. In Madagascar, this is extremely evident when considering traditional medicine but also exists in modern medicine. Christianity and traditional beliefs are the two main systems that have shaped traditional medicine to what it has become today. These opposites function as a duality that becomes apparent when looking at certain events in Madagascar’s history and the examination of the evolution and rituals performed in the different types of traditional medicine. Through the methodology of interviewing traditional healers and gathering historical information from experts in lectures, I can make sure to …

Suburban Poverty: Barriers To Services And Injury Prevention Among Marginalized Women Who Use Methamphetamine, Miriam W. Boeri, Benjamin Tyndall, Denise R. Woodall

Faculty Articles

Objective: This paper aims to identify the needed healthcare and social services barriers for women living in suburban communities who are using or have used methamphetamine. Drug users are vulnerable to injury, violence and transmission of infectious diseases, and having access to healthcare has been shown to positively influence prevention and intervention among this population. Yet little is known regarding the social context of suburban drug users, their risks behaviors, and their access to healthcare.

Methods: The data collection involved participant observation in the field, face-to-face interviews and focus groups. Audio-recorded in-depth life histories, drug use histories, and resource needs …

Disclosure Of Medical Error, Kiran Shaikh, Sharifa Bashir Lalani

School of Nursing & Midwifery

With the advancement of medical sciences, lives are being prolonged and practice of medicine is considered an art and no longer as science. ‘To Err is Human Report’ has been released and gives data of medical errors in United States which opened people’s eyes but there is grieving need that health professional in Pakistan also report the medical errors. Medical errors are common, costly, and often preventable. This could only happen when health professional are trained and made aware to report the errors. Evidences shows that full and honest disclosure of error and restitution are factors that may lead to …

Adherence To Accelerometer Protocols Among Women From Economically Disadvantaged Neighborhoods, Patricia A. Sharpe, Sarah Wilcox, Laura J. Rooney, Donna Strong, Rosie Hopkins-Campbell, Jean Butel, Barbara E. Ainsworth, Deborah Parra-Medina

Faculty Publications

Background: Objective measurement of physical activity with accelerometers is a challenging task in community-based intervention research. Challenges include distribution of and orientation to monitors, nonwear, incorrect placement, and loss of equipment. Data collection among participants from disadvantaged populations may be further hindered by factors such as transportation challenges, competing responsibilities, and cultural considerations. Methods: Research staff distributed accelerometers and provided an orientation that was tailored to the population group. General adherence strategies such as follow-up calls, daily diaries, verbal and written instructions, and incentives were accompanied by population-specific strategies such as assisting with transportation, reducing obstacles to wearing the accelerometer, …

Results Of The "Active By Choice Today" (Act) Randomized Trial For Increasing Physical Activity In Low-Income And Minority Adolescents, Dawn K. Wilson, M. Lee Van Horn, Heather Kitzman-Ulrich, Ruth P. Saunders, Russell R. Pate, Hannah G. Lawman, Brent Hutto, Sarah Griffin, Nicole Zarrett, Cheryl L. Addy, Leslie Mansard, Gary Mixon, Porschia V. Brown

Faculty Publications

Objective - This study reports the results of the "Active by Choice Today" (ACT) trial for increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in low-income and minority adolescents.

Design - The ACT program was a randomized controlled school-based trial testing the efficacy of a motivational plus behavioral skills intervention on increasing MVPA in underserved adolescents. Twenty-four middle schools were matched on school size, percentage minorities, percentage free or reduced lunch, and urban or rural setting before randomization. A total of 1,563 6th grade students (mean age, 11.3 years, 73% African American, 71% free or reduced lunch, 55% female) participated in either a …

The Missing Men: High Risk And Low Use Of Health Care In Men Of Mexican Origin, Jennifer Salinas, Joseph B. Mccormick, Anne R. Rentfro, Craig Hanis, Monir Hossain, M Hossein Rahbar, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective

We sought to determine gender- and age-specific prevalence of chronic diseases in an urban Mexican American border community.

Methods

The Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC n=2000) was selected using a multi-staged cluster design. Sociodemographic, anthropometric measures and blood samples were collected on each participant.

Results

More women were obese (55.1%) than men (44.8%). Men had significantly higher rates of diabetes (20.4% for men vs 15.8% for women: p

Conclusions

Mexican American males in the US/Mexico border region have a high prevalence of obesity in younger men and higher overall rates of diabetes, including undiagnosed diabetes, and significantly higher serum …

Using Modeling And Simulation To Improve Oral Health Services Delivery In Hampton Roads, Virginia, Mohammad J. Alzahrani

Health Services Research Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the system performance in delivering oral health services in a public health district based on the Conceptual Framework to Measure Performance of the Public Health System (PHS). Using modeling and simulation, a predictive model based on the conceptual framework dimensions: mission, structural capacity, processes, and outcomes was developed to predict the performance of public health district in delivering oral health services.

This is a retrospective longitudinal study. The main objective of this study is to use a modeling and simulation approach to predict the performance of public health district dental clinic in …

Appalachian Regional Model For Organizing And Sustaining County-Level Diabetes Coalitions, Richard Crespo, Molly Shrewsberry, Darrlyn Cornelius-Averhart, Henry B. King Jr.

Family and Community Health

This article describes a model for developing diabetes coalitions in rural Appalachian counties and presents evidence of their sustainability. The rural Appalachian coalition model was developed through a partnership between two federal agencies and a regional university. Coalitions go through a competitive application process to apply for one-time $10,000 grants. The project has funded 7 to 9 coalitions annually since 2001, reaching 66 total coalitions in 2008. Sustainability of the coalitions is defined by the number of coalitions that voluntarily report on their programs and services. In 2008, 58 of 66 (87%) coalitions in the Appalachian region continue to function …

Principal Component Analysis Of Dietary And Lifestyle Patterns In Relation To Risk Of Subtypes Of Esophageal And Gastric Cancer, Stephanie A. Navarro Silvera, Susan T. Mayne, Harvey A. Risch, Marilie D. Gammon, Thomas Vaughan, Wong-Ho Chow, Joel A. Dubin, Robert Dubrow, Janet Schoenberg, Janet L. Stanford, A. Brian West, Heidrun Rotterdam, William J. Blot

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Purpose

To carry out pattern analyses of dietary and lifestyle factors in relation to risk of esophageal and gastric cancers.

Methods

We evaluated risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA),esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC), gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA), and other gastric cancers (OGA) using data from a population-based case-control study conducted in Connecticut, New Jersey, and western Washington state. Dietary/lifestyle patterns were created using principal component analysis (PCA). The impact of the resultant scores on cancer risk was estimated through logistic regression.

Results

PCA identified six patterns: meat/nitrite, fruit/vegetable, smoking/alcohol, legume/meat alternate, GERD/BMI, and fish/vitamin C. Risk of each cancer under study …