Public Health Commons^™

Pubh 5520/5520g - Introduction To Public Health, Katie M. Mercer

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course is designed to give students a foundation in the core functions of the population-based public health (assessment, policy development and assurance). In addition, this course will examine the 10 essential services of public health within these core functions. Defining effective public health practice and providing knowledge about the technical, social, and political parameters related to public health research and practice are goals for this class. Students will gain an understanding of public health as a broad area of work that applies the benefits of current biomedical, environmental, social, and behavioral knowledge in ways that maximize the health status …

Pubh 4798 - Internship In Health Education And Promotion, Joanne Chopak-Foss

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

The internship is designed to be fulltime work in a health-related agency or worksite. This is 600 hours (15 weeks) total on-the-job experience during the regular semester. The duration of the internship is planned to allow the variety of experiences that will provide the most benefit to the student. The student must follow the schedule that is typical of the agency including work hours during the day and any holidays that may fall during the course of the internship. Students may not work or take classes during the course of the internship. All coursework in the degree program MUST be …

Pubh 4330 - Promotional Strategies For Health Programs, Jamie S. Cromley

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course explores the application of social marketing and communication theory to the development of strategies to enhance health education and promotion programs.

Pubh 4134 - Research Methods And Evaluation, Dziyana Nazaruk

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course introduces the student to research methods used in health education and promotion. In addition, this course examines the rationale and procedure to evaluate health education/promotion programs. The course focuses on several topics including: research design, methods of program evaluation, planning research and evaluation, the politics and ethics of evaluation, measurement, sampling logistics, data analysis, and the development of a student project.

Pubh 4133 - Health Promotion Program Planning Ii, Raymona H. Lawrence

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Introduces students to additional theory and application of community-based program planning and evaluation. The second of a two-course sequence, the focus will be on program implementation, evaluation, and reporting of the health promotion plan developed during the prior semester. Students will gain first-hand experience in conducting an evaluation of community health education program.

Pubh 4230 A - Maternal And Child Health, Val Malika Reagon

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course will review the historical and contemporary maternal and child health trends and issues. The application of health behavior and education theories to understanding the health status of women and their children will be central to the course. Emphasis is on promotion and education efforts designed to improve the health, well­being, and quality of life for women and children globally.

Pubh 4132 - Health Promotion Program Planning I, Ashley D. Walker

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Provides the student with the theory and practical applications of planning, developing, implementing and evaluating health promotion programs in a variety of settings. The focus will be on a global approach to planning with emphasis on the 5 settings for health promotion programming which include school, community, clinical, college, and worksite settings.

Pubh 3612 - Health And Kinesiology Honors Thesis Seminar Ii, Ashley D. Walker

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Provides the student with the opportunity to create and defend oral proposal of senior thesis. The student will also begin completing University Institutional Review (IRB) forms.

Pubh 3331 - Stress Theory/Management, Jamie S. Cromley

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Explores issues related to the etiology of stress and stressors with emphasis on environmental, organizational, interpersonal and individual patterns of stress in various health promotion settings. Competency in the active management of stress and mobilizing support in health settings will be evaluated.

Pubh 3330 - Modifying Health Behaviors, Ashley D. Walker

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course is intended to introduce students to the learning and behavioral science theories that provide a framework for the practice of health education and promotion. Application of the theories to planning and implementing health promotion and education programs for individuals, groups, families, and communities will be emphasized. This course also introduces the students to various approaches to describing, explaining, and predicting health behaviors that have or are perceived to have significant effect on human health.

Pubh 3230 - Community Health, Jamie S. Cromley

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Exposes the student to concepts, theories, terms, resources, people, and experiences which are related to community health issues and programs, with a focus on the role of health educators in various community health settings. An examination of affiliations, functions, responsibilities, skills and networks used by community health educators will be included.

Pubh 3131 - Chronic Disease: A Modern Epidemic, Deshannon Antoine-Hardy

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, obesity) are currently responsible for 60% of the global burden of disease and the World Health Organization predicts this to rise to 80% by the year 2020. This is one of the greatest challenges facing health care systems throughout the world and it places long-term health and economic demands on health care systems as the population ages. This course will provide students with the opportunity to study specific issues related to chronic disease epidemiology and management and their links to practice.

Pubh 3130 - Substance Use And Abuse, Jamie S. Cromley

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course will explore legal and illegal drug use in modern society. Issues related to the social, cultural, political, economic impact of drug use will be addressed. The recurrent theme throughout the course will be on prevention. This will include discussions on the best ways to postpone the initiation of substance use and abuse among school aged persons as well as the cessation of use and treatment for abuse among adult populations. Substance use and its abuse effects ALL of us and does NOT discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or income.

Phld 9331: 01p - Public Health Policy, Regulation & Ethics, William A. Mase

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

The purpose of this course is to provide advanced graduate students with an overview of the health policy environment in the United States and prepare students with the skills and tools that they need to analyze and compare between various health policy alternatives. The course emphasis is on contemporary topics in health policy research and various proposals of health care reform. The student will also get introduced to comparative health systems from other nations. By the completion of this course, the student will gain a detailed understanding of contemporary health policy issues and about the health policy making process.

Phld 9133 - Health Organization Communications, Bettye A. Apenteng

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course examines the structure and functioning of the communication process in health organizations. Health organizations including public health, hospitals, long-term care, ambulatory care, managed care, private and public insurance, integrated delivery systems, and other health care organization providers will be discussed within the context of the communication environment that includes communication models, climate, culture, and interpersonal conflict. The course also examines key communication challenges and analyses related to decision making within the principles of management processes and how they are applied to public health organizations amid a dynamic/changing environment.

Bios 9132 - Advanced Clinical Trial Methodology, Karl E. Peace

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Students are introduced to regulatory, scientific, statistical and practical aspects of methods inherent in design, monitoring and analyzing clinical trials. Clinical trials in many areas of drug development are presented, discussed and critiqued.

Bios 9433 - Analysis With Missing & Miss-Specified Data, Robert Vogel

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course is designed to provide the student with the basics of methods for analyzing data with missing data and misspecified data. This course will cover the following topics: missing data in experiments, complete case analysis, weighted complete case analysis, available case analysis, single imputation methods such as mean, regression, last value varied forward, hot deck imputation, cold deck imputation, Bayes Imputation, Multiple imputation, and non-ignorable missing data models. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of “B” in BIOS 9131. Co-requisite: BIOS 9231.

Chbe 9230 - Community-Based Public Health Program Planning And Evaluation, Moya L. Alfonso

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course introduces students to the theory and application of community-based program planning and evaluation. Concepts in community assessment, organization, and mobilization for the purposes of addressing identified public health concerns will serve as the foundation for the public health planning process. Appropriate techniques of partnership building, planning strategies, data collection, data analysis, and evidence-based decision-making will also be introduced.

Chbe 9630 - Doctoral Seminar In Community Health, John S. Luque

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course will provide students with the opportunity to analyze the history and current applications of social and behavioral science theories, approaches, models and strategies (learned throughout the curriculum) to public health practice and research. This seminar will examine the breadth of epistemologies employed as we develop effective methods to create change across the ecological spectrum, from individual to policy levels. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking skills to help students engage in dialogue about what will be effective research and practice in diverse public health settings over the next 10 years.

Cohe 7233 - Ecologically Focused Program Evaluation, Moya L. Alfonso

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course provides an overview of the principles of program evaluation. It explores the methods associated with systematic evaluation of public health education programs. Students will learn the skills needed to plan, conduct, and critique evaluation research. The content of the course includes: program logic models, formative, process, impact, outcome, and summative evaluation; theory driven evaluation; a review of validity issues as they relate to evaluation; sampling in a complex context; operationalizing variables; assessment of measurement instruments; and analysis of quantitative evaluation designs. In addition, issues that impact evaluation across the ecological model, specifically the importance of context and equity …

Cohe 7237 - Rural Community Health Issues, Ashley Walker

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

A study of social, economic, political, and cultural influences that impact the health of individuals and families in rural communities. Designed for health professionals, this course focuses on improving health status and developing culturally appropriate and effective interventions and services in rural settings.

Envh 7237 - Risk Assessment And Communication, Marina E. Eremeeva

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Course introduces students to the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary to evaluate the probability of injury, disease, or death in individuals or in the general population from exposure to environmental contaminants. Hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response evaluation, and risk characterization processes are emphasized. Risk communication training includes developing practical skills in assessing health concerns and explaining potential health risks or risk management to the general public.

Epid 7131 - Epidemiology Of Chronic Disease, Jian Zhang

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course is designed to introduce the student to the ever-expanding area of chronic disease epidemiology. Students will be introduced to the current status of chronic disease and control programs, methods used in chronic disease surveillance, intervention methods, and modifiable risk factors. Some of the major chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes and arthritis will be discussed in detail.

Epid 7133 - Epidemiologic Research Methods I, Isaac Chun-Hai Fung

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course will focus on epidemiologic methods - primarily methods used in observational studies, cohort studies, case-control studies and randomized controlled trials. With respect to cohort studies, topics covered include cohort identification, ascertainment of exposure status, follow-up of cohort members, measuring outcomes, sources of bias and interpretational issues. Case-control topics include issues around defining cases and controls, control of confounding, and sources of bias/systematic error. Topics around randomized trials include randomization procedures, defining and assembling treatment/intervention arms, selecting study subjects and approaches to data collection. Other topics covered in this course include surveillance and ecologic studies. Pros and cons of …

Epid 7230a - Social Epidemiology And Health Equity, Claire Robb

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course will focus on understanding the social determinants of health. The course will provide an analysis of major social variables that affect population health: poverty, social class, gender, race, family, community, work, behavioral risks, and coping resources. Readings and discussion center on understanding the theories, measurement and empirical evidence related to specific social conditions and experiences such as socioeconomic position, discrimination, social networks and support, work conditions, ecological level neighborhood and community social conditions, and social and economic policies. Biological and psychological mechanisms by which social conditions influence health will be discussed. Methods are introduced to operationalize each construct …

Addressing Hispanic Adolescent Mental Health In The Texas Border Region: A Policy Analysis, Brian Zepka

Master of Public Health Capstone Presentations

Distinguished MPH Capstone Project 2015

The Texas border region experiences adverse cultural, socioeconomic, environmental, and political challenges that influence the mental health status of adolescents living along the border. The purpose of this research was to provide informed advice to relevant policy makers and facilitate decision-making concerning access to culturally competent mental health services for Hispanic adolescents in this region. A systematic literature review was performed to assess the evidence of barriers these adolescents face when accessing mental health services. Interviews with relevant key stakeholders in the region were then conducted to identify their perspectives on barriers to care. The …

Substance Use-Related Brief Interventions With Emergency Department Patients Reduce Mental Health Co-Morbidities, J. Aaron Johnson, Amanda J. Abraham

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Research on screening and brief interventions (SBIs) has shown that, in addition to reducing alcohol use, interventions delivered in healthcare settings can reduce trauma readmissions, hospitalization days, driving offenses, and future healthcare utilization and costs. Mental health co-morbidities often accompany unhealthy alcohol and drug use, but few studies have examined the impact of SBIs on the mental health of patients. The present study determined if SBIs focused on reducing alcohol or drug use affected the mental health status of patients at a six-month follow-up.

Methods: Participants (N=1152) were randomly sampled from patients receiving SBIs for at-risk alcohol or drug …

Levels And Predictors Of Lhds' Engagement In Community Health Assessment, 2002-2013, Gulzar H. Shah, Kay Lovelace, Daniel F. Linder

Health Policy & Management: Faculty Presentations (2008-2022)

This presentation was given at the Keeneland Conference for Public Health Systems and Services Research.

Factors Driving Local Health Department’S Collaboration With Other Organizations In The Provision Of Personal Healthcare Services, Huabin Luo, Nancy L. Winterbauer, Ashley Tucker, Gulzar H. Shah

Health Policy & Management: Faculty Presentations (2008-2022)

Background: Recent work has highlighted the necessity of integrating primary care services and public health to improve quality and reduce the cost of healthcare.

Research Objectives: To describe levels of partnership between local health departments (LHD) and other organizations in the community in the provision of personal healthcare services; and to assess LHD organizational characteristics and community factors that contribute to partnerships.

Data Sets and Sources: Data were drawn from the 2013 NACCHO Profile Study (Module 1) and the Area Health Resource File. A total of 490 LHDs responded to Module 1, where LHDs were asked to describe the level …

The State Of Accreditation Readiness In Georgia: A Case Study, Angela Peden, Gulzar H. Shah, Russell Toal, Dayna S. Alexander, Alesha Wright, Ashton Anderson, Nandi A. Marshall, Scott Uhlich, Jeffery A. Jones

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Georgia’s public health districts first began exploring the idea of national public health accreditation in 2008 when Cobb & Douglas Public Health included accreditation in their strategic plan. In May 2015, Cobb & Douglas Public Health was the first Georgia public health district to achieve national accreditation status. This article discusses the current state of accreditation readiness in Georgia and explores strengths and barriers to accreditation.

Methods: This study utilized a case study approach in order to examine PHAB accreditation efforts in Georgia within a real life context. Data came from three sources: nine Accreditation Readiness Assessments, a PHAB …