Public Health Commons^™

Datashare Monterey County Website, Audra Ketchem

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The DatashareMontereyCounty website was created by combining Conduent technology and knowledgeable staff from the Monterey County Public Health Department. This project attempted to solve the disengagement between many people in Monterey County and health interventions/prevention initiatives set in place by the health department. Two contributing factors related to community disengagement were that residents were not always aware of works the health department was attempting to promote and the complexity of health data (statistics). The main focus of the project demonstrates how understanding health information may or may not impact decision making. When concepts are difficult to understand this can deter …

Reproducibility And Sensitivity Of Thirty-Six Methods To Quantify The Sars-Cov-2 Genetic Signal In Raw Wastewater: Findings From An Interlaboratory Methods Evaluation In The U.S., Brian M. Pecson, Emily Darby, Charles N. Haas, Yamrot M. Amha, Mitchel Bartolo, Richard Danielson, Yeggie Dearborn, George Di Giovanni, Christobel Ferguson, Stephanie Fevig, Erica Gaddis, Donald Gray, George Lukasik, Bonnie Mull, Liana Olivas, Adam Olivieri, Yan Qu, Sars-Cov-2 Interlaboratory Consortium, John J. Dennehy

Publications and Research

In response to COVID-19, the international water community rapidly developed methods to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 genetic signal in untreated wastewater. Wastewater surveillance using such methods has the potential to complement clinical testing in assessing community health. This interlaboratory assessment evaluated the reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 standard operating procedures (SOPs), divided into eight method groups based on sample concentration approach and whether solids were removed. Two raw wastewater samples were collected in August 2020, amended with a matrix spike (betacoronavirus OC43), and distributed to 32 laboratories across the U.S. Replicate samples analyzed in accordance with the project's quality assurance plan …

Homelessness Prevention Contacts Datasheet, Juan Whitehead

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The Coalition of Homeless Providers, located in Seaside, California provides services for over 2,400 homeless people in Monterey County. This organization collaborates with other agencies to provide support for those who are in need of emergency, transitional, or permanent housing. Because of lack of affordable housing in the area, and the lack of available resources, many men and women, as well as families find themselves without a place to stay. Homelessness Prevention Contacts Datasheet establishes a list of rental property management companies and landlords who may be interested in some of the programs provided by the Coalition. These programs provide …

No-Cost Flu Clinics, Madyson Shands

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Thousands of people go each year without access to flu vaccinations. In consideration of the current pandemic, there was a need for vaccinations in order to limit the possibility of a double pandemic. The Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), Community services is a non-profit organization that provides services that range from immunization to wellness programs. The community service department strives to connect with the community and construct programs that will assess their needs. The project consists of no-cost flu clinics working with agencies within the Monterey community. Interim is a transitional housing center for adults with mental illnesses. There was a …

Spirituality As A Moderator Between Ptss And Cardiovascular Reactivity, Kriti Sharda

Honors Scholar Theses

Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) can be distressing and produce robust cardiovascular symptoms, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, which have been implicated in higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Identifying factors that may reduce symptoms may suggest therapeutic strategies. One such potential factor is spirituality, given that spirituality is associated with both reducing PTSS and with preventing or improving CVD. We sampled 63 young college women who indicated being exposed to unwanted sexual contact. We asked them to write about their experience while we took heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) …

External Stoma Diversion: A Palliative Measure For Peristomal Wound Healing In Resource-Limited Settings, Rachel W. Davis, Youmna A. Sherif, Catherine Anne Morrison

Faculty Publications

The provision of intestinal stoma care is challenging in austere settings due to limitations in surgical and wound care access as well as the high cost and sparsity of ostomy supplies. As a result, many surgical patients suffer from ostomy-related complications such as peristomal wounds and are unable to find relief for these complications from standard treatments and measures. This article describes the external stoma diversion, a cost-effective palliative surgical procedure that assists in the healing of peristomal wounds in resource-limited settings.

Move For A Healthy Mind: A Program Of Peer-Led Physical Activity For Adolescents With Depression And Anxiety, Emily Edwards

Master's Projects and Capstones

The following discusses adolescent depression and anxiety and the utilization of physical activity as an intervention or coping mechanism. Adolescents have been experiencing increased rates of anxiety or depression diagnoses over the past roughly two decades. Adolescence is, physiologically, a formative period in the developmental stage from childhood to adulthood. Current barriers to achieving optimal mental health among the adolescent population include the stigmatization of mental health issues, lack of education, socioeconomic status and healthcare access. Further, physical activity has been studied and identified to be an effective treatment for individuals experiencing depression and anxiety. In an effort to treat …

A Qualitative Analysis Of End-Of-Life Healthcare In Tennessee: Politics, Principles, And Perceptions, Erin Mauck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The unprecedented growth of the aging population in Tennessee is a significant demographic trend that highlights the necessity for healthcare policy that tackles end-of-life issues. This study examined the perceived quality of end-of-life healthcare in Tennessee, areas that are in need of improvement, policies that have the potential to influence improvements, and the role of politics in end-of-life healthcare policy. It also assessed the support for end-of-life healthcare policy that would advance quality of care and expand end-of-life choices for Tennesseans, while evaluating the policy-making process that legislators employ.

For this study, data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with …

Loss To Follow Up Of Pregnant Women With Hiv And Infant Hiv Outcomes In The Prevention Of Maternal To Child Transmission Of Hiv Programme In Two High-Burden Provinces In Papua New Guinea: A Retrospective Clinical Audit, Angela Kelly-Hanku, Claire Elizabeth Nightingale, Minh Duc Pham, Agnes Mek, Primrose Homiehombo, Mary Bagita, Justine Nankinga, Andrew Vallely, Lisa Vallely, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Introduction Despite early adoption of the WHO guidelines to deliver lifelong antiretroviral (ARV) regimen to pregnant women on HIV diagnosis, the HIV prevention of mother to child transmission programme in Papua New Guinea remains suboptimal. An unacceptable number of babies are infected with HIV and mothers not retained in treatment. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of this programme and to investigate the factors associated with programme performance outcomes.

Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical records of HIV-positive pregnant women at two hospitals providing prevention of mother to child transmission services. All women enrolled in the prevention …

Parkindex: Validation And Application Of A Pragmatic Measure Of Park Access And Use, Andrew T. Kaczynski, S. Morgan Hughey, Ellen W. Stowe, Marilyn E. Wende, J. Aaron Hipp, Elizabeth L. Oliphant, Jasper Schipperijn

Faculty Publications

Composite metrics integrating park availability, features, and quality for a given address or neighborhood are lacking. The purposes of this study were to describe the validation, application, and demonstration of ParkIndex in four diverse communities. This study occurred in Fall 2018 in 128 census block groups within Seattle(WA), Brooklyn(NY), Raleigh(NC), and Greenville County(SC). All parks within a half-mile buffer were audited to calculate a composite park quality score, and select households provided data about use of proximal parks via an online, map-based survey. For each household, the number of parks, total park acreage, and average park quality score within one …

Monitoring The Spatial Spread Of Covid-19 And Effectiveness Of Control Measures Through Human Movement Data: Proposal For A Predictive Model Using Big Data Analytics, Zhenlong Li, Xiaoming Li, Dwayne Porter Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Yuqin Jiang, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman

Faculty Publications

Background: Human movement is one of the forces that drive the spatial spread of infectious diseases. To date, reducing and tracking human movement during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven effective in limiting the spread of the virus. Existing methods for monitoring and modeling the spatial spread of infectious diseases rely on various data sources as proxies of human movement, such as airline travel data, mobile phone data, and banknote tracking. However, intrinsic limitations of these data sources prevent us from systematic monitoring and analyses of human movement on different spatial scales (from local to global). Objective: Big data from social …

Long-Term Neurocognitive And Educational Outcomes Of Neonatal Insults In Kilifi, Kenya, Dorcas N. Magai, Hans M. Koot, Paul Mwangi, Esther Chongwo, Charles R. Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: There is little data on the long-term neurocognitive and educational outcomes among school-aged survivors of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in Africa. This study investigates the long-term neurocognitive and educational outcomes and the correlates of these outcomes in school-aged survivors of NNJ or HIE in Kilifi, Kenya.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on neurocognitive and educational outcomes among school-aged survivors (6–12 years) of NNJ (n = 134) and HIE (n = 107) and compared them to a community comparison group (n = 134). We assessed nonverbal intelligence, planning, working memory, attention, syntax, pragmatics, wordfinding, …

Perceptions Of The Built Environment Among Older Adults Who Live In Age-Restricted Communities Compared To Those Who Do Not In Southern Nevada, Sandra Annan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As Americans are living longer, there has been exponential growth in the number of older adults. Growth in the aging population has created unique challenges. As seniors age, they face many changes in their health, financial stability, and lifestyle, making it challenging to remain independent. The inability to remain independent can be a stressful and depressing experience for older adults. Studies show that most seniors prefer to stay in their current living environment as they age, or age in place, rather than move into senior housing or other available housing options designed for aging. This study investigates how perceptions about …

International Tourism As A Threat To Public Health In Thailand, Liam G. Lane

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

From its unique history, Thailand has embraced its independence and benefited from its cultural and natural beauty. Transitioning from an agricultural to industrial economy due to the emergence of a strong tourism industry, Thailand has experienced a period of intensive urbanization that has re-shaped Thai lifestyle. Materializing as regional and social disparities, these consequences of industrialization have seemingly divided Thai society, separating those who benefit from the tourism sector while marginalizing those who do not. Additionally, this transition has threatened public health statuses within Thailand, and considering the current tourism trends seen over the past 20 years there is a …

Potential Overfeeding Among Formula Fed Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants And Children Participants And Associated Factors, Christopher E. Anderson, Catherine E. Martinez, Alison K. Ventura, Shannon E. Whaley

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides enough formula to meet the known nutritional needs of infants up to 6 months of age whose mothers report not breastfeeding, but many mothers report WIC providing insufficient formula, indicating potential overfeeding.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of potential overfeeding among formula-feeding WIC participants and identify associated factors.

Methods: Potential overfeeding was identified among participants of the longitudinal Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 (ITFPS-2) receiving the fully formula feeding WIC infant package at 1 month of age (n = 1235, weighted n = 197 079). Associations …

Genetic And Clinical Determinants Of Racial/Ethnic Differences In Multiple Myeloma Susceptibility And Outcomes Focusing On Hispanics, Alem Belachew

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Multiple Myeloma (MM) constitutes 10% of diagnosed hematologic malignancies in the US, with over 12,000 deaths recorded each year. Race/ethnicity is a well-known MM risk factor, where individuals of African descent have over 2- to 3-fold increased risk of incidence compared to those of European descent. Additionally, Hispanics are diagnosed approximately three years younger than white American counterparts, for unknown reasons. Differences in clinical phenotype are also present for MM patients by ancestry, including varying rates of common initiation mutations such as IgH translocations and TP53 mutation between patients of European and African descent. Studies have begun to interrogate the …

Learning Before And During The Covid-19 Outbreak: A Comparative Analysis Of Crisis Learning In South Korea And The Us, Seulki Lee, Jungwon Yeo, Chongmin Na

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Learning is imperative in government responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the South Korean and United States governments’ responses to COVID-19 from a comparative perspective. The analysis focuses on crisis learning conducted before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, using the conceptual categories of intercrisis/intracrisis learning and single-/double-loop learning. The findings suggest that double-loop, intercrisis learning allows for more effective crisis management by (re)developing a common operating framework. The efficacy of learning is enhanced when double-loop learning is followed by single-loop learning that embeds new structures and operational procedures. The findings also suggest that intercrisis learning facilitates …

Understanding The Significance Of Virtual Support During Global Pandemic In Young Adults Diagnosed With Hepatitis C, Veronika Arkhipova

Master's Projects and Capstones

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. In recent years, the prevalence of hepatitis C infections among 20 and 30 years of age has increased by 300 percent, and between 30 and 39 years by 400 percent. Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, people diagnosed with Hepatitis C have lost access to mental health services and resources, including in-person meetings with support groups. Since most states enforced stay-at-home order, many community centers, non-profit organizations that work with Hepatitis C patients and the affected population provide limited to no access to support group meetings …

Assessing Occupational Stress And Preparedness Among Campus Safety Officers And Dental School Employees At An Academic Medical Center During Covid-19, Decature Banker, Lorena Baccaglini, Miriam Mccann, Chandran Achutan

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Job stress can lead to adverse physical and emotional health effects in employees and is worse during an emergency or pandemic. The complexity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is taking a toll on the healthcare systems and their employees. This cross-sectional study looked at two different groups of academic medical center employees, Campus Safety Officers and Dental School employees, who’s work puts them at risk for COVID-19 exposure. We hypothesized that Campus Safety Officers and Dental School employees who felt adequately trained to conduct COVID-19 related work would not feel more stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic than they …

Effect Of Climate Change On Lyme Disease Cases In 4 New Jersey Counties, Meredith Olson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Since its discovery more than 40 years ago, there has been an increasing occurrence of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness found predominantly in the Northeastern region of the United States. Studies have shown that environmental factors play an important role on the life cycle of ticks. Due to the complexity of environmental changes as well as the life cycle of different tick species, the variety of factors that could influence the increase in Lyme disease can be different depending on tick species and region. This study compared different regions of New Jersey, a highly Lyme disease endemic …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance’S Client Educational Attainment, Shelby Larson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Housing and physical health are inextricably linked. Environmental hazards such as lead poisoning, radon, and mold negatively impact the health of a home’s occupants, particularly children. Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance (OHKA) was founded in 2006 to address these environmental hazards through education and construction interventions with the mission “to improve children’s health through healthy homes.” OHKA clients are primarily served through two direct service programs and are evaluated pre- and post-intervention for changes in educational attainment, behavioral outcomes, environmental characteristics, quality of life, and health. A program evaluation was conducted to 1) determine how OHKA clients utilize environmental education post-intervention, …

Effects Of Climate Change On The Epidemiology Of Flood-Related Waterborne Disease: A Systematic Literature Review, Sarah M. Cadarette

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Natural disasters, such as flooding related to extreme precipitation, can lead to many adverse health effects (i.e. waterborne disease). Several outbreaks of waterborne disease have been linked to extreme precipitation, and gastrointestinal infection has been shown to increase after floods. Climate change is likely to lead to a higher frequency of waterborne disease through increases in extreme precipitation and associated flooding affecting water and sanitation infrastructure. This review sought to answer 2 research questions: 1. Has the epidemiology of waterborne disease related to floods changed over time? 2. Can this difference be related to climate change? A literature search was …

Agricultural Injuries Among Central State Region Operators Over A 5-Year Period: Cs-Cash Farm And Ranch Health And Injury Survey 2011-2015, Anthony Johnson Jr

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background The high risk of occupational fatalities in agriculture is well documented, but information on non-fatal injuries is lacking due to challenges in injury surveillance. This surveillance study explored the frequency, characteristics, and risk factors for non-fatal injuries among farmers and ranchers in the central United States.

Methods The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH), in collaboration with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), conducted annual surveys (n=34,777 sent) during 2011-2015 covering a seven-state region (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota).

Results The average response rate was 32% in the five consecutive …

Development Of A Web-Based Agriculture Health Risk Assessment Tool For Military Veteran Farmers And Ranchers, Alyssa Damke

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In the U.S., significant health disparities exist among rural populations compared to their urban counterparts. These disparities can be compounded in agricultural workers due to the dangerous and unpredictable nature of their work. Agricultural producers who are also military Veterans may experience additional health pressures that are often overlooked in the healthcare setting. Over 2.5 million Veteran Health Administration (VHA) patients reside in rural areas and the healthcare infrastructure to care for these Veterans may not include an agricultural occupational approach. To address healthcare disparities in Veteran farmers and ranchers, this study, in collaboration with AgriSafe Network, will be used …

Perceptions Of Voice Health, Voice Health Care, And Voice Health Education In The Performance Community, Katelyn Nelson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

There is a medical consensus that proper voice health precautions can protect the voice and decrease the occurrence and severity of voice disorders in vocal performers. Similarly, seeking medical treatment for voice disorders can speed recovery time and preserve the voice. Voice disorders are common in performance students and professionals because of demanding curricula and frequent voice use, but little is known about their voice care needs, preferred voice care resources, and clinical care. The purpose of this study was to add to the research on voice health by interviewing faculty members in the College of Communication, Fine Arts, and …

Non-Emergency Utilization Of Ems: Contributing Factors And Strategies To Promote Effective Care With Appropriate Resources, Jason Jones

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Non-emergency use of EMS resources can impose a substantial burden on emergency response systems and the communities they serve by reducing the response capacity for time-sensitive and life-threatening situations and through the subsequent diversion of funding that could be used to more effectively address health disparities. National EMS response data suggest that a large proportion of EMS patient encounters are for non-emergent reasons. Despite being a nation-wide issue, inadequate research has been conducted to understand why non-emergency and frequent use occurs and what strategies may be effective in mitigating avoidable use. Community paramedicine (CP), an emerging specialty in EMS that …

A Preliminary Analysis Of Project Ag Aware: Sbirt In Agricultural Work Settings, Rachel L. Rutt

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: An increasing number of individuals are being negatively affected by substance abuse in the U.S. and Nebraska communities. These communities are seeing immense increases in opioid prescribing rates, especially in rural areas. The aims of this study are to 1) describe the study population of agricultural workers in Nebraska; 2) estimate the prevalence of alcohol misuse, illegal drug use, and anxiety among agricultural workers in Nebraska; and 3) examine factors associated with alcohol misuse among agricultural workers in Nebraska.

Methods: Adult agricultural workers (N=1,206) completed a paper or online survey for Project Ag Aware. Alcohol misuse, illegal drug use, …

Developing A Community Innovation Grant In Response To Increasing Rural Critical Incidents In Agricultural Mental Health And Wellbeing, Community Trauma, And Natural Disasters, Chessa S. Quenzer

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Spink Area Support Network (SASN) is a skilled team of community volunteers that facilitate rural critical incident response services in an effort to prevent a critical incident and offer structured support during the aftermath. SASN was developed in response to identified gaps in rural critical incident response and risk reduction through prevention in Spink County, South Dakota. SASN utilizes a collaborative team approach to fill in gaps between first responder silos and establish community interventions by providing support and resources while utilizing critical incident stress management methods. SASN requires funding to maintain response resources, training, prevention education, and follow-up services. …

Developing A Program Evaluation Plan For Medicaid Prenatal Care Management Programs, Shardae Sims

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Prenatal care management (PNCM) is an intervention that targets women during the perinatal period to improve birth outcomes. PNCM has the potential to address social determinants of health issues and gaps or barriers to care that could lower incidences of adverse birth outcomes in Nebraska. There is currently a gap in the literature for studies that fully assess the impact of prenatal care management programs and the program’s ability to reach set goals. The purpose of this research is to develop an evaluation plan and potential implementation strategies that can be utilized by the Medicaid PNCM program in Nebraska. The …

Developing A Rabies Prevention Program Based On Rabies Exposure Data In Nebraska, Jill Oatman

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Eighty-nine percent of Nebraska’s towns are considered rural, with populations of less than 3,000 people and with many towns having less than 1,000 residents. Rural areas consist of crop ground, livestock facilities and regions inhabited by wildlife. Nebraska has two large urban cities, Lincoln and Omaha. Animal and human health in these communities can be greatly impacted by infectious diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans, known as zoonotic diseases. One zoonotic disease of great concern is rabies. Zoonotic diseases not only impact the health of animals and humans, but the social well-being of communities and result in increased …