Public Health Commons^™

Guidelines For Chronic Back Pain: An Education Module For Health Providers, Ron Pascual

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective chronic back pain management and patient self-care guidelines are necessary for healthcare providers treating patients with complaints of low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this doctoral project was to provide an evidence-based educational program aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals regarding the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) guidelines, emphasizing alternative pain management treatments. The staff education project was supported by the biomedical pain model and chronic care model. A panel of 3 experts including the clinic’s board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, clinical manager, and leading medical director …

Exploring Health Literacy In The Acute Care Setting In A Rural Border Region, Shiloh Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy is important to ensuring patients have the necessary knowledge and skills needed to actively participate as a member of their own healthcare team. Patients with low health literacy are at increased risk for poor outcomes and limited participation in decisions affecting their health or treatment plan. Using the Social Ecological Model (SEM) as a framework, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between medical-surgical registered nurses, medical-surgical patients and the registered nurse’s (RN) assessment of their patient’s health literacy of those who live in a rural-border region. The study’s sample consisted of 84 pairs of …

Risk Factors For Polysubstance Abuse: A National Secondary Data Analysis Study, Dakota Mcmurray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance abuse is a serious public health problem in the United States and globally. Abuse of more than one substance is considered polysubstance abuse and can cause more harm than abuse of only one substance. Polysubstance abuse compounds the problems of addiction because of the variety of substances that may be used and the resulting side effects. This quantitative cross-sectional secondary data analysis, guided by the socio-ecological theory, assessed patient characteristics and how predictive they were for polysubstance abuse. The study sample of 986 patients was analyzed by binomial logistic regression to assess the association between patient-related factors and polysubstance …

Use Of Managerial Epidemiology By Healthcare Leaders In Ambulatory Settings, Chantelle Schenning

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite many health reforms, the United States continues to struggle with limited healthcare access, exponential healthcare costs, and poor quality of care. Overcoming these challenges requires healthcare leaders’ effective navigation of industry transformation towards population health and a shift in patient volume to ambulatory healthcare settings. Research has demonstrated that the use of managerial epidemiology, an application of epidemiology tools and principles to management decision-making within healthcare organizations, can better serve the health of the population and could improve the triple aim of inadequate access, high costs, and poor quality. However, the adoption of this practice is weak and its …

The Freshair Wristband: Comparison Of Personal Exposure Measured Using Different Wearable Form Factors, Elizabeth Ziying Lin

Public Health Theses

Organic air pollutants are widely used in building materials, personal care and household products. Studies have been linking the exposure to these organic air pollutants with adverse health outcomes, including respiratory, cardiovascular, neurobehavioral outcomes, and cancer. Techniques to measure personal exposure to organic air pollutants include backpacks containing filters/pumps, and a set of single pollutant monitors. These techniques usually involve solvent extraction of filters. They are expensive, time-consuming, and inefficient which are not suitable for large scale, longitudinal exposome studies. The FreshAir samplers were developed to capture a wide range of compounds simultaneously throughout the exposure, its high degree of …

A Feel For The Space: Engagement With The Built Environment Of Treatment Spaces Among Individuals In Recovery, James Richey

Public Health Theses

Background

Treatment spaces for substance use disorders (SUD) are diverse with respect to treatment modality and population served. However, there is a lack of literature describing the design of treatment spaces and treatment engagement. This project aims to identify how the built environment of SUD treatment spaces play a role in treatment acceptability, retention, and outcomes.

Methods

We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with individuals in outpatient SUD treatment in southern Connecticut. These interviews explored individuals’ experience with the built environment of treatment spaces and facilities, including architectural and design-related features (e.g., functionality, spatial arrangement), and how space influences adherence to …

Reviving Focused Scrutiny In The Constitutional Review Of Public Health Measures, Robert Gatter

All Faculty Scholarship

This article re-examines the "focused scrutiny" standard proposed by Prof. Scott Burris in 1989 and argues for its application particularly during an infectious disease emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Focused scrutiny seeks to tie judicial review of the constitutionality of public health measures closely to the facts of the particular disease and to evidence of the efficacy of each governmental action to prevent the spread of that disease, even when courts adopt rational basis testing.

An Epic Fail, Marsha Griggs

All Faculty Scholarship

All at once, the U.S. found itself embattled with the threat of COVID-19, the new normal of social distancing, and the perennial scourge of racial injustice. While simultaneously battling those ills, the class of 2020 law graduates found themselves also contending with inflexible bar licensing policies that placed at risk their health, safety, and careers. During a global health pandemic, bar licensing authorities made the bar exam a moving target riddled with uncertainty and last-minute cancellations. This costly and unsettling uncertainty surrounding the bar exam administration was unnecessary because multiple alternatives were available to safely license new attorneys. A ball …

The Bar Exam And The Covid-19 Pandemic: The Need For Immediate Action, Claudia Angelos, Sara Berman, Mary Lu Bilek, Carol L. Chomsky, Andrea Anne Curcio, Marsha Griggs, Joan W. Howarth, Eileen R. Kaufman, Deborah Jones Merritt, Patricia Salkin, Judith W. Wegner

All Faculty Scholarship

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has profoundly disrupted life in the United States. Among other challenges, jurisdictions are unlikely to be able to administer the July 2020 bar exam in the usual manner. It is essential, however, to continue licensing new lawyers. Those lawyers are necessary to meet current needs in the legal system. Equally important, the demand for legal services will skyrocket during and after this pandemic. We cannot close doors to the profession at a time when client demand will reach an all-time high.

In this brief policy paper, we outline six licensing options for jurisdictions to consider for …

The Case For Face Shields: Improving The Covid-19 Public Health Policy Toolkit, Timothy L. Wiemken, Ana Santos Rutschman, Robert Gatter

All Faculty Scholarship

As the United States battles the later stages of the first wave of COVID-19 and faces the prospect of future waves, it is time to consider the practical utility of face shields as an alternative or complement to face masks in the policy guidance. Without face shields specifically noted in national guidance, many areas may be reluctant to allow their use as an alternative to cloth face masks, even with sufficient modification.

In this piece, we discuss the benefits of face shields as a substitute to face masks in the context of public health policy. We further discuss the implications …

Examining Cultural Influences On Dietary Behaviors Among Mexican Americans With Low Acculturation, Austyn Erickson

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Mexican Americans represent approximately 63 percent of the total Hispanic population in the US and are disproportionately affected by health disparities related to poor nutrition status. With this community among the fastest growing populations in the US, it is critical to address the health disparities and the relationship between culture and diet to provide evidence-based nutrition interventions that are culturally sensitive to specific communities. The purpose of this cross-sectional exploratory study is to examine the relationship between cultural values and dietary behaviors among a low-income, urban, clinical sample of Mexican Americans using the Mexican American Cultural Values Scale, dietary assessment, …

Value-Based Reimbursements In The Us Health Care Market : Direct And Spillover Effects Of Medicare Readmissions Program, Soumyadeb Chatterjee

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In this thesis, I take up the question of how the Medicare penalties introduced by the Hospital Readmissions Reduction program (HRRP) impacted the US health care system. The demand side of US health care system is highly fragmented where hospitals and other providers have to serve very different kinds of patients from different payers. Since the majority of a hospital's income is drawn from Medicare, a sharp reduction in its reimbursements is bound to have an effect on its health care delivery to all patients.

Spina Bifida Mortality By Clinical And Demographic Characteristics Using The New York State Birth Defects Registry, 2008-2016, Anaclare Mackenzie Sullivan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Spina bifida is the most common neural tube defect. It has been associated with increased mortality, disability, and may require lifelong medical care. Few previous studies have assessed the impact that maternal race/ethnicity or variations in clinical features of the disease may have on mortality.

The Impact Of The Residency Area On Risk Factors For Tuberculosis Among People Living In Three Different Regions Of Kazakhstan, Assel Bukharbayeva

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background and introduction:

A Comparative Spatial And Climate Analysis Of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis And Human Babesiosis In New York State (2013-2018), Collin J. O'Connor

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) and human babesiosis are tick-borne diseases spread by Ixodes scapularis (the blacklegged or deer tick) and are the result of infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti, respectively. In New York State (NYS), incidence rates of these diseases increased concordantly until around 2013, when rates of HGA began to increase more rapidly than human babesiosis, and the spatial extent of the diseases diverged. Surveillance data of tick-borne pathogens (2007 to 2018) and reported human cases of HGA (n=4,297) and human babesiosis (n=2,986) (2013 to 2018) from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) showed a …

Timing Of Antiretroviral Initiation And Virologic Outcomes Among Hiv-Positive Adults In Ukraine (2010--2015), Yaroslav Zelinskyi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background and introduction:

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Of Healthcare Professionals Working In Schools Regarding Tickborne Disease Prevention And Lyme Disease In New York State And Maryland, Kristen Howard

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Ticks, Lyme disease, and other tickborne diseases are a concern of public health entities in Maryland and New York State. Children are at an increased risk of contracting a tickborne disease. Healthcare professionals working in schools (HPWS) are often front-line providers and health educators for school-aged children. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of HPWS regarding ticks and tickborne disease is currently unknown. While there are educational materials available, uptake and use of these programs is also unknown.

Traditional Latinx Gender Role Norms And Exposure To Sexual Health Programming For Latinx Men Who Have Sex With Men (Lmsm), Austin Connor Eklund

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Latinx men who have sex with men (LMSM) are at significantly greater risk for HIV infection than their non-Latinx peers. One important way of helping prevent the spread of HIV is exposing vulnerable populations to HIV prevention programming. Little is known about what factors predict exposure to HIV prevention programming for LMSM. Given extant links between traditional masculine gender role norms and health outcomes, this study sought to examine possible relations between constructs of machismo, caballerismo, and heterosexual self-presentation, along with demographic covariates, and exposure to HIV prevention programming among LMSM. Among the 530 LMSM in our sample, 89% reported …

Implementing A Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative In Rural New York : How Police-Provided Transportation May Reduce Barriers To Treatment Uptake, Emily Mae Bruce

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background:

All-Cause And Cause-Specific Mortality Among Medicaid-Insured Women With Preexisting Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosed With Breast Cancer : An Epidemiological Analysis Of Linked New York State Medicaid And Cancer Registry Data, Wayne Rashaan Lawrence

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: The present study investigated the influence preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and antidiabetic drugs have on all-cause and cause-specific mortality among Medicaid-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer by menopausal status.

Be Covid Safe, Opeyemi Akinrinsola, Abigail Corkum, Karyn Furcolo, Christina Gareis, Dorothy Tang

Foundations of Public Health - Infographics

No abstract provided.

Guide To Mask Wearing 101, Laiquannah Hason, Jeremiah Kinsey, Kevin O'Connor

Foundations of Public Health - Infographics

No abstract provided.

"I Don't Like Wearing A Mask", Priyanka Bhatt, Devesh Dajee, Neha Jha, Ruhi Shah

Foundations of Public Health - Infographics

No abstract provided.

The 3 W'S To Staying Safe On & Off Campus During Covid-19, Amanda Guth, Matthew Kermitz, Kate Minke, Raya Patel

Foundations of Public Health - Infographics

No abstract provided.

Controlling The Waves Of Covid-19, Joseph M. Callaghan, Emily Mcdermott, Sofia Mitro, Christopher Stuever

Foundations of Public Health - Infographics

No abstract provided.

Spread Holiday Cheer, Not Covid-19, Sameh Gomaa, Sana Khalid, Michelle St. Omer Roy

Foundations of Public Health - Infographics

No abstract provided.

It's Your Responsibility, Simon Chen, Devanshi Dash, Jaime Nassur

Foundations of Public Health - Infographics

No abstract provided.

Dental Health Factors Among Primary School Children In Southern Regions Of Ethiopia And Zambia, Gisselle Hernandez

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Purpose: Assess oral health status, and factors affecting oral health, among primary schoolchildren in southern Ethiopia and Zambia. Methods: Visual dental assessments, anthropometric measurements, and questionnaires used to collect data among 6th and 7th grade students. Results: Although stunting rates were nearly equal, decay rates were not; 17.51% of Zambian students and 47.27% of Ethiopian students had one or more decayed teeth. Ethiopian students with dental fluorosis (74.55%) had higher rates of decay than those without the condition (p < .05). There were also significant differences between Ethiopians and Zambians regarding use of dental hygiene tools: Ethiopians were more likely to use dental sticks, while Zambians employed toothbrushes for cleaning. Conclusions: Dental health and hygiene education, focused on unique socioecological settings, could improve the oral health status of Ethiopian and Zambian children.

PowerPoint file attached below

Iron-Rich Foods, Anemia, And Malaria In Primary School Children In Southern Ethiopia And Zambia, Julianne Fay

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between iron-deficient anemia and malaria in primary school children in Southern Ethiopia and Zambia and assess the correlation between diet and health status.

METHODS: Market inventories, observations at health outposts, and interviews and anthropometric assessments of 6th and 7th grade students.

RESULTS: Both Ethiopia and Zambia had 20 iron-rich foods available in local markets. Only liver consumption was associated with malaria experience; those who consumed liver were significantly less likely to have had the disease (p

DISCUSSION: Given the high prevalence of malaria in Southern Ethiopia and Zambia, and the correlation between liver consumption and …

Effectiveness Of An Educational Intervention To Reduce Preanalytical Specimen Errors, Carol Ann Lineberry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A rejected blood specimen can be very costly to a hospital as well as to the patient. Many errors occur in the preanalytical phase in which nurses and assistive personnel are often involved because they are usually not trained to do so. This staff education project was designed to decrease the number of laboratory rejections of blood specimens in a local hospital setting. Knowles’s adult learning theory was combined with the knowledge translation framework, proposed by Fredericks, Martorella, and Catallo, so that evidence-based changes in practice could occur more readily. There is a 20-minute in-service educational intervention followed by an …