Public Health Commons^™

Assessing The Role Of Virtual Social Networks In The Treatment Progress Of Mothers Recovering From Opiate Addiction, Marisa Wu, Meghan Gannon, Phd Msph, Diane Abatemarco, Phd, Msw

Phase 1

Introduction: Social engagement is a significant contributor to the treatment success of individuals with prior substance use. This project aims to determine if social engagement improves the progression through and experience of treatment of mothers with prior opioid use at an inpatient recovery facility. We hypothesize that increased social engagement will improve treatment progress and experience.

Methods: The project is centered on mothers seeking treatment for opioid use at an urban inpatient treatment facility. The study obtains qualitative and quantitative data through interviews and therapy sessions. The data informs the extent and quality of social engagement and individual perspectives of …

Maternal Stress And Breastfeeding Intention In Pregnant Women With Opioid Use Disorder, Yassamin Jamshidian, Vanessa Short, Phd, Mph, Diane J. Abatemarco

Phase 1

Introduction: Breastfeeding rates are low among women in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Information on determinants of breastfeeding intention can help inform the design of breastfeeding promotion interventions for this population. The objective of the study was to examine associations between maternal characteristics, including stress, and breastfeeding intention among pregnant women in treatment for OUD.

Methods: Fifty-six pregnant women who were receiving treatment for OUD at Thomas Jefferson University’s Maternal Addiction Treatment Education & Research (MATER) program completed a survey, which included questions on demographics, psychosocial characteristics, breastfeeding history, and breastfeeding intention. Maternal stress was measured using the Perceived …

Immigrant Health Literacy Initiative, Yuliya Goykhman, Kelsey Salazar, Mph

Phase 1

Introduction: Low health literacy in immigrant and refugee patients contributes to reduced health access and overall poorer quality of life in these patient populations. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) provide necessary health navigation services for immigrant populations, but their role is often overlooked by large healthcare institutions. This project aims to illustrate the unique needs of both immigrant and refugee clients in navigating the healthcare system and CBO staff in assisting them with navigation, and to demonstrate to hospital partners how their services are crucial to adequate care of these communities.

Methods: As part of the Pennsylvania Health Literacy Coalition (PAHLC), four …

Nutritional Intervention In Concussion Treatment And Analysis Using Mri And Eeg, Jideofor Okafor, Namdi Nwasike, Andrew Newberg, Md

Phase 1

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur in over one million Americans annually, leading to thousands of deaths, hospitalizations, and individuals with long term disability. The most common causes of TBI which result in hospitalization primarily affect middle-aged to older adults and contribute to the annual economic burden of billions of dollars. The goal of this study is to determine if baseline EEG scans predict responsiveness to supplemental treatment in TBI patients experiencing chronic symptoms, which could improve their care.

Subjects recruited from the greater Philadelphia area were randomly separated into 3 groups—Control, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), or Nutrition—and either received standard treatment for …

Menstrual Management In Adolescent Transgender Males, Julia Eisenberg, Sarah Felleman, Benjamin Bear, Mph, Arielle Effron, Md, Anne Kazak, Phd, Abpp, Anthony Alioto, Phd, Evan Graber, Do, Vanessa Short, Phd, Mph, Meghan Gannon, Phd, Msph, Beth Schwartz, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: Gender dysphoria is associated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in adolescents. There is anecdotal evidence that menstruation increases the occurrence of gender dysphoria in adolescent transgender males. We hypothesize that menses are distressing to transgender males and this population would benefit from menstrual management.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all transgender male patients seen in the Nemours Gender Wellness Program (GWP) and limited our population to those who have reached menarche. Data was extracted from the encounters at the GWP clinic and recorded in REDCap. We compared self-reported symptoms of gender dysphoria …

Diabetes Distress, Daily Functioning, And Hemoglobin A1c In Older Black Individuals With Diabetes And Mild Cognitive Impairment, Navajyoti R. Barman, Robin J. Casten, Phd, Barry W. Rovner, Md

Phase 1

Objective: The purpose of the cross-sectional study was to identify associations between diabetes distress, physical functioning, and cognition with hemoglobin A1c in older Black individuals with diabetes and mild cognitive impairment.

Methods: The investigators analyzed previously collected data from 101 older Black individuals with diabetes and mild cognitive impairment. Participants were administered surveys at baseline to assess diabetes distress, physical functioning, and cognitive functioning, and had hemoglobin A1c testing.

Results: Participants with higher hemoglobin A1c showed worse self-reported daily function (r = -0.279, p < .01). Three of four diabetes distress factors were positively correlated with hemoglobin A1c – emotional (r = .276, p < .01), regimen-related (r = .330, p < .01), and interpersonal distress (r = 0.266, p <.01). In a multivariate regression with hemoglobin A1c as the dependent variable, only regimen-related diabetes distress (beta = .282, p = .012) and self-reported daily function (beta = -0.294, p = .027) were significant.

Conclusion: The main finding of this study is that regimen-related diabetes distress and self-reported daily …

Racial Discrepancies In Interpregnancy Intervals And Postpartum Contraception Receipt In Centering Pregnancy Prenatal Care, Amulya Raju, Ms, Dennis Hand, Phd

Phase 1

Non-Hispanic black women are disproportionately affected by higher rates of shorter interpregnancy intervals. The purpose of this study is to identify whether the Centering Pregnancy model of group prenatal care (GPC) can reduce this health disparity by increasing postpartum contraception receipt.

This retrospective chart analysis measures consistency in contraception intent versus actual postpartum receipt in populations of women who received either individual or GPC. The main predictors were: race, insurance type (public or private), marital status, and type of prenatal care. The main outcomes were: type of contraception received, consistency with contraception intent, and presence of a short interpregnancy interval. …

The Number And Types Of Procedures Performed At Jeffhope Clinics, Jeremy Heard, James Plumb

Phase 1

Introduction: Procedures performed as part of the urgent care medical services provided at JeffHOPE Clinics (JHCs) are common in daily operations, but the number and types of procedures performed at each JHC have not yet been reported. The goal of this research was to provide JHCs the data needed to ensure clinic-specific evidence-based training for incoming procedures committee members, and thus ensure the highest quality patient care. The inquiry question was what are the number and types of procedures performed at each JHC?

Methods: An IRB waiver of authorization was obtained. A chart review of patients 18 years or older …

Net Therapy Effect On Chronic Pain Patients: An Fmri/Pet Imaging Study, Layla Annous, Andrew Newberg

Phase 1

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 3 months or lasts longer than tissue healing should naturally take, which can limit patients’ daily activities. Chronic pain impacts 20% of people worldwide, preferentially affecting vulnerable and marginalized populations. We aimed to use fMRI/PET imaging of the brain to determine the efficacy and therapeutic use of Neuro-emotional Technique (NET) therapy for chronic pain patients. We anticipated that NET Therapy would result in decreased activity in areas of the brain associated with pain and decreased perception of pain. Patients who have been suffering chronic pain conditions were used as the experimental group …

Racial Disparities In Occupational Risks And Lung Cancer Incidence: Analysis Of The National Lung Screening Trial., Hee-Soon Juon, Alicia Hong, Marcella Pimpinelli, Madhuwani Rojulpote, Russell Mcintire, Julie A. Barta

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

The relationship between racial disparities in occupational risk and lung cancer diagnosis is not well defined. We examined occupational exposure to asbestos, silica, and other workplace chemicals, fumes, or dusts as reported in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression models were performed. Among the NLST study cohort, 3.9% were diagnosed with lung cancer. African-Americans had a higher rate of lung cancer diagnosis than White individuals (4.3% vs. 3.9%). About 28% reported at least one occupational exposure, including 6.5% exposed to silica and 4.7% to asbestos. African-Americans reported occupational exposure more frequently than White participants, …

Disparities In Sars-Cov-2 Positivity Rates: Associations With Race And Ethnicity, Harvey W Kaufman, Justin K Niles, David B. Nash

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Numerous reports indicate that African Americans and Latinos are being affected disproportionately by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Positivity rates have not been analyzed on scale because only 4 states report race/ethnicity as part of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing. Previous studies also have had little ability to control for many known risk factors to better identify the effects of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic communities. Using test results from a large national reference laboratory database that included patients from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, this study compared positivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification …

The Quest For Conquering Covid-19: Updates From The Laboratory, David B. Nash

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Delivering Maternal And Neonatal Health Interventions In Conflict Settings: A Systematic Review, Mariella Munyuzangabo, Michelle F. Gaffey, Dina S. Khalifa, Daina Als, Anushka Ataullahjan, Mahdis Kamali, Reena P. Jain, Sarah Meteke, Amruta Radhakrishnan, Shailja Shah, Fahad J. Siddiqui, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: While much progress was made throughout the Millennium Development Goals era in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, both remain unacceptably high, especially in areas affected by humanitarian crises. While valuable guidance on interventions to improve maternal and neonatal health in both non-crisis and crisis settings exists, guidance on how best to deliver these interventions in crisis settings, and especially in conflict settings, is still limited. This systematic review aimed to synthesise the available literature on the delivery on maternal and neonatal health interventions in conflict settings.
Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases using terms related to …

Safety Of Daily Low-Dose Aspirin Use During Pregnancy In Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries, Vanessa L. Short, Matthew Hoffman, Mrityunjay Metgud, Avinash Kavi, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Jean Okitawutshu, Antoinette Tshefu, Carl L. Bose, Saleem Jessani, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Background: The daily use of low-dose aspirin may be a safe, widely available, and inexpensive intervention for reducing the risk of preterm birth. Data on the potential side effects of low-dose aspirin use during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries are needed.
Objective: This study aimed to assess differences in unexpected emergency medical visits and potential maternal side effects from a randomized, double-blind, multicountry, placebo-controlled trial of low-dose aspirin use (81 mg daily, from 6 to 36 weeks' gestation).
Study design: This study was a secondary analysis of data from the Aspirin Supplementation for Pregnancy Indicated Risk Reduction In Nulliparas …

2021 Final Butte Reduction Works (Brw) Phase I Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) Revision 3. February 2021, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Constructing Curriculum: Centering Identities In Sex Education, Jozette Belmont

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Sex education (sex ed) is a state-by-state and school-by-school issue, and there are no federal laws which mandate medically accurate education. In New York, schools only offer one semester of health education which often happens in the last semester of twelfth grade. Further, LGBTQIA+ people’s sexual health and identities are rarely mentioned. Therefore, this project asks: What are the ways sex ed curricula and policies in New York address the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth? To answer this question, I use a critical policy analysis to compare curriculum from the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and Peer Health Exchange …

Maternal And Newborn Health Risks Of Climate Change: A Call For Awareness And Global Action, Nathalie Roos, Sari Kovats, Shakoor Hajat, Veronique Filippi, Matthew Chersich, Stanley Luchters, Fiona Scorgie, Britt Nakstad, Olof Stephansson, Chamnha Consortium

Population Health, East Africa

Climate change represents one of the largest global health threats of the 21st century with immediate and long‐term consequences for the most vulnerable populations, especially in the poorest countries with the least capacity to adapt to climate change. Pregnant women and newborns are increasingly being recognized as vulnerable populations in the context of climate change. The effects can be direct or indirect through heat stress, extreme weather events and air pollution, potentially impacting both the immediate and long‐term health of pregnant women and newborns through a broad range of mechanisms. In 2008, the World Health Organization passed a resolution during …

Public Perceptions Of Opioid Use Disorder (Oud) In Rural Pennsylvania: Opportunities, Challenges, And Barriers, Josiah Miller, Duane Donmoyer, Md, James Plumb, Md, Mph

Phase 1

Introduction:

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has significantly impacted rural communities nation-wide. This study adds information to what is currently known about OUD and its effects on small towns through examining how OUD has, and is currently, affecting a rural community (~7,000 population) in central Pennsylvania. The main aim of this study was to better understand how OUD affects this small town through interviewing individuals involved in local public health.

Methods:

This qualitative study consisted of key stakeholder interviews with ten individuals involved in local government, law enforcement, or healthcare. Questions centered around how OUD affects the local area, how current …

Improving The Implementation Of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring, Joshua Mairose, Geoffrey Mills, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) has been shown to outperform traditional office readings in its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and ability to identify patients with white coat or masked hypertension. For these reasons, the 2017 ACC/AHA Guidelines included HBPM as part of its recommendations for hypertension management. Our project focused on improving the implementation of HBPM in an urban primary care practice with an end goal of increasing the number of patients that actively use home blood pressure cuffs and have access to them for future telemedicine visits.

Methods: A patient outreach process to increase HBPM uptake …

Medicaid Expansion’S Importance To Mental Health Care, Cameron Blazoski, Vittorio Maio, Pharmd, Ms, Msph

Phase 1

Introduction: The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act established the Medicaid expansion, which incentivized states to expand their Medicaid programs to include individuals with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. A significant population that stood to benefit from this health care expansion were Americans who suffer from a mental health disorder. This study was conducted to analyze the impact of Medicaid expansion on individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

Methods: This political commentary was based on statistics on mental health in the United States derived from research studies and publications from federal …

Attitudes And Practices Of Providers Towards Continuity Of Care With Patients Prescribed Contraception, Jennifer Sachs, Grace Styklunas, Caroline King, Rebecca Mercier, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate provider attitudes and practices for follow-up counseling regarding patients prescribed contraception at women's health and primary care offices. As prescription contraception (oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), the patch, NuvaRing) are the most widely used reversible form of birth control in the United States, understanding provider practices and attitudes towards the necessity of follow-up for prescription contraception management is crucial.

Methods: An anonymous 16-item cross-sectional online Qualtrics survey queries providers for specialty and position, years in practice, as well as attitudes and practices regarding follow-up counseling for prescription contraception. The study cohort …

Differences In Hypertension And Obesity Levels Between High School Students In Philadelphia Urban And Suburban Areas, Joseph Gonnella, Jeremy Close, Md, Michael Bozzi, Md, Peri Levey, Kyle Prochno

Phase 1

Introduction: The prevalence of childhood obesity remains high, putting millions of children at risk of developing certain illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is vital to determine the true scope of the issue and reveal the risk factors associated with this condition. Since the objective of this study is to compare the obesity and hypertension levels between adolescents in Philadelphia urban and suburban high schools, these risk factors can be highlighted and analyzed.

Methods: Biometric and demographic data of Philadelphia urban students was collected from the Athlete Health Organization (AHO) pre-participation evaluations (PPEs) from 2016-2018. It was …

Comparing The Quality Of An In-Person Versus Virtual Diabetes Education Course Due To Covid 19 Pandemic, Allie Hamilton, Rickie Brawer, Phd

Phase 1

Introduction: Group diabetes education courses are proven to improve patients’ diabetes knowledge and metabolic control. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, Stephen Klein Wellness Center (SKWC) shifted their diabetes education course to an online format over Zoom. This study aimed to investigate difference in patient experience and course effectiveness between the in-person and online courses.

Methods: The population for this study includes 89 patients at SKWC that completed either the in-person or online diabetes education course. Participant satisfaction was measured with phone interviews and a survey. Course effectiveness was measured using surveys to assess the change in patients’ weight, amount of …

The Impact Of Doula-Supported Care On Stress Levels Of Women Receiving Opioid Addiction Treatment, Mariel Becker, Meghan Gannon, Phd, Msph

Phase 1

Introduction: Mothers suffering from opioid addiction are at high risk for experiencing extreme stress levels which prevents them from providing a healthy and nurturing environment for their family. The aim of this project is to explore if a doula-supported care team alleviates the parenting stress of new mothers participating in opioid addiction rehabilitation.

Methods: A total of 35-40 women in treatment at the Montair program for substance use disorder rehabilitation were recruited to participate in the City of Philadelphia’s Community Doula project. The Parenting Stress Index Score (PSI) was recorded and compared to a control group composed of women …

An Assessment Of Quality Improvement Strategies For The Implementation Of Certified Recovery Specialists In Treating Opioid Use Disorder At The Emergency Department At Jefferson, A. Cosmo Annese, Rickie Brawer, Phd, Mph, Ches

Phase 1

Introduction: Opioid overdose mortality rate in the U.S. has seen a staggering upward trend lately, more than tripling between the years 2000-2017. Although the use of Certified Recovery Specialists (CRSs) has been shown to improve overdose rates, relapse rates, and treatment completion rates for people with opioid use disorder (OUD), the optimal specialization of CRSs in healthcare settings has yet to be clearly defined. This project seeks the perspectives of CRSs and healthcare workers to gain insight into how CRSs can be most effectively implemented in the ED at Jefferson to treat OUD.

Methods: The study population includes CRSs and …

Pediatric Group Well Care Within The Maternal Treatment Education & Research (Mater) Program, Elizabeth Franko, Neera Goyal, Vanessa Short, Aditi Kale

Phase 1

Introduction:

This project aims to develop and implement group well care for mothers and infants receiving care for opioid use disorder (OUD). Groups would be composed of 5-7 mothers and infants of similar age with extension of sessions to allow group activities and parenting discussions. To evaluate acceptability and feasibility of this care model, we sought to examine attitudes and beliefs from these mothers, in particular the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

A qualitative interview study of women receiving treatment for OUD at Maternal Addiction Treatment Education and Research at Thomas Jefferson University from October – December 2020 was …

Impact Of Long-Term Doula Services On Maternal And Fetal Health Outcomes In Women In Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, Saloni Parikh, Meghan Gannon, Phd, Msph

Phase 1

This study analyzed the impact of doula services on maternal and fetal health outcomes in pregnant women seeking treatment for opioid use disorder. Understanding the impact of doula services is critical in reducing inequities in health outcomes experienced by this vulnerable population. Retrospective and prospective data was collected from surveys, focus groups, and maternal and infant birth data from 100 women in treatment for opioid use disorder, with fifty utilizing doulas and fifty not utilizing doulas. Standardized data abstraction of quantitative and qualitative measures were collected into an SPSS database and Nvivo, respectively, and analyzed using SPSS. Measures of importance …

Race And Disordered Eating: A Narrative Review Of Current Literature, Casey Swann, Msed, Lee Pachter, Do, Elizabeth Liveright, Md, Meghan Gannon, Phd, Msph

Phase 1

Research Problem: Eating disorder literature has well-established a correlation between childhood trauma and development of eating disorder symptomology. One type of trauma that is often overlooked in eating disorder research is that of racial stress faced by ethnic minorities. The literature on racism and eating disorders tends to focus on the transdiagnostic construct of disordered eating behavior rather than specific DSM-5 diagnoses. As such, the current literature review examined the findings regarding associations between racial stressors and disordered eating behavior.

Methods: The current literature review between Nov 2007 and August 2020 searched 3 databases, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo for …

Seeking Control During Uncontrollable Times: Control Abilities And Religiosity Predict Stress During Covid-19, Shi Ann Shuna Khoo, Wei Xing Toh, Hwajin Yang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need to understand the protective factors that can buffer individuals against psychological distress. We employed a latent-variable approach to examine how control-related factors such as religiosity, self-control, cognitive control, and health locus of control can act as resilience resources during stressful periods. We found that cognitive control emerged as a protective factor against COVID-19-related stress, whereas religiosity predicted a heightened level of stress. These results provide novel insights into control factors that can safeguard individuals' psychological well-being during crises such as a pandemic.

Digital News Media Coverage On Sexual And Gender-Based Violence In Kenya: Scoping The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Clara Broekaert, Ceri-Lune Renneboog, Ferdinand Okwaro, Abdu Mohiddin, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Kenya is frequently covered in digital news media. As a powerful influencer of public opinion, news media coverage can have a significant societal impact. This scoping review identifies the extent, nature, and themes of all available digital news media coverage on SGBV in Kenya from June 2019 to July 2020. It analyzes changes in coverage since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: The methodological framework for scoping reviews developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) guided the scoping review. The selected articles were analyzed using NVivo.

Results: Analysis of the 340 …