Public Health Commons^™

The Experience Of Pet Ownership During Transitional Housing Process, Kathryn Holden

Student Capstone Papers

Twenty-five percent of people experiencing homelessness have pets, but few transitional housing programs allow pets (Rhoades et al., 2015); therefore, there is a gap in the literature about the experience of pet ownership during the transitional housing process. This study aimed to explore pet owners' experiences at a transitional housing site in San Diego County. The student interviewed two current dog owners and four recent dog owners. All participants prioritized their pets because of the strong bond they shared with their pet. They described their relationship between themselves and their dog to be stronger than their relationships with family members …

Addressing Patient Loyalty Through Their Commitment Influenced By Electronic Word-Of-Mouth And Hospital’S Image, Al Quadhri Upe, Alida Palilati, Sudirman Zaid, Nasrul Nasrul

Kesmas

This article explores the influence of Electronic Word of Mouth (e-WoM) and hospital image on hospital patient loyalty, emphasizing the mediating role of patient commitment. Amidst the development of the healthcare industry sector in Indonesia, this study highlighted that e-WoM and hospital image significantly enhanced patient loyalty, with patient commitment playing an important mediating role. This article suggested practical strategies for hospitals, such as improving the quality of healthcare services, leveraging positive e-WoM, and implementing loyalty programs to elevate patient commitment and loyalty. These findings underscore the importance of hospital image and e-WoM in patient retention, providing valuable insights for …

Multidrug-Resistant Esbl-Producing Escherichia Coli Coexisting With Colistin-Resistance Genes In Pig Farms, Central Thailand, Wipawee Songsaeng, Nutthee Am-In, Nuvee Prapasarakul, Wandee Sirichokchatchawan

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and colistin resistance E. coli in food-producing animals is a public health concern. This study was conducted using a rigorous methodology to survey the prevalence of ESBL-producing and colistin-resistant E. coli from pig farms in the central part of Thailand. A total of 519 samples were collected from fecal, feed, and waste in 53 farms located in central Thailand. All samples were inoculated onto selective agar, and species identification was performed using biochemical assays and MAlDI-TOF MS. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by broth microdilution, and ESBL production was confirmed by the combination disc diffusion method. …

Accessible Dietary Interventions For The Prevention And Management Of Common Menstrual Disorders: A Systematic Review, Ella R. Motzko

Theses and Graduate Projects

Objective: This systematic review aims to provide healthcare providers with evidence-based dietary recommendations that can be easily implemented by patients across diverse populations to address a critical gap in the management of common menstrual disorders like premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and primary dysmenorrhea (PD).

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using UpToDate, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Green Journal, Google Scholar, and PubMed electronic databases to identify randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of specific essential nutrients or diet-related behavioral or educational interventions on PMS or PD symptoms.

Results: Following the PRISMA guidelines, the identification process began with …

“Dead Or Alive?” Assessment Of The Binary End-Of-Event Outcome Indicator For The Nemsis Public Research Dataset, Mary E. Helander

Social Science - All Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The broad absence of definitive patient outcomes in the NEMSIS public release data hinders research that seeks to understand the impact of pre-hospital care, operations, and overall patterns of population health – including geospatial and demographic differences. This study evaluated the recently proposed binary end-of-event outcome indicator to provide additional validity of the method, to evangelize its employment for more studies to analyze survival impact following an emergency medical event, and to identify appropriate use and interpretation given imperfection in predicted outcomes. METHODS: A recently published binary end-of-event outcome indicator was applied to datasets for each year from 2017 …

Risk Factors For Cognitive Impairment In Adult Population Of Coastal Area: A Cross-Sectional Study In Maringkik Island, Indonesia, Herpan Syafii Harahap, Arina Windri Rivarti, Nurhidayati Nurhidayati, Fitriannisa Faradina Zubaidi, Dini Suryani, Legis Ocktaviana Saputri, Yanna Indrayana, Athalita Andhera, Muhammad Hilam, Abiyyu Didar Haq

Kesmas

Cognitive impairment is a medical condition commonly found in elderly populations, which can be due to vascular risk factors in patients. There remains limited data on risk factors for cognitive impairment among coastal region populations. This study aimed to investigate risk factors for cognitive impairment in the adult population of Maringkik Island, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Data collected were age, sex, education level, hypertension, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, and body mass index status. A total of 114 participants were recruited using a consecutive sampling method. The participants’ cognitive function assessment used the Mini-Cog instrument. The cognitive impairment …

Exploring Informal Caregivers’ Perspectives On Oral Care For Stroke Patients, Haslina Rani, Saidatul Najibah Muhammad Zamzuri, Ezzah Omar, Tuti Ningseh Mohd-Dom, Aznida Firzah Abdul Aziz, Mohd Fairuz Ali

Kesmas

Stroke often results in physical disability and functional impairment, which may severely limit patients' ability to care for personal hygiene, including oral care. This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by informal caregivers in managing the oral health of stroke patients. This study conducted semi-structured individual interviews with eight home-based caregivers of stroke patients recruited from a community-based clinic facility of a public university in Malaysia. The interviews took 30-45 minutes to complete and were transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed thematically using a phenomenological approach. Relevant themes that emerged were variations in oral hygiene care, caregivers’ concerns in providing …

Complete Dose Of Hepatitis B Vaccination Among Children In Indonesia And Factors Associated: A Community-Based Study, Putri Bungsu Machmud, Dwi Gayatri, Erni Astutik

Kesmas

Hepatitis B vaccination is widely recognized as the most effective way to prevent hepatitis B infection, yet the rate of complete vaccination among Indonesian children remains low. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of hepatitis B vaccination coverage among children and identify potential associated factors in Indonesia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. The study involved 7,860 Indonesian mothers of children aged 12-59 months, providing data on their children's hepatitis B vaccination status and other relevant factors from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic Health Survey. Overall, the rate of complete hepatitis B vaccination among children was relatively high (89.8%). Several …

Variation And Predictors Of Covid-19 Mortality In Hospitalized Cases In West Sumatra Province, Indonesia: A Retrospective Observational Study, Defriman Djafri, Ade Suzana Eka Putri, Yudi Pradipta

Kesmas

During 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, different Indonesian provinces had different numbers of COVID-19 infections and fatalities, particularly in West Sumatra Province. This study aimed to investigate the variation of confirmed COVID-19 cases and determine predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients across districts in West Sumatra Province. A retrospective observational study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 2020 to June 2021, 46,005 confirmed cases were collected in the province, of which 42,308 were hospitalized and analyzed. Confirmed cases and deaths were compared by geographic location using spatial analysis. The risk predictors of death were estimated using …

Exploration Of Positive Deviance In Prevention Of Underweight In The Under-Five: A Qualitative Study On Low-Income Urban Families, Irwan Budiono, Lukman Fauzi, Dewi Sari Rochmayani

Kesmas

Children under the age of five (the under-five) from low-income families are more vulnerable to experience underweight. This nutritional vulnerability is evident in the preliminary study, where 35.1% of the under-five experience underweight, and 28.48% are low-income families. This study aimed to explore Positive Deviance (PD) behaviors in preventing underweight among the under-five. The study applied a qualitative approach with a case study design. Data collection took place in July-August 2022, focusing on low-income families in the Gunung Brintik area. Data were collected through two focus group discussions, seven in-depth interviews, and five key informant interviews. Coding, subtheme, and theme …

Food Hygiene And Sanitation At The Jakarta Pondok Gede Hajj Embarkation Dormitory: Food Safety Efforts For The Hajj Pilgrims, Fauziah Hayati, Al Asyary, Bambang Wispriyono, Harunor Rashid, Z Memish

Kesmas

Several health risks are associated with performing Hajj pilgrimage. Food poisoning is a major cause of diarrhea and vomiting during Hajj. Food hygiene is an effort to control aspects of food, people, places, and equipment that could cause disease or health problems. This study aimed to describe food hygiene and sanitation efforts implemented in 2023 at the Jakarta Pondok Gede Hajj Embarkation Dormitory in Jakarta, implemented in 2023 to safeguard foods for the Hajj pilgrims. Using a descriptive qualitative design with a document analysis approach, this study examined activities during the pre-embarkation and embarkation periods. Pre-embarkation efforts included inspecting the …

The Open Defecation Free Program Evaluation Using The Context, Input, Process, And Product Model In Jambi, Indonesia, Guspianto Guspianto, Willia Novita Eka Rini, Rizalia Wardiah, Susi Desmaryani, Herlina Herlina

Kesmas

The Open Defecation Free (ODF) program was initiated by the government to increase access to healthy latrines. This study aimed to evaluate the ODF program using the CIPP evaluation model. A qualitative and exploratory descriptive method was adopted to investigate informants' experiences regarding the program's implementation. Data was explored through semi-structured interviews with 17 informants and analyzed using content analysis. The results showed that the program was crucial as numerous people engaged in open defecation due to economic, geographical, cultural, and knowledge factors. The absence of ODF policy was due to lack of priority, limited government and private support, insufficient …

Considering First Nations Lgbtiq+ Identity In Anti-Racist Healthcare: Relations Between Comfort In Healthcare, Microaggressions And Wellbeing, Bep Uink, Rebecca Bennett, Sian Bennett, Dameyon Bonson, Braden Hill

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

First Nations scholars and practitioners have increasingly called for anti-racist healthcare to address disparate health outcomes between First Nations and non-First Nations Australians. However, these arguments largely miss the significant negative impact that colonial heterosexism and cisgenderism (i.e. discrimination and marginalisation of queer and transgender peoples) have on LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning) First Nations peoples’ wellbeing. To address this gap, survey data from 63 First Nations LGBTIQ+ adults in Western Australia were utilised to illustrate the impact of racism, heterosexism and cisgenderism in healthcare settings on First Nations LGBTIQ+ peoples’ wellbeing. This study examined relations between participant …

A Needs-Assessment Survey Of The High School Lgbtq+ Environment By A Health Science Center Interprofessional Team, Rafael Velasquez, Mary E. Moore, Gabrielle Sheets, Christian Nieves-Rivera, Sonya Van Nuland, Martha Cuccia, Fern Tsien, Andrew D. Hollenbach

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Despite improvements in the awareness and acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) individuals, the LGBTQ+ community continues to experience discrimination, which can result in adverse health outcomes. In particular, LGBTQ+ youth have an increased risk of experiencing depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Societal stigma and rejection, bullying, and familial disapproval all contribute to these health disparities. In recognition of these inequities, an interprofessional team of biomedical faculty members, staff, and trainees from the Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC) in New Orleans developed the needs-assessment evaluation, the Gender and Sexual Minority …

Occupational Therapy Services Within Women’S Shelters For Women With Disabilities Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv), Meira Becirovic, Jessica De Brun, Angela Labrie Blackwell

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project focuses on enhancing the role of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners in supporting women with disabilities who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and are residing in women’s shelters. These women often face significant barriers to engaging in daily activities crucial for their health, well-being, and overall life satisfaction. The project aims to equip OT practitioners with the tools and strategies necessary to address the complex needs of this population, particularly in areas such as activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), work, education, home management, parenting, and leisure.

By utilizing evidence-based practices and …

Perceptions Of Hiv-Related Comorbidities And Usability Of A Virtual Environment For Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Education In Sexual Minority Men With Hiv: Formative Phases Of A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, S Raquel Ramos, Harmony Reynolds, Constance Johnson, Gail Melkus, Trace Kershaw, Julian F Thayer, Allison Vorderstrasse

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Sexual minority men with HIV are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and have been underrepresented in behavioral research and clinical trials.

Objective: This study aims to explore perceptions of HIV-related comorbidities and assess the interest in and usability of a virtual environment for CVD prevention education in Black and Latinx sexual minority men with HIV.

Methods: This is a 3-phase pilot behavioral randomized controlled trial. We report on formative phases 1 and 2 that informed virtual environment content and features using qualitative interviews, usability testing, and beta testing with a total of 25 individuals. In phase …

Determinants Of Testicular Cancer Survival Rates In American Indian/Alaska Natives, Mufaya Nganzi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor among male young adults between 15 to 34 years old. Despite progress with the testicular cancer survival rate, American Indians or Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs) have the highest mortality rate of testicular cancer compared to all other racial groups in the United States. There is a shortage of reported studies on social-related factors that affect the survival rate of testicular cancer patients among AI/ANs. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between stage at diagnosis, treatment, insurance status, and marital status as independent variables and the survival rate (in months) …

The Influence Of Individual Characteristics On Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing In Puerto Rico, Jose Au Lay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2016, there were 17,072 people living with HIV in Puerto Rico. Most HIV cases were among men, with the primary mode of transmission identified as men who have sex with other men followed by heterosexual contact. Among women, heterosexual contact was the primary mode of HIV transmission. The rise in the numbers of individuals infected with HIV through heterosexual contact suggest the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors including multiple sexual partners and unprotected vaginal and anal sex. Guided by the health belief model, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the likelihood of HIV testing …

Economic Behavior And Hiv Risk Behavior Among Vulnerable Women: A Prospective Randomized Control Study In Southern Uganda, Joshua Kiyingi

Brown School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the estimated population of women engaged in sex work (WESW) is 2.5 million, aged 15 to 49 years (Laga et al., 2023). WESW face numerous challenges, including high-risk behaviors that expose them to HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), drug and alcohol abuse, criminalization, discrimination, mental health problems, and limited healthcare access. Globally, WESW are significantly affected by HIV, with new infections continuing to rise. Recent estimates show that although 8% of all new HIV infections are among WESW, 32.8% of them are unaware of their HIV status (UNAIDS, 2021a). The risk of acquiring HIV is 30 …

Obese African American Women’S Perceptions Of Transition From College To Workforce, Alea Lycorish

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rate of obesity continues to rise among adults in the United States, and African American (AA) women are at greater risk in comparison with any other group. This matter has become an alarming public health crisis. Obese AA women also face a higher risk of discrimination in the workforce. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to increase the understanding of the perceptions and experiences of bachelor degree educated, overweight AA women during the postgraduate phase, who entered the workforce within the past 10 years. The theoretical framework used in this study was Crenshaw’s intersectionality theory. The …

Needs Of Family Caregivers Of Hospitalised Adults With Dementia During Care Transitions: A Qualitative Study In A Us Department Of Veterans Affairs Hospital, Molly J Horstman, Tracy L Evans, Crystal Guo, Mandi Sonnenfeld, Aanand D Naik, Alan Stevens, Mark E Kunik

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To identify the needs of caregivers of hospitalised adults with dementia in the hospital and during care transitions.

DESIGN: Pragmatic qualitative inquiry with semi-structured interviews.

SETTING: Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas, USA.

PARTICIPANTS: 12 family caregivers (family member (n=11); friend (n=1)) and 15 health professionals (hospital medicine physicians (n=4), inpatient nurse case managers (n=2), social workers (n=4), outpatient geriatrics providers (n=2), a primary care provider (n=1), geriatric psychiatrists (n=2)) were interviewed. Caregivers were recruited while their care recipient was hospitalised and were interviewed at least 2 weeks after the care recipient was discharged from …

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Problems: A Look At How Employers View Causes, Roger C. Jensen

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

Causation concepts for work-related musculoskeletal disorders vary among authors and academic disciplines. The major causation concepts are single-event and repetitive motion. The aim of this short communication is to share findings from a recent survey of United States employers conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics about work-related musculoskeletal cases, and, more specifically, about whether the employers regard the causes of their employees’ musculoskeletal problems as being from a single exposure or from multiple exposures. Recommendations are offered for using terminology consistent with employer understandings.

Teacher Implementation Profiles: A Response To Top-Down Mandate Of Movement Integration, Zack Beddoes, Jeanne Barcelona, Darla Castelli

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study examined teacher implementation practices to meet a state mandate requiring 135 minutes of student physical activity (PA) weekly. Teachers were required to implement a video-based movement integration (MI) program. Using an embedded mixed-methods design, provider characteristics of 42 teachers and the organizational capacity of six schools were developed from interviews, surveys, observations, and artifacts. Data analysis revealed three teacher profiles (a) Dynamic Experientialists, (b) Coachable Constructivists, and (c) Cautious Behaviorists, and three school profiles (a) Whole Child Approach, (b) Grade Level Champions, and (c) Back to Basics. Findings suggest that school, teacher, …

Microvascular Autologous Breast Reconstruction With The Lateral Thigh Perforator Flap, Stefania M.H. Tuinder, Joep A.F. Van Rooij, Robert J. Allen

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The lateral thigh perforator flap is an excellent alternative to the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap for patients with absolute or relative contraindications for a DIEP flap and adequate volume at the lateral thigh. Preoperative physical examination, preoperative markings, and radiological perforator mapping are essential for adequate surgical preparation. The flap is based on septocutaneous perforators of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, located in the posterior septum between the tensor fascia latae and the gluteus medius muscle. Being relatively stiff, septocutaneous perforators are sensitive to kinking and compression, which is important to keep in mind during flap inset. …

Epigenome-Wide Association Study Of Prostate Cancer In African American Men Identified Differentially Methylated Genes, Anders Berglund, Kosj Yamoah, Steven A. Eschrich, Rana Falahat, James J. Mulé, Sungjune Kim, Jaime Matta, Julie Dutil, Gilberto Ruiz-Deya, Carmen Ortiz Sanchez, Liang Wang, Hyun Park, Hirendra N. Banerjee, Tamara Lotan, Kathryn Hughes Barry, Ryan M. Putney, Seung Joon Kim, Clement Gwede, Jacob K. Kresovich, Youngchul Kim, Hui Yi Lin, Jasreman Dhillon, Ratna Chakrabarti, Jong Y. Park

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Men with African ancestry have the highest incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer (PCa) worldwide. Methods: This study aimed to identify differentially methylated genes between tumor vs. adjacent normal and aggressive vs. indolent PCa in 121 African American patients. Epigenome-wide DNA methylation patterns in tumor DNA were assessed using the human Illumina Methylation EPIC V1 array. Results: Around 5,139 differentially methylated CpG-sites (q < 0.01, lΔβl > 0.2) were identified when comparing normal vs. tumor, with an overall trend of hypermethylation in prostate tumors. Multiple representative differentially methylated regions (DMRs), including immune-related genes, such as CD40, Galectin3, OX40L, and STING, were detected …

Socioeconomic Status, Physical Inactivity, And Bmi In Transitional Urban China: Contextualizing The Theory Of Fundamental Causes, Jun Xu, Fang Gong, Wei Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Drawing insights from the theory of fundamental causes of disease, this study examined the relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and selected risk factors in transitional urban China. Specifically, under China’s distinct institutional and sociocultural environment, we examined how contextualized SES (i.e., party membership, hukou status, housing ownership, and subjective social status) and conventional SES indicators (i.e., education, income, and occupation) were associated with physical inactivity and body mass index (BMI). Utilizing the urban subsample of the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), we found that individuals with higher education, income, Communist Party membership, and urban hukou status had lower risks …

Appropriateness Of Imaging For Low-Risk Prostate Cancer-Real World Data From The Pennsylvania Urologic Regional Collaboration (Purc), Raidizon Mercedes, Dennis Head, Elizabeth Zook, Eric Eidelman, Jeffrey Tomaszewski, Serge Ginzburg, Robert Uzzo, Marc Smaldone, John Danella, Thomas Guzzo, Daniel Lee, Laurence Belkoff, Jeffrey Walker, Adam Reese, Mihir Shah, Bruce Jacobs, Jay Raman

Einstein Health Papers

Imaging for prostate cancer defines the extent of disease. Guidelines recommend against imaging low-risk prostate cancer patients with a computed tomography (CT) scan or bone scan due to the low probability of metastasis. We reviewed imaging performed for men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer across the Pennsylvania Urologic Regional Collaborative (PURC), a physician-led data sharing and quality improvement collaborative. The data of 10 practices were queried regarding the imaging performed in men diagnosed with prostate cancer from 2015 to 2022. The cohort included 13,122 patients with 3502 (27%) low-risk, 2364 (18%) favorable intermediate-risk, 3585 (27%) unfavorable intermediate-risk, and 3671 (28%) …

Examining Coping Mechanisms Among Teachers And Administrators After Experiencing Gun Violence At School, Tracey Yvonne Holt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent research, gun violence at schools has become a public health issue. Teachers, administrators, students, and communities are trying to cope with the aftermath of gun violence at schools. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to identify coping mechanisms among teachers and administrators after experiencing gun violence at school. The theoretical framework was the transactional model of stress and coping, contending that a person’s capacity to cope and adjust to challenges and problems is a consequence of transactions. Data collection included Zoom interviews with 10 participants. Findings from coding and thematic analysis indicated that experiencing gun …

Physical Activity Modifies The Risk Of Incident Cardiac Conduction Disorders Upon Inflammation: A Population-Based Cohort Study, Haiyan Zhao, Man Li, Dan Wu, Shuohua Chen, Chenrui Zhu, Yulong Lan, Hongmin Liu, Yuntao Wu, Shouling Wu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests a central role for inflammation in cardiac conduction disorder (CCD). It is unknown whether habitual physical activity could modulate the inflammation-associated risks of incident CCD in the general population. METHODS AND RESULTS: This population-based cohort was derived from the China Kailuan study, including a total of 97 192 participants without prior CCD. The end points included incident CCD and its subcategories (atrioventricular block and bundlebranch block). Systemic inflammation was indicated by the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR). Over a median 10.91-year follow-up, 3747 cases of CCD occurred, with 1062 cases of atrioventricular block and 2697 cases of bundle-branch …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Addressing Wellness In Underserved Communities, Kimberlyna Chheang, Amy Lyons-Brown, Anna Saavedra

Summer 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project addresses sociodemographic disparities in community wellness and health services in Kern County, CA, focusing on underserved communities facing trauma and systemic inequalities. In collaboration with the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) and their East Kern Family Resource Center (EKFRC), it aims to lay the foundation for community-based, tailored interventions using occupational therapy (OT) to enhance community well-being and promote access to critical services to support wellbeing.