Public Health Commons^™

Exploring Usability In Exercise Interventions: From Conceptualization To Measurement And Application, Anne Inger Mørtvedt

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Exercise interventions hold promise for preventing and treating numerous conditions, diseases, and injuries. However, these interventions will only be effective if they are being used. Unfortunately, uptake and adherence to prescribed exercise and physical activity guidelines are insufficient. Some reasons for this include lack of knowledge, resources, flexibility, and enjoyment. Exercise program developers need to not only consider the effectiveness of the program during the development phase, but also involve end-users and receive feedback on program usability to determine likelihood of uptake and adoption. Usability testing can be used to detect barriers to use and implementation likelihood but has not …

The Effects Of Resistance Training On Older Adults: Increasing Healthspan And Lowering Disability Rates, Michael M. Samuel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study analyzed the research on older adults and resistance training exercise and assessed effects on health span and lowering disability rates. A targeted search of the literature was employed using the following key words: sarcopenia, resistance training, hypertrophy, quality of life, disability, activities of daily living, strength training, falls, and functional strength. These were used to find articles that were relevant to the research. Articles were excluded if they focused on young athletes as they did not meet my research age group. Articles that focused on nutrition were also excluded as they pulled the focus away from the impact …

Fertility Preservation: A Critical Review Of Information Available To Testicular Cancer Patients, Markram Groenewald

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Fertility preservation remains a crucial component of Testicular Cancer patients’ health-related quality of life. Significant inconsistency is present in the availability and accessibility of information related to fertility preservation for patients with Testicular Cancer. The purpose of this critical review was to determine the quantity and quality of fertility preservation provided through the websites of top cancer care centers. A total of 15 centers were chosen based on the top cancer centers from US News and World Report and expanded upon using Definitive Healthcare’s top 10 centers treating Testicular Cancer by volume. Webpages were collected and graded for accessibility of …

Healthcare Disparities Among Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder And Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Patients, Brooke A. Martinez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is the most common subtype of rare connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Hypermobile Spectrum Disorder (HSD) is a connective tissue disorder that presents itself similarly to hEDS. Both disorders primarily affect individuals assigned to females at birth (AFAB), and symptoms range from joint instability, musculoskeletal pain, dizziness, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Due to many factors like lack of education or attitudes among medical professionals (MPs), receiving a diagnosis of either of these conditions can be a challenging and grueling journey for patients. An online survey was conducted and distributed over social media platforms to …

Mapping Accessibility To Emergency Care Using Public Transportation, Bach Tran

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Intro: Public transit offers various advantages for both communities and individuals in terms of mobility and has the potential to serve as a practical alternative to private motorized transportation. Timely and convenient public transit becomes a lifeline for people who cannot access other types of transportation, especially when it comes to emergency care. Method: We built a private network analysis within ArcGIS Pro using coordinate data from hospitals and stand-alone emergency rooms as designated by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) and public transit data from Orlando, FL. Establishing the accessible time as 30 minutes, we computed and visualized …

Understanding Guardian Perceptions Of Whole-Foods Plant-Based Diets As Interventions In Pediatric Medicine, Vijay R. Luthra

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The obesity epidemic is widespread in American society, often affecting children who bear its consequences innocently. Due to a lack of nutrition knowledge, children rely on caregivers to meet their nutritional needs and instill healthy habits. This study examines parents' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors, as well as perceived barriers to adopting a whole-foods plant-based diet (WFPD) for their children. Using a modified survey instrument by Morton et al., this study focused on parents and children regarding dietary choices. Participants were recruited from the waiting area of a pediatric clinic at the Medical College of Georgia between April and May 2023. …

The Impact Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus And Maternal Oral Microbiome: A Scoping Review, Jaclyn P. Langan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy-related metabolic disorder associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Recent research has highlighted the potential role of the oral microbiome in the pathophysiology of various systemic conditions, including diabetes mellitus. However, the impact of GDM on the maternal oral microbiome remains relatively understudied. Understanding alterations in the oral microbiome during pregnancy complicated by GDM could provide valuable insights into the mechanistic links between systemic metabolic disorders and oral health.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to comprehensively examine the existing literature on the relationship between GDM and maternal oral …

Breakfast Skipping In College Students And Its Association With Eating Behaviors, Rebekah E. May

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Breakfast is important in maintaining optimal diet quality and decreasing preventable diet-related disease later in life. Breakfast skipping is highly prevalent in the college population, potentially decreasing self-regulation and diet quality and increasing habits of overeating. However, specific eating styles and diet quality have yet to be studied in breakfast skippers.

Objective: To explore and compare the characteristics of eating style, self-regulation, and diet quality among college students between a day when breakfast is skipped and a day when breakfast is consumed.

Methodology: Undergraduate students (n=103) participating in this observational crossover study completed demographics, the Self-regulation of Eating Behavior …

Assessing The Prevalence Of Behavioral Work-Related Exposures Among Nail Technicians, Kayla R. Mecoli

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Nail technicians can be exposed to more chemicals and allergens than the general population due to the unique exposures they experience in their day-to-day operations. This study focused on behaviors nail technicians participated in that may have increased their risk of infection, pain, allergy, or ailment. A cross-sectional study was organized, assessing the prevalence of behavioral exposures among nail technicians and their correlation with other factors like prior education, workplace type, and symptoms experienced. The goal was to create a better understanding of how the modern-day nail technician is protecting themselves while working, by identifying gaps to facilitate the creation …

Health Equity Policy In Colombia: Improving Equal Access To Health Care Services For Individuals With Low-Income, Marian Marin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In 1993, the last health reform “Law 100” was introduced in Colombia. It has been over 30 years since its implementation, and there have been many changes to the healthcare system in Colombia ever since. The policy increased health insurance coverage to almost 95% of the population, providing better and more affordable patient care. However, increasing the availability of resources does not necessarily make them accessible to all of Colombia’s residents. This study aims to analyze the outcomes of “Law 100” to the system and studies critical obstacles that halt healthcare equity in Colombia, particularly for those in rural and …

Unraveling The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Staphylococcus Aureus Carriage: A Comparative Research Of Pre- And Post-Pandemic Samples, Catherine G. Johnston

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus carriage and disease. This study aims to assess these changes by leveraging respiratory samples collected from a longstanding cohort, comparing the genomic characteristics of S. aureus isolates from pre- and post-pandemic periods. We analyzed S. aureus genomes and phenotypically determined macrolide resistance to characterize population structure, antibiotic resistance, and virulence profiles. Changes in S. aureus carriage rates, macrolide resistance, disease occurrence, and population structure between samples collected pre- and post-pandemic were examined. By using respiratory samples, chart reviews, and risk factor questionnaires of 498 children from a …

Impacts Of Sex Work Criminalization On Sex Workers In Oregon: A Pilot Study, Stephanie Wahab, Katie Shammel

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Executive Summary

Context for the Study
In July, 2023, Oregon legislators voted to fund research exploring the impacts of the criminalization of sex work in Oregon. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the budget item, stating that the private sector should fund this type of public health research and noting the need for additional public discussion about the issue. To date, there have been no attempts to study the impacts of prostitution laws on the people most impacted by them in Oregon. The research presented in this report seeks to address this gap.

This qualitative pilot study was designed to better understand …

Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid Exposure Leads To Downregulation Of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coa Synthase 2 Expression And Upregulation Of Markers Associated With Intestinal Carcinogenesis In Mouse Intestinal Tissues, Josiane Weber Tessmann, Pan Deng, Jerika Durham, Chang Li, Moumita Banerjee, Qingding Wang, Ryan A. Goettl, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Eun Y. Lee, B. Mark Evers, Bernhard Hennig, Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a widely recognized environment pollutant known for its high bio- accumulation potential and a long elimination half-life. Several studies have shown that PFOS can alter multiple biological pathways and negatively affect human health. Considering the direct exposure to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to environmental pollutants, PFOS can potentially disrupt intestinal homeostasis. However, there is limited knowledge about the effect of PFOS exposure on normal intestinal tissues, and its contribution to GI- associated diseases remains to be determined. In this study, we examined the effect of PFOS exposure on the gene expression profile of intestinal tissues of …

Retinoic Acid-Mediated Inhibition Of Mouse Coronavirus Replication Is Dependent On Irf3 And Camkk, Justin H. Franco, Ryan A. Harris, William G. Ryan, Roger Travis Taylor, Robert E. Mccullumsmith, Saurabh Chattopadhyay, Zhixing K. Pan

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the shortfalls in our understanding of how to treat coronavirus infections. With almost 7 million case fatalities of COVID-19 globally, the catalog of FDA-approved antiviral therapeutics is limited compared to other medications, such as antibiotics. All-trans retinoic acid (RA), or activated vitamin A, has been studied as a potential therapeutic against coronavirus infection because of its antiviral properties. Due to its impact on different signaling pathways, RA’s mechanism of action during coronavirus infection has not been thoroughly described. To determine RA’s mechanism of action, we examined its effect against a mouse coronavirus, mouse hepatitis …

Identification En Laboratoire Des Éléments Essentiels Au Processus D’Intégration Sécuritaire De Cellules Cobotiques, Sabrina Jocelyn, Élise Ledoux, Damien Burlet-Vienney, Isabelle Berger, Isvieysys Armas Marrero, Chun Hong Law, Yuvin Chinniah, Abdallah Ben Mosbah, Ilian A. Bonev, Denys Denis, Laurent Giraud

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les cobots sont apparus vers 2010 en industrie et les accidents sont très peu documentés. La gestion des risques en cobotique représente un réel défi. La littérature scientifique montre l’existence de divers modèles, méthodes et outils pour gérer les risques en cobotique, en mettant l’opérateur humain au cœur de l’intégration des applications collaboratives. Cependant, un autre humain clé de la mise en œuvre de ces applications est négligé la plupart du temps. Il s’agit de l’intégrateur, celui qui doit concevoir la cellule cobotique. À notre connaissance, deux études portant sur un même projet de conception d’un logiciel aidant à mettre …

Safe Sleep Education For Local Refugee And Immigrant Populations, Sara Jones

Posters

Provide Safe Sleep education to local refugee and immigrant populations through their resettlement agency Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) with resources available in their first language.

Himalayan Health Exchange: Kargiakh Medical Expedition, Rachel Oldfather

Posters

Medical expedition to remote Himalayan villages involving high-altitude treks, improvised clinics, and immersion in the local Buddhist culture.

Global Health Elective - Philippines, Hannah Ho

Posters

Provides an overview of experiences working in the Philippines as a pediatric resident.

Healthcare In Under-Resourced Areas, Gabrielle Fleming, Ryan Northup, Bill Houseworth, Lori Housworth

Posters

Describes pediatric resident's experience working in the inpatient unit, ER, PICU, and NICU in Cambodia.

A Case Study Of Hospital Contraceptive Waste Management Practices In Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Anambra State, Yanmeer S. Tyotswam, Rosebella Iseme, Eliphas G. Makunyi

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Effective management of hospital waste is a critical component of a hospital’s infection control program and is central to occupational safety for healthcare workers. Thus, this study focused on the assessment of hospital contraceptive waste management practices at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross sectional analytical study was carried out among healthcare workers selected using multistage sampling technique in 6 categories of healthcare workers in COOUTH. Data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and a World Health Organization (WHO) checklist and analyzed using statistical package for the …

Beyond Borders: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of International Migrant Women In Nigeria, A Deep Dive Into Healthcare Realities And Utilization, Juliet Nwafor, Rowland Edet, Ezebunwa Nwokoch

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This study explored access to and utilization of healthcare facilities among migrant women in an urban slum community in Nigeria, focusing on factors influencing healthcare-seeking behaviors and the implications for public health interventions. A qualitative case study-oriented research design was employed, involving in-depth interviews with 21 migrant women of reproductive age and 4 key informant interviews with healthcare workers in the Ayobo community of Lagos State, Nigeria. Data collection occurred from June to September 2018, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the findings. Three main themes emerged: living conditions, pattern of healthcare utilization, and factors influencing accessibility and utilization …

Grading Of Malnutrition Among Under 5 Children Residing In Urban Slum In Mysuru Using Who Classification And Indian Academy Of Pediatrics (Iap) Classification: A Comparative Study, Ravali Annaram Dr, Amogha Shree Dr, Saurish Hegde Dr, Krishnaveni Y S Dr

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background

Malnutrition in Indian children under five is widespread, driven by insufficient food intake and diseases like diarrhoea and respiratory infections. Factors such as food security, maternal literacy, and healthcare access influence malnutrition rates. Growth monitoring utilizes WHO standards globally and IAP guidelines in India. Implementing these charts improves early identification and management of malnutrition, crucial for addressing childhood health challenges in India. This study compare the prevalence of malnutrition in WHO classification with Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) classification among under 5 children residing in urban slum.

Methodology

A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 6 …

Descriptive Report On Dietary Remains From Aztec And Salmon Ruins Coprolites, Karl J. Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

This report focuses only on dietary results from the Aztec Ruins and Salmon Ruins coprolites. The parasitological analysis was completed in 2018 and was the focus of several papers that were summarized by Camacho and Reinhard (2020). This did not include DNA analysis. The coprolites from these sites are not appropriate sources of DNA testing.

The main conclusion of the analysis are:

1) Two very distinct plant spectra are represented in Aztec Ruins West (ARW) room 219 and room 225.

2) The three contexts of ARW room 219 show interesting variation in food selection, however these are small samples.

3) …

Steps Towards Operationalizing One Health Approaches, Kim M. Pepin, Keith M. Carlisle, Dean Anderson, Michael G. Baker, Richard B. Chipman, Jackie Benschop, Nigel P. French, Suzie Greenhalgh, Scott Mcdougall, Petra Muellner, Emil Murphy, Dion R. J. Neale, Michael J. Plank, David T. S. Hayman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

One Health recognizes the health of humans, agriculture, wildlife, and the environment are interrelated. The concept has been embraced by international health and environmental authorities such as WHO, WOAH, FAO, and UNEP, but One Health approaches have been more practiced by researchers than national or international authorities. To identify priorities for operationalizing One Health beyond research contexts, we conducted 41 semi-structured interviews with professionals across One Health sectors (public health, environment, agriculture, wildlife) and institutional contexts, who focus on national-scale and international applications. We identify important challenges, solutions, and priorities for delivering the One Health agenda through government action. Participants …

Qualitative Study Of Hiv-Related Stigma In The Dental Care Setting, Sania A. Pullen, Dr. Dina T. Garcia

Undergraduate Research Posters

Objectives: People living with HIV (PLWH) are susceptible to developing a variety of oral conditions that if left untreated can lead to sore gums, painful chewing, and tooth loss as well as compromise HIV management and viral suppression. Despite the increased risk of developing oral conditions, it is estimated that up to 58% of PLH do not receive regular dental care. This study aimed to examine HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the dental care setting.

Methods: Adults living with HIV who receive care through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program at the VCU Infectious Disease (ID) clinic were recruited to participate. …

Choice Of Adjuvant And Antigen Composition Alters The Immunogenic Profile Of A Sars-Cov-2 Subunit Vaccine, William R Lykins, Jeroen Pollet, Jessica A White, Brian Keegan, Leroy Versteeg, Ulrich Strych, Wen-Hsiang Chen, Raodoh Mohamath, Gabi Ramer-Denisoff, Sierra Reed, Samuel Beaver, Alana Gerhardt, Emily A Voigt, Mark A Tomai, Robert Sitrin, Robert K M Choy, Frederick J Cassels, Peter J Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Christopher B Fox

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Since their introduction, adjuvanted recombinant subunit vaccines against COVID-19 have played a pivotal role in protecting global populations. Optimizing the immune response's quality, amplitude, and durability to these vaccines depends on the appropriate adjuvant choice and dose in combination with the selected antigen.

Methods: Here, we employed a preclinical mouse model to study the adaptive humoral and cellular immune responses to a SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) antigen formulated with one of four different immune agonists [GLA, 3M-052, CpG-1826 (CpG), and dmLT], in combination with one of two different immune-stimulating formulations, a stabilized squalene emulsion (SE) or aluminum hydroxide …

Pseudoviruses, A Safer Toolbox For Vaccine Development Against Enveloped Viruses, Syamala R Thimmiraju, Jason T Kimata, Jeroen Pollet

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Pseudoviruses are recombinant, replication-incompetent, viral particles designed to mimic the surface characteristics of native enveloped viruses. They are a safer, and cost-effective research alternative to live viruses. With the potential emergence of the next major infectious disease, more vaccine scientists must become familiar with the pseudovirus platform as a vaccine development tool to mitigate future outbreaks.

Areas covered: This review aims at vaccine developers to provide a basic understanding of pseudoviruses, list their production methods, and discuss their utility to assess vaccine efficacy against enveloped viral pathogens. We further illustrate their usefulness as wet-lab simulators for emerging mutant variants, …

Use Of Machine Learning Approaches To Predict Transition Of Retention In Care Among People Living With Hiv In South Carolina: A Real-World Data Study, Ruilie Cai, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Yunqing Ma, Hao H. Zhang, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Maintaining retention in care (RIC) for people living with HIV (PLWH) helps achieve viral suppression and reduce onward transmission. This study aims to identify the best machine learning model that predicts the RIC transition over time. Extracting from the enhanced HIV/AIDS reporting system, this study included 9765 PLWH from 2005 to 2020 in South Carolina. Transition of RIC was defined as the change of RIC status in each two–year time window. We applied seven classifiers, such as Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, eXtreme Gradient Boosting and Long–short–term memory, for each lagged response to predict the subsequent year's RIC transition. Classification …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Vaccine Availability On Utilization Of Breast Imaging In A Multistate Radiology Practice, Andrew K Hillman, Phil Ramis, Patrick Nielsen, Eric M Rohren

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

METHOD: Data were obtained from medical health records across 77 Radiology Partners practices in the US. The data provided us with the total monthly mammography, breast ultrasound, and breast MRI procedures from January 2019 to September 2022. An interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccination. We chose March 2020 and December 2020 as critical time points in the pandemic and analyzed trends before and after these dates.

RESULTS: The starting level (at baseline in January 2019) of the total breast imaging procedure volume was estimated at 114,901.5, and this …

Revisiting Therapeutic Facet Joint Injections For Chronic Spinal Pain: A Case Series, Jamal Hasoon, Syed Mahmood, Anvinh Nguyen, Ranganathan Govindaraj, Christopher L Robinson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Facet joint injections with steroids are a common therapeutic intervention for chronic pain management, particularly in patients with lumbar spondylosis and facet arthropathy. However, many insurance companies do not provide coverage for this helpful intervention. This case series presents four patients who experienced significant and sustained pain relief following therapeutic facet joint injections. The aim of this case series is to highlight the efficacy of facet joint injections with steroids in managing chronic spinal pain and to discuss the potential benefits of this treatment modality in patients who may not be interested in pursuing lumbar radiofrequency neurotomy.